Here's a tricky-ish concept to wrap your mind around, and I'm going to bet a few have never even thought of this one. First, this comes from the fact that I have read and witnessed many encounters where people (who are Christian) say to another person that IF they have the Holy Spirit in them, they'll basically "just know" that what they are saying/writing is correct. Yeah, that's not how it works, and it's also pretty crummy to say that to a Christian in the first place, because you are insulting their journey and also trying to get in the way of God's timing for them. See, I've read a lot of stuff and listened to a lot of people in my day. Sometimes I get a definitive "Yes!" from the Holy Spirit, other times, actually a lot of the time, I get a "Nope! Hold up," I want you to really look into that and test the spirit here. So that's what I do, I go in and look at the Biblical foundation of what I've just read, or heard. Then about half of the time that turns out to be hogwash, but the other half turns out to be Biblically sound, and we're good to go. So why did the Holy Spirit put the brakes on when the information was sound? That's the root of this article. Why would He do that? Because: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God," 1 John 4:1–2 And: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16 See here's the thing to think about - Everybody who was anyone tested God like no tomorrow in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus, and we all know how that story went. So why wouldn't we test the Holy Spirit? We are actually instructed to do so. "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God" If we relied on the Holy Spirit to answer every yes or no situation without any elbow grease put in there, then what is the point? We'd never grow, we'd never learn, we'd never recognize. We need to be aware of this and allow readers to apply this to us when we write or speak to people about God or on a specific topic, most especially a heavy or complex one, because we are human and make mistakes. Just because we are believers and most of us are well-studied doesn't mean squat to a stranger, and honestly, it shouldn't. Because they may not be ready to learn that topic yet, or God wants them focusing on something else, or it's way above their head because there's terminology and complexities in there that gave them a migraine, and they're not quite there yet. But Going to another person and saying or writing that if they don't understand, believe, or feel hesitant about what you are saying, is now very obviously quite rude, to them and to God. Stop telling people that IF they had God, they'd believe what you are saying or reading, because that's one sure-fire way to lose a believer who may be new or struggling. We are not all in the same place of understanding and knowledge, so how about we let the Holy Spirit do its job and lay off the guilt trips? © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider supporting my work. Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on Facebook.

Are we truly guarding our hearts in the digital spaces where our names and faces are hidden? The internet grants incredible opportunities to learn, connect, and share, but its cloak of anonymity can also expose us to dangerous temptations that reshape us. A question met with cruelty. Long ago, I stumbled across a simple question in a Christian forum. Someone who appeared to be a new believer asked if Noah might have taken eggs onto the ark in some cases rather than live animals to save space. It was the kind of light, curious, and fun question that should have sparked a lighthearted conversation and encouragement for this person as they embarked on their journey with the Bible. Instead, what I saw was heartbreaking. Most responses were sarcastic, belittling, or dismissive. Yes, a few people offered their thoughts on the subject kindly, but cruelty dominated the responses. And the common thread I noted? Anonymity. Hidden behind their usernames, people felt free to mock a fellow believer rather than just answer a dang innocent question. The power of the mask. “How Does Anonymity Affect Behavior.” This is a great and eye-opening article that I’ll be referencing. Psychologists call this deindividuation — a loss of identity that happens when people feel anonymous in a crowd, or online. Stripped of accountability, some are emboldened to say things they’d never speak aloud in person. “The shield of anonymity can embolden individuals to engage in harmful behaviors online, such as harassment or deliberately provocative actions. Without the fear of personal consequences, some users feel free to express extreme views or target others with hurtful comments. This behavior can have severe psychological impacts on victims and can poison online communities.” In other words, anonymity lowers the guardrails of conscience. It makes it easier to justify rudeness, sarcasm, or outright hostility. But God’s standards do not change simply because our names are hidden. A divided life. Here’s the kicker: online habits don’t just stay online. If I grow accustomed to cruelty on the internet, how long before that bleeds into my daily life? Into the way I talk to my child, treat my husband, or serve in God’s church? Jesus warned against this kind of double life: “On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”   Matthew 23:28 We cannot pretend to wear two faces. Sooner or later, they will merge. Our call as peacemakers The question is not simply, What are others doing online? But how am I representing Christ when no one sees my face or knows my real name? Our words (whether spoken or typed) carry weight. They can either wound or heal, discourage or build up. And as believers, we are called to be peacemakers, not agitators, no matter the platform. We cannot control the cruelty of others. But we can refuse to contribute to it. We can pause before posting, pray before responding, and examine whether our words reflect God’s Spirit. Anonymity may give us freedom from Earthly consequences, but it never hides us from God’s eyes. The challenge for every Christian is simple yet sobering: Do my online actions honor Christ? Or do they reveal hypocrisy and hardness of heart? Let us choose carefully. Our digital witness matters just as much as our in-person one. And God is watching both. (This piece is a revision of an early work and has been rewritten to reflect how God continues to mold me, draw me to this topic, and with a lot better grammar.) © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider supporting my work. Your gift helps keep this work going. You can visit me at Faithful Writers on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on Facebook.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, especially in light of the numerous excellent articles about shifting our mindset. There’s one mindset, in particular, I want to call attention to. On the surface, there’s technically nothing wrong with this layout. But, alas, we are human, and humans love to apply “value” where God did not. Let’s look at Genesis 2:21–22 “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” Then let’s walk back to Genesis 1:26 for a second. “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Emphasis on that they part. Men and women were created equal and given shared dominion over the earth. Ever wonder why a rib? Of all the bones in the body, he picked the rib. The rib is on the side. God didn’t take a bone from Adam’s foot; He purposely pulled the bone from his side. That symbolizes partnership and unity, not a hierarchy to be trampled on. Here is my point of view, perspective, mindset, or whatever you’d like to call it on this situation that I want to share. As a mother, I can tell you from experience, this is also a good way to look at this. There is such joy in giggling and conspiring with your child to pull off a surprise for their father, grandparents, or best friend, and they see and understand more than you will ever realize. You will share moments with them when they come up gently next to you and support you, usually in secret. A child’s hug when times are tough is all it takes to hold onto hope. I think parents would be left speechless at all the little things that go unseen that their children do in the effort to help their parent(s). No one was ever placed under another in the way humanity has interpreted and abused. Humanity built that chart of hierarchy and fed it to the world for so long that it’s gone beyond damaging families and Christianity; it’s fractured them. Turn on the news, and you’ll see the proof. There was never a bone taken out of Adam’s foot. It’s time to change the mindset and rewrite the chart the way God intended it. © Jane Isley

This might sound a little unusual, but stay with me for a moment, because it’s the second part that I’m really getting at. We often thank God (or should be) for what He has done for us, all the answered prayers, doors opened, mountains moved, surprise blessings, and gracious mercies. But how often do we stop and thank Him for what He hasn’t done? “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3 God sees the entire picture while we see only small fragments. There are countless times when we’ve prayed for something with complete trust and sincerity, whether it's an opportunity, a relationship, a move, or a dream, and it just didn’t happen. At the time, it might have felt like silence, leaving you disappointed and perhaps confused. But looking back, do have that moment of realizing His “no’s” were a mercy in disguise. (This has happened to me more times than I can count) Now, let’s add another layer to all of this. How often do we thank God for what He’s done that we’ll never know about? “The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.” Psalms 121:7–8 Think about it. Like, really think about that. Many people get frustrated or angry over what God does and doesn’t do in their lives (the things they can see), but there’s a much larger picture to be considered. God sees the unseen; He sees what we are not capable of seeing, let alone understanding. He is and always has been shielding us from many unforeseeable and horrible things. “For He looks to the ends of the earth; He sees everything under the heavens.” Job 28:24 “For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.” Psalms 91:11 “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 Sit and ponder on this : What has God protected you from or done for you that you don’t have a clue about and never will? Next time you’re in prayer with God, thanking Him, maybe also thank Him for everything you don’t know about. © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider supporting my work. Your contribution helps keep this work going. You can visit me at Faithful Writers on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on Facebook.

I have a spectacular verbal rebrand that is going to confuse a few and probably annoy others when I say this: 1st and 2nd Testament I have made it clear many times that I don’t believe that once the “New” Testament came around, God kicked the “Old” to the curb. People made that word distinction, not God. Honestly, though, I get the reasoning behind it; it does make sense simply from a distinction standpoint. But come on. You can’t expect people to do something and not figure that satan’s going to find some way to exploit it to his advantage. Out with the old, in with the new should honestly be satan’s motto at this point. Especially with the way people, Christian and non alike, are attacking the Old Testament. Satan couldn’t have planned anything better if he tried, and he doesn’t have to; all he has to do is sit back and let people — well, be people. Here’s a good question: Why do we still call it the Old Testament anyway? Why label it like it’s some dusty irrelevant relic, a “before” to something better? It’s misleading. It makes people think God suddenly decided to change. And calling the other the New Testament? That makes it sound separate, shinier, less serious, and like a replacement. Let me point something out: 1st & 2nd Samuel 1st & 2nd Kings 1st & 2nd Chronicles 1st & 2nd Corinthians 1st & 2nd Thessalonians 1st & 2nd Timothy 1st & 2nd Peter 1st, 2nd & 3rd John Couldn’t have any of those 2nd’s (or that random 3rd) without any of those 1st’s, otherwise that would make for a very odd read. And no, word counts don’t apply here, and neither do writing styles, message, theme, time period, writer, etc, because the Bible is a very eclectic collection of inspired works, chosen by God, guided by God, and approved by God. It’s so eclectic you wouldn’t win any of those arguments. Here’s a thought: Maybe it’s high time we start calling them the 1st Testament and 2nd Testament. Not just for kicks — there’s a precedent. We already have 1st and 2nd editions. Nobody is debating those. Everyone understands they’re sequential, chronological, and part of the same ongoing message to us. Nothing about that changes God’s character, story, or His message. Calling them 1st and 2nd Testaments keeps that continuity intact, puts God’s revelation in order, and then slows satan down from twisting things as easily. Because people would stop seeing the Old Testament (especially the laws he’s trying to tear down) as irrelevant. It also pulls the plug on this whole “selective Christianity” BS. You know, the whole “I only follow the God of love” nonsense. That stops being funny when you realize you just tossed half of God aside because it made you uncomfortable. The case for 1st and 2nd: The 1st Testament sets the stage, the 2nd Testament reveals the actor. The Law is the backdrop, Christ is the spotlight. The prophets were the previews, Jesus is the feature. The promises were written in ink, the fulfillment was spilled in blood. You don’t get the Messiah without Moses. You don’t get the cross without the covenant. And you definitely don’t get Revelation’s victory without Genesis’s beginning. Consider this with seriousness (at least the concept) because your life very well could depend on how much God you decide to chop out of your opinions. This article is inspired by God our Father and Medium writer, Richoka. © Jane Isley

“When Andrew Tate arrived on Substack, he appeared with roughly 1.1 million subscribers almost immediately, raising questions about whether the growth was organic or engineered. But the real issue isn’t the number — it’s what it reveals: platforms don’t elevate what is good or true, they elevate what gets attention, and when controversy scales that quickly, it looks like the system working exactly as designed.” Are we really surprised by anything at this point? Think about it, beauty and sex sell, we’re in the middle of a war, Epstein’s cohorts are walking away scot-free, AI is learning to disobey its makers, people can’t define who I am on a cellular level, and an estimated 9 billion dollars walked out in the proverbial suitcase. Just Where The Snake Wants Us Overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, feeling small and defeated, and being pumped to the brim daily with his propaganda to continue that downward mental spiral. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of getting overwhelmed just like everyone else out there, but to be fair, just getting up in the morning and having to function creates that in me, thank you, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Why I Just Disclosed My Diagnosis Also, I have many more than that, but that one (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) is the biggest doozy I live with. Not only am I in severe pain almost constantly, with some days being so bad I break down and cry, but it’s also simply just destroyed my body; some of you know that I am on a feeding tube now because of the utter destruction this has wreaked on my body. Not to mention the mental health crises it has created throughout my whole life, or the fact that I have lost parts of my female anatomy one piece at a time, severe intolerances to most foods, pollens, and even severe reactions to merely a whiff of perfume that could send me into a severe migraine for days, or even better, asthma attacks, swelling, or anaphylaxis. The reason for this overview is not sympathy. Believe it or not, to me things are just normal, I crack jokes all the time about my body's hyper reactions to the very world I was born into, and I go on with my life, planting my gardens, writing, napping and snuggling my cats, nor do I want attention or told any cliché “you're so strong” or “you're a trumper” crap. (please) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2–4 I Have My Tools Because of what I have and have gone through in my life, I have matured. I learned to lean on God in ways I never thought possible, to stop struggling so stubbornly to hold onto control that isn’t even mine to begin with, to surrender, to study, to trust, to praise, and to obey. Before I could fully understand the gravity of the world and its battles, I always knew there was a reason for the storms in my life, all the battles, all the depths of hell I crawled out of. Of that, I never doubted there was a purpose, a purpose if I let it be a purpose. Now that may seem like a strange way to say that, but it’s true. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 You Are Not The Only One We all have nasty things that happen to us; it's what you do with them that matters. I always left mine to God. One of the most common prayers I have ever spoken in my life is “God, use this for something good.” Whatever that season brought me, in the middle of all my prayers and and/or yelling at God, that was my consistent prayer. Use it, use me, don’t let it be for nothing, turn this into something good that can help another person. He has never failed to answer that prayer, because it is said in truth, love, trust, and maturity. That's why I started this article the way I did. All of that is scat from the snake, that ole’ deceiving ancient serpent. (click the link at your own discretion) Life Prepared Me For This Worldly Decay Those trials taught me patience and faith, those storms taught me who really sheltered me and to take a deep breath, the valleys of death taught me to trust and pray, those pains taught me perseverance and endurance, those hurts inflicted taught me to self-control and anxiety control, those abuses taught me to love and to forgive, and all those moments collectively taught me that I lack nothing in God and have nothing to fear in or from this world. Where are you in your faith right now? Because this isn’t going to get easier. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in the Culture & Faith. Sources & AI Citation Excerpt at the beginning of this article was from a prompt for an AI-assisted excerpt using publicly available sources online. PBS NewsHour — “Tate brothers charged with rape and human trafficking in U.K.” NPR — “Tate brothers face rape and trafficking charges in U.K.” Thred Media — “Why is Andrew Tate #1 on Substack?”

In many conservative evangelical spaces today, marriage and childbearing have become more than personal choices. They’ve become ideological acts. The message is consistent across sermons, conferences, and political influencers: have more children, raise them right, and we’ll “win the culture back.” Sociologist Christian Smith notes that many evangelical subcultures genuinely believe they are locked in a demographic war for cultural control, fearing they are “losing America” through declining birth rates rather than declining faithfulness (Smith, 1998). What God intended as a sacred covenant has been repurposed into a demographic weapon. A strategy of Domination by Proxy, where reproduction replaces discipleship. The Ideology Behind It This ideology thrives in movements like Quiverfull, popularized through groups like Vision Forum, Above Rubies, and leaders such as Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard. The movement takes its name from Psalm 127, where children are described as arrows in a warrior’s quiver. But as journalist Kathryn Joyce documents, Quiverfull families are often encouraged to view their children as “arrows to be launched into the world to take it back for God through sheer numbers” (Joyce, 2009). What was once metaphor has become strategy. The logic is not born of faith, but of the fear of losing cultural dominance. Historian Rodney Stark shows that the early church never “out-bred” Rome; they out-loved it through sacrificial service (Stark, 1996). Yet in the age of political panic, evangelicalism has turned the home into a military outpost and childbirth into a tactic. Biblical or Political? Despite its biblical decorations, the roots of this movement are distinctly political. The reinterpretation of “be fruitful and multiply” as a command to maintain Christian majorities is largely a product of the post-1970s Christian Right (Du Mez, 2020; Dochuk, 2011). The anxiety beneath it is not theological — it is nationalistic. Jesus explicitly rejected such thinking: “My kingdom is not of this world.” — John 18:36 Yet Quiverfull theology treats the family as the primary tool of a political project, a way to “take back the nation” not through witness or repentance, but through population growth. When political survival becomes spiritual faithfulness, the family stops being sacred and starts being strategic. The Great Commission quietly transforms into a census. Why These Ideas Attract People The rise of demographic-conspiracy thinking within Quiverfull makes far more sense when viewed through psychology rather than theology. These movements thrive on deep human needs: certainty, identity, security, and control. 1. The Need for Certainty People high in Need for Cognitive Closure seek rigid rules and simple answers (Kruglanski, 2013). Quiverfull offers a perfectly ordered world and removes ambiguity. 2. Heightened Threat Sensitivity Some individuals are wired to perceive greater danger in the world (Adolphs, 2010). Quiverfull amplifies this fear: “If we don’t out-breed them, we’ll be replaced.” 3. Conspiracy-Oriented Thinking Conspiracy-minded individuals seek hidden truth and external enemies (Douglas & Brotherton, 2015). Quiverfull provides a heroic narrative: you are part of God’s hidden plan. 4. Authoritarian Tendencies Authoritarian personalities prefer hierarchy and strict order (Duckitt, 2001). Quiverfull theology mirrors this structure. 5. Echo Chambers Like-minded communities reinforce and intensify beliefs (Sunstein, 2009). In short: fear is baptized as faith, and insecurity is reframed as conviction. Children as Assets Once this psychological foundation is understood, the ethical problem becomes clear: children stop being souls and become assets. It must be said plainly: there is nothing sinful about having a large family. Scripture never condemns abundance in children. But motive matters. When children are brought into the world to compensate for insecurity, to prove significance, preserve identity, or fight cultural battles — something has gone deeply wrong. A child should never carry the weight of a parent’s fears. When children exist to soothe an adult’s ego, they cease to be loved and begin to be used. Former Quiverfull children interviewed by NPR and The Atlantic describe being raised not to love truth, but to defend a tribe; not to follow Christ, but to fulfill a demographic mission (NPR, 2014; Stewart, 2020). Jesus said the kingdom belongs to children because of their humility — not their utility. A Christ-Centered Alternative The failures of this movement are now public record. Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard, two of its central architects, fell into scandal after widespread allegations of abuse (Christianity Today, 2014; Religion News Service, 2014). Wherever domination replaces humility, corruption follows. Meanwhile, secular nationalist leaders like Viktor Orbán promote the same demographic logic to “defend Christian Europe” through childbirth incentives (BBC, 2019). It is the same fear wearing a different mask. Jesus never told His followers to preserve civilization.He told them to carry a cross. Christianity has always grown through compassion, service, witness, and transformation, never through birthrate supremacy. Conclusion: The Dominion of Love Domination by proxy is an attempt to do God’s work without God’s way. It masks ambition with piety, fear with faith, and control with covenant. There is nothing more pathetic than a man who forces his children to fight the battles he is too afraid to face himself. That is not leadership — it is cowardice dressed as conviction. True Christian legacy is not biological — it is spiritual. Not how many children you produce, but what kind of fruit you bear: justice, mercy, and humility. The gospel does not need bigger families. It needs reborn hearts. © Joel Sarfraz References: Adolphs, Ralph. “Fear, the Amygdala, and Threat Processing.” Annual Review of Psychology, 2010. Douglas, Karen & Brotherton, Rob. “The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.” Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2015. Dochuk, Darren. From Bible Belt to Sunbelt. W.W. Norton, 2011. Duckitt, John. “Authoritarianism and Attitudes.” Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 2001. Du Mez, Kristin Kobes. Jesus and John Wayne. Liveright, 2020.Halevy, Nir. “Zero-Sum Thinking.” Psychological Science, 2008. Joyce, Kathryn. Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement. Beacon Press, 2009. Kimmel, Michael. Angry White Men. Nation Books, 2013.Kruglanski, Arie. The Psychology of Closed Minds. 2013. Smith, Christian. American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving. University of Chicago Press, 1998. Stark, Rodney. The Rise of Christianity. HarperOne, 1996.Stewart, Katherine. The Power Worshippers. Bloomsbury, 2020. “Bill Gothard Resigns Amid Misconduct Allegations.” Religion News Service, 2014. “Vision Forum President Doug Phillips Resigns.” Christianity Today, 2014. “Hungary's Orban Announces Tax Breaks to Boost Birth Rate.” BBC, 2019. NPR. “Quiverfull: More Kids, More Faith, More Misery?” All Things Considered, 2014. PRRI. “The State of Christian Nationalism in America.” 2023.

They stood in the driveway waving goodbye as we drove away. With a forced smile on my face, I waved back. As we rounded the corner, steamy tears burned down my cheeks. “I’m never going back there as long as I live.” Hubby reached over and squeezed my hand; his silent comfort was the balm for my tormented heart. It took days for me to mentally recover from the visit. Sleepless nights replayed conversations with my Mom. Daggers had been thrown into my heart and stuck. I had shared exciting things happening in my life and received her unapproving, “Hmm.” But mostly, it was me living through days knowing that I would never measure up, that Mom would always be disappointed in me, that I was a failure in her eyes, and that I would never be good enough. I needed to protect my own mental health. The relationship was not healthy. I never went back to their home in Wisconsin. For years following, I made the mandatory phone calls for birthdays and holidays, but I didn’t attend any family celebrations. My siblings encouraged me to come, but I couldn’t muster up the courage to go. I feared the days of self-loathing I knew would follow a visit, so I stayed away. One year, on Mother’s Day, Pastor gave a sermon on honoring your mother. “And there are some of you out there thinking, my mom is not worth honoring.” Yep. He’s talking to me. And then Pastor offered up a fitting Mother’s Day verse. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) Count my mom as more significant than myself? What would that look like? I looked at my brood of four. I definitely count my children as more significant than myself, but they have done nothing to deserve this honor. My mother? She carried me in her womb, changed my diapers, found money in the budget for a brand-new piano and weekly lessons; chauffeured me to dance lessons and theater practice, my job at the bakery, and the drop-off at college. Despite the recent hurts, she had been a great mom, doing the best she could with what she had at the time. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4) What are my mother’s interests? I looked again at my kiddos, and I knew. She’s a mom. What’s more important, thought-consuming, and prayer-saturating to a mother than her children? I’m her interest. My mom had been loving me unconditionally, but for some reason, I hadn’t been able to receive her love. The next family gathering was a surprise 50th anniversary party for Mom and Dad. My siblings pleaded, “You have to go!” I agreed. We planned our trip to Arizona, where they are spending their retirement years. I prayed a lot leading up to the trip. I prayed for protection over my heart. I prayed that the words which poured forth from my mouth would be filled with love. I prayed for healing in our relationship. I prayed that I wouldn’t come home wounded. The entire family was staying in a VRBO a few miles from Mom and Dad’s new house. Mom needed something from her house, and I offered to ride along with her. She gave me a tour of their new home, and while in the kitchen, I felt convicted to apologize for my role in our broken relationship. I didn’t spill out my many hurts. I had already erased the record of wrongs I had been keeping against her for so many years. Instead, I took ownership of my part in our ever-widening chasm and apologized for rejecting her attempts to reach out to me. Thankful for the opportunity to heal, Mom accepted my apology, and we hugged. On the drive back to Wisconsin, conversations from the weekend replayed in my head. She’s still my Mom. She still has her opinions regarding what’s best for me, and when she hears me talk and doesn’t agree, I still get the “Hmm,” which is better than an actual fight! As an adult, I may not always agree with her, but I deeply value her opinion, knowing it’s rooted in love. The thing I’ve come to realize is, I don’t need my mom’s approval; I need my Heavenly Father’s approval. In the Biblical relational order of things, my mom will always deserve my honor. But it’s not just my mom deserving honor; everyone does. Jesus honored sinners with His life. He loves me so much that He sacrificed His life for mine. Should I not likewise go and honor others as Jesus did, unconditionally? My two girlies are now all grown up. I sometimes feel chasms growing between us. I stare at the nose ring and think, “Like a ring of gold in a swine’s snout.” But I don’t say it. I force my eyes from the pierced septum and look instead at the beautiful eyes I’ve been gazing into for two decades. She knows what I think about tattoos and piercings. I don’t need to mention it, harp on her, or nag. I need to love her, maintain the relationship, and let her know that I am always here for her, no matter what. My mother needs to be honored, and my daughters need to be honored. Although I know I will fail miserably at times, my intent is to treat them better than they deserve. To honor them freely. Undeserved goodness lavished down upon them. It’s called grace. First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com

The Gospel doesn’t need a glow-up, a rebrand, or a marketing team. It doesn’t need to be wrapped in skinny jeans or delivered by someone with a TikTok following and a smoke machine. What it needs, what it’s always needed is a person bold enough to live it out with honesty and imagination. Just you and me. Regular, middle-aged humans who’ve seen some things. People with bills, back pain, doubts, and decades of faith wounds. We don’t need a better version of the Gospel. We just need a better version of us, one that’s brave enough to take Jesus seriously when He said, “Follow Me.” Not a Selfie, a Story Somewhere along the way, a lot of us traded the Gospel story for a spiritual selfie. We made it all about personal salvation, getting into heaven, and behaving well enough to earn a gold star. We trimmed the rough edges off of Jesus, those moments when He flipped tables, challenged religious leaders, and spent His days with the outcasts and the overlooked. We made Him polite. We made Him palatable. But friend, Jesus wasn’t safe. He was love with legs. Fire with skin. He didn’t come to tidy up religion. He came to blow the hinges off the temple doors and let the riffraff in. And He wasn’t asking for cosmetic changes. He was inviting transformation. Gospel Means Good News; Not Good Behavior So, what is the gospel? Well, the word “gospel” literally means good news. Not good advice. Not good vibes. Not good intentions. But, Good News. Isaiah 52:7 (ESV)“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”God’s love showed up in the dirt.The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14). Rachel Held Evans said, “God stoops. The God of Scripture stoops. He kneels. He writes in the dirt.”— From her reflections on John 8. Rachel is also quoted as saying: “This is what God’s kingdom is like: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table… not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, and because they said yes.” The Gospel invites us to stop performing and start participating. Honesty Isn’t a Liability A lot of us feel like we’ve got to clean up before we show up. Even at church. Maybe especially at church. You walk in with grief, doubt, anger, or that nagging question you can’t shake — Does any of this still make sense? And what do you hear? “Just have more faith.” “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” “Everything happens for a reason.” But honesty is not the enemy of faith. Pretending is. The Gospel is for real people with real problems. Not plastic saints. Not Pinterest-perfect Christians. If you’re struggling, good. It means you’re alive. It means you care. The Bible is packed with people who wrestled with God — Jacob, David, Job, even Jesus in Gethsemane. Jesus doesn’t flinch at our honesty. He knelt in the dirt with a woman caught in adultery. He let Thomas touch His wounds. He called Peter back after his betrayal — not with a lecture, but with breakfast. So if your story feels a bit chaotic, or even more than a bit, you’re in good company. The Gospel was never a neat story. It was a true one. Imagination Is Faith’s Playground Now, let’s talk imagination. Not unicorns and glitter. I mean Spirit-filled imagination. The kind that lets you see the Kingdom of God breaking in around the edges of your everyday life. Because let’s be honest, adulting is exhausting. We’ve got spreadsheets, errands, and a slow drip, and sometimes a river, of cynicism from the news cycle. But Jesus said the Kingdom belongs to children, not because they’re naive, but because they still look for wonder. Faith without imagination is just routine. But with imagination? The Gospel becomes electric. A living thing. It turns interruptions into invitations, ordinary days into holy ground. It asks: What if forgiveness isn’t weakness, but revolution? What if kindness to your cranky neighbor is sacred resistance? What if the slow, quiet work of love is more world-shaking than a viral sermon? As Frederick Buechner put it, “The world says, Mind your own business. Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business.” When the Gospel Is Lived, It Doesn’t Need Hype When you live the Gospel out loud, it doesn’t need PR. You don’t have to sell it. Live like you believe love is stronger than hate. Live like grace is real, like second chances are normal, like no one is disposable. Live like Jesus meant it. You know what’s more powerful than a polished sermon? A life that smells like Jesus. That shows up when someone’s in the hospital. That listens instead of preaching. That loves without keeping score. Gal 5:6 says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. ”That’s it. Not perfect theology. Not church attendance. Not political alignment. Just love. Lived out in the real, raw, unfiltered middle of life. Summary: It Never Needed a Makeover. Just a Mirror If the Gospel feels stale or powerless, maybe it’s not the message that needs changing. Maybe it’s just waiting for us to live like it’s still good news. We don’t need to modernize it. We don’t need to soften it. We just need to remember it. To embody it. To risk it — in conversations, relationships, everyday kindness, and bold love. Because the Gospel still has the power to heal, restore, flip tables, and raise the dead parts of us to life. But only if we’re brave enough to stop editing it and start embodying it. Key Takeaway: The Gospel doesn’t need a makeover, it needs you to live it with honest doubt, wild grace, and a little holy mischief. Let the world see a love too stubborn to quit and a hope too loud to hide. © Gary L Ellis

I have never done this before. I am a writer, that is where my emotions pour out. But then I found this artist, and her song has not left my mind since. She sings with a brilliance that does not just call out the travesty, hypocrisy and slaughter in this world, she makes it stick in your heart. "Stay silent, stay violent Stay plugged in and divided" — Iyah May, Good Citizen