Month: October 2026

Susan- You ask a question and I wrote a book. I will get around to your question. For now, this is my perspective and the foundation of my answer.

When I think of politics on any level, a vivid picture dominates my imagination of two angry boys on opposite sides of the fence, hurling stones and insults back and forth at each other.

This is what I see. I have a well known Pastor that I call friend. He is internationally famous and the church and ministry he is part of has had a positive effect on thousands of lives. We are not really close, but I have shared a meal with him, stood and witnessed how he loves others well, and I have seen his heart. So because of that, I honor and respect this man.

However, over the years, there has been a movement, perhaps out of jealousy, or perhaps in the name of religion, to destroy this man and his life’s work. Is he perfect? No, but none are. Do they actually know him? They do not. The funny part about it is the persecution doesn’t come from the world, it comes from the “church.”

I like what someone once said, “If you really knew me, you would like me!”

So let me share my opinion on the state of the Christian Church. It seems there are many levels to what most would call Christianity. On one level there is a group that calls themselves Christians simply because they were born into a mostly Christian nation, or family. Being only “Cultural Christians,” there is not much in them that could distinguish them from the rest of the world.

Then there is the next level, the Church goers. They dutifully sacrifice their one hour a week on Sunday mornings. It’s important to keep up appearances. They rarely open a Bible, nod like a dash toy during the sermon, and are first to shake the pastor’s hand on the way out the door, after all, we can’t miss that opening kick off.

Look a little harder, and you’ll find a more devout type, they attend Bible study, show up at every covered dish supper, and are quick to point the finger. The illusion of a perfect smile, a perfect family, all dressed perfectly, “God is good”… and they fight like cats and dogs all the way home.

Then there is a group that wear the Christian label, but tend to be ultra religious. They have lots of rules and traditions as a pretense of holiness. Control is their hidden agenda. They are first to point the finger and host the tongue of accusations and falsehoods. They are the illegitimate child of the marriage between brokenness and pride.

Now comes another class. I’ll call them the born again group. These have a deep conviction of the cross, what it stands for, and the ultimate cost. They study the Bible, not out of obligation, instead out of desire to really know God. Most are believer baptized, meaning it was their own personal decision and not that of their parents. They acknowledge their past poor decisions and sinful behavior. They recognize their need of a Savior and rush to His forgiveness.

Side bar- There seems to be a continual struggle over the Ten Commandments. Actually there are 614 laws given in the Bible, but many were more time and culturally appropriate. We hang our hats on the big ten. Not because we could ever keep them, but more so because we can’t. “The law is a school master to lead us to Christ.” Each one is like a mirror to our soul, revealing our true condition, showing us that we all fall short of God’s holy standard. That is why we need a Savior! We may fall short of His standard, but we never fall short of His love. “God so loved the world that He sent His only unique, one of a kind Son…”

So now we can move on to the next level. Level is not a one upmanship, it’s just my way of communicating these thoughts. Paul once asked a group of believers, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “We didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit.” He laid his hands on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

This is where everything changes. This is where worldly mindsets begin to fade away. This is where we begin to see the world around us through the mind of Christ. With the empowerment of Holy Spirit, the Bible actually makes sense. Prayer becomes a conversation instead of a telegram. Our hearts come alive toward a righteous way of living. We turn away from selfishness, and sin is no longer satisfying to us. Actually it’s repulsive.

Holy Spirit is like the chain that links us to Jesus. Each day we run to communion with Him. His voice is no longer foreign to us. We see different. We respond different. We learn what it means to really love ourselves, so outwardly we can love others. Even more so, we start to see past the faults and biases of others, and begin to see the beauty of who God created that person to be. We love because God first loved us.

Now there is a subset hidden within this Holy Spirit category. Jesus once spoke to a group of followers and said, “You must eat my body, and drink my blood.” Many said, “This is too hard,” and they turned from following Him. This request eludes to us fully relating to His sacrifice. It’s us becoming a living sacrifice, becoming the embodiment of Christ on this earth. “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” Totally His design, His purpose.

This doesn’t mean we are in anyway exempt from suffering. The difference is He will be right there with us through the suffering. If we let them, the challenges we face will only serve to bring us closer to Him. His shoulders are strong. His arms are wide. His heart is pure. His smile is genuine.

This is a place of going lower, becoming smaller as He becomes bigger. Often times I’ll sit and wonder at the vastness of this world and all the universes beyond. I think of all the billions of people on this planet, each one completely unique, and each one a reflection of God’s creativity and His likeness. Probably my favorite question of all time is, “How big are you God?”

I had no idea I was paraphrasing C.S. Lewis when I said, “The deeper I go into this journey of God, the more I realize how little I really know.” Each day we are presented the opportunity to die a little more to ourselves in order to live a little more for Him.

Perhaps as we depart from this world as we know it, we’ll be asked this question, “Did you learn to love?” I’m still learning love. In its purist fashion, love doesn’t compromise God’s best in order to support someone’s soul born feelings. Feelings for the most part are soulish. However we are called to the higher purpose of walking by the Spirit. Do you remember that television show, “Father knows best?” Well it really is true, our Heavenly Father knows best, and He knows and wants His very best for us.

One of our biggest hiccups is the question we sit on, “But what about this person or that, what about this religion or that?” That’s making ourselves to be our own god, and using that as an excuse to not fall in line behind the, “Follow Me” call. After all, He is big enough to find me and you, so I’m pretty sure he is big enough to find anyone and everyone on this planet, especially those with a child-like heart.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” Over and over His invitation is, “Follow Me.” Never an exclusive invitation, but an inclusive one, bathed solely in love. All are welcome. Sadly, all will not come, but still, all are welcome.

The Bible paints a beautiful picture of us being ankle deep in a pristine, flowing river. Drawn deeper, we progress to knee deep, waist deep, chest deep, and then completely, swimmingly submerged. I believe this is a picture of our Christian walk. Day by day, we keep walking, we keep seeking, we keep discovering the depths of His never ending love.

So I’ll conclude this encyclopedia by sharing an unexplainable experience that touched the deepest places of my soul and marked me as forever changed.

Previous to this though, I had spent the past seven years seeking answers to a persistent affliction going on in my body. I toughed it out at work, but was totally spent by the time I got home. Sixteen doctors and specialists without any answers, and without any hope. One day a friend suggested I get tested for a staph infection. The Doctor was indignant, and reluctant but submitted to my request. Sure enough, I had a staph infection in my blood. A few days later while filling the new prescription, the med student asked, “Why aren’t you in the hospital?”
The Doctor stepped out from behind the counter and asked, “Why aren’t you dead?” My reply comes from scripture, “I’m still alive because God hold all things together!” Today I’m still alive and very well and live each day with a thankful and grateful heart.

Now to the story. Sometime after I recovered, one morning I was sitting at my desk at home. I don’t remember what I was doing, maybe praying? Suddenly I realized I was in two places at the same time. I knew I was sitting at my desk, but I also knew I had entered into another dimension. Clear enough to reach out and touch, I saw a large, rustic type dining table. It was made of hand hewn timbers placed side by side. The appearance was rustic, but to the touch, it was silky smooth. I thought, I want to build a table like that someday.

My eyes were then drawn to the far end of the table. To my amazement, there stood Jesus. I don’t have words to accurately describe His beauty. His smile, big as the Grand Canyon, melts away every fear or doubt you ever hung on to. His eyes are like looking into a thousand universes. I stood still, completely enamored.

He never said a word, but motioned to something on the table. I looked and saw what looked like an ornate jelly jar. As I picked it up, written in letters of light was the word, “Joy.” I stuck my fingers in and started eating. Suddenly, just like that, I was right back at my desk. I can’t tell you how many times in my daily walk that I’ve pulled on that experience. Each day I’m faced with the same opportunity…
“Joy comes in the morning!”

So dear Susan, please receive this as a preface to your question. I guess when Christians are lumped all together in the same boat, it depicts us as all the same. We are not, we are each one unique, beautiful, and a purposeful creation, made in His image. You might say, we are His image bearers, created to carry His Presence, and reflect His light. All together, stacked like living stones, we create the most beautiful mosaic of His glory.

Susan, it’s our blood that binds us together. It’s the precious blood of Jesus that saved us and opens the door to eternity. For now, here is my big hug to you and Mike. Love you mucho!
Jeff
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