In step

[RiverOL]

How Governments Use Religion to Control—and Who Suffers Most​

Mykolaiv Kuleba discusses one of Russia’s gravest war crimes–the deportation of children. Image courtesy of Save Ukraine.

Governments Use Religion for Control And Media Fails​

Many governments use religion to strengthen their power.

The Russian government links Orthodox Christianity to national pride, reinforcing authority and discouraging dissent. Only government-approved religious groups in China are allowed, and those who worship outside these rules face harsh restrictions. Yet, major news outlets rarely focus on how faith is used this way.

We must ask ourselves. Are some stories ignored because they don’t fit our views? Have we become so set in our opinions that we overlook people suffering because of their beliefs?

Early in my career, a boss told me, “Speak with facts.” Simple truths are more important than ever. If news stories focus on the basic facts—who, what, when, where, and how- we can highlight the struggles of religious groups while also explaining the bigger picture.

The Plight of Ukrainian Children​

This Ukrainian girl sends a heart symbol sign through a train window as she flees Russian aggression on Feb. 27, 2022. Many children were able to flee Ukraine before being taken by Russian troops for “patriotic education.” More than 19,500 children were taken from their homes in Ukraine and sent to special re-education camps in Russia.
Take Ukraine, for example. I recently hosted a discussion on more than 19,500 children taken from their homes and moved to Russia after the 2022 invasion. These children have been placed with Russian families, adopted out, sent to special re-education camps, and even forced to fight against their own country.

Many come from evangelical church families targeted by the Russians.

The Russian government calls this process “patriotic education.” It is like what China calls “patriotic re-education.” In both cases, children are taught to forget their past, follow government-approved beliefs, and adopt a new national identity. Many Ukrainian children are placed in camps where they are taught a new version of history, made to learn a different language, and even trained for military service. Some have been forced into combat and told that their families no longer care about them. This is not just relocation but an effort to change who they are.

Protestant families in Ukraine face disproportionate persecution, as Russia’s Orthodox Church, aligned with the Kremlin, views them as Western agents—leading to imprisonment, torture, and even death.

A small but determined group, Save Ukraine, led by Mykola Kuleba, has helped bring home 600 of the 700 children rescued. Their work proves that even a small group can make a real impact. “We have the chance to be part of an underground effort to save these children.”

Among those attending the discussion were Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari, the Displaced International (DI) Founder & President, an organization aimed at building resources, advocacy, and support to help displaced people rebuild their lives. His comments made clear that countries worldwide must do more to bring these children home.

Ambassador Haidari praised Kuleba for his tireless work, calling the situation “not just a human tragedy, but a question of basic rights and safety.”

He reinforced that leaders of free nations that support religious tolerance and democracy cannot ignore this crisis.

Kuleba urged governments and organizations to push harder for legal action, diplomatic efforts, and humanitarian aid to return these children to their families. His message was clear: this is not just Ukraine’s problem. It is about standing up for children who have been taken from their homes and their families.

The Role of Media in Highlighting Persecution​

The media plays an important role. News coverage must highlight those affected by persecution, show people how to help and expose attempts to use religion for control. Differences in opinion are the norm, but facts must remain the focus.

No one should dismiss real suffering for the sake of political convenience. Acknowledge policy disagreements while emphasizing that suffering and abuse transcend political divides.

Good reporting can shape how people respond to crises like this. Journalists can educate the public by choosing accuracy, fairness, and compassion without creating more division. The goal is not just to grab attention—it is to tell the whole story and make a difference for those who need it most.

 

[RiverOL]

Battling Burnout: 5 Ways to Recover the joy of Creating​

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I know it’s been a while. I haven’t written in several months. The reason is simple. I was burned out. Have you been there?​

A Labor of Love​

I have a hard time understanding how it happened. I love doing what I do. I love writing, creating, you name it. Nearly everything I do professionally is more joy than job. Yes I know how blessed I am and how rare it is to live that way. I also really love writing this column. Digging into the creative side of ministry and sharing is life gifing for me. I really love it, so what’s the problem?

A Matter of Volume​

Very simply stated it was getting to be too much. I’m a full time pastor. That responsibility alone has me writing at least 4,000 words a week. I preach about fifty messages a year just from my home church pulpit, If you do the math, that’s 200,000 words a year. The average non fiction book is about 50,000 words. This means I am writing the equivalent of four books worth of material every year. Of course that count doesn’t include all the special services, study curricula, my itinerant ministry presentations and all my other writing projects, including a pretty decent volume of these 700 to 1000 word articles. I was loving what I was doing, but it felt like I was writing all the time and the idea factory felt like it was running a little dry.

Why All That Writing?​

Since COVID became a thing, rather than simply compiling an outline, I have been writing my sermons word for word, and publishing them as printed pieces for the faithful older members of my church who do not have access to the internet. I was blessed to find that not only were they reading the messages, but they were mailing them to friends and loved ones. Further one of my church member took to ministering at a local nursing home, adapting my written sermons and preaching them, plus giving copies of my sermon to people who may have been too ill to attend the regular service. I can’t give that up nor do I want to but something had to give. I decided to take a week off from writing this column, and it slipped to the back burner.

Are You Dealing With Burnout​

I’m not writing this column to whine. Rather I sense I am not alone. I think sooner or later all creatives will deal with burnout, even when we are doing what we love. So what can we do to battle burnout and get back to creating joyously? Here are five things I am going to do,

1. Minimize Distractions​

I’d be lying if I said I was writing every hour of every day. As my burnout started to rear its ugly head, it became really easy to drift. “I’m banging my head against a wall, let’s check my email, or hit up Facebook for a few minutes, after a while I am death scrolling reels. I can rationalize that this is a diversion to build my creativity, but that is rarely the case. Once you step into a distraction, it can be really hard to restart your creating. Find a way to set boundaries on your distractions.

2. Stay Positive​

There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:23 ESV) How many times have you been derailed by a social media post or a news story that turns into a flame war. I was reading a great book called Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon and he gave these words of wisdom, “Quit fighting and make something!” It’s this simple, there is precious little I can do about most of the issues we face in our world, and most of the time even our most brilliant arguments are not going to change and entrenched mind. So instead of marching off to keyboard warrior “duty” maybe we should get back to doing what we do best—utilizing our gifts to the glory of God.

3. Find a Diversion​

A diversion is different from a distraction. There are times for all of us when the well runs temporarily dry. In those moments, I have another project going. Sometimes I might jump to a different writing project. If my writing “muscles” are worn down, I’ll usually have an illustration project or a hobby project to work on. In this way, I am still creating, doing something else that I enjoy and working toward another goal. This leaves me feeling energized and gives me a sense of accomplishment. The end result of this is I don’t feel burned out, but rather joyful.

4. Rest​

Stopping to rest can feel counterproductive, but it isn’t. There comes a time when even the hardiest worker needs to stop. Even the Lord took a break and if the all powerful God took time to rest, how prideful do you have to be to think you can’t? Sometimes we try to power through and it looks like it. More than once I have tried to do this and woke up the next day wondering, “What on earth is that?” I end up having to redo what I tried to push, and all that I accomplished was losing sleep. I found out the hard way, it you don’t rest your body, sooner or later it will make you rest. Give yourself a break.

5. Ask Yourself “Whose Deadline Is This?”​

Part of the reason I burned out on this column was because I was pushing myself to come up with two columns a week. If this was all I was doing this would not be an issue, but this is a project I work in on the side, in between everything else. My deadline was unrealistic. I set it myself but I still pushed myself to hit it. It wasn’t Patheos’ deadline and it sure wasn’t God’s. So from now on, I plan to go for quality over quantity. In those projects where you set the deadline, give yourself a break.

Bottom Line.​

I have a hard deadline. Every week by Sunday Morning, I need to be ready to bring people a message from God’s Word. That is a huge responsibility and an amazing privilege. So that comes first (at least where my work life is concerned). I have people who book me to come into their venues to speak—another hard deadline. I have family responsibilities and some of those are hard deadlines too. So I’ve made a conscious decision. I will take on other projects, especially to help others out, but I’m not taking anything else with a hard deadline.

 

[RiverOL]

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Begin to Pull it All Together​

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. . . ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you—Luke 11:9

You can move, brother, into “an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you” (Ephesians 4:20-24 MSG). We can all be remade into new selves, true selves—but God won’t force change upon us. He wants us to ask and listen and learn and work with him. He wants us to do so continually, because he also won’t reveal those true selves all at once. Rather, he’ll teach. He’ll guide. And he’ll reveal identity iteratively, in a progression, in a process that builds on itself throughout our lives. How this actually happens will be different for each of us. We’re new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). But, we’re unique creations too (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

So, when God gives us something, just for us, when he allows us to discover something about ourselves, we’ve got to treat those things with extraordinary care. We mustn’t allow them to be lost or forgotten in the rush and charge of life. We must collect and revisit them—so we can always have the best, most complete picture possible of who we really are and whom we’re really meant to become.​

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Okay, so what do we do?

Get a notebook or create a document, one dedicated to this purpose. Record what God’s revealed already. Recall moments when you just knew he was speaking—maybe a trusted friend pointed out something true about you; or the story of a particular person in the Bible stood out from all the rest; or you sensed God showing you something about yourself, in prayer. Collect and compile these things. Add more as you get more. Protect and preserve them, so you can return to them . . . and return and return and return.​

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[RiverOL]

How Small Gestures Can Improve Your Marriage​

Eileen, 53, and Jason, 58, have been married fifteen years and came to counseling to improve their communication and to stop bickering. Like many couples who I counsel, I asked them both what was working in their marriage and what areas need to be “worked on.”

Eileen put it like this, “I know Jason works hard and is a good provider but he doesn’t pay enough attention to me. I think he takes me for granted and I feel lonely.”


Jason responded, “Eileen is right. We love each other and have a strong family with our two boys, but we don’t pay enough attention to each other.”

After gathering more information from Eileen and Jason, I gave them a homework assignment of each doing a small gesture every day to show love and appreciation for each other. I explained that these are not big things (like giving each other a gift). Instead, I recommended that they do small gestures, like making a cup of coffee, or offering to run an errand, or being an active listener.

In fact, many studies speak to the fact that the secret to long-lasting love are small gestures. It’s not grand gestures that matter. Research shows that it’s the way you show love and appreciation every day that can boost your feelings of satisfaction with your marriage.

5 Ways to Make Small Gestures Count in Your Marriage:

• Listen and help reduce stress. Problems at work, financial pressures, or family drama can all push a couple apart. Couples who can respond to each other’s stress in a way that is soothing rather than exacerbating tend to be able to weather the tenser times. Listen to your partner and express empathy without offering judgments or solutions.
• Be your partner’s best friend. If your partner needs help with a project or chore, let them know you are in their corner. This can include helping your partner run errands, complete tasks, do laundry, or prepare a meal.
• Show Your Love Through Actions. The Penn State University research team found that actions matter the most when it comes to expressing love. “We found that behavioral actions—rather than purely verbal expressions—triggered more consensus as indicators of love.” For instance, making the bed in the morning may be more important than giving your partner a compliment. Remember that actions often speak louder than words.
• Increase physical affection. According to author Dr. Kory Floyd, physical contact releases oxytocin (the bonding hormone), can improve our mood (for days) and can help you stay calm. Holding hands, hugging, touching, and making out can reduce your stress hormones (cortisol) and increase your sense of relationship satisfaction.
• Plan on honoring a daily ritual to do with your partner: Spend at least 20 minutes daily doing things together, like going for a walk, planning a vacation, or talking about your vision for the future.

Most of all, never take your partner for granted. Doing fun things together like going for walks, telling jokes, watching funny movies, or anything else that brings you both pleasure, can ignite passion and keep you close. In order to keep you marriage fresh and positive, do at least one small gesture daily to help improve your partner’s day!

 

[RiverOL]

[td] Better Get Used to Mystery​ ​ ​

[td] . . . my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts—Isaiah 55:9​ ​ ​

[td] We men go through lengthy stretches of our lives with an "I’ve got this" posture. We convince ourselves we know what’s best in any particular situation or what’s right against any particular problem. We convince ourselves that we "get it." We maintain this belief . . . until we can’t anymore . . . until we find we don’t actually know all that we think we know. We maintain it until we finally face the reality that God is God and we are not. "I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish" (Isaiah 44:24-25). Never can we have God’s knowledge or wisdom. Because of who he is, because of who we are, there’ll always be a tremendous amount of mystery in the relationship. We must be willing to accept and embrace it—and not let it become an impediment. We may "need" to know why something is the way it is or why something happened the way it did, but most times we simply cannot—and still we must believe, and still we must obey. To be in right relation to God we must instead adopt a posture of "I don’t know . . . and I’ll do what he asks nonetheless."​ ​ ​

[td] Okay, so what do we do? Fill in the following blanks, brother, according to your story: I don’t know why ____________ happened, but I’ll trust God nonetheless. I don’t know why I had to experience ____________, but I’ll love him nonetheless. I don’t know why I am experiencing ____________ right now, but I’ll follow him nonetheless. I don’t know why he is pushing me out of what’s comfortable by ____________, but I’ll go nonetheless.​ ​ ​

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[RiverOL]

More Than Willpower: Transformation Is Beyond Ourselves​

Many of us are seeking transformation in ourselves or various aspects of our lives. The self-help and therapeutic book industry has grown into a multi-million, even billion-dollar market. Thousands of articles, coaches, and guides promise to help us become the version of ourselves we’ve envisioned. While we can learn to adapt, true transformation always comes from something beyond ourselves.

This blog explores the call to pursue leading a quiet life, as outlined in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. In our pursuit of a quieter, more intentional life, it’s important to remember what truly gives our lives meaning and drives our transformation. While the world often encourages constant striving towards a better you, the quiet life invites us to focus on the way of the Kingdom. True transformation, as we’ll explore, is not merely about self-improvement but about aligning our lives with something greater than ourselves, which brings lasting change and purpose.

You Can Turn Your Fear Into The Fire That Can Change Your Life
In an article in the Harvard Business Review, Matt Higgins writes, “You can turn your fear into the fire that can change your life.” The article focuses on how our fears, rather than being a force that holds us back from the abundance of life, can be skillfully retooled to propel us bravely forward. From a human-centered philosophical perspective, Higgins outlines four ways—drawn from his research and life experiences—that he believes can transform fear from a source of powerlessness into a catalyst for growth in our lives, pushing us to the next level or toward new opportunities.

Higgins’ encouraging words have their merit and impact. Certainly, it was fodder for some conversations within areas of my life that I think the unknown keeps me from stepping out. However, from his thoughtful article, there was that one line that resonated with me—“You can turn your fear into the fire that can change your life.” From a motivational and self-help standpoint, it’s a statement of empowerment and liberation, it is a hopeful expression that tells me I can manifest my own better way forward and destiny.

Statements like this are rooted in the belief that we have within us what it takes to break free from hindrances and become the people we aspire to be. It is a part of the rise of therapeutic psychology which is focused almost religiously on the cure of minds through thoughts and patterns of thinking. Therapeutic psychology has its place in our patterned behavior and its resolve offers aspects of our lives some hope – but it is limited and it addresses some of our problems from a liminal space.

We May Adapt but Transformation is Different​

Even with the best tools and tactics, few people can truly redefine themselves through sheer willpower alone. Neuroplasticity is possible at some levels, which overly simplified could be seen as a cure of the mind through the development of new thoughts and patterns of thinking. The Roman philosopher Cicero (106–43 B.C.), who himself could be described as an early humanist, once remarked that a soul in distress cannot heal itself by its own means but requires the instruction and guidance of a doctor – the philosophy of those who are wiser and healthier.

That is a significant admission for Cicero, who believed like with much of modern therapy that the Stoics were right in saying that healing is found in truly learning “to know ourselves” (De Legibus). However, Cicero also seemingly saw the limitations of this approach. In Tusculan Disputations, Cicero believes that just “as a diseased body needs the aid of medicine” the “distressed soul require philosophy” from the guidance and wisdom of others. Adaptation is what one may achieve on their own power, and there is time and place for that, but I believe transformation can only be done by a “shaping force” from outside ourselves. We have to admit that as embodied souls and inspirited bodies, the greatest transformation and healing for our soul (the whole person who is defined by the inner life) comes from outside ourselves not from a power or force mustered from within.

The Scriptures Outline The Source of Transformation​

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promises a people who could no longer go it alone that it was he alone who would gather them from the nations, bring them into the redeemed land, and give them a transformed purity, along with a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:24-26, NET). Time and time again throughout the First (Old) Testament, humanity is capable of finding themselves in trouble but unable to bring their own reconciliation or restoration about. This is part of the gospel story that is interwoven throughout the scriptures. Reconciliation and restoration is the divine business that God is in alone, according to David’s own confession. David was a man who spent his days trying to pursue God’s heart (Acts 13:22). David writes that it is God who “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3, NET).

Paul tells the church in Rome, a church discipled by a pagan and materialistic culture that they would find transformation in their lives by not being “conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2, NET). This verse has been used in the justification of therapeutic adaptation forms, and there is some impetus for that. However, theologically we cannot forget the verse before it that tells us where the power of transformation is rooted in and comes from.

It comes through confession and submission. It is in the beginning of that scripture, that Paul tells them that we are transformed in the renewing of our world when we “present [our] bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1, NET). The verse after that warns us that what keeps us trapped in patterns is when we “think more highly of yourself than you ought to think” (Romans 12:3, NET). It is important that new habits, patterns, and practices are incorporated into soul care, used to adapt unwanted behaviors and to help us live good lives, but they won’t lead to transformation, the transformation has to come from elsewhere – from an eternal and external source.

Fear Can Change Your Life​

I do agree with Matt Higgins though, “You can turn your fear into the fire that can change your life.” I just think the fear that becomes a fire in our lives is rooted in a different place than sheer willpower and desire for change. I think we can adapt to our fears, we can medicate them, and we can reason with them, but we on our own power cannot transform them. I believe that the scriptures also testify to the transformative reality of fear – in more ways than one.

First, the scriptures show that you can turn your fear into a fire that immobilizes and imprisons us. A quick look at the story of the Israelites refusing to take hold of the land of promise in Numbers 13:31-33 is a great example of this. In Proverbs, we are reminded that “the fear of people becomes a snare” but it doesn’t stop there, it says, “but the one who trusts in the Lord will be protected’ (Proverbs 29:25, NET). Likewise, one of the Greek words for fear in the New Testament is phobos (φόβος). It is found in Matthew 14:26, Matthew 28:8, Mark 4:41, Luke 1:12 – and many other places.

This sort of fear is often used to describe a fear that becomes crippling. It is terror. Phobos is that fight, flight, and freeze alarm that will keep us immobilized and imprisoned. The Greco-Roman world was ruled by a “phobos” of their gods, natural phenomena, and military threats and that kept them trapped in a way of life – immobilized and imprisoned. The disciples are affected by this fear from time to time, but in those stories, at the end of their ropes and power, but take note in those stories that it is only Jesus who can offer them a way out. As the Proverb I mentioned earlier says, “the fear of people becomes a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be protected’ (Proverbs 29:25, NET). The deliverance (transformation) comes from the Lord, an external and eternal source.

Second, the scriptures convey a promise that fear can benefit us. In this way, fear can be turned into a fire that changes our lives. Proverbs, written by Solomon (David’s son), followed a mid-eastern tradition of gathering pithy and wise statements. However, Solomon’s Proverbs help us to see what wise living by God’s transformative power looks like in all matters of our personal conduct and daily lives.

The book of Proverbs starts by declaring the intent behind his collection of statements, which include helping his readers (and perhaps his own family): “to learn wisdom and moral instruction, to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, with righteousness, justice, and equity” (Proverbs 1:1-3, NET). From the start, Solomon declares these pithy statements are external philosophy meant to shape the journey of one’s transformation because on our own we cannot do it by ourselves – we need the transformative power of God outlined in these Proverbs and the Proverbs themselves (the wisdom of others) to bring about transformation. Solomon then roots the reader in a confession that says true wisdom and transformative living come from outside of ourselves by saying, “Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction” (Proverbs 1:7, NET).

In this Proverb, transformation is a result of wisdom, which is a gift from God alone. In his commentary on the Proverbs, Scholar Derek Kidner mentions that wisdom (transformation) does not come merely from “a right method of thought but a right relation.” That relationship is defined by “worshipping submission (fear) to the God of the covenant, who has revealed himself by name.” Kenneth Kitchen remarks, that this Proverb reveals that real wisdom, true wisdom, the kind of wisdom that transforms starts “must start with God” alone – but he also calls it an “essential foundation” that we can neglect or reject.

Too often these good therapeutic practices have only answered or addressed part of the problem, they have neglected or rejected, that the essential foundation of transformed behavior is found in the essential foundation of a right relation, a worshipful submission to the God who has revealed himself by character and name. The wisdom needed to change our lives “comes from God, and whoever fears [God] receives it” and you receive it only through the “reverential subordination to the All-directing…to the One God, the Creator and Governor of the world.”

In the way standing on the sand and getting lost starting at the ocean has a way of putting life into perspective, the essential foundation of the worshipful awe and fear of the Lord puts the rest of our life into perspective, from our fear to our bad habits. In submission and surrender, our brokenness meets a transformative agent when we see the fear of the Lord as the starting point for understanding life rightly and gaining new ways of being – renewed senses of our mind and behavior. Transformation is always rooted in something outside of us, in something eternal and divine, that alone has the power to change (not adapt) our souls – spirit and body.

When we are facing something in our lives, the first step in wisdom is recognizing that our capacity to see the world clearly, make good decisions, and grow in understanding comes from submitting to a worshipful reverence of God and waiting for God’s guidance. Without this foundation, we are left to navigate life on our own, often making misguided choices. We may be able to adapt, but those who adopt a therapeutically driven “go it alone” or “do it yourself” approach far too often don’t incorporate our soul care at the center. The scriptures tell us that it starts and ends here. The idea that all we need to succeed lies within us and that we don’t need outside guidance or wisdom – a mindset popular in today’s self-help culture – can ultimately leave us stuck in our limitations, unable to fully transform and grow.

Three Takeaways​

This truth is embedded throughout the scriptures – from the First to the New Testament. I offer three takeaways on finding transformation in our lives following an up/in/out rhythm:

1. Up: Submit to the Worshipful Reverence of God. The starting point for transformation is always found first and foremost in practicing a sole focus on reverence toward God. True wisdom and transformation begin with recognizing our need for God’s guidance and submission to the will of God. This submission opens us to receive God’s wisdom and grace. Jesus taught us the same thing when he taught his disciples to “above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness,” and then the rest of the things will be given (Matthew 6:33, NET). In the moments that we are aware that we need transformation, we must start each day with a posture of worship and humility before God, acknowledging our struggles before God. It is important to see that God’s wisdom is the essential foundation for any transformation in your life.
2. In: Invite Others to Speak Into Your Life and Pray for You. The kind of transformation that God brings about is not a solitary endeavor. Rather, we have been designed and called to walk in community. Community is where others can offer wise counsel, pray for us, and hold us accountable as we navigate challenges and fears. This is another way of submitting in worshipful reverence of God, and is what is behind James’ challenge to “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16, NET).
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4. Transformation or healing comes from not adaptation, but from God, and God often works through trusted friends or mentors who can pray with you, offer biblical wisdom, and help you face fears that may be immobilizing you. I believe that counselors, psychiatrists, and spiritual directors can also offer this kind of support when they have the essential “upward” part right in their approach.
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6. Out: Allow the Holy Spirit to Transform You Externally. Therapeutic approaches often look to empower you to be the best you, the “you” that you want to design and be. As we learn to walk with the Spirit of God, we find our transformation may take a completely different direction. The direction probably will not be the “you” that you’re designing for yourself but a more fulfilling direction – a step in the direction of what God wants you to look like.
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8. Paul states that if we “live by the Spirit” we also need to “behave in accordance with the Spirit” – which will bring about not adaptive living but rather the fruit of the Spirit and a life that God sets forth (Galatians 5:22-26, NET). The Holy Spirit empowers us to act in ways that align with God’s will – which will bring about a transformed self in the places we live, work, worship, and play. When fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, when others are walking alongside us, when we are in step with the Holy Spirit, you will find a new you interacting with the world around you.

Closing Remarks​

Do not think that I don’t recognize the value of therapeutic psychology and the importance of therapy in supporting mental and emotional well-being. I have utilized forms of the above, referred people, and continue to explore resources that come from the therapeutic world. The concern for followers of Jesus lies in how easily faith can be overshadowed by a culture that prioritizes self-optimization over spiritual formation.

Being formed in the image of Christ is at the core of our faith. Though, I do not dismiss therapy or distrust its practitioners – I believe that true healing and wholeness come from a deeper integration of faith, prayer, and community alongside professional care. My hope is not to reject modern psychology but to ensure that our pursuit of personal growth does not replace the transformative work of Christ in our lives.

The scriptures remind us how we are created, and what brings transformation about in our lives. As Proverbs 1:7 reads in The Message, “Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” Fear can change our lives. But the question is not simply whether we can turn our fear into fire, but rather it is about what kind of fire it becomes. Will it be a self-lit fire that leaves us exhausted, striving on our own strength? Or, will the fear and fire that directs your life be the refining fire of God’s transformative presence, shaping us into the people we were created to be?

 

[RiverOL]

The Insanity of Pride, the Blessing of Humility​

I think one of the most powerful and chilling portrayals of the insanity of rejecting God—which we do whenever in words or actions we proudly affirm our greatness and achievements—is Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4.

It doesn’t get the attention of the fiery furnace in chapter 3, the lions’ den in chapter 6, or even the handwriting on the wall in chapter 5. But Daniel 4 is a stunning and insightful look into the fact that it is not merely wrong, but incredibly STUPID and self-destructive to choose the path of arrogance in the face of almighty God. It is a good passage for those who use the very breath and speech that are a gift of God to curse Him, and a good passage for the rest of us as well.

Here are some highlights from Daniel 4:

“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid…. ‘tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ (v. 4-5, 9)

“Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, [said]…. ‘you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.’ (v. 19, 25-27)

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, ‘Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?’ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.’ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. (v. 28-33)

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ (v. 34-35)

“At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (v. 36-37)

The above is the English Standard Vision (ESV). I like the New International Version’s translation of verse 26: “your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.” And verses 34-35, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases.”

Notice the exact moment when Nebuchadnezzar ceases to be insane: when “I raised my eyes toward heaven, my sanity was restored.”

How do we stop the madness of pride and the insanity of sin? We stop it by raising our eyes toward Heaven and by realizing that we are nothing and He is everything, and that the universe is not about what pleases us, but what pleases God. (This is an argument for starting each day in Scripture to recalibrate and make sure our compass is pointing true north, to the person of God.)

Daniel 4 is a story full of theology and wisdom: not only for those who deny the Holy Spirit, but for we who name Christ, yet often ignore God and imagine that we can accomplish anything without His provision of grace and empowerment. As Christ put it, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”


First Peter 5 says, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time” (v. 5-6).

So what’s right is smart, and what’s wrong is stupid. Always. Humility preserves us; pride destroys us. Acting in arrogance is like wearing a sign that says, “Kick me.” Being proud is a prayer to God: “Strike me down.” It’s a prayer He’s certain to answer.

Every day, every hour, we choose either to humble ourselves, in which case God promises to give us grace, or to be proud, in which case God promises to oppose us.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Let’s see, door number one, or door number two. Which do I want, God’s opposition or God’s grace? It’s my choice, and the way I cast my vote is with pride or with humility. By the way we live, you’d think it was a tough call, wouldn’t you? In fact, it’s only a tough call for the insane, those who are out of touch with reality.

Which would I rather put myself under…God’s curse or God’s blessing?

 

[RiverOL]

Starving Children in Sudan: Complicity in a Moral Tragedy​

Is there a moral difference between gassing children and withholding food designated for starving children waiting in warehouses to feed them? How can Christians support a government that withholds food already earmarked and warehoused for starving children, not only in Sudan but other places? | Image courtesy of DFID – UK Department for International Development, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Is There A Moral Difference?​

By all accounts, thousands upon thousands of children are starving in Sudan. Many of them were being kept alive by USAID which has now been terminated. By accounts of now-fired USAID employees, warehouses in the US and other countries are filled with food waiting to go to Sudan. It is not getting to then and probably will not because Trump canceled the only means of the food getting to the hungry—USAID.

Hitler and Himmler killed untold thousands of children in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Everyone condemns them for it, as we all should.

But I ask if there is a MORAL difference (I’m not talking about extensive difference) between gassing children and withholding food designated for starving children waiting in warehouses to feed them.

When Good People Do Nothing to Oppose Evil​

Again I ask how Christians, especially, but also others, can support a government that withholds food already earmarked and warehoused for starving children, not only in Sudan but other places? What is it but complacency? When good people do nothing to oppose evil they are as guilty as those who do evil. I will rephrase that. When good people support powerful people who do evil, they are as guilty as the people who do evil.


Again I say, whatever its faults and flaws, USAID could have been reformed; it did not have to be canceled. I saw the sign “United States Agency for International Development” being taken down by workmen. I thought to myself “They might as well be putting up a swastika.” Am I overstating it? Perhaps. But it gets your attention. If you are not ready to withdraw your support of this administration now, you are being complicit in the horror of starving children in Sudan and elsewhere.

Food is Sitting in Warehouses​

You say, “Well, that’s sad, but it doesn’t outweigh the good Trump is doing.” Really? What would—if not starving children? Trump knows they are starving—because of his decision to shut down USAID. What is he doing to help them? The food is sitting there in warehouses going nowhere because USAID employees are not there to make it go.

Final Thoughts​

And, what about Trump’s and Vance’s berating and browbeating of a head of government visiting the White House as a guest? It reminded me of a schoolyard bully who threatens a weaker kid because he’s not grateful enough for the bully helping him. Besides, have we ever helped Ukraine out of pure altruism? Or was it to limit the aggressive power of Russia? If Ukraine falls, what next? Countries along Russia’s borders are seriously worried. Do we ever act unless America’s interests, however indirectly, are at stake? (Do not respond to this last paragraph. The main idea of this blog post is above it. Only respond to that if at all.)

 

[RiverOL]

Petitioning the Lord for Gentleness and Courage​

I petition You today Lord for gentleness and courage. Oh Lord my God, you are the Lord of Hosts. You are the Commander-in-Chief of Heaven’s armies.


Thank You that You have fought my battles for me and that You have always triumphed. You have fought the battles I have been very mindful of. You have fought the battles I have been unaware of. Thank You that even during the times when I fail in my flesh or become weary in my fallen condition, You have still triumphed by granting me forgiveness, mercy, grace, and peace. Even in my weakness You are made strong.

I ask You today to grant me gentleness, a calm awareness of Your goodness, a disposition or motive for my behavior. How can I not envy those with gentleness as I covet earnestly the best Gifts of the Spirit?

I see them serve in Your sanctuary in quietness and peace, undisturbed by the grind of daily life. They act and speak out of the silent gentleness.​

Count me worthy to live and flow in Your gentleness so that I may not be driven. My drives are never the safest motivation for my activities. On the other hand, a disposition of gentleness is a safe motivation. It is an attractive undercurrent, a quiet movement of the soul. May I win some battles with a quiet answer that turns away wrath.


Grant me courage as You did for Your servant Joshua. I come into Your house and I see people with extraordinary courage. Yes, I know them. I know the huge obstacles they are facing, the mountains they are scaling.

Courage gets them out of bed every morning and helps them face the day with a smile, despite the long road ahead.​

Courage drives them to enter Your sanctuary and worship with utter abandonment. Make me courageous!

I petition You Lord of Hosts for You do not fight our battles the way we do. I ask all this of You Father, through the intercession of Your Son Jesus, under the influence of Your Holy Spirit. Amen

 

[RiverOL]

The Rising Tide of Religious Persecution and Global Silence​

ISIS terrorists have killed more than 200 people in villages in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. | Photo courtesy of Open Doors.

When Persecution Becomes Politically “Inconvenient”​

Evil exists in the world. We know this, yet it’s hard to understand when we see it up close fully. The cruelty feels too extreme, too inhuman to make sense of.

Fear Permeates All Aspects of Jewish Life​

Manchester, United Kingdom. Security Minister Tom Tugendhat joins thousands in a march against antisemitism in Manchester, Jan, 21 2024. UK Home Office, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Bibas boys were kidnapped by Hamas and murdered by Gazan citizens. Hamas placed their bodies on display before being handed over to the Red Cross—a level of brutality that defies words. Yet, half the world stayed silent.

It is not surprising that fear permeates all aspects of Jewish life. Anti-semitism in the US and Europe is at record highs. Israeli football fans were attacked by groups of young men in the Netherlands and evacuated in November. College students are harassed on campuses and in the classroom. Parents worry for their children’s safety at home and abroad.

Attacks Against People of Faith Thrive​

However, attacks on people of faith are not limited to one religion—they are growing across many religious communities.

On February 13, 2025, militants rounded up 70 Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and killed them.|
Open Doors’ World Watch List reports that in 2024, approximately 310 million Christians experienced very high or extreme levels of persecution. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, Christians make up a significant portion of the displaced population, accounting for an estimated 16.2 million out of 34.5 million displaced individuals.
In the Congo, ISIS terrorists stormed a small village church, beheading 70 Christians with machetes. A Sharia-based legal system has targeted Sudan’s Christians since 2011, burning churches, jailing pastors, and crushing religious freedom.

Persecution: A Footnote in Great Power Struggles​

The question is not whether this violence exists—it does. The question is, why do we ignore it? Has this kind of persecution increased, or do we see more of it now with 24/7 news and social media? Either way, it’s harder to dismiss. And yet, civilized people do.

Religious persecution, once a defining concern of human rights advocacy, is now a footnote in great power struggles. It is ignored when politically inconvenient and waved away when it complicates diplomatic goals. China’s economic power shields it from serious consequences for its treatment of Uyghur Muslims and Christians. India’s strategic importance allows religious violence against Christians and Muslims to go largely unchallenged. Russia’s destruction of 400 Ukrainian Baptist churches and imprisonment of Christian leaders is met with silence when broader security interests take precedence. The same pattern exists in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.

We Can’t Afford to Look Away​

When terror and persecution are allowed to grow, they don’t stay contained. They spread. We cannot afford to look away if we believe in human rights, freedom, and basic human dignity.

• Push the media to cover these atrocities. Public awareness shapes political action, and silence enables further violence.
• Write letters to the editor, participate in podcasts, and engage on social media. Demand news organizations cover the victims and hold them accountable for reporting the truth.
• Teach the next generation to see the truth, stand against wrong, and protect the values that keep us free.
• Hold our elected leaders accountable for these values because, without strong leadership, our freedoms and morals will continue to decline.

Recognizing crimes against humanity based on one’s religion should never be a matter of political convenience. It cannot be a bargaining chip, a negotiating stance, or a “yes, but” excuse. We invite our destruction when we ignore evil, mistaking wealth and power for righteousness.

A world that ignores evil will not stay free for long. If we do nothing, we don’t just lose our history—we lose who we are.

 

[RiverOL]

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Living in the Tension​

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Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth—Colossians 3:2

You can’t be successful in life without compromising. That’s a lie. You can’t get ahead without adopting the values of the places where you live and where you work. That’s not true. Now, there’s tension, of course. Our cities, our workplaces are part of the world, and the ruler of this world is the enemy (John 12:31, John 14:30, 1 John 5:19). That’s why arrogance, greed, and materialism often characterize these places and bring admiration and status, recognition and promotion. There’s tension because, while the enemy may rule the world—for now—he doesn’t rule us (Colossians 1:13). The one who rules us stands for humility, generosity, and love.

The lie is that we should try to ease this tension—that we should, by compromising, try to make things easier on ourselves. It’s from the enemy. It’s one he uses often:

“Go ahead. It's just the way things work in the real world.”

“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to compete . . . to survive.” ​

“Relax. Everybody does it.”​

But we’re “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). To be that is to live in the tension. You see, we’re sent “into the world,” but we mustn’t be “of the world” (John 17:14-19). When we’re willing to live in the tension, and only then, can this broken world feel the full weight of who we really are—who God intends us to be, with him.​

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Okay, so what do we do?

This week, when you walk into any situation—into work in the morning; into conversations with colleagues; into the schools your kids attend; into a restaurant with friends—declare ahead of time, in prayer, that you’re bringing the Kingdom of Jesus with you. Then act like it.​

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[RiverOL]

How Can Enjoying Happiness in God’s Creation Draw Us to God?​

Two seriously ill men occupied the same hospital room. The man next to the window was able to sit up, while the other couldn’t.

Each day the man by the window described in picturesque detail what he saw—including a lake, ducks, and children sailing model boats. This meant the world to his roommate, who had no outside view. Witnessing these sights secondhand brought him daily happiness.

Eventually the man by the window died. His saddened roommate requested a move to the bed by the window. He couldn’t wait to enjoy all the sights his roommate had described. But as he eagerly looked outside for the first time all he saw was an old brick wall.

Perspective makes all the difference. His roommate had been able to see, in his mind’s eye, life beyond the wall. Some prisoners, surrounded by bare walls, see in their imaginations the world’s true beauty. But many “free people” are surrounded by rich beauty yet day after day, year after year, fail to see it. Who is happier?


J. R. R. Tolkien wrote in The Fellowship of the Ring: “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

The better I know Jesus, the more I see Him all around me—in people, animals, places, and objects. But if I hadn’t studied His Word and reflected on His character over the years, I wouldn’t have known what to look for. A student of insects or birds can see dozens of fascinating specimens on a short walk. Another person on the same walk, not having learned to observe, can miss them altogether.

Scripture paints a picture of how we should think about God in our daily lives: we should be talking about (and to) God throughout the day, teaching ourselves and our children to see Him in everything (see Deuteronomy 6:1-7).

Two of my grandsons love football and in their younger years, would speak tirelessly of professional players. So Nanci and I entered into their world. We would name those we consider the best players and say, “Isn’t it amazing that God has given each person special gifts to use for his glory, and the rest of us get to enjoy it?” In this way, we could see God’s master craftsmanship in the beauty of life. When we would see an athlete who honors Christ, we encouraged our grandsons with his or her example. When we observed ugliness in an athlete who glorifies himself, we knew it was the Curse at work, and it’s another teaching opportunity.


Consider the brightest “stars” in the sky—which are actually the planets Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn. Unlike the true stars we see, which are far away and therefore dimmer, these planets don’t shine with their own light; they are bright only because they reflect the sun.

Likewise, the moon is a beautiful sight, but it doesn’t generate light on its own. It merely reflects it. Merely makes the reflection sound trivial, but this is actually a magnificent phenomenon. The moon was made to glorify the sun, and when it does, it shares in the sun’s glory. (If the moon were able to talk, wouldn’t we think it foolish if we heard it congratulate itself for how brightly it shines?)

So it is with all secondary sources of happiness. Things such as art, music, literature, sports, careers, and hobbies generate no light on their own. The light they bring comes from “the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

I don’t value the planets and moon less because they don’t shine by their own light. Likewise, I don’t devalue my wife, my children, my grandchildren, my coworkers, or my dog because they’re secondary to God and reflect Him. On the contrary, I value them all the more because the God who is primary has made them who and what they are, and He has endowed them with worth that makes them far more important than if they were merely random accidents with a flickering light of their own.


Happiness can be sought in thousands of places, but it can be found in only one. That source is God, who incredibly is “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27). He is big enough to create the galaxies, yet He dwells in each of us who know Him.

 

[RiverOL]

A New Dawn: Finding Hope in Life’s Fresh Beginnings​

In-Breaking of the Sunrise
I’m on the cusp of a new beginning, a new sunrise. The past seems farther and farther away with each passing day. I eagerly look forward to what lies ahead. Just today God opened my mind to a possibility I’ve hoped for since I was young but I never thought would happen.

I’m sorry if this reads more like a journal entry than an academic work. Such are the injunctions often relegated to spiritual formation.What’s worse is that I’m not even a morning person. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw the sunrise.

Yet the hope of each new sunrise speaks to me anyway. When I say the past seems farther and farther away, it is like a phenomenon my family witnessed as we used to travel. We were always busy and we worked hard. Sometimes we had big problems to tackle. But as we would drive away on a road trip, with each passing mile, the cares of everyday life seemed to ever fade.

As for the hope, it was quite material, but it is something I’ve wanted since I was young. The window of opportunity passed, but the residue of hope remains. A Pastor spoke a Word over me at the altar in church this summer. He said that God was going to bring back the dreams I had when I was young. The recent visible material possession was simply a reminder that God remembers my dreams.


The sunrise is dawning with hope.

the long-awaited sunrise​

Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be my sunrise after the long, dark night.

“Every sunrise gives you a new beginning and a new ending.” – Anonymous

Moreso than hope, there are times when I catch a glimpse of what lies ahead. It’s my sunrise.

I’m surrounded by family. I have a great church. I have a supportive workplace. Sometimes I thank God when I look at people, because I know they are here for me in the long dark night, but they will also be here for me at the dawn.

The long night is nearly over…

the in-breaking dawn​

But unto you, that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings
Malachi 4.2, KJV

There is the ultimate new day that will dawn. It will be a day when all things will be made right. The justice of God will reign on the Earth. We will reign on the Earth with God as co-regents. That is the day we all look forward to.

That will be the dawning of the Eschaton… capital E-

But just like I have experienced glimpses of my dawn to come, we experience glimpses of the dawning of the great Eschaton. These glimpses are something I like to refer to as eschatons… lowercase e-

They are in breakings right now of the age to come. Revival is an in-breaking. Healing is an in-breaking. A right relationship is in-breaking because Christian relationships are everlasting. There are many more if we open our eyes; in-breakings; eschatons lowercase e-

 

[RiverOL]

Busting Bad Journalism That Seeks to Mislead Us​

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11



How do I figure out if this is true or not? How many times have I asked myself that very question today? This week? This month? This year? Kelly sighed and pushed herself away from the computer screen before walking away in sad resignation. As she opted for something more pleasant than rifling through dozens of online articles all stating with 100% assurance that their news reporting alone held the correct data, Kelly couldn’t get her mind off of her problem. She was assigned a research paper to write but for the life of her, couldn’t decipher truth from flagrant (or otherwise) untruths. So what’s a person to do?

Digesting News With Discernment​

As Kelly turned her thoughts to another college assignment, she remembered a conversation she had with one professor from the semester last fall. His words? Whenever you’re trying to figure out if a company (or person) is bent on selling you something (or swaying you in their direction) take a look at the site itself. Sometimes, often, most times, it’s more obvious than you think. Whenever an internet address ends in (.com) beware….somebody affiliated with the site is trying to make money off of you.

Becoming A Wise Consumer Of Daily News​

Okay, Kelly thought, at least I can avoid the (.com) sites. What else did my professor tell us? Another good way to find reliable info is to do a search using the same phrase and check out at least six different accounts of the same event. Click and compare. Kelly smiled as she recalled her professor’s final bit of advice. “Use your brain people. Think for yourselves and stop believing everything you read! Oh…and pray for a discerning mind while you’re at it. Your grade and our future society depends upon it.” That, I can do, Kelly thought.



* * *



If you’re anything like Kelly, you too, have been wondering how to discern between the overwhelming news events, historical happenings, medical findings, and most recent discoveries’ factual truth. Me too. I’ve often pondered the sometimes crazy accounts I come across as I listen to the nightly news, read a story in a magazine, or come across a trending internet tweet. Like most folks I know, I only believe about 20% of what I read and hear. But the problem remains, what 20% is true?

There’s Always An Upside​

Sometimes as a writer and book reviewer, I get an assignment that helps me in ways I didn’t expect. This is exactly how I felt when I read a book that equipped me to “listen, read, and hear” the news with far greater discernment than ever before. Because the premise of this text is learning to accurately “read” the state of our nation and is titled, “UPSIDE: Surprising GOOD NEWS About the State of Our World,” I was already prepared to push past my discomfort and find something positive (or at least extract a teachable moment) from this unexpected event.

Author Bradley Wright, PhD, discusses how essential embracing an “UPSIDE” mentality is for individuals since viewing the world as getting worse bears many personal costs. Wright says, “Constant negative thinking can result in a shorter life span, increased depression and distress, less resistance to the common cold, worse psychological and physical well-being, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and diminished coping skills during times of stress.”

Learning To Reframe Hard News​

Wright offers many stats on the true state of our world which will have readers shocked (in the best way possible) and then rethinking where they get their information and more important, why are they believing these glib negative statements without checking to be sure they’re true?

To get all the “goods” this book has to offer, you’ll have to read it for yourself.

Wright offers a few “send-off” suggestions for handling media related reports like a pro.

1. Be aware of good news.
   2. Be skeptical of what you hear, especially negative news.
   3. Distinguish “is” from “ought.”
   4. Match resources to problems.
   5. Simplify, consume less.
   6. Entangle yourself in social relationships.

As we know, knowledge, insight, experience, means nothing until it is “applied” to our lives. So, before I begin my daily stint of news ingestion, I remind myself of the above six rules…and it’s made all the difference in the world (my world to be exact.)

 

[RiverOL]

Why are you so afraid? Finding Faith in 2025​

Jesus asked of His disciples, “Why are you so afraid?” They were in the middle of a storm; how else should they feel? The truth is that there will be storms no matter what you do or how you live. Jesus promised his closest friends they would have trouble in this life. But He also promised they would not face those troubles alone. What you believe is the foundation on which you build your thoughts. Faith is the foundation of what you believe. In the first part of this series, I meditated on the type of faith that says “Even if”, which is a faith that prevails despite the circumstances. Faith helps you live a God-honoring life. We need faith to hope, dream, and take our next breath some days. How do we keep our faith when we face storms and dark nights in 2025?

Jesus, Don’t You Care​

The story of Jesus and the storm is in the Book of Mark. Mark likes things short and sweet. Compared to the other Gospel writers, he often gives you the action movie, a short version of the story. By chapter four of Mark, Jesus had demonstrated His power. He has healed the sick with a word. After a long day of teaching, Jesus decided they should get on a boat and go to the other side of the sea. He then promptly falls asleep. And a storm comes, and it feels like a rough one. The disciples start feeling like they might die. So someone remembers they have Jesus and then realizes He is still asleep. In a panic, they woke him up and asked,” Don’t you care if we drown?”

If you read the first part of this series, if you haven’t, I highly recommend you do; you remember that the three men had a much different approach to the threat of losing their lives. They stated God will save us, and even if that doesn’t happen, we won’t change how we live. The disciples would have heard that story. Many would have memorized it as part of their education before picking up a trade. Even more so, every year, they would have participated in a meal that reminded them how God saved His people in Egypt. They reminded each other each year that God is a God who saves. Yet, here they are in the midst of a storm, and their reaction is to panic and proclaim themselves likely dead.

Storms​

In 2024, storms rocked my boat. My wife’s cancer diagnosis was definitely at the top. But ever since 2020, I have been relearning how to find my footing in faith. One of the top enemies of faith today is the illusion of being in control. In the United States, you can be whatever you want. You can do whatever you set your mind to. There are no limits as long as you chase after whatever you think will make you happy. But the fact is that having that illusion of control doesn’t bring happiness or peace. Just look around at the stats. We are more anxious, stressed, depressed, and hopeless than any other generation of people. Being told we have the world at our fingertips has made us less capable of coping. The foundation for that belief is sinking sand, and our houses are washed away when the storms come.

Control​

Wanting to be in control or have control is not a new problem. Think back to what the serpent asked of Adam and Eve in the garden: “Don’t you want to be like God?” And so the root of our struggle has always been who will be in control. If God is in control, we have to trust God. Our faith relies on something other than ourselves. But we want our lives free of pain, struggle, and difficulty. We would avoid storms. We would only sail the calm, peaceful water. If nothing else, the pandemic reminded the world that we were not in control. Rich or poor, powerful or unimportant, your life got turned upside down by a virus you could neither control nor eradicate. We thought we were in control of our world. But the bank, the government, the experts, and all the geniuses were caught in the same storm and could do nothing to stop it. Instead, incredibly, the world stopped.

Faith​

We think we want control because then we will have peace. But the reality is that peace is not found by having more or even all of the control. Peace is found by having faith in a God who knows everything and loves us deeply. Submitting to God allows us to have the type of faith the heroes of the Bible, even if or when it doesn’t work out the way we want. Or the way we think it should. Having faith allows us to let go of the unsettling need for control. And when we let go of that need, we suddenly have the capability to do more. With our energy no longer focused on controlling (which we never could anyway), we have opportunities to live as God wants us to.

Cancer​

My wife and I went in for the first appointment with the breast surgeon with a plan. We thought the best approach to get rid of the cancer and end any threat of it coming back would be a double mastectomy. How very controlling of us. Get rid of the problem area, and we don’t have to worry about it. We were about to experience a real-life lesson on how little control we had. Thankfully, the mass was caught super early. So, our surgeon suggested a different approach that would help detect the cancer again if it were to come back. Scientists have learned and made many advances but still can’t predict or control cancer. Doing a double mastectomy wouldn’t keep the cancer from coming back, and when or if it did, it would likely come back in the lymph nodes, and we wouldn’t know until it was far advanced. So, in this case, while it felt like we were taking control by getting rid of the “problem,” we weren’t.


Per the surgeon’s recommendation, my wife had a lumpectomy and radiation. She is currently on the best post-cancer treatment in hopes of reducing the likelihood that it does come back. But even the best treatment only provides a 30% reduction in the chances of cancer returning. No illusion of control here. We walk in faith and trust that we will get through whatever life might bring with God.

Why are you so afraid?​

About a year ago, one of my coworkers asked me a question about this story. And this story keeps coming up again and again, like a sore thumb. Heck, this morning, I showed up to help at a preteen class, and guess what story the lesson was on? You got it, the one with the boat, storm, and Jesus. But back to the question I was asked by my coworker, which was: “How should the disciples respond to the storm?” Remember, Jesus was asleep. After quieting the storm, He asks the disciples a tough question: “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” From context clues, we can gather that Jesus was unsatisfied with the disciple’s response to the storm. Also, no one, not even the Son of God, likes to be disturbed while napping. So, what would have been the proper response to the storm?

Trust​

God had asked the disciples to get in the boat. If God asks you to get in the boat to get to the other side, you should trust that He will get you there. The disciples have a trust problem. They knew the stories. People were saved from slavery, fiery furnaces, lion’s dens, and armies bent on destruction. They knew the stories, but when their storm hit, those stories seemed to be for others and not them. They should have done their best to take the boat to the other side of the sea. When they had done all they could, they could trust that God would do what was best if God were with them. But this is where it gets a little bit uncomfortable. Because that kind of trust implies an “even if” kind of faith. Even if God doesn’t get us to the other side, I will still trust and follow Him.

Trust helps us realize that we aren’t in control. We like to think and live like we are, but we aren’t. When storms come, we face the same choice the disciples had. Faith is the foundation for believing God is at work and in control. And even when the storms are raging around us, faith reminds us that we are called to trust and hope in God. Think back on all the storms you have made it through. When you do that, your perspective changes. The disciples hadn’t quite understood how to look at the storm. They had heard the stories and even seen Jesus do the miraculous. But they didn’t fully trust yet. They couldn’t see beyond the storm and were overcome by fear.

Bring Your Fish​

So, is the answer to give up and accept your fate? No. The answer is that the disciples should have done what they knew how to do. They knew how to sail and guide the boat during a storm. They should give their best effort to do what needs to be done. Sometimes, we don’t feel like we can do much. When facing the world’s complex problems, we can feel pretty small. The storm looks so big, and our boat is so small. It makes me think of another story. Jesus is speaking publicly, but out in the middle of nowhere. As He finishes his sermon, it’s time to eat. But there were no places to eat, and no one had packed a picnic for thousands. But one kid, his mom, had known he would need lunch. So the disciples, out of frustration likely, brought this one lunch box to Jesus to prove there was nothing to eat. Just a little bread and a measly fish or two. Jesus took that fish and multiplied it beyond their wildest imagination.

Just Keep Swimming​

In life, storm or not, you should do all you can. We aren’t called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. Some days, for me, that is just showing up. I volunteer with my church youth group, and I know that I usually only offer my presence. No easy answers for their struggles and storms, but I can be there and help them see God. They are worth my time and attention and a sacrifice of being elsewhere. My fish and bread are the fact that those around them love them, and, most importantly, God loves them. I show up so that God can multiply my offering beyond my wildest imagination. Even if I don’t get to see it with my eyes, I have faith and know that He is working.

Find Rest​

There is a second option in this story. Once you have done all you can, sometimes the best you can do is rest. Curl up next to Jesus and take a nap. The disciples could see the reality of the storm, but they never accepted the reality of Jesus being asleep. For me, the point of faith is to be able to live a life like Jesus. The whole point of life is to be like Jesus. In 2025, I want to live a life closer to the life that God is calling me to. And so, my challenge (and yours) will be to find a trust that finds peace and rest, even when the storms rage around you. And part of that is finding the right perspective and attitude. After all, attitude is one of the few things you can control in life.

The right perspective helps you see storms for what they are—and not all storms are equal. I pray that God will grant us the wisdom to understand the storms in our lives. Some storms are best left unbothered, even slept through. Some will require us to bring our best and let God do the rest. But in all this, our faith will be in the one who calls us to: “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 I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

[RiverOL]

The Power of Appreciation: Words That Uplift and Inspire​

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16

Appreciation: Don’t Leave Home Without It
There is something wonderfully enigmatic about sensing that another person notices your efforts, weak attempts though they may be, and kindly expresses such recognition with even a single word of thankfulness. One paltry word, even? Yes. A mere word can make or break a person’s spirit, depend upon it. On any given day, individuals, young and old, from every life background have an inner (frequently unidentified) longing for a bit of expressed goodwill. All people have this need to realize a sense of validation for their accomplishments, their purpose, and their very person.

Appreciation Changes The Recipient​

Cynics may grouse that there’s a fine line between appreciation and flattery. Well, it isn’t so. Flattery is simply verbal manipulation that benefits the speaker alone. The words may be true or not, but that’s not the point. Appreciation runs deeper. It marks another’s actions or attitudes and sees the benefit in the attempts…no matter how insignificant. Real appreciation also alters both the speaker and the recipient, for the good. It spawns renewed vision, encourages continued efforts, and lights a fire for ongoing perseverance toward excellence.

Adopt A Learner’s Posture​

Perhaps the most significant difference between flattery and appreciation is that one offers life (in abundance) while the other signals an inner death knell to the listener. People instinctively know if they’re being schmoozed and it’s always unattractive. The question then is how to offer praise genuinely when someone is glaringly lacking from every visible vantage point. Drawing from Emerson, Carnegie reports, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.” Wise words and utterly true.

Speak Words That Build Up​

In short, as we practice the art of identifying people’s strengths and offer words of consistent appreciation, we will take part in their success, which will naturally spill over positively affecting countless others. Today, begin focusing on the strong points of people and then commit to communicating daily sincere appreciation to all. These few powerful words, which cost us so little, will be treasured by the recipient long after we’ve forgotten them, and there’s nothing insincere about it.

Build Appreciation Into Every Personal Encounter​

• Adopt a learner’s mentality. With friends and strangers alike, view every person you interact with as someone you can learn something from…and then do it.
• Focus on meeting the needs of others by learning what is important to them. Ask intelligent questions, listen carefully to their responses, and spend more time discussing your friend’s interests than your own.
• See people with fresh eyes. Familiarity can bring with it a lack of gratefulness. Look closely at others’ gifts, talents, and abilities….and thank them for the difference they are making in your life and in others.
• Be open hearted by sharing friendships. Welcome newcomers into your circle of friends and acquaintances with warmth. Genuine hospitality begins in each individual heart and works its way outward in ever-widening circles.

 

[RiverOL]

[td] God Speaks . . . to You​ ​ ​

[td] I am the good shepherd . . . My sheep hear My voice—John 10:11, 27​ ​ ​

[td] God’s had direct, personal, reciprocally communicative relationships with a lot of men . . . Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Paul. What about you and me, though? Many of us men—to the extent we think about it at all—assume those guys were special, different from us. And so, we decide God probably wants with us a different type of relationship—more indirect, impersonal, and non-reciprocal—go to church, read the Bible a bit, get on with our lives. That would mean, though, that God’s purpose in bringing us stories of these men was to simply demonstrate something unattainable—a divine taunt, of sorts. It would reveal a desire to impress upon us how special were his Biblical supermen, so we'd gaze upon them and wonder why he created us so . . . un-super. Should we believe that? Or, could he have, through these stories, been showing us his heart, his father’s heart? Could it be that he wanted direct, personal, reciprocal relationships with Abraham, Moses, and an incalculable number of men since, and that he wants that kind of relationship with you and me too, right now? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8) Sure sounds direct . . . personal . . . reciprocal.​ ​ ​

[td] Okay, so what do we do? Begin to open your mind, brother. God wants to speak to you—directly to you. In Scripture, he spoke with his own audible voice; through dreams and visions; through intermediaries, such as angels and other human beings; and directly into thoughts, using his “still, small voice.” While the others are admittedly rare, using people as his intermediaries and using his still, small voice are actually quite common.​ ​ ​

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