This will be my wrap-up article addressing this whole Old Testament vs New Testament God ridiculousness going on out there. I wish people would realize that the Bible is ONE whole book; people added the term “Old” Testament, not God. Since so many like to cherry-pick their form of Christianity these days to believe in, let's reconcile this. They hate the God of the Old Testament (God of Wrath) and choose to follow the God of the New Testament (God of Love). What would you do if you found out you were wrong about this? The Loving God of the Old Testament I’m dropping a comment by I. M. Koen that sums up what I would list out about God’s love in the Old Testament. “God is so angry! Except for the manna, water, sea splitting, dropping Jericho, cloud and pillar of fire, healing foreign lepers, miraculously feeding his people during famines, saving from plagues, shutting lions’ mouths, showing up in a furnace, speaking to myriads face to face, saving Lot, forgiving sin, giving His people their own land, hearing cries, writing our names on the palms of His hands, using women to save entire races, confusin our enemies, feeding with ravens, bringing dry bones back to life, bringing victory against overwhelming odds, forgiving Nineveh (much to Jonah’s chagrin), guiding a stone to Goliath, opening wombs, demanding we rest one day a week, making the sun to stand still, giving Samson supernatural strength right after he had been with a hooker, sowing skins to replace fig leaves, decreeing clothes don’t wear out for 40 years, restoring fortunes, promoting and exalting the unworthy, warning Cain, delighting in prosperity, hearing prayers, multiplying oil and grain, making a borrowed axe head swim, sending angels many times to help people, and watching His son be mutilated for OUR sakes….I can go on for hours. But OTHER THAN THAT, God is so angry.” That is your “God of Wrath,” you hate so much, that you fight against and try to ignore. But what would happen to your belief system when confronted with the “God of the New Testament?” The God of Love Still Judges “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 That’s your “God of Love,” your “God of the New Testament” that you prefer and built your belief system on. He is the same God who has always held people accountable for their actions; the message has never changed. "I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6 (OT) "These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of heavenly lights, in whose character this is no change as all." James 1:17 (NT) © Jane Isley Recommended Further Reading: New Testament God vs the Old Testament God The Attributes of God in the Bible Is the Old Testament God the Same as the New Testament God?

There are few things more exhausting than loving people who keep making foolish decisions. Right? You help them, and they repeat their dysfunctional behavior. You encourage them, and they fall right back into the same pattern. You forgive them, and somehow, they find another ditch to fall into. You begin to think: Good grief! Will they ever get it together? After a while, something hardened begins to rise inside of us. We think: “I’m done. I will no longer enable bad behavior.” It’s not because we stop caring entirely. But we get tired of carrying the emotional weight of someone else’s instability. Jesus said when iniquity abounds, the love of many grows cold. (Mt 24:12) Our love for people caught in a long struggle tends to wane. And our patience dims. We see this frustration at the Last Supper between Jesus and Philip: “Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.” “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’” John 14:8–9 Yikes! See what I mean? The I.M. translation says, “Dude, seriously…how can you not be getting this after 3 ½ years of solid mentoring? What’s wrong with you?” When we study the life of Moses, we discover something remarkable: God’s people were often irrational, fearful, rebellious, immature, and unbelievably frustrating. Yet Moses never stopped interceding for them. Again and again, the Israelites complained against God after witnessing miracle after miracle. They saw the Red Sea split. They ate manna from heaven. They followed a cloud by day and fire by night. And still they murmured. Still, they panicked. Still, they rebelled. At one point, they literally created a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving the commandments of God. Less than three months earlier, they had walked through a split Red Sea. And now, they were ready to change Gods. If anyone ever had a reason to throw up his hands and say, “You know what, Lord? Start over with somebody else. These people are idiots.” it was Moses. But that is not what he did. Instead, scripture says he stood in the breach for the people. He prayed, pleaded, and interceded on their behalf. And he kept doing it. Not once or twice. But repeatedly throughout Israel’s wilderness journey. When fire broke out because the people complained, Moses prayed. When Miriam rebelled against him personally and was struck with leprosy, Moses prayed for her healing. When the people refused to enter the Promised Land because of fear, Moses pleaded for mercy instead of revenge. When Korah led a rebellion against his leadership, Moses still interceded to stop judgment from spreading through the camp. Think about that. Most people struggle to pray for those who hurt them once. But Moses kept praying for people who hurt him repeatedly. That is spiritual maturity. One of the clearest signs of growth is not how powerfully you can rebuke people, but how consistently you can love imperfect people without surrendering to bitterness. That does not mean enabling dysfunction. It does not mean removing boundaries. And it certainly does not mean pretending sin is acceptable. Moses confronted sin directly and often. But confrontation never cancelled compassion. That balance matters. Because immature people either become doormats or cynics. They either tolerate everything or give up on everyone. But mature believers learn how to carry both truth and mercy at the same time. The older I get, the more I realize this: everyone is a work in progress. Some people are just earlier in the process than others. The people in your life may frustrate you deeply right now. Your spouse, children, friends, family, or coworkers. Some of them may be acting foolishly. Some may be spiritually asleep, deluded, or deceived. Some may be trapped in cycles they seem unable to break. And yes, wisdom sometimes requires distance, boundaries, or difficult conversations. But we can’t let disappointment harden our hearts. Because one of the enemy’s greatest victories is convincing good people to stop believing other people can change. That they will always be that way. That they are irredeemable, bad seed, or broken beyond repair. Moses could have quit on Israel dozens of times. But he understood something powerful: people are often at their worst right before God does something transformative in them. It’s not the calm before the storm. It’s the storm before the calm. If Moses had abandoned them emotionally, much of their story never would have unfolded. And perhaps someone in your life needs the same thing right now: someone willing to keep praying, keep believing, keep loving, and keep standing in the gap for them. Even while they are still acting foolishly. Galatians says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal 6:9) Sometimes the greatest act of faith is simply refusing to give up on people before God is finished with them. Your patience may become the bridge that carries someone into their breakthrough. That makes you like Jesus. How so? “Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 Jesus has a full-time job with me. I can imagine God saying, “Not Issachar again. Seriously? Will he ever get his act together?” But that conversation NEVER happens. Because He loves us. And knows our faults, frailties, blind spots, and sin tendencies. “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” Psalm 103:14 And regardless of how we are, where we are in our process, what we keep doing over and over and over again: He will never leave us or forsake us. He never gives up on us. So, shouldn’t we be the same towards the people in our lives? © 2026 I.M. Koen Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

A reflection on burdens, Scripture, and supernatural rest Psalm 51 hit me especially hard last night. I have already written to you about how I started with a gloomy mindset recently. (link below) Even though my actions were better than my thoughts and feelings, a grey storm cloud remained over my head, surrounding my downcast soul despite my best efforts to keep it at bay. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5, 11 and Psalm 43:5 (NIV) The Breaking Point When I wrote “Psalm 51 hit me especially hard last night,” I meant that the emotional heaviness that had collected like rain in my storm cloud throughout the day suddenly burst. It leveled me into an inconsolable puddle of tears as I sat upon a large boulder overlooking a beautiful sunset with my husband, reading Psalm 51 together. The only two words I managed to utter through the uncontrollable weeping were, “I can’t…” You can imagine my husband’s surprise as he wondered what was happening and what words might complete that heavy sentence. Quick Multiple Choice Options: a) “… be married to you anymore.” b) “… live like this anymore.” c) “… do this life any longer.” d) Other:___________________ A Supportive Presence He patiently wrapped his arm around me to comfort my heaving shoulders and gently whispered, “You can’t what?” At that point, I mustered two more words between quiet sobs: “…read anymore.” Fortunately, he intuitively knew exactly what to do; he finished reading the rest of the chapter out loud for both of us. To give you more context, we normally take turns reading five verses each from our Chronological Bible Reading Plan, a method I grew up using with my family. Reflecting on the Struggle After finishing the readings and our sunset walk, we debriefed what had happened. We discussed the reasons the emotional dam had broken wide open, flooding over us on that rock. While there were various contributing factors (including past sins forgiven, but not forgotten), it ultimately came down to this verse: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) Finding Comfort in Scripture After processing those thoughts and feelings through prayer, and taking a few deep, cleansing breaths, I felt a major weight lift off my shoulders. I felt carried safely back home by my Savior once again. Isaiah 46:4 ~“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 40:11 ~“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom.” Psalm 68:19 ~ “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Matthew 11:28 ~“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Deuteronomy 1:31 ~ “In the wilderness you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went.” Reflections and Next Steps Finding comfort in scripture during emotional turmoil is a profound experience that reminds us we are not alone in our struggles. When the weight of life feels unbearable, turning to the timeless truths of the Bible can provide a sanctuary of peace, offering a perspective that transcends our immediate circumstances and anchors our souls in God’s unwavering love and strength. When have you felt emotionally overwhelmed, and how did you seek peace? How can you more effectively invite a partner or trusted friend into your struggles when you feel unable to express yourself? Which of the scriptures shared provides you with the most comfort, and why? The subtitle about Philippians 4 Peace is real. May you experience that supernatural healing as needed my beloved sisters and brothers. © Nora Gwen 🌻 Recommended Read by Nora Gwen 🌻 🌱 The Power of Choice: Why Actions Speak Louder Than Words — on choosing integrity and steady action over fleeting feelings, even when your mindset feels foggy. ☕ If Nora's words offered you comfort today, consider supporting her writing over a coffee. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

After being prompted by Jane Isley, to interview a fellow Christian for a future story idea, I put on my thinking cap. I agreed that an interview piece would make an interesting essay, so I put together a list of interview questions based on a wilderness theme. Several people kindly said they were willing to be interviewed, but busy seasons of life made it hard for anyone to follow through. I understand completely, and that experience may become a story of its own someday. Maybe I am a bit impatient, or maybe I just don’t like to nag people. I am also something of a DIY personality who tends to go it alone, so I decided to get started on my own. To get the conversation started, I will share the questions here along with some of my own answers. If you would like to be interviewed about your own spiritual wilderness, visit my Medium page and send me a message. 1. Entering the Wilderness Q. Can you describe a season in your life when you felt as though you were in a proverbial “wilderness” — a place of uncertainty, isolation, loss, waiting, or spiritual struggle? What was happening in your life at that time? A. Yes, for me the most profound wilderness experience happened during COVID; at a time, I had moved back home with my mother while going through a divorce after a 27+ year marriage, and was quarantined on lockdown along with the rest of the world. I was waiting to see what The Lord had for me next. And I was suffering from the added heartbreak of a couple of friends in recovery who, from my perception, had betrayed me in a way I would rather not explain in greater detail here. 2. Experiencing God in the Wilderness Q. During that wilderness season, how did you experience God — or, perhaps, how did you struggle to experience Him? Were there particular moments when you sensed His presence, guidance, provision, or silence? A. Quite literally, it felt like I was taking nature walks with Jesus every single day during that lockdown life. I definitely felt his presence with provision and guidance as he helped me save up money to eventually get my own place, and he guided me through what it means to be healthy and whole with or without another marriage relationship in my life. 3. What the Wilderness Revealed Q. Looking back, what did your wilderness experience reveal to you about yourself, your faith, and your relationship with God that you might not have discovered under different circumstances? A. Having the time and quiet environment to grieve, heal, and let go of those I needed to place in God’s loving hands (including myself) was on an incredible level that may not have been possible under any other circumstances. Investing quality time with my mother while her mental and physical capabilities were still as strong and competent as they were at that time, relatively speaking, was also undoubtedly by divine appointment. 4. The Impact on Your Relationship with God Q. How did going through the wilderness change your relationship with God? Did it affect the way you pray, read Scripture, trust Him, worship, or understand His character? A. One hundred and fifty-five percent! My relationship had never been as close and intimate with my Jesus prior to that COVID wilderness experience as it is now, as a direct result of that season of isolation and intense recovery. Regarding reading scripture more, that is a big YES as well. Specifically, Philippians 4 has been my life chapter for a long time now to remind me to meditate on whatever things are pure, lovely, noble, and of good report. In recent years, God also gave me an additional life verse so relevant to the approval-seeking little girl in me that I still have not fully outgrown, unfortunately. That verse is Galatians 1:10: Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 5. Looking Back from the Other Side Q. Now that you have some distance from that experience, how do you understand your wilderness season differently? Is there anything you would say to another Christian who is currently walking through their own wilderness? A. Hindsight truly is 20/20, so looking back on that time now, I tremendously value it as precious quality time with The Lord. At the time it felt like frustration, suffering, and broken-hearted loneliness. But now I know God was faithfully doing a healing, transformational work in my heart. To the fellow Christian who is in a season of waiting or suffering, I want to encourage you with Philippians 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. In conclusion, while seasons in the wilderness often feel lonely, painful, and filled with uncertainty, they are rarely without purpose. When we surrender our timelines to God and allow Him to refine our hearts in the quiet places, our isolation transforms into a sacred space of personal growth and spiritual deepening. Trusting His perfect timing through every valley ultimately reminds us that He is faithfully using every season to shape us for what lies ahead. © Nora Gwen 🌻

How Psalm 37 Answers that Question The claim that Jesus quoted the Book of Enoch is all over the internet, but it doesn't hold up when you look at the historical timeline. A side-by-side comparison of Matthew 5:5 and 1 Enoch 5:7 looks convincing at first glance. But Psalm 37:11 predates both, and changes everything. This article walks through the evidence and explains why the Book of Enoch doesn't carry the authority many people assume it does. What you'll learn Why the Psalm 37 timeline matters and what it proves What Jude was actually doing when he referenced Enoch Why the Books of Enoch disqualify themselves as inspired Scripture What to make of extrabiblical texts and why the Bible remains the standard Scripture Comparison Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth,” 1 Enoch 5:7:“But for the chosen, there will be light, joy, and peace, and they shall inherit the earth.” At first glance, this can look like convincing evidence that Jesus was quoting Enoch, even I scratched my head for a moment until I remembered: "But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalms 37:11 Psalms were written long before the Books of Enoch. Although the entire collection took centuries to complete, all of it predates the birth of Jesus. Blue Letter Bible provides estimated dates for each section, with Psalm 37 being written during the Babylonian Captivity around 539 B.C. Concerns About the Books of Enoch When evaluating the authority of the Books of Enoch, several issues stand out, and I understand this topic stirs strong feelings. But the evidence matters more than the emotion. First, the books were written during the Intertestamental period and after. Second, they contain numerous contradictions with Scripture (Some sources to check out: 1, 2, 3, and 4,). Third, Jesus and the apostles never validated the unusual and often bizarre subject matter found in Enoch. The narrative presented in these books does not align with the teachings found in the rest of the Bible. The books are attributed to Enoch, but this is an example of pseudepigrapha, a common practice in which writings were assigned to notable biblical figures. Enoch was certainly noteworthy, as he walked with God and was taken by Him, but that does not mean he authored these texts. When comparing sources, the order is clear, and this is historically and academically established. Psalms came first. → Jesus quoted Psalms. → Enoch quoted Psalms. Understanding Jude’s Reference to Enoch Another argument often raised is Jude 14, which says, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones.’” Some use this to claim that Jude validated the Book of Enoch as inspired Scripture. A closer look shows otherwise. Jude mentioned the name of Enoch, not the Book of Enoch. He did not say he was quoting from an authoritative text. Quoting any outside source does not make that source inspired. Jesus quoted Caesar, but that did not make Caesar’s words authoritative and Paul quoted pagan Greek poets and that did not make their works authoritative. Jude was fighting back against people who had renounced Christianity (apostates), people who were using 1 Enoch. Jude was making a rather sassy and clever point by using the religious material that was familiar to them. That judgment would come to the ungodly and all false teachers. By using this to make his point, he was able to engage the Apostates directly and more effectively. The Issue Now Instead of this being about the Apostates and the point he was getting across to them, it has turned into him “validating” 1 Enoch as being somehow authoritative Scripture. Again, Jude never stated it was authoritative; the Books of Enoch (and the other ones) invalidate themselves as authoritative all on their own, and if people want to go that far, then they might as well go after Jesus and Paul, too. No one denies that the books exist, and no one denies that there is some historical truth contained in them, but that does not make them authoritative or inspired. The Books of Enoch were written by people who wanted to believe certain things because they didn’t like what they were hearing, no different then certain books written in my modern times that we understand are not inspired by God, example, the Book of Mormon. Believe what you will, but ask yourself, why is there a need to put faith in these books that are proven to be unbiblical, inaccurate, and uninspired? I also want to plainly state, if it was meant to be in the Bible, it would be in all of them, just like Acts, Titus, Hebrews, Esther etc.... “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.” Deut 4:2 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.” Rom 16:17 © Jane Isley Continue Reading: 📜 Apocrypha & the Bible: The Danger of Unlocking Hidden Secrets Explains why the hunt for "hidden" spiritual secrets, new revelations, secret texts, and hidden knowledge comes from a heart deficiency, not a Bible deficiency. Warns that satan preys on curiosity and the desire to feel spiritually "in the know." Calls readers back to grounding in Scripture alone. 📜 The so-called "Lost Gospels" Argues that books like Enoch, Maccabees, Tobit, and Judith were never actually "lost", they were known and deliberately excluded from the canon for real reasons (doctrinal contradictions, late authorship, works-based salvation, etc.). Makes the case that using non-canonical texts to challenge Scripture is standing on shaky ground. I also recommend reading the article “Why Does the New Testament Cite Extrabiblical Sources?” It is very informative on the topic of Jude and extrabiblical sources and talks about Paul doing the same thing as well. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I've often heard the expression, "When in doubt, pray." It makes sense. It's not customary to pray when we're not doubting, yet it's important that we do. Something that illustrates this clearly is the story of Joshua and the leaders of Israel when they met the people of Gibeon. They listened, looked, and believed the evidence of their eyes only to find that they were deceived (Joshua 9:3-21). I can relate. I have lost count of how many times I have been deceived by my own logic and what I could see. Not everything is as it seems. "The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn’t ask God about it. So Joshua made peace with them and formalized it with a covenant to guarantee their lives. The leaders of the congregation swore to it." (Joshua 9:14-15) Joshua went against God's command concerning the inhabitants of the promised land when he entered into a covenant with the Gibeonites. One could expect God to be angry with him, yet God was merciful and this covenant with Gibeon led to one of the greatest miracles ever recorded. Joshua had to honor his covenant with Gibeon and fight against their enemies. This is when Joshua commanded the sun to stand still and the moon to stay in its place. God heard, and acted accordingly. There has never been a day like this before or since. Moreover, God sent hail that killed more of the enemy than died in the battle (Joshua 10:9-15). Our failures and hasty decisions don't have to be the end of the story when God is involved. He can redeem them, sometimes in dramatic ways we could never orchestrate ourselves. I have seen this many times in my own life. I have, on numerous occasions, trusted in my own judgment and wisdom. I weighed all the evidence and carefully considered every angle only to find that I had been duped. Time and again, I suffered hurt, disappointment, and loss. More often than not, the losses negatively impacted my finances. Other times I pressed to get my own way and in the end found that I had grabbed handfuls of air. I had nothing but disappointment to show for it. The Bible clearly tells me to acknowledge God in all my ways. He will direct my steps and cause my plans to succeed (Proverbs 3:5-6). Despite this, I tend to jump in with both feet when it looks right to me. Fortunately, God's grace and mercy never run out. Just as He had been with Joshua and turned things around for his good, He did for me. No, I didn't get off scot-free. I had to live with the consequences of my actions, but what could have destroyed me was turned around for my good. God often used these adverse circumstances in my life to do miracles for me. However, this only happens once I humble myself, pray, and acknowledge my own stupidity and inability to do anything about the situation I created for myself. At other times I argued with God about the direction in which He led me. I thought I knew better and told God how mistaken He was and how much trouble His plans would create. One such instance was when I met my husband. I didn't want a relationship and only saw problems, yet God insisted and today I'm blessed with the most wonderful husband I could have wished for, and I wouldn't exchange him for the world. He is the greatest blessing I've ever had. Thank God for knowing so much better than I do. Yes, His thoughts are higher than mine, and His ways are different from my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). I have often stumbled following my own way, but have never gone wrong following His way. Jesus Himself said that if we follow Him we will walk in the light, but if we don't we will stumble in the dark. Somehow, I often have to stumble first before I turn to the light. Proverbs says that pride will come to a fall (Proverbs 16:18). What pride is greater than thinking we know better than God? I wonder how long it will take me to learn this lesson. I seem to enjoy falling over obstacles I have erected myself. Note to myself: When in doubt, pray. When not in doubt, pray harder. Don't be wise in your own eyes. © 2026 Rina Schultz.

A recent article on Jesus's teachings about hell sparked several conversations, and one question surfaced from that: what is hell in the Bible, really? Most people picture a single fiery place, but Scripture is not so simple. The biblical writers actually use several different words, each pointing to something distinct. So let's open a fiery can of worms and look at them one at a time. I. Gehenna We talked about Gehenna in the article I mentioned above, so I won’t go into detail in this one, but to summarize: it was a real place that the Jews would have been familiar with. This was a place of constantly burning fires and wickedness, reserved for pagan rituals, disposing of refuse, and burning criminals’ bodies. Sounds lovely, right? Gehenna is a Greek word that is translated most often as “hell” in English. Here is an example from Luke: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him (NIV).But I will show you⁺ whom you⁺ should fear: Fear the One having authority, after the killing, to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I say to you⁺, fear Him! (BLB). II. Sheol This Hebrew word means “grave” or “pit” in English, which we sometimes also translate as “hell.” It refers to the underworld, or the place people go after they die, as they await the final judgement (this is different from Catholicism’s teaching on Purgatory, but that’s for another article). As we’ll see in the next section, there’s a great chasm in the grave, separating the tormented wicked from the righteous resting in paradise. As David sings in Psalm 16: because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay (NIV).For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption (ESV). A thread to hang onto for later: Jesus is the “holy one” David is talking about here. But I digress… III. Hades The Greek counterpart to the Hebrew word “Sheol” is “Hades” (and if you’re now picturing a tall, charismatic grey guy with blue flames for hair, you’re welcome for that little time capsule moment). “Hades” is used in the New Testament to refer to the realm of the dead, and sometimes figuratively refers to Death, much how “Sheol” is used in the Old Testament. In Revelation we learn that those being held in Hades will eventually find themselves in the lake of fire along with Satan and his demons. We see it used in Luke, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (the beggar): The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ~ Luke 16:22–23 We’re told Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s side, which is paradise for those who belong to Christ, as Jesus tells the thief on the cross. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”~ Luke 23:43 The rich man, however, descended to Hades, where he was tormented. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his family about the terrible place, but Abraham tells him they wouldn’t believe even if someone arose from the dead (foreshadowing, no?) and that no one could traverse the great chasm. I know this sounds incredibly harsh to some, but keep in mind the rich man never made mention of Jesus in all his pleading. He wanted his suffering to end, but not the One who could end it. IV. Tartarus With this word, we see some overlap into Greek mythology. Known as a deep, gloomy pit, Tartarus is the place of punishment where God sends fallen angels. Appearing only once in the New Testament, Tartarus is also translated as “hell” in English. 2 Peter 2:4 says: For if God did not spare the angels having sinned, but having cast them down to Tartarus in chains of gloomy darkness, He delivered them, being kept for judgment; (BLB)For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; (NIV) This is not a place for human imprisonment, but rather for rebellious celestial beings to await their final sentencing on Judgement Day. V. Lake of Fire Perhaps the most well-known phrase for “hell” is the “Lake of Fire.” Seen most often in Revelation, this is the final resting place for those, human and celestial, who choose a life apart from God. Riddled with Satan and his demons, this will be a place of endless anguish. And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  ~Revelation 20:10, 14–5 Those who have been waiting for judgment in Sheol/Hades will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire if their name isn’t found in the Book of Life. There, they will face unending torment along with Satan and his demons. However, those who choose to love Jesus will spend eternity securely by his side. Teaching about Hell is not a scare tactic, as some tend to think. Those who don’t want to dwell with the Lord are not scared into a relationship with Him just by the knowledge of Hell. If that were the case, wouldn’t Satan himself turn and follow Christ? This article may seem a bit much, or like too much information, and you may be asking, “Why are we talking about Hell and its compartments?” Well, because it’s important. Not that we want to stay in the weeds all the time, but sometimes it’s necessary to get in them a little because that’s where we find clarity. Some claim that Jesus taught only about Gehenna during his earthly ministry, and that there must not be a place such as Hell. But Jesus reveals to John in Revelation that the place of endless torment is the Lake of Fire. Gehenna is terrible, but the fiery lake will be unimaginable. We tend to forget, or overlook, the fact that the Bible is an ancient text and we can’t treat it the way we’d treat a modern document. There are nuances and cultural practices we miss when we read it with a 21st century lens. Another Lens: When we read books like Little House on the Prairie, we understand that it was written in a different time than the one we live in now. We know we need some knowledge under our belt in order to truly understand how the family would have perceived certain events in the book or what their life was really like. However, if we didn’t know anything about history, could we still read the book? Yes, absolutely! We could still appreciate the recounting of Laura’s life with her family on the prairie, and the overarching themes of hard work, love, and perseverance. But we’d miss a lot. We wouldn’t understand the significance of Mary losing her sight after suffering with scarlet fever. We’d know it was unfortunate to lose her sight, but we wouldn’t truly grasp the magnitude of a person in that day not being able to see, or how greatly her family sacrificed to make sure she could thrive, not just survive, living life as a blind person. But what about the Holy Spirit? Can’t we just read the Bible and not worry about all the studying? The Holy Spirit guides our study and gives us discernment, absolutely. But He also gives us the gift of learning and knowledge, and I believe this is so we can better know and understand God’s heart. We use this gift every day at school or work, so why wouldn’t we use it even more with God’s Word? Research and academics don’t change the gospel message, but they do bring us to a place of better, deeper understanding, like realizing that “hell” is a reference to more than one place. © 2026 Stephanie M Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

What are you afraid of? If something came to mind right away, you are already ahead of most people. Failure. Rejection. Losing someone you love. Not becoming who you hoped you would be. But if you are anything like me, your first instinct might be to say nothing. I do not think I am afraid of anything. Careful? Yes. Thoughtful? Sure. Responsible. Practical. Someone who plans ahead and thinks through options. But afraid? Not really. And yet, what if fear is doing more in your life than you realize? The fear underneath all your fears The Bible makes a strong claim. It says people are held in lifelong slavery because of the fear of death. Not influenced by fear. Not occasionally anxious. Enslaved. And it goes even further. All your fears, if you trace them far enough, lead back to one place. The fear of death. It just shows up in quieter ways. At first, that sounds like too much. Most of us are not walking around thinking about death all day. We are not constantly on edge, expecting something terrible to happen. But slow down and pay attention. Why are you afraid of failure? Because it feels like your life is slipping away. Like you are running out of time. Like you only get one shot and you might waste it. Why are you afraid of rejection? Because it feels like a kind of social death. To not be seen. To not be known. To not matter. Why are you afraid of losing control? Because deep down you know how fragile your life actually is. You cannot guarantee your future. You cannot protect the people you love. You cannot even keep your own life going. That realization sits underneath more of your life than you think. How fear quietly takes over So what do we do with that? We try to manage it. We plan, optimize, and carefully manage how we present ourselves. We avoid risk. We avoid situations where we might fail or look foolish. And we give it better names. Wisdom. Being practical. Just trying to do things right. But underneath it, something else is happening. Fear is driving you. It tells you what to do, what to avoid, who to become. And slowly, without noticing, your life starts to revolve around one goal. Staying safe. The problem is it does not work. When you are younger, it can feel like you have control. But over time, you start to see it more clearly. You are not as in control as you thought. And the fear does not disappear. It spreads. It becomes harder to name. Less obvious, but more constant. A low level anxiety that sits in the background. A quiet sense that something could go wrong. That is what the Bible calls slavery. Why Jesus came This is where Easter comes in. The Bible says Jesus came to break the power of death and to free people from the fear of it. In other words, he came to set you free from fear. But the way he does it is not what you would expect. The only truly fearless person Jesus became human. He stepped into the same fragile, uncertain world you live in. And then he did something none of us naturally do. He faced death without fear. He walked toward the cross. Not because he had to, but because he chose to. Where does that kind of courage come from? Courage is never random. It is always tied to love. People become courageous because they love something more than they fear losing their life. A parent runs into danger because they love their child. A soldier risks everything because they love their country. Jesus moved toward the cross because of love. Love for the Father. And love for you. That is why he could say no one takes my life from me. I lay it down. The people around him could not make sense of it. Pilate was used to power working through fear. Pressure, control, self preservation. Jesus was not like that. Fear is how power works in our world. But Jesus was not ruled by fear. Which means fear had no power over him. And that makes him unlike anyone you have ever met. Now imagine if the story stopped at the cross. If Jesus died and stayed dead, then this would still be meaningful. A powerful example. A moving story. But in the end, death would still win. And we would still be stuck in the same fear. What the resurrection changes But that is not how it ends. Jesus rose. Death did not win. It was defeated. And that changes everything. The thing that has always held power over people lost its grip. And not just for Jesus. For you. The Bible says he is bringing many sons and daughters into glory. His victory becomes your future. Death is no longer the end. Which means fear does not get the final say. The thing that has been quietly controlling your life has already lost its power. So why are you still afraid If that is true, then why does fear still feel so strong? Why does failure still feel so threatening? Why do other people’s opinions still have so much weight? Why are you still trying so hard to control everything? Some of you are stepping into new seasons. Graduation. Work. Relationships. Big decisions. And underneath it, there is a quiet panic. What if I mess this up? It does not feel like fear. It feels like urgency. But it is fear. Others of you feel like time is slipping. You feel behind. Doors feel like they are closing. And there is another kind of pressure. I am running out of time. So you start forcing things. Grasping for control. Making decisions you know are not healthy because it feels better than doing nothing. That pressure pushing you? That is fear. And when you let it drive you, your life slowly gets smaller. You take fewer risks. You love less openly. You avoid people because people complicate things. And in trying to protect your life, you lose the very things that make it meaningful. That is what slavery looks like. You are still carrying it Imagine you are exhausted, walking down a road with a heavy bag. A truck pulls over and offers you a ride. You get in. But you keep holding the bag. That is what many of us are doing. The resurrection says the weight has already been dealt with. The deepest threat has already been handled. And yet you are still carrying it. Still living like everything depends on you holding it together. What you are actually free from The Bible says nothing can separate you from the love of God. Not death. Not loss. Not suffering. Not uncertainty. Not your past. Not your future. Not even the things you are most afraid of right now. The worst thing that could happen to you has already been defeated. Death is not the end of your story. It is not even the worst part. It is a doorway. Which means your life is not as fragile as it feels. You do not have to make everything work out here and now. This life is not the whole story. It is the beginning. Now you are free And if that is true, then something shifts. You are free. Free to live differently. Free to love without constantly protecting yourself. Free to take risks. Free to stop trying to control everything. Free to step outside what feels safe and manageable. This is why after the resurrection, Jesus keeps telling people not to be afraid. And then he sends them out. Peace first. Then purpose. Because once fear loses its grip, you can finally live. The question you have to answer So here is the question. What would your life look like if fear did not have the final say? What would you do if you really believed the worst thing that could happen to you has already been defeated? Because that is what Easter is claiming. And if it is true then the thing that has been quietly controlling your life has already lost its power. You are more free than you think. You just have to stop living like you are still in danger. © 2026 David Jun Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Understanding Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ From the Editor: I want recommend reading and sharing this article because I think we forget how deeply God loves us. This is a good reminder of that. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians opens not with complaint or request but with a song of praise. From the confines of a Roman prison, he lifts his voice to declare, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) It is as though Paul is reminding the church, and every believer since, that our truest wealth is not measured by what we hold in our hands but by what we possess in Christ. Brought To Fullness Paul’s words overturn the world’s economy of worth. He doesn’t say God will bless us someday; he says we have already been blessed. Every spiritual blessing (past, present, and future) is ours because of our union with Christ. Nothing is withheld, nothing rationed. We live from divine abundance, not from scarcity. Peter echoes this truth: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.” (2 Peter 1:3) And Paul affirms it again in Colossians 2:10: “In Christ you have been brought to fullness.” The believer’s life begins not with striving but with receiving. We are not beggars hoping for crumbs from heaven’s table; we are heirs seated at the feast of grace. Set Apart Before Time Began Paul then reaches back before time itself: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4) Before the first sunrise, before Eden’s garden bloomed, God set His love upon us. His choosing was not random or reactionary. It was personal, intentional, and gracious. Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) To be chosen by God is to live with unshakeable security. Our identity is not built on performance but on divine purpose. The Father’s choice means we belong to Him forever, and His plan cannot be undone. Paul’s assurance echoes through the centuries: “My sheep hear My voice… I give them eternal life, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27‑28) The seal of the Spirit guarantees that what God began, He will complete. We are held by hands that never let go. Given a New Name, a New Family In verse 5, Paul uses a word that carried immense meaning in the Roman world — adoption. When a child was adopted, he received full legal rights, a new name, and a permanent inheritance. The old debts were erased; the old life was gone. Roman adoption was irrevocable. Paul applies that image to our salvation: “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5) God did not reluctantly accept us; He delighted to make us His children. We are not guests in His house. We are family. Galatians 4:4‑7 expands the picture: “Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts… you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” The believer’s identity is not defined by failure or fear but by belonging. We are sons and daughters of the King. The Debt That's Already Paid Paul continues: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7) Redemption means liberation at a cost. Christ paid for our freedom with His own blood. Forgiveness is complete, not conditional. Grace is lavished, not rationed. Psalm 103:12 paints the picture beautifully: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” The cross does not merely cover sin. It cancels it. The debt is paid, the record erased, the prisoner set free. When we grasp this truth, guilt loses its grip. We no longer live under condemnation but under grace. The redeemed heart learns to rest in the finished work of Christ. Marked as His, For Good Finally, Paul describes the believer’s security: “You were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:13‑14) In the ancient world, a seal signified ownership and protection. When a king sealed a document, it carried his authority. God’s seal upon us is His own Spirit. It is as if He declares, “You are Mine.” The Spirit is the mark of authenticity. He’s the proof that salvation is genuine. He is also the guarantee of our inheritance until the day of redemption. Romans 8:16 confirms it: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This seal cannot be broken. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in us, ensuring that our salvation is secure and our future certain. Blessing as the Starting Point, Not the Goal Paul’s opening chapter in Ephesians is a symphony of grace. He piles truth upon truth until the reader is overwhelmed by the richness of God’s mercy. We are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed. Each phrase builds upon the other, forming the foundation of Christian identity. To live from blessing rather than striving for it changes everything. It frees us from the exhausting pursuit of approval and anchors us in the assurance of grace. We serve not to earn favor but because we already have it. We love not to gain acceptance but because we are accepted. The believer who understands this walks with quiet confidence. Life’s storms may rage, but the soul remains steady, rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Where This Leaves Us Paul’s prison cell could not silence his praise. He saw beyond the chains to the riches of heaven. His heart overflowed with gratitude because he knew who he was and whose he was. So it is with us. God’s grace is abundant. His blessings are secure. His riches are already ours. We are not defined by scarcity but by sufficiency. We are not striving for blessing. We are living from it. You are chosen. You are adopted. You are redeemed. You are sealed. You are blessed beyond measure. © 2026 Randy DeVaul, MA Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Four disguises hidden pride loves to wear. We loaded our four kiddos, then ages 3, 5, 10, and 12, into the minivan. It was a Saturday night, and we all were excited to go on our special monthly outing - to church! The kids sang along to “Go Fish” as we made the 40-mile journey to Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis. On Saturday nights, at Bethlehem’s downtown campus, we would be able to see John Piper preach live and in person! The music stirred my heart. The preaching penetrated my soul. The distance to Piper’s church was too far for us to stay locked in on a weekly basis, so we chose the compromise of worshipping and serving at a local church, while visiting Piper’s church monthly. And we pumped it up for the kids, including a Culver’s stop, so we all enjoyed our Saturday nights at Bethlehem. No need for nursery!! But on March 27, 2010, nobody told me to bring a box of Kleenex. I watched as Pastor John humbly approached the pulpit, stating: “I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noël and others who are dear to me. How do I apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.” (Source) John Piper was taking an eight-month leave of absence. This time away from the pulpit was not a sabbatical to write a book, but rather time taken to consider the “species of pride” in his soul. The impact of hearing those confessionally humble words from a man I held on a pedestal has grounded me for the past 16 years. We all would do well to consider the species of pride growing in our own souls. What might pride look like? Consider these conscious or subconscious thoughts. “I need to be the best, have the best, or look the best.” While there is nothing wrong with doing your best to get an ‘A’ on a test, training hard to win a race, dressing nicely, or exercising to stay in shape to keep up your temple, there is a line that, when crossed, quickly reveals a species of pride. If the goal of being at the top of the class is to make you shine, it’s pride. If the goal in winning the race is to draw attention to yourself, it’s pride. If the goal in working out is to look good at the beach so all eyes are on you, it’s pride. If the end goal is to make Jesus shine and glorify God, then we’re headed in the right direction. “My faith makes me feel good about myself.” While there is nothing wrong with going to church, reading the Bible, tithing, and serving others, if it is making you feel ‘puffed up’, it may be worth pulling out the microscope to check for an undetected species of pride. Is the goal in attending church to be seen by others, or to worship God? Is the goal in reading the Bible to check off a box so you can tell others you read your Bible, or to hear the Word of God? Is the goal in tithing to have bragging rights, even if only in your own mind, or to faithfully obey God, knowing that it is He who has given you the ability to have any money at all? Is the goal in serving to show others how servant-minded you are, or to love others as Jesus did? “My way is the best way.” We all have good ideas, sometimes even extraordinary ideas! But just because something is working well for me does not mean it’s going to work well for someone else. Sometimes their way is better than mine. When I find myself insisting on my perspective or pushing my views on someone else, it just may be a malignant species of pride growing in the petri dish of my soul. Being teachable and willing to explore others’ proposals reveals a more humble heart. “I am superior.” We will never be superior. As hard as we try, we will never be the best, the most beautiful, or perfect. There is only one perfect person who has ever walked on Earth. His name is Jesus Christ. When He came to Earth as a man, He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on a cross. He is now exalted, with a name bestowed upon Him which is above ANY name. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Anytime I am exalting myself, it is a species of pride. “But pride always means enmity - it is enmity. And not only enmity between man and man, but enmity to God.” (Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis) I don’t want enmity with God. I want to always hold my Creator in the highest esteem. While on earth, I will never be perfect, but I will always be Pursuing Perfection. I am amazed at how many times in the past 16 years I have thought of John Piper’s humble admission. To see a man in a powerful position willingly step down to examine his heart is rarely seen. I have since recognized my own sin of putting a preacher on a pedestal. John Piper has now been removed from this mental pedestal, and instead has been categorized with the Apostle Paul, who said: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1) Thank you, Pastor John, for your humble example. First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com Recommended Reads: John Piper's Upcoming Leave (Desiring God)The full statement Tessa quotes: John Piper's own words as he stepped away from the pulpit to confront the pride in his soul. Read the humble confession that grounded her for sixteen years. The Modern Pulpit: When Leading Becomes About Status by Jane Isley A companion look at "Pulpit Pride" — how a place of service can quietly become a symbol of status, and why our church leaders need our prayers more than our judgment.