Keep The Faith

Unity Series: This image comes from the Hammer Story — a picture of returning, surrendering, and trusting the Son. It reminds us that unity with Father God begins not with our righteousness, but with repentance that brings us back into His hands. This Unity reflection explores a question that touches salvation, holiness, and the heart of the Father: What is more important, righteousness or repentance? As we walk through Scripture together, we’ll see how being born again, becoming like little children, genuine repentance, and even the Hammer Story all weave together into entering the Kingdom of God. What Is More Important: Righteousness or Repentance? There is a Scripture that says, “Be righteous, for I am righteous.” This echoes God’s call in 1 Peter 1:16 — “Be holy, because I am holy.” But can we truly do that? Maybe for a season we walk in a righteous character. Maybe for a time our choices align w...

Water Baptism and Communion: Are They “Magical,” or Misunderstood? Introduction This morning I’ve been thinking about two familiar practices in the church — water baptism and communion. They’ve been part of my life since childhood, yet I find myself wondering again what they truly mean and whether they play any role in becoming One with the Father. Today I want to look at Scripture and reflect on their purpose. Scripture “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11 “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19 Reflection I’ve been thinking about water baptism and the Eucharist — how they started, and whether there is anything “magical” in them. Many churches treat them as requirements, almost like spiritual checkpoints. But when I look at Scri...

Becoming One in the Everyday Moments Introduction Some lessons from Father God arrive quietly — not in a sermon, not in a study, but in the ordinary moments of life. Today’s reflection came to me while standing in my yard, looking at fallen branches and thinking about what it means to live as One in Father God’s kingdom. Scripture John 17:20-21    New International Version Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Reflection Being in Father God’s kingdom — the place where we all become One — has been on my mind again. It came to me this morning while doing some yard work. My wife and I moved to our current home in February of 2025 to be closer to one of our daughters and her family. We’re both r...

The Citizen’s Mandate: Kingdom Responsibility in the Face of Power When leadership turns toward control or harm, people naturally feel like victims of a “taking” energy. But citizens of the Kingdom of God are not passive observers of history. Our responsibility is not limited to the next election cycle; it is to actively give life wherever earthly power is being used to take it. 1. The Stewardship of Truth In cultures shaped by fear or control, truth is often the first casualty. Kingdom citizens must remain anchored in reality rather than rhetoric. The Action: Refuse to participate in propaganda, manipulation, or the “Way of the Flesh” that distorts perception and enslaves the mind. The Scripture: Paul urges us to “speak the truth in love” ( Ephesians 4:15 ). Truth is a giving energy —it liberates. Lies are a taking energy —they bind and diminish. 2. Protecting the “Least of These” When leaders use power to harm, they create a vacuum of care. Kingdom citizens ...

Questions About the Messiah As a Christian who loves the Hebrew Scriptures, I’ve always been fascinated by the Jewish understanding of the Messiah. Judaism teaches that the Messiah will be a human male, a direct descendant of King David, who will accomplish great acts of restoration and establish a kingdom of peace. This kingdom is described in Scripture as everlasting. That raises an honest question for me: If the Messiah’s kingdom is everlasting, how is that understood within Judaism? Does the Messiah himself live forever, or is the “everlasting” nature of the kingdom understood in a different way? From a Christian perspective, the eternal nature of the Messiah’s reign is one of the reasons we believe Yeshua is the promised Messiah — His resurrection and eternal life align with the idea of an everlasting King. But I want to understand how Judaism interprets these same passages. Another question that often comes to mind is about the Torah itself. Rabbis st...

Known From the Beginning: Called, Given, and Drawn by the All‑Knowing Father Father God’s all‑knowing nature is not a distant attribute—it is the foundation of His love. Scripture reveals a breathtaking pattern: the Father knows, the Father calls, the Father gives, the Father draws, and the Father keeps. Nothing about His saving work is random or reactive. It flows from eternal wisdom and eternal love. The All‑Knowing Father Isaiah 46:10 — declaring the end from the beginning Psalm 139:1–4, 16 — known before we speak, before we live a single day Hebrews 4:13 — nothing hidden from His sight Given by the Father John 6:37 — all the Father gives will come John 6:39 — none of those given will be lost John 17:6 — “Yours they were, and You gave them to Me” Called by the Father Romans 8:29–30 — foreknown, called, justified, glorified 2 Timothy 1:9 — called before time began 1 Corinthians 1:9 — called into fellowship with His Son Dra...

✨ Why Judaism and Christianity See the Messiah Differently A Guide for Readers Seeking Understanding, Not Argument When Christians talk about Jesus as the Messiah, we usually begin with fulfilled prophecies, the lineage of David, and the spiritual mission of salvation. But Judaism approaches the Messiah from a very different angle — one shaped by centuries of interpretation, legal tradition, and lived experience. Understanding these differences doesn’t weaken Christian faith; it simply helps us see how another ancient faith reads the same Scriptures through a different lens. Below are the four major reasons Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah. 🕊️ 1. Judaism Expects a World‑Transforming Messiah In Jewish thought, the Messiah’s arrival is marked by visible, global change , not spiritual fulfillment alone. Classical Jewish sources describe a world where: War ends All nations acknowledge the God of Israel The Temple is rebuilt The...

  For centuries, Israel waited for a Messiah who would rise from the line of David. The prophets guarded this promise, Mary carried it in her blood, and Joseph sealed it through the ancient power of Jewish adoption. In Yeshua, every strand of the covenant converges—prophetic, biological, and legal—revealing the true Son of David. The Promise: A King from David’s Line Israel’s hope began with a covenant. God pledged to David that a ruler from his own house would sit on an everlasting throne. The prophets echoed this promise across generations: Isaiah : a shoot from the stump of Jesse Jeremiah : a Righteous Branch from David Psalms : David’s throne will endure By the days of Yeshua, the expectation was clear and universal: The Messiah must come from David’s line. Mary’s Line: David’s Blood Preserved Luke’s genealogy traces a path back to David through Nathan , a line widely understood to represent Mary’s ancestry . Through her: Yeshua carries Davidic blood The promise of a Messiah fr...

  How Should Israel Treat Those in the Land Today? A Biblical Look at Return, Neighbors, and Covenant Ethics When Scripture speaks about Israel returning to the Promised Land, it never frames the issue in political terms. It frames it in covenant terms — G-d’s character, G-d’s promises, and G-d’s expectations for how His people treat others. To understand how Israel is to treat those who live in the land now, we must look at the three biblical eras of return , because each one gives a different kind of instruction. 1. The First Entry Under Joshua — A Unique Moment in History The conquest under Joshua was a one‑time, unrepeatable event . G-d used Israel as an instrument of judgment on nations whose practices included child sacrifice, ritual prostitution, and violence. This was not: a model for future generations a permanent policy or a pattern for how Israel should treat neighbors After Joshua, G-d never again commanded Israel to conquer the land by force. This means modern returns...

  God Is Constantly Drawing Us to Himself There is a beautiful truth woven throughout the entire Bible: God is not distant, passive, or waiting for us to make the first move. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals a God who is continually reaching, calling, inviting, and drawing people to Himself. His heart has always been turned toward humanity. Even when we wander, He pursues. Even when we resist, He calls. Even when we fail, He draws us back with love that refuses to let go. Let’s look at the powerful ways Scripture shows this ongoing, relentless pursuit. 🌿 Drawn by Everlasting Love “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3 God’s drawing begins with love — not judgment, not pressure, not fear. His love is everlasting , which means His drawing is continual. He doesn’t stop reaching for us because His love doesn’t stop. ✝️ Drawn to Christ Through the Cross Jesus made this promise: “No one can come to Me u...

  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.

🌿 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...

I had an intriguing thought last Sunday morning about the contrast between Jewish and Christian teachings. In Judaism, there is a strong emphasis on knowing and obeying the law. Meanwhile, Christianity centers around love as the guiding principle. But this raises a thought-provoking question: If someone loves but does not know the laws, will that love naturally lead them to obedience? Conversely, if a person diligently follows the laws, does that process cultivate love within them? ChatGPT provided an insightful response on this topic, exploring both perspectives. Jewish Perspective: In Judaism, obeying the laws (mitzvot) is foundational. These commandments serve as a path to holiness, righteousness, and a deeper connection with God and others. However, the laws are not solely about strict adherence—they are meant to be observed with intention and love. The Torah reinforces this idea with commandments such as “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). In this way, obedience i...

I woke up early this morning and I remembered that I was dreaming about LOVE. I was specifically dreaming about the medic, Desmond Doss, who is credited with saving more than 70 solders lives, even enemy soldiers', during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific. He did it without carrying any kind of protection for himself. He refused to carry a weapon or take a person's life. When he enlisted into the Army, he told them this and was almost rejected for service. They thought that he wouldn't make a good solder, but they took him anyway. He went through literal hell from his commanders and fellow soldiers, but he never quit/gave up. Click the link and go down to the 'Synopsis' of the movie. The movie, ' Hacksaw Ridge ', based on true events. It is well worth seeing if you haven't already. (maybe without children). His whole character was amazing, hard to believe, and is one example of LOVE (AGAPE LOVE). The kind of LOVE that Father God...

What does it really mean when Scripture says that God is “one”? Across the Bible, the Tanakh, and the Qur’an, this oneness points not to isolation but to a divine unity rooted in perfect love. From the plural language of creation to Yeshua’s prayer in John 17, the story of God reveals a relationship of shared glory, purpose, and oneness—a unity we are invited to enter. God Is One: A Oneness Rooted in Love In the Christian Bible, the Jewish Tanakh, and the Islamic Qur’an, God—Yahweh—Allah—is described as one . We often interpret this to mean a single, solitary Deity. But I’ve come to believe that “one” means something deeper than numerical singularity. I believe “one” means perfect unity—perfect love. Let me explain. The Plural Language of Creation In the creation accounts of all three traditions, the Creator sometimes speaks in the plural: we , us , our . If “one” simply meant a solitary being, why not use I and my ? Consider the creation of humanity in Genesis: Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV)...