September 2026

#84 Telltale Signs

Please consider:

The great commandment is Love.

Mk 12:30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.

In essence, the commandment is about relationships. Relationships do two things. They bring out the best in us, and they bring out the worst in us. As we mature in our Faith, we are increasingly humbler and discerning and can honestly distinguish between the best and the worst. This is not only true as we recognize it for others. It is also true as we recognize it for ourselves.

Two of the easiest telltale signs of the worst in us is offensiveness or defensiveness.

Matt 18:7Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Lk 21: 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

As we mature in our Faith, we are increasingly transformed into the image and likeness of God. Our demeanor is evermore humble, gentle, and loving.

With all of this in mind, if we discern any ungodly demeaner in our heart, we have the opportunity to enter our prayer closet and seek God to transform our hearts.

With all of this in mind, if we recognize any ungodly demeanor in the heart of others, we have the opportunity to enter our prayer closet to seek God's inspiration as to if, when, and how to bring it to their attention, in a non-offensive way. Absent of a non-offensive way, we are likely to make things worse and not better. The non-offensive way is "loving". If they become defensive, our only Godly resolve is to again enter our prayer closet to know if, when, and how to best proceed.

These are sensitive and subtle issues that can only be resolved as we prayerfully seek God first and His righteousness. Anything less than loving is not Godly.


#85 Should We Be Concerned 09/13/2026

Please consider:

Although I am very skeptical of potential pitfalls of AI as it relates to theology, I found the following article to be credible. What are your thoughts?

"What would Jesus say about Christian nationalists?"

AI Overview

"Jesus would likely view Christian nationalism as a fundamental contradiction of his teachings. Historically and theologically, theologians point out that Jesus famously stated, "My kingdom is not of this world," rejecting earthly political power to instead advocate for radical inclusivity, self-sacrificial love, and service to the marginalized.

Religious scholars and faith organizations highlight several key points of opposition between Jesus' message and Christian nationalism:

  • Rejection of Earthly Empire: When tempted with earthly dominance or asked to restore the nation of Israel, Jesus explicitly refused. He taught that his followers should separate spiritual salvation from political rule.

  • Universal Love vs. Exclusion:

    Christian nationalism often demands religious or cultural privilege and the marginalization of minorities. In contrast, Jesus modeled universal compassion, famously challenging his followers to love their enemies and be the "Good Samaritan" to cultural outsiders.

  • Prioritizing Faith over Flag: While some sincere believers desire to infuse their country with Christian morality, movements that merge national identity with spiritual identity can lead to idolatry, placing allegiance to a nation state on the same level as allegiance to God. "

To the degree this is true, it seems to me to be the antithesis of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ and not a Christian nation.


#86 Should We Be Concerned 9/20/2026

Please consider:

To mature in our Faith, there seems to me to be an essential progression to attain the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ

  • Recognize

  • Accept

  • Cultivate

  • Manifest

  • Actualize

The first is to Recognize the Truth of the premises of the Word of God. This is an activity of the mind. The second is to Accept the premises. This is also an activity of the mind. The third is to begin to Cultivate the disciplines to bring these Truths into fruition. This is also predominantly an activity of the mind. Next is to Manifest these Truths which entails integration of the heart and mind, born again and again, and "increasingly capable" of bearing Godly Fruit and functioning in the Gifts of God's Spirit. And finally, is to Actualize these Truths as evidence of the fulfillment of the "quest" for a pure heart.

Ps 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

As new creations in the Spirit of Christ, "not merely capable but compelled" to do God's will.

Mk 3:35 "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

This is evidenced by a perpetual and unending blessedness and loving "disposition" of the Way, the Truth and the life of Jesus Christ. It is Restoration to the image and likeness of God, not merely in form but in power. It is the capability to bear witness to the profession of Jesus Christ who said, Jn 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."