While Capitalists and Conservatives argue politics, Socialist-Progressives are making a moral argument. The first follow a system of rules and laws. The second are engaged in a moral crusade.

Speaking today about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and shortly after boldly announcing punishing sanctions on Russia, President Biden stated in the strongest of terms, “No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take some time.”

I am where I belong—for now. I’m an emissary. I’m a man commissioned on a mission. Father has encamped me here to be a light of the Kingdom.

I start thinking about the nonsense in the world, and then my thoughts fragment. No. My thoughts shatter. When I stare at the crystalline shards, I can’t assemble them back into meaning.

We cannot be salt and light from inside the church, from within our small group, or by attending a study. Jesus instructed us to “Go!” and go we must.

It has been quite difficult for us in the West to separate salvation in Christ from our citizenship in America.

Confidence in your true identity won’t smooth-out the wrinkles of the holidays, but understanding who you are and whose you are will help clarify what matters and what doesn’t.

When I write to you, I don’t think of the article as a stand-alone piece, although all will, but as a vibrant exchange that fuels our progress together and perpetuates our relationship.

Once rooted, an established sense of pride makes you vulnerable to the lusts that define all sins: pride. Whether sin rewards you or embitters you, all sin is independence from God—and therein is the definition of pride.

Over time, interspersed midst the mundane, the magic of souls bonded together in soul friendship transpired. Jesus and the twelve became true friends—a soul-level network made strong in their diversity, shared experience, candid confession, and soul-searching reliance upon each other.

The spiritual disciplines, the spiritual practices, are the path that places you in position to realize your heart’s desire. The disciplines are not onerous burdens of religious requirement. They are the means to a desired end.

My FB views and shares plummeted to less than .5% of normal—for anything I posted.

Our outside reputation is that we are identified with a political party, not as the people of God. We are a voting block, not lights in the dark sea of humanity. Our spiritual leaders endorse political candidates as opposed to advancing the cause of Christ to address the existential questions of humanity.

The goal you hope to realize in practicing the discipline of solitude is an extended conversation with God about your life, your relationship with God, and His vantage point regarding your life together.

This spiritual practice cuts both directions. You trust God in silence, but is God close enough to you, confident enough in you as His friend, to trust you with His silence?

Thus, when I rest after my labors and reflect, I am clear about what I’m celebrating and empowered to relinquish—to rest from—what is not part of success as defined by God. In this way, my rest is regenerative, restorative, replenishing, and fuels my recovery from a hard labor.

Fasting creates leverage, acts like a bridge, and provides the incentive necessary to seize the day, gain momentum, or produce the clarity our faith needs to take the next step of trust. The discipline of fasting, like any form of discipline, produces congruity—synthesis—between our spirit, soul, and body.

As fellow travelers in the journey of life, men and women serve one another by submitting ourselves to each other.

Confession and self-examination infuses into your soul the power of personal declaration and genuine humility that is reflective of what is true.

The more of your senses you incorporate into your study, the greater your retention and comprehension will be.