Friday with Fred: January 2026

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 21^st 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