February 27, 2026

Spiritual Awakening or Social Wokeness?

I have been asked many times if I think America is going to have a spiritual revival or a spiritual awakening. My response is that first, we need to make sure we know the difference between the two terms. A revival is more of an event. An awakening is a bigger, more expansive movement. Both must begin with a reversal of the present state of affairs, and both come about through a society of influencers and the Spirit of God. A few observations: It is true that our culture began to develop and decompose as America experienced the power of choice. The pluralization of options led to the personalization of selections and the privatization of choices. But choices became devoid of the sacred by the demand of the secular. It is true that the secular culture is steamrolling the sacred Church. It is also true that our culture is sensing a moral bankruptcy. Our culture is not progressing. It is mutating. However, it is true that there are many intellectuals coming to Christ or questioning their atheism. It is true that the “New Atheists” movement was short-lived and is now dead. It is also true that many of the radical sociological expressions such as DEI and Transgenderism, are beginning to lose steam. Ancient Rome was hostile to Christianity, and modern America is moving in the same direction. But the truth is, Christianity does not depend on a friendly sociological environment but on an authentic spiritual relationship. Is there a spiritual revival or awakening coming soon? I do not see evidence in the public square for such optimism. But I hope there is in my heart. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

February 20, 2026

You Cannot Cheat the End from Arriving

Many of my friends and readers of “Friday with Fred” are, shall we say, older, senior citizens. With age comes a sense of awareness and sensitivity to life's brevity. However, as Christians, our death is only the next step toward eternal life. I find myself reading and rereading the book of Ecclesiastes more often, for it speaks to me in ways the newspaper fails to speak. The Preacher, Qoheleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, has had it all, done it all, and finds himself dissatisfied with all. His advice is for those who are young, in light of the inevitable arrival of age: “Remember your creator in the days of your youth before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say I have no delight in them.” (12:1)   However, for all people, both young and old, he reminds us, “The end of all things is this, fear God, and keep His commandments because this applies to every person for God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (12:13-14) It is true that you cannot cheat the end from arriving. And this would be terrifying if not for the fact that death is not the end but the beginning. So, whether it is by Rapture or Resurrection, be ready (I Thessalonians 4:14-17). For as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “We should make it our ambition to be pleasing to Him, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may be recompensed according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10; Romans 14:10) You cannot cheat the end from arriving. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

February 13, 2026

"We are Creatures of Matter that Long to Matter."

Rebecca Goldstein's book, “The Mattering Instinct,” has excavated an essential truth and a perplexing question. When I was in university, we studied the psychology of the soul and philosophy for the mind. We examined both the physical and metaphysical realms of reality. This college curriculum aimed to provide a reason for life and a guide to living it to the fullest. From ancient philosophers to modern psychologists, the goal has been to find a reason why man matters. If we simply live in a closed universe that has no creator and therefore no ultimate meaning, then all we are is dust in the wind, and the question is, “Why man?” Cur Homo? However, for Christians who are committed to a theistic worldview, the real question is “Why did God become man?” Cur deus homo?  We are made in the image and likeness of God. The only true and wise God is Love, and as such, He loves us. And even in our rebellion against Him and our rejection of Him, He chose not to reject us but to seek and save the lost. If you have been a Christian for a long time, you sometimes can forget this basic fact or take it for granted. Perhaps the power of God’s grace and mercy has lost its proper place in your memory. Remember it again, as for the first time. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

February 6, 2026

One of my great understatements is, “I do not understand.”

There are many things that I do not understand. The preeminent area of my lack of understanding concerns “The Lord my God”. The more I know, the more I know that I don’t know. His name clarifies and confuses me. Yahweh - I am that I am (Exodus 3:14). This grammatical couplet and lexical duplication of terms leave me perplexed. But this is as it should be for God is God, and I am not. Of course, there are things I do not comprehend. How could I, who was created, fully comprehend the Creator who was and is and shall always be? Yahweh is self-existent. He is species unique. He never became nor is He becoming. He simply IS BEING. Yahweh is Spirit and as such is not subject to time and space limitations. Yahweh is Simple; He is not made of nor does He exist in parts. He is a unified Being. Yahweh is Immutable: He does not change - ontologically or morally. Yahweh is Eternal: His essence exists in eternity. Yahweh is All Knowing: Knowing all with simultaneity, not sequentially. Yahweh is truly Awesome. I would suggest that we reserve the word ‘awesome’ for He who is truly and uniquely awesome, for He is the only true and wise God. As Pharaoh apocryphally said after the Red Sea incident concerning Moses, “His God is God!” I may not understand all, but I understand enough to be somewhat confused but very comforted. “Our God is an awesome God.  He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God.” Only God IS. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred