January 30, 2026

"Corruption of the Best is the Worst"

Corruptio optimi pessimal

Perhaps Lucifer is the shining example of this Latin axiom attributed to Aristotle and others. However, I do not deal with angels but with men. I have invested the past fifty years of my life training men to be competent in ministry and courageous in life.


However, corruption of character is always a danger for men in the ministry. Unfortunately, it seems that all too often the cultural clarions of communication, aka the newspaper, provide new episodes and incidents of marital infidelity or materialistic idolatry by ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ.


The illustration of Eve (Genesis 3) and the warning of the Apostle John demonstrate that the dangers of “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” are an ever-present potential menace for ministers. (I John 2:16). Pride is disastrous in the spiritual life. Pride is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the one who has it.


Many of the men I mentor and train are very skilled in public speaking and writing, and it is easy for them to become overly impressed with themselves and their abilities. But as I often remind them – today’s peacock is tomorrow's feather duster!


Speaking of feathers, perhaps I should remind them of what happened to Icarus!


Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred

January 23, 2026

"We do not know what is happening to us and that is what is happening to us,

not to know what is happening to us."

José Ortega y Gasset, 1930 ~


After everything else that has taken place in Minneapolis St. Paul, (fraud, theft, graft at the highest levels of state government) you might’ve thought that you’ve seen everything. But then came the activists, the agitators, the anarchists who broke into a Southern Baptist Church during a Sunday morning worship service, scaring children, and teenagers, not to mention parents, claiming that the pastor is to be silenced because of his involvement with the federal agency ICE.


You would think that those people would be arrested and charged. At least it appears that law enforcement is looking into certain charges, but none have been filed as of this writing. What is worse is that it took 3 days before there were major news agencies, except the AP, that covered the story at all or with any depth.


This is not simply an incident that will go away from the minds of the children, the teenagers, and the parents. PTSD is in all likelihood a real probability for many at that church. However, this is an event that should not go away from the consciousness of our society.


In one sense, the fact that it will go away quite soon is a "sense of the ending." The Apostle Paul talked about the fact that people could have their consciences seared. They become numb to wickedness and evil, and in fact cannot even identify it. In a world that has shifted its worldview from Christianity to nihilism, being backed by Satan’s influence and illusion, it is obvious that we cannot cheat the end from arriving. It is not here yet. But it is getting ever closer still.


When a culture turns its back on God, there will be consequences. (Romans 1) As Shakespeare said through Hamlet at the end - "the rest is silence." We call it crickets. 


What is happening to us?


Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred

January 16, 2025

 A Faithful Presence

Jesus was on trial for being both:

A Social Terrorist Against the Roman Government and

A Spiritual Terrorist Against the Jewish Government

He was neither - His Kingdom was not of this world.


Jesus gave us instructions as to how we are meant to live in this present world as we wait for the future world. It is found in the Sermon on the Mount. It is a guide for disciples on how to live today in light of tomorrow. It is Kingdom Living…. Now.


Notice that the Beatitudes are bracketed by the phrase, “for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)


Living out the Beatitudes produces and provides light to the world. It is not easy to live this way, but it has a profound impact on a lost and dying world.


"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."


And there it is: “Glorify your Father in Heaven.” That is why we live, and that is why we do what we do with our lives.


The Westminster Shorter Catechism reminds us that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” This is developed from the inspired wisdom of Psalm 16:8-9; “I have set the Lord continually before me…Therefore, my heart is glad.”

 

Will you live out your life in 2026 to the glory of God?


I guess it all depends on whose kingdom you are most interested in.


Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred

January 9, 2026

   This is Where the Serpent Lives

Europe is growing more socialistic, censorious, globalist, pacifist, multiculturalist, atheist and green. It is also leaving its Christian roots and adopting atheism and Islam.


America also has Christian roots and is also adopting many of these political and religious viewpoints. (Just watch the antisemitic, socialist Muslim, mayor of NYC be sworn in using the Quran as his document of allegiance and his oath of office being officiated by other self-described socialists - Bernie and AOC) Let’s hope and pray we can stop, remember, and go back to our roots.


The most important thing in the world is the truth. God gives us the truth, the truth to save us, to sanctify us, to guide us, and to protect us. Satan seeks to destroy the truth. He did that in the garden by causing Eve to question God’s goodness and even imply that God was a liar. That’s his style, that’s his scheme to counterfeit the truth, counteract the truth, and lead man to question the truth. The church is to proclaim the truth. The church is to be the pillar of truth.


Make no mistake - This is where the serpent lives in 21st century America. We must have clarity in our heads, courage in our hearts, and resilience in our souls. And always remember- “true enough” is not the same as the “actual truth.”


However, always remember as Jesus prayed to the Father for us: “Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth!" (John 17:17)


Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred

January 2, 2026

Live with the End in Mind

-Steven Covey-

We have just begun a new year. For me, that means preparing a new set of Goals, Objectives, and Standards (GOS).  I try to think my way through, review, and evaluate the previous year, and then think, dream, and pray as to what I might engage myself in this year. It is not always a pleasant procedure, but it is helpful for my focus so I can maximize my investment of myself.  I remind myself as Paul reminds all of us: we are to “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord… as we redeem the time for the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:10; 16-17)


This year I realize that I have more years behind me than in front of me, so it is ever more important for me to be wise with the investment of a lifetime. However, I find the words of J. I. Packer comforting: “Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.”


My prayer is as Moses reminds us in the oldest Psalm, 90:12 ,“Teach us to number our days that we might present to you a heart of wisdom.”  Today we might say - Count the days and make the days count, because right now counts forever.


Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred