Faithful Writers

Google Nano Banana You know those Christians who are really good at being Christians but really bad at being humans? They know every Bible verse about holiness, but can’t have a normal conversation with their coworker who drinks. They post Scripture about love while judging their neighbor’s lifestyle choices. They attend every church service but can’t be bothered to learn their actual neighbor’s name. They’re so focused on being “set apart” that they’ve forgotten how to be present. So committed to avoiding worldly influence that they’ve lost all worldly relevance. These Christians aren’t bad people. They’re often sincere, devoted believers who genuinely want to honor God. But somewhere along the way, they confused biblical holiness with social isolation. They started believing that the best way to influence culture is to avoid it entirely. The result? They’ve become exactly the kind of people Jesus spent His ministry criticizing. “Separate and Holy”….While Killing Christian Credibility If we’re honest with ourselves, our churches have often taught us this through their actions: “The more separated you are from worldly people, the more holy you are.” What a load of rubbish. This toxic teaching suggests that spiritual maturity is measured by how little you associate with sinners. It implies that good Christians create walls between themselves and anyone who doesn’t share their faith or lifestyle choices. Churches reinforce this by creating Christian bubbles where believers only socialize with other believers, only shop at Christian businesses, only consume Christian media, and only send their kids to Christian schools. The goal becomes building a holy fortress where you can be spiritual without being contaminated by the world. I’m as guilty as the next Pharisee when it comes to this. When I first got saved, in the months after, I cut off so many people, burned so many bridges, and honestly just did the most in my search for purity. Now, some were indeed needed, but I can without a doubt say that I did go overboard with it. But this approach has a massive theological problem: Jesus did the exact opposite. What Jesus Actually Did With Sinners Jesus didn’t avoid sinners. He sought them out. He didn’t just tolerate their presence. He enjoyed their company. He didn’t lecture them about their lifestyle choices. He loved them as they were. Jesus ate with tax collectors. These were people who betrayed their own countrymen for profit. They were considered traitors and thieves. And Jesus chose to have dinner with them regularly. Jesus befriended prostitutes. He didn’t condemn their profession or demand they change before He would associate with them. He defended them against religious leaders and showed them dignity. Jesus hung out with drunkards. So much so that the Pharisees accused Him of being a drunkard Himself. His reputation was damaged by the company He kept, and He didn’t care. Jesus attended parties thrown by sinners. He didn’t just show up for evangelism purposes. He celebrated with people whose lifestyles violated religious standards. The religious leaders were scandalized. They couldn’t understand how someone claiming to represent God could be so casual about hanging around people who clearly didn’t represent God. Sound familiar? Why Modern Christians Avoid What Jesus Embraced Fear of contamination. Many Christians believe that spending time with non-believers will somehow pollute their faith or tempt them into sin. They treat faith like it’s fragile instead of transformative. Fear of appearance. Christians worry about what other believers will think if they’re seen associating with the “wrong” people. They prioritize religious reputation over relational ministry. Fear of compromise. They assume that loving sinners means approving of sin. They can’t distinguish between accepting people and endorsing behavior. Comfort in Christian culture. It’s easier to stay in environments where everyone shares your values, speaks your language, and validates your beliefs. Engaging with different people requires emotional energy and intellectual flexibility. Misunderstanding of holiness. They think holiness means moral purity achieved through isolation. They don’t realize that biblical holiness is moral purity maintained through engagement with the Holy Spirit. The Pharisee Problem in Modern Christianity The Pharisees were the “good Christians” of Jesus’ day. They were theologically correct, morally upright, and religiously committed. They knew Scripture, followed rules, and maintained high standards. They were also Jesus’ biggest critics. Because they had turned faith into a performance designed to impress God and other religious people. They had created a system where spiritual success was measured by moral superiority and social separation. Sound familiar? Modern Christianity has a Pharisee problem. We’ve created a culture where being a “good Christian” often means: Avoiding certain people rather than loving difficult people Judging cultural trends rather than understanding cultural needs Maintaining religious traditions rather than building authentic relationships Protecting church reputation rather than serving community needs Creating Christian alternatives rather than engaging secular spaces We’ve become so committed to being right that we’ve forgotten how to be loving. What Jesus Actually Said About Being In The World “I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil” (John 17:15). Jesus specifically asked God NOT to remove Christians from the world. He wanted His followers engaged with the world while being protected from its corrupting influence. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). Salt only works when it’s mixed into food. Light only matters when it’s shining in darkness. Both metaphors require proximity and engagement, not separation and isolation. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). The Great Commission wasn’t “Wait for the world to come to church.” It was “Go where the world already is.” Jesus’ model was incarnational, not isolational. God didn’t save the world by staying in heaven and demanding that people come to Him. He came to earth and lived among the people He wanted to reach. How Good Christians Become Terrible Neighbors They prioritize theological correctness over relational connection. They’re more concerned with having the right beliefs than building genuine friendships. They judge lifestyle choices instead of addressing real needs. They notice what people do wrong more than they notice what people need. They offer religious solutions to practical problems. Instead of helping with tangible needs, they immediately jump to spiritual advice that feels irrelevant or judgmental. They treat relationships as evangelism projects. Every interaction has an agenda. They can’t just be friends without trying to convert. They withdraw when people don’t respond to their message. If neighbors aren’t interested in church or spiritual conversations, these Christians often distance themselves instead of maintaining the relationship . They create an “us vs. them” mentality. They talk about “the world” like it’s enemy territory instead of a mission field filled with people God loves. What Jesus-Style Neighboring Actually Looks Like Be genuinely interested in people’s lives without having an agenda. Ask about their work, their family, and their interests. Care about what they care about. Meet practical needs before addressing spiritual needs. Help with moving, babysit their kids, bring food during illness, and offer assistance during emergencies. Participate in community activities without requiring Christian alternatives. Attend neighborhood events, join community groups, and engage with local issues. Build friendships that aren’t dependent on shared beliefs. Enjoy people for who they are, not for their potential to become Christians. Defend people when they’re being judged by other Christians. Be the Christian who speaks up for the neighbor others are criticizing . Live in a way that makes people curious about your peace and joy. Let your different lifestyle attract questions rather than create barriers. Love consistently, whether people are interested in faith or not. Your kindness shouldn’t be contingent on their spiritual openness. The Revolutionary Idea That Christians Are FOR People Here’s what non-Christians need to experience from Christians: unconditional love from people who don’t need anything from them. Most people assume Christians are nice to them because they want to convert them. They expect the relationship to change if they show no interest in faith. But what if Christians loved their neighbors so genuinely that their love remained constant regardless of spiritual response? What if Christians became known as the people you could count on during a crisis, whether you believed like them or not? What if Christians were the first people you thought of when you needed help, because you knew they would help without lecturing you? What if Christians were so genuinely interested in your life that you felt valued as a person, not as a conversion project? This kind of love is revolutionary. It’s also exactly what Jesus demonstrated. Your Neighborhood Is Your Mission Field Stop waiting for your neighbors to come to church. Start going to your neighbors. Stop judging their lifestyle choices. Start serving their practical needs. Stop avoiding them because they’re different. Start learning from them because they’re different. Stop trying to fix their spiritual problems. Start being present in their real problems. Good Christians don’t make terrible neighbors because they care too much about faith. They make terrible neighbors because they care too little about people. But when Christians love their neighbors the way Jesus loved sinners, something amazing happens. People start asking questions about the source of that love. They become curious about a faith that produces such genuine care. They stop seeing Christianity as a judgment system and start seeing it as a love system. And that’s when real evangelism happens. Not through arguments or invitations, but through relationships. Not by being separate from the world, but by being different within the world. Your neighbors don’t need you to be a better Christian. They need you to be a better human. The kind of human Jesus was when He walked among people who desperately needed to know they were loved. How would your relationship with your neighbors change if you approached them the way Jesus approached sinners? What practical needs could you meet without expecting anything spiritual in return? © Ashneil

Photo by Uwe Conrad on Unsplash Every generation has its songwriters. The Beatles captured the spirit of the ’60s, the Rolling Stones gave voice to rebellion, and Elton John wrapped raw emotion in unforgettable melodies. Elvis. Dylan. Bieber. The Macarena . I bet an artist just popped into your mind. But long before Mozart or rock ’n’ roll, Moses — the reluctant leader of Israel — penned songs that have outlasted them all. His lyrics of praise, warning, and prayer still echo across the centuries, reminding us that music is more than just entertainment. It’s a way of telling the most profound truths about God, humanity, and hope. There are 66 Bible verses mentioning music in heaven. A Song of Victory (Exodus 15) No one had more reason to sing than Israel after escaping Egypt. They had just watched God do the impossible: plagues that brought a superpower to its knees, a pillar of fire, a sea split in two, and Pharaoh’s army crushed in a single moment. When they stepped onto dry ground on the far side of the Red Sea, Moses led the people in the Bible’s first recorded song of praise. He declared: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” (Exodus 15:2) Moses reminded the people that their God had no equal: “Who is like You among the gods, Lord? Who is like You — majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11) And as if to warn the nations ahead of them, Moses proclaimed that God would defend His people again: “The people have heard, they tremble… all the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.” (Exodus 15:14–16) The song ended with Miriam, Moses’ sister, leading the people in a resounding chorus: “Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21) This wasn’t just music — it was a declaration that God saves. A Song of Warning (Deuteronomy 32) But Israel’s story wasn’t all celebration. They grumbled, rebelled, and doubted, even after seeing God’s power firsthand. Because of this, an entire generation wandered in the wilderness until it died out. Moses himself would never step into the Promised Land. Before handing leadership over to Joshua, Moses wrote one final song, both as a reminder and a warning. (Actually, God wrote it. Moses penned it and probably put it to music. Deuteronomy 31:19) The song begins by exalting God’s name: “For I proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just.” (Deuteronomy 32:3–4) Moses reminded Israel that their entire story was built on God’s care and provision. But he didn’t soften the reality of their failures: “You forgot the Rock who fathered you and forgot the God who gave you birth.” (Deuteronomy 32:18) Still, even in warning, there was hope: “For the Lord will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees their strength is gone.” (Deuteronomy 32:36) This song was meant to be repeated and remembered: “Remember the days of old… ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7) Moses wanted Israel to carry their history and God’s faithfulness into the future. A Song of Prayer (Psalm 90) Tucked among David’s psalms is one by Moses: Psalm 90. Unlike the other two, this isn’t a song of victory or warning; it’s a prayer. Moses reflected on God’s eternal nature: “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by.” (Psalm 90:4) That reality led him to pray: “Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Even in the hard seasons, he asked God for joy: “Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness, that we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.” (Psalm 90:14) This psalm is deeply personal. It’s a reminder that life is short and challenging, but God is eternal. The best use of our days is to live them in His presence. Why Songs Still Matter The Bible isn’t a hymnbook, but it contains nearly two hundred songs. Some are worship for the whole community, others are private prayers, laments, or love songs. Together, they show the full range of human experience with God: joy, grief, confession, confusion, celebration, and instruction. Moses’ three songs capture this perfectly: praise (Exodus 15), warning (Deuteronomy 32), and prayer (Psalm 90). They remind us that songs do more than express emotion. They teach. They help us remember. They pass on truth from one generation to the next. And they still invite us to lift our voices today. We may no longer know the melodies, but the words remain. And through them, Moses still leads us to praise, to remember, to pray, and to anchor our lives in the God who never changes. Should you learn the song of Moses? Absolutely! Because if you make it through the tempestuous closing of this present age, you will be using your golden pipes. This is what John saw: “I saw something like a sea made of glass, the glass all shot through with fire. Carrying harps of God, triumphant over the Beast, its image, and the number of its name, the saved ones stood on the sea of glass. They sang the Song of Moses, servant of God; they sang the Song of the Lamb:” Revelation 15: 2–3 That’s in the future. Are you ready? For now, how can we get a Moses channel on Spotify or YouTube ? Thanks for reading this. I hope you belt out a tune today in the shower or behind the wheel. © I.M. Koen And you might also like: Why God Eavesdrops on You. How Bright Are You? Have You Looked at Your “Hineni” in the Mirror Lately? Happy 5786! May this be your best year ever! -Issachar

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash I’ve volunteered with children and youth ministries for more than a decade, and in that time, I’ve been able to observe hundreds of parents through the eyes of their students. Something became glaringly obvious to me one evening when, during small group time, a student was unable to answer a very simple question — “Who is Jesus?” This was not a student who had walked through the church doors for the first time or was uncomfortable speaking in front of a small group. Rather, this student had grown up in the church, had parents who were highly involved in the church, and was one of the first ones on the list to attend every youth camp and activity offered. This was a student who had spent years at church, learning about Jesus, yet couldn’t manage to come up with a response to the most basic question about our Savior. That day, it became unquestioningly clear to me that it is not the responsibility of the church to disciple. Discipleship is on the parents. What is Church for? Don’t hear what I’m not saying. Attending a local church as a family and making sure our kids are plugged in to the body of believers is vital to our faith. At church, we fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, participate in corporate worship & teaching, and offer encouragement to one another. Church is the place we find people to do life with, to minister to, and to grow with. Without it, we’d become spiritually malnourished as believers. However, it is not the sole responsibility of the church to disciple our kids. Discipleship starts at home and includes going to church, but it is not only about going to church. Look at it this way — if a person attends church regularly, this is roughly what their weekly schedule might look like: Sunday School: 1 hour Sunday worship service: 1 hour Sunday night service: 1 hour Wednesday night service: 1 hour When you factor in time for other activities at church, such as worship, announcements, and socializing, there’s little teaching time left (maybe 20–30 minutes each time). A lot of churches don’t offer Sunday night services anymore, either, so there’s potentially another chunk of time missed. All things considered, we’re looking at an average of 80 minutes per week that students could be exposed to the word of God in a formal church setting. That’s just shy of an hour and a half at best . At worst, we’re talking less than an hour. This is why I say: the church is not designed to disciple our kids. At least, not on its own. Church is designed for us to meet together with a local body of believers for encouragement and Bible teaching. It equips and empowers us to go and make disciples, and that includes our kids. I don’t write this to shame anyone, but rather to offer a wake-up call or an encouraging nudge to all parents — we have to be teaching our children the Word of God at home. It simply isn’t optional. If we don’t teach them what Jesus said, the world will. And the world will get it wrong every time. We see that often. What does Scripture Say? Don’t take my word for it — I’m just a random person on the internet. What does the Word say about it? Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. — Deuteronomy 11:18–21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.— Ephesians 6:4 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. — Proverbs 22:6 Parents are responsible for training and teaching their children in the way of the Lord. It’s a weighty responsibility that we can’t take lightly. I look at my son often and think about the fact that if he chooses to get married and have a family someday, it means I’m currently shaping the habits, beliefs, and worldview of someone’s husband and father. Christian parents, we are not simply in the business of raising the next generation of adults. We are in the business of bringing up the next generation of disciples . © Stephanie M Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. 🫶🏻

Google Nano Banana You weren’t too dumb to understand. They were too proud to explain. That question you asked in Sunday school that made everyone go silent? It wasn’t because you asked something wrong.It was because they didn’t know how to answer it. That time you raised your hand during the sermon and the pastor gave you that look? You weren’t being disruptive. You were being curious. And that made them uncomfortable. That moment when you said, “I don’t understand,” and someone told you to “just have faith”? You weren’t lacking faith.You were displaying it. Real faith asks real questions. But somewhere along the way, you started believing that your confusion was evidence of your stupidity instead of evidence of their poor teaching. You internalized the message that good Christians don’t ask hard questions, don’t admit confusion, and don’t challenge explanations that don’t make sense. You learned to nod along when you didn’t understand, smile when you disagreed, and stay quiet when you had doubts. That wasn’t spiritual maturity. That was intellectual abuse. The Lie That’s Keeping Christians Dumb Here’s the toxic teaching that’s been destroying Christian minds for generations: “If you have to ask questions about faith, you don’t have enough faith.” This spiritual gaslighting suggests that confusion is a character flaw rather than a cognitive process. It implies that people who need explanations are spiritually inferior to people who accept everything without question. Church culture reinforces this by celebrating blind acceptance and shaming intellectual curiosity. We applaud the person who says, “I don’t need to understand it, I just believe it.” We praise the believer who “trusts God even when it doesn’t make sense.” We celebrate the Christian who “has simple, childlike faith.” You see, there will be times where we will need that ‘childlike faith’, and that ‘trust when it doesn’t make sense’ type of faith. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s great to have, but not everyone is either like that or is at that stage in their walk with God. Meanwhile, we treat people who ask “why,” or “how,” or “what if” like they’re spiritual problems to be fixed rather than minds to be engaged. But here’s what we’ve forgotten: God created human intelligence and curiosity. Asking questions isn’t evidence of weak faith. It’s evidence of engaged faith. What Your Questions Actually Revealed About the Church When you asked questions that made church leaders uncomfortable, you weren’t exposing problems with Christianity. You were exposing problems with their version of Christianity. Your questions revealed that they had shallow theology. When someone responds to legitimate questions with “just have faith,” they’re usually protecting weak doctrine, not strong convictions. If their beliefs could survive examination, they wouldn’t be afraid of examination. Your questions revealed that they preferred control over understanding. Leaders who discourage questions often care more about compliance than comprehension. They want followers, not thinkers. Your questions revealed that they confused certainty with confidence. There’s a difference between being confident in God and being certain about every theological detail. Your questions threatened their need to appear like they had everything figured out. Your questions revealed that they were afraid of honest inquiry. Churches that shame questioners are usually churches with something to hide — whether that’s intellectual dishonesty, abusive leadership, or theological errors they can’t defend. Biblical Evidence That God Loves Questions If God hated questions, the Bible would be a very different book. Instead, Scripture is full of people asking God hard questions and God engaging with their inquiries. Abraham questioned God’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He literally negotiated with God, asking, “What if there are fifty righteous people? What about forty? What about ten?” God didn’t rebuke him for questioning. He answered every single question. Moses questioned God’s call on his life multiple times. “Who am I? What if they don’t believe me? What if I can’t speak well?” God didn’t tell Moses to “just have faith.” He addressed every concern with specific answers. David filled the Psalms with questions: “Why do the wicked prosper? How long will you be angry? Where are you when I need you?” God didn’t consider these complaints evidence of weak faith. He included them in Scripture. Job spent entire chapters questioning God’s justice, goodness, and purposes. When God finally responds, He doesn’t condemn Job for asking questions. He condemns Job’s friends for giving simplistic answers to complex problems. Thomas demanded evidence before believing in Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus didn’t shame him for needing proof. He provided exactly the evidence Thomas needed. From there, he became the disciple who traveled the furthest to deliver the gospel according to church tradition. The disciples constantly asked Jesus to explain His teachings. They said things like “We don’t understand this parable” and “What do you mean?” Jesus never told them they lacked faith. He explained things more clearly. Paul encouraged believers to “test everything” and “examine the Scriptures” to verify what they were being taught. He praised the Bereans specifically because they questioned his teaching instead of blindly accepting it. The pattern is clear: God engages with honest questions. He always has. Why Churches Are Afraid of Your Intelligence Questions expose poor leadership. When leaders can’t answer basic questions about what they’re teaching, it reveals that they might not understand it themselves. Your curiosity threatened their authority. Questions challenge tradition. Many church practices exist because “that’s how we’ve always done it,” not because they’re biblical or effective. Your questions forced them to defend traditions they’d never examined. Questions require actual study. Answering thoughtful questions requires doing homework. Some leaders would rather silence questioners than do the work of providing good answers. Questions create accountability. When you ask “Where does the Bible say that?” you’re holding teachers accountable to their source material. Some teachers prefer assumptions over accuracy. Questions democratize knowledge. When everyone is encouraged to ask questions and think critically, it’s harder for leaders to maintain knowledge monopolies or spiritual hierarchies. The Difference Between Faith and Gullibility Churches that discourage questions often confuse faith with gullibility, but they’re opposite qualities. Gullibility says: “I’ll believe anything you tell me without question.” Faith says: “I’ll believe this because I’ve examined it and found it trustworthy.” Gullibility is passive. It accepts information without processing it. Faith is active. It engages with truth and wrestles with implications. Gullibility fears examination. It avoids hard questions because it’s built on shaky foundations. Faith welcomes examination. It invites questions because it’s confident in its foundations. Gullibility creates weak believers. People who never question their beliefs can’t defend them when challenged. Faith creates strong believers. People who’ve worked through their questions have conviction that can withstand opposition. The church leaders who tried to make you feel stupid for asking questions were actually trying to turn you into a gullible follower instead of a faithful thinker. How Smart Faith Actually Works Smart faith asks good questions. It wants to understand what it believes and why it believes it. It’s not threatened by inquiry because truth can handle examination. Smart faith does homework. It studies Scripture, reads broadly, and engages with different perspectives. It’s not afraid of learning because it trusts that truth will emerge from honest investigation. Smart faith admits uncertainty. It ’s comfortable saying “I don’t know” about things that aren’t clear rather than pretending to have all the answers. Smart faith distinguishes between core truths and cultural preferences. It knows the difference between essential Christian beliefs and denominational traditions. Smart faith welcomes discussion. It enjoys theological conversations because it sees them as opportunities to grow and learn, not threats to defend against. What to Do With Your God-Given Intelligence Now Stop apologizing for being curious. Your questions aren’t character flaws. They’re evidence that God gave you a brain and expects you to use it. Find communities that welcome questions. Look for churches and Christian friends who see your curiosity as an asset, not a problem. Study for yourself. Don’t rely on other people’s theological opinions. Read Scripture, research history, and engage with different perspectives so you can form your own convictions. Ask better questions. Instead of just questioning everything, learn to ask productive questions that lead to understanding rather than just doubt. Help others feel safe to question. When you encounter Christians who are afraid to voice their doubts or confusion, create space for them to process honestly. Remember that your intelligence honors God. Using your mind to understand truth is an act of worship, not rebellion. The Church You Deserve You deserve a church that sees your questions as gifts, not threats. You deserve teachers who can explain what they believe and why they believe it. You deserve a community that values understanding over blind compliance. You deserve leaders who are secure enough to say “I don’t know” when they don’t know. You deserve a faith that can handle examination because it’s built on truth. The church that made you feel stupid was protecting its weakness, not God’s truth. The church that shamed your questions was revealing its insecurity, not your inadequacy. The church that preferred your silence to your curiosity was prioritizing control over growth. You weren’t the problem. Your questions weren’t the problem. A church culture that’s threatened by intelligence — that’s the problem. Your mind is not God’s enemy. It’s one of His greatest gifts to you. And any church that treats it as a threat isn’t worthy of the God they claim to serve. What questions were you discouraged from asking in church? How did that experience affect your relationship with faith and learning? © Ashneil

pexels I don’t know what kind of day you’re having, but if you’re feeling misunderstood, overlooked, or completely out of sync with the world around you , you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Maybe more than you might realize. I’ve been in that place where it feels like nobody gets it , not even the people closest to me . I come back to something that grounds me every single time: Yes. Jesus understands. Not Just Spiritually — Literally Not in some vague, spiritual, “He’s up there watching us” kind of way. I mean, actually understands. Jesus isn’t some distant figure tossing encouragement down from heaven. He walked this earth. He lived a fully human life. He didn’t skip the hard stuff — He entered it. Pain, grief, betrayal, pressure, exhaustion, fear — He knows it all firsthand. Not because He’s omniscient (though He is), but because He lived it. Felt it. Carried it. That’s what makes this personal. He Knows What It’s Like Ever been misunderstood? So was Jesus — constantly. Even His own family didn’t get Him. Ever felt abandoned? Jesus watched His closest friends bail when He needed them most. Ever been on the receiving end of injustice? Jesus was accused, tortured, and executed for something He didn’t do. Ever cried out to God and felt like the sky was silent? Jesus did that too. Hanging on the cross, He said: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” You don’t have to explain your pain to Him. He’s already felt it. But, really, you CAN talk to Him about it. He’s the best listener. Jesus Gets the Junk That Comes Our Way This is what makes the gospel so personal: Jesus doesn’t just sympathize with our pain — He empathizes with it. Hebrews 4:15 says it straight: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…” Bring Him the anger, the fear, the heartbreak, the numbness — all of it. Unfiltered. Unfixed. Ask Him to show you where He was. Because He understands the mess. He entered into it. No Performance Necessary Sometimes the world tells us to power through. To keep smiling. To pretend we’re fine. Jesus never says that. He doesn’t need your performance. He wants your reality. When you say, “I’m exhausted,” He remembers collapsing into sleep in the back of a boat during a storm. When you say, “I feel completely alone,” He remembers praying in a garden while His friends dozed off. When you say, “I don’t think I can take much more,” He remembers carrying a cross on bloody shoulders. You don’t have to pretend in His presence. He already knows. You Are Not Alone I don’t know why certain prayers feel unanswered. I don’t know why some seasons drag out longer than we thought we could handle. But I know this: We are not unseen. We are not unknown. And we are never alone. Jesus gets it. He doesn’t flinch at our brokenness. He moves toward it. He stepped into our story — not just to rescue us, but to understand us. That changes everything. So Yes — Jesus Understands Whatever you’re carrying — anxiety, grief, disappointment, confusion — bring it to Him. Not polished. Not edited. Just real. You don’t have to explain it perfectly. You don’t even have to say it out loud. He understands. And that might be the most underrated miracle of all — not just that Jesus saves, but that He gets us. © Gary L Ellis

Google Nano Banana That promotion you didn’t get happened for a reason. The startup that crashed and burned served a purpose. The investment that went to zero had meaning. The career pivot that didn’t work out was part of a plan. I know that sounds like spiritual platitudes designed to make you feel better about disappointment. But it’s not. This is about recognizing that God’s navigation system works completely differently than ours — and sometimes what looks like Him failing to provide is actually Him providing exactly what we need. Just not what we wanted. The Prosperity Gospel Lie That’s Ruining Christian Entrepreneurs Here’s a lie that’s been destroying Christian business owners for decades: “If God blesses your business, it will always be successful.” This toxic theology suggests that financial failure is evidence of spiritual failure. It implies that God shows His love through profits and His displeasure through losses. It makes business success the measure of divine approval. Christian entrepreneurship culture has made this worse by treating every success story like a testimony and every failure like a spiritual problem. “God blessed my business, and we hit seven figures!” “I prayed and God opened doors to the perfect investor!” “Divine favor led to explosive growth!” Meanwhile, you’re sitting there wondering why God seems to be cursing your business with constant struggles, failed launches, and financial stress. I know; I’ve been there. But what if God’s blessing doesn’t always look like business success? What if His favor sometimes looks like business failure? What if your biggest professional disappointment was actually His greatest redirection? What Failure Actually Reveals About God’s Plans Failure strips away false identity. When your business succeeds, it’s easy to think you’re successful because you’re smart, talented, or spiritually mature. When it fails, you’re forced to confront the truth: your identity isn’t based on your achievement. Failure redirects misplaced energy. Sometimes God allows ventures to fail because you’re pouring your life into something that isn’t your actual calling. The failure isn’t punishment in the slightest. It’s a course correction. (Proverbs 19:21 Am I right?) Failure develops character that success can’t. Entrepreneurial success often inflates ego and creates entitlement. Entrepreneurial failure often develops humility and dependence on God. Failure creates empathy for other strugglers. The most effective business mentors are usually people who’ve experienced significant failures. Your losses become your qualification to help others navigate their struggles. Failure reveals what you really believe about God. When everything goes well, it’s easy to think you trust God when you’re actually trusting your circumstances. Failure forces you to discover whether your faith is real or just situational optimism. Biblical Evidence That God Uses Professional Disappointment If God only blessed businesses that succeeded, the Bible would be full of entrepreneurial or other success stories. Instead, Scripture shows us a different pattern. Moses spent 40 years as a failed fugitive in the desert before God called him to lead Israel. His career as an Egyptian prince had to completely die before his calling as a deliverer could emerge. David was anointed as king but spent years as a fugitive hiding in caves. His path to the throne went through the wilderness and not conventional leadership advancement. Paul was a successful religious leader before his conversion, but had to abandon that entire career to become an apostle. His professional expertise became irrelevant to his actual calling. (Philippians 3:7) Jesus was a carpenter before becoming a rabbi. His trade had to be set aside for His ministry. Even the Son of God didn’t pursue His ultimate calling through His initial profession. Joseph experienced multiple “career failures” — being sold into slavery, being falsely accused and imprisoned — before God positioned him to save nations. Every setback was actually a setup. The pattern is clear: God often uses professional disappointment to redirect people toward their actual purpose. Why God Sometimes Kills Dreams to Birth Callings There’s a difference between dreams and callings. Dreams are usually about what you want to achieve. Callings are usually about who you’re meant to serve. Dreams focus on success. Callings focus on significance. Dreams ask: “How can I build something impressive?”Callings ask: “How can I solve real problems for real people?” Dreams are often about proving yourself. Callings are often about losing yourself in service to others. Sometimes God has to kill your dreams to birth your calling. Your failed restaurant might have been preparation for a ministry feeding the homeless. Your collapsed consulting business might have been training for nonprofit work. Your startup that never scaled might have been an education for helping other entrepreneurs avoid your mistakes. Your career setback might have been a redirection toward work that serves God’s kingdom instead of just building your kingdom. The failure wasn’t God rejecting your dreams. It was God refining your dreams. How to Recognize Divine Redirection vs. Random Disappointment Not every business failure is divine redirection. Sometimes ventures fail because of bad decisions, poor market timing, or inadequate execution. But here are signs that your failure might be God’s redirection: The failure created unexpected opportunities. Doors closed in one area but opened in another. New connections emerged from the disappointment. Different paths became visible that weren’t apparent before. The failure developed the character you needed. You became more humble, more empathetic, more dependent on God, or more aware of your limitations. The experience grew you in ways success never could have. The failure revealed patterns you needed to see. You discovered that you were chasing the wrong things, serving the wrong motives, or building for the wrong reasons. The failure freed you from something that was controlling you. You realized you were enslaved to other people’s expectations, financial pressure, or ego needs that were preventing you from pursuing your actual calling. The failure connected you with people you’re meant to serve. Through the struggle, you met others facing similar challenges and discovered you have a heart to help them. What to Do When You’re in the Middle of Professional Disappointment Grieve the loss without denying the pain. God doesn’t expect you to be happy about failure. Acknowledge what the disappointment cost you and allow yourself to mourn those losses. Look for patterns, not just problems. Ask yourself: What themes keep emerging? What kinds of work energize you versus drain you? What problems do you find yourself naturally wanting to solve? Serve others while you’re figuring it out. Don’t wait until you have your calling figured out to start helping people. Often, your calling emerges through serving, not through planning. Pay attention to what breaks your heart. Your calling is often connected to problems that genuinely upset you. What injustices make you angry? What needs keep you awake at night? Connect with other people who’ve experienced similar redirections. If possible, find mentors who’ve navigated professional disappointment and emerged with greater purpose. Learn from their experience. Ask God to redeem your failure. Pray that He would use your disappointment to prepare you for something better than what you lost. Your Failure Might Be Your Qualification Here’s what I want you to consider: What if your biggest professional failure wasn’t evidence that you’re not cut out for business, but evidence that you’re cut out for something more important than business? What if your startup that crashed was actually preparation for a ministry that will impact lives? What if your career setback was actually positioning for work that serves eternal purposes? What if your financial loss was actually training for helping others navigate similar struggles? What if your business disappointment was actually a qualification for entrepreneurial ministry? The Christians who build the most meaningful enterprises are often those who’ve experienced the most meaningful failures. They understand that success without purpose is empty. They’ve learned that profit without impact is pointless. They know that building something that lasts requires building something that serves. Your failure taught you what success can’t teach you. It showed you that your identity isn’t your achievement. It revealed that your security isn’t your bank account. It demonstrated that your worth isn’t your net worth. Those are exactly the lessons someone needs to build something that matters. Maybe your biggest failure didn’t disqualify you from success. Maybe it qualified you for significance. Maybe God allowed your business to fail because He has a bigger business for you to build. Maybe He closed those doors because He has better doors to open. Maybe He took away what you wanted because He wants to give you what you actually need. Your failure might not be the end of your entrepreneurial story. It might be the beginning of your entrepreneurial calling. What professional disappointment are you still trying to make sense of? How might God be redirecting you through failure rather than punishing you with it? © Ashneil

Google Gemini AI Here’s a fact: Most of us love microwaves. Pop in leftovers, push a button, and in 90 seconds we’ve got dinner. Convenience is king in almost every corner of modern life. Except one. You can’t microwave spiritual maturity. You can’t “zap” your way into patience, hope, or deep trust in God. You can’t binge-watch a sermon series, highlight half your Bible in neon yellow, and expect to be transformed overnight. God’s Kingdom doesn’t work on fast food speed — it moves like a seed pushing through soil, sourdough rising on the counter, old wine aging in the dark. Or, one of my favorites: good Mexican Mole. And here’s the reality: the very slowness we resist is the gift that actually changes us. The Kingdom Moves at the Speed of Seed Jesus made this plain: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31). Not a firecracker, not a microwave burrito — a seed. Seeds don’t care about our timelines. They grow underground where nobody’s clapping for them. Roots deepen before shoots rise. Spiritual maturity grows the same way — slow, hidden, sometimes frustrating. But necessary. Paul told the Galatians, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Seeds in, fruit out. No shortcuts. Rachel Held Evans once wrote, “Faith isn’t about having all the right answers; it’s about staying in the story.” Seeds require staying. Waiting. Trusting the dark is not the end but the beginning. Why We Crave Shortcuts I get it. We live in an Amazon Prime culture. Two days? Try two hours. We expect sermons to “fix” us, devotionals to “inspire” us, and church programs to “grow” us instantly. But James, the brother of Jesus, didn’t say, “Count it all joy when you have a quick fix.” He said, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). Perseverance doesn’t come from microwave moments; it comes from crockpot seasons — the long, slow simmer of everyday faithfulness. Brian McLaren put it bluntly: “The great spiritual challenge is not to fast-forward through life’s struggles, but to stay awake in them long enough to be transformed.” Slow is Not Failure Some of us feel like we’re behind. We look at Instagram-perfect Christians and think, “Why am I not there yet?” But Jesus never said, “Follow me and you’ll arrive in three easy steps.” He said, “Take up your cross daily” (Luke 9:23). Daily isn’t glamorous. Daily doesn’t trend. Daily is dishes and prayers whispered on the drive to work. Daily is forgiving again, showing up again, choosing love again. And yet — daily is where roots sink deep. Barbara Brown Taylor wrote, “Wisdom is not acquired in a day, or even a decade. It ripens slowly, and only in the company of suffering and grace.” That’s not failure. That’s the holy slowness of a God who is not in a hurry but is endlessly faithful. When We Try to Rush the Process Ever eaten bread pulled out of the oven too soon? Doughy in the middle, disappointing. That’s what happens when we try to rush the Spirit’s work. We get half-baked faith — loud on the outside but hollow within. The psalmist knew the better way: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7). Patience is not passive — it’s active trust. It’s saying, “God, you know the pace. You know the process. I’ll stay in the oven as long as it takes.” So How Do We Live This Out? Choose slowness on purpose. Put down the phone. Sit with Scripture like you would a friend. Don’t rush to “finish.” Trust the hidden work. Just because you don’t see fruit today doesn’t mean roots aren’t growing. Celebrate small faithfulness. Every prayer, every act of love, every choice to forgive — these are the slow bricks that build maturity. Richard Rohr said it best: “The most countercultural thing we can do is embrace the ordinary and let it transform us.” Final Thought Microwaves are great for leftovers. But if you want a feast, you need time, heat, and patience. The same goes for your soul. Spiritual maturity is a slow-cooked miracle, not a fast-food promise. The question isn’t, “How fast can I get there?” The real question is, “Am I willing to stay long enough for love to do its deep work in me?” © Gary L Ellis

Collateral Damages From A Diverted Divine Purpose Introduction Most Americans recall one the greatest national disasters that ever occurred on American soil on September 11, 2001. Two flights were diverted mid-flight from their destination and instead were diverted to New York City. These diversions not only destroyed all passengers that were aboard the flights but added a large number of deaths and destruction when they slammed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The hostile takeover of both flights, the removal of the rightful pilots and replacement with organized terrorist resulted in the diverting of the airplanes — turning them into weapons of destruction. Do Videos Show Hundreds of People Gathering For Rapture? What We Know The diversion of church leadership has been a subject of considerable discussion and analysis within religious and academic circles. This phenomenon refers to the shifts, deviations, or changes in the roles, teachings, responsibilities, and influence of church leaders over time. Understanding this topic requires examining historical contexts, contemporary challenges, and the implications for religious communities. Like the diverted flights on 911, when the rightful God-chosen leadership of His churches are removed or cancelled, then replaced by those of high charisma but nefarious purposes, the results — like the diverted flights — not only endanger the churches and their members but extends to the unbelieving general public as well. Historical Context of Church Leadership Historically, church leadership was primarily centered around spiritual guidance, doctrinal authority, and community cohesion. Leaders such as bishops, priests, and pastors held considerable influence over their congregations, often acting as moral authorities and mediators between the divine and the laypeople (Smith, 2010). Over centuries, however, the structure and function of church leadership have evolved, influenced by political, wealth accumulation, social, and cultural changes. Jesus taught his followers to abstain from worldly actions and attitudes (1 John 2:15–17; 2 Corinthians 6:17; John 17:6–26; John 15:19; Romans 12:2; James 4:4), yet today we find a segment of the church becoming more entangled in politics, social engineering, race-based politics, and advocating for social warfare and takeover. How can these things be happening given the clear teachings of the bible? Factors Contributing to the Diversion Secularization: As societies became more secular, the influence of religious institutions waned, leading to a shift in leadership focus from spiritual to administrative or social roles (Johnson, 2015). Modernization and Technological Advances: The advent of digital communication and social media has transformed how church leaders engage with their communities, sometimes diverting from traditional roles to more media-centric leadership (Williams, 2018). Scandals and Ethical Challenges: Instances of misconduct and scandals have led to a crisis of trust, prompting a reevaluation and sometimes a diversion of leadership priorities towards transparency and accountability (Brown, 2019). Implications of Leadership Diversion The diversion of church leadership can have both positive and negative implications. On the positive side, it can lead to more inclusive, transparent, and community-oriented leadership models. Conversely, it may also result in a loss of doctrinal authority, diminished spiritual guidance, and internal conflicts within religious communities (Davis, 2020). These positive things are associated with testimonies against historical tendencies such as colonialism, displacing Indigenous peoples, slavery, and seeking economic dominance of the world’s economies. For a growing number of church leaders here in America, dominance is simply a matter of manifest destiny, nationalistic pride, and a hidden fear of a false theory called “The Great Replacement Theory.” I will not digress to define the theory; the reader may do their own research — if they desire. Some church leaders acknowledge these dangerous practices of the past (and present) and attempt to teach mercy, goodwill, love of the stranger, and a need for change to the human heart. However, others continue to see such practices as preferential and right due to an opinion that those not of their race are simply inferior people — and worse, like they are doing oppressed people a favor. We should be thunderstruck with how such opposite and diverging views can come from one bible, one Jesus, and his gospel teaching? The churches are being diverted from being separated from the world to becoming a main driver in worldly affairs, seeking a temporary kingdom on earth or a particular nation. Conclusion In conclusion, the diversion of church leadership reflects broader societal changes and internal challenges faced by religious institutions. While it can foster adaptation and growth during periods of great wrong and sinfulness, it also poses risks to the core spiritual and moral functions of the church. I do not use the contrast of the World Trade Center disaster lightly, and I do not want to increase the despair of those who have lost loved ones and feel the pain from that event. The event was visceral and shocking! But the spiritual diversion of the leadership of Christ’s church — while just as dangerous and deadly — produces little visceral grief and goes unnoticed, save for the spiritually moral and sensitive believers, and builds resentments and causes for hating the gospel because of its messengers — the church. There are those within the churches who believe they must listen and obey every word spoken by a church leader or someone claiming to be an apostle or prophet. Not only is this false teaching — but such obedience is conditional (1 Timothy 5:19–20, Acts 5:29; Matthew 18:15–17). No true believer is forced to obey a church leader if they speak lies, stir up controversy, hate, malice, or brag about wealth. Or preaches a doctrine inconsistent with the bible or lives an inconsistent life. While always willing to forgive and restore fellowship — provided they repent and stop their sinful behavior — there is no obligation to restore them to leadership. Humility is a sign of godliness, and the right of leadership is determined by scripture, building of trust over time, and willingness to be disciplined and under the watch of a mature believer. Ultimately, they may earn trust after their lives and their words show proper discernment and consistency — but the churches should never be quick to lay hands of total acceptance as a leader on anyone (1 Timothy 5:220). Now, we are in an era of the rise of false prophets (Matthew 7:15–20; Matthew 24:24; Jeremiah 23:16; 2 Peter 2:1–3), choosing and approving leaders in the churches is now more critical than ever! Truth is far more precious than ever, and every true believer must learn to guard their ears and eyes from heresy and hole those they consider spiritual leaders to account for their words and their deeds. References: Brown, T. (2019). Ethical Challenges in Modern Religious Leadership. Journal of Religious Studies, 45(2), 123–135. Davis, R. (2020). Leadership and Change in Religious Institutions. Religious Leadership Review, 12(4), 45–60. Johnson, L. (2015). Secularization and Its Impact on Church Authority. Sociology of Religion, 76(3), 289–305. Smith, J. (2010). Historical Perspectives on Church Leadership. Church History Journal, 22(1), 50–65. Williams, M. (2018). Technology and Religious Leadership. Journal of Digital Religion, 3(1), 10–25. © Bob Russell

Pexels If you flip through the Gospels, you’ll notice something Jesus never said: “Come back when you’ve got your act cleaned up.” He didn’t walk the shoreline of Galilee hunting for the holiest, most polished citizens. He went after fishermen who smelled of dead fish, tax collectors with sticky fingers, zealots with hot tempers, and women pushed to the margins. The truth is, Jesus never asked for perfect people — He picked messy ones on purpose. Jesus’ Track Record with Imperfect People When Jesus called Peter, James, and John, they were ordinary laborers. Nothing holy about cleaning nets all night (Luke 5:1–11). Matthew, the tax collector, was a social outcast and viewed as a sell-out to Rome (Matthew 9:9–13). Mary Magdalene carried deep wounds, and rumors trailed her name (Luke 8:2). If you were forming a movement to change the world, would you choose these people? Yet Jesus did. He built His kingdom out of cracked stones, not polished marble. As Paul later wrote, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things… to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Messiness Is Not a Disqualification Some of us carry the quiet ache of believing we’ll never measure up. We think, if I could just be more faithful, more disciplined, more holy, then maybe God would use me. But Jesus flips that script. Nadia Bolz-Weber once said , “Never once did Jesus scan the room for the best example of holy living and send that person out to tell others about him. He always sent stumblers and sinners.” That’s the point: our messiness isn’t a barrier — it’s the very space where grace shines brightest. Why Did Jesus Do It This Way? Because perfection was never the requirement. Love was. When the Pharisees grumbled about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, He said plainly: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). Brian Zahnd puts it like this: “Jesus doesn’t begin with the demand for perfection. He begins with the offer of mercy.” Jesus called broken people because broken people know they need help. They’re not pretending to have it all together. And when they encounter grace, it’s not theory — it’s lifeblood. What About Us? So where does that leave you and me? It means your doubts don’t disqualify you. Your anger doesn’t exclude you. Your rough edges don’t make you unusable. Think about Peter: he denied even knowing Jesus three times. Yet after the resurrection, Jesus didn’t discard him. He restored him (John 21:15–19). The story of the early church was carried on the back of a man who failed publicly. Rachel Held Evans once wrote, “The gospel doesn’t need a coalition devoted to keeping the wrong people out. It needs a family of sinners, saved by grace, committed to tearing down walls and throwing open doors.” That’s the kind of community Jesus started with, and that’s the one we’re still invited into. The Power of Grace in the Mess Now hear me on this: Grace isn’t a ticket to stay stuck. It’s fuel to grow. But growth doesn’t erase the fact that Jesus loved us first, while we were still messy. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Notice Paul doesn’t say “after we cleaned up” or “once we proved ourselves.” Grace met us in the dirt. And grace still does. Living Like This Matters Here’s the challenge: if Jesus picked the messy ones, maybe we need to stop trying to curate our image of perfection and start telling the truth about who we are. Because honesty breeds connection. Vulnerability breeds compassion. And the world doesn’t need more perfect Christians — it needs more honest ones. Now, somebody might be saying, “But what about the verse that says, “Be perfect as I am perfect '?” I’m glad you asked. Let me explain: If you look at the verses right before Matthew 5:48, Jesus is talking about love for enemies. He says God makes the sun rise on both the good and the evil, and sends rain on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). Then He pushes His disciples beyond tribal, transactional love. So when He says, “Be perfect, as your Father is perfect,” He’s calling them to grow up into God’s kind of love — complete, impartial, generous love. Barbara Brown Taylor once said , “Jesus hung out with all the wrong people. So if you’re trying to avoid the wrong people, you’re going to miss him.” That’ll preach. Take This with You Jesus never asked for perfect people. He asked for willing people. He called the messy, the doubting, the overlooked, and the broken — and He still does. So the next time you catch yourself thinking, I’m not good enough for God to use me, remember this: your story is exactly the kind of story Jesus builds His kingdom on. Not the polished one. Not the Instagram-ready one. The real one. And that’s very good news. © Gary L Ellis

Just three words in English. “It is finished.” This wasn’t a defeat. It was a shout of victory. John records Jesus’ last cry in Greek: tetelestai. A single word, but one packed with such significance for all of us. So, what did that one word mean? In the marketplace, it meant: paid in full. Stamped across receipts when debts were cleared. In the military, it meant: mission accomplished. A soldier’s way of saying their assignment was done. In the temple, priests used it when a sacrifice was flawless. The lamb met every requirement. So when Jesus cried tetelestai, He was announcing: the debt is paid, the mission is complete, the sacrifice is perfect. How the Jewish Crowd Heard It Passover weekend. Jerusalem is packed with pilgrims. Lambs being led to the temple. Sacrifices prepared. The Jewish people lived under the rhythm of endless rituals. Every year, the lamb was slain. Every year, the blood flowed. Every year the cycle repeats. When Jesus shouted It is finished, He declared that the cycle had ended . One sacrifice, once for all. The Lamb of God had done what no lamb in Israel’s history could do — close the gap between God and humanity forever. How the Romans Heard It The Roman soldiers had their own take. To them, crucifixion was the empire’s exclamation mark: This man is finished. It was Rome’s way of saying, “Your story ends here. Don’t cross us.” So when Jesus cried out, they probably smirked. Another failed revolutionary, gasping his last. Rome thought it was silencing Him — when in fact, the cross was silencing every kind of death, itself. What Was Finished Let’s make it plain: Debt: Paid in full. No more IOUs hanging over humanity. Law: Fulfilled. Centuries of prophecy and ritual met their goal. Separation: Torn down. The temple curtain ripped top to bottom — access to God is wide open. Death’s Reign: Broken. The grave could not hold Him, and because of that, it can’t hold us either. Why It Matters for Us Fast-forward to today. Our world is full of things that never feel finished. The inbox refills. The bills stack up. The laundry multiplies. The work never seems done. But Jesus’ cry slices through the noise. It is finished means there is one thing that will never be undone: your acceptance before God. You don’t have to keep hustling to earn His love. You don’t have to carry shame like luggage you can’t set down. You don’t have to wonder if you’ve done enough — you haven’t, and you don’t need to. In a culture of exhaustion, It is finished is oxygen. It means the most important thing — the one thing that actually matters — is already settled. Hearing It Today The Jewish listener heard that there was now freedom from endless sacrifices. It was the triumph of love. And you? You can hear it as the end of striving, the canceling of debt, the freedom cry that still echoes two thousand years later. It is finished. Not as in “Jesus gave up.” But as in “Your chains are broken. Your debt is canceled. Your freedom is real.” Here’s a creative cover of “It Was Finished On the Cross” recorded during the 2021 lockdown. Check it out: © Gary L Ellis