Dear Roger and Julie, I have wrestled with questions about God for as long as I can remember. How do I know for sure that He is real? Sincerely, Joe People of all ages have serious questions that cry out for answers. “Why does God seem to answer some people’s prayers and not others?” “If God is all loving and all-powerful, why does He allow so much suffering in the world?” “How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?” But the one we hear most often is this: HOW CAN I KNOW THAT A GOD I CAN’T SEE REALLY EXISTS? “Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to Godmust believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) “Does God exist?” is an age-old question. Many of us were educated in schools and universities where we were taught that everything in the universe evolved by chance. We were made to feel that to believe in God is to be mentally weak, unintellectual, or not politically correct. What a shame. We don’t have to check our brains at the school room door. Any reasonable person can easily defend the existence of God. LET’S TALK ABOUT PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. 1. The Causal Proof: Creation requires a cause. Imagine that I am holding a hula hoop and everything in the universe is located inside this circle. Ask the question, Who or what caused all of this to exist? The answer can lie in only one of two places. The ultimate cause must either be located inside the circle or outside the circle. If the cause of everything is located inside the circle, then you still must ask, “Where did that cause come from?” The only rational explanation for all that lies inside the circle is to locate the cause and source outside the circle! See the universe; there must have been a Creator outside of it who caused it. Does the Bible have anything to say about this? Take a look at these two verses: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV) “Jesus is over all creation. All things were created in Him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can’t be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. All things have been created by him and for him. Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together.” (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV) Everything has a cause. 2. The Teleological Proof: God must exist because every design has a designer. Look at the intricacies of the universe. The teleological proof answers the question: “Who is responsible for the design, symmetry, and order that we see all around us?” The teleological proof also challenges the modern argument that life and the created order came into existence by chance. For centuries, man looked at the complexities, beautiful intricacies and symmetry of the universe and assumed that there was a master designer behind it all. This view was totally unchallenged until the 1800s. During the Age of Reason, many believed that science could explain everything. God was taken completely out of the equation and the supernatural was explained away in terms of the natural. Hebrews 11:3 teaches that God created the universe. It had a cause and design: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Scientists teach that the universe is a random chance collision of floating gases set into motion by a random series of events that produced random amino acids which swirled together to produce a molecule and eventually evolved to us today. How reasonable is this theory? No scientist can adequately explain where the gases came from in the first place. Many blush in embarrassment at the mathematical probabilities of a chance collision of gases producing even a single structured molecule … let alone a process as complex as photosynthesis or as breathtaking as an eagle in flight. Here is our challenge for you. Take the back off your laptop computer, look at the tiny circuits, crystals, switches, and components—then go and sit out under a tree and ask yourself if that laptop computer was designed and assembled by an intelligent being, or if it was the result of a random explosion in a metal factory? This will give you an appreciation of the teleological argument for the existence of God who alone can account for the order, symmetry, and beauty we see around us every day. Next time you hold a baby, ask yourself: Is this fantastic, complex being really the result of a cosmic accident? “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above declares His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1 NIV) 3. The Ontological Proof: The existence of humankind implies the existence of God. Consider the question: “Why do we find men and women all over the world worshipping a higher being?” Our very existence points to God. Every culture believes in a higher power; someone or something that is greater than we are. Deep down, we all know that we are created beings … that we come from somewhere. C.S. Lewis once said that it takes much more faith to be an atheist than to believe in the existence of God. In other words, it is much harder to believe we came from nothing than that we come from something … or Someone. Does the Bible talk about this? “So, Paul saw all of the Greek idols and proclaimed “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:22-23 ESV) 4. The Anthropological Proof: God must exist because all humankind has a moral code that reflects a moral Creator. God must exist because a universal moral code is stamped on the hearts of all human beings, transcending culture, race, language, and location. The existence of this moral code demands that humankind was created in the image of a moral God. If human beings simply evolved from chance collisions from primeval gases, if we are simply grown-up germs, or a recent improvements of apes, how does one account for the fact that around the world we find a moral code of truth over deceit, kindness over violence, loyalty over backstabbing, love over hate, justice over injustice? Can chance produce a consistent moral code? Pose the moral code question to an atheist: “What is your theory regarding the moral code of humankind?” No one has an answer, ever. “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15 NIV) The four classical proofs above are all very reasonable. Thousands of scientists, theologians, and philosophers have written to support each one. In concert with them, we believe that any reasonable person must examine them and conclude that God exists. But I know that most people don’t come to God out of reason. They come out of experience. To the four classical proofs, I will add a fifth. 5. The Religious Experience Proof: Millions of people have had a personal experience with God. God must exist because hundreds of millions of well-adjusted people all over the world claim that they have experienced the love, forgiveness, peace, comfort and presence of God. This can’t be taken lightly, especially when we consider the similarity of those experiences across the ages. There are also many, many experiences with God recorded in Scripture, from His visual and verbal interaction with Moses at the burning bush to His heart-to-heart conversations with David to Jesus’s time with the disciples. A loving God has attempted on many occasions to establish contact with every living creature on the face of this earth. Honest people can all remember an occasion late at night when God came near and said, “Come on, come on, you know that I am real. Stop pretending that I am not, that you don’t need me. Open your mind and your heart and see what I can do with your life.” Every person here can remember a visit from God sometime in your life journey. The question is, what did you do with it? How did you respond? What action did you take? Now, put all five arguments (cosmological, teleological, ontological, anthropological, and religious experience) on the scale and watch the scale tip in favor of the existence of God. People who don’t believe in God have a lot of explaining to do. That is why, ultimately there are only two religions in the world. Man saves or God saves. Every world religion other than Christianity comes down to “Man saves by earning God’s favor.” Christianity is accomplished by God, not God and man. God sent His Son for us. Through His Son, He bestows perfection and righteousness as a good gift … the free gift of eternal life. You must respond. The biblical requisite for heaven is faith—trust. Transfer your faith from you to the cross. Well Joe, We hope that these proofs are very helpful to you as you work through your own beliefs regarding God’s existence and as you discuss your thoughts with others. Love, Roger and Julie

There is no topic we love discussing more than ourselves. The self-discovery industry has never had more pull than it does in the contemporary West. In the immortalized words of the country singer Toby Keith, “I wanna talk about me, wanna talk about I, wanna talk about number one, oh my me my. What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.” We laugh because it’s true and we laugh because it reveals our narcissism. Christians might be tempted to push back on all of the obsession of self-discovery and reject it as narcissistic and ungodly. John Calvin, the 16th century French Reformer, would disagree with this wholesale assessment. In the first chapter of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, the Reformed theologian makes a point about self-understanding and our relationship that might surprise you. He says, Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God. Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other. Calvin suggests that we ought to pursue self-discovery because we cannot know God without knowing ourselves. On this point, Calvin is in agreement with Socrates, who said that the first step to true wisdom is to “know thyself.” From a Christian perspective, it’s not surprising that our knowledge of God is tethered to ourselves. After all, we were made in his image (Gen. 1:27). It is for this reason that Angel and I wrote Trading Faces: Removing the Masks that Hide Your God-Given Identity. We believe that the culture gets self-discovery wrong. We have believed the lie that we can craft our own identity, or that our identity is understood by the roles we serve in or our attributes. Much of evangelical teaching on identity conflates the wealth of teaching into one category: being a child of God. While our identity as children of God is necessary and beautiful, it is the tip of the iceberg in what Scripture teaches us about our identity. God has given us many identities (the New Testament, in particular, is loaded with them), and they all point not only to who we are, but to who he is. To understand who we are is to better understand who God is and to live the abundant life he has intended for us. To navigate a world that attacks our identities from every angle, we need a robust and multifaceted theology of identity that can stand up to the assaults on our identity. We need to be able to speak God’s hopeful truth over ourselves when the twisted voice of shame fills our head. We need to be able to speak God’s corrective truth when the enticing voice of desire lures us. We need to be able to speak God’s corporate truths when our fleshly individualistic impulses beguile us. A great place to start is by taking this quiz on which false identities might have the strongest tug on your heart. Our prayer for you is that as you discover more of who you are, you might also learn more about your Creator and Savior. May our journey of self-discovery ultimately be a journey of God-discovery.

(Brie): It has been just over a year now since my beloved father, Dr. Roger Barrier, went to be with the Lord. My friends and readers, grief is hard. It’s long. It’s heartbreaking. But you and I don’t have to walk this journey alone. In dealing with his passing and the immense grief that comes with that, I wanted to share a conversation with you. What you will find in this article are the questions I ask in my grief, and the answers I’ve found as I dove into some of my dad’s teaching about grief and comfort. I love that it’s biblically sound, practical, and effective. I hope his words help you as much as they helped me! (Roger): Far too often, we say the wrong things at funerals. No matter how well-meaning, people don’t really help the family deal with grief. I’ve heard explanations about why God let the deceased person die so young; encouragement that they would eventually get over the pain; advice on how to handle life without their loved one being around; promises that this must be God’s will … and some even say things like, “All things work together for good to those who love God.” Then, they’d ask the family, “You love God, don’t you?” The family would respond, “Of course, we do.” Then, the friend would say something like, “Well then, God promises that everything will work out good.” But as the family gazes into the casket, things don’t seem so good after all. (Brie): Where do we start when we love someone who is experiencing grief? (Roger): Every culture and family deals with grieving differently. Some of us come from families/cultures where sadness was a sign of weakness. You weren’t allowed to be depressed. The expectation was that you would stuff it and move on. Others scream and wail, but there was very little hope in God. Those who are grieving often feel numb, frozen in time. The way to break through the grief façade of someone who is hurting is with months of intensive comforting. When Job sat in utter pain and devastation, his friends sat in silence with him for days before they uttered a word. If you read Job, you know that Job would have been better off if they had kept quiet! Consider these biblical examples of effective comforting: Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Paul wrote: “Praise be to the God of all comfort who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort others with the very same comfort with which you have comforted us” (2 Corinthians 1:4). Paul also taught, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; and mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Grief is always healed through mourning and comfort. Notice that this requires two people—one to mourn and one to comfort. (Brie): What can we say and not say to really comfort those who are dealing with grief? (Roger): Unfortunately, since few Christians know how properly to comfort others, their friends and loved ones continue living in hurt and pain. The proper response to the emotionally hurt and distressed is to listen to them mourn and then to comfort them. Notice these things we often say that Jesus NEVER said. Blessed are they who mourn: For they shall be told, “Don’t keep crying. Have faith.” For they shall receive a sermon. “Heaven is better anyway.” For they shall be given reasons why it was time for him to die. For they shall be told how to get past the grief. For they shall be told, “That is not nearly as bad as what happened to me.” For they shall be told, “Stop worrying, you’ll be fine.” For they shall be told, “All things work together for good to those who love God.” Instead, comfort focuses on emotional, feeling words. It’s speaking heart-to-heart and life-to-life. For example, say: “I know that your heart is aching over your husband’s death, I am so sorry for what you’re experiencing.” “It grieves me deeply that you are in such pain. Life is just not supposed to be this way. I am so sorry.” “It hurts you deeply that he is gone. Don’t feel like you have to be in a hurry. You have a lot of grieving in front of you. We are here to grieve with you.” “I hurt for you because I love you. I’m so sorry that you’re going through such a hard time.” (Brie): How can we be effective, compassionate comforters? (Brie):Dad, I remember you listening to me first, every time I was hurting. Honestly, sometimes I wanted you to be mad with me! But then, you started to comfort me in my pain, and the anger began to melt away. That’s where healing really happens. (Roger): I learned a great deal from practicing this list from Charles Swindoll. It’s great advice for comforters: Comforters care enough to come uninvited. Comforters listen carefully so they can minister to the emotions and not react to the words. Comforters openly express the depths of their feelings. Comforters are not turned off by distasteful sights. Comforters understand, so they say very little. In fifty years of ministry, I also learned three major, concrete ways to help. I think these apply to everyone who is dealing with grief—no matter how long it’s been since the loss happened. It takes a great deal of time to heal, and we often give up far too soon. First, offer practical help. Preparing food, washing clothes, cleaning the house or running errands are just a few of the practical ways of showing you care. Keep in contact. Call, text or email often. Remain available in the weeks and months to come, as well. Remember that your grieving family members or friends may reach out to you later rather than sooner. Be aware of holidays and anniversaries. Special occasions like holidays and anniversaries can be the most difficult of all—even years after a loved one has passed away. These events emphasize the absence of the person who has died. Instead of avoiding those memories, this may be the time to share them. (Brie):Dad, I remember you teaching that even when a loved one goes to heaven, he or she is able to see what’s happening in the present world. I know their focus is completely on Jesus and praising Him, but I loved that you said we could ask God to share our love with those we miss so much. Every day, during my prayer time, I ask God to tell you that I love you and miss you. It helps; so does consistently focusing on my favorite memories with you. I know that I will see you again in heaven. But for now, I will reach out for comfort from Mom, my husband, Brad, and other family members and friends. I’m so glad we were never meant to mourn alone!

We've been building something together this week. A space. Intentional. Set apart. Hallowed. And I want to ask you something honest before we go any further. What have you noticed? Not what you think you should have noticed. Not the theologically correct answer. What has actually been happening in you as you've slowed down enough to let hagiazo become more than a word? Because something shifts when a human being begins to consistently create consecrated space. The neuroscience is clear on this — the brain responds to repeated intentional stillness the way soil responds to consistent watering. Things begin to surface that the noise was covering. Feelings. Memories. Longings. Clarity that couldn't find its way through the static. And sometimes what surfaces first isn't peaceful. Sometimes it's grief. Or anger. Or a profound awareness of how long you have been running. That's not a problem. That's the hallowed working. Isaiah didn't encounter holiness and immediately feel better. He felt exposed. Woe is me came before here am I, send me. The undoing preceded the commissioning. So what is surfacing in you? And here's the deeper question underneath that one — What are you beginning to crave? Because consecrated space has a way of reordering desire. When you consistently bring yourself into the presence of the wholly other — when raphah becomes a practice and hagiazo becomes a rhythm — what you want begins to change. The noise starts to feel like loss rather than comfort. The stillness starts to feel like home rather than threat. That is transformation. That is Romans 12:2 happening beneath the surface before it becomes visible in your life. What are you noticing? What are you beginning to crave? I genuinely want to know. More information about My Rooted Soul Counseling can be found by visiting www.myrootedsoul.com

Dear Roger and Joel, What if I really feel like God is calling me to do something, and I’m just too exhausted, too frustrated, or too weak? If I say “no” to God, what will happen? Sincerely, Stacie Dear Stacie, this is Joel. Great question! Throughout the Bible, God called people who were exhausted, frustrated, and weak, so you need to know that you are in good company. Moses, David, and the disciples were all ill-equipped for the calling God gave them. In fact, it is often a red flag for me when someone tells me about a calling God has given them and that calling is firmly within their comfort zone. When God calls us to something that is beyond what we can do on our own, He gets all the glory. My own life has been filled with times when I have told God that I was too frustrated, too weak, or simply too tired to do what He was asking me to do. The Holy Spirit keeps bringing me back to verses like Matthew 11:29: “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" [NIV]. But what happens if you say no? God’s ultimate plan and will are always accomplished. Just ask Jonah or Jeremiah. Yet I want to be part of the story God is writing. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if Moses had said “no” to God at the burning bush, or if Paul had refused to surrender to Jesus. I believe Israel still would have been delivered, and the letters to the early church still would have been written. God’s purposes would not have been defeated by their disobedience. But Moses and Paul had the opportunity to be part of that story because they were willing to obey—even when they were exhausted, afraid, frustrated, or carrying a terrible past. Maybe that is the encouragement we need: God does not call us because we are strong enough. He calls us, and then He gives us what we need to obey. You may feel too weak. You may feel too tired. You may even feel completely unqualified. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed God’s calling. It may simply mean that you are exactly where God can remind you that the strength was never yours to begin with. Stacie, I hope this is helpful! Joel

Dear Roger and Tom, The Middle East seems to be blowing up in war. Is this the sign that Jesus is about to return? I’m very scared about what will happen. If Jesus is about to come, doesn’t that spell doom for the world? Thank you! Jaina Dear Jaina, Jaina, I hope this is very encouraging for you! Thanks so much for asking. Tom Question: The Middle East seems to be blowing up in war. Is this the sign that Jesus is about to return? I’m very scared about what will happen. If Jesus is about to come, doesn’t that spell doom for the world? Answer: As most of us know, there are two comings of Christ. There was his first coming, which is shared in the Gospels. But there is a second coming of Christ, revealed in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, I Corinthians, I & II Thessalonians, and Revelation. In fact, the Bible, in its very last chapter, says, “Come Lord Jesus.” Many people, throughout history, have wished for the coming of Christ. I remember a fad in the 1980s when many Christians believed that the return of Christ was imminent that decade. But it passed. How do we know when the coming of Christ is near? Jesus said we would not know the day or hour. But at the same time, he also gave us signs in scripture so that we would know what to expect. So, let’s talk about those signs and why, I think, the second coming of Christ is soon, but NOT imminent. First, how do we define something that is imminent? Many Christians use this word to say that the return of Christ can happen at any time. We want him to come; it is a central hope in scripture. But the reality is that the apostles never used this word to describe Christ’s coming. Consider that when Paul and the other Apostles were alive nearly 2,000 years ago, they talked about the second coming of Christ. But we have been talking about that coming for many centuries. Christ’s coming is soon but not imminent. And how much more soon is it since 2,000 years have passed since the second coming of Christ was discussed by the apostles? The scripture reveals that there are a few things still to happen before Christ comes again. You can find these in Matthew 24:1-31, 42-44. (Hover over the scripture reference to read the passage.) Signs of His Coming Jesus describes a few things leading up to his coming: (v.5) False Christs (v.6) Wars and rumors of wars (v.7) Kingdom against kingdom (v.8) But these are the beginning of birth pains These are general signs. These signs have persisted for 2,000 years. But let’s look at each of these and see what they reveal to us about the second coming of Christ to the earth. What is a false Christ? Verse 5 reveals the coming of false Christs. What is a False Christ?—A person who denies the divinity, humanity, or lordship of Jesus Christ. It also usurps his divinity, exalts our humanity, and usurps his lordship. Examples: Jehovah’s Witnesses (Secret coming of Christ, deny Jesus’ divinity). Islam (Denies Jesus’ divinity, death, and lordship) Mormonism (Denies Jesus uniqueness, exalts man to godhood). The movement of false prophets and apostles throughout Africa and Asia. (V.6) Wars and rumors of wars and verse 7, kingdom against kingdom—There have been 14,500 wars that have taken place between 3500 BC and the late 20th century, costing 3.5 billion lives, leaving only 300 years of peace. While Jesus warned us of wars, wars have been taking place on earth since recorded history. Is verse 14, the Proclaiming the Gospel, the sign of his coming? Yes. Look what Jesus says in verse 14: “This Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” The Gospel is accelerating in the 21st century. 2.8 million churches planted in the last 2 years. From 1960 to 2000, the global growth of the number of Evangelicals grew at three times the world’s population rate, and twice that of Islam. Currently, 15,000 Christians die every day and go to Heaven. But the church is growing at an exponential rate. Globally, 50,000 people a day come to faith in Christ. (That’s 333% greater than those dying.) At this rate, everyone on earth will have heard the Gospel by 2029. There are 17,446 people groups in the world today. Of that amount, there are 7,387 unreached groups. This lack of fulfillment is a sign that Jesus is not ready to come back yet. Notice the scriptural support for this idea: Matthew 24:14 states, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Many of us are looking for the coming of Christ. And many of us would love for him to come now, even right now. But consider this: Why would we want Jesus to come back when there are still millions of people who have not heard yet about Jesus and have no chance at eternal life? Is verse 15 the sign? What is the abomination of desolation? We find a prophecy about this in the Old Testament in Daniel 11:31. “Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.” “Scholars generally agree that the first reference of these prophecies is the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes IV. Antiochus treated Israel with such violence and contempt that they rebelled against him. When he came to suppress the rebellion, his forces entered the temple, stopped the regular sacrifices, set up an idol of or altar for Zeus, and offered swine there as a sacrifice. This is an abomination because it is idolatry, and it brings desolation because it defiles the holy place at the heart of Israel.” Some prophecies in the Bible have what is known as double fulfillment. The first fulfillment is a type or precursor to a later fulfillment. We see this in scripture when God promises Abraham his offspring will inherit the land, then Paul applies the term, “offspring” and this promise to Jesus. A double fulfillment. We see it in God’s promise to David to give David a son who will rule, then the NT applies that to Jesus. A double fulfillment. Many biblical scholars believe this passage in Daniel is one such scripture, that it will reach its final fulfillment in the anti-Christ. But, to be fulfilled in the last days, as some scholars say, this requires a temple. There is no temple in Israel right now. If we are to take this literally, then a new temple would have to be built. Christ’s return cannot be imminent because these requirements are not yet fulfilled. Jesus himself said that his return, foreshadowed by these things, would not be imminent. Look at Luke 21:9. “When you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once” (some translations say, “imminent”). The “sign” is mentioned in verse 30 as appearing after the tribulation period. We don’t know what the sign is. However, remember the sign of his first coming. It was a unique star. But just before his second coming, Jesus refers to a darkened sun and moon and stars falling from the sky. A star doesn’t shine; rather, the heavens are shaken (V.29). His second coming is much more dramatic than the first. His first coming was in peace (John 12:14-15), the second coming is war (Rev. 19:11). (V.3) End of the age. The sign and the end are asked as a single event. So Jesus defines the end of the age in verses 15-22. Verse 21 calls it the “Great Tribulation.” Verse 22: “No life would have been saved.” In other words, if things continue to go badly, humanity would become extinct. What does it mean to be alert about Christ’s coming? Verses 42 and 44 talk about being on the alert for Christ’s coming. Jesus describes those on the alert in verse 45 as “faithful” and “sensible.” “Wise” in some translations. We are looking for his coming, but we also balance that with the need to reach lost people groups with the Gospel. So, what have we learned so far in our examination of the text? Jesus says he will return at a time of great turmoil on the earth. Jesus will return after the earth has heard the Gospel. Jesus will return while there are many deceivers on the earth. Jesus returns to judge the world. Jesus wants us to watch for his coming. So what is Jesus trying to communicate to us regarding his return? We find the answer in Matthew 24:42, “Keep watch because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.” Without the return of Christ, all humanity is in danger of extinction. Jesus said, “If those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved” (Matthew 24:22). What does the return of Christ do? What should we do? The bodily return of Christ saves humanity from extinction. Jesus wants us to know that he will make a visible and physical return to earth and establish a new world order based upon faith in him. Jesus wants us to watch carefully for the signs of his return, but not be tricked by deceivers. APPLICATION Take Jesus’ advice in Matthew 24:6. “See that you are not alarmed.” He says this about wars, famines, earthquakes, being hated, falling away, false prophets, false Christs, and being put to death. Yet he prefaces it all with “See that you are not alarmed.” I.E., these are not the end of the world. No matter what, he wants us to trust him. Since Jesus has not come yet, and we don’t know when he will come, how should we then live? Scripture tells us to live in a way that expects his coming. Jesus came as Savior. Now, he returns as Lord. Does Jesus have lordship of your life? What does lordship mean? It means that he fills our emotions, our thoughts, and our external expressions. It means that Jesus Christ is the chief affection of our lives. It means that we are consumed with love for and obedience to Jesus.

Dr. Randy Carlson of Intentional Living brings great insight to parents who have adult children challenges. "More than ever, adult children are moving back home with Mom and Dad. Many college graduates have experienced difficulty finding jobs during a recovering economy. They’re facing competition with job candidates who have more experience. If your older children come back home, look at the opportunity as a blessing. This second time at home could give you an opportunity to shape ONE THING they really want to do with their lives. During this time of transition, it’s important to offer advice and counsel. How can you help your son or daughter find their ONE THING? Provide emotional support – It’s likely your child will be frightened and worried they may never find the job they want or ever get out on their own. Don’t add to the pressure. Instead, give them a release, an attentive ear and let them know you’re there to support them emotionally. Be a source of encouragement – Focus less on what they can’t (or won’t) do and more on the things they can do. Help them to think outside the box and stimulate new ideas to consider. This process can help them discover their purpose. Offer your friendship – You’re still their parent, but your role is different now. You’re far less the rule-setter and far more the relationship builder. Give them friendship. That dynamic will create opportunities for you to give needed advice. Deliver your influence – Now is a time for your son and daughter to see you as a responsible adult from their new, young adult perspective. Remember this as you interact with them and continue to be a role model for them."

The Minor Prophets: Habakkuk As we continue our trek through The Minor Prophets. The book of Habakkuk is one where we find the permission to bring our questions to God. We’re to stay anchored and waiting on Him. His timetable and processes may not be the ones we want, but we’re reminded that His Sovereignty is ultimately in control and He is for our good. Habakkuk tells us the righteous are to live by faith. Faith is not the absence of doubt, but biblical faith is choosing to trust God over your own perceptions. Biblical faith says: I trust the God who is good, whether or not I can see what good He is up to in this moment. Faith invites us to anchor ourselves in worship in the midst of our “waiting room” seasons. The Minor Prophets Minor in length, not in message Three words sum up the message of all of The Minor Prophets: Return. Repent. Restore. Return to the Lord and His covenant. Repent of your sins. Experience restoration with God. he Book of Habakkuk 3 chapters (can be read in 6 minutes) Habakkuk begins in confusion and ends in renewed confidence. He starts with questions and finishes with worship. The Historical Situation: —612-605 B.C. -Babylon—one of history’s most brutal empires—is rising. -Habakkuk, a prophet whose name likely means “to embrace” or “wrestler”—takes his grief directly to God. The nation of Judah was spiritually declining after the reforms of King Josiah. Violence, corruption, injustice, and idolatry were spreading. Meanwhile, a new world power was emerging: Babylon. God's people were drifting, and the culture around them was becoming increasingly hostile to God's ways. He feels stuck ‘WAITING’ — but instead of abandoning God when he feels stuck in a season of waiting — he brings his anguish, his questioning, his complaints TO GOD! Habakkuk is known as the psalmist prophet Habakkuk doesn't primarily speak for God to the people. He speaks to God on behalf of the people. Habakkuk 1:1-5 NLT This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.The LORD replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. The book opens with what scholars call a “lament dialogue”—a genre present throughout the Psalms and the book of Job. ==Habakkuk is not having a crisis of faith. He is having Real faith talk with God. Dead religion talks about God or performs rituals for God. A living faith argues with God. Goes to God…converses with God - seeks God and LISTENS……listens & looks for His answers, his activity, his leadings… QUOTE: “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness.” — Martin Luther Prayer is about engaging with God…relationally. Habakkuk does exactly that. He lays hold of God with both hands and will not let go until God speaks and engages back… God does speak—and His answer is almost worse than the silence. see V. 5-11 This sends Habakkuk into his second complaint (1:12–2:1). It is a longer, and a careful theologically sophisticated protest. He appeals to the character of God. And then, in one of Scripture’s most beautiful moments of holy stubbornness, Habakkuk says in 2:1 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. He changes his location…setting… *Mark Batterson (pastor / author) always says: “Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective” Habakkuk climbs the tower not to see more clearly in the darkness, but to position himself to receive new light from God. Habakkuk: is teaching us to Keep Trusting God Even When Life Doesn't Make Sense The Bible does not censor HABAKKUK’S questions. Biblical faith is not pretending everything is okay, when it’s not. Many people think faith means never questioning. Scripture teaches something different. The Psalms are filled with questions. Job asked questions. Jeremiah asked questions. — key Insight: One of the major themes of Habakkuk is God's sovereignty over history. The Lord is not merely reacting to world events. He is directing history toward His purposes. Truth is: God remains the King of Kings - The King over All even when earthly rulers appear all powerful. Immature FAITH runs away from God or rushes ahead of God Mature Faith learns to Wait on God… Habakkuk 2:1 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says Habakkuk chooses to wait. Not quit. Not walk away. Not become cynical. But Wait on God. And it's in the waiting that God adjusts his perspective... Habakkuk 2:2-4 ESV And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. Quote: “Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lying in the darkness as a seed lies in the winter ground.” — Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction The wait—the time between promise and fulfillment—is not wasted time. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith (v. 4) But what did Habakkuk mean? The Hebrew word (faith) אמונה (emunahh) is richer than our English “faith.” It carries connotations of steadfastness, reliability, trustworthiness—almost the sense of “fidelity.” The righteous person is one who lives in a posture of settled trust in God’s character and word, especially when circumstances give no visible reason for trust. In Habakkuk’s context, this is revolutionary. The Babylonians are coming. Everything visible screams that God has lost, or does not care, or cannot be trusted. And into that darkness, God says: the one who is truly righteous does not live by what they see. They live by what I have said. 3 Things This Faith Is Not 1. Faith is not the absence of doubt. Habakkuk doubted fiercely. Faith is choosing to trust God’s word over your own perceptions. Doubt and faith are not opposites. Doubt says “I don’t understand you, God.” Unbelief says “I won’t trust you, God.” Habakkuk doubted. He did not unbelieve God… He still chose to TRUST GOD. 2. Biblical faith is not positive thinking or just pure positive thinking. ==Biblical faith says “I trust the God who is good, whether or not I can see what good He is doing.” 3. Faith is not a feeling. Nowhere does God tell Habakkuk, “Feel better about this.” Faith in Scripture is always an orientation of the will, not a condition of the emotions. You can be terrified and faithful at the same time. Quote: “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence. Faith is obeying in spite of consequence.” — Os Guinness, God in the Dark Then as Habakkuk begins to wrap up and move toward the end (ch. 3)…he invites us into the END OF THE MATTER - what we’re to do in the midst of our confusion at times, our lack of understanding, our questioning of God — WORSHIP anyway… Worship as an ANCHOR FOR LIFE Habakkuk 3:2 NLT I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. This may be one of the strongest statements of faith in Scripture. Though the fig tree does not bud... Though there are no grapes on the vines... Though the olive crop fails... Though there are no sheep... Though there are no cattle... Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. Notice he does not rejoice in circumstances. He rejoices in God. Takeaways for Modern day Disciples 1. Bring Your Questions to God God welcomes honest faith. You do not need to hide your doubts, fears, or confusion. Faith isn't pretending. Faith is bringing everything to Him. 2. Trust God's Character When You Cannot Understand His Ways Habakkuk doesn’t receive every answer to every question. But he learns something better. He learns God can be trusted. 3. ANCHOR your life in Worship Habakkuk's circumstances remained difficult. His confidence grew because his focus shifted from the problems - to the Lord. A Growing & Maturing faith says: "Even if I don't understand, I will trust." "Even if the answer is delayed, I will trust.” "Even if I must wait, I will trust." The invitation is to anchor your life in the God who remains faithful, sovereign, and good no matter what’s unfolding… He’s the same God yesterday, today and forever — even when we cannot yet see what He’s up to or understand fully all that He is doing… ==There’s a lot of things we can get caught up in while we’re in the "waiting room" seasons of life… We can become consumed by irritation or anger We can shipwrecked by disappointment and doubt Give ourselves over to distractions We can get lost in worry or fear We can pull back into isolation OR We can position ourselves to WORSHIP (while we wait on God) — we worship the ONE who is sovereign and supreme & grow our trust in Him. Quote: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." -Corrie ten Boom

I was recently asked if there are apostles in the church today. Here was my answer. There are several reasons, from Scripture and history, why there are no longer apostles in the church today. I’m sure that some of these reasons you already know. Qualifications of an apostle Calling of an apostle Defense of an apostle Giftings of an apostle How the term apostle is used Apostles of Christ were specifically chosen by Jesus during his earthly ministry, and the special calling into apostleship of Paul was a unique situation. Persons who were apostles had specific qualifications. They were personally commissioned by Jesus, had eyewitness testimony to His resurrection, had authoritative knowledge of His teaching, apostolic signs, foundational authority, and proven faithfulness under suffering. Just because a person took part in Jesus’ earthly ministry did not make them an apostle. There were many people in the upper room at Pentecost who had seen Jesus, including his resurrection, but they were not apostles. How much more, then, is a person not an apostle who does not have these marks of authority. Apostles were called by the Lord into their role, and none who were referred to as apostles apart from the 12 were apostles in the same sense as the 12. Though some, as you pointed out, were called apostles, they were not consulted during church controversy in the book of Acts; rather, the apostles had issues brought before them, along with the elders of the Jerusalem church, to settle certain issues. Paul defended his apostleship as being called directly by Jesus as an apostle, saying that the marks of a true apostle were in him. It is true that certain people in the New Testament were called apostles who did not meet the qualifications of the 12, such as Barnabas, James, and others. However, they were called apostles in a different sense from the original 12. None of them possessed apostolic authority that marked the original 12 and Paul. In addition, none of the church fathers who lived after the time of the apostles were called apostles. They held other lofty titles but not that of apostle. Additionally, there were women present in the upper room who partook in the ministry of Jesus and saw his resurrection, but none of them were called to be apostles. Apostleship was a unique calling of the 12, and only men were chosen. When someone today calls themself an apostle, they are claiming special standing and authority for themselves. If not, then why call themselves by that title? Missionaries might exercise some of the gifting of apostles but are not apostles in the same sense. I am a commissioned missionary. But I am not an apostle. Missionaries function in an apostolic sense, but do not carry the authority or signs of an apostle in the biblical sense. Paul tells us the foundation of the church is the prophets and apostles. Once a foundation is laid, it does not need to be laid again. There are no more prophets. There are no more apostles. Those who claim apostleship are claiming an authority for themselves without biblical standing. One can teach but not be a pastor. One can share their faith without being an evangelist. One can pray and see someone healed but not be a miracle worker. One can declare biblical truth to political and other leaders but not be a prophet. One can organize things in the church but not be an administrator. Likewise, one can perform certain apostolic functions, like church planting, but not be an apostle. The claim, therefore, of apostleship is without standing.

There is a verse so familiar it has nearly lost its edge. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 We quote it at prayer gatherings. We post it in times of national crisis. And somewhere in the repetition, we've let it become a banner rather than a summons. But read it again slowly. God isn't speaking to the culture. He isn't addressing the government, the media, or the people outside the church. He is speaking to His people. The ones called by His name. The ones who already know Him. The healing of the land begins with the return of the Church. The Neuroscience of Turning Your brain was not designed for stagnation. It was designed for return. Neuroplasticity — the brain's God-given capacity to rewire, reshape, and renew — does not require dramatic transformation overnight. Research consistently shows that one degree of sustained change, repeated over time, creates entirely new neural architecture. A year from now, you are not the same person you are today. The only question is whether the drift is intentional or accidental. This is not a self-help principle. This is how God built you. Clinical & Theological Note Romans 12:2 didn't say be instantly transformed. It said be transformed by the renewing of your mind — an ongoing, present-tense process. The Greek word anakainosis implies a continuous renovation. Not a moment. A direction. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is that direction. Four Movements, One Degree Each. God gives four invitations in this verse. Not a program. Not a 30-day challenge. Four postures of the heart — each one a single degree of return. Humble Yourselves. Not self-contempt. Not performance. Simply the honest acknowledgment that you have drifted — from Him, from others, from the person you were when His love first undid you. Humility is the neurological reset button. It interrupts the default mode network's obsessive self-referential loop and opens the mind to something outside itself. It is, quite literally, the beginning of change. Pray. Not eloquently. Not lengthily. Just back toward Him. Re-establish the connection that has grown quiet. The brain encodes what it rehearses. If anxiety is rehearsed, it grows. If communion is rehearsed, it grows. One degree: five minutes in the morning, spoken aloud, before the noise begins. Seek His Face. Not His hand — what He can give. His face — who He is. This is the difference between a transactional faith and a first-love faith. You know the difference. You felt it once. That hunger, that singular focus, that sense that nothing else quite satisfied. Seek that. Your nervous system was wired for attachment, and it will attach to whatever you consistently turn toward. Turn From Your Wicked Ways. One thing. Not everything at once. The research on behavior change is unambiguous — wholesale transformation fails. Targeted, specific, small pivots succeed. What is the one thing, if turned from, would put you one degree closer to the person God made you to be? Name it. Tell someone. Begin there. A Year From Now One degree doesn't feel like much standing still. But a plane departing Los Angeles one degree off course doesn't land in New York — it lands somewhere in the Atlantic. Direction, sustained over time, determines destination. If you humble yourself today — just today — and do it again tomorrow, your brain will begin to rewire around that posture. If you return to prayer — not perfectly, but persistently — the neural pathways of communion will deepen. If you seek His face in the small moments, the hunger will return. And if you turn — not from everything, but from one thing — you will find yourself, a year from now, standing in a different place than you are standing today. This is not self-improvement. This is sanctification. And God promised to meet it. "He will hear. He will forgive. He will heal." 2 Chronicles 7:14 Not the land first. You first. A Word for Those Who Feel Far Come back. One degree. Today. The healing of our communities begins with the return of His people — one heart, one household, one degree at a time. If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to find their way back.

Neurotheology and the Practice of Presence Whether or not you pray, your brain is doing something when you sit in silence, slow your breathing, and direct your attention toward something larger than yourself. Neuroscientists call it a shift in default mode network activity -- a measurable reorganization of how your brain allocates attention when it moves from reactive processing to something more intentional, more still. Contemplatives have called it communion for centuries. The research and the ancient practice are describing the same phenomenon from opposite ends of the same corridor. That convergence is not an accident. "The question isn't whether silence does something to you. The question is — what are you directing that silence toward?" This post is for anyone who has ever wondered whether prayer is more than wishful thinking — and for those who already know it is, but want to understand more deeply why the architecture of their mind was built for it. PART ONE Your Brain Was Not Built for the Pace You Are Living At The prefrontal cortex — the seat of your capacity for reflection, moral reasoning, long-range planning, and genuine relational attunement — does not function well under chronic stress. It is suppressed by it. When your nervous system is in a sustained state of low-grade threat, your brain's higher functions go offline in measurable ways. You become more reactive, less curious, less capable of the kind of presence that your relationships and your soul require. This is not a character flaw. It is neurobiology. What reverses it is not more effort. It is stillness — specifically, the kind of embodied, attentive, directed stillness that prayer, at its most basic, actually is. When you slow your breathing, quiet external input, and fix your attention on something beyond your own anxiety, you are initiating a parasympathetic state that restores prefrontal access. Your capacity for wisdom literally comes back online. "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 The Hebrew imperative here — raphah — means to release, to let drop, to cease striving. It is not passive. It is an active yielding of the nervous system's grip on control. And the reward is knowledge. Not information. Knowledge — the kind that only comes when the noise goes quiet enough to hear something true. PART TWO WHAT CHANGES IN THE BRAIN DURING PRAYER Neuroimaging studies across the last two decades have documented consistent changes in brain activity during contemplative practice. The parietal lobes — responsible for the felt sense of where "I" end and "other" begins — show decreased activity. The frontal lobes, associated with focused attention and intention, show increased engagement. The amygdala, your brain's threat-detection center, quiets. In the language of interpersonal neurobiology, what you are doing when you pray is moving from a state of autonomic defense into what Dan Siegel calls integration — the coordinated flow of energy and information across differentiated parts of the system. In theological language, you are moving from fragmentation toward wholeness. These are not two descriptions of two different things. They are two languages pointing at the same transformation. "When you genuinely encounter the presence of God, your nervous system is not unaffected. It was designed for exactly this." "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 The word translated "renewing" — anakainōsis — describes a qualitative transformation from the inside out. Not behavior modification. Not willpower. A renovation of the mind's very operating architecture. What Paul is describing in theological terms, neuroscience is now documenting in the language of synaptic change, cortical reorganization, and neuroplasticity. The mechanism was always there. The invitation was always this. PART THREE WHY DISTRACTED PRAYER STILL COUNTS One of the most common confessions I hear in the counseling room — from believers and skeptics alike — is some version of this: I can't quiet my mind. My thoughts won't stop. I don't know if I'm doing it right. Here is what the neuroscience and the theology agree on: the act of returning your attention — of noticing your mind has wandered and bringing it back — is not a failure of prayer. It is the practice of prayer. Every return is a repetition. Every repetition deepens a groove. The brain changes not through one perfect moment of stillness but through the accumulated weight of thousands of imperfect returns. Grace operates the same way. It is not the achievement of stillness that matters most. It is the direction of your face. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8 The initiative is yours. The response is His. And your nervous system, designed by the same God who authored that promise, will register the difference over time. THE PRACTICE IS THE POINT A CLOSING WORD YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS KIND OF QUIET The world you are living in is not designed to produce the kind of person you most want to be. Its pace fragments attention. Its demands exhaust the prefrontal resources that make you genuinely present to those you love and to the God who made you. And the solution it offers — more productivity, more distraction, more noise — only accelerates the depletion. Prayer is not an escape from your life. It is the only practice that restores the capacity to actually live it — with clarity, with presence, with a nervous system capable of wisdom instead of only reaction. You were built for communion. Your brain carries the evidence. The question is whether you will make the space for what you were already made to receive. If you are carrying something that silence alone cannot hold — I work with complex presentations where neuroscience and faith meet in the same room.