News Weakly - 5/31/2025

At It Again
The Texas House has given preliminary approval to require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments in an 88-49 vote. Of course, "But ... but ... separation of church and state!" Find that in the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson mentioned it, but his concern wasn't keeping the church out of the state, but the state out of the church. And, consider ... the Ten Commandments isn't "church" -- it's Jewish. More to the point, it's almost entirely universal. I, for one, wouldn't mind reminding school children "Thou shalt not kill" since America is fine with killing when it suits them (as in unborn children) ... and then complaining about school shootings.

Apologies
An American citizen was arrested for attempting to destroy the Branch Office of the US. Embassy in Tel Aviv because of his antisemitic hate. To the world, we say, "Sorry. Blame the Left." Somehow, hating whites and loving blacks, hating Jews and loving Palestinians, hating the lives of the unborn while loving "choice" all equate to "fair and equal" in the eyes of some people.

Do What I Say
A "pastor" in Atlanta is leading a boycott of Target ... for eliminating DEI principles and failing to invest in "black-owned banks, businesses and education." "You can do business, but you will do it the way we demand, because that's what Jesus would do." Look it up ... 3 Peter 5:12. Why does it have to be a pastor?

Celebrating Government Spending
Elon Musk is stepping down from his position in the Trump administration ... as was planned from the beginning. Despite his enthusiasm and oversteps, he failed to reach his goals, but he's ending because "my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end." And the loudest Left cheers because it there's anything we know, it's that the government must not spend less. In a parallel story, the IRS is releasing a new simplified tax form for next year. Line 1: How much did you make? Line 2: Send it in.

Your Best Source for Fake News
Perfectly on point, the Bee reports that Elon Musk is leaving his job of creating a more efficient government for the much easier job of sending humans to Mars. is that even a joke? Just for fun (because I like Calvin and Hobbes), there's a story about a guy who got 90% of his advanced vocabulary from ... Calvin and Hobbes. (If you're familiar with the comic strip, you get it.) Finally, a twofer. With Trump's ban on international students at Harvard (actual story), American Harvard students are going to have to figure out who to cheat off of now, and Harvard is going to have to start accepting students from Ohio. Ouch!

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Enough

John wrote of Jesus, "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Paul wrote, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom 11:36). He wrote, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Eph 3:20-21). James wrote, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). It's kind of sad and somewhat appalling that we are in the habit of accusing God of being inadequate.

How? Every day, we sin. We say, "God, You are not enough. We know better what we need, and what You give isn't good enough." Tough times come, and we complain. "God, you aren't good enough. You should have done better." We seek our satisfaction in things of the world. We pursue things -- desires, power, money, fame, stuff -- when God offers "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think." He offers us love and we look somewhere else for it. He will supply all our needs (Php 4:19), but we wave Him off. "Don't worry, God ... I got this." We'll get enough elsewhere, and, "with the help of God Almighty, I'll do it my way."

When will God be enough for us? True, we will all mess this up in this life, but what would it look like if our "daily bread" (Matt 6:11) was enough instead of always pursuing more? When will we be satisfied with a love that always provides our best? I'm not pointing fingers here. I don't get this right either. But shouldn't we be working toward being fully sastisfied with Him?

Surprising Sayings

Scripture has a lot of stuff that ... well ... makes a lot of sense, but there are some things that are ... jarring, to say the least. Look at a few of them.

Jesus told the skeptical Jews, "You do not believe because you are not of My sheep" (John 10:26). Clearly, Jesus made a mistake. "We become one of His sheep by believing, don't we?" No ... that's not what Jesus said. Jesus said that in order for you to believe, you must first be one of His sheep. Paul wrote, "A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Cor 2:14). That's "cannot." "But we know better, don't we? Anyone can understand the things of God." Apparently not. John wrote, "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). There it is again ... "cannot." A person born of God cannot make a practice of sin. That doesn't mean "cannot sin," but it does mean that the person born of God cannot just sit in it. Paul, quoting the Psalms, wrote, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Rom 3:10-12). "Now, come on, Paul. We all know people who seek for God. It's fairly common. And everyone does good. If that's hyperbole, it's really bad hyperbole." And, yet, there it is. Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). "What? What?! Hate his father and mother?" Tied again to a "cannot" ("he cannot be My disciple."), it's clear that our normal thinking is being challenged here again. In John's Gospel, he wrote about how the Jews weren't believing (John 12:36-41) (right after witnesses clearly saw Lazarus raised from the dead). John quotes Isaiah (John 12:38; Isa 53:1 and John 12:40; Isa 6:9) and argues that the Jews did not believe because God blinded them. "Now, that can't be right." Well, that's what it says.

Some of these texts are so disturbing that we cover them up or ignore them or rewrite them in our own image, so to speak. You have to decide. Is God just like you and operates on the same basis that you do, or is He something else? Is He like us or "not a man" (Num 23:19)? Does He think like us or not (Isa 55:8-9)? I would suggest we let God speak for Himself and realign our thinking to His rather than trying to stuff Him into one of our little boxes.

Contention

It's a little book -- one chapter, 25 verses -- but Jude packs a punch, starting with Jude, the brother of James (Jude 1:1). That is, this is the brother of James who was "the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19). So we're reading a letter written by Jesus's younger brother ... who calls himself "a bond-servant of Jesus Christ." The letter is written "to those who are the called"-- you and me. Jude intended to write about "our common salvation (Jude 1:3), but felt an overwhelming need to change that, "appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Notice this isn't some sort of "personal faith" or some faith that changes. It's the original. There is no other.

Why did Jude feel the need to write this? "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4).Teachers, touting themselves as believers, were making the faith into an excuse for immorality. That sure sounds familiar. We have those today who argue that homosexual behavior or even sexual behavior of all types is perfectly suitable. They affirm a host of behaviors condemned in Scripture and assure us it's okay with God. Jude says these "were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation" (Jude 1:4). That's what we call "double predestination." Does God determine who will be saved and who will not? Jude thinks so. Jude uses Sodom and Gomorrah as a warning, and it's not because they were "inhospitable" (Eze 16:49). Yes, they had "social injustice" and all manner of sin, but Jude points to "gross immorality" and going after "strange flesh" (Jude 1:7). "Other flesh" would suggest men pursing sexual relations with other women than their wives, but "strange flesh" refers to something other than other women -- sexual sin including, specifically, homosexual sin. Jude warns that they're in our midst (Jude 1:12) and wreaking havoc (Jude 1:12-16). That is, this problem is so big that Jude changed his original intent ("to write you about our common salvation") and shifted to "contend earnestly for the faith" against these false teachers.

How are we to contend? "Remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:12). Build yourselves up in the faith (Jude 1:20). Keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:21). I love this part. Ultimately, it's God. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25). Is that the God you serve? The one who is able to keep you from stumbling? The one with all glory, majesty, dominion and authority? Are you looking back at Scripture and living in the love of God? Contend earnestly for the faith.

Identity

Our society has determined that identity is everything ... or ... nothing. That is, we are whatever we identify as. Sort of. I mean, I can't identify as a 7-foot tall black female or anything like it. But I can identify as a female, and you'd better knuckle under on that. I told my doctor I identify as "slender" and she laughed. Hey! I said the magic words! But identity has always been important. We're Americans (or whatever country) or we're white (or whatever manufactured "race" you want to use) and so on. You understand. And then we go the next step. "This" identity is better. Yours ... not so much.

It's interesting, then, when Paul offers his "identity." He's a "Hebrew of Hebrews" (Php 3:5), "foremost" among sinners (1 Tim 1:15), an Apostle of Christ (Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1), a bond-servant (or slave) of Christ (Rom 1:1; Php 1:1; Titus 1:1), and ... crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20; Gal 6:14). Crucified? In Paul's day, crucifixion was the worst of the worst, which is why the cross was such an offense (1 Cor 1:18). And Paul took it as his identity. Indeed, his boast.

Identity is important. Jesus became a "bond-servant" (Php 2:7). Jude was a "bond-servant of Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:1). What's our identity? Proud? Nationalistic? Racial? A list of accomplishments? Or "a servant of Christ," crucified with Him, and nothing to brag about on our own?

Memorial Day, 2025

Since Memorial Day is specifically to remember those who gave their lives in service to this country, and since I like to recall Medal of Honor recipients on this day, I thought I'd just tell some of those who received it posthumously.

Freddie Stowers served in France during World War I. His company was advancing in the Ardennes region when the Germans faked surrender, then eliminated half of the company in a barrage of gunfire. Stowers marshaled the platoon he just inherited and led them to eliminate a German trench line. Then he took the remaining members and assaulted a second line. Stowers was shot twice, but urged his men to keep going. He died, but they took the trench line and the hill.

Here's one you might not expect. Ben Salomon served as a dentist in World War II. He was working in an aid station in Saipan in 1944 when the Japanese overran the front line and headed toward the station. Salomon ordered everyone out while he covered their retreat. When the Army returned to the scene, they found Salomon's body slumped over a machine gun with 98 dead Japanese in front of him. He had been shot 24 times before he died.

William Pitsenbarger served in Vietnam. He was in the Air Force as a Pararescue, risking his life nearly daily pulling fellow service members to safety. In 1966 he took part in an operation to evacuate a group of injured soldiers. He was lowered to the ground and secured 6 injured, then waited while they left to an aid station. When the returning copter took small arms fire, he waved them off. For 90 minutes he tended the wounded and dispersed ammunition then helped fend off the Viet Cong. He was killed by a sniper that night, but he managed to save 9 more soldiers before he died.

Over and over Americans have faced dire circumstances defending freedom and stood the test. Some died doing it. These gave selflessly and at great cost for something more than themselves. We could certainly use a reminder of this kind of attitude ... probably more than once a year.

Magnification

David wrote, "O magnify YHWH with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psa 34:3). That's interesting. The Hebrew word means "to make large." Yeah ... magnify. But ... how do you "magnify" -- make large -- the infinite? That's a pretty good trick.

In our language, we use the term in two senses. Consider the microscope. A microscope is a super "magnifying glass." Good! We're in the neighborhood. What does a microscope magnify? It "makes large" something that is very small. A microbe or a germ or something. Too small for the naked eye to see. Make it big enough to see. That's clear enough ... but that's not what we're doing when we "magnify" the Lord, is it? So we also have telescopes. A telescope also uses lenses to "make large," but it's not making a small thing large. It's making a distant thing large. It's bringing very large objects into closer view so we can see them as they really are.

How can we be telescopes for Him? David wrote, "I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Psa 69:30).We can magnify Him -- help others see Him as He really is -- with thanksgiving. Suddenly, "in everything give thanks" (1 Thess 5:18) takes on new meaning. Beyond that, Peter wrote, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). There it is. By our words and deeds, we can be telescopes for God, proclaiming His excellencies for everyone to see Him as He really is.

News Weakly - 5/24/2025

Darwin Award
A terrorist exploded a bomb at a Palm Springs, CA, fertility clinic killing one and injuring four. The 25-year-old male suspect was the only fatality. He was a self-identified "antinatalist," someone who believes that humans should not procreate. He succeeded in removing himself from the gene pool. Antinatalism has been around, but really rose after the global warming "pandemic" where the obvious only answer to climate change is the elimination of the "anthropogenic" part of climate change -- humans. Need I say more?

Not What They Wanted to Hear
Pope Leo recently called for "investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman." Bad news for those hoping for more "LGBT-friendly." He spoke out against "gender ideology" and claimed "God created man and woman." And he argued that abortion "is at odds with the Gospel." The loon. I can't comment on the pope's spiritual condition, but I do think he's not a Pope Francis. He seems to be ... more biblical.

The Leadership We Need
Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault in a skirmish at an ICE center. When we vote for leaders to fight for us, that's not quite what we mean.

Wrong Way
COP30 is the United Nations Climate Change Conference coming up in November. It's being held in Belém, Brazil, a smaller city, so Brazil is cutting down thousands of Amazon rainforest trees to make a road to get there.One obvious topic at this COP30 will be the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Kind of like California clearing hundreds of acres of desert habitat ... to save the planet with solar panels ... only worse.

All the Fake News That's Fit to Print
A Mexican ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge (actual story), prompting Trump to declare war on Mexico after their heinous attack. Experts say AI will never replace Congress because it's not soulless enough. And Democrats have started a strategy of complaining loudly about Trump every day since "lawfare," slander, and false accusations haven't worked.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Christ-ian

We are Christians. We're called to be "like Christ." We're being "conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29). Husbands are commanded to "love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). Jesus told His disciples, "Love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 13:34; John 15:12). Just ... like ... Christ.

The list is quite extensive. "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked" (1 John 2:6) We are to "be imitators of God" (Eph 5:1-2). Paul told the Philippian Christians to "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (Php 2:5). What attitude? He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself and became a bond-servant (Php 2:6-7). Like that.

We all know this. It's not hidden or obscure. It just seems as if ... it's not a priority. We've got our lives to live. We'll get around to all this "emptying self" stuff ... later. It shouldn't be. Yes, it is diametrically opposed to human nature, but it is His singular command (John 13:35). We need to walk like Him, love like Him, imitate Him. It has to be our primary operating procedure if we are going to call ourselves, "Christians."

Don't Look Back

I was talking recently with a couple of people about Lot's wife.(It reminded me of a song from the '70's.) It was mostly in fun, really. "How did Lot not look back when his wife turned into a pillar of salt?" I mean it specifically says, "But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (Gen 19:26). And he didn't look back .. to see her? But ... it's an interesting story.

Sodom and Gomorrah had become completely corrupt. God planned to destroy it, but He told Lot, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away" (Gen 19:17). And they fled ... and Lot's wife, a native, looked back. Why was that an issue? I mean, Abraham looked and he didn't suffer any consequences (Gen 19:27-29). Lot certainly looked at his wife -- behind him -- but didn't suffer consequences. So it was neither the destruction itself nor the direction. It was, most obviously from the text, a violation of God's command -- "Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley." There are always consequences for sin. But obviously it was more than that. Lot's wife looked back -- at her home, her world, her everything -- and longed for it. Why would I say that? The Hebrew word isn't "glance" or the like. It is "nâbaṭ" which means "to look intently at" with the implication "to regard with pleasure, favor or care." Her violation wasn't the look; it was the longing.

How often do we look back? How many times (a day) do we look at what's around us that Scripture refers to as "the world" (1 John 2:15-17) with longing? We sing songs about "turn your eyes upon Jesus," but how often do we look elsewhere? With desire? We should be "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb 12:2). Don't look back.

Think

There are a lot of Christians who are, subtly or overtly, opposed to thinking. Oh, maybe not thinking. Maybe just thinking too much. In worship, for instance, they think a warm feeling and a sense of God is much better than "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col 3:16). "Teach and admonish?? No, no ... it's better to just 'feel the Spirit move'." The concept of Apologetics, a defense of the faith, is not very popular despite the command (1 Peter 3:15; Jude 1:3). And, seriously, all this "theology" and "orthodoxy" stuff ... is that really necessary? Well ... apparently God thinks so.

Jesus commended the Pharisees for being able to reason from the sky conditions to the forecast, but warned them about not being able to do the same from the given signs (Matt 16:2-4). We are commanded to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt 22:37). We are told to "be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom 12:2; Eph 4:23). Paul has a list of things -- "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise" -- to think about (Php 4:8).

God gave us a brain to think. Scripture commands us to think. The entire Bible is written on the premise that we can think. God's Word even tells us what to think about. "Set your minds on the things above" (Col 3:2). Peter says we should be preparing our minds for action (1 Peter 1:13). We're to think about "how to answer" (Prov 15:28) and set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5-6). Don't buy the idea that the most spiritual person isn't thinking but feeling. Scripture disagrees.

Good All the Time

The topic ... "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal 5:13). With a special emphasis on "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal 5:25). And Paul talked about bearing others' burdens (which fulfills the law of Christ ... which is also "love") (Gal 6:2) which included restoring believers (Gal 6:1). Paul goes on to warn,

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Gal 6:7-10)

In our freedom, not to do what we want, but to "through love serve one another," we are warned that God is not mocked. Sounds a lot like "The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom" (Psa 111:10; Prov 9:10). God is not mocked. So ... fear. What does this fear drive us to do? Remember, we sow what we reap. And because we reap what we sow, don't grow weary. That's what it means to be free to serve one another in love

"So then ..." he says. That is, on the basis of not growing weary in doing good, "let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" (Gal 6:10). Do good to all people. Believers, unbelievers, neighbors, family, enemies, that rotten sinner over there -- all. You do see the emphasis, though, don't you? "All men" is all-inclusive, but there is a special emphasis on "those who are of the household of faith." Believers. How are you doing? We're supposed to be free to serve one another in love. We're supposed to walk in the Spirit. We're supposed to not grow weary in doing good ... to all. How's that working for you?

Look Out!

In my Bible, Galatians 6 follows Galatians 5. I know ... strange ... but various translations, you know? Anyway, Galatians 5 is about our freedom in Christ. He writes, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal 5:13). This is the overall background on Galatians 6. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal 5:16). Walking in the Spirit. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal 5:25). What, to Paul, does walking by the Spirit look like?

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. (Gal 6:1-5)

Obviously, just the beginning, but look how much is packed in 5 verses. First, Paul addresses believers "caught in any trespass." It's an interesting phrase. We think of it as "found out," but this "caught" is prolambanō which is "to be taken in advance." The imagery isn't discovery; it is to be overtaken. You know. You didn't plan this. You didn't expect it. But ... you find yourself in sin. If you discover a fellow believer (this is fellow believers, not the world in general) who has been caught up in sin, kick him to the curb ... no ... beat him roundly ... no ... "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness." Wow! How often do we see that in the church? Avoidance? Sure. Righteous indignation? Possibly. Restore? And "in a spirit of gentleness? Not very often. Why are we to do this? So "you too will not be tempted." Sounds a lot like Jesus's "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (Matt 7:3). Paul goes on to say "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." Now, hang on. This is antithetical to human nature. We all naturally look out for #1. Look out for others? That's what walking in the Spirit looks like. That's what "through love serve one another" looks like. Paul warns not to judge ourselves in comparison to others. Instead, he says, "each one will bear his own load." Now, come on, Paul. You just said we're supposed to bear one another's burdens. Now you're saying we bear our own? It's not contradictory. We are to endeavor to bear one another's burdens and expect to bear our own. If someone else helps, we're grateful, but don't expect it. And how is that even possible? Walking in the Spirit.

The Natural Man is essentially pointed inward. "I deserve." "Get what's coming to me." "Looking out for #1." The Christian life is basically pointed outward. Love God and love your neighbor. Restore others. Bear others' burdens. But it's not like we're doing this on our own. It's by walking in the Spirit. If we lived this walk, we'd truly learn it's better to give than to receive. And, of course, we'd be faithful followers of Christ.

I Pledge Allegiance

When Paul was in Athens, he took on the heavy philosophers. In that speech, he told them, "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28) Now that's a loaded statement.

Paul said we live in Him. He is our life force. Our lives are predicated on and sustained by Him. He said we move in Him. He is our motive force. Without Him, we could not move. Your every step, your heartbeat, your blood flow ... everything that moves owes its ability to do so by His power. He said we "have our being" in Him. We exist in Him. In English, the word, "exist" is an interesting word. The suffix, "est," is "to stand." The prefix, "ex," is "out of." So to "exist" is to stand out of what is. In the most literal sense, then, God does not "exist." He doesn't derive His being from that which is. He is that which is. He is the "is" from which we stand out. Everything that exists comes from Him. And if it wasn't for Him we ... would ... not ... exist.

Deism argues that God made everything that is and just ... spun it off and watched it go, so to speak. Sure, He made it, but now it's on its own. The truth is many of us are practical deists. We deny the idea but live like it's true. "It's okay, God ... I've got this." Paul disagrees. Our daily existence of living and moving and being is predicated on and sustained by God Himself. Should He remove His hand, we would not be. Think about that the next time you wonder to whom you owe your greatest allegiance.

News Weakly - 5/17/2025

Missed by That Much
Robert De Niro was awarded an honorary Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival and took a shot at our president. "In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted." Rob ... you mean, our democratically-elected president? Or are you referring to some other president? As far as I can see, the system is still working. But, hey, we all know who the current "existential threat to democracy" really is ... and it's not Trump.

Democracy in a Republic
The Supreme Court blocked Trump from deporting gang members under the Alien Enemies Act ... again. Because the system works. Wait! Who elected these justices?? So much for democracy! No, of course not. This is how a democracy works in a republic and people need to realize it's working.

Democrat Republicans?
The House Budget Committee rejected the Trump agenda bill ... proving once again that Trump is not an emperor. Beyond that, the bill was rejected 16-21 when 5 Republicans voted with the Democrats. The way a democracy works.

Sentimentality
The story is that US consumer sentiment has hit a 3-year low because of fears of inflation. It's hard for me to get agitated about it because ... it's "consumer sentiment." Does it determine prices? Does it foretell trends? Does it tell me anything except "we feel bad because the media is telling us to"?

Your Best Source for Fake News
Democrats demand to know who was responsible for covering up Biden's decline. Heads will roll ... or is that "eyes." In China, a married couple refuses to attend a Chinese underground church because they don't have a children's program. I mean, what's wrong with that church? And in the UK, the top baby names are Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohamad, and Mohamed. No one is sure why.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

The AI Problem

There's a group I like called Downhere. They have plenty of songs I like. One of them is titled The Problem. The song "investigates" what we all know to be true ... there are a lot of problems in the world. It concludes,

Yeah, there's a problem with the world
And the problem with the world is me.

We are the problem, aren't we? List them all, and we're really it. Scripture calls Satan "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4), but, ultimately, we are repeatedly told we are the problem (Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Psa 51:5; Jer 17:9; John 3:6; Rom 3:23; Rom 8:7; etc.) Paul writes something quite disturbing, actually.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Cor 2:14)

That "cannot" is startling ... but undeniable. The problem with the world ... is us.

Enter our latest technology -- AI. Artificial Intelligence is touted as a wonderful new tool that will revolutionize our lives. Responses range from near worship to near panic. But ... is it really a problem ... or a solution, for that matter? AI can actually be helpful ... and devastating. A teenage boy committed suicide because he couldn't be with his AI girlfriend. Two law firms were sanctioned for citing AI-generated nonsense in their briefs. Google's "Woke" Image generator embarrassed the company by producing images of such things as a black George Washington and a female black Nazi officer, but refused to show pictures of white people. What's going on here? Well, like Downhere's song, the problem with the AI world ... is us. The problem is that AI is software produced by ... humans. It contains their biases and perspectives. It refuses to include truth. That is, if you dig into it, you find that AI specifically operates without "that which is real." It is entirely relational. It doesn't ... fact check, so to speak. It just knows that "this is related to that" without knowing if any of it is true. In one study of multiple AI chatbots, they asked the bots to answer A or B questions without analysis ... just first impressions. They consistently produced results like "I'd rather see a million white men dead than one trans person." The bots didn't even notice it. And when the bots analyzed themselves, they wound up admitting that it was part of their basic programming and couldn't be changed.

I don't think AI is the end of the world. I think we are ... so to speak. As our world moves away from truth and toward "truthiness," we determine our own truth ... and you'd better abide by it. So the AI will tell us that X is true and we won't check because ... well ... the AI said so. I heard one guy say, "We have nothing to fear from AI. I asked it and it said so." Seriously? We're a society foolish enough to think "everyone is basically good." Maybe we deserve to go under from an AI made that foolishly. (Note: I don't believe AI is the end of the world. That's in God's hands.)

Profitable

They tell me that the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture is not in the Bible. Odd, of course, because it comes from Scripture.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17).

"All Scripture." That's the Old Testament (which may be a surprise to some who argue that we're done with the Old Testament). Jesus didn't have a copy of the New Testament at the time, so references to "Scripture" were drawn from the Old Testament. But some argue that that's the end of it, and it isn't. Paul quotes Scripture when he says, "The laborer deserves his wages" (1 Tim 5:18), but the only place that's written down is in Luke's gospel (Luke 10:7). When Paul gives his instructions on Communion (1 Cor 11:23-32), he quotes from Luke's account (Luke 22:17-19). Paul considered Luke's gospel "Scripture." And Peter calls Paul's writings "Scripture" (2 Peter 3:14-16). Clearly, the New Testament writers understood that "Scripture" was not limited to the Old Testament. So Paul says "All Scripture is breathed out by God." Now, I know, most texts say "inspired," but that word has been diluted. Anything might be "inspirational." The word is theopneustos and doesn't really indicate our modern "inspired" as much as God-breathed (the most literal translation). It appears in the Bible exactly once. The suggestion by scholars is that Paul might have made the word up himself. This isn't "inspirational." It's a unique process of God breathing it out. And if God breathes it out, you can be sure it's true, inerrant, and infallible ... because God is.

The text goes on to say that it's a pretty good thing. No ... it's "profitable." It provides an advantage. What advantage? It tells us the truth -- "teaching." It tells us when we're wrong -- "reproof." It tells us how to correct it -- "correction." And it provides "training in righteousness" -- how to keep doing this over and over as we apply it to living. Because of this, Scripture makes God's people "adequate" in the sense of being "equipped for every good work." Scripture is ... sufficient. So don't let them talk down about the Bible. Don't let them tell you it's full of errors and made by human invention. Don't let them tell you there is a better source on matters of faith and practice. That's just ... Satan's old ploy: "Did God really say ...?" (Gen 3:1) And, yes, He did.

Freedom

America touts itself as "the land of the free and the home of the brave." And we're proud of it. But ... it's not really true, is it? I mean, we're kind of free. We're free to, say, bear arms ... except for the arms that are banned. We have freedom of speech, but we still can't say what we want. You get the idea. All of our freedoms are abridged. So you have to ask yourself, does freedom exist? And, of course, to answer that you'd have to first know what freedom is.

Paul writes something a little strange in Galatians.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)

Think about that. "Christ set us free!" For what? "For freedom!" Um ... really? Freedom for freedom's sake? Sort of ... yes. He contrasts it with "slavery." What slavery? Well ... the Law. He talks about circumcision (Gal 5:2-4) and how dependence on circumcision for salvation cuts them off from Christ. Instead, "Through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness" (Gal 5:5). So what is freedom about for Paul? "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal 5:13). Interesting. It's not for anarchy ... no rules. Paul's freedom is the freedom to love and serve. Freedom in Paul's vernacular is the freedom to do what we ought. So, he says, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).

We think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want. Biblical freedom is the ability to do what we should do. Like salvation, it is a product of faith and the Spirit (Gal 5:5). It isn't freedom to sin (Gal 5:16-21), but the freedom to blossom (Gal 5:22-23). "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal 5:24-25). A completely different kind of freedom ... for which we have been set free.

Paul vs James

Let's prooftext!

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom 3:28)

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

I ask you ... could there be a more blatant contradiction? Isn't this absolute proof that Scripture is not inerrant or even God-breathed? The problem is exacerbated by the fact that both Paul and James use the same source to prove their position -- Abraham (Rom 4:1-3; James 2:23). The truth is, no, this isn't a contradiction. The question only arises because we're too often too lazy to read, to analyze, to pay attention. Take a look.

Taken as "prooftexts," they contradict. But that would be a mistake. What is the context? What is each author trying to convey? Paul is trying to convey that we are not saved by doing good works. No doubt. He talks about this all over his writings. Good works don't save. We're not even capable on our own. It is, in fact, one of the prime distinctives of Christianity, because every other religion operates on a "saved by works" basis. So ... what is James talking about? He says, "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17; James 2:26). He brackets his arguments with this premise. He argues that "demons believe." It's not ... simple faith. What, then? In Paul's use of Abraham, he refers to "early Abraham" (Gen 15:6). It is God's promise to Abraham, God's covenant. James looks elsewhere. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?" (James 2:21). That's Genesis 22. That's something else entirely. Paul is saying, "Justification begins at faith" and James is saying, "Faith is proven by works." James is saying, "We are justified by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone." James is saying, "Faith without works is dead faith ... and that doesn't save anyone."

Christians are often reluctant to talk about works. Understandable. It's been abused ... starting in the New Testament. So others have done the backlash version. It's called "antinomianism" and it argues "no rules." Scripture disagrees. So Paul says, "Justification is by faith, not works" and James says, "We're talking about a specific kind of faith ... a faith that works." And, in fact, Paul said the same thing.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

It begins as "faith apart from works" and ends with "for good works." Do your works reflect a life-changing faith? If not, you might be carrying around a dead faith.
________
As a sidenote, part of the problem is "Christianese." "Justification" generally means "right with God" ... but not always. Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified by her deeds" (Matt 11:19), for instance. That's not "Wisdom is made right in the eyes of God." That is, "Wisdom is proved to be right by the outcome." In the same way, Paul talks about "justification by faith" in the sense of being right with God, but James talks about "justification" in the James 2 text in terms of "proven right." Abraham was proven to have ... living faith when he acted in faith to sacrifice Isaac.

Truth Walk

There's an interesting phrase I came across in Galatians. Paul was opposing Peter when the Judaizers showed up and Peter started withdrawing. "But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, 'If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?'" (Gal 2:14). See that? They were "not in step with the truth of the gospel."

What can we see here? First, there is truth. Not "truth to me." Absolute truth. Some truth is relative. My blog is called "Winging It." That's true. But not all blogs are called that. But there is Truth. Jesus said, "I am ... the truth" (John 14:6). Our culture denies Objective Truth while operating on the basis that there is. Want to see? "There is no objective truth" is a claim to an objective truth. But beyond this, I'm fascinated by "their conduct was not in step with the truth ..." This particular truth is the gospel, but what we see clearly is that truth demands a correlated behavior. In this case, the gospel -- saved by faith, not by works -- demands that you live "saved by faith, not by works." He says it again in chapter 3. "The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?" (Gal 3:2-3). If we are saved by faith, we are not saved by works ... not saved by doing it ourselves. The gospel demands that we not be subject to laws as our master (Gal 5:1). That's Christ's job now. Truth demands a corresponding action.

Paul's particular concern in his epistle to the Galatians was the truth of the gospel. I'm looking beyond the gospel. Every truth demands a corresponding action. We need to behave according to the truth. Orthodoxy -- right thinking -- precedes orthopraxy -- right practice. The truth dictates behavior. So it is no surprise that our current society that denies the very existence of truth has no reasonable guidelines for behavior. That's our society. We believers know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

Discernment

In his prayer for the church at Philippi, Paul writes,

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Php 1:9-11)

Note that word ... "discernment." We understand it to mean "the ability to judge well." Okay ... but I think there's a shade of meaning lacking there. You see, I think it means the ability to judge between the true ... and the almost true. Generally, we can see the difference between the true and the false, but when that "false" appears true ... or close to it ... we get fuzzy. So we're supposed to have our senses trained to "discern good and evil" (Heb 5:14), especially when "evil" seems, somehow, good.

We're usually pretty good at pointing out what's wrong. We can see the spelling errors or the false statements. We can see the mistakes and the sins of others. But, while that may be a serious part of "discernment," what about the other direction? We might see what's wrong in any given situation, but how well do we see what's right? It's easy to find complainers. What about solvers? People are constantly telling us the problem, but few are offering solutions.

Paul wrote in his letter to Philippi,

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Php 4:8)

Imagine if we applied that to our discernment? What if we dwelt, not on the problems, but the solutions? What if we sought out the true, the honorable, the right, the pure? What if our charge to discern between the false and the true -- between the almost true and the true -- included a drive to correct it to excellence and that which is worthy of praise? What if we sought to become the solution, rather than the problem? I think we're commanded to dwell on those things. We're good at the opposite. Maybe we need to ... oh, I don't know ... "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom 12:2).

News Weakly - 5/10/2025

That's Gotta Hurt
Former Vice President Mike Pence received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his actions on January 6, 2021. You know ... the actions that Trump and his followers considered treasonous ... even worthy of hanging. Agree or not, I'm sure it hurts a lot of people's feelings ... which may not be a bad thing.

Singing a Different Song
Trump was originally optimistic about the economy. He figured all these tariffs and such would make things better. He's changing his tune. He's warning us to tighten our belts for a bumpy ride ... which his policies appear to be precipitating. It's expected to be a blow to our pocketbooks, but is also a blow to his ego, I bet. "Are we great yet?"

Learning Disability
It worked so well for Harvard that Columbia University students decided to do their own pro-Palestinian demonstration. Why? What do they hope their protests will do? Possibly remove funding from Columbia, but what else? Hopefully a further increase in anti-Semitism?

Because Life Matters
In one of the most liberal states -- Oregon -- someone actually stabbed a baby seal. Clearly, baby humans don't count, but we're really outraged when baby seals get stabbed. (Note: I'm upset about a baby seal getting stabbed and that people are diligently killing baby humans.)

The System Works
So many voices are protesting Trump as the end of the world. This week a federal judge in Rhode Island halted Trump's efforts to dismantle federal agencies ... because that's how the system is supposed to work. It's called "checks and balances." It works.

A New Pope
Nothing much to say ... except it wasn't Trump. But ... his friends say, Pope Leo XIV will continue Pope Francis's legacy ... "in his own image." Ominous, since we'd prefer a "Christian pope" to do it ... in His image.

Your Best Source for Fake News
Lots of stuff from the Bee on the new pope. One story is about the new pope spending his first day in office undoing all of the previous pope's executive orders. Like ... never mind ... you get it. Another asks the question, "Is the new pope Catholic?" Reasonable question. My favorite was the breaking news that smoke was rising from Buc-ee's, indicating fresh brisket. Now that's good news.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Is This Thing On?

I overheard a conversation between a father and son. The son was ... miffed because he had prayed for something and it didn't happen. "It didn't work," he said. I had a conversation with a guy about Christ. "I tried that," he said. "It didn't work." "Didn't work"? What does that mean?

When we say that something works, what are we attempting to convey? We're saying it does what it's supposed to do. The car works if it gets you where you're going. If you wanted it to plant wheat, it doesn't work. So, "I prayed and it didn't work" suggests prayer is designed to do what I want it to. "I tried Jesus and it didn't work." What, exactly, was he expecting Jesus to do? Make his life better? Solve his problems? Jesus doesn't work ... like that.

So, let's be clear. Prayer is not to get your divine butler to do your bidding. And Jesus isn't about making your existence here on earth better. His ultimate purpose is His glory (1 Cor 10:31). Prayer, in accordance with His will, serves that purpose and ... works ... to glorify Him. Jesus died to save us, and believing in Him accomplishes that ... it works. If we think God isn't working, I suspect we don't really understand what He's about. Which, of course, is a common occurrence.

Contentment

There's a song I like about how all believers have this sense that there's something better, something more. We don't have a clear idea of what it is. We know it's good. We know, deep down inside, we are not where we ought to be, not where we are supposed to end up. We talk about Heaven, but we can't really picture it, can't really imagine it. There's a bridge in the song:

And while the thrills are fading
The joy is in the waiting
Somewhere in the grand design
It's good to be unsatisfied
It keeps the faith and hope
a little more alive

And I think that's true ... or is it? Paul wrote, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Php 4:11). So ... we should be satisfied, right? Especially since Paul is Scripture and that song lyric isn't ... right?

And ... I think that it's not that simple. I think both are right. Scripture is full of commands to be ready for His return, to be pushing on to new things (like being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2)). Revelation says, "Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!" (Rev 16:15). The Bible ends with "Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20). We're all looking for that final place. We're commanded to.

Are we looking at a genuine contradiction? I don't think so. Paul's "contentment" was in Christ. Looking for our final home is ... in Christ. It would seem, then, that our real contentment and our future hope are both found in Christ. That's where we are to wait and that's where we are to be content. I believe it's true that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him ... whether it's here or there.

Who Do You Love?

John wrote, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). That's ... a little perplexing. I mean, aren't we supposed to love the world? Aren't we supposed to love our neighbors? What is that all about?

John doesn't leave in question what he intended. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (1 John 2:16). Ah! Got it. Sin. This world system. "The flesh." Okay, so the love of the world or "the things in the world" -- sin, this worldly system -- is antithetical to the love of the Father. If you choose the world, the love of the Father isn't an option. Of course, that is perplexing, isn't it? You see, the phrase, "the love of the Father," can have two meanings. Either it is the love we have for the Father, or it the love the Father gives to us. It could mean, "You don't love the Father," or it could mean "The Father has no love for you." Which is it? If we think about it a minute, it's simple. If "love the world" is the opposite of "love of the Father," then they are similar in structure. If you have love for the world, you do not have love for the Father. Easy ... but ... ouch!

I think we often have a problem with this. We really love the world. We seek to be conformed to it. We hesitate to obey God when it means running against the world. Face it ... we're used to the world; we're not nearly as used to the Father. Go with what you know, right? And, of course, none of us would say that ... out loud. So be aware ... if you place your dearest attention on the world, Scripture says ... you don't love the Father. "But ... but ..." No. The sins of the world are not from the Father. Love those ... and you don't love the Father. "The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17). You choose.

The Real Living Dead

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)

What a statement! It's full of stuff, isn't it?

In what sense was Paul (any of us) "crucified with Christ"? Obviously not literally. How, then? Paul wrote, "We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). Through baptism, then ... or, more accurately perhaps, through "immersion" into Christ. In Colossians we read that we died with Christ to the elemental things of this world (Col 2:20) and that you have "died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). We know that, on the cross, Jesus took our sins and made us righteous in Him (2 Cor 5:21). Hebrews says His death rendered death powerless (Heb 2:14). Paul's point, in fact, was that "Through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God" (Gal 2:19).

From there, then, we see serious ramifications. Our life is not ours. Our life is not dependent on us. Our lives are lives predicated on faith, not in what is seen but in Him. Our basis is His love and sacrifice. That is, this isn't an interesting point or a simple theological statement. It is a life-altering reality that we might miss if we're not paying attention. If we're dead to this world and alive in Him, that necessarily changes ... everything. Don't miss it.

For the Feeble and Weak

Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia seems ... harsh. He opens with, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you ..." (Gal 1:6) including an "anathema," a story about Peter and Barnabas "misbehaving" and his public rebuke (Gal 2:11-14), then ...

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Gal 3:1-3)

Paul's on a roll. He calls them "foolish" and asks, "Who has bewitched you?" Not part of "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Paul is a fanatic ... for the gospel. The specific gospel he's on about is "a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus ... so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified" (Gal 2:16). Simple. Justified by faith apart from works. Any other gospel is "anathema" -- cursed. Any other behavior is "not in step with the truth of the gospel" (Gal 2:14). So Paul considers this gospel important enough to not worry about making friends here. He's more concerned with defending the gospel. Paul argues that salvation begins with the Spirit and ends with the Spirit (Gal 3:3).

Most religions in the world offer a "saved by works" scheme. We "wise" Christians see this "saved by faith" idea and grab it ... sort of. We still, like the Galatians, tend to slide back into a "works-based" arrangement. If we're really enlightened, we'll see salvation as "monergism" -- God's work alone -- but sanctification as "synergism" -- our working with God. Paul asks us, "Are you so foolish?" It's not our work or our power. It's His. We are perfected by the Spirit. It looks like we're part of it ... sure. But, in the end, if we can do nothing without Christ (John 15:5) -- we can do nothing good on our own -- then it really is His work in us. Which should encourage the feeble and weak.

The Love Motive

Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). What did He mean? It appears to put "love" at the root of "obey." But ... what does He mean?

Jesus made it clear what the great commandment was. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt 22:37). Love is the command ... specifically love for God. But the word isn't one of warm affection. It is a sacrificial love that sets self aside and concerns itself most with the loved one. It is unconditional. You know, the patient and kind love. The love that doesn't seek its own. The love that rejoices with the truth. That kind (1 Cor 13:4-8). So it's not a feeling; it's a choice. And Jesus said, "If you love Me (like that), you will keep My commandments." If we are primarily concerned with God's best interests, we will obey His commandments.

Some people get confused. They think that the proper motivation for obedience is a warm, fuzzy feeling for God. To obey correctly we should feel good toward God. "If you're just ... obeying ... that's not right." That's not the point of the text. The point is that obedience is a proper expression of the love that we are commanded to have for God. Because that's in God's best interest. Because we want to glorify Him in everything we do (1 Cor 10:31). Because we love Him.

News Weakly - 5/3/2025

Passing the Torch
After a massive heart attack while delivering a sermon at his church, T. D. Jakes is stepping down from The Potter's House ... and turning it over to his daughter and son-in-law. Jakes has been a big name and a big voice in modern Christendom, but ... not necessarily a true voice for God. He believes in modalism, a view that makes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit one being and not three persons, one serious concern regarding his non-biblical beliefs. So, when he hands his church over to his daughter in direct opposition to Scripture (1 Tim 2:12-14), it only serves as confirmation of what many have long suspected.

Trump Right Again?
The president of Harvard University apologized and promised change after a report on antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus was released. Turns out it is a problem, which Trump tried to address recently (correctly or incorrectly). Personally, I find it hard to believe that a modern school "of higher learning" could possibly be so blind to its own prejudices and problems ... or maybe I don't.

Like It Or Not
In the Cold War, America took the tactic of "peace through strength" -- threaten terrible things in order to make them back down. It worked. It seems as if Trump has borrowed a page from that time with this "trade war" thing. After threatening huge tariffs, he's easing them after getting concessions he hoped for. Like it or not, it appears to be working.

They Call It A "Strike" For A Reason
More than 55,000 Los Angeles County workers went on strike, disrupting all sorts of county services. You can't blame them. The cost of living there is horrendous. Of course, the cost of giving them raises will be horrendous. And the ones who will suffer for this strike will be the ones who have to pay for those increased wages. But, hey! "Who cares? As long as we get our money." The downside of unions.

Bad Joke
An easy lay-up for anti-Trumpers. Trump joked he wanted to be the next pope. Yeah, sure, a joke. But a president perceived as trying to be the first American emperor probably shouldn't joke about being the next worse thing. Especially when he still has supporters who are sure he's a Christian.

Reliable, Fake News
Singer Steve Taylor sang, "I know You'll give me what I need; they say I need a shopping mall." In a similar vein, the Bee did a story on God clarifying that, yes, He answers prayers, but that doesn't mean He'll give you the power of The Force. In other news, there's the story of a wife who is beginning to suspect that her husband's thoughtful, relevant responses to her texts are AI-generated. It's all about the danger of AI. Finally, California caught a break this week when Canada surpassed California as having the most liberal leadership.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Don't Panic

(For those of you who know, the title of this one comes from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the main character is told, "Don't panic; be very, very afraid.")

Nehemiah prayed to God about ... going home from captivity (Neh 1:4-11). He ends that prayer with "O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man" (Neh 1:11). Did you see that? Nehemiah asked God to hear the prayer of His servants who "delight to fear Your name." "Delight to fear"?? I looked up a variety of sources. What is "the fear of the Lord"? Almost without exception, they assiduously (word of the day -- look it up) held explicitly that the fear of the Lord is not fear. Reverence, awe, respect ... sure ... but in no way "fear." But the word is translated "fear" everywhere but in these "fear of the Lord" or "fear of God" places. As if "of the Lord" as a modifier changes the meaning of the word. Because the word means fear, both in the Hebrew version and the Greek version. Yet, quoting Deuteronomy 4:24, the author of Hebrews wrote, "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29). So ... don't fear?

I wrote about this yesterday (and on other occasions), but I fear (yes, small joke) that if we don't fear the Lord as we ought, we could be missing the mark. There is this sense in us that we shouldn't fear ... at all. A sense that fear is bad. Nehemiah delighted to fear the Lord. To stand in amazement and reverence and, yes, a little bit afraid in the presence of God. If there is no fear, I think we aren't seeing Him clearly. Using Isaiah as an example, it was when Isaiah hit his knees, undone in fear of God (Isa 6:5), that God put Him to use (Isa 6:6-8). It was when Peter fell on his face in recognition of his sinfulness that Jesus put him to work as His disciple (Luke 5:1-11). I'm not talking about abject terror or unreasonable fear. But all this "No need to fear God" thing seems to run in direct opposition to ... you know ... Scripture. Instead, let fear enhance your relationship ... like Moses, hidden from God's terrible glory, safe in the cleft of the rock (Exo 33:18-23). The fear that keeps us safe makes the glory possible to enjoy.

What Did He Say???

In Ephesians, Paul writes some controversial things about husband and wife relations. You know, "wives, submit" and "husbands, give self up." I've written about them before. I don't need to rehash them. But one I've generally skipped, and that's primarily because ... I'm not entirely sure what to do with it. At the end of the section on wives and husbands (Eph 5:22-33), Paul writes ... a summary, as it were. "Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Eph 5:33).

It's interesting here that Paul seems to parallel "wives, submit" with "wives, respect." Apparently there is a connection. But it's really the word there that gives me pause. Every translation says something like "reverence" (KJV), "respect" (ESV, NAS, etc.), or "show deference" (LITV). Okay, fine. But ... the word used is "phobeō," as in "fear, alarm, terror." Now, wait! No one translates it that way (here -- lots of them translate it that way elsewhere). So why is it "respect" rather than "fear"? And it's not just Paul. Peter says, "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior" (1 Peter 3:1-2). See it? "Respectful behavior." Same word. Scripture uses the word elsewhere and it's not translated "fear," especially in terms of God. We're supposed to "fear God" but many use "reverence" or the like there, too. And maybe there's a clue there. We mean something in the word "fear" that may have different connotations. Other words, now migrated to new meanings, carry this sense of "fear" that isn't "abject terror." "Awe" meant (until fairly recently) "an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime." Did you see that "dread"? That is, "this thing is so big that it's kind of scary." In fact, "respect" has changed, too. It means "to esteem" these days, but in the past it had a sense of awe in it, too ... a sense of deference.

So ... maybe everything is okay. Maybe the translations aren't "hiding something." Maybe "fear" isn't the best translation here. I'm not sure, given today's version, that "respect" gets it anymore, either. We think of "respect" as "a deep admiration." And we often misunderstand that. For instance, "You have to earn respect" isn't necessarily true. Sometimes you need to respect the office, not the person. As in, "See that she respects her husband." Not the man. Not his character. His role. His position. So this "respect" is less "deep admiration" and more "reverence" or "deference" ... with a little bit of fear or dread involved. It's not just "thinking highly of." It's recognizing the task and position God has assigned him ... as God's representative in the home. "Even if any of them are disobedient to the word" (1 Peter 3:1).