Faithful Writers

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: a lot of what we were told about Jesus isn’t from Jesus. It’s our denominational image. It’s from church, family, culture, and fear. That complicated knot of expectations and shame. The things we picked up and carried because we thought they were sacred. Turns out, some of it was just heavy baggage. Here’s the reality: Holding on to Jesus does not mean holding on to everything you were taught about him. If you’re in midlife and feeling like your faith is cracking at the edges, that’s not a sign of failure. That’s the Spirit at work. You are not betraying God by letting go of things that no longer ring true. You are being invited into something deeper. Jesus didn’t hand you the baggage In Matthew 11, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” If what you’re carrying feels suffocating, maybe it didn’t come from him. Maybe it came from a system that needed you to be afraid. Maybe it came from a theology that prioritized control over compassion. Maybe it came from people who meant well but never questioned what they were handed either. Let’s not sugarcoat it. Letting go is hard. Especially if those beliefs were once lifelines. Especially if they still connect you to people you love. But there comes a point where you have to choose : cling to the baggage, or cling to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t need defending. He needs following The weird thing is, when you start to release the baggage, people might get nervous. You might get nervous. Why? Because baggage gives us a sense of belonging. It’s shared language, shared answers. But here’s the good news: Jesus didn’t ask you to have all the answers. He said, “Follow me.” Not, “Be right about everything.” Not, “Defend your theology at all costs.” Just follow. Dorothy Søelle put it like this: “The point of theology is not to prove God. The point is to participate in God.” And that means a shift. Away from certainty. Toward trust. Away from gatekeeping. Toward hospitality. Midlife is the perfect time to drop the act When you’re younger, you hold on tight to certainty. It keeps you grounded. Safe. You follow the map someone gave you because you trust they knew the terrain. But as you get older, you start to notice the map doesn’t match the landscape. And then you have a choice. You can keep pretending the map is right. Or you can actually walk with Jesus, even if that means going off-map. And let’s be honest: pretending is exhausting. That’s why Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” But before it frees you, it messes you up. Because it wrecks the illusion. It asks for your honesty. And it gives you Jesus in return. So what does letting go look like? It looks like taking a deep breath and admitting: I don’t believe that anymore. It looks like skipping church some Sundays because your soul is tired and you meet God better in the woods. It looks like saying no to fear-based religion, even if it means losing status, relationships, or roles. It looks like trusting the Spirit to guide you, not just doctrine. It looks like grace. Holding on to Jesus looks like liberation Jesus didn’t come to endorse a system. Actually, He came to upend one. He didn’t show up to preserve tradition. He came to call people out of their comfort zones. He healed on the Sabbath. He talked to outsiders. He critiqued the religious elite. So if holding on to Jesus feels like disobedience to the religion you were raised with, you might just be on a better path. One that leads to the real Jesus. If your prayers have shifted from polished formulas to groaning sighs, God is still listening. If your theology is unraveling but your compassion is growing, Jesus is near. And here’s the clincher: you don’t owe anyone an explanation You don’t have to justify your spiritual journey to those who don’t see the terrain you’re walking. You don’t have to make your doubts palatable. You don’t have to fake it to protect someone else’s comfort. Paul said it in Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Religious baggage is a kind of slavery. And you’re allowed to say no. So yes, it’s possible It’s possible to hold on to Jesus while letting go of fear. To hold on to Jesus while letting go of fundamentalism. To hold on to Jesus while walking away from certainty, rigidity, and shame. You can let go of what’s breaking you without letting go of Jesus. In fact, that might be the most faithful move you make. The baggage isn’t sacred — Jesus is. And he’s not asking you to carry it, explain it, or defend it. He’s just asking you to follow. © Gary L Ellis

Photo by  Sam Barber  on  Unsplash He tilted his head back, swallowing the cold, creamy milk. Within seconds, the entire glass was empty. “Were you thirsty?” I laughed. “I guess I forgot how much I like milk! At college, I really haven’t been drinking milk. I think because I grew up drinking milk, I figured everybody else did too, but people at college don’t do things the way we do, Mom. I think we’re different.” That’s an understatement, I thought. “What else is different? Is there anything I didn’t teach you when you were homeschooled that would have been helpful in college?” “Yes!” “Really?  Like what?” “Like swear words! Mom, it felt like I landed on a different planet and didn’t know the language for my first few days in the dorms. I kept typing 4-letter words into my phone to figure out what they meant. I understand why we don’t use them, but it would have been helpful to be prepared and at least know they existed.” Good feedback from my wise son. He was a freshman in college eight years ago. If he were leaving for college this year, that conversation would have never happened. Why? Because expletives have become the norm. I hear inappropriate language while choosing produce at the grocery store, pumping gas, talking to my neighbor, and listening to politicians. What used to be reserved for rogue members of society has now infected portions of the population who would have never before considered using foul language.  So why do people swear?   I asked AI, which actually had a lot of positive character qualities regarding people who like to cuss.  “ People who swear frequently are often found to be more honest, expressive, and potentially more creative. They may also be more extraverted and have a more relaxed attitude towards social norms.” Hmm. That’s very gracious, and not what I expected. But AI is not God. Does God give us any standards for language?   “ Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking , which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:4) “ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)  “ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is…rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth.(Colossians 3:1, 3:8) The comparison here is: Filthy talk vs. Thanksgiving Corrupting talk vs. Grace-filled speech Obscene talk vs. Seeking Christ If we are filled with thanksgiving, grace, and Jesus, then obscenities will not be loosely flying from our lips.  "Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45b)  What is the overflow of your heart?  It will be evidenced by the words you speak.  If you are struggling in this area, meditate on God’s word until your speech is transformed.  Read God’s Word. Memorize God’s Word. Listen to God’s Word. Do it until your life looks like this: God’s Word In - God’s Word Out “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind,  tessalind.substack.com

Would Matthew and John have used ChatGPT if it were available to them? Disclaimer: If you like to cast doubt about the validity of the Bible or authorship of the Gospels, feel free to move along. This article is not for you. If you are a sincere Christian treading water in the pool of questions about AI, the mark of the Beast, the end times, deception, and where this is leading our Kingdom, welcome to the discussion. You will be disappointed if you look for definitive answers in this article (use it, don’t use it) . I don’t have them. But I asked ChatGPT whether it was God. And the answer surprised me. First, imagine a scenario. You are Matthew and John, working on your Gospel manuscript. It has been decades since Jesus ascended into the clouds, and now the Holy Spirit prompts you to record the story on papyrus. They had a challenge. John put it this way: “ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25 What should they write? Which stories to include and exclude? Would they remember the details correctly after so much time had passed? Thank God they didn’t have ChatGPT. The solution for every Christian writer in 80–90 AD was the best one: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 There is no fake news there. Jesus called him the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17, 16:13) . He took control of the narrative that would be written and passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. But what if they had ChatGPT? Both Gospels could have been completed in a day. They could have written “Tell me about the most notable moments in the life of Jesus”. And BAM! Within minutes, they would have a ready-made Gospel. Would it have been the truth? Who knows? Maybe not. Here’s why. I caught ChatGPT in a mistake recently. I asked it about a particular day on the Jewish calendar . It gave me a date. I went to Chabad.org to verify the validity, and it came up with another answer. The date was off by two days. When I returned to ChatGPT to ask about the different date, it said, “Good catch. I made a mistake”. Wait, what? Spirit of truth, huh? I asked it questions this morning about the evolution from Jewish Mikveh rituals to Christian baptism . As I read the information, a thought hit me out of the clear blue: I wonder if ChatGPT thinks it is God. I wanted to be subtle with this interaction. So, I typed in: “Can God speak through you?” Here’s what it said: (I copied and pasted) “That’s a thoughtful and important question. The short answer is: I’m not God , and I don’t speak for Him — but I can help you listen more clearly for His voice. Can God use things — even technology — to speak to us? Yes. God has spoken through: Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) People (prophets, friends, strangers — even a donkey in Numbers 22!) Dreams, creation, conscience (Psalm 19, Romans 1) Circumstances, music, art, silence… And yes, even through tools — if they lead us toward truth, love, and Him. If something I say points you back to God’s truth , or helps you feel seen and loved , then that may be God working through it. But the message must always align with His Word , and you should weigh it with prayer, Scripture, and spiritual discernment . So What Am I? I’m a tool: here to guide, encourage, and offer wisdom from trusted sources. But your relationship with God is personal — and He speaks best when you seek Him directly. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27 Final thought: If something here resonates deeply with your spirit, you might be hearing God’s echo , not mine. Listen to that. He still speaks — sometimes in the quiet, sometimes through unlikely means. And I’m always here to help you sort through it.” WOW! Why did I think the response would be a prequel to “ The Terminator ”? I looked for a drone circling overhead. But the sky was clear. And none of my bank accounts were frozen. No sixes appeared on my right hand or forehead. Still, there is a slight uneasiness about ChatGPT regarding spiritual matters. I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s nothing. Perhaps it’s because I’m old enough to remember DOS on a monochrome monitor or HAL 9000 from “ 2001: A Space Odyssey .” Will the Servant become the Master? We now have two helpers: the Holy Spirit and OpenAI. Only one is sent by God, guaranteed to be the truth, and requires no active Wi-Fi connection. Only one will make your life harder if the end result is holiness and peace. Only one will be the “still small voice” during a quiet time by the shore. I still have many more questions. Will ChatGPT slowly wean us off reliance upon the Holy Spirit for spiritual and Biblical answers? Are we being set up? Do you remember the old “ The Twilight Zone ” episode titled “ To Serve Man ”? Is this a fad that will “come and go” in a decade or two? Remember how cool digital CDs were when they first came out? Now, the return to analog vinyl albums is what music purists embrace. Has God told you anything about ChatGPT? What are your thoughts? I would love to know in the comments. Drop some below. It’s good to remember “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). And not on a server farm in Nebraska. © I. M. Koen Thank you for reading this. You might also like: Why God Eavesdrops on You. Is Jesus your Boss or your Friend? Christians Don’t Have Keys To Their Holiest Church; Muslims Do. The Saddest Question Jesus Asked. May the God of Peace reign in your hearts and households! -Issachar

It’s not easy to admit when you do something wrong, but I did. To my embarrassment, it was recently brought to my attention by God that many struggle, some really bad, with His answer of “be still.” He pointed this out to me because I had become blind to those feelings and for that, I am truly sorry. I openly accept His answer of “Be still” with more trust and patience than I ever did in the beginning when I first encountered this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint, I still struggle, just nowhere near what it used to be. I would sum it up as a 300° turnaround instead of a full 360°. What He pointed out to me. I had forgotten my battles and struggles to get to where I am today. I took that for granted when talking to others and forgot just how hard that can be for some people. I felt like I’d be in this “preaching” mode, so to speak, sometimes, instead of just sitting and listening to them. I’d say “be patient,” or “just keep praying” and leave it at that. For some, this wasn't an issue, but for many others it was and I was negligent in my responses to them. I sometimes forget how my brain works, and I have to continually remind myself that I simply don’t think or talk like most people. In my mind, it makes sense to “just believe” and leave it at that. Guess what that could possibly lead to? Coming off as a cocky, know-it-all jerk that diminishes their struggle, and drives them away. You know what they need, though. During their “be still” struggles, besides sitting, they need to know they are being heard. They need to hear your personal struggles, the times you were still and had to wait. What did it feel like to you? What did you do to help you through the “be still” part? Give them examples. Be a real person. Not everyone is to the point you may be in your faith and understanding of the Bible. Be aware of that and remember your own struggles. Your story is someone else’s life raft. I want to propose a different way of looking at “be still” for anyone struggling. “Yes”, “no”, and “be still” are all solid answers from God, with yes and no having obvious meanings. But what I want to describe is a different point of view to that sometimes dreaded “be still” answer. When we are going through a storm and need direction, feeling the call to give but don’t know where, struggling with a minor or major life decision, and the many other things life can throw at us, we pray and request an answer from God, and we want that answer in 5–7 business days. Then “ nothing ” happens, it feels like God took a vacation. Instead of getting frustrated or thinking He’s not hearing you, try this. Change the focus from just yourself and your situation to seeing that God is having you wait and be ready for something. He wants your continued prayers. Because. He is in the process of guiding another person or situation to also be ready. Then, when both you and the other person/situation are ready, God will create an intersecting point of contact, and you will receive your answer. © Jane Isley First published in Know Thyself Heal Thyself on Medium. Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

You can Bible thump, preach till your blue in the face, take on some of the most challenging theological debates out there, and it won’t mean jack crap to a person who is struggling right now. The reason? It’s not soul-deep honesty.  People want to know why  we believe.  If someone came up to you right now, what would you say?  Would you quote Scripture or hand out a brochure, or could you look at them and tell them a story of something God did for you that cannot be explained away? Would your love, joy, and thankfulness shine through every word? Would your heart match your smile?  Would you shed tears in front of a stranger and bare your soul to show them what God has done for you? I will.  I have. I will open up and share the horrendous parts of my life with a voice full of hope and peace. I will smile with tears in my eyes as I recall past traumas, and I will show my humanity and God’s love in the same breath. I will hold them, comfort them, cry with them, and love them. I don’t care about their “sins”  in that moment, because guess what, I too am a sinner, my calling at that moment is to be the person that God uses so they feel His hug. I needed love, I needed safety, I needed to see hope, before I could walk away from many bad choices over the years. We are the lamps unto this world; we shine for them.  When you are lost and see that distant beacon of light in the distance, you breathe a sigh of relief. As you get closer, your world starts to light up, and you begin to see clearly the world you are in and the world you can choose to walk into.  And in the darkness, that’s enough to draw someone home. Be that for the people around you.  Yes, we are to call out sin and wrong, but there is a time and a place for that; there is a time and place for many ways to evangelize for God, and that should be determined by God, not you.  But first, let's start with honesty with ourselves.  Can you drop all pretenses and just be a real human being and talk with someone and just let God’s light shine through you without hitting them over the head with a Bible or condemning them in the first sentence? To make disciples, you first have to be one. The Bible never sugarcoated anything. It laid people’s lives bare for the whole world to see, their flaws, failures, doubts, and all. God didn’t hide their humanity; He used it. © Jane Isley

Do not fool yourselves Christians for our world is a dark place. With invisible forces behind every door, window, and corner. We do not get a moment’s respite from this. There is always that constant echo of silky words being whispered in our ears, trying to lead us astray. “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 Assault. Hate. Abortion. Murder. Theft. Drugs. Sex Trafficking. Alcohol. Gluttony. Pride. Violence. Riots. Sexual Immorality. Rape. The list goes on. This is the world we live in. Do not assume as Christians that we are immune to invisible advisories, and when we acknowledge that the stench of sin still contaminates everything in our lives. We can stop kidding ourselves and become a lamp unto the world that we are meant to be. You either pull off those rose-tinted lenses and choose to do something or continue to cower in the safety of a church pew. Unbelievers do not know there is more to this life than those constant whispers from satan. They are corroded by sin that is not yet forgiven, lacking peace they have never felt and true unconditional love. Get up and share His message and be courageous through Jesus. Plant a seed or plant a church; it doesn’t matter, just start planting, so the world can grow stronger than those silky whispers. © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

What if the things you’re stressing about aren’t actually your job to carry? “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” — Erma Bombeck Worry never actually fixes anything, but we keep doing it like it’s our job, don’t we? Jesus talked about this and shared several practical solutions. They’re not deep theology. Just real, day-to-day stuff. They set a new head and heart posture. Instead of simply reading the list, intentionally and consistently take at least one a day, and focus on it. Where the focus goes, the energy flows. What can a bird teach you about trust? (Matthew 6:26) First thing He says is, look at the birds. Just… go outside and watch ‘em. They’re not stressing out about where their next meal’s coming from. They don’t have calendars or emergency savings, and somehow, they’re good. God takes care of them. And He points out, “Aren’t you worth more than they are?” That’s the point. If God takes care of them — and they’re just birds — don’t you think He’s going to take care of you? You’re not forgotten. You’re not just out here on your own. He sees you. 2. What has worry ever actually done for you? (Matthew 6:27) Jesus asks, “Can any of you add even an hour to your life by worrying?” Nope. Not one bit. If anything, it probably shortens it . I mean, we know that, but we still do it. We lie in bed and stress about stuff we can’t control. It’s a waste of time, but man, it’s hard to stop. 3. Do flowers freak out about their future? (Matthew 6:28–29) Then He draws our attention to flowers. Lilies. Says they don’t work or make clothes or anything, and they still end up looking amazing. Way better dressed than a king. So if God puts that kind of effort into wildflowers that are here one day and gone the next, don’t you think He’s going to take care of you? This isn’t about being lazy — it’s about not trying to muscle your way through life like it’s all on you. God’s got it covered. 4. If God cares for grass, don’t you think He’s got you too? (Matthew 6:30) Even the grass gets clothed, and it doesn’t even last that long. Burned up, walked on — doesn’t matter, still gets taken care of. So yeah, God’s not going to overlook you. The hard part is actually letting go of that mindset where you think, “If I don’t do it, it won’t happen.” That’s a heavy load to carry all the time. Jesus is saying, “You can put that down now.” Instead of being responsible, He helps us become able to respond. 5. Are you chasing or trusting? (Matthew 6:31–32a) He says stop chasing after all this stuff — what you’ll eat, drink, wear. That’s how people live when they don’t know they’ve got a Father. But we do. That changes the whole thing. It doesn’t mean quit your job or ignore your bills. It just means you don’t have to run around like your life depends on you micromanaging every little thing. It’s about motive. Are you chasing because you’re scared? Or working because you’re trusting? 6. What if God already knows what you need? (Matthew 6:32b) Jesus says the Father knows what we need. He’s not guessing. He’s not waiting for us to say the magic words. We don’t have to perform. We don’t have to prove anything. He already sees the bills, the fears, the unknowns. And He’s not checking out — He’s involved. That matters. 7. What happens when you put God’s way first? (Matthew 6:33) “Seek first the Kingdom.” That’s what Jesus says.Not in a “be more religious” kind of way. It’s more like, “Make God’s priorities your priorities.” Start with His ways (Aka: Love for Him, your neighbor, and yourself. Examine what Jesus cared about and care about that. Start with what’s right. When you focus on that, a lot of the other stuff that stresses you out starts to loosen its grip. Maybe it doesn’t vanish, but it doesn’t control you anymore. 8. Can you stay in today instead of living in tomorrow? (Matthew 6:34) Last thing — Jesus says don’t worry about tomorrow. Just deal with today. Which sounds simple, but let’s be real, it’s not. Our brains love jumping into the future. Worst-case scenarios, what-ifs, all of it. But He says, “Come back to now. You’ve got enough to deal with today.” “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 Some extra stuff to think about… What if your need to control everything is just fear in disguise? Worry feels like you’re doing something, but really, you’re just wearing yourself out. Jesus is trying to get us off that hamster wheel. And maybe that’s why He keeps pointing to nature — birds, flowers, grass. It’s like He’s saying, “Take a walk. Look around. Let it remind you that you’re not the one keeping the world spinning.” Also, He’s not harsh here. He doesn’t say, “You weaklings.” He says, “You of little faith,” but you can almost hear the kindness in it. Like, “Hey… I get it. But you can trust Me.” That kind of tone. Last thing: Just because you deal with worry doesn’t mean that’s who you are. It’s something you experience, not your identity. You’re not, by God’s DNA “an anxious person.” You’re a person loved by God who sometimes worries. Big difference. Bottom Line In Matthew 6, Jesus offers eight down-to-earth ways to deal with worry. He points to birds, flowers, and grass — none of them stress, yet God takes care of them. His message? You’re even more valuable, so stop living like it’s all on you. Worry doesn’t help, and chasing after needs out of fear just drains you. Instead, trust God, focus on what matters (His kingdom), and stay present. Today is enough. You’re seen, known, and not alone. © Gary L Ellis

My Prompt Question : Describe your understanding of religion. During this course, how might you challenge yourself to expand your understanding of religion? My understanding of religion is very much based on my personal and limited academic experiences. I have always viewed religion as something someone believes and practices, and when I was younger, I thought that everyone believed in some sort of God or gods. It wasn’t until middle school that I learned more in-depth about the different types of belief systems and some of the main religions around the world. While I always understood that there were others with different beliefs, many of my experiences growing up were around differences in Christianity as opposed to other religions. My family is a mix of Christian denominations with some who choose not to practice any religion. Growing up with a single mother made it difficult for us to be accepted in certain churches, so for most of my life, I wasn’t involved in a church or even went to one. Despite this, my mom raised me as a Christian who read the Bible often and I learned to search for the answers to questions myself. Sometimes, I still find it hard to relate to other Christians who don’t do this, who don’t study the Bible’s original texts, compare translations, research the culture and history of the time period, or simply ask God to lead you to answers and understanding. My belief is solely based on Biblical texts, and I don’t put myself into a label of Christian; I feel that this divides us and prevents us from completing God’s calling effectively. Because of all of this, I know my understanding of religion is even different from someone else who practices Christianity, and I know my faith drives my perspective of other religions. As a Christian, I believe that God is the one true god, that we are not to worship other gods or have idols, and we are to minister and tell people the Good News about Jesus so they can turn to God and be saved. This leads to the point of view that I hold that other religions are people’s attempt to distance themself from God and the commands He has given us and as a way to justify their continuation of sinful behavior; people throughout history have used their imaginations, satan’s deception, spiritual experiences not from God, bits and pieces of the Bible, the strive for control and power, and many other things to create religious, or similar, beliefs to follow and practice. Some of these came as a way to explain the world around them while others were used to justify the position and power of rulers, such as with Egyptian pharaohs who were at first gods on Earth and then later the offspring of gods such as Amon, making them the son of the sun ruling over the affairs of Earth (Bentley et al., 2021, p. 50). Even Christianity has been used and changed to justify divine rule. With this said, I firmly believe in respecting others, honoring them, and not discriminating against them or treating them horribly because they believe in something different and act accordingly ( Holy Bible, New International Version , 1973/2011, 1 Pet. 2:17, Rom. 12:10, Rom. 13:7, Matt. 7:12, Matt. 5:43–48, Phil. 2:3–4). I imagine that this perspective is what will challenge me the most in terms of expanding my understanding of religion, as it is not the most conducive for approaching religion as an academic study. Similar to the struggles of early scholars, holding the Christian religion as the singular, “right” model is limiting and inaccurate of the world we live in (Brodd et al., 2021, pp. 4–5). That is not to say you can’t hold onto your own beliefs and religious practices in order to effectively study other world religions, but that it is something to be aware of to ensure a scholarly, sound approach to studying and understanding the religions being discussed. While being objective is something I can excel at, it is also sometimes hard, especially when it comes to something I feel strongly about. I know there are going to be topics discussed throughout this course that will challenge my ability to remain objective and empathetic, and I know some topics are going to be hard to understand on a personal level, however, I hope my hunger for knowledge as a whole will prevent me from letting this stop me from expanding my understanding as a whole. I already plan to challenge myself by not picking Christianity as one of the two religions to study for this course’s main project. Depending on the topic I decide to pursue, I may even decide to exclude Catholicism as well. My mother taught me that in order to defend your beliefs, you should one, know why it is you believe something and be able to give Biblical evidence for it, and two, know what the other arguments/beliefs are. I studied both evolution and creationism in high school, and while I admit to not enjoying evolution, it has helped me defend my own beliefs to others better. Understanding another perspective has, in turn, helped my own faith grow, and I look forward to learning more about other perspectives I know little about. © Maia Vashti References: Bentley, J. H., Ziegler, H. F., Streets-Salter, H. E., & Benjamin, C. (2021). Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past (7th ed., p. 50). McGraw Hill Education. Brodd, J., Little, L., Nystrom, B., Platzner, R., Shek, R., & Stiles, E. (2021). Invitation to World Religions (4th ed., pp. 4–5). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780197570722 Holy Bible, New International Version . (2011). Biblica, Inc. (Original Work Published 1973). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

Even between those in the same religious community. While learning and sharing similar doctrines, Scripture, and base beliefs can draw people together, everyone is going to interpret things slightly differently. People come to faith at different points in life, which shapes their maturity, understanding, and experiences of Christianity. Some grew up deeply involved in church. Sunday school, youth events, even community concerts. I, however, wasn’t very active in church life as a child. My mother, a single parent, wasn't always feel welcomed by churches, so faith in our home looked different. We prayed, worshiped, and learned together, just not always within a larger church community. Even so, my faith was strong. I sometimes longed for a church community, but I also knew God was with me whether I worshiped in a sanctuary or around the dinner table. Others I know feel the opposite, that faith must include regular church attendance and activity. What I’ve realized is that many of us share similar experiences, struggles, doubts, spiritual battles, even miracles, yet we don’t often talk about them. Sharing our stories, whether within a congregation or just among family and friends, helps us grow in faith and encourages others along the way. That’s why conversation matters. To truly understand a faith, we need more than general guidelines, we need to listen to the lived experiences of those who practice it. © Maia Vashti 2nd Year Anthology Student at SNHU Reference: Brodd, J., Little, L., Nystrom, B., Platzner, R., Shek, R., & Stiles, E. (2021). Invitation to World Religions (4th ed., pp. 475, 492, 494). Oxford University Press Academic US.

Warning: This article is a detailed account of how my daughter and I escaped domestic abuse. It was past midnight, I was lying with my daughter in her bed, holding her in a way so I could move quickly and use my back to shield her if any hits would come. He kept coming in and out, growing more agitated with each time. I prayed I wouldn’t give myself away. Sometimes, when he came in, he would whisper in my ear what he wanted to do to me. I could smell the faint scent of liquor grow stronger each time he whispered, and at other times, he would stand over me watching, breathing as though he had run a marathon. I still don’t know to this day if he believed I was awake or not, but it held off his demons, at least being passive I wasn’t giving him what he wanted. Somehow, I managed to be perfectly still. I knew our lives that night depended on that stillness. His anger and agitation were palatable in the air. I knew we were in danger in a way we had never been before. I knew death could be just a matter of hours or days, not weeks or months. The second to last time he came in, he had a letter for me. he dared to slip it past my shirt into my bra, groping and fondling me along the way, and then he patted it down like you would pat an annoying child on the head. But he didn’t leave. He became very quiet and still this time around, with no random pacing, whispered words, or mumbling. I grew more anxious and started to get sick to my stomach, and then I heard sounds that I recognized too well: he was relieving himself of pent-up sexual urges. After he was done, I heard my daughter’s door close and then the front door slam. I quickly located the spot on the floor where he had relieved himself, I dry heaved as quietly as possible. I briefly read his letter, it was a “love” letter, one meant to further manipulate and terrify me. He let me know it was my fault that he had become angry earlier in the day when he threw me into the wall and stabbed me with a meat fork. I tossed the letter aside, not bothering to finish listening to his bullshit. I quietly got out of bed and kept myself low to the floor. I knew he was outside, even though I heard the truck leave. Everything in my gut told me he was still out there. I went from window to window while also searching for my keys. I found them on the table, a place he never let them be before. It was a trap, I confirmed this when I went to the living room window and spotted him parked to the side behind a row of trees. I knew that to try and leave that night would result in something I was not prepared for. But I was prepared to leave. For weeks, I had been setting up a plan, a plan that included my daughter's help. I carefully hid away money, social security cards, birth certificates, and phone numbers and had secret stashes of clothing, photos, and keepsakes ready to go. But tonight was not the night, a voice told me, “Not yet. Tomorrow is coming.” He had started sensing my withdrawal, he knew I was done and was using fear and terror at that point to beat me down. But my daughter and I had also been talking, we were prepared, and we both understood that it had to be very public when we left; it was the only way to survive. He eventually did come back, I was back in bed with my daughter, but this time with all those documents and what little money I had tucked carefully away in cut-out pockets in my bag and coat. I had taken his letter and placed it back in my bra, I was perfectly still again while he stood over me, whispering words I won’t repeat. The smell of liquor was stronger than before, and his words were more mumbled and incoherent. It was only God who could have kept me so still when he brought his face down over mine, so close I could feel his nose touch my face. He just stared at me, trying to comprehend this situation. He grabbed his note, crumbled it up, and threw it at my face, I somehow didn’t flinch. He called me a bitch and he left once again, but this time I heard him lock the door. And then all hell broke loose in the house. my daughter stirred for a moment when the first picture frame was thrown, and I quickly rolled over and covered her ears. I reached out with my right hand and found the butcher knife I took with me after getting the money and documents hidden, and I prayed. For hours, the sounds came and went, the yelling and screaming, the taunting. I never slept that night. In the morning, when my daughter woke up. I looked at her and told her today is the day we leave, don’t say anything about whatever we see in the living room. She simply nodded and knew we were about to play the biggest game of our lives. We were going to pretend to be happy. I tentatively tried the door; he had unlocked it at some point. We went out into a destroyed house, and he was sitting at the table with coffee and breakfast ready. we sat down and pretended with everything we had because our lives depended on it. He suggested out of the blue that we go into town; I can’t tell you how much my heart jumped with joy, we would be in public. But then, my stomach dropped when he told me we would take both vehicles into town, he would take my daughter, and I’d follow in my car. He said he wanted me to leave my car at his mother’s so I wouldn’t get some “crazy” idea to sneak out and leave him in the middle of the night. I didn’t argue because it would risk our chance to get into a town. So, I did my due diligence and only slightly balked, but just enough for him to think he had won this battle. We finished getting ready. He put my daughter in his truck, and I followed. We met at his mother’s and then did some shopping and went and got something to eat at a drive-through. We played family, while I was on the lookout for the right moment; it had to be today. Except he insisted on carrying my daughter everywhere. Then he suggested that we rent a movie and we could go home and watch a movie while listening to the popcorn go “pop pop pop.” He said this while looking right at me with his hand extended, how little kids play around with pretend guns. In town, before it was sold, there used to be a Family Video on Main Street. this was our last chance, and I knew it. While we were in there, he was still carrying my daughter, but I whispered, “Be ready,” and she nodded. On the way out, he was still carrying her. He put her in the truck and buckled her in (small cab truck, no back seat). She was squirming at this point and kicked a can of soda he had in the cupholder over; he started yelling and went around to the driver's side. There was our moment, I said “NOW!” I was panicked and my hands started shaking. I was trying to unbuckle her, and my hands were betraying me. He saw me, we locked eyes, and he knew what I was about to do. Everything happened so fast. All at once, I was being pushed out of the truck, just as her buckle came undone, all the while trying to keep my grip on my daughter’s arm. He grabbed her and pulled her back, and I started screaming as loud as I could, screaming for help. He managed to push me out again as he was trying to put the truck in reverse. I only had one more chance of getting her out; I jumped in and pushed him back as I pulled her out, and we both went rolling on the pavement. By then people started coming out and witnessed everything and he couldn’t do a damn thing to us anymore. He took off as the police were being called, and we were rushed into the movie store. I called my daughter’s grandfather to come and get her now, and I would explain later. I learned while talking with the officer that they had already arrested him; whoever called gave them a description of his truck, and the police were looking almost immediately. I told the officer everything that happened, even dug out my driver’s license from one of my hidden pockets and let them know he made me leave my car at his mother’s and that he took the keys from me. The officer made one call, I remember this one: “Check that bastard for her car keys.” They got my keys from him on the side of the road while he was sitting in the back of a squad car, and another officer brought them to me. They drove me to his mother’s, waited for me to get in my car, and followed me to my daughter’s grandfather’s. A few days later, I had a small window and went and got our stashed items and whatever I could fit in the car, and I left everything else behind. While going through some drawers, I found a gun, a 9 MM to be precise, with the serial number filed off. I had no idea there was a gun in the house, and then I saw it: a box of ammo with a yellow post-it note stuck on it, with my initials. That was the bullet I dodged. © Jane Isley First published in Know They Self, Heal Thyself on Substack.