July 2026
#75 Curse of Legalism 7/5/2026
Please consider:
2 Cor 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
It almost seems like a paradox; however, it is the Truth of the Word of God. The standards and guidelines of the law(s) may be Godly; however, to the degree that their enforcement relies singularly on the strength of the flesh (mind or body) they are oppressive, abrasive, confrontive and counter-productive. They result in suppressed thoughts, feelings and emotions. In time, all that is suppressed builds internal pressures that are toxic to heart, mind, body, soul, spirit, and relationships.
The net result is an ongoing vacillating swing, back and forth, liberal-conservative, war-peace and other ways of the world. These are not characteristic of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ.
This becomes self-evident in the conflict of much of our current culture and politics. The perception that might makes right is not consistent with the character of Godliness. Even the concepts of majority rules are potentially inflammatory because it does not really get to the heart of the matter.
In essence, to the degree that we accept these lesser standards, we are remiss in bearing witness to the profundity of Christianity. We may ignore, deny, defend, or rationalize; however, that does not justify our ways.
It is only as we, individually and collectively, mature in our Faith that we are increasingly anointed by the Spirit of God and inspired and empowered to be agents of righteousness.
Jas 3:17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
This can only be accomplished as we seek God to change our hearts, not merely our fleshly ways.
2 Cor 5:16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
#76 Apostles or Disciples 07/12/2026
Please consider:
The Great Commission
Matt 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Disciples are students, learning to discipline themselves into conformity of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ. A good disciple can quote scripture and articulate the "fruit of the Spirit". They have the knowledge of God and not yet the Heart of God, the Fruit of God and the Character of God.
Apostles are those who knew and know God. This is not limited to merely those of the past, nor those of the future. It is relevant here and now.
Heb 8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
As we mature in our Faith, we manifest and witness the Fruit of the Spirit. It is not merely a matter of knowledge, it is a matter of knowing.
1 Jn 2:26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Gal 4:19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
The ultimate quest is to Know the Living Word not merely have knowledge of the Written Word. We are called to be Apostles not merely disciples.
#77 I Choose Christianity 07/19/2026
Please consider:
I
have chosen to be a Christian because I believe that Christianity is
profoundly and blessedly unique. That uniqueness includes, but is not
limited to:
- Following the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ
- Recognizing that not only was Jesus Christ a prophet and a teacher, He demonstrated the full spectrum of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Knowing that in God we live and move and have our being
- Knowing the manifest presence of the Spirit of Christ within, which is our hope of glory
- Knowing God's still, small Voice
- Obeying God's still, small Voice
- Thriving in the manifest Fruit of the Spirit
- Serving in the manifest Gifts of the Spirit
- Knowing that Salvation is merely a profound beginning and that, by way of Sanctification, it is possible to manifest an even greater anointing of God's Spirit as Christ is being formed in us
- Knowing the profound power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names
- Discerning that which is not consistent with God's highest and best
- Distinguishing between the Tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil
- Discerning that which may be well intended but is merely a cosmetic attempt to achieve Godly objectives by fleshly means
- Cultivating the character, image, and likeness of the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ
- Harvesting the Fruit of the Spirit and not religious nuts
For
me, Christianity is more than the consideration of Salvation for
eternity. It is absolutely a profoundly unique way of life — "God's
kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." I don't pretend to know all
the religions of the world. I do know that there are some similarities
with other religions. Certainly, the closest religion is Judaism.
However, even with Judaism, there are profound differences — not only
that which is common knowledge. If I am not mistaken, Judaism relies
significantly on disciplines of the flesh, both mental and physical, to
comply with God's standards. It relies on the hand of God to choreograph
the circumstances of life. It has to do with the knowledge that they
are children of God. These perceptions are wonderful, however they fall
far short of God's provisions for Christianity. When we are grafted to
the vine, God begins a process of transforming our nature to comply with
His image and likeness, His will and His way — not by the strength of
our flesh but by the power of His Spirit.
Ephesians
6:12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
He
transforms our hearts — our character and disposition — to sow and
reap, to attract and repel, the blessings of Godliness (James 3:18). The
transformation provides for us an intimate relationship with Him as we
become manifestations of His image and likeness. This is profoundly more
than a "personal relationship." As it is written, "in
Him do we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28), and it is the
anointing of His Spirit — "the mystery hidden for ages and generations"
— that is our "hope of glory."
John
14:6-7 — Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you
will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen
him."
As
we are sanctified, anointed, and purified, we are becoming new
creations in Christ — evermore capable of doing what Jesus Christ of
Nazareth did and "even greater things" (John 14:12).
Hebrews
5:7-14 — During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers
and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save
him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son
though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once
made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey
him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of
Melchizedek.Hebrews 5:12-14 We
have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you
because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time
you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary
truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with
the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who
by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
To
my knowledge, the Christian life, with all of its uniqueness, is
profoundly different, righteous, and more blessed than the life of any
other religion.
1
John 2:26-27 — I am writing these things to you about those who are
trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from
him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his
anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real,
not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.
So,
for me, being a Christian is far more than assurance of Salvation and
abiding by Godly standards. It is an ever-increasing freedom in the
Spirit and of the Spirit to live the Way, the Truth, and the Life of
Jesus Christ.
If
our standards are less, our level of attainment is less, or our level
of aspiration is less, we are depriving ourselves of the unique
profundity of Christianity.
#78 Generational Sins and Curses 07/26/2026
Although these are Biblical terms, it seems that we seldom pay much attention to their reality. These are the deep-rooted elements that limit our experience of "God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven".
These are inclusive of, but not limited to, learned behaviors, conditioned responses, beliefs, indoctrinations, theologies, and so much more. They are perpetuated and compounded generation after generation. All that is inconsistent with God's Will and Way, Highest and Best is sinful and cursed. If we deny it or ignore it, we merely suffer the consequences of the impact of the bondage or captivity.
Some who may acknowledge these traits suggest that they are perpetuated by the DNA and consequently somewhat impervious to change. I do not believe that to be true. I believe that they have a spiritual dynamic. They are like pulsating mindsets, attitudes, and dispositions. I can best liken them to the subtleties of computer science. With a foundation of "electro-magnetic impulses, computers capture and transmit information and images. It is possible with an iPhone to hold one in proximity to another iPhone and transfer information and images. It is simply called "airdrop".
In similar fashion, I believe that aspects of character and disposition can be impacted by our close associates, friends, family, culture, and significantly by generational heritage. This, I believe, is evidenced by stereotypical similarities of nationalities and ethnicities. It is also true of our geo-political relationships.
The "good news" is that it is possible to prayerfully discern and eradicate these patterns by the presence and power of God "in the name of Jesus Christ". Of course, this eradiation is not only possible for the deep-rooted generational patterns, it is true for any character or disposition that does not emulate the Way, the Truth and the Life" of Jesus Christ.
Eph 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.