Keep The Faith

Edited 1/2/2026 I have been thinking about this post. I am getting lazy and have been looking for AI to create my final post, correct my mistakes, and make it look pretty, but I am noticing that it is taking me away from my original thoughts.  Back to my original thoughts:  I think we can glean important concepts from the Acts church that we can use in our communities, but I think some things should be different.  When the Acts church started, it consisted of the apostles and followers of Jesus during his public ministry of about three to three and a half years. They heard his teachings, saw with their own eyes' the miracles he performed. They were all witnesses to the prophecies, verifying that he WAS/IS the Messiah. They were, in essence, all in the kingdom of God, Father God's kingdom.  We no longer have these people with us, but their stories were passed on in writings and by word of mouth. The Bible is a collection of sacred texts for Christianity and Judaism. T...

  How Can You Know You're Listening to the Right Lord? As I reflect on this question, it becomes clear that true discernment begins with being part of God's kingdom. According to John 17:2 , entrance into that kingdom comes through eternal life—a gift given by Jesus Christ. But what is eternal life? Jesus defines it in John 17:3 : it is the sure and intimate knowledge of the Father, the one true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. This isn't just intellectual assent; it's relational certainty. So how can you know you're in the kingdom of God—and thus listening to the right Lord? Your life will reflect the character and example of Jesus. The way He lived on earth becomes the blueprint for those who truly follow Him. His compassion, truth, humility, and obedience to the Father are not just admirable traits—they're signs of kingdom citizenship.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the state of our United States of America. Under the leadership of Donald J. Trump, I fear we are drifting away from the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution and inching toward an autocracy—one increasingly shaped by the will of a single man. I keep asking myself: Is there anything we can do to halt this progression—or at least slow it down? One word keeps rising to the surface: prayer. Prayer is powerful. What if we began praying—not just for ourselves, but for one another? For our leaders, even those who seem to be leading us down dark and uncertain paths. For people across the globe, especially those caught in the devastation of war. What if we prayed without ceasing? Jesus said: John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Let us pray that we all find the way—the truth about ourselves that leads to repentance and ultimately to eternal life . Imagine what et...

🌿 Eternal Life: Beyond Time and Into God's Kingdom What Is Eternal Life? I’ve often wondered why the Bible calls it eternal life . Jesus defines it in John 17:3 as knowing the Father, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. In the original Greek, the word translated “know” is ginosko —meaning to know absolutely, to be sure, to understand deeply. So, what is eternal life? Is it simply living forever, or is it the fullness of knowing God? That question has lingered in my heart. Time and the Human Condition This morning, I was talking with my wife, and she offered a profound insight: it has to do with time . We live in a world governed by time. We’re born, we live for a finite span, and then we die. But in God’s realm, time doesn’t exist. He always was, and He always will be. Because of sin, God set a limit on human life. Today, 120 years seems to be the outer boundary—a reflection, perhaps, of the declaration in Genesis 6:3 . But this limit is not imposed on God. He exis...

Why the Gospel of John Matters Most ( Yochanan 1  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Introduction The Gospel of John may be the most important book in the Bible to read and study. Its unique perspective, deep spiritual truths, and eyewitness testimony make it essential for anyone seeking to understand Jesus more fully. John: The Beloved Disciple John, the apostle, is widely believed to be the author. He was among the first disciples Jesus called, alongside his brother James. John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, miracles, and glory. He was one of the three chosen to witness the transfiguration ( Luke 9:28–36 ) ( Lukas 9:28-36  Orthodox Jewish Bible ) Known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John stood at the cross with Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus Entrusts Mary to John When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her int...

Posted July 7, 2025 Why Would God Want to Help Us? A Nation in Mourning Over the July 4th holiday, devastating flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country. More than 100 people have lost their lives—many of them children. Dozens are still missing. The sorrow is almost too much to bear. And so, the familiar question arises: “Why did God let this happen?” A Harder Question But maybe we need to ask a deeper question: “What do we expect from God when we disregard the world He entrusted to us?” For decades, scientists have sounded the alarm that human activity—especially the burning of fossil fuels—is disrupting Earth’s climate. Many in power still resist change. Comfort outweighs conscience. Short-term gain silences long-term wisdom. So again: Why would God want to help us if we refuse to help ourselves? Scripture and Stewardship “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1 (NIV) God gave humanity dom...

Every now and then, a song comes along that stops you in your tracks — not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it carries a kind of quiet truth that settles into the heart. During Easter, I came across a beautiful cover of “Is He Worthy?” by Lifein3D, one of my favorite singing groups. Their harmonies are gentle, sincere, and full of reverence. In a world that often feels heavy, this song is a reminder that hope is not fragile — it is anchored in the One who is worthy of all praise. I wanted to share it here for anyone who needs a moment of peace today. ▶ He Is Worthy — Easter Cover by Lifein3D

Seeing Beyond the Surface: Autism, Telepathy, and Faith My wife and I recently watched a thought‑provoking documentary on YouTube titled “ Autism, Telepathy, and Faith | Katie Asher .” It tells the story of Katie Asher’s son, Houston, who developed a form of autism that left him nonverbal and with limited motor function. Doctors essentially gave up hope that he would ever function in society. Many who interacted with Houston dismissed him—assuming he couldn’t engage in the same activities as other children. But then something miraculous happened. Houston did something that awakened a deep conviction in his mother: there was far more going on inside her son than anyone realized. Determined to reach him, Katie searched for ways to communicate—and what she uncovered was extraordinary. Houston demonstrated profound inner awareness. He could read people’s thoughts, converse with Yeshua (Jesus) and angels, grasp complex scientific concepts, and navigate the spiritual realm in ways few could...

Rethinking How We See Women in Light of God’s Original Design From the beginning, Scripture reveals that both man and woman were created in the image of God—equal in worth, purpose, and spiritual capacity. Yet history has often distorted that truth. This reflection explores the creation story, the divine balance between male and female, and how rediscovering God’s design can restore dignity, harmony, and love to human relationships. Created in God’s Image: Rethinking How We See Women This may seem like an unusual topic, but it’s been on my heart lately. Women have been mistreated for eons—often reduced to possessions, objects of desire, or laborers expected to serve men’s needs. History is full of examples of exploitation and inequality. Yet I don’t believe Father God ever intended it to be this way. The Creation Story and God’s Design In the creation story, God first forms man from the dust of the ground and breathes into his nostrils the breath of life. Adam is placed in the Garden o...

Temptation is something every believer faces, and Jesus taught us to pray about it directly. This morning I found myself thinking more deeply about the line, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and what it truly means for our daily walk with God. I was thinking about something this morning that connects with my last post, Test the Spirits . Satan tempts us to sin and do evil. I was thinking about the Lord’s Prayer, where it says, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,” and I wanted a deeper understanding of that phrase. I looked it up, and the explanation I found expressed it well, so I’m sharing it here. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” ( Matthew 6:13 ) This line from the Lord’s Prayer is deeply meaningful, and Christians have reflected on it for centuries. “Lead us not into temptation” At first, it can sound confusing—why would God lead anyone into temptation? But in the original Greek, the word peirasmo...

Test The Spirits Jesus frequently warned about false teachers and prophets, cautioning his followers to be discerning. Here are some key scriptures: Matthew 7:15 – "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 24:24 – "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Luke 6:26 – "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." 2 Peter 2:1 – "They will secretly introduce destructive heresies—even denying the Master who bought them." 1 John 4:1 – "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Recognizing false teachings requires discernment and a strong foundation in biblical truth. Here are some key ways to identify them: Distorted Sc...

Living in the Kingdom of God Today I want to talk about Father God’s kingdom—and share my belief that you and I are invited to live in it today. The Early Church and the Kingdom of God In the book of Acts, we see the birth of the early church. This first community of believers was shaped by the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus) and sustained by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Luke—a physician and close companion of Paul—is traditionally understood to be the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. His careful, detail‑oriented nature made him uniquely suited to record these events with accuracy and insight. In Acts 1:1–11 , Luke describes the risen Jesus speaking with His followers about the kingdom of God. He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. Then, before their eyes, He ascends into heaven—leaving them with the assurance that He will return in the same way. A Spirit‑Formed Community The early church was not merely an organization. It ...