To the Pure

Sydney Sweeney is a twenty-something actress who recently made the news with her "scandalous" commercial. The apparel company, American Eagle, had her do a commercial playing on the similarity of the word "genes" to "jeans" with the tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." Funny. Of course, not anymore. Now it's "Nazi propaganda." She was promoting eugenics. Nonsense, of course, but today our society sees "evil" around every corner where "evil" is defined by "whatever I think it is."

Paul wrote, "To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled" (Titus 1:15). What does that mean? It does not mean that all impure things become pure to the pure, or that all believers are pure in everything they do. What does it mean? Paul is writing to Titus about establishing the church in Crete. They needed elders (Titus 1:5-9) who would "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught" (Titus 1:9). This is in direct contradiction to the "insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers" (Titus 1:10) who needed to be rebuked (Titus 1:13). They were devoting themselves to "the commands of people who turn away from the truth" (Titus 1:14). So, "To the pure, all things are pure" is intended to convey direction. If we are pure, we will pursue the pure. If we are faithful, we will "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught." We won't be defiled, won't pursue the evil, won't follow human rules instead of God's rules, won't be misled by false teaching.

In our world today, they decry "judgmental" people while being judgmental and "intolerant" people while being intolerant. They cry out for "diversity, equity, and inclusion" while eliminating all of them ... odd, man-made rules that simply end up contradicting themselves. And we Christians aren't immune. Never have been. Back in my day it was "dancing" and "alcohol" and "smoking" kinds of things that have no biblical support, but we were sure we were morally superior because we avoided things we made up as evil. Our society does it all the time, and is getting more irrational in its moral insanity. What we need is not less "genes" commercials. It's a firm grasp on God's word ... what Jesus calls "truth" (John 17:17). Ultimately it's a firm grasp on Christ Himself.

Don't Panic

The FDA wants to probe adult deaths linked to the COVID vaccine. The "acceptable" story is "no credible evidence of widespread vaccine deaths." VAERS has over 30,000 deaths reported from COVID vaccines, but they're "unverified" and ignored, while "unverified" reports are embraced if it's from an accepted line of thinking. The facts, however, surrounding the whole issue are ... disturbing.

The CDC said masks don't keep you safe. "My mask protects you, and your mask protects me." Yet, people are still wearing masks ... for protection. Reports of deaths from unusual blood clotting and other outcomes from the vaccine were aired and ignored. At one point, the media reported that the pandemic had become "an epidemic of the vaccinated," but vaccinations are still pushed to this day. The CDC admitted that the vaccine didn't prevent infection, the spread of the virus, or death from the virus, but it still pushes this ... not-actual-vaccine. Reports were made early on that something like 60% of the population already had immunity to the coronavirus, but "everyone needs to be vaccinated!" The concept of the "original antigenic sin" came out in all this that warned that vaccinating on the first variant would leave people at serious risk when new variants emerged because the body would have a false sense of security, but vaccinations were required. When they released this vaccine -- quickly, without extensive testing, offering immunity to the companies, and of the unique "mRNA" variety of vaccine -- they admitted "We don't know the long term effects" and still mandated it to so many. Even though deaths were miniscule among the younger population (in the 0.001 to 0.01% range), experimental vaccines for the youngest population were pushed as essential. There were studies that were saying that the methods of fighting the pandemic were causing more deaths than the pandemic itself, but we pushed on. And anyone who argued otherwise on any of these points and more were castigated as "misleading" and "conspiracy theorists."

Deaths are not a good thing. Let's not lose sight of that. Fighting diseases where we can is wise and right. It just seems like ... someone or something manipulated the system here to cause a panic ... a panic that remains to this day in some places and people. (How many masked people do you still see today?) Cooler heads have not really prevailed. Rational thinking has not saved the day. We still seem to operate in panic mode, and if the current panic has lost its force, a new one gets introduced. The news media itself seems to be built on this premise. They report "the news" which, by definition, is not "the ordinary" because "ordinary" is not news, but we pick it up and run around terrified because "that happened!!" For those of you who have a Sovereign God, I recommend this simple approach. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:6-7). You can quote me on that if you want.

Imago Dei

Scripture is clear that God made man in His image (Gen 1:27). Not a question. Some have wondered if, for instance, sin changed that. Apparently not. After the Fall, God says, "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man" (Gen 9:5-6). Clearly, then, we're in the image of God (Imago Dei). But ...in what way?

One way is in Genesis 2. "Then YHWH God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Gen 2:7). When God made other creatures who breathed, He spoke them into existence. When He made Man, He breathed His own breath into him. A soul, if you will, or spirit. Now, these two concepts are linked and difficult to separate -- soul and spirit. We do know that God is spirit (John 4:24). And we know that we have three basic components ... body, soul, and spirit. Some try to remove the distinction between soul and spirit, but Scripture doesn't allow it. They're closely connected, but the author of Hebrews says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). So the soul and spirit are very closely linked and require a sharp sword to separate them ... so they can be separated. Paul writes about God preserving our "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thess 5:23), so they are distinct.

Humans are made in the image of God in a whole variety of ways, but one, fundamental way is our triune being. God is triune, and so are we. We're obviously the finite version, but there is similarity. We have a physical body, and so does God in the person of Jesus. We have a soul -- mind, will, and emotions -- and these are characteristics often attributed to the Spirit. And we have a spirit -- an essential, spiritual existence -- which correlates to God the Father. We are in the image of God, which is the primary feature that gives us worth above any other created thing.

Lies and Fabrications

The question of the morality of lying has always been a point of contention among believers. We have the very plain command, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exo 20:16). We know that God "does not lie" (Num 23:19; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18) (The Hebrews reference says "It is impossible for God to lie.") So ... lying is right out ... right? Well ... maybe. I think the truth is not quite so clear.

We know that it is impossible for God to lie, but in 1 Samuel 16, God commanded the prophet, Samuel, to go anoint a new king. Samuel objected. "When Saul hears of it, he'll kill me." So God said, "Take a heifer and tell them you're there to make a sacrifice" (1 Sam 16:1-2). Hang on, isn't that ... an attempt to deceive ... a "lie"? The question is knotty on its own. Samuel did take a heifer and make a sacrifice ... but that wasn't his reason for going. The sacrifice was secondary. Did God intend to deceive Saul? Yes, it seems so. So ... was it not a lie? I mean, it is impossible for God to lie. That's the question, isn't it? Perhaps the answer lies in the commandment. We're not supposed to "bear false witness." In English, to lie is simply the intention to deceive. You can lie by commission or omission. That is, you can make a false statement or simply withhold the truth. Simply withholding the truth is not defined as a lie unless it is intended to deceive. But the command to not bear false witness puts another condition on it. It appears to include the concept of malice ... the intent to cause harm.

You have events in life and events in Scripture that raise the question. God told Samuel to tell Saul something that was intended to deceive. Was that a sin? Rahab covered up the spies (Jos 2:1-6) and she was called a woman of faith for it (Heb 11:31; James 2:25). God blessed the Hebrew midwives who lied about killing Hebrew babies (Exo 1:15-21). Was it a sin to lie about hiding Jews in Nazi Germany? Clearly the Bible is opposed to lying, but it seems it is expressly against lying in order to harm someone. Maybe ... just maybe ... not all lies are sin. If not, I'm not entirely sure what to do with the "God and Samuel" story. I think it is abundantly clear that, biblically, honesty is the best policy. I just don't want to forbid completely what Scripture may not forbid completely.

With a Twist

The world has a way of taking words that contain important content, redefining the word, then reapplying it as if it had the same content. "Love" is an obvious example. Biblically it is the unconditional concern for the well-being of another, but the world has redefined it as emotional, "warm affection," even "sex." So when we read, "God so loved the world," it's not "God had so much warm affection for the world" as much as "God had such concern for the best interests of the world ..." But we miss it entirely. "Faith" is another good example. All in the Family's Archie Bunker famously defined it this way: "Faith is something you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe." Credulity ... explicitly in opposition to evidence or reason. The biblical word is most correctly defined as "to be convinced," where "convince" means "to overcome in argument," "to firmly persuade or satisfy by argument or evidence." So biblical "faith" is absolutely not believing in something without any reason. It specifically includes argument and evidence. Just two quick examples of the concept of how the world changes a meaning of a word with key content, then reapplies it. "Oh, you have faith? You mean, you believe it without any good reason?" No ... that's not what we mean.

A word I've recently pondered (a word obviously connected to "faith" and "love" above - see 1 Corinthians 13:13) is "hope." Our "hope" today is "fingers crossed, 'please, oh, please" wishing for something that may or may not occur. Biblical "hope" is quite different. Both refer to something future, but ... there the similarity ends. Modern hope is "wishful thinking" predicated on uncertainty. Biblical hope is "confident expectation" predicated on ... God. Our "hope in the Lord" (e.g., Psa 31:24; Psa 42:5; Acts 24:15; Php 2:19) isn't wishful thinking. The Lord ... never fails (1 Cor 1:9-11; Lam 3:22-23; Num 23:19; Psa 145:13; Heb 13:5). Our "hope" does not include an element of chance. It is predicated solely on the faithfulness of our God. We might hope in the modern "wishful thinking" way when we expect things not promised, but God never fails to satisfy every promise He makes and bring to pass every best plan He has (Psa 115:3; Dan 4:35). In fact, like love and faith, hope is a supernatural gift. As Paul winds down his epistle to the church at Rome, he offers a prayer. "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13).

The world ... the god of this world ... would like to rob you. He wants to take your superior gifts and substitute inferior products. God offers faith, love, and hope. "Here," the god of this world says, "you have credulity and warm affections and wishful thinking." Don't you believe it. God gives overcoming conviction, a selfless concern for the welfare of others, and a confident certainty of promises to be fulfilled because He is certain, selflessly concerned for us, and unfailing in fulfilling His promises. Don't accept a lesser product because the world is selling you lies in common word wrappings.

Remembrance

There's an old cry ... "Remember the Maine!" The USS Maine was a ship sunk in the Havana harbor in 1898 at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. It went down with three-quarters of its crew and the claim was that it was sunk by a mine. A newspaper coined the phrase to hype the battle against Spain. Funny thing ... I doubt many of us remember the phrase, let alone the Maine. We have our own version of it: "Never forget." What does that refer to? The attack on September 11, 2001, that killed more than 3,000 people. Of course, for a large number of Americans today ... we've forgotten, and "never" is a lot shorter than we thought it would be. Well, anyone younger than 25 has no personal connection to remember.

How quickly we forget. Today is December 7. President Roosevelt referred to December 7, 1941 as "a date which will live in infamy." (Note the correct quote ... not "a day...".) Today is an annual reminder of an infamous attack on Americans. Almost 2,500 civilians and military personnel died in that single attack. The attack hurled the U.S. into a war in the Pacific that would cost the lives of more than 100,000 American military personnel in the Pacific alone, dwarfing September 11.

Infamy. It's such a simple word. It means the state of being bad. It refers to a wicked act. Quite generic, in a sense. What I think is so sad, though, is how we've come to accept "infamy" as normal and, frankly, forgettable. Almost trivial. For instance, in our world today, just about everything Trump says is considered "evil" or "having bad quality." Infamous. Of course, the other side considers anything Biden or Obama or Clinton said in the same light. And we muddle about, forgetting the truly evil -- overlooking, for instance, the the 65 million babies killed by abortion because they were largely ... "inconvenient." Suddenly Elon Musk isn't nearly as "infamous," is he? We remember minor offenses these days and ignore the big ones ... Pearl Harbor, September 11, every single baby executed for being inconvenient ... very sad.

News Weakly - 12/6/2025

One Way
Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire agreement in October. Since then, Israel has made multiple attacks. People are upset ... but no one seems to ask why? They carried out another one this week, and the media is quite sure Israel is the offender. No one seems to admit that Hamas keeps shooting at Israel, threatening to pull out of the agreement, failing to release the promised hostages, and targeting civilians. No, no, it's evil Israel's wrongdoing. A strange "one way" to look at the situation.

Enemy at the Gates
After Biden's botched Afghanistan withdrawal debacle that left Afghans ... women especially ... in peril, a program of allowing Afghans to come here almost indiscriminately has caused its own problems. Last week it was a shooting in Washington D.C. by an Afghan. This week, DHS arrested another Afghan national for a bomb threat in Texas. Can this be directly attributed to the Biden administration? Maybe ... maybe not ... but ... it's not good. Are the open border types, "sanctuary city" types, going to defend these immigrants?

Can You Hear Me Now?
Here's an interesting one. Costco, a traditionally left-leaning company (They don't lobby or endorse ... but 98% of their political donations are to Democrats and their aims.) is suing the Trump administration for his tariffs. Presidents have used tariffs in the past even if it's Congress's job to do it, but Costco is finally making a political statement and revealing their true position. That is, if, in our nation, it is illegal for Trump to do this, the authorities should be handling it, not ... Costco.

Duh!
I've thought this for a long time, but now a study agrees. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD) between 2018 and 2020 concluded that children who are given smartphones before the age of 12 are at a higher risk for obesity, poor sleep, and other problems. Starting with television before the age of 5 all the way to smartphones before the age of 12, we're finding over and over our "improved technology" has some astoundingly bad unintended consequences for our children ... and we just keep doing it.

Your Best Source of Fake News
A woman in Boulder, Colorado, did her part in fulfilling the Great Commission by going out and purchasing a mug that says, "All I need Today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus." She's wearing her faith right out front and taking the gospel to the world ... sort of. It seems that Minnesota has made the list of "foreign countries" HSS Secretary Kristi Noem is planning to ban travel to (actual story). I can sympathize. In many ways it does seem like a foreign country. Finally, in a little reported story, apparently Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in his assault on illegal drugs (14 strikes since September) sent drones to target Hunter Biden in an attempt to decrease the demand for illegal drugs. Well ... I mean ... it does make some sense ... right?

Must be true; I read it on the internet.

A Mind Like That

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Php 2:1-2)

A typical poorly-placed chapter break. It begins with "therefore" and we're left trying to chase down what it's there for. Paul calls for unity. He specifies the kind of unity he's commanding ... "one purpose." Not uniformity. Direction. He encourages them to do it for "encouragement in Christ" and "consolation of love" and "fellowship of the Spirit" and to make his joy complete. But ... on what basis? What is the "therefore" there for?

Philippi seems to have been one of Paul's most beloved churches. It's an affectionate epistle and he's delighted with them. He encourages them that "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Php 1:6). He writes about the success of his imprisonment (Php 1:7,12-17). He affirms his singular aim: "in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice" (Php 1:18). And he tells them how living and dying is all good (Php 1:21). His one request: "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Php 1:27). "A manner worthy of the gospel." Paul uses a similar phrase in Ephesians as well (Eph 4:1). So ... what does "worthy of the gospel" look like? "Of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." He goes on to say revolutionary things like, "in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Php 2:3) and "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Php 2:4), but the perfect model of what our "same mind" is supposed to look like is ... Jesus.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Php 2:5)

That's the unifying purpose, the "one mind" that we're supposed to be aiming for. Paul isn't vague, either. What "mind" is he specifically referencing? Jesus didn't consider being "equal with God" something to cling too tightly to. Instead, He "emptied Himself" (Php 2:7) and "humbled Himself" ... literally to death (Php 2:8). For the sake of others ... those He chose, those He loved ... Christ ... gave self up. That, Paul says, is the mind we are to have. So simple -- "Consider others as more important than yourself" -- and yet, so very, very hard to do. It's a lot easier if being in Christ is your primary purpose and joy.

Lines of Thinking

I'm a people watcher. I like doing that. But it can be disappointing sometimes. It's very clear that the standard mode of thinking for just about everyone is "Me." Think about it.

You're shopping in a grocery store, pushing a cart, gathering what you need. You find the area of something you need and start searching for a particular thing. Do you think, "I'll put my cart here, where it's most convenient for me," or do you think, "I'll put my cart over here, where it's out of other people's way"? I'm driving down the road, and the light is red up ahead, and I'm hoping to get to the left turn lane before the left turn light turns green, but the guy in front of me is slowing. Is he thinking, "I'm watching the traffic around me, trying to make the driving experience for those around me more pleasant" or is he thinking, "Hey, the light is red ... I don't have to hurry"? You're having a discussion with your spouse and they aren't giving you what you think they should. Are you thinking, "They're not giving me what I need" or are you wondering, "Am I giving them what they need?"

It's such an easy, natural thing. A fellow I knew was excited about the woman he hoped to marry. "I think she'll bring all sorts of good things to my life." "But," I asked him, "will you bring all sorts of good things to her life?" We just don't often think down those lines. We're better at, "I don't like that; I wish they wouldn't do that to me" than "What do I like ... I want to go do that for others." Thinking about what I need is easy. Looking around and finding what people need in order to supply it isn't as easy. And, yet, it's our calling. "Love your neighbor as yourself."

The Mission Field

I went to a church some time ago that had a plaque over the exit that read something like, "Now entering the mission field." I got it. We're supposed to witness to our neighbors. Sure. But witnessing in the United States is different than taking the Gospel to, say, tribes who have never heard. Americans are largely ... inoculated. They've gotten a dose of the truth and become immune, if you will. But ... that was then.

Every year our church puts on this "Christmas Block Party." They fill the whole property with ... stuff ... Nativity plays, concerts, merchandise from artisans, train rides, a petting zoo ... oh, and cookies. Lots and lots of cookies. And they invite the community. Last year, they went to the guy at the petting zoo and asked to borrow a sheep for the Nativity play. "What's a Nativity play?" he asked. It was surprising that someone in America wouldn't know what a Nativity play was. But .. he hadn't a clue.

We are commanded to share the Gospel (Mark 16:15). We are commanded to make disciples (Matt 28:19). The job is big ... huge. And it's not "out there." It's next door. Often it's in our own homes. It's bigger than we can handle. So ... how do we manage this? Jesus prefaced His command to make disciples with an important statement. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matt 28:18). Thus, we have the authority who is telling us to do it. He ends the command with another critical piece. "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20). That's how we manage this monumental task. We follow His command and understand He is always with us. It's not just us. It's not our efforts. It's His work. And it is all around us.

From Fear to Success

Yesterday I wrote about the fear of God. No ... the terror. The right terror. So this one should be quite a contrast. In Deuteronomy 34, Moses dies. Dead. Gone. Deuteronomy ends with

And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom YHWH knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that YHWH sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deu 34:10-12)

Turn the page, and we read in Joshua 1

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of YHWH, that YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. (Josh 1:1-2)

You're Joshua. What do you think? "Hey, hang on. I never wanted this. I'm not ready for it. I'm nowhere near what Moses was. And ... You're sending me into battle? Against all those people over there?" Joshua had to be terrified.

God has a message for the new leader of His people. He promises him complete victory, and then says,

"Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. (Jos 1:6-7)

"Be strong and courageous." Not once, but twice. Repetition is emphasis, and God wasn't asking Joshua to feel brave; it was a command. Why? On what basis could Joshua be "strong and courageous" in these circumstances? Because God was there. Because God had promised. Because Joshua was in the middle of God's plan. That is, the God who terrifies is also the God who fortifies.

In this text, there is another repeated concept. God uses the word "success" twice.

"Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Josh 1:7-8)

"You may have success." What was the secret to the success? In the first case, it was a careful obedience to God's word. In the other it was a careful consideration ("meditate on it day and night") of God's word. This, God says, produces success. God's presence and God's promises and God's word ... these are the secrets to overcoming fear and producing success. How far are we as humans, as a nation, as Christians from these simple truths that produce God-given success? Trust God and follow His word. It's not that hard ... and yet ...

Terrifying

I grew up with Bible stories. I loved them ... still do. Stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham sacrificing Isaac, oh, and Jacob and Esau. On and on. Jacob stole his brother's birthright and is sent to Laban. On the way, he sleeps and dreams. The famous "Jacob's ladder." God promises him blessings and he wakes up excited ... well ... not quite. "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely YHWH is in this place, and I did not know it.' And he was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven'" (Gen 28:16-17). (Note: That "awesome" is literally "fearful.") Jacob wasn't delighted; he was terrified.

It's a running theme. Think of Isaiah, God's chosen mouthpiece, one of God's prophets. A "major" prophet. He encountered God like no one else. Seraphim cry, "Holy, holy, holy!" and Isaiah is wonderfully enthralled. But ... no. Isaiah is terrified ... because of his mouth "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, YHWH of hosts" (Isa 6:5). Isaiah wasn't excited. He was ... damah in Hebrew. Cut off, ended, destroyed. Not, "Wow! Cool!" Terror. Or, Peter (Luke 5:1-10). Jesus "borrowed" Peter's boat as a platform for teaching. When He was done, He told them to drop their nets. Peter protested, but ... did it ... and caught enough fish to start to rip the nets. Being Jewish, he pulled out a contract to have Jesus visit once a week. No! He "fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, 'Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!'" (Luke 5:8). Terror. One of my favorites is the one where they're crossing the Sea of Galilee and a storm hits (Mark 4:35-41). Jesus is asleep in the boat. They're in trouble. They're afraid. So they wake Him. "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38). Jesus simply said, "Hush, be still," and the storm instantly stopped. And the text says, "They became very much afraid and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'" (Mar 4:41). Terror.

It has been said the most offensive verse in the Bible is this one: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). Natural humans are, by nature, hostile to God (Rom 8:7). We have, as a race, suppressed the truth of God (Rom 1:18) and "exchanged the truth of God for a lie" (Rom 1:25). As a result, when we, clothed in our sin and rebellion, actually encounter God up close and personal, it has to be ... terrifying. Not pleasant. When we get comfortable in our sin and come face to face with Him, it has to be the most terrifying thing we can encounter. Not the warm "Big Man Upstairs" kind of experience. The "beginning of wisdom" kind of thing (Psa 111:10).

Them's Fightin' Words

In Exodus, Moses is leading his people out of Egypt. Pharaoh has changed his mind (because "the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh" (Exo 14:8)) and pursues them. So Moses tells his people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of YHWH, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. YHWH will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exo 14:13-14). Does that strike you as ... odd? The Lord ... will fight? I mean, aren't we supposed to ... I don't know ... abhor violence or something? Apparently ... not.

It's a recurring theme. In Deuteronomy, Israel is getting ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses assures them, "YHWH your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory" (Deut 20:4). In 1 Samuel 17, David faces Goliath. David assures Goliath, "This day YHWH will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head" (1 Sam 17:46). Kind of gruesome, but apparently he was right. "For the battle is YHWH's, and He will give you into our hand" (1 Sam 17:47). In 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat faced an army he couldn't beat, so he took it to God. God answered, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's" (2 Chron 20:15). It doesn't stop at the Old Testament with the physical battles Israel faced. We are told we will face battles ... especially spiritual ones (Eph 6:12) ... but Paul wrote, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31) In that text, he goes on to say, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom 8:37). "Conquerors."

Two running themes ... "Fear not" and "The battle belongs to the Lord." We will face conflicts and we will have to be in battles, but it's of immense comfort to know that we don't do this alone. The battle belongs to the Lord. I like Jehoshaphat's battle plan in that account in 2 Chronicles. "You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of YHWH on your behalf ..." (2 Chron 20:17). Come and watch the Lord work on your behalf in the battles you face in life and be "more than conquerors."

News Weakly - 11/29/2025

No Love
A woman in New Zealand has been sentenced to at least 17 years in prison for murdering her two children and leaving their bodies in suitcases. I don't even ... You know, in Paul's second letter to Timothy, he writes about "the last days" (2 Tim 3:1-9). One characteristic, Paul says, will be that people will be "lovers of self" (2 Tim 3:2) and "heartless" (2 Tim 3:3 ESV). The Greek word is astorgos, where "a" refers to "not" and "storgos" refers to the natural, instinctual, family love -- "without natural affection" -- like the natural love of a mother for her children. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Not the Same Thing
Robert Dear was found dead in federal custody. Ten years ago, he killed three people at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic because of his "Christian beliefs" opposing abortion. Found "incompetent to stand trial," he's been locked up ever since ... but ... don't you believe it. Opposition to abortion for Christian reasons is based on the sanctity of life ... directly opposite to shooting people. Don't you buy that "Christian values" line. His were not the same thing.

Illegal Legality?
I gotta tell you ... this seems ... problematic ... at best. The story is that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is ordering an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly (embarrassingly from Arizona) for his remarks telling military members to refuse to follow illegal orders. I'm not a Kelly fan, but it's the law. Article 92 of the UCMJ forbids obeying unlawful orders. Some of us remember the 1968 My Lai Massacre where Lieutenant Calley slaughtered 500 Vietnamese civilians because he was ordered to. I don't like Kelly, but if he only repeated what the law states, why is he being investigated?

Hey! Where's My Rights?
Democrats from 21 states are suing the Trump administration because of cuts to SNAP in the GOP tax spending program. In other words, it is mandatory that the government provide SNAP ... maybe even constitutionally. Okay .. no, but it simply illustrates that things offered as a kindness soon become things demanded as rights and we're a crazy people.

Your Best Source for Fake News
In one Thanksgiving article, a family took a page from the debates and instituted a 2-minute speech rule with a 1-minute rebuttal time. It may not be more civil, but it's shorter. In another story, it turns out that heaven has confirmed that people who prefer ham to turkey on Thanksgiving will not enter the kingdom. So sorry. Everyone knows ham is for Christmas. Then the one I really enjoyed (if you get the nuance). Experts are reporting that AI could not only replace the jobs of humans, but also lawyers. Oh my!

Must be true; I read it on the internet.

Footprints - at Thirty-Four

I was 34. I was working at the new company and enjoying my work with good money and good raises and a wife and two kids. A good life. Until my wife came home and told me she was leaving me for another man. That was a shock. I didn't see it coming. "God??"

I was packing stuff up to move out of the house and go to a smaller apartment. I came across a notebook with old writings in it. Twelve years before, I was that career-seeking husband and my new wife had yelled at me about how she hated me. I was a night watchman and I was crying out to God. And I started writing. How did I get here? I listed the events that led up to marrying her. I counted 28 times that I placed my decisions in front of God and said, "Stop me here if this isn't where You want me to go." I actually had approached that marriage expecting God to stop me at any point, and that was okay because I only wanted what He wanted. He didn't stop me.

So there I was, 12 years later, and I pulled out ... that sheet of paper. I didn't even know I had kept it. And I read it again. And God said, "I've got this." I heard, "In My book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for You, when as yet there was none of them" (Psa 139:16). "Oh," I said, staggered, "so ... this was Your plan ... from the start?" Yes. It was. "For I know the plans I have for you ... plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). I wasn't abandoned. I wasn't forsaken. I was looking at another footprint. And I could trust Him to carry me in it.

Thanksgiving, 2025

It's Thanksgiving Day. I recently came across this text and thought "someone" was better at expressing what I wanted to say. The context is at the end of King David's life. He has donated large amounts of resources to the building of the temple that Solomon would build. And ... he prays.

Therefore David blessed YHWH in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are You, YHWH, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, YHWH, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, YHWH, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank You, our God, and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You. (1 Chron 29:10-14)

"All that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours." Not mine. Not yours. His. "All things come from You, and of Your own have we given You." The best we can do is give Him ... what's His already. And He is pleased. For this, "We thank You, our God, and praise Your glorious name." For all He does. For all He gives. For "every good gift and every perfect gift" that comes from Him (James 1:17).

If we were to accurately count our blessings, I suspect we'd never reach the end. Happy Thanksgiving.

Footprints - at Thirty-Two

I was 32 and I had been in the Air Force for 10 years. I had another 2 years on my enlistment. I was teaching and enjoyed it. I had leaned toward making it a career, but was having doubts. Then someone from my first station called and asked me to interview for a job in California. Well, not happening. I had 2 years left. "Our VP is going to be out there. Meet him. Take the interview." So ... I did. Whatever. He liked me and offered me $10,00 a year more than I thought I would need ... but I still had 2 years.

I was stuck ... but almost immediately after, the military needed to drop people ... fast. "If you want out, get out." I told my commander I wanted out. "Oh, you can't go. We're making this the training base. We need you and 4 more like you." But the request was approved. I was honorably discharged, packed up the family, and headed to my new job in California. When I got there, I called them up. "Oh, we're going out of business. We can't hire you." "Um ... God? That was a dirty trick." So I started searching. I saw an ad for a company and applied. In the interview they asked where I heard of them. I told them about the ad. "We didn't put an ad in the paper." Seriously. But they hired me. And waived the standard 90-day probation period. My benefits went into effect the day after my military benefits expired. And the job was wonderful.

God blessed in the intervening years, but the surprising sequence of events served again to boldly declare that God was still at work while I was suggesting it was a "dirty trick." There never was an explanation of how my request for discharge got approved or where the ad came from. Well ... a human explanation. Another footprint of God in my life.

Footprints - at Twenty-Two

I was 22 years old, newly married. In a quick sequence of events, my wife found out she was pregnant and I lost my job. I was desperate. I needed a job ... no ... a career. I needed a future for my new family. I know! The military! They could train me and pay me and I'd come out in 4 years with a career.

The military has you take the ASVAB test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (Interesting that you can fail something that is supposed to test what your aptitudes are. "I'm sorry ... you have none."?) At the end, they asked ... opinion questions. "Do you like ...?" Preferences. Do I like cooking, fixing radios, repairing cars ... all sorts. Anything around electronics was a sure "No!" because I knew nothing about electronics. Well, I got approved, so I looked for a career, not just a job. Accounting ... that's good. "Oh, sure, we can get you in ... in 6 months." No, that's not going to work. My wife is pregnant ... now. So, "How do I get in immediately?" They told me if I showed up packed and someone who was going in that day couldn't make it, I could take their job if I qualified. So ... I did. And the next day, someone didn't make it. He broke his arm. So I went in ... "open electronics." "Thanks, God." But, okay, it's a career. So I took it.

I spent the next 10 years in the Air Force working electronics all the way up to teaching it for 3 years. I worked in one of the last career fields that still did everything, from tube technology to solid-state, from the aircraft to the shop to the board level. And ... I loved it. It was precisely my cup of tea. Because it was perfectly suited to my own thinking patterns. Because God knew what I didn't and provided what I never would have expected when I needed it most. There ... right there ... another footprint of God in my life.

Footprints - at Three

You've seen, I'm sure, the famous poem, Footprints in the Sand. In a dream, footprints in the sand showed two sets. The dreamer realized that the second set was the Lord's. She noticed that in the toughest times, there was only one set, and asked God why He wasn't there when she needed Him most. God replied that in those times He was carrying her. Footprints. I've been thinking about God's footprints in my life. It's Thanksgiving week. So ... maybe I'll write a few "footprints" accounts of God's footprints in my life. Jesus told His disciples, "You will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). So ... maybe I will, too.

My earliest memory ... you know, the kind that is certainly my memory because no one else was there to tell me ... was when I was three years old. I remember waking up in a crib. I didn't sleep in a crib, so that was odd. And my wrists were bound to the mattress. And my foot was suspended and an nurse was attaching a giant (to a three-year-old) bottle of fluids through a needle into my ankle. "Oh," she said, "you're awake." As it turns out, I had been in a coma. I had contracted spinal meningitis. The doctors had told my parents there was very little hope because they had no treatment. (Yes, I'm that old.) So they prayed and their church prayed and ... lots of people prayed. And ... I lived ... without much explanation as to why. A short time later, I got sick again ... but it turned out to be an infection from that needle in my ankle, and that was quickly managed and I was out by Christmas.

I still have the scar on my ankle. I see it every time I put on socks. It serves as a reminder. I could have died at the age of three. I didn't. Clearly God had other plans. Clearly my existence wasn't a cosmic mistake. Clearly God still has a purpose for me. That's what that scar on my ankle tells me every time I see it. God's not through with me yet. It serves as a footprint of God in my life.

Self-Image Help

I'm older now, but there was a time I could quote all of Psalm 139. I love that psalm. You see, I've always had a problem with self-image. This psalm seemed to be written for me.

Look at this wonderful text. It begins with the absolute certainty that God has searched me and knows me. Me! I'm not unknown. I'm not worthless. The text goes on to describe the depths of His knowledge. He is where I sit and stand, my paths, my words. "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, YHWH, You know it altogether" (Psa 139:4). He hems me in, behind, before, and above (Psa 139:5). I'm known and I'm safe. The text talks about how He knew me as He formed me. Imagine that! "You knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Psa 139:13). Think about that. No mistakes. No inferior work. God knitted me together. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa 139:14). Included in all this design is this astounding claim. "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psa 139:16). Every day is already recorded. Every event, every choice, every outcome. He's planned it. "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! (Psa 139:17).

David (the author) rails against the wicked (Psa 139:19-22), but comes back to himself. "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psa 139:23-24). A good place to stay, under God's microscope with God's testing and God's correction. He cares. He did it. He is taking care of me. Now ... what was it I found so offensive about my self?

News Weakly - 11/22/2025

Sorry ... not enough time this week. A short News Weakly.

No Kings
America, stop telling us about your "No kings" complaint. There is no king in America. Just follow the news. This week, the Senate agreed to release the Epstein files which, most seem to think, will implicate the president (even though Trump urged their release, too). A judge tossed the DOJ lawsuit challenging New York's law barring ICE from state courts. And the Appeals court denied Trump's bid to revive his defamation lawsuit against CNN. The system is working. Checks and balances are checking and balancing. Stop whining.

Moral Turpitude
The famous Ten Commandments are so broadly accepted that almost every religion on the planet has something akin to them. Judaism and Christianity obviously include them, but Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism all have similar values. Even atheists recognize the value of the moral guidance while rejecting the "divine mandate" aspect. But ... hey ... the ACLU is opposed to the presence of an almost universal set of moral values, so ... they succeeded in blocking the law in Texas. And we wonder why morality is on the decline. It seems to me that banning moral values constitutes moral turpitude.

Mawage

One of my fun lines from Princess Bride. "Mawage is what brings us together today." What is marriage? It's the earliest sacred institution. It is, first and foremost, a lifelong bond between a woman and a man. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" (Gen 2:24). The text is repeated in the New Testament. Jesus did it (Matt 19:3-6). Paul did it (1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31). That's the basic definition ... Old and New.

Of course, so few understand that today. Even Christians are confused, blinded by such nonsensical terms as "same-sex marriage" or "open marriage" ... terms in direct contradiction to biblical marriage. Why is that? Well, the world is in opposition to God (John 15:19; 1 John 2:15-17), so obviously it would be in opposition to those things that God ordains. But it's more than that. Marriage has special significance. Paul says that marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship to the Church (Eph 5:32). He says this specifically with reference to Genesis 2:24. Marriage is a practical image of how Christ gives Himself up (Php 2:5-8; Eph 5:25-27) for His bride. It's His idea. It's His model. It's His aim for our best.

Jesus promised the world would be hostile to us. We're suprised that it is. Instead of pushing against His gifts and images that He offers in order to help us understand and experience Him better, we should embrace it. Anyone who loves God certainly will.

Prison Life

In Acts 16, Paul was in Philippi. As usual, he ran afoul of some of the city folk. They were accused of throwing the city into confusion (Acts 16:20) and the magistrates ordered them beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:22-23). So, of course, Paul and Silas were in that Philippian jail crying out to God to be rescued. Oh ... wait. No. The text says they were praying and "singing hymns of praise to God" (Acts 16:25). I'm not so sure how many of us would have been doing that. Earlier, James, the brother of John, was executed and Peter was arrested to be presented to the people, ostensibly to execute him, too (see Acts 12:2-3). Peter wasn't singing. He was ... sleeping (Acts 12:6). Bound with two chains between two soldiers and more at the front door, Peter ... was sleeping. He was awakened by an angel. The chains fell off, the guards slept, and he walked out.

This doesn't seem like typical prison activity. It doesn't seem like the kinds of things most of us would do. We'd be begging for rescue, not singing hymns or sleeping. It's not that there weren't prayers (Acts 12:5), but the people going through the trials were ... at peace. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Dan 3:14-18), they were confident in their God regardless of the outcome. Paul and Silas sang hymns! James said to "Count it all joy" (James 1:2). Paul said to "exult" (Rom 5:3-5).

Maybe we don't get enough practice. (You know ... "Don't pray for patience ... you won't like how it comes about.") Maybe we're not trusting enough. Maybe we don't really believe God is faithful. But Scripture makes promises regarding trials and God's faithfulness. So while we're in the "prison" called "planet Earth" and the world of sin, perhaps we should adopt a more ... biblical approach to "prison life" and sing praises.

Polity

Polity is the form or process of an institution like government or a church. It is how it is run. The only way I've ever heard the word used in a sentence is in terms of church polity. What is the organizational structure of a church? The question I ask first, of course, is "What is the biblical version of church polity?" Different denominations have different structures. In the Episcopal version (where "episcopal" is derived from the Greek "episkopos" -- literally "over-seer" -- translated "bishop" in King James or "overseer" in NAS), it's a hierarchical structure with bishops on top. In the Presbyterian version (where "presbyterian" is derived from the Greek "presbuteros" -- literally "older man" -- translated "elder"), it's a representative-type government where elders are elected by congregations. In the Congregational version, it's democratic ... run by the congregation that votes on its policies and structures. But ... is there a biblical version?

As it turns out, the answer is yes ... and no. Clearly, the head of the church is Christ (Eph 1:22). Got it. But ... what about local churches? The Bible prescribes elders/bishops/pastors (used interchangeably in various places -- see Acts 20:17, 20, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-2) as the spiritual leadership and deacons as the ... servant leadership. Scripture recognizes both of these as distinct and present (Php 1:1). Qualifications for these are listed (Elders: 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. Deacons: 1 Tim 3:8-13). Peter describes the elders as "shepherds" with Christ as the lead Shepherd and elders as "servants" (1 Peter 5:1-4). Scripture also references "appointing" elders (rather than "electing") (see Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). But in Acts 6 -- the first mention of deacons -- the deacons are "selected" by the congregation before being "ordained" (as it were) by the Apostles (Acts 6:1-6). Jesus described the congregation as having a part in church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. Paul suggests the same in 1 Corinthians 7:5-13. Beyond that ... church polity is ... vague. The Bible neither commends nor forbids committees. Democracy to some degree is not banned from the church. Using some of the world's leadership principles that don't clash with biblical principles are not disallowed.

Does the Bible give us rules for church polity? Yes ... and no. Essential to church polity is the fundamental principle that Christ is the head of the Church, and that the Word of God is the "rule book," the ultimate authority in matters of faith, doctrine, and practice for Christians. The presence and plurality of both elders/pastors and deacons is a given biblical principle. The building up of the body as the primary function (Eph 4:11-16) is absolutely biblical. We need to avoid two very common errors. On one hand, we tend to ban things we think aren't "biblical" when the Bible doesn't ban them. On the other hand, we tend to allow worldly approaches to governance that the Bible specifically forbids. It's that middle road ... do what it says and don't forbid what it doesn't forbid ... that we have to walk. We often have a hard time doing that.

I Don't Second That Emotion

Admit it. Most of us are emotional beings. No, that's not what I mean to say. We are emotionally-driven. We operate on feelings. We decide based on feelings. We think based on feelings. And ... that makes no sense. The dictionary says emotions are "a conscious mental reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling." So why do these reactions to experiences rule? Shouldn't the mind rule? And, yet, it happens all the time. We're told to "follow your heart" rather than "what do you think?" I've heard "I feel" replace "I think" at an extremely fast rate. (I heard a PhD explain, "I feel like this experiment should work this way." Really? You feel like it? How about "think"?)

It seems as if we're in a culture that values feelings over content. Our opinions are formed from feelings. Our plans are built on feelings. Our political views are propped up by feelings. We think that worship with feelings is superior to sacrificial worship. Romance is superior to self-sacrificial love. We recommend choosing your future based on your emotions rather than your mind. We choose spouses with feelings. (What ever happened to "I think"?) We too often let our hearts rule when our minds and wills ought to.

The greatest commandment tells us to love God with everything we are ... including specifically your mind (Matt 22:37). We are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2). Emotions, in fact, are a reflection of what our minds are doing with the events and circumstances around us. Shouldn't we be spending more time thinking better in order to be more obedient and even to feel better? Emotions are human and even God-given. I just fear we give them too much power.