Until shortly after I graduated college, I was a moderately-avid horror film consumer, specifically those of the spiritual nature. My brother, who shared this mild fascination with the supernatural, eagerly viewed them with me and it became a sort of hobby we shared. Though we weren’t obsessive about them, whenever the latest scare came out on DVD, we’d snatch it up and pop the popcorn. We enjoyed classics like The Amityville Horror & The Shining, but the newer ones were the ones that really pulled us in. Think: the Annabelle, The Conjuring, and Insidious worlds. Each of those movie universes explored demon-hunting and spiritual warfare which, both of us being Christians, we knew to be real (not so much the Hollywood version, but rather the concepts). Some of the movies would make me jumpy and on-edge afterwards. Others would give me nightmares. I knew they were increasingly affecting me, yet I continued to fill my mind with images and jump scares that I will never be able to unsee. That is, until one evening when the Holy Spirit got a hold of me. We were watching the newest release and the still small voice of the Lord told me to stop mid-movie. It was crystal clear and undeniably the Holy Spirit. My horror-watching days had come to an abrupt halt, and I’ve never looked back. Who is Satan? Satan goes by many common names, such as Lucifer, The Devil, The Enemy and The Fallen Angel. Genesis refers to him as a serpent, and we see a description of Satan as a dragon in Revelation. John tells us that Satan is a murderer, liar, and the Father of Lies. However, did you know he was also known as the Morning Star and Son of the Dawn before he fell? How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! — Isaiah 14:12 Satan is crafty, cunning, and good at making sin look beautiful. He brought down legions of angels with him when he fell from heaven. He is wicked and deceptive, tempting mankind and luring us away from God. He is also powerful. Even Michael, the highest ranking angel of the Lord, recognized this and did not speak against him when given the opportunity. Rather, he called on the name of the Lord when he went up against his opponent. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” — Jude 1:9 That should tell us something, folks. We don’t fear Satan if we are covered by the blood of Christ. But we should respect that he is more powerful than we are on our own. If an angel mightier than Satan dared not go up against him without invoking the name and authority of the Lord, we shouldn’t either. We also shouldn’t go looking for him. Playing with Fire Voluntarily participating in, playing with, viewing, or otherwise exposing ourselves to evil is like dancing around a bonfire with gasoline on your clothes. You might be okay, but you might not. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. — Psalm 4:23 When my brother and I were consuming so many horror films, we were not guarding our hearts. We were allowing our minds to be infiltrated with scenes and ideas that celebrated darkness. Those are in direct opposition with the types of things we’re told to fill our minds with. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. — Philippians 4:8 Am I saying Christians can’t watch scary movies? No, not at all. But I am saying we should be careful with what we allow in our minds, because it shapes us. Though not as often now, I still experience spiritual attacks to this day because of some of the things I exposed myself to more than a decade ago. In the preface to his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis writes: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors… I love this line, because it succinctly states how Scripture instructs Christians to interact with dark forces — be aware of, but don’t invite. Have nothing to do with the fruitless acts of darkness, but rather expose them. — Ephesians 5:11 Some translations even say, “have no fellowship with…” Just saying. A Warning to My Brothers and Sisters None of this is written to invoke fear (or legalism when it comes to what movies we watch). Rather, my hope is that you will take very seriously the fact that we do have an enemy who is very much out there in the world. The tactics he uses are cunning and deceitful. His greatest skill is packaging up lies and half truths and making them appear innocent, even holy. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. — Colossians 2:8 Don’t be taken in. Be on your guard. Stay in the Word. 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. 🫶🏻 © Stephanie M Other articles you may want to check out: The Spiritual Battle I Did Not Expect That time the enemy tried to silence us, and almost won… Trauma, Sin and Breaking Cycles My response to a beautifully written half truth

Introduction My husband and I love science fiction movies and came across the 2009 TV series “V.” We started watching the episodes and fast-forwarded through the Christian-inappropriate scenes. The action was fast-paced and exciting. We enjoyed the series completely until the last episode. The series ends with evil prevailing over good. Had the series not been cancelled, it appeared the writer’s intent was for humanity to win in the end. I found it intriguing that the show’s theme seemed to reflect patterns found in Scripture relating to Satan’s tactics, Bible prophecy, and the end times. Prophetic Patterns — Signs in the Sky In the first episode of “V” (2009), massive alien ships suddenly appear across 29 major cities, creating global awe and fear. The Biblical parallel to this is the following passage. Luke 21:25–26, KJV — And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Both depict heavenly phenomena that shake humanity and signal a transformational moment in world history. Deception in the Form of Beauty The “Visitors” (aliens in spaceships hovering over the cities) look perfectly human, beautiful, calm, trustworthy — but their appearance is a façade hiding a predatory nature. (And boy, are they predatory! Spoiler alert: They are lizards covered with human skin with retracted, huge, sharp teeth and a hidden spiked tail. The Biblical parallel to this is in this passage. 2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV — And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Both accounts emphasize that evil often disguises itself in beauty, and discernment is required to recognize truth beneath appearances. This is exactly how Satan operates. False Peace as a Tool of Control The “Visitors” offer medical cures, clean energy, and promise global unity. “Peace” is used not as salvation, but as sedation — a strategic cover for domination. Anna leads the aliens, who have a secret agenda (to enhance their race by extracting DNA from humans). This false peace is parallel to the following. 1 Thessalonians 5:3, KJV — For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Global Admiration of a Charismatic Leader Anna, the Visitor Queen, becomes a worldwide icon of hope and unity. The Biblical parallel to this is in the book of Revelation. Revelation 13:3–4, KJV — And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Both narratives portray the rise of a universally adored figure whose charisma masks darker intentions. Dependence on Miraculous Gifts Humanity becomes increasingly reliant on Visitor technology for health, energy, and social stability. The parallel here is the economic and social dependence on the Beast system, which will occur during the Tribulation. Whether economic or technological, dependency deepens allegiance, making resistance difficult and costly. Revelation 13:16–17, KJV — And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Hidden Identity Revealed The truth about the Visitors as reptiles disguised as humans is revealed only gradually. This theme of a hidden predatory nature mirrors Jesus’ warning about wolves disguised as sheep. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15, KJV Infiltration of Societal Structures The Visitors infiltrate governments, media networks, youth groups, and religious institutions. Scripture often depicts evil powers as operating subtly within existing structures rather than through obvious conquest. Daniel 8:25 — “He will cause deceit to prosper… and will destroy many by peace.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 — “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work…” Manipulation of Truth and Propaganda The Visitors control media broadcasts, shape narratives, and suppress negative information about them. The Scriptures below highlight the danger of truth being replaced with spectacle, narrative, or propaganda. Revelation 13:11–14 — the False Prophet deceives the world with “great signs” and persuasive speech. Isaiah 5:20 — “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” A Faithful Remnant A small resistance — humans and a small number of Visitors who have defected, reject the deception and work to expose the truth. These Scriptures parallel this idea. Revelation 12:17 — the dragon wages war against “the remnant… who keep God’s commandments.” 1 Kings 19:18 — a remnant remains faithful despite widespread compromise. In both settings, truth survives through a small, often overlooked group who, at great personal cost, refuse to bow to the dominant narrative. War Behind the Veil As in reality, the true conflict is unseen — psychological, spiritual, ideological — manifesting physically only after deception fails. This is clearly seen in the Scriptures below. Ephesians 6:12 — “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Revelation 12:7–9 — a heavenly war with earthly consequences. Both worlds present dual-layer warfare: visible events shaped by invisible, deeper conflicts. The Unmasking at the End The truth about the hostile intent of the Visitors spreads throughout the world thanks to the work of the underground group, the “Fifth Column”. Finally, the Visitors reveal their hostile intentions openly; the façade gives way to reality. Here is the Biblical parallel to this. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 — “Then the lawless one will be revealed…” Revelation 17:16 — alliances collapse as the true motives of the Antichrist surface. Prophecy describes a future moment when deception collapses, and the nature of evil becomes unmistakably clear — just as in V when the “benevolence” unravels. True Light Versus False Light The Visitors’ ships glow brilliantly, symbolizing enlightenment and salvation — but the light is artificial and deceptive. It contrasts with the scriptural concept of true, divine light — a recurring prophetic theme. John 1:9 — “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 — the true light is from God’s glory, not manufactured illusions. Conclusion The 2009 TV series “V” reflects biblical prophetic themes by showing: deceptive appearances false peace charismatic leadership dependence as control infiltration of systems chosen remnant unveiling of hidden evil a cosmic struggle behind visible events I am not claiming that this TV series is prophetic. I’m demonstrating how comparing the themes of this show with Scripture can serve as a teaching tool for discernment, spiritual vigilance, and the power of Biblical truth. © Debra Hodges

If you don’t believe the Hebrew scriptures, this article might not be for you. Move along, my agnostic friends, nothing to see here. But if you are coming to the understanding that the story of the Exodus from Egypt is the entire Book of Revelation, here is a concept that will eliminate your fears and set you free. First, A Refresher The Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt for 430 years. God fulfilled His promise to deliver them by sending ten plagues that specifically targeted different Egyptian gods. Each plague intensified in scope as they worked themselves up the Egyptian god chain of command. The tenth was targeting Pharaoh himself, a man who called himself “god in flesh” and the mediator between Ra and men. God gave Moses instructions on how to keep His people safe and secure. They must be followed to the letter. Any deviation might result in death. And the challenge was that Moses had to relay these specific instructions to over 600,000 men and their families. Here’s what the Bible says: Exodus 12: 21–23 NLT “Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down. ”28–30 “So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. What If A Hebrew Didn’t Obey? What if he thought, ”This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. We’re not doing this. Let me deconstruct what Moses is saying for a year or two”? Or better yet, “I’m not ruining my house with lamb’s blood. We just bought this place, and I still owe money on it. We just painted this facade. My wife will kill me.” In my humble opinion, that man would have lost a firstborn. Scripture is clear from Genesis to Revelation about the priority God places on obedience. God often asks us to do peculiar things to differentiate us from the rest of the world and reveal Himself as sovereign. But here is the good news of the Death Angel’s visit: What “moral conditions” were placed on the people to be saved? What if the person inside that house was having an affair with the person down the street? What if the mother was abusive and the father a drunk? What if their hygiene was horrible, their language was coarse, and they were as dumb as a brick? It didn’t matter. The blood of the sacrificed lamb would save them. What if they weren’t even Hebrew? They were Egyptians who were tired of getting pounded by boils, hail, darkness, and frogs? It didn’t matter. If they placed the blood on their doorpost, their whole household was spared. That was the deal God made. What if they were unsure of Moses? All they knew was he was once a big shot who killed a guy, spent 40 years as a stinky shepherd in Midian, and now came back as a self-appointed spokesman for yet another God. He and Pharaoh have been duking it out for the past months. And some crazy stuff has been happening. It didn’t matter. The blood on the door saved them. It didn’t matter if they had their act together or not. The death angel had one, and only one screening process: did they have the blood of the sacrificial lamb on their door? Period! There would be plenty of time in the future for them to be refined and work out some of their problems. But for now, death passed over because a lamb gave its life for them. How the Exodus and Revelation Connection Prepares Us for the End We MUST understand the Exodus to become plague-proof for the end of this age. They are the same story, only 4,000 years apart. • God’s people will be oppressed and persecuted. The Antichrist will make war with the saints and overcome them. Just as the cries of the Hebrews were heard for 430 years, God will listen to the prayers of His people and bring deliverance. (Rev 13:7) • There is a man who claims to be God himself at the throne. Pharaoh, meet “the little horn." (2 Thes 2:4, Daniel 8:11) • He will be surrounded by magicians (false prophets) who will do mighty wonders. (Rev 13: 11–17) • God’s people will see some crazy stuff. And most of it is not good. Jesus called it birth pains. (Mat 24:8) But like David wrote in Psalm 91: 7–8 “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.” • God’s people have a promise of deliverance. He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. We are His precious possession, His children, and His inheritance. • ZERO plagues affect God’s chosen people because they are shielded, protected, and kept by the One True God. There is nothing to fear from the events mentioned in Revelation. One hundred-pound hailstones? No problem. They’ll miss you. We won’t even smell like smoke when the fiery trial is over. • God takes His people from a place of oppression to a promised land. There will be a thousand years of peace after the purge of rebellion and evil. • There will be many last-minute converts. “A rabble of non-Israelites went with them,” (Exodus 12:38). • The kingdom of the “oppressor” will be wholly and utterly wrecked because of their disobedience and refusal to repent. If you have read about the “bowls of wrath” and become freaked out, remember who the target of each bowl is: the throne and kingdom of the antichrist. Those who took “the mark of the beast”. Those who curse God. Christians won’t be here for that anyway. • God will provide. (loaves, manna, fish, oil, clothes not wearing out, meal, water from a rock, cloud/fire, calm the storm, etc.) Do you think our God will be “out-miracled” by the false prophet? (Rev 13) Nope! Where sin does ABOUND, grace does much more ABOUND. (Rom 5:20) • Just before deliverance, everyone will have to choose to believe or not. EVERYONE MUST BATTLE FEAR AND CONQUER IT! Here’s How To Be Plague-Proof Exodus 15:26 NLT “He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Our part: Listen, do the next right thing, obey what he tells us, and keep the decrees. (statutes…rules) God’s part: Keep us safe and secure under the shadow of His wings. Suppose you are not where you want to be spiritually. Good. Keep working on yourself. But each of us must stay under the blood of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. Is there blood on your door? The Exodus and Revelation connection shows how God uses repeating patterns to reveal His protection and purpose across generations. © 2025 I. M. Koen Thank you for reading this far. Ruth 2:12 to you and yours. We got this! Fasten your seat belts. This world is about to get interesting. This scripture is for you: "Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:16-18 Want more content like this? Explore more articles in End Times. Check out these other articles and spread the word of hope and freedom from fear. Just Get back Up! Step over the collateral roadkill and keep going. Got Agony? The Reason we don't show people our rash. How Bright Are You? Are you a firefly, a lamp, or a lighthouse?

While reading the Gospels, I saw a pattern that I wanted to take a closer look at. Turns out it I was on to something and it painted a larger picture than I realized. For this, it’s essential to recognize that healing of the sick and casting out demons are two distinct actions. It’s been said by some (especially in modern conversations) that the two situations were more than likely just sick people, not actually demonically possessed people. But here’s the problem with having that mindset: it removes the reality that we live in a world filled with demons and it was the same back then when Jesus came. Jesus addresses each issue separately: “For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Mark 5:8 “Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:8–9 Then the Gospels also make a very clear distinction: “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.” Mark 1:32 If you typically follow my writing, you know there’s always a plot twist to how I see something; this one has 5 points, then I tie it all together. One “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 That is almost (almost not always) a cliché saying at this point. I note this because this verse is frequently repeated in Christian conversations; however, people do not appear to fully or meaningfully comprehend it. It’s often expressed as acknowledgments of potential bumps in the night or as something far removed from their sphere, rather than as recognition of the profound and destabilizing realities Scripture describes. By failing to consider what this passage asserts and by neglecting to examine the actions of Jesus during His ministry in the Gospels, the present reality of these forces is overlooked. They are not confined to a future eschatological moment but are active in the present time, directly involved in our everyday lives, and they are not passively waiting for Revelation 1:1 to start; they are already present and actively contributing to the conditions that Scripture describes. Two “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 This passage is relevant to this discussion because it shows us that angelic beings are capable of appearing in ordinary, unrecognized human contexts. If Scripture affirms this capacity with respect to angels, it shows the capabilities of fallen angels as well. Consider if such encounters could occur without your awareness, and whether you could fully discern what was going on? We live in a world where people are increasingly being desensitized to what is sick, grotesque, immoral, and demonic. That is satans strategy. That is why we need to be apart from the world. To see what’s wrong, we need to be separate from it. Three If you’re still with me, awesome! It’ll be worth it; this background matters. By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, there had been 400 years of silence between the last prophet and His arrival. During this period, Israel drifted from God (again) and saw the rise of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Essenes. Four Hundred Years. That’s actually not as long as it sounds from the last prophet to the birth of Christ, at least not in the grand scheme of things. Jesus walked into a mess: religious confusion, fractured authority, and twisted Scripture. Very much like today’s world. Remember those Jewish leaders? They had their Messiah standing right in front of them and didn’t recognize Him, because they became so blind and filled with self-righteous authority. Pharisees: legalistic, proud, hypocritical, burdening people Sadducees: rigid, spiritually blind, politically motivated, denying God’s power Scribes: rigid, man-made traditions and external rituals over God’s law, hypocritical, neglecting justice and mercy, created loopholes Sound familiar? (think current political and church climate.) Those guys pulled off some serious manipulations and corruption to get their Messiah killed. That’s layered so thick all over the Gospels, it makes me cringe knowing the lengths they went through to kill Him. Seriously, I recommend reading The Trial of Christ by Dee Wampler; you will never regret it, and you’ll see the full scope of what they did and why the betrayal and murder of Jesus was just so utterly horrific. Four So we have: 400 Years | the Jewish “leaders” | Demon Possession Stay with me. Trust me, it's all connected. I’m getting to the point now. Casting Out vs Healing I will be working with direct numbers only from the four Gospels, because it is not possible to ascertain all the numbers with certainty for the purpose of this article. Sources vary because different people define events differently depending on their focus. Some count a demon-possessed person as both a healing and a rebuking, while others treat “multitudes” as single events. So I broke down and used help to narrow my search down to explicit, directly narrated moments from just the Gospels where Jesus healed someone or cast out a demon. This isn’t me removing the other instances; I’m just isolating clear examples. Healings: 25 distinct, narrated healing accounts. Casting Out: 7 distinct narrative accounts. 7 out of 25 = 28% This figure is not meant as a population estimate, but rather reflects the proportion of cases explicitly narrated in the Gospels. Over a quarter of the directly recorded moments are Jesus intervening in a demon possession. Not sickness, not injury, not disease, but spiritual entities inhabiting people. That’s not rare. That’s not on the fringe. And it’s definitely not accidental. This is not a demographic claim, but a proportional signal drawn directly from the Gospels themselves. Five Now, for the last nugget, I’m giving you Luke 4:32–34 to look at before I start tying this all together. “They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” That man wasn’t thrashing about, gnashing his teeth, mute or convulsing. Sometimes in the Bible, even the smallest detail can carry the greatest meaning. He was in the synagogue, a place of worship, a reserved place of God. Surrounded by his friends, family, and neighbors, listening to teachings. And the only reason anyone knew there was a problem was because Jesus showed up, and the demon reacted to His presence. No one else knew. (that should also show that demonic powers are not, in fact, all-knowing and can predict the future.) There he was, hidden in plain sight, right in the middle of everyday life, attending synagogue. That’s Why 28% Should Be So Startling I am using straight numbers and years here to highlight current times and a trajectory. Scripture does not give us quantitative details before the last prophet. But it does give us a defined 400-year period of prophetic silence marked by spiritual decline, political abuse, and religious distortion. That is the condition Jesus stepped into, and it is sufficient for the point being made. Tying Things Together That 28% figure drawn explicitly from the narrated Gospel accounts shows just how frequently Jesus confronted demonic possession relative to physical healing. The pattern is clear. While that number was strictly drawn from the Gospels and not a comment on today’s population, it is sobering to see how often Jesus’ ministry involved deliverance and what that might look like today if we recognize what is walking among us. If it feels unbelievable, just take a look online. The bitterness, rage, moral decline, and violent speech, often paired with visceral reactions to God, Christianity, or anything good and moral, are plastered all over the place to see. Israel had 400 years and got to 28% (and that's lowballing it). We’ve had more than two thousand years since Jesus walked the Earth. Will you be able to recognize the filth beneath all those carefully constructed sparkly narratives and outward appearances? Because recognizing demonic influence today begins with understanding how often Jesus confronted unseen forces and how easily they blend into ordinary life. © 2026 Jane Isley Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I used to believe the church was the greenhouse where faith naturally flourished. Put a seed in the soil of Sunday services, water it with midweek Bible studies, shine a little worship music over it, and, presto, you’d grow. But then…sometimes the very greenhouse you depend on starts blocking the sun. I’m not saying there isn’t potential value in attending church. But, assembling yourselves together (Hebrews 10:23–25) can be much different than a typical structured church service. When the Walls Start Closing In I discovered, slowly and a bit painfully, that in some ways, many ways actually, the church can prevent you from growing. Not because everyone in it is bad, or because God has abandoned the place… …but because institutions have a way of drifting from their first love. Jesus warned the Pharisees about this, didn’t He? “You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:6). What begins as passion too often calcifies into habit. And habits, when unquestioned, become barriers. Before long, you find yourself measuring faith not by whether you love your neighbor, but by whether you checked off attendance and agreed with the doctrines. A grapevine doesn’t mature just because it sits inside a trellis. It needs air, light, and pruning. Finding Truth Outside the Gates Another discovery that rattled me: truth doesn’t only come wrapped in church bulletins. Okay…this is going to be too radical for some, but I believe truth is truth regardless of who says it. You can hear it from a Muslim neighbor, a Buddhist poet, an atheist scientist, or even the mechanic who says something ordinary yet piercing, almost prophetic. For years, I thought truth was locked inside the church’s filing cabinet. But Jesus never said that. He said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Paul got this when he quoted pagan poets in Athens (Acts 17:28). Truth is truth, wherever it shows up, because all truth belongs to God, even if said by someone of another tradition…or even lack of belief in God. The freest day of my life was the day I let myself learn from anyone, without checking their doctrinal statement first. Wisdom in a Sufi mystic. Kindness in a secular humanist. Humility in a Buddhist monk. I couldn’t ignore the irony: some of these folks looked more like Jesus than half the church committees I’d sat through. Goodness Beyond the Walls Here’s another shocker: people outside the church can be just as decent and generous as those inside, sometimes more so. I once believed Christians “love better” because we have the Holy Spirit. Then life introduced me to neighbors who’d never set foot in a sanctuary, yet carried casseroles to the sick, welcomed strangers, and lived with integrity that humbled me. Meanwhile, I sat in meetings where folks with decades of “walking with the Lord” couldn’t muster basic decency toward each other. Jesus said we’d be known by our love (John 13:35). The irony was glaring. Sometimes the Spirit blows through surprising places. Like Jesus said, the wind goes where it pleases. Faith Without Outsourcing Here’s the heart of it: I once thought my faith rose and fell on my church membership. Miss a Sunday, and I felt God was disappointed. Skip small group, and suddenly I was “drifting.” But Jesus never said, “Abide in the church.” He said, “Abide in me” (John 15:4). That’s a different invitation. He wasn’t calling us to live off borrowed spirituality, sermons, programs, conferences, but to sink our roots deep into His love. When I loosened my grip on the institution, I was terrified. It felt like stepping off a cliff. But I discovered something unexpected, there’s solid ground when Christ Himself is the foundation. Faith isn’t the property of churches; it’s the gift of God. You don’t rent it weekly. You carry it in your bones. A Vineyard Without Fences Maybe the best picture is this: faith is a vineyard. The church can provide a fence, a trellis, some helpful tools. But confuse the fence for the vineyard, and you’ve missed the point. Grapes grow because of life flowing through the vine (John 15), not because of the posts holding it up. And sometimes, when the fence falls down, you realize the vine was stronger than you ever imagined. I don’t bash the church, I’m grateful for what it gave me: songs, Scriptures, friendships. But I’ve learned not to mistake the wrapping paper for the gift. The church can guide, but it can also stunt. It can nurture, but it can also smother. And when that happens, you have to remember: God isn’t bound by walls or bylaws. The Adventure of Growing Up in Christ Here’s where the adventure begins: stepping outside the greenhouse, blinking in the sunlight, and realizing growth is still possible, maybe even more possible, when you’re not under constant institutional supervision. You start to notice God in places you’d overlooked: In the laugh of a child. In the words of a poet who never claimed Christ. In the neighbor who brings soup when you’re sick. In the scientist who maps galaxies and somehow whispers of glory. And when you realize Jesus is bigger than the church, your faith doesn’t shrink, it expands. You see what Paul meant when he said God’s love is “wider and longer and higher and deeper than we can imagine” (Ephesians 3:18). That’s the point, isn’t it? To keep growing. Not to stay in spiritual kindergarten, repeating the same memory verses without ever learning to love better, think deeper, or live freer. Jesus didn’t come to build a gated community. He came to set captives free. And sometimes the captives are sitting in pews, unaware the doors are already unlocked. So What Now? Maybe faith is less about where you show up on Sunday and more about who you become on Monday. Maybe maturity is measured not by attendance charts but by how quickly you forgive, how freely you give, how deeply you love. Those are the questions that keep me growing. And ironically, it took stepping outside the church’s shadow to finally start answering them. Because the vineyard was always bigger than the fence. And the Spirit, thank God, has never been afraid of open skies. © Gary L Ellis (1944–2026)

It was refreshing to get genuine questions from a reader who made sure I knew right away he wasn’t out for a fight, and they are genuine questions that are well worth the time to answer. I also knew I could not answer them to the best of my ability in a comment section. So we are here now, to do my best to answer and hopefully not confuddle anything. Here are this gentleman's questions in response to my article “He died for all sinners.” The straight-laced, non-answer answer to the first part as to why die for our sins would be to retort back and say something along the lines of “Well, He died so we could go to Heaven.” Like I said, a non-answer answer and doesn’t necessarily clarify anything if you are a non-believer, the curious, or a believer scratching your head trying to understand it. Wanting to know the reason behind the reason is perfectly normal; we don’t go to a car dealership and not pop the hood and ask a million questions first before we decide to buy the car. The Reason Behind The Reason  So why would God, the creator of everything, need or want to do this? Why choose death for sins instead of something else? I’ll be completely honest, entire books are dedicated to this one question, so there is stuff I will not be able to cover completely or even touch on. I’m just going to do this how I would in person, and take out the jargon and be human, because I, too, asked these same questions once. I wanted a teacher, not a preacher. To begin, it ultimately boils down to two starting points, from how I see it in my brain. (Others have different starting points, and that doesn’t mean any of us are wrong, just different.) Sin became a part of our lives. God cannot tolerate sin because He is just, and sin needs to be punished. Sin can not and should not be tolerated; if God tolerated sin of any kind, He would have to tolerate all sin. If He did that, then good would no longer exist, sin would take over, and our understanding of good and bad would cease to exist completely and become a constant state of grey. It had to stay black and white. If there were no firm line drawn between to two, I couldn’t even imagine what that world would begin to look like. He outright refuses to tolerate sin, and for good reason, sin leads to death. We are told this from the beginning in Genesis. A death that is beyond just our heartbeat stopping, a death that results in all of us never being able to be within His presence again. A Gap We Cannot Bridge On Our Own. First, we need to recognize that God didn’t want puppets. I mean, what’s the point of a real relationship if you are in control of every aspect of it, including their thinking? There is no point, we get to choose of our own accord and will, always. He created something beautiful and perfect that He wanted to share, then sin entered. (Oh, and yes, lots could be written on that topic, and I’d barely scratch the surface because of the complexity, super in-depth is best left to the pros who have spent their lives diving into that subject, I’m nowhere near that yet.) If sin had not entered our world, God wouldn’t have been put into the position He was put into. He easily could have snuffed Adam and Eve out and started over — or some like to think at least. See, God connected with us through the breath of life, which was exclusive and unique to us. He made a point of setting us apart from the animals He created by giving us a soul, that connection and purity allowed Adam and Eve to be in His presence. We are given a hint of this perfection in Genesis 3:8. If sin had not entered the world, we’d still be in Eden, walking and talking with God in His presence, like nothing happened; we would be in paradise without a moment's worry. What kind of God would He be if He had snuffed Adam and Eve out? And this includes us, btw, because from the very beginning He knew us, He knit us together, and appointed us. That's an intimate gesture towards us. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 Would He have just left their souls, which are connected to Him, floating out there for all eternity, feeling the weight of sin with no possible way to be redeemed, no possible way to be reconciled, and no possible way to ask forgiveness? — I’m not even going to pretend that I fully understand the “why did things have to go down the way they did in Eden?” My thought on that matter is maybe it had to play out that way so the ones who chose God are truly, completely, and willingly with God as individuals and not puppets? Probably an unpopular thought, but it’s what I got, I don’t know the why, and that’s ok. It happened, now we have to deal. This is where those harder questions come in: Why send Himself to suffer and die for us? Why was death needed? Couldn’t He have done something else? This is epically one of the hardest concepts to wrap the brain around, trust me, I’ve been there. So, here we are now with sin in the world that separates us from God. For us to even enter Heaven, we have to be resurrected and transformed with new bodies. Also important to note, we actually get a new Heaven and Earth (2); we need new bodies to be in our new Heaven and Earth. God will create a new environment free from sin for believers so we can once again be in His presence. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” Now, sin has to go somewhere; sin is a transgression against God’s law. The sin in the world has to be conquered and separated from us, so that we are no longer separated from God. That black and white situation I talked about earlier. To explain it as best I can, sin is a debt, a debt we can not pay on our own. Sin is too heavy, too dark, too unholy for a person (human) to carry to Heaven. Jesus (the Son of God) came to literally carry that debt; He took it upon Himself, into Himself, so that we are free of it when we die and meet Him in Heaven because He was the perfect “vessel” for lack of a better word, to take all sin, carry it, and destroy it. This Was An Act Of Mercy We are not left hanging, trying to carry our sins with us for eternity, constantly separated from God. Sin strangles our soul with its weight. We now have the chance to be free of our sins and be with Him once again — if we so choose. (more on that later) “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 Did you catch that? “In His Body.” He carried the full weight of every sin in Himself. Our death (the worst then heart-stopping kind of death) had to be defeated by His death. He paid that price (atonement) for us because sin has to be paid for, but the system was flawed; it is a transgression against God’s law, and God provided a way for us to be with Him again. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1 Now, What About Hitler? First, we have no idea what Hitler was thinking when he killed himself, so I’m not going to theorize on that. But what we can know for sure is that he was a sinner. A sinner like you and me. As hard and unfathomable as it is, we do not have the right to deny God and His forgiveness to anyone. I’m sure if the victims of the holocaust knew Hitler repented, as in truly and completely repented, some would have an extremely hard time with that. How could God forgive a man like that, though? Simple, the same way He did for you and me. Here’s the catch, though, Hitler wouldn’t be able to just mouth the words “God forgive me for my sins and I give you mine and my wife’s life because I don’t deserve to live?” and expect to be in Heaven. Doesn’t work like that for anyone. You want salvation? You have to mean it; otherwise, God will not recognize you on judgment day. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:20–23 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32–33 Repentance is the only way anyone is getting into Heaven. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Act 3:19 Jesus’s death wasn’t some blanket atonement packet for everybody to get into Heaven; you have to repent, you have to want to follow Him, you have to want to change, you have to have faith in Him, His death, His resurrection, and His atonement for believers. We want God to forgive us for our sins, and cherish knowing we will see Him on judgment day and hear, “I Know You.” We may not like it, but we have no right to deny this to anyone if they have chosen Him. We are also told to forgive those who have sinned against us. Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:12, and Luke 17:3–4. As well as told “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:15. This can be hard, even painful to accept, and many will turn away just because of this last section alone. But we truly do not have any right to deny salvation to anyone. If you believe you deserve it, so do they. We have no right to point fingers at someone else’s sin and deem it as worse than ours, and therefore, they are to be denied Heaven because it’s what we want and what we believe. Salvation doesn’t play favorites, and neither does God when someone turns and comes to Him. We don’t have to like it, but you do have someone who can help you come to accept this, and that He loves us all. ☝ I hope I have done as well as I can in answering and didn’t go too squirrely. There is no way to cover the vast points that could still be included, but I hope this helps at least answer a few questions and get you in the right direction for further study. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) simplybible.com (2) In God’s presence once again — Revelation 21 Got Questions: What is the meaning of atonement? Soul and womb — Psalm 139:13–16 We must confess our sins — 1 John 1:9 No one comes to the Father except through me. — John 14:6 “But made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 New bodies: Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:42–44, & 2 Corinthians 5:1–4

We closed the farmhouse door for the very last time. Never again would we be greeted by the smell of homemade bread. Never again would we pick fresh strawberries from the homegrown patch. Never again would we celebrate Thanksgiving together in the big, old, century-plus farmhouse. My father-in-law sold the farm on which he was born 85 years earlier and never looked back. He moved a couple of miles down the road into a newer townhouse closer to town. We unpacked boxes, stacking the dishes my husband ate from as a child. We hung aerial photos of the farm on the walls. We looked out the windows and saw dozens of other identical townhouses instead of never-ending rows of corn. “I think this townhouse development used to be Bob Miles’ horse pasture,” Hubby reminisced. “Yep. He sold his farm to a developer 20 years ago,”my father-in-law confirmed. “So you’re now living where I smashed Terry’s truck into the fence!” “You did what?” Oops. After 34 years of keeping a secret from his dad, Hubby accidentally spilled the beans to his 86-year-old father. On a dark and snowy December eve, Hubby was getting into his brother’s 1976 Silverado with a 454 cubic inch engine after wrestling practice. His wrestling buddy had a Ford. After spinning donuts in the snowy school parking lot, they decided to settle the Ford vs. Chevy rivalry once and for all. Hubby won, but unfortunately, brakes don’t work well on ice, and his brother’s truck ended up on top of the fence of the horse pasture. Mr. Miles was not very happy, and Hubby spent Christmas break repairing the fence. But he never told his dad. Why do we hide our mistakes from our parents? From an early age, our behavior is reinforced with parental smiles or frowns. Scribbles on paper excite parents to the true artist within their child; scribbles on the wall create fear of a future graffiti artist. Building a block tower reveals a future engineer and receives praise; throwing blocks exposes a potential future rioter and receives scolding. We are trained to crave the affirmation of our parents and dread their anger and disappointment. Even adults look for Mom and Dad’s approval. A friend recently told me that, although her parents are both dead, she still makes decisions based on whether or not they would approve. Fear of parental disapproval leads many to hide from their parents. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8) But should we seek the approval of our parents? Our parents are, after all, sinners just like us. In seeking their approval, we are looking to reflect the image of someone who is flawed, not perfect. I have told my children that I don’t want them to live their lives looking for my approval. I want them to live their lives looking for God’s approval. My views are selfishly flawed and skewed. I do not have all the right answers, nor do I have the right motives behind the decisions I make. God is perfect in all things. He gives us His Word, the Bible, to show us what righteousness looks like. Scripture is the plumb line we and our children can use as we measure our lives next to Perfection. But this doesn’t mean I am insignificant in the lives of my adult children. God uses parents. We often hide things from our parents when we sin. We fear being found out. If my parents really knew… But God knows. If we are hiding things, we should consider if the hidden secret is sin. “Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:19-21) Adam and Eve are kinda funny. Did they really think they could hide from God? Did they really think He wouldn’t find them? Did they not know of His omniscience? But they feared their deeds would be exposed. We are just like Adam and Eve. We live our lives sinning, thinking we can hide. But we don’t have to hide anymore. Admit your sin. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5) Jesus came to take your sin away. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) Confess and believe. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) And you will be saved. First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com

I was mentally preparing myself for my daughter’s upcoming doctor’s appointment in the shower. (Some people sing in the shower; well, I think in the shower.) For reference, our hospital system took a nosedive here a while back, and it’s been a nerve-wracking experience since, especially for anyone who has chronic conditions. Anyway, so there I am in the shower, thinking through the appointment, and I mentally threw two previous doctors under the bus. I thought some really not-so-nice things in my head. I was feeling this subtle, pressurized bitterness and anger inside me that wanted to keep building, so I fed it. I felt justification for the anger that started to seethe inside of me and those not-so-nice thoughts because there had been some horrific instances. Then, in a moment of bitterness and anger, I just became weary of it all. I made a conscious choice and whispered the words “take captive my thoughts.” A millisecond couldn’t have even slipped by before I heard, “Pray for the doctors who failed your daughter; they need it the most.” My heart lurched, and everything went still for a moment. I felt a deep conviction that pulled me down, and I sat there on the shower floor crying. Without words, I sought His forgiveness for what I had done, then and in the past. He knows what we’ve been through; He was there right beside us through it all. He acknowledged that yes, she was wronged, and He understood my hesitation and fear of doctors, but I still need you to pray for them. In that moment, I learned so many things. It’s easy for us to take something that happened and hold onto those past hurts without contemplating the situation. We then move on, believing we are fine, when in fact we are not. We need to acknowledge when we are hurt. None of what I’m saying means we aren’t allowed to do this or that we don’t experience emotions from whatever may have happened to us. But it is important to take time, think about it, and take it to God. Big or little, just take it to Him. Don’t be like me. Don’t let it all build up like that. After each crappy incident, I would go home, be mad, and vent, but I didn’t really reach out to God about it. I never asked Him to help me with how I was feeling or what I should do with it. That’s why I became weary. It all finally caught up with me at that moment, and I was so tired of trying to hold onto it all. God hugged me, and I felt that deep within my heart; I also didn’t feel He was angry at me, He just gently chided me and told me it was time that I switch my thinking and pray for them. It was a fresh start to a new way of thinking; a weight was lifted off my shoulders that I never realized was there. Since that day in the shower, I had my own experience where I left my doctor’s office hurt, and it was a justifiable situation with what happened. With this new awareness, though, I was able to be able to vent and talk about what happened, stay positive, thoughtful, and calmer, and actively take it to God. And yes, I prayed for this provider; in fact, I still do when I think about her. It’s been a couple of months now. I feel calm, a gentleness now in me, and it’s been growing to the point that my fear and hesitation with anything involving a hospital and clinic are starting to get better. My thought of the day: Maybe if we all said a prayer every time we are hurt, or we think of an old hurt and choose to start the process of forgiveness, we could change the world a little at a time. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 © Jane Isley First Published in Frontier Writers on Medium.

Faith often begins where comfort ends, and courage starts when God’s call shakes your certainty. There’s a peculiar stillness that comes right before a decision that matters. You feel it in your chest, a mix of excitement and fear, as if the universe itself is holding its breath. That was how I felt the day God nudged me toward something bigger than myself, a calling I had long admired from afar but never dared pursue. I remember sitting at my old wooden desk, staring at the invitation to step into a ministry I had only dreamed about. My mind ran in circles. “What if I fail? What if I’m not enough? What if this isn’t really God?” Fear whispered louder than faith, and I almost tucked the opportunity back into the safety of routine. But then, in that quiet moment of wrestling, I remembered every small way God had been faithful before: the doors He had opened that I didn’t deserve, the unexpected provision in moments of need, the peace that arrived when I least expected it. Courage, I realized, wasn’t about having no fear, but it was about choosing trust over hesitation. Stepping out didn’t make the fear vanish. My hands trembled, my heart raced, and doubt still lingered like a stubborn shadow. But I moved anyway. I prayed, I sought counsel, and I reminded myself that God equips the called, not the prepared. He doesn’t call the equipped, but equips those he calls. Each step forward felt like a tiny miracle, an invisible hand guiding me through uncertainty, whispering reassurance when my own voice faltered. Looking back, the journey wasn’t just about the external outcome; it was about the transformation within. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the choice to act and make a move despite it. It’s faith taking a step even when the path is foggy, it’s trusting that God is bigger than our worries, wiser than our plans, and kinder than our doubts. And the beauty of it? God doesn’t just call you for the sake of the task. He calls to grow you, to deepen your faith, to show you His strength made perfect in your weakness. The moment you answer, even with trembling knees and a hesitant heart, you discover that He has been preparing you all along. The courage you thought you lacked was already within you; it just needed the spark of obedience to ignite. If you’re reading this and feel that pull in your soul, the gentle insistence that God is asking more, don’t wait for fear to disappear. Step forward, even if it’s one small step at a time. Trust that the same God who has never left you will not abandon you now. Your courage doesn’t come from bravery alone; it comes from faith, surrender, and the quiet confidence that God’s call is always accompanied by His presence. Now, what step is God asking you to take today, even if it feels uncertain? © Favour

When God made lemonade out of a broken back  The music industry is currently undergoing a significant surge in Christian music. Now more than ever, Christian artists are setting new records and landing on the Billboard Hot 100, an accomplishment that is extremely difficult to achieve. Christian music is making waves, especially amongst Gen Z. One of the most famous Christian artists right now is Forrest Frank, whose song “Your Way’s Better” is going viral on TikTok from a dance created to complement the song. This song and dance is causing all generations to break out dancing across the globe, including countries in Africa and even in Japan. It’s safe to say that God is using Forrest’s music to spread His glory, and while Forrest’s music is bringing more eyes to God, so is his back. Yup. You read that correctly. Three weeks ago, Forrest had fractured his L3 and L4 vertebrae in a skateboarding accident in his front yard. His home’s ring camera caught the accident on camera, and he became bedridden. Over the next two weeks, he tracked and posted his journey with his back on social media and ended up writing two songs, “God’s Got My Back” (linked below) and “Lemonade”; His song “Lemonade” debuted as №1 on iTunes’ Top 100 Song chart. Some say that it was amazing that Forrest was even able to create these amazing songs from his bed at home, but God wasn’t done. A few days after Forrest released “Lemonade”, he woke up from bed and went into his kitchen and said good morning to his son, picking him up without any pain. He wasn’t even wearing his back brace. Immediately, Forrest started recording and explained in the recording that he wasn’t having any pain or wearing his brace. So he and his wife, Grace, head to urgent care for an X-ray, only to find out that he was completely healed. In two weeks, God had not only used Forrest’s situation to release two trending songs that are reaching millions, but he also healed Forrest’s back, and it all got captured on camera! This is simply jaw-dropping, and it shows that God will always use our situations to glorify Him! So when we are going through tough situations, just remember that God is sovereign over every season and loves us. He is going to make lemonade out of our lemons. If ya’ll are curious about this, Forrest has posted a bunch of content on his Instagram over the last couple of weeks, but here is the link to his video explaining everything. It is truly spine-tingling. © 2025 Sierra Loew