Keep The Faith

Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen? Most of us have wondered at some point: “Why does God let bad things happen to good people? Why doesn’t He just get rid of those who do evil?” These questions are honest, human, and deeply spiritual. Years ago, I read The Shack by William P. Young and later watched the film. Both helped me see certain things from a different angle — not perfectly, but in ways that opened my heart to God’s perspective. In Chapter 10 , Mack asks Jesus why God doesn’t simply take control of the world to protect its beauty. Jesus explains that God refuses to impose His will because true relationships must be built on love, not force. Love cannot be coerced. “Here Come Da Judge” — A Deeper Look When Mack enters the cavern, he is still carrying unbearable grief and anger. The loss of his daughter has left him questioning everything — God’s goodness, justice, and love. He wants answers, but what he receives is something far de...

What Do You Believe — And Is Love at the Center? What do you believe? What faith tradition do you identify with? Are you agnostic, unsure, or still searching? Even if you call yourself agnostic, you still live by a belief system. We all do. But whatever you believe, pause and ask yourself something deeper: Is love truly at the center of it? Most of us long for peace instead of war, compassion instead of cruelty, healing instead of hatred. I believe that’s because there is that of God in every one of us — a spark of divine love that calls us toward goodness. Whether we acknowledge God or not, we feel that pull toward love because we were created by Love. So why, then, do we often become rigid and demanding in our religions? Why do we say, “You must believe exactly as I do, or you’re not a good [insert religion here]”? Why do some communities discourage talking with people of other faiths? I’ve learned — and am still learning — that when we truly li...

When “God Is One” Leads People to Seek Him More Deeply The topic of religious conversion is complex and deeply personal. People don’t change their faith lightly. They do it because something in their life—a spiritual experience, a moment of truth, a deep longing, or an encounter with love—shakes them awake. Whatever the reason, every person’s journey deserves respect. Faith is not a formula; it is a path walked with fear, hope, questions, and courage. Khalid’s Story — Pakistan Khalid Mansoor Soomro grew up a devout Muslim and memorized the Qur’an by age seven. He often debated his Christian classmates, confident in his beliefs. One day he proposed a test: each would burn the other’s holy book. But when he tried to burn the Bible, something unexpected happened. The book struck his chest, he fell to the ground, and smoke surrounded him. In that moment he saw a man wrapped in light who said: “You are my son. From now on you will preach the gospel in your nat...

Where Is God in All This? Our U.S. elections are coming up on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 . It’s possible that Donald J. Trump could be elected president again — and personally, I do not believe that would be good for our nation. Many observers have noted that Trump and his allies appear to be following a strategy reminiscent of authoritarian movements of the past: first securing enough popular support to win power, then working to weaken or eliminate opposition. Their Project 2025 blueprint outlines sweeping changes that could allow those in power to remove perceived threats, centralize control, and impose restrictions on freedoms — including the possibility of elevating a preferred national religion and tightening control over media and institutions. If you support him and his allies, you may be unknowingly helping advance this agenda. Right now, you may seem useful in their pursuit of power — but history shows that those who outlive their usefulness are ...

Intro Before the 2024 election, I carried a deep heaviness about the direction of our nation and the world. Looking back now, I see that what I was really wrestling with was not politics, but the spiritual condition of humanity and the urgency of discernment in the times we live in. In the months leading up to the 2024 United States presidential election, I found myself imagining two very different futures. My thoughts were shaped by fear on one side and hope on the other, but beneath both was a longing for God’s guidance. At that time, I feared that our nation could drift toward division, authoritarianism, and a hardening of hearts. The rhetoric, the anger, and the willingness of some to embrace harshness reminded me of painful chapters in history. I worried about the possibility of leaders consolidating power, silencing dissent, and shaping society in ways that could harm both people and the planet. Those concerns were real to me then, and they reflected the spiritual...

Refined Post: Hypocrisy and the Call to Integrity When I woke up this morning, my mind went straight to the subject of hypocrisy . Scripture speaks with piercing clarity about the danger of claiming devotion to God while living in ways that contradict His character. Bible Verses on Hypocrisy 1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 Peter 2:16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover‑up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Jeremiah 23:11 “Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,” declares the Lord. Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 12:2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made...

Does God Have a Native Language? This morning, a simple but intriguing thought surfaced. Across the world, every culture uses different names for the same divine reality. I call God “Father God” or simply “God.” I call Jesus “Jesus” or “Yeshua.” In Spanish, God is “Dios,” “Señor,” or “Padre,” and in Mexico the Child Jesus is affectionately called “Niño Dios,” “Chucho,” or “Chuy.” Different languages, different sounds — yet the same God. Despite our linguistic diversity, the image of God we hold in our hearts is often remarkably similar. The same is true of Jesus. It’s astonishing that God can speak to each of us in our own languages at the same time, and Jesus can do the same. The Question That Sparked the Meditation If God communicates through every human language, does He Himself have a native language? Jesus existed with Father God long before creation. If Jesus has a native language, is it the same as the Father’s? And if so, what ...