Looking at the New Testament Today In part one, which you can read here, I looked at the word abomination starting with Leviticus, and went through definitions, Jewish sources, and cultural background. Today, I am picking up right where I left off with what the New Testament tells us regarding abomination. Many would like to use a very common comeback to my previous article, which is: Why didn’t Jesus talk about this topic then? Actually, He did; people just don’t like to hear His answer. (It’s the whole cherry-picking theme all over again.) “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10: 6–9 What’s unique about this verse is that Jesus’s statement here was a double emphasis that I didn’t even know about till looking into it. “Jesus’s basic point is simple enough. In marriage, God unites two to become one, and no human should seek to separate what God has joined together. To support his case, he quotes Genesis 2:24, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh’. It’s this concept of the two becoming one flesh that Jesus is drawing on to support his position on divorce. But Genesis 2:24 isn’t the only part of the creation narratives that Jesus quotes here. He also quotes Genesis 1:27, ‘God made them male and female’. Strictly speaking, as far as I can see, Jesus didn’t need to include that quote. His point about not separating what God has joined is rooted in Genesis 2:24, and Genesis 1:27 has nothing to add on that point. In formal terms, Jesus’s use of Genesis 1:27 in this conversation is redundant. And yet, for us, the inclusion of this additional Genesis verse is vitally important. By quoting these words, Jesus gives us an insight into his perspective on two of the biggest debates of our day.” (6) He was very clear when He said, “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.” (this is recorded twice btw, Matthew 19: 4–5) You can read the original Greek Mark passage here, and the original Matthew passage here, showing the words “a man” and “wife.” Jesus has been around since the beginning of creation, and He was born a dude. I am fairly confident that He knew the difference between a man and a woman when he said this. (I’ve run into that flimsy argument before for a few different arguments.) Some, probably many, will now go the route of saying Jesus accepted all sinners because He sat with them, therefore, this behavior is also accepted. No, He sat with sinners to show His love for them, no matter their sin, to tell them the truth, to offer open forgiveness, and to bring them to repentance. “While Jesus sat at supper in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:10–13 Let me end with a Greek translation. “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 Abominable | Bdelussomai | βδελύσσομαι “Definition: To abhor, detest, loathe Meaning: I abhor, detest, loathe. Usage: The Greek verb “bdelussomai” conveys a strong sense of disgust or revulsion. It is used to describe an intense aversion or repulsion towards something considered vile or abominable. In the New Testament, it often refers to moral or spiritual abhorrence, particularly in the context of idolatry or practices that are detestable to God.” Believe what you wish, behave how you want, I am not stopping you. But the Bible is clear on what an abomination is and, more importantly, what it tells you about your relationship with Him. Do with this information what you choose, but remember we can’t rewrite the Bible or write our feelings and opinions into it. © 2025 Jane Isley Sources: (1) Abomination | Jewish Virtual Library (2) Jewish Encyclopedia ABOMINATION By: H. Pereira Mendes M.D., D.D. President of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of the United States and Canada; Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, New York City. (3) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: ’ā·wen (wicked) (4) It Is Abomination: A study of the Hebrew word “toebah” in Scripture (5) TheGospelLight.com: What is the Difference Between a Sin and an Abomination? (6) Jesus on Same-Sex Marriage By: Andrew Bunt (7) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: bdelussomai (having become abominable)

Why Even Pretend to Be Christian? A strange thing has happened in modern Christian discourse. For decades, many believers have insisted that the Law of Moses is timeless and binding when it speaks about sexuality, especially when quoting Leviticus 18:22 or Leviticus 20:13 regarding homosexuality. “The Bible is clear,” we’re told. “God’s law does not change.” But when that same Law commands love for immigrants, when Leviticus 19:33–34 says, “You shall love the stranger as yourself,” suddenly the conversation changes. What was once treated as eternal moral clarity is now reduced to context, to ancient Israel’s civil code, to something embarrassingly “woke.” Recently, when John Piper quoted Leviticus about loving the sojourner, some Christians responded by calling him “liberal” or “woke.” A conservative Reformed pastor quoting Moses was labeled progressive. The question almost asks itself: when did the Law become too liberal? The Selective Obedience Problem The issue isn’t disagreement about immigration policy. Christians can reasonably debate border enforcement, asylum processes, and national sovereignty. The issue is theological consistency. If Leviticus is binding moral law when it condemns homosexuality, why is it suddenly negotiable when it commands protection and love for foreigners? Both commands sit in the same holiness code. Both are introduced with the same authority, “I am the LORD.” Both are part of Israel’s covenantal ethic. Yet many Christians treat one as eternally moral and the other as politically inconvenient. That isn’t biblical fidelity. It is cherry-picking. The Stranger in the Law The Hebrew word ger, meaning sojourner or foreigner, appears repeatedly in the Torah. Israel’s memory of being strangers in Egypt was meant to shape their national character. Exodus 22:21 commands, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him.” Deuteronomy 10:18–19 declares that God “loves the sojourner… Love the sojourner, therefore.” This was not sentimental humanitarianism. It was covenant obedience rooted in redemptive memory. To mistreat the stranger was to forget Egypt, to forget deliverance, and to forget who they once were. When Christians dismiss those commands as naïve or politically dangerous, they are not arguing with cable news pundits. They are arguing with Moses. This Isn’t Self-Preservation Some may accuse me of bias here. After all, I am a foreigner living in the United States. But this isn’t self-preservation. If it were, I would get rid of my moral convictions and adapt myself to whatever rhetoric was most socially rewarded. I would happily nod my head every time someone applauded a sexually immoral politician for steering this nation back to Christ. I would stay quiet when Scripture is used selectively, as long as the selective reading benefited me. That would be easier. But I have had my own prejudices. I have harbored resentment toward Afghans in my own country. I know how tribal instincts form and how quickly they harden, and I’ve been on the receiving end of that resentment, being a follower of Christ in Pakistan. I am no stranger to hostility. If my own people can reject me for my faith, I surely do not expect love from Americans. That is precisely why this matters. This is not about demanding comfort or protection. It is about demanding consistency. If we claim allegiance to Christ, then our moral convictions cannot expand or contract depending on who holds power or which group makes us uneasy. The standard must remain the same, even when it challenges us personally, because faithfulness that only applies when it costs nothing is not faithfulness at all. Is Jesus woke? The trajectory does not weaken in the New Testament; it intensifies. In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies himself with the stranger, saying, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” In Luke 10, the moral hero is not the religious insider but the Samaritan, the ethnic and theological outsider. Jesus does not reduce neighbor-love; he radicalizes it. The irony becomes sharper when Christians who fiercely defend “biblical morality” in one domain recoil when biblical morality confronts tribal instincts in another. Law, Power, and Political Identity For many believers, the Law has become a cultural weapon rather than a covenant mirror. When Leviticus reinforces pre-existing political convictions, it is treated as divine clarity. When it challenges nationalistic impulses, it is dismissed as outdated. Scripture is not shaping politics; politics is filtering Scripture. This dynamic is not new. Throughout history, Christians have selectively emphasized texts that support social hierarchies while sidelining those that disrupt them. The same Bible that was once used to defend slavery also contained the seeds of its abolition. The question has never been whether the text speaks, but which parts we are willing to hear. What Are We Actually Defending? If you defend Leviticus on sexuality grounds but ridicule Leviticus on immigrant grounds, what exactly are you defending? It cannot be “the authority of Scripture,” because that authority appears conditional. It cannot be “unchanging moral law,” because the consistency disappears when the law cuts across political comfort. What is being defended is not Moses but identity, tribe, and power. When tribal identity becomes primary, the name “Christian” becomes branding rather than discipleship. The Cost of Honest Faith There are serious debates to be had about how modern nation-states apply ancient commands. Loving the stranger does not eliminate the role of law, order, or prudence, and Christians can disagree on policy without abandoning conviction. What we cannot do, at least not honestly, is call one part of Leviticus eternal and another part “woke” simply because it unsettles us. Scripture does not erase the role of the state. What it does require is moral consistency. If we invoke the Law as binding authority, we must apply it with integrity rather than convenience. If loving the stranger feels politically uncomfortable, that discomfort should lead us back to the text, not away from it. © Joel Sarfraz References: Leviticus 18; 19:15; 19:33–36; 20. Leviticus 19:34.Isaiah 58:3–7. Amos 5:21–24.Micah 6:8. Matthew 23:23. James 2:10. Galatians 3:28. The Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin, Book II, on the moral law and its enduring authority. Summa Theologica, by Thomas Aquinas, I–II, Q. 99–108, on the moral, ceremonial, and judicial precepts of the Old Law.

Introduction An obsession with a particular film may not be because the film itself is that good, but because something about it resonates deeply with what the viewer is longing for or searching for. In my case, it was my longing to find God, even though I didn’t know it at the time. Background It was May 1977, and I was living alone in a room at the Cheshire Bridge motel in Atlanta. I was 22 years old, drinking a lot, and doing things I shouldn’t have been doing. I had always been a loner, and the fear of people kept me that way. To find comfort, I went to the movies often to escape my intense loneliness. When the first Star Wars movie came out in theatres, I was ecstatic because I had always loved science fiction movies with a lot of action. There was something about this movie that kept me coming back to see it. The Father-figure and Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, explained the “Force” to Luke Skywalker (his protégé and Jedi Knight wannabe). He said it was an “energy field created by all living things” that “surrounds us and penetrates us” and “binds the galaxy together. That’s when I said to myself, “That’s it, I finally understand what God is!” The long road ahead So, even though I had discovered a mystical power that could supposedly infuse me with strength like the Jedi Knights, I had to wonder, could it also: answer my prayers, give me guidance, protect me, give me hope, and love me? I’m here to tell you that the “Force” did none of those things. In fact, my life got much worse during that time. I spent many more years chasing money, success, love, purpose, and meaning, and ended up as a desperate alcoholic. Finally, in March 1997, I hit bottom. At 41, I had had enough of life and wanted it to end. That was when the real God stepped in and saved me. I didn’t become a Christian at that time, but the foundation stones had been laid, and I began to see clearly for the first time in many years. I was led to a program that helped me dry out, learn who I had become, and gave me hope that I didn’t have to stay that way. The program I was in emphasized the absolute necessity of finding a “higher power” that could give me the strength to live without drinking. In the first six months, I had surrendered to this power greater than myself. One day, I got on my knees and said, “God, I see where my best thinking has brought me to this point of despair. If there is a better way to live, I’m ready to listen. Please show me what it is.” Apparently, He did because I’ve been sober ever since that day (29 years later). The turning point Over the next five years, I went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. I also moved to Memphis, Tennessee, got a decent job, and got married. However, something still felt unfinished within me. I wasn’t satisfied with a “higher power” anymore, one that, according to the program, could be anything I wanted it to be, even a doorknob! My husband and I started attending a Presbyterian Church, and I started reading the Bible. That’s where I discovered the real God! I sensed that what I was missing in believing in a “higher power” was a relationship. Scripture showed me that a loving, personal God existed who answered all the big questions I’d been asking, such as “Why am I here?” “Does anyone love me?” “Is there any meaning in all the suffering and evil in the world?”, and “Is good really stronger than evil?” So, I surrendered again, this time to a “Person” instead of to a “Force." A few years later, my husband and I moved to a small town about a hundred miles east of Memphis and got baptized together at a small country church. I began to feel joy, meaning, and purpose in my life through worship with like-minded believers. Conclusion Rewatching the first Star Wars movie repeatedly became a kind of unspoken prayer to find “something more” in life than mere existence and survival. The Bible describes this search plainly: God has set eternity in the human heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NASB) The movie awakened a hunger to fill the emptiness in my soul, but it couldn’t fully satisfy it. Thankfully, I have the real God to thank, praise, and worship for fully satisfying that hunger. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV) I’m grateful for the program for making me look at myself. It was a necessary discipline and still is. I’m grateful for the movie because it comforted me during an extremely difficult time in my life, and it started me on my search for the true, living God. © Debra Hodges

A stewardship-shaped life is never built on tasks alone. It grows in the quiet, ordinary moments when we choose to see people the way God sees them: as entrusted souls, not interruptions; divine assignments, not items on a list. Relational stewardship is the posture of a believer who understands that God has placed people in our path not for efficiency, but for love. It is the shift from doing to becoming, from managing responsibilities to managing trust, from completing duties to reflecting the heart of the Owner. At the center of relational stewardship is the truth Jesus declared when asked about the greatest commandment. He did not point to a task, a ritual, or a religious achievement. He pointed to love — love for God with our whole being and love for our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39). This is the soil from which all faithful stewardship grows. When we love God deeply, His love naturally flows outward into our relationships. When we love others well, we honor the God who entrusted them to us. The apostle Peter echoes this when he states that each of us should use the gift given to us by God to serve others, as faithful stewards. (1 Peter 4:10). Notice the direction of stewardship: it is outward, relational, and grace-centered. We are not stewards of tasks, programs, or outcomes. We are stewards of grace — God’s grace expressed through our presence, tone, compassion, and faithfulness. This understanding reframes how we initiate relationships. Many believers assume relationships simply “happen,” but relational stewardship is intentional. It begins with presence, not performance. Presence is the ministry of slowing down long enough to notice the person others overlook. It is sitting beside someone who is alone, offering a sincere greeting, or asking a simple question like, “How has your week been?” These small acts communicate, “You matter. I see you.” In a world where people feel increasingly invisible, presence becomes a powerful expression of God’s heart. Honor is another doorway into relational stewardship. Romans 12:10 calls us to “honor one another above yourselves,” a command that reshapes how we approach every interaction. Honor softens hearts. It signals safety. It reminds people that they are valued not for what they do, but for who they are. Using someone’s name, affirming something you see in them, or simply listening without rushing communicates honor in ways that words alone cannot. Tone also plays a vital role. Scripture teaches that “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1) and urges believers to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Tone is part of stewardship because it reveals the condition of our heart. A hurried or harsh tone can shut down trust, while a gentle, warm tone opens doors for deeper connection. Tone is not merely how we speak, but how we carry the presence of Christ into every conversation. But initiating relationships is only the beginning. Relational stewardship requires nurturing what God entrusts. Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens,” a command that cannot be fulfilled from a distance. Burden-bearing requires proximity, patience, and compassion. It means following up with someone you prayed for, remembering details of their story, or checking in after a difficult week. These simple acts communicate, “You are not forgotten.” Listening is another essential practice. In a culture that prizes quick fixes and fast solutions, listening becomes a countercultural act of love. Relational stewardship listens not to respond, but to understand. It resists the urge to correct quickly. It asks clarifying questions. It honors the story being shared. Listening says, “Your story matters to me,” and in doing so, it reflects the heart of the One who hears us with perfect patience. There are moments, however, when stewardship requires speaking truth with grace. Colossians 3:12–14 calls believers to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Truth without grace wounds; grace without truth weakens. Together, they help others grow. Relational stewardship stays present even after hard conversations, choosing reconciliation over avoidance. Jesus taught that if a brother sins against us, we are to go to him privately (Matthew 18:15). Avoiding conflict may feel like peacekeeping, but Scripture calls it neglecting stewardship. Protecting relationships means addressing tension early, with humility and love. Ultimately, relational stewardship is not a series of tasks. It’s a lifestyle. It is built through small, consistent acts of faithfulness. It is praying for someone by name each day, sending a note of encouragement, practicing a gentle tone, or asking God each morning, “Who have You entrusted to me today?” It is inviting someone to coffee, checking on someone who is struggling, or reconciling with someone when needed. It is evaluating our own patterns and asking, “Where am I being transactional instead of relational?” The difference between transactional and relational stewardship is profound. A transactional mindset asks, “What do I need to get done?” A relational mindset asks, “Who has God entrusted to me?” Transactional stewardship focuses on tasks; relational stewardship focuses on people. Transactional stewardship completes duties; relational stewardship reflects God’s heart. Transactional stewardship measures success by outcomes; relational stewardship measures faithfulness by love. God sees every act of relational stewardship, even the ones no one else notices. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that He is not unjust to forget our work and the love we show for His name. Every relationship is an assignment, an appointment set and orchestrated by God. Every word and presence is a seed of influence. And every seed planted in love bears fruit that honors the Master. What relationship is God inviting you to steward today? © Randy DeVaul

Before you scroll… please stay with this one briefly, not because it’s controversial, but because it’s necessary. There are Bible verses we quote so often that they start to sound like slogans. We put them on captions, say them in prayer, and even use them to encourage people. But sometimes… we misunderstand them, not because we’re “bad Christians,” but because we’ve heard them repeated without context for so long that we stopped asking what they truly meant. So here are six popular Scriptures that are frequently misinterpreted and what they actually mean when you read them in context. Photo by kaleb tapp on Unsplash 1. “Money is the root of all evil.” – (1 Timothy 6:10) Most people say this like the Bible hates money, but the verse doesn’t say money is evil. It says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money is a tool. The problem begins when money becomes a god, and anything that has your heart or takes the place of God in your life has become your god. 2. “God helps those who help themselves.” (Not in the Bible) This is one of the most quoted “Bible verses” that isn’t in the Bible at all. It sounds really wise, but it can quietly promote self-reliance over dependence on God. The gospel is literally the opposite: God helps the helpless. 3. “Judge not.” – (Matthew 7:1) People use this verse to shut down any correction or accountability, but Jesus wasn’t saying “never judge.” He was warning against hypocritical judgment, where you condemn someone while ignoring your own issues. If Jesus truly meant “never correct anyone”, then He wouldn’t have corrected people, and He wouldn’t have told His followers to correct people. The Bible also teaches righteous judgment, correction, and discernment. 4. “Ask and you shall receive.” – (Matthew 7:7) Many people read this like God is a vending machine. Ask for money, cars, anything at all… Then Boom!!!! He must do it, but the context is about asking with faith and alignment. Other scriptures explain that God responds according to His will, not our greed. God is a Father, not a genie. 5. “I can do all things through Christ.” – (Philippians 4:13) This verse gets used for everything…sports, exams, business, and success, but Apostle Paul wasn’t talking about achieving big dreams. He was talking about learning contentment in hardship and abundance. “I can do all things” meant: I can endure, survive, and remain faithful. 6. “Train up a child…” – (Proverbs 22:6) You’ll agree with me that this verse is often used as a guarantee: “If you raise your child right, they will never go astray.” But Proverbs are not promises, they are wisdom principles. They describe what is generally true, not what is always guaranteed. Children still have free will as they grow older and make decisions for themselves The Problem Isn’t Quoting Scripture, It’s Quoting It Without Context. Many of these misunderstandings happen because we read verses like quotes, but the Bible wasn’t written as random motivational lines. The Bible is a story, a message, and a revelation. And when we read it with the help of the Holy Spirit and in context, we don’t just sound smarter, we become more grounded, more mature, and more spiritually accurate. So the next time you hear a popular verse… Pause, read around it, and then ask what it truly meant, because the Bible doesn’t need our exaggeration to be powerful. It’s already powerful!!!!! © Favour

There was a time when being Christian meant you might be fed to lions. Now you can buy Jesus merch at Target. Somewhere between the cross and the conference stage, we lost the plot. Christianity didn’t launch from palaces or polished pulpits. It started out in the dust, at the edges, whispered in alleyways, and shouted from hillsides. A Strange Little Crew A strange little crew gathered around a carpenter, no crown, no title, just calloused hands and truth in His words. His followers? Not exactly society’s finest. Fishermen who smelled like the sea. Women silenced by culture. A tax man nobody trusted. A stew of the overlooked and unwanted. And this carpenter from Nazareth? He spoke in riddles that rattled the rich and comforted the poor. “The last will be first,” he said with a glint in his eye, flipping more than just expectations. He flipped tables, literally, sending coins clattering and priests scowling. He called peacemakers blessed, but never promised peace would be easy. His kingdom wasn’t built with bricks or swords, it came in stories, in scars, in a love that broke rules and raised eyebrows. This wasn’t a religion polished for prime time. It was a revolution dressed in sandals. It wasn’t built for power. It was a protest against it. So, how did we get from there to here? From house churches to $60 million sanctuaries. From martyrs in the arena to pastors with private jets. From “take up your cross” to “God wants you to be rich.” When Faith Was Not a Brand Early Christians had no buildings, no budgets, and no political clout. What they had was a radical sense of community and a stubborn belief that love was more powerful than fear. Rome saw them as a threat because they refused to bow to Caesar. That refusal got them killed. But in the 4th century, everything changed. Constantine converted. Christianity went from persecuted to protected, then to preferred. Eventually, it became the official religion of the empire. That’s where the trouble started. What had been a grassroots movement of outcasts became a religion of kings and conquerors. The cross, once a symbol of execution and resistance, was hoisted as a battle flag. Instead of challenging the empire, Christianity became part of it. As author Diana Butler Bass puts it: “Christianity ceased to be a community and became a hierarchy.” Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash Trading the Cross for Comfort and Control Power is seductive. Once the church had a taste of safety and influence, it started protecting those things at all costs. Doctrine hardened. Dissent got punished. Crusades were launched. Colonies were claimed. People were burned at the stake in the name of the Prince of Peace. We started baptizing empire instead of challenging it. And somewhere in all of that, the revolutionary heart of Jesus’ message got buried beneath dogma and gold. The Gospel stopped being about liberation. It became about control. And yet, Scripture never changed. Jesus still said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” He still told the rich man to sell everything. He still warned that you can’t serve both God and money. He still stood with the outsider, the sinner, the oppressed. But we made him safe. Marketable. Vote-able. We made him white, straight, American, and always on our side. Voices Refusing to Stay Silent Progressive Christian leaders have been sounding the alarm. Rachel Held Evans wrote, “When the gospel has become bad news to the poor, to the oppressed, to the brokenhearted, we have replaced Jesus’ words with our own.” Richard Rohr says, “The price for real transformation is always some form of suffering. But churches often protect people from that.” And Rev. Jacqui Lewis reminds us: “If your gospel isn’t good news for everyone, then it’s not the gospel of Jesus.” These voices aren’t trying to destroy Christianity. They’re trying to remember what it was. They’re digging through the rubble of empire to find the radical, liberating Jesus underneath. Middle Age, Middle Ground, and a Crisis of Faith Middle age is a funny time. You start to see behind the curtain. You start asking harder questions. Maybe the faith you grew up with doesn’t make sense anymore. Maybe you watched it cause harm. Maybe you’re wondering if there’s still something worth holding onto. There is. But it might not look like what you were handed. Real Christianity, the kind that makes the powerful nervous and the hurting feel seen, is still alive. It’s just not always on TV. You might find it in a community garden, in a recovery meeting, in a group of misfits gathering in someone’s living room. You might find it in the margins, where it started. Jesus didn’t come to build a brand. He came to set captives free. To call out hypocrisy. To tear down walls. To remind us that the kingdom of God doesn’t look like a throne — it looks like a table. Reclaiming What We Lost Without Burning It All Down We don’t have to burn it all down. But we do have to stop pretending the system we built is the same as the faith we inherited. We can let go of the version of Christianity that cozies up to power, and reach for the one that walks with the broken. We can choose humility over certainty, love over control, and people over policy. In the words of the prophet Amos, which still echo today: “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me… But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:21,24) This is not about nostalgia. It’s about rediscovery. Not of a church that once was, but of a Savior who still is. And maybe that’s the invitation: not to give up on faith, but to follow it back to where it began. With the outcasts. With the misfits. With a carpenter who said there was another way. © Gary L Ellis Gary L. Ellis (1944–2026) served as an editor and contributor to this publication. His work remains part of our archive in grateful remembrance.

free bible images- rev. henry martin What do you think of when you hear, “come as you are?” For me, it’s a mix of the Nirvana song and spiritual hippies. I used to love saying “come as you are” before I was a Christian. It felt warm, open-minded, and welcoming. This was back when I was a New Ager who read tarot cards and believed that everything and everyone was God. However, when I surrendered to Christ, I knew deep down that I would go through a difficult shedding process of these beliefs. I held onto many stubborn, even selfish, beliefs that were hurting both me and others. I thought my way was the highway, and that anyone who disagreed with me was dead wrong. I thought I was the most moral person on the planet, and I dreamed of being someone people looked up to. To put it simply, I was ignorant. An example of this is that I once believed Satan was not real. I also thought sin was not real either. I genuinely thought the devil and sin were made up to scare people into following Christianity. Although after I experienced intense suicidal thoughts the night I came to Christ, I just couldn’t follow through with that anymore. I mean, the world has so many deaths, attacks, and pain… how can you not believe that Satan is real? He is a major reason why our world is broken and why we need Jesus. When I came to Jesus, I had a confusing time coming to terms with the fact that Satan is, in fact, real and very much working against humanity. I was basically deciding to follow beliefs that directly opposed my old ones. But when I accepted it, the weight I was carrying felt so much lighter. It felt like I could finally admit I was broken and needed Jesus to help me. This isn’t the only stubborn belief I held onto… I had many others that the world shares as well. A few months after surrendering to Jesus, I started feeling really convicted about fully supporting any/all political groups and their agendas. For my first draft for this article, I had so much to say about this particular conviction that I’m going to make a separate article about it! So, stay tuned… It’s going to be called “Stop Idolizing Your Political Party.” Anyways, back to the main idea, if you are going to follow Jesus, it is imperative that change comes along with it. This change will not occur the second you come to Jesus; it will take time. Jesus literally calls us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses DAILY, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). We cannot stay set in our stubborn ways… if we want to follow Jesus, we have to follow Him the whole way. We cannot be lukewarm Christians; we cannot pick and choose Bible verses to follow. We must follow Him fully in His way every single day. We are called to shed off beliefs that are holding us back from Him. We are called to leave behind what has dragged us down beforehand. As Jesus said, “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering” (Matthew 12:30). I know this is pretty intense, but that is what it means to follow Jesus. Yes, it is comforting to be in His light, but we also have to accept that shedding old beliefs and embracing new ones may be uncomfortable. Nobody really talks about this, but sometimes it is HARD to let go of beliefs and opinions you’ve held so dearly for your whole life. It is hard to live for Christ in a world that strives to live for individual happiness. Yes, people are not always going to agree with us for following Christ, and many will not take our beliefs lightly, but we’ve got Jesus to lean on. So what’s the main idea? Please do come as you are to Him. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been through. Maybe you have an addiction, or have hurt someone on a deep level, or you don’t think you’re ‘Christian’ material. That will never stop Jesus from loving you and saving you. He can do what is seemingly impossible to you. But you also must accept that you have to change, for the better. Again, this does not happen within minutes. Pray to the Lord, ask Him to help you surrender and guide you in His everlasting way. Ask Him to convict you of those beliefs or behaviors that are keeping you from Him. If you are serious about Jesus, He will change you in the best way possible. He changed me, and I used to mock him heavily. So yes, come as you are, but don’t stay as you are. © Sienna Krieg

Yesterday, with a fellowship group I consistently meet with, we discussed meditation, which seems to flow more naturally for some than others. It’s no secret that my favorite meditation is based on the forth chapter in the book of Philippians. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about [meditate on] such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9 NIV Some in our group believe that the goal of meditation is to clear one’s heads of all thoughts. Others feel that the focus should be on breathing while noticing thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations as they pass through our minds and bodies. Often, meditation leads to peaceful sleep, which is simply an added bonus when that occurs. Mindfulness meditation may lead to a greater sense of gratitude or clarity [visions] for building toward future dreams. Top meditations from scriptures* according to an AI overview: Joshua 1:8: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (NIV). Psalm 1:2: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (NIV). Psalm 119:15: “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways” (NIV). Psalm 143:5: “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (NIV). Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right… think about such things” (NIV). Psalm 63:6: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” (NIV). Proverbs 4:20–22: “Keep my words… for they are life to those who find them and healing to all their flesh” (NIV). Themes for Biblical Meditation God’s Works & Character: Psalm 111:2, Psalm 145:5. God’s Promises & Law: Psalm 119:148, Joshua 1:8. Peace & Presence: Philippians 4:6–9, Matthew 11:28. How to Meditate on Scripture: Biblical meditation often utilizes the Hebrew word hagah, which can mean to ponder, imagine, or even mutter/mumble the words to oneself. For those readers who may be curious about my top (evidenced based) 5 Reasons to Meditate previously shared at my former blog site (pictured above), I will provide a brief recap here: Reduces anxiety and stress, resulting in better overall mental, emotional, and physical health. Enhances positive mindfulness by intentionally replacing negative self-talk or resentments toward others with neutral objective observations, or loving affirmations for self and others. Lengthens attention span and may reduce age-related memory loss. Improves quality of sleep and minimizes addictive behaviors May decrease blood pressure and aid in chronic pain management. Whether you choose to use a guided meditation from an app or a website or to meditate on sacred scriptures* such as the examples listed above; Be still and know that you are not alone and You Are Loved. ❤️ © Nora Gwen Curious…Do you enjoy coffee too? ☕

My absentee ballot arrived, and I’ve been reading, watching interviews, and praying for God’s guidance on how He wants me to vote. In Wisconsin, voters are choosing between Judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor for the Supreme Court. While the race is officially nonpartisan, Lazar is generally conservative-leaning, backed by Republicans, and Taylor is liberal-leaning, supported by Democrats, with prior leadership at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. This seat could potentially influence abortion laws, and for me, that matters deeply. Elections should be forcing us to weigh these issues. Many Christians hear the same advice: vote for the “lesser of two evils.” But I’ve been convicted to go deeper and ask -what does that mean for a Christian to approach voting morally and faithfully? When abortion enters any conversation, even if it is not the central focus of a campaign, the question becomes more than political. It becomes a matter of conscience, faith, and obedience to God. The Scope of Abortion in Wisconsin In Wisconsin, abortion is currently legal up to 20 weeks gestation under existing state law, with exceptions for the life or health of the mother. Judge Maria Lazar has said she does not intend to legislate from the bench but will uphold the law as it exists. Although she personally would not have chosen abortion, she has described a potential six-week fetal heartbeat law as a “middle ground,” noting that it reflects what Wisconsinites might support rather than a personal or judicial directive. But here’s the issue: no matter how “pretty” it’s dressed up, compromise or “middle ground” of any kind still kills innocent life. Whether at six weeks, 20 weeks, or any other arbitrary line, the result is the destruction of a child who, in God’s image, bears intrinsic worth and dignity. Scripture does not say, “Thou shalt not murder—except before six weeks.” It says “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13 Babies are among the most vulnerable, unable to speak or defend themselves. Paul prayed on behalf of those who had no voice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8 Resolving the debate around abortion by supporting a lesser window still treats innocent life as a compromise rather than an absolute moral good. No fetus is “less human” at any stage of development, and nothing in Scripture suggests a sliding scale of moral worth based on gestational age. Your Role and Responsibility You can point to Lazar’s comments on believing Wisconsinites might support a fetal heartbeat law as a positive step forward in protecting babies as a reason to support her. Some may see Lazar’s comments about a fetal heartbeat law as a positive step forward in protecting babies. But here is the heart of the issue: upholding any law that permits abortion still affirms a system where innocent lives are taken. A conservative leaning does not automatically make a candidate the “lesser evil." We cannot claim to uphold the sanctity of life while honestly considering this talking point as a good thing, or a great “compromise,” when children are still being openly killed. It is permissive of murder, and Christians must reject evil in all forms, not merely in its most extreme expressions. Christian Discernment Totally radically and critical thinking thought here. But what if we didn't listen to the politics and instead surrendered our vote into God's hands? Will He have me vote for Taylor, or Lazar, or not at all? Not a clue yet, but it's out of my hands and in His. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 Discernment does not mean choosing the least offensive immoral option. It means praying, standing with God and firmly for what is right, even when the political system presents only flawed choices. Christians are rightly called to participate in civic life, voting, advocating for justice, supporting the vulnerable, yet our allegiance must always be to Christ first. Obedience to Scripture sometimes means refusing to settle for moral compromise, even when that choice is difficult for us to understand or an unpopular decision. Many Christians treat their vote as if simply casting a ballot guarantees they have made the “right” choice. But the more important question is: did you bring that choice to God first? If not, your vote holds no weight in His eyes. True Christian discernment means surrendering your vote to God before all else. Doing so demonstrates a heart fully trusting Him and a willingness to align our civic actions with His will, rather than following party lines, church pressure, or popular opinion. Closing Challenge to Believers Christ calls His followers to a higher standard, not a political party. Israel in the Old Testament was called to separate themselves from practices that harmed the innocent; likewise, Christians today must not shrink from advocating for the most vulnerable among us. Whether at six weeks, 20 weeks, or any point in development, abortion is still the taking of innocent life. Christians are commanded to stand for life without compromise. To read and settle for any middle ground as "better then it was before" that still excuses, permits and doesn't stop the innocent bloodshed that society calls "health care" now. It's not health care, it's a demonically elected cosmetic procedure. © Jane Isley

pexels- Tara Winstead Before I became a Christian, I had no idea what idolatry was. Funny enough, I actually confused it with adultery. When my mom gave me her Bible, and I began reading it, I started noticing how often the word idolatry would pop up. At the time, I was also watching many Christian YouTube videos, and I noticed how creators would bring it up as well. Obviously, something about it was important. Originally, I thought I didn’t struggle with it. I wasn’t hanging onto a celebrity’s every word or following other Gods. However, as I continued to learn about it, I realized I had been idolizing people. It wasn’t in the normal sense where I was obsessed with a celebrity or a character; rather, it was the obsession with how other people thought of me. I continuously worried, and still worry about how other people perceived me. Was I nice enough? Pretty enough? Outgoing enough? Confident enough? The list goes on. I am a huge people pleaser, and that in itself is a form of idolatry. I basically made it a God. I would do a lot to get people to like me, and I get extremely sensitive when I find out that someone has a poor opinion of me. Rather than focusing on Jesus, I get swept up in how others will praise or belittle me. But the thing is, people are fickle. People’s opinions shift depending on their mood, how much food they eat, what stage of life they’re in, etc. I cannot base my self-worth on how the human brain works. I must see myself through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus never changes. Jesus loves. Jesus reveals light in the darkest pits. It’s harder to follow Jesus than it looks. We are surrounded by a diverse number of people in our everyday lives. Sometimes we forget about Jesus and get caught in our day-to-day relations. This happens to the best of us. While people’s opinions can really make a difference in our lives, it’s important not to idolize them or rank them above our God. The Lord is all-powerful, and that is why we should look to Him. People change their minds about their love for others, but He never does. Nobody sacrificed themselves quite like Jesus. He literally died for us. I doubt you can say that about most other people. That is why “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20). Additionally, you can make items an idol in your life. Food, work, clothing, and money are prime examples. Don’t get me wrong, I am a foodie and fashion person at heart, but there is a difference between enjoying God’s blessings and obsessing over them. Your phone is also an example of what could be an idol. I often reach for my phone in times of trouble because it helps me get my mind off stress. But I know that it ends up creating more anxiety due to my untouched problems sitting in the back of my head. Yes, scrolling on the phone can feel relaxing in some ways, but once you get off it, you have to eventually deal with your problems. I am actively struggling with this kind of idolatry and often push Jesus to the back of my mind while I take out my phone. I haven’t done much about it, but writing this is showing me how much of a problem it actually is. As I mentioned in a previous article, I have not been taking Jesus seriously in the past couple of months. I have been struggling with a lot of spiritual warfare, and idolatry is a huge part of it. I pray that each and every one of us, including myself, has the strength blessed by God to overcome our idols. That we can have the spiritual sense to realize what we idolize is wrong, and that our Lord and Savior is much more fulfilling than any item or person, or false God could ever be. I pray that we open our hearts to Jesus, and that we may never forget His sacrifice for each and every one of us. He never forgets us; let us remember that. Jesus, pour your love onto us! Holy Spirit, come to overflow! Thank you for reading! This article serves as a reminder that you can make anything become a God in your life. It’s important to realize that this is dangerous. Jesus is the one true God. He is the way, the truth, the life. He is love. He is better than anything you could imagine. Keep that in mind, my lovely friends :) © Sienna King