Keep The Faith

Returning to Our First Love Remembering our first love in Christ and learning to see others as God sees them. There are moments in life when the world’s noise grows so loud that it drowns out the quiet voice of our first love. When opinions, movements, and personalities rise to the center of our attention, it becomes easy to forget the One who called us, redeemed us, and taught us how to walk in love. I have heard many Christians speak with certainty about earthly leaders—as though God Himself had chosen them, endorsed them, or placed His seal upon them. But I often wonder: How do we know when something is truly from God? And how do we discern when something is simply from “the god of this world,” who is always eager to imitate, distract, and divide? Scripture gives us a simple test: If you love Him, obey His commandments. Love God. Love your neighbor. Do to others what you wish they would do to you. An...

Can Someone Who Does Not Believe in God Love? Yes — I believe they can. Not because belief creates love, but because there is “that of God in everyone.” This is why even those who do not name God can still act with compassion, tenderness, and deep moral clarity. What Do Quakers Mean by the “Inner Light”? Quakers describe the Inner Light as the divine spark placed within every person — a quiet, guiding presence that nudges us toward truth, peace, and love. It is not a claim that humans are divine, but that God’s love reaches into every human heart. The Human Problem Imagine if we could love all the time — truly, consistently, without interruption. There would be peace. But that’s not how life works. You may have a close friend you cherish. Being with them feels peaceful and grounding. Then something happens — a misunderstanding, a wound, a moment of pride — and suddenly the peace is gone. Communication stops. Distance grows. The bond fractures. This is the human ...

Forgiveness, Repentance, and Reconciliation Lately I've been thinking deeply about forgiveness, repentance, and restoration — or perhaps reconciliation is the better word. These themes keep rising in my heart, and I felt led to study them more intentionally. Not long ago I wrote something on Facebook that made me pause afterward. I said, "Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. There is nothing to forgive, right?" I was thinking about the sinner — the one committing the sinful act. In the sinner's own eyes, he may not recognize the sin at all. He may hide it, deny it, or refuse to see it. But as I reflected, I realized I might be confusing forgiveness with reconciliation. These are not the same thing — and sorting through the difference matters. So here begins my attempt to do that. I expect I'll keep refining this as I learn more. (See also my companion scripture studies: Repentance , Restoration , and my more rec...

A reflection on salvation, faith, and the transforming call to repentance. Salvation, Faith, and the Missing Piece Many Churches Overlook In many Protestant churches, we often hear the phrase: “Salvation is by faith, not by works.” And this is true. Scripture is clear that we cannot earn salvation, cannot work our way out of the wrath of God, and cannot contribute anything to the atonement Christ accomplished. Salvation is a gift. But somewhere along the way, many believers have absorbed a simplified version of the gospel: “Just believe in Jesus and you’re saved.” As if faith were merely agreeing with a set of facts — that Jesus died, that He rose, that He paid for our sins. I agree that salvation is by faith alone. But Scripture also teaches something else that must accompany genuine faith: We Must Repent Think about it. A person can say, “Yes, I believe Jesus died for my sins,” and yet never come face-to-face with the truth about who they are — never ...

This Unity Series reflection looks at James 4:1–10 and Luke 13 , two passages that call us to humility, repentance, and genuine transformation. They reveal the conflict within us, the urgency of change, and the heart of God longing to gather His people. Unity Series — When God Calls Us Back to the Narrow Way James 4:1–10 and Luke 13 stand together like two mirrors—one revealing the inner conflict of the human heart, the other revealing the outward consequences of a life that refuses to change. Both passages speak with urgency. Both confront us with truth. And both extend grace that is deeper than our failures. The War Within James does not soften his words. He names the conflict plainly: our disputes, our divisions, our broken relationships—they begin inside us. They rise from cravings that compete for the throne of our hearts. We want what we do not have. We grasp for what God has not given. We ask for blessings with motives that cannot carry His ...