Sunday, June 22, 2025

Sunday Prayer: Living the New Life

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, raised to new life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to set our sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ reigns in glory at Your right hand. Teach us to focus our minds and hearts on eternal truths, not the fleeting distractions of this world.

Lord, remind us that our old selves have died, and our true life is now hidden with Christ in You. Fill us with the hope and assurance that when Christ returns in glory, we will share in His radiant splendor. Guide us to live each day rooted in this promise, reflecting Your love and grace to the world.

In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

This prayer is inspired by Colossians 3:1-4.


Thursday, June 19, 2025

The Hidden Barrier to Following Jesus

Have you ever tried teaching someone who’s already convinced they know it all? Maybe it’s a friend who claims to be a great cook but burns every meal, or a coworker who confidently skips the instructions—only to spend twice as long fixing their mistakes. It's frustrating because they’re not just resistant to help—they’re unteachable.

Now imagine Jesus trying to shape our hearts and lives while we nod along, thinking, “Yeah, I’ve got this discipleship thing down.”

What if the greatest obstacle to following Jesus isn’t our sin, our doubts, or even our struggles—but the quiet certainty that we already know what we're doing?


The Quiet Trap of Certainty

There’s a hidden danger in thinking we’ve mastered the life of faith. When we believe we already know what it means to follow Jesus, we stop listening, stop seeking, stop growing. We fall into the trap of familiarity, assuming the basics—love your neighbor, say your prayers, go to church—are the whole picture.

But discipleship isn’t a checklist; it’s a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus. Like any relationship, it requires intentionality, openness, and maturity. When we assume we’ve arrived, we shut ourselves off from what Jesus still wants to show us. The result? A faith that’s stuck, comfortable, and ultimately shallow.


When Knowledge Becomes a Blindfold

Think of the Pharisees. They were the religious elite, the experts of Scripture. They believed they understood God better than anyone—and that confidence blinded them. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath or welcomed tax collectors and prostitutes, they couldn’t see him for who he was. Their knowledge, rather than opening their eyes, became a blindfold.

Are we really that different?

When we say things like, “I know how to be a good Christian,” do we miss Jesus calling us to forgive someone who deeply hurt us? To serve in places that make us uncomfortable? To take risks in faith instead of clinging to control?

The more certain we are, the more likely we are to overlook the radical, disruptive, and deeply personal ways Jesus wants to transform us.


The Danger of a Static Faith

The real danger of this mindset isn’t just spiritual stagnation—it’s spiritual deafness.

Jesus is not a figure from the past. He is the Risen King, still speaking, still guiding, still calling. But if we’re stuck in “I’ve got this” mode, we reduce him to a concept instead of a present Lord. We stop listening, stop wrestling, stop being changed.

What if Jesus wants to teach us a new way to love our neighbors, a deeper way to trust him, or a fresh call to courage—and we’re too busy reciting old lessons to hear him?


Staying Teachable

Here’s the hope: Jesus doesn’t give up on us when we act like we know it all. He’s patient. He invites us again and again to drop our pride, open our ears, and follow him afresh.

That kind of openness begins with humility—acknowledging that no matter how long we’ve been walking with him, we haven’t arrived. There’s always more to learn, more to unlearn, and more of him to discover.

So here’s a simple practice: Ask Jesus, “What do you want to teach me today?” Then be still. Pay attention. Let him surprise you.


The Challenge

Next time you find yourself coasting—relying on what you already know about faith—pause. Ask: Am I really listening to Jesus, or just running the same old playbook?

Discipleship isn’t about having the perfect formula. It’s about staying teachable.

Because the moment we think we’ve got Jesus figured out… is probably the moment we’ve stopped following him at all.






Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Clarity: Do I Need to Choose Between Science and Faith?


This is the third installment of our Clarity blog series, where I am us craft a Christian worldview to tackle a few of life’s big questions. So far, we’ve established that spiritual warfare calls us to rely on God and stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-20), and that the Bible is a trustworthy foundation for truth (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12). Now, we face a tension many feel: Do I need to choose between science and faith? 

The short answer is no—they’re not rivals but complementary tools, like a hammer and a saw in a toolbox, each serving a unique purpose in understanding God and His world.

Picture this: I’ve got a hammer in my toolbox. If I’m building a house, the hammer is essential—but it’s not enough. I can’t measure boards, cut drywall, or level walls with it. I need a tape measure, a saw, a level—multiple tools working together. 

Similarly, when constructing a worldview, we often feel pressured to pick one tool: science (the study of the physical world) or faith (belief in a reality beyond what we see). Skeptics pound away with science—“There’s no proof God exists; the Bible is just a collection of old myths”—while some Christians counter, “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it,” pounding back with faith. But this either/or mindset misses the point. Science and faith, alongside tools like history or psychology, equip us to build a fuller picture of reality.

God’s Two Books: Creation and Scripture

Psalm 19 offers us a picture of these two tools. David writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands… Their voice goes out into all the earth” (v. 1-4). As a shepherd and fugitive king, David gazed at the stars and saw God’s fingerprints. Creation spoke to him, sparking worship. Then, in verse 7, he shifts: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” Scripture revealed God’s character and will. For David, nature and God’s Word weren’t at odds—they both pointed to the Creator.

It is important to remember that tools can be misused. By Jesus’ time, religious leaders so idolized the Law that they missed the Messiah standing before them. Today, we’ve flipped the script—science is king. We marvel at how rainbows form (refraction of light!) but forget to ask why they’re there in the first place, losing the wonder of it all. 

The issue we face isn’t the tools; it’s how we wield them. A naturalist leans solely on science, dismissing faith. But  as Christians, we are able to embrace both, gaining insights that elude those who reject the spiritual.

Four Realities to Remember

When someone insists science and faith can’t coexist, consider these truths (inspired by a 2020 What Would You Say? video):

  1. Modern Science Was Birthed by Faith
    Giants like Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, and Michael Faraday—devout Christians—laid science’s foundations. Their belief in an orderly, God-created universe drove them to explore it. Modern science assumes discoverable laws govern reality—a premise rooted in faith.
  2. Christians Thrive in Science Today
    From 1901 to 2000, 60% of Nobel Laureates were Christians. Francis Collins, who led the Human Genome Project, is a prominent example. These believers don’t see a clash—faith fuels their scientific curiosity.
  3. Science Answers ‘How,’ Faith Answers ‘Why’
    Imagine I’m at a campfire. You ask, “Why’s that wood burning?” Science says: “Pyrolysis of cellulose reacts with oxygen, producing heat and flame.” Faith says: “I was hungry and wanted supper.” Both are true—one explains mechanics, the other purpose. Science reveals how the world works; faith reveals why it exists.
  4. Science Can’t Explain Everything
    It decodes nature’s laws but stumbles on origins (where did matter come from?), life’s start, or intangibles like love and morality. Faith, through Scripture, fills those gaps with meaning.

Science and faith aren’t a forced choice—they’re partners, offering a richer view of reality.

God’s Fingerprints in the World

When science and faith align it is possible to see how the heavens truly “declare His glory,” as Psalm 19 claims. Paul echoes this same idea in Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” 

Since we’ve established the Bible’s trustworthiness, let’s look for God’s signature in creation. Here are two examples:

  1. The Fine-Tuning of the Universe
    Astronomer Hugh Ross, in
    Why I Am a Christian, lists 35 precise conditions—like the gravitational constant—that make our universe possible. If this gravitational constant was larger stars would be too hot and burn up quickly and unevenly. If it is smaller, stars would be so cool that nuclear fusion would not ignite, thus no heavy element production (p. 138). Add 122 life-specific factors (e.g., Earth’s axis tilt), and the odds of this “just happening” feel astronomical. It whispers design.
  2. The Origin of the Eye
    In
    A Humble Defense, Terry Chaney highlights the eye’s complexity. Evolution struggles here— optic nerves, retinas, eyelids—all must work together from the start. No part offers an advantage alone. It’s as if a Designer crafted it whole and set it in place.

Faith sees these as God’s handiwork, not random chance.

The Big Idea: Complementary Tools

Here’s the core: Science and religion are tools that help us better understand God and the world we live in. They don’t compete—they complement. As God’s people, we should use both to grasp reality fully—science unveiling the “how” of creation, faith revealing the “why” behind it.

Your Challenge

This week, read Psalm 19 daily. Ask God to show Himself through nature (a sunset, a storm) and Scripture. Let both stir your awe and deepen your trust. We live in God’s world—science explains its mechanics, Christianity reveals its Maker.

Tying It to Our Worldview

In Clarity, we’re building a lens to see life clearly. Spiritual warfare taught us reliance on God; the Bible’s reliability gave us a foundation; now, science and faith together expand our toolkit. We don’t ditch reason for blind belief or reject discovery for dogma—we embrace both, trusting they lead us to the same God.

Prayer Response

  • Thank God for creating a universe full of wonder.
  • Ask Him to strengthen your faith against skepticism.
  • Pray for people of faith to rise in science, showing the world His glory.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Be a Foreigner: Living Differently for King Jesus


In her devotional You’re the Voice: 40 More Days with God, Christian artist Rebecca St. James posed a timeless question:

“Do people know we’re Christians by our actions and lifestyles? Can they see a love, joy, purpose, and hope that only come from knowing Jesus? Is there a noticeable difference in us? Most importantly, what does God see when He peers into our hearts? I pray He finds the bold declaration: ‘God reigns here!’”

The word “different” can feel intimidating. It means standing out, being distinct, not blending into the crowd. Our human instinct often pushes us to fit in, to avoid the discomfort of being noticed for our faith. Standing out as a Christian in today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world can feel especially daunting.

Yet, the reality is sobering: for many of us, our lives don’t always reflect our faith. We scroll the same apps, binge the same shows, share the same memes, and chase the same trends as everyone else. Instead of boldly living for Jesus, we sometimes keep our faith private, tucked away for Sunday services or quiet moments of prayer. We might be willing to live passionately for God—but only if it doesn’t draw too much attention or invite criticism.

God calls us to something more. He calls us to be different in a way that’s impossible to hide. This difference isn’t just about attending church, joining a Bible study, or posting an occasional verse online. It’s a transformation that spills into every corner of our lives—how we speak, how we treat others, what we choose to value, and how we navigate a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction. Being different means living out God’s will, every day, in every decision.

We talk a lot about God’s will, but living it? That’s where the challenge lies. Too often, we’re tempted to ask, “How close can I get to the world’s ways without crossing the line?” Instead of pursuing holiness, we flirt with compromise, trying to balance faith with fitting in. But that’s not the life God envisions for us.

The apostle Peter reminds us:

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” (1 Peter 2:11-12, CSB)

Being different isn’t just about our own spiritual health—it’s about the people around us. When we live too close to the world’s edge, we risk being pulled into desires that lead us away from God. These desires are dangerous, subtle weapons Satan uses to derail us. But when we choose to live distinctly, we become a living testimony. Our choices, our kindness, our integrity point others to God. Even if they don’t believe today, Peter says our different lives plant seeds that can lead them to glorify God when Jesus returns.

In 2025, what does it look like to live as a “foreigner” for Christ? It might mean creating your social media feed to reflect hope and truth rather than division or cynicism. It could mean showing grace in a heated online debate or prioritizing real-world relationships over screen time. It’s choosing to love and serve others, even when it’s inconvenient, and standing firm in your convictions, even when it’s unpopular.

So, I challenge you: Live as a foreigner. Don’t just talk about God’s will—embrace it. Let your life be a bold, unmistakable reflection of Jesus. Ask yourself:

  • Does my daily life show I follow Christ?
  • Am I chasing God’s will or my own comfort?
  • Am I different in a way that draws others closer to Him?

Choose today to live differently. Let the world see that God reigns in your heart.

Pledge Your Allegiance to King Jesus: A Conversation on the American Church, Patriotism, and Politics

The following is an experiment I ran with ChatGPT. I asked it: “Could you  help me do an interview style blog post? You can ask me questions...