December 19, 2025

Christian Chutzpah?

Many years ago, one of my friends in ministry said he thought I had an incredible amount of chutzpah. I wasn’t even sure what that meant, but later I came to find out, according to Leo Rosen’s book, The Joys of Yiddish, chutzpah is “that quality enshrined in a man who, having just killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”  Now that is truly audacious. I hope my friend was speaking hyperbolically about me. I also hope that my confidence is in God, not conceit in myself. Confidence and courage come from being grounded and centered in our new identity in JESUS. As the apostle Paul declares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) This incredible theological truth is where we must find our grounding if we are to live a successful Christian life for the Lord. Paul also uses the term “In Christ” dozens of times in his writings to remind us of our union with Christ. Again, this is our center and the ground of our being as a new creation in Christ. Paul’s goal for himself and for the church is “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:29) What does that look like? Perhaps it is what the Apostle Peter means when he says: “that we might partake of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) That does not mean we become part of the Essence of God nor that we participate in the Energies of God. It does mean that we follow in the moral Example of God as we exhibit the communicable attributes of God in our lives. Communicable attributes are what God allows us to share or participate in. God is love – we are to be loving. God is wisdom - we are to exhibit wisdom. God is perfectly holy - we are to demonstrate holiness in all we do. (I Peter 1:15) Christian Chutzpa? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 Enough said. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

December 12, 2025

Fixating On The Future

Our Christmas tree goes up November 1st if not sooner. Most early mornings, you can find me sitting next to the tree drinking coffee, Bible in hand, reflecting on God’s goodness to me and my family. However, that does not mean I am isolated or insulated from the realities of the world I live in. The cultural perversion, the political exploitation, and overall societal corruption eats away at me and could spoil my peace of mind if I let it. However, when your mind is unbreakable, you are unbeatable! The apostle Paul reminds us of what we are to focus our minds upon and fixate our thoughts on in Philippians 4:8: ...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. However, we are also to “live with the end in mind.”  Christmas is the beginning, with the incarnation. Easter is the beginning of the end with the resurrection and ascension. But we still await the coming of the King. He who will inaugurate and finally consummate His Kingdom. As the book of Hebrews reminds us: Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe……..(Hebrews12:28). Even though we do not have total clarity and there is some uncertainty in this world, we can have clarity and certainty concerning the world of the future.  Remember to live today in light of tomorrow.  Count the Days and Make the Days Count! Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

December 5, 2025

The Truth Will Set You Free ~Jesus~

One of my best classes in university was Advanced Poetry. Just 5 girls, a teacher, and me. They were English majors, and I was a Psych major. I learned a lot about rhyme & cadence, and imagery & imagination. One of the great Romantic poets I studied was John Keats, who in 1817 wrote a letter to his brothers articulating a concept that I have found helpful in life and ministry. He called it “Negative Capability,” which he defined as the ability to be “capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” Negative Capability" involves: Being comfortable with uncertainty and patient before action. I have discovered that to live efficiently and to minister effectively requires a significant amount of this capability. For Christians living in a modern, decadent culture, we must be resilient in uncertain times, always maintaining an optimism based on Biblical realism. The Bible provides for us that which is ideal and that which is real, and that is because the Bible tells us what is true - that which corresponds to reality. As Lord Byron reminds us; “What is a lie but the truth in masquerade.” "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred