Keep The Faith

Returning to the Question of God’s Protection Why this question keeps coming back — and what the Kingdom teaches us about it. I have been thinking again about God’s protection. I’ve seen His protection in my life in different ways — through storms, through circumstances, through timing. Maybe not so much in my health, but even in that I trust Him for whatever happens. And I know that I would not have this blog if I were totally healthy. My weakness opened the door for this ministry. But then I think about those who have died in sudden or freak accidents. From what I knew of them, they seemed to be good Christian people. So why did they die when I seem to be protected? Scripture shows the same tension. Some received full protection — Abraham and Sarah, Daniel, Elijah, people in the early church. Yet many of the apostles died terrible deaths. I’ve asked this question before, and here I am again. Why do I re...

Father God's Kingdom, or This World's Kingdom Father God's Kingdom, or This World's Kingdom Introduction There are moments when something small — a headline, a story, a memory — becomes a doorway into deeper truth. This morning was one of those moments. A simple news story stirred my heart and reminded me how often we walk too close to danger even when God lovingly warns us to stay away. Scripture Matthew 6:24 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Reflection I was on Facebook this morning and read about buffalo attacks in Yellowstone National Park. There are signs everywhere telling people to keep their distance, yet some still walk right up to these massive animals. It’s the same old story we know well: “Don’t touch th...

The Shepherd who restores every soul Why Clinging to This Life Keeps Us From the Life We Want Most of us hold tightly to the life we know. We cling to our routines, our habits, our ways of thinking, our sense of control. We call it “normal,” and we assume it’s the safest place to be. But if we’re honest, this life we protect so fiercely is the very life that keeps us tired, anxious, and searching for relief. We keep trying to escape the weight of this life while refusing to let go of the life that creates the weight. There’s a quiet truth we rarely stop long enough to see: The life we cling to is the life that hurts us. The life God offers is the life that heals us. But because we don’t talk much about the Kingdom, we don’t recognize the difference. We assume surrender means loss. We assume God’s rule means restriction. We assume the Kingdom will take something from us that we need to survive. Y...

The Purpose of God’s Judgment: Hope for All Humanity Scripture reveals a God whose purpose is restoration. He desires all humanity to come to the knowledge of the truth ( 1 Timothy 2:3–6 ). He works through Christ to unite all things in heaven and on earth ( Ephesians 1:9–11 ). God’s Plan Is Larger Than We Imagine From the beginning, God planned to bring everything together under Christ. His judgment is not abandonment—it is correction, healing, and ultimately reconciliation. A Hope Rooted in Scripture Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all. God’s purpose is not thwarted. His plan is not fragile. His desire is not limited to a few. He is a Father who restores His children. Father, thank You for Your righteous purpose and Your unending hope. Visit the Unity Series Hub

Rethinking Hell: Why Grief and Sorrow May Be the Real Fire For years, I believed hell was a place of physical torment. But through Scripture, study, and personal experience, I’ve come to see something different. I believe hell is the deep grief and sorrow we feel when Father God lifts the veil and we finally see the truth about ourselves. Grief as Fire When I saw the ugliness inside myself, the grief was overwhelming—like being consumed. Scripture describes grief and sorrow with words like anguish, torment, woe, and heartbreak. These same words are used in descriptions of hell. Even Jesus is called “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” ( Isaiah 53:3 ) The Worm That Never Dies When grief eats at a person, we sometimes say they are “eaten up inside.” Scripture says, “where their worm never dies.” This imagery aligns with internal anguish, not external torture. Everlasting Judgment Many things in Scripture are called “everlasting,” yet clearly did not...

My Journey Through Shame, Discipline, and Father God’s Mercy My life has been a long road of learning, stumbling, and being restored by Father God. I grew up in the Lutheran faith, doing everything I thought made me a “good person.” Yet beneath the surface, I struggled with sin, shame, and confusion about who God truly was. Early Years and Misunderstandings I viewed sin on a scale—small sins and big sins—never realizing that the heart behind them mattered more than the size. Lust, shame, and hidden thoughts followed me into adulthood, even as I tried to live rightly. Military Life and Deep Failure During the Vietnam era, I entered the Army hoping for a safe path. Instead, I found myself drifting spiritually. Drinking, pornography, masturbation, and other sins became part of my life. A painful betrayal by someone I trusted brought me to bitter tears and deep grief over who I had become. Father God’s Gentle Intervention In my darkest moment, I asked Jesus b...

Why English Fails Us When Reading Scripture As I’ve studied God’s Word over the years, I’ve come to see how often our English translations fall short of expressing what the original writers intended. Words like wrath , vengeance , fear , and anger can paint a picture of God that feels harsh and distant. Yet when we look deeper into Hebrew and Greek, we find meanings that reveal a Father who is just, loving, and deeply relational. Seeing God as Father Yeshua consistently referred to God as Father . Matthew 23:9 reminds us that we have one Father in heaven. The Hebrew Scriptures do the same— Malachi 2:10 and Isaiah 64:7 both speak of God as Father. This language softens our understanding and brings clarity to His character. Why Translation Matters Our English Bibles often come from Greek translations that were themselves translated from Hebrew. Each language carries its own nuances, idioms, and cultural assumptions. It’s no wonder confusion arises. Even Hebre...