THE BLOG
For me, the exhilaration of discovering new truths was usually followed by the exasperation of trying to walk them out in real life. The former was far more enjoyable than the latter! But what good is knowledge if it does not transform us? "Keeping it Real" tells the less glamorous side of the journey and the real-life lessons learned along the way. I pray that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand and embrace His Glorious truths and grant you the grace to assimilate those truths into your day-to-day lives. I pray that these stories about my journey bring some hope and encouragement to you as you continue yours.
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This is where Paul tells us to start, and it may be the most fascinating verse in scripture!
‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Giving thanks is natural when life is good. But giving thanks in everything—that sounds crazy. But Paul leaves no room for misunderstanding. With absolute clarity, he declares: “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Gratitude Is an Attitude
Gratitude is not another item to check add to our spiritual to-do list. It is a state of mind that reshapes how we view every circumstance.
As we embrace the unchanging truths revealed in Scripture:
God is love.
God has a plan.
God is sovereign.
…we begin to see life through an entirely different lens.
Because God is love, His every act flows from love and leads to the best possible outcome for all mankind. Because He has a plan and He is Sovereign, we know He will achieve what He intends. Nothing escapes His control. Not one molecule in all His creation is out of place. Even the powers of evil are ultimately woven into His redemptive story and play a necessary role in His loving purpose.
As we internalize these truths, we gain spiritual wisdom. We realize that God knows far better than we do what serves our highest good.
The question then becomes: Will we cling to our own limited understanding when life doesn’t go “our way,” or will we surrender to the One who sees the full picture and loves us perfectly?
Giving thanks in everything is not something we must “try harder” to do. It is the natural byproduct of believing God's Word. As we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds, we respond to both the good and the difficult with the deep conviction that ALL is necessary in God’s economy. His goal—to be “All in All”—requires the experience of both good and evil. As believers, we have the immense advantage of knowing the end of the story: evil will be overcome and forever eradicated by good.
The Key Is Faith
True spiritual maturity trusts this reality and believes that even suffering has a place in God’s redemptive narrative.
Joseph demonstrated this when he told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God works all things together for good.
When we lack this faith, we default to anxiety and doubt. But when God’s Spirit opens our eyes to the bigger picture, gratitude flows naturally, even in the darkest valleys. This kind of gratitude is radical. It is evidence that we are a new creation. And sincere gratitude is a beautiful fragrance which delights the heart of God.
The next time you face something painful or disappointing, pause and ask: “Can I thank God in this—not because it feels good, but because I trust He is sovereign, He is good, and He is working all things according to His perfect plan?”
Gratitude is the purest form of worship.
Gratitude naturally rises from a heart that truly knows and loves God for who He is. As our faith and understanding grow, we choose gratitude in every circumstance; we enter more deeply into the will of God and become living testimonies of His goodness.
In a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty, this radical thankfulness becomes a powerful witness—drawing others to the One who turns every trial into treasure and freely creates beauty from ashes. It also gives us peace that transcends human understanding and makes it possible not to be anxious about anything.
Blog #3
In 1992, Randy Stonehill released a song called Great Big Stupid World.
Because it's a great, big, stupid world
And we're feeling kinda queasy as it turns around
Great, big, stupid world
And we're never really sure if we're up or down...
Each clever verse called out the insanity of pop culture in the 90's. Look the lyrics up on YouTube. You will get a kick out of it, especially if you lived through the 90s.
But the 90s seem safe and sane compared to the world we live in today! Wars, rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, riots, division, hatred, corruption, debt, inflation, poverty, antisemitism, deception, propaganda, and a full-blown rejection of truth. How much longer can this world hold it together?
Like most artists, musicians are sensitive to and relate (often profoundly) to the feelings of those around them. Randy Stonehill captured the sentiment of many in the 1990s.
I heard another song recently from an unlikely artist named Tom McDonald. Tom captured the anxiety of nearly everyone I speak to these days in his song, Superman. The first verse starts like this;
Unlocked my phone and watched the world die
They're crying to God while they run for their lives
Blood in the streets, bombs in the skies...
Then comes the chorus.
We need something fast; we need something bad
More than guns and tanks-
Where is Superman?
Oh, Oh, Oh, where is Superman?
Oh, Oh, Oh, where is Superman?
God is sovereign. He operates EVERYTHING according to His plan.
Under the Adversary's influence, man made a mess of this world. Why would God allow this? Was this His plan?
The world is in such dire straits right now that it is begging for a savior (a Superman).
This is a step in the right direction. No one calls for Superman until they realize they are in trouble.
Unfortunately, the Superman the world is now calling for will show up as the false rider on the white horse who will deceive the world into believing he can save us.
The world will fall for this false Christ. He will be a Devil masquerading as an angel of light, and it will be the religions of the world ((including "Christianity") who will embrace him most enthusiastically.
Rightly dividing the truth of God's word is more important than ever. Be wary of those who proclaim to be prophets, those the religious world has propped up to satisfy their itching ears. (peace, prosperity, health, a victorious life). These are the gifts the anti-Christ will promise. But once opened, they will bring death, destruction, and devastation unlike anything the world has ever seen.
Yes, It is a great, big, stupid world. But we serve a great, big, Sovereign God who promised He will work ALL things together for our good (Rom 8:28). He is both the Author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2) What He said, He will do. (Is 46:10)
Remember, God has a plan! The message that announces that plan is the Gospel. (Good News)
Just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be made alive and justified.
Yes, it is a scary ride, but we could not be in better hands.
Check out the article below to learn more about God's Plan for the eons and the redemption of all humanity.
Blog #2
God is Love. He is the creator and sovereign ruler over ALL. He works all together things for our good. These are marvelous and comforting truths. Believing them is one thing. Walking in them, now that's a different story! At an especially low point in my journey, my wife and I were in the car and Matt Redmond's song, 'You Never Let Go' began playing on the radio.
O no, You never let go.
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go - Lord, You never let go of me.
"My wife said, "Oh, I love this song!" I responded, "Me too, I just wish it were true".
If God loves me, has a purpose for my life, and is truly in control, I should be immune from worry, fear, and anxiety. after all, Paul said; Do not worry about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, with prayer and thanksgiving, let your request be known to God, and the peace of God, which is superior to every frame of mind, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7) How hard can that be?
I expected that knowing the truth would give me this peace that surpasses understanding. But it didn't! Here is what I missed. We are BEING transformed by the renewing of our minds. Transformation is a process, a journey. It is not instantaneous. Faith is like our muscles. It can only grow by being excercised. My problem was not believing God's word, it was (and at times still is) thinking that my faith could be strong without being tested.
Yes, suffering, failure, loss, and hardship. are part of our journey. Expect them. We are not exempt. They are necessary on many levels. Here is Paul's take on it. " I am reckoning that the sufferings of this current era do not deserve to be compared with the glory about to be revealed for us. (Rom 8:18) They are light and momentary compared to the exceeding glory they will bring about! (2 Cor 4:17) Even Christ, though being a Son, learned obedience by the things which He suffered and BEING perfected, became the Author of eonian salvation to all who obey Him. (Heb 5:8-9)
For more insight on the role (and eventual eradication of) suffering and evil, check out the article "The Problem of Evil" in the link below.
Blog #1
Relax...It is an announcement, not an offer!
Like many Christians, I felt a heavy burden to "save" my friends, family, and community from the horrors of an eternity in Hell. I reasoned that their terrible fate might be on me if I did not do my job. This burden was rooted in a genuine love for others, but it was misguided. My false assumption that Jesus could not save us unless we "accepted" Him kept me from being able to see others as He saw them. It also prevented me from sharing the Good News of the Gospel. I presented it as an offer. "Christ died and made it possible for you to be saved. All you must do is accept Him and His wonderful gift." (Then I awkwardly warned that He created Hell for those who don't accept Him)
Learning that Christ's obedience, suffering, death, and resurrection served as the ransom for all mankind changed everything! Understanding that just as in Adam, all sinned, so also in Christ, all will be made alive and justified set me free from the guilt-ridden obligation to "save" others. Christ has already done it! The irony is that losing the guilt turned sharing the Gospel into an absolute joy. (It is called Good News for a reason!) The salvation of all mankind was secured at the cross, but if we do not believe this great news, we cannot enjoy or experience it. And as Paul said in Romans, how will they believe it if they do not hear it?
All will eventually realize their salvation, but not all will experience it in this life. Some are chosen by God and granted the faith to believe without seeing. This privilege is a gift and not a result of anything we have done to deserve it. We are saved by grace, through faith, and this (faith) is not out of us; it is God's approach present! (Eph 2:8)
The rest will not experience this wonderful salvation until they meet their maker after death at the Great White Throne of Revelation Chapter 21. If you want to learn more about the salvation of all, check out the article "Especially of Believers" by clicking the link below.