Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, June 20, 2025.

Your information does not help me love God, or my neighbors.

But your experience in the Spirit does.

To worship God in Spirit and Truth means that it is not theological.

It’s not theoretical.
It's not philosophical.
It’s not an idea in our heads.

It’s experience lived in the Spirit.

Jesus says,
"Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him."
— John 8:55

And,
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not [done religious works]?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
— Matthew 7:22–23

"Knowing" is life lived—not from the head, but from the heart—
the heart He gives.

Worshiping in Spirit and in Truth is to produce fruit after its own kind—
to behave the way the Spirit does,
not because I know the law,
but because doing His will is now my nature.

When Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like…,"
He’s not speaking conceptually—
He’s sharing what He has seen through experience (John 3:11).

And that’s what helps us:
experience with God,
not academic theory.

As you are becoming,
as you are being born again,
as Christ is being formed in you
and is understood by way of exercise—
share.

What is it like walking with Him?
What is He like?
What did He do?
How is He helping you?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear.”
— 1 Peter 3:15

Share how His life in you,
and His presence with you,
is changing the way you live.

Share what "the kingdom of heaven is like"—
your experience living with His nature,
in Spirit and in Truth.

That helps me love God.
That helps my love my neighbor.

#Theology #WorshipInSpiritAndTruth #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Something super cool (to me) came out of last night's Bible Study which built on another Bible Study earlier that day, and it's the definition of an idol.

An idol is a destination other than God. It's a place we go for something instead of God—when God wants us to come to Him for everything, because that's the only place good things are (James 1:17).

It was a gem that collected in my heart from the diffusion of His aroma through others believers. Oh how I love Him/them so!

Thanks Brad Cox and Torey Brown for creating these spaces of communion!

#idol #idolatry #heartwords

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Work is not who I am.

It's not even what I do.

Work is the God-given gift and privilege of participating in His creative work.

"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."
— Genesis 2:15

Work is exertion with purpose.

We become dissatisfied with work when we become disconnected from purpose (and when its return is less than what's invested).

God's purpose is God: God with us, God in us, God through us, God all in all—which results in His glory that all of creation enjoys. (Psalm 104, 1 Chronicles 29:11-14)

This is life—the true riches which Jesus, doing the work of the Father, came to give.

His work is good.

#GoodWorks #Thriveday #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

You know what I find amazing?! In the account of Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler, the young man walks away sad and Jesus lets him.

This is so contrary to Christian culture today, that tries to convince and convert into a way of thinking.

But Jesus' silence and stillness speaks
volumes. Jesus models true ministry here. He demonstrates that this is not a matter of the head but of the heart.

So He drops seed—the Word of God that pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word is both what is being planted and the implement that prepares the soil.

And if it takes root, like a great tree emerging from concrete, it will tear asunder the foundation of lies and misconceptions of our hearts and replace it with the true foundation of Itself.

But, that takes time.

And like a skilled master gardener, He patiently labors then waits.

When our desire is misplaced—no theory, philosophy, or clever arguments will do—our hearts have to be broken to be saved.

"But [the rich young ruler] was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
— Mark 10:22

And, Jesus allowed him to leave—I believe to let the Word do its work. And I think He alludes to this hope in verses 25-27.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
— Mark 10:25

Then verse 27 reads,
"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

The point being for us to preach and live the Word and trust it to do its work. Salvation is of God, not of man—WE CANNOT DO IT.

I wouldn't want a faith I could be convinced into because I could be convinced out of it.

The goal is not to get them to join the club but to bring them under the conviction of the Holy Spirit who imparts a new heart with a new desire for God alone. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

So, we must stop tampering with the seed and trust it to break the hearts where they land.

We should also ask whether the distance we feel from God at times is His allowing us to leave so our hearts can break for His heart to shine through?

In either case, trust the Word.

#JesusLetHimLeave #discipleship #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

It's 4:00 AM.
The night is starting to wane.

I stir. Sleep has left me.
The feelings and thoughts begin to creep in.

I'm sad.
Even though I know the accident wasn't my fault (I've rehearsed it a thousand times), I feel responsible for all the suffering this has caused my wife.

It was her car. Now it's gone.
Dealing with insurance has been a nightmare. And on top of all that, she has to buy a new one. Interest rates aren't what they were.

The added stress is visible.
And it's all my fault.

Then, I feel the brush of her arm moving across the bed.
She extends her hand for me to hold.

That was such a ministry to me.

Her outstretched hand said, "I'm with you—through it all."

This is the ministry of the wife—the rib of support, always beside.

This is where I want to be with God, where circumstances do not present any risk of my refusing His outstretched hand.

I want to say, "I'm with You—through it all."

Because being with You is what I want—ABOVE ALL, come what may. Together, we can deal with everything else.

"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ"
– Philippians 3:8

#WithYouThroughItAll #marriage #theministryofthewife #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Overcoming Satan's attacks is often as simple as not looking where he tells me to.

"Look at you, and how you've failed…"
"Look at this other person doing better than you…"
"Look at your circumstances…"
"Look at this thing you can have…"

These are Satan's suggestions.
But instead, I must keep my eyes on Jesus.

His voice is different.
Jesus never condemns.

Instead, He speaks like this:

"I can get you right. Leave everything holding you back…"
"Don't concern yourself with them. You follow Me…"
"Do not fear. I am the Good Shepherd…"
"All others are thieves and robbers. Only I have come that you might have life—and have it more abundantly…"

"Follow Me."

#DontDivertYourEyes #LookAtJesus #spiritualwarfare #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

I ate my feelings yesterday.

There's nothing wrong with chips and cookies,
But rather why I went to the chips and cookies.

It was in effect, trading my birthright for a bowl of soup.
(Hebrews 12:15-17)

I chose temporary relief in fleeting pleasures that do not satisfy, rather than the lasting healing of God that sustains.

But, for a child of God there is never condemnation, only correction.

He guides me to come to Him,
to stop scrolling,
to turn off the screen,
to close the pantry,
to meet Him in the quiet place,
to pray,
to cast all my cares upon Him,
and wait.

Wait for Him.
Do not forsake Him for another.
He will surely come.

I repent.

Though I stumble,
When I look to Him,
My Lord says, "Follow Me."
Then with an outstretched arm He lifts me up,
and restores me to a place where I can… again.
(Psalm 37:24, Jude 1:24)

"I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place."
— Psalm 118:5

Thank you, Jesus.

#perfectourlove