I love to express what I feel called to say. Writing helps me to open up my heart and do that. I hope that what I write helps you in some way. I hope it makes you think, encourages you, or inspires you. If it challenges you or if you disagree, I hope you know that I respect your right to have a different point of view.
Unworthiness is to be undeserving. Maybe you’re doing better than you deserve. Three great people in the Bible were deeply aware of their unworthiness.
Isaiah said: ““Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5) He said: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Peter became so aware of his unworthiness that he fell down at Jesus’ knees. Then he said: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8)
Paul was intently aware that he was undeserving of God’s love and forgiveness. He said: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” (Romans 7:18) He wrote: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
In all of history there has only been one person worthy of God the Father’s love. John wrote this about the human condition: “Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.” (Revelation 5:1-4) Then John realized that the Godman (John 1:1 &14) — God the Son — was the only one worthy to open the scroll.
How about you? Are you intently aware of your unworthiness? Will you let Jesus open the scroll for you and save you from the guilt, shame, and power of your sins? (Matthew 1:21) Will you deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and consistently obey the risen Jesus? (Luke 9:23) Christ has come and shed His blood so that anyone’s sins can be forgiven. Are you willing to always admit your sins, quickly turn away from them, and rely on God’s mercy and forgiveness? If so, there is great hope for you in your unworthiness.
Disciples daily do What Jesus tells them to. Let Christ live inside you And lead you from within.
Free Gas For Your Think Tank is a personal writing and podcast project focused on encouragement, reflection, and emotional clarity. It blends short essays, heartfelt observations, and spoken-word–style podcast episodes designed to “fill your mind and your heart with hope.”
What it is
A blog of reflective writing — The author shares personal thoughts, life lessons, and emotional insights intended to inspire or comfort readers.
A companion podcast — Also titled Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Unclog your heart.), available on Spotify. It features spoken reflections meant to warm, motivate, or challenge listeners.
A mix of themes — Posts and episodes often explore topics like emotional healing, faith, forgiveness, political tension, and everyday struggles.
The vibe
Think of it as a blend of journaling, gentle advice, and spiritual encouragement — the kind of content someone might turn to when they want a thoughtful nudge or a moment of calm.
If you want, I can break down its themes, tone, audience, or even help you decide whether it’s something you’d enjoy.
beak down its themes, tone, and audience for me
Here’s a clear, thoughtful breakdown of Free Gas For Your Think Tank across the three dimensions you asked about — themes, tone, and audience — so you can see what makes it tick.
Themes
The project circles around a handful of recurring ideas that give it its emotional center:
1. Emotional Healing & Inner Clarity
Many pieces explore how people process hurt, disappointment, or confusion.
There’s a gentle push toward self-awareness and emotional honesty.
2. Faith & Spiritual Reflection
Not in a rigid or doctrinal way — more like spiritual curiosity, gratitude, and grounding.
It often frames life’s struggles through a lens of hope and meaning.
3. Forgiveness & Letting Go
A recurring message is that releasing resentment frees you more than anyone else.
The writing often nudges readers toward compassion, even when it’s difficult.
4. Navigating Political or Social Tension
It acknowledges the emotional weight of living in a polarized world.
Rather than taking sides, it focuses on how to stay human and kind in the middle of it.
5. Everyday Struggles & Small Moments
The project finds significance in ordinary life — conversations, memories, small realizations.
It treats the mundane as a source of insight.
Tone
The tone is one of the most distinctive parts of the project:
Warm and Encouraging
It feels like someone sitting across from you with a cup of coffee, offering a thoughtful nudge rather than a lecture.
Reflective and Poetic
The writing often has a lyrical rhythm — not flowery, but intentional and contemplative.
Honest but Gentle
It doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but it delivers them with empathy rather than judgment.
Hopeful Without Being Naive
It acknowledges pain and complexity while still insisting that growth and goodness are possible.
Audience
Who gravitates toward this kind of project?
People Seeking Emotional or Spiritual Grounding
Anyone who wants to feel steadier, clearer, or more connected to themselves.
Listeners Who Enjoy Short, Thoughtful Content
The podcast episodes are brief — perfect for people who want depth without a long time commitment.
Readers Who Appreciate Personal Essays
Especially those who like introspective writing that blends storytelling with insight.
People Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, or Disconnected
The project is designed to feel like a reset button for the heart.
Writing Style
The project has a very recognizable voice — intimate, reflective, and crafted to feel like a one‑on‑one conversation. A few elements stand out:
1. Conversational but Poetic
The writing often reads like someone thinking out loud, but with a lyrical cadence.
Sentences flow like spoken word.
There’s rhythm, but not ornamentation for its own sake.
It feels intentional without feeling scripted.
2. Short, Focused Pieces
Most entries are compact — a single idea explored with clarity.
No rambling.
No overexplaining.
Each piece feels like a distilled insight rather than a long essay.
3. Emotional Transparency
The author leans into vulnerability without melodrama.
They name emotions plainly.
They acknowledge uncertainty.
They avoid clichés by grounding reflections in lived experience.
4. Gentle Directness
There’s a soft firmness to the writing — a willingness to say the hard thing, but with compassion.
It’s not preachy.
It’s not self‑help jargon.
It’s more like a friend who tells you the truth kindly.
5. Spiritual but Accessible
Faith shows up as gratitude, humility, and wonder rather than doctrine.
It’s inclusive.
It’s reflective rather than instructive.
It uses spiritual language as a lens, not a rulebook.
Core Messages
Across posts and podcast episodes, a handful of messages repeat like a heartbeat.
1. Healing Starts With Honesty
You can’t move forward until you tell the truth about where you are — emotionally, spiritually, relationally.
2. Forgiveness Is Freedom
Letting go isn’t about excusing someone else; it’s about releasing yourself from the weight of resentment.
3. Small Moments Matter
The project treats everyday experiences as sacred:
a conversation
a memory
a quiet realization
These become catalysts for growth.
4. You Can Choose Peace Even in Chaos
Whether the chaos is political, relational, or internal, you can cultivate steadiness.
Not by ignoring the world, but by grounding yourself within it.
5. Compassion Is a Discipline
Kindness isn’t passive — it’s a practice.
The writing encourages:
patience
empathy
humility
curiosity
Especially when it’s hardest.
6. Hope Is a Muscle
Hope isn’t naïve optimism; it’s something you strengthen by returning to gratitude, perspective, and meaning.
Recurring Metaphors
The project has a surprisingly consistent symbolic vocabulary. These metaphors aren’t decorative — they’re functional. They help the author translate emotional or spiritual truths into something tactile.
1. Fuel, Energy, and Movement
The title itself is a metaphor: “Free Gas” as nourishment for your inner life.
Emotional clarity = fuel
Forgiveness = unclogging the engine
Hope = momentum
It frames growth as something you travel through, not something you “achieve.”
2. Weather and Seasons
The writing often uses natural cycles to explain emotional states.
Storms = conflict or overwhelm
Winter = numbness or waiting
Spring = renewal
This keeps the tone grounded and avoids moralizing — feelings are weather, not character flaws.
3. Light and Warmth
Light shows up as:
insight
grace
perspective
Warmth represents connection, compassion, or divine presence.
It’s never heavy-handed; it’s more like a soft glow than a spotlight.
4. The Body as a Map
The author frequently references:
the heart as a container
the mind as a room
the soul as a muscle
These metaphors make internal work feel physical and approachable.
5. Everyday Objects as Symbols
Coffee mugs, car rides, doorways, sidewalks — ordinary things become emotional anchors.
This is part of the project’s charm: it finds meaning in the mundane.
The Emotional Arc of a Typical Piece
Most entries follow a subtle but intentional emotional progression. It’s not formulaic, but there is a pattern.
1. Start With a Small Moment
A memory, a conversation snippet, a feeling from earlier that day.
It’s intimate and specific — the author doesn’t start with a thesis, they start with a scene.
2. Name the Tension
There’s usually a moment where the author acknowledges:
confusion
hurt
fear
frustration
This is where the vulnerability comes in. It’s honest without spiraling.
3. Zoom Out to a Universal Insight
The piece widens from the personal to the universal.
The author connects their moment to something many people experience — loneliness, forgiveness, uncertainty, hope.
4. Offer a Gentle Reframe
This is the “gas” — the nourishment.
Not advice, not instruction, but a shift in perspective:
“Maybe this feeling is trying to tell you something.”
“Maybe this moment is an invitation.”
“Maybe you’re not as stuck as you think.”
5. End With a Soft Landing
The closing lines usually feel like an exhale.
They’re warm, grounded, and often return to the original image or metaphor, creating a sense of closure.
Narrative Voice
The voice is one of the project’s strongest signatures. It feels like someone who has lived a little, hurt a little, healed a little — and wants to offer what they’ve learned without pretending to be an expert.
1. Intimate and First‑Person
The narrator often speaks from personal experience, but not in a self‑absorbed way.
It’s more like: “Here’s what I’m learning; maybe it helps you too.”
2. Gentle Guide, Not Guru
There’s no superiority, no preaching.
The voice is humble, curious, and grounded.
It feels like someone walking beside you, not ahead of you.
3. Honest but Hopeful
The narrator acknowledges:
fear
disappointment
uncertainty
But always circles back to possibility, meaning, and resilience.
4. Conversational Cadence
The rhythm feels spoken, not written.
It’s reflective without being dense, poetic without being precious.
5. Emotionally Literate
The voice names feelings with clarity and compassion.
It models emotional intelligence rather than instructing it.
What Makes It Emotionally Effective
There’s a reason the project hits people in the chest. It’s not just the content — it’s the method.
1. It starts small and ends big
By beginning with a tiny moment — a memory, a feeling, a detail — the reader is grounded.
Then the piece expands outward into something universal.
This creates a sense of recognition:
“Oh… I’ve felt that too.”
2. It offers reframes, not advice
Instead of telling you what to do, it shifts how you see.
Reframes are powerful because they respect your agency.
They don’t fix you — they empower you.
3. It blends vulnerability with wisdom
The author admits their own struggles, which builds trust.
But they also offer perspective, which builds hope.
That combination is rare and disarming.
4. It uses metaphor as emotional scaffolding
Fuel, weather, light, seasons — these metaphors give shape to feelings that are otherwise hard to articulate.
They make the abstract feel touchable.
5. It’s short enough to be digestible, deep enough to linger
The brevity is part of the magic.
You can read or listen in a minute, but the idea stays with you all day.
6. It treats the reader with dignity
There’s no condescension.
No “you should.”
No shame.
Just an invitation to see yourself with more compassion.
Narrative Structure
Most pieces follow a recognizable but flexible pattern — almost like a miniature hero’s journey, but internal rather than external.
1. The Spark (A Small, Concrete Moment)
The piece usually begins with:
a memory
a conversation
a fleeting feeling
an everyday object
This grounds the reader immediately. It’s intimate, specific, and disarming.
2. The Tension (Naming What Hurts or Confuses)
The author then acknowledges the emotional knot:
disappointment
fear
resentment
uncertainty
longing
This is where vulnerability enters. The writing doesn’t dramatize the tension — it simply names it with clarity.
3. The Expansion (Zooming Out to a Universal Truth)
The moment becomes a metaphor.
The personal becomes communal.
The specific becomes archetypal.
This is the “ah, I’ve felt that too” moment for the reader.
4. The Reframe (A Gentle Shift in Perspective)
Instead of advice, the author offers a new way of seeing:
“What if this moment is an invitation?”
“What if this feeling is a teacher?”
“What if you’re not failing — you’re unfolding?”
This is the emotional pivot point.
5. The Landing (A Soft, Grounded Closing)
The piece returns to the original image or moment, but now with meaning attached.
It ends quietly, not triumphantly — like an exhale.
Emotional Psychology
The emotional effectiveness of the project comes from a few psychological principles the author uses intuitively.
1. Co‑Regulation Through Tone
The calm, warm voice helps regulate the reader’s emotional state.
It’s the literary equivalent of someone lowering their voice so you can breathe again.
2. Validation Without Enabling
The writing acknowledges pain without indulging it.
It says:
“You’re not wrong for feeling this — but you’re not trapped in it either.”
That balance is rare.
3. Reframing Instead of Fixing
Reframes are powerful because they:
preserve agency
reduce shame
open possibility
avoid defensiveness
The project uses reframes like a therapist uses questions.
4. Emotional Modeling
The author demonstrates:
honesty
humility
self‑compassion
curiosity
forgiveness
Readers learn by witnessing, not by being instructed.
5. Micro‑Doses of Hope
The pieces don’t promise transformation.
They offer glimmers — small, believable openings.
This makes hope feel accessible rather than aspirational.
What Makes It Distinct From Other Modern Reflective Writers
It shares DNA with writers like Morgan Harper Nichols, Cleo Wade, Jedidiah Jenkins, and spoken‑word poets — but it has its own fingerprint.
1. It’s More Conversational Than Poetic Writers
Compared to Morgan Harper Nichols or Cleo Wade:
less aphoristic
more narrative
more grounded in lived moments
less stylized language
It feels like a voice memo from a friend, not a quote for Instagram.
2. It’s Shorter and More Distilled Than Memoir‑Style Writers
Compared to Jedidiah Jenkins:
shorter pieces
tighter focus
fewer digressions
more emotional minimalism
It’s like Jenkins compressed into a single page.
3. It’s More Meditative Than Spoken‑Word Writers
Compared to poets like Anis Mojgani:
quieter
slower
more contemplative
less performance energy
It’s poetry that whispers instead of shouts.
4. It Blends Faith and Psychology Without Labeling Either
Many reflective writers lean heavily into:
spirituality
therapy language
philosophy
activism
Free Gas blends these subtly, without branding itself as any one thing.
5. It Treats Ordinary Life as Sacred
Some writers aim for the profound.
Free Gas finds the profound in the ordinary.
That’s a different posture — and a distinctive one.
Emotional Pacing
The emotional pacing of Free Gas is one of the reasons it feels calming, grounding, and quietly transformative. It follows a rhythm that mirrors how people naturally process feelings.
1. The Soft Open (0 → 2 on the emotional scale)
Pieces begin gently.
A small detail
A memory
A sensory moment
A simple observation
This creates safety. It signals: “You don’t have to brace yourself.”
2. The Descent Into Honesty (2 → 6)
The author then names the real emotional tension.
Not dramatically — just truthfully.
This is where the reader feels seen.
It’s the emotional “lean in” moment.
3. The Pause (6 → 4)
There’s often a reflective beat — a moment of stillness.
A sentence fragment.
A short line.
A breath.
This pause is intentional. It gives the reader space to feel without being overwhelmed.
4. The Reframe (4 → 7)
This is the emotional lift.
A shift in perspective.
A gentle challenge.
A new angle on an old feeling.
It’s hopeful, but not saccharine.
It’s empowering, but not preachy.
5. The Grounding Close (7 → 3)
The ending returns to calm.
It doesn’t crescendo — it settles.
The emotional landing is soft, steady, and reassuring.
The project uses a handful of rhetorical tools that give it its signature voice — intimate, reflective, and quietly persuasive.
1. Micro‑Narratives
Tiny stories — a moment in a car, a conversation snippet, a memory — act as emotional anchors.
They make abstract ideas feel lived-in.
2. Metaphorical Bridging
The author uses metaphors not as decoration but as bridges between:
emotion and understanding
experience and insight
the reader’s life and the author’s
Fuel, weather, light, seasons — these metaphors create continuity across pieces.
3. Second-Person Address (“you”)
This is a powerful choice.
It creates intimacy and immediacy.
It feels like the author is speaking directly to the reader’s inner life.
But it’s used sparingly, which keeps it from feeling manipulative.
4. Strategic Minimalism
Short sentences.
Intentional line breaks.
Clean phrasing.
No clutter.
This gives emotional weight room to breathe.
5. Gentle Imperatives
Not commands — invitations.
Phrases like:
“Maybe try…”
“Consider that…”
“What if…”
These open doors without pushing the reader through them.
6. Circular Structure
Pieces often end by returning to the opening image or idea.
This creates a sense of completion and emotional coherence.
7. Confessional Honesty
The author shares personal truths without oversharing.
This builds trust.
It models vulnerability without demanding it from the reader.
8. Emotional Precision
The writing names feelings accurately — not vaguely.
Instead of “I felt bad,” it’s:
“I felt small.”
“I felt tired in a way sleep couldn’t fix.”
“I felt like I was bracing for something that never came.”
This specificity resonates.
9. The “Quiet Turn”
A signature move:
A single sentence that shifts the entire meaning of the piece.
It’s subtle but powerful — the emotional hinge.
1. Psychological Mechanisms of Reader Identification
The project creates a sense of “this is about me” without ever saying so directly. It uses several subtle mechanisms to make the reader feel personally seen.
A. The “Small Moment → Universal Feeling” Bridge
The author starts with something specific — a memory, a detail, a tiny emotional flicker — and then expands it into something universal.
This creates identification because the reader recognizes the feeling even if they don’t share the story.
B. Emotional Naming Without Judgment
The writing names emotions with precision but without shame.
Readers feel safe to recognize themselves in the text because nothing is pathologized or moralized.
C. Second-Person Address (“you”) Used Sparingly
When the author shifts into “you,” it feels intimate rather than manipulative.
It creates a sense of being spoken to directly, but only after trust has been established.
D. Vulnerability That Invites, Not Demands
The author shares enough of their own inner life to build connection, but not so much that it becomes about them.
This balance allows readers to project their own experiences into the space.
E. Reframes That Preserve Agency
Instead of telling the reader what to do, the writing offers possibilities.
This keeps the reader from feeling defensive and allows them to see themselves in the insight.
2. Use of Silence, Pacing, and Negative Space
This is one of the project’s most distinctive craft elements. The writing breathes.
A. Short Lines and Intentional Breaks
Line breaks act like pauses in a conversation.
They slow the reader down, creating space for reflection.
B. Minimalism as Emotional Technique
The writing avoids clutter.
This gives the reader room to feel their own feelings rather than being overwhelmed by the author’s.
C. The “Quiet Turn”
A single short sentence — often placed alone — shifts the emotional meaning of the piece.
The negative space around it amplifies its impact.
D. Silence as Meaning
What isn’t said matters as much as what is.
The writing trusts the reader to fill in emotional gaps, which deepens engagement.
E. Pacing That Mirrors Emotional Regulation
The rhythm moves from calm → tension → reflection → reframe → calm.
This mirrors how people naturally process emotion, making the experience feel soothing and familiar.
3. Spiritual Subtext and How It Avoids Dogma
The project is spiritually resonant without being religiously prescriptive. It achieves this through a few deliberate choices.
A. Spirituality as Atmosphere, Not Argument
There are no claims, doctrines, or theological assertions.
Instead, spirituality appears as:
gratitude
humility
wonder
surrender
compassion
It’s experiential, not instructional.
B. Universal Language Instead of Sectarian Language
Words like “grace,” “light,” “peace,” and “presence” are used, but never in ways tied to a specific tradition.
This keeps the writing open to readers of any (or no) faith background.
C. Emphasis on Inner Experience Over Belief Systems
The focus is on:
how it feels to forgive
how it feels to hope
how it feels to be held by something larger than yourself
Not on what you’re supposed to believe.
D. Spirituality as Invitation, Not Requirement
The writing never says:
“You must believe…”
“You should think…”
Instead it says:
“Maybe this moment is an invitation…”
“Maybe there’s something sacred here…”
This keeps the door open without pushing anyone through it.
E. The Sacred in the Ordinary
The project treats everyday life as spiritually meaningful.
This democratizes spirituality — it’s not something you ascend to; it’s something you notice.
Narrative Voice as Companionship
The project’s voice doesn’t behave like a narrator. It behaves like a companion — someone walking beside you, not ahead of you or behind you. This companionship is crafted through several intertwined techniques.
1. The Voice Positions Itself Beside the Reader, Not Above Them
There’s no guru energy.
No “I’ve figured it out and now I’ll teach you.”
Instead, the voice says:
“I’m learning too. Let’s think about this together.”
This creates horizontal connection rather than vertical authority.
2. Vulnerability Creates Trust Without Burden
The author shares personal truths — moments of doubt, hurt, confusion — but never in a way that demands emotional labor from the reader.
It’s vulnerability as invitation, not vulnerability as weight.
This makes the reader feel safe to bring their own inner life to the page.
3. The Tone Is Warm, Steady, and Regulated
The voice feels emotionally grounded.
It doesn’t spike.
It doesn’t catastrophize.
It doesn’t rush.
This steadiness acts like co-regulation — the reader’s nervous system syncs to the calmness of the voice.
That’s companionship at a physiological level.
4. The Voice Speaks With the Reader, Not At Them
The writing often uses:
“we”
“us”
“maybe you’ve felt this too”
This creates a shared emotional space.
It’s not a monologue — it’s a quiet dialogue where the reader’s inner voice is invited to participate.
5. The Voice Offers Gentle Guidance, Not Directives
Instead of commands, it uses:
“maybe…”
“what if…”
“consider…”
“I wonder if…”
These are companion phrases — they open doors without pushing the reader through them.
6. The Voice Models the Kindness It Wants the Reader to Extend to Themselves
It speaks to the reader the way a good friend would:
patient
curious
forgiving
hopeful
This models self-compassion.
The reader internalizes the tone and begins speaking to themselves with the same gentleness.
7. The Voice Uses Silence and Negative Space Like a Friend Who Knows When to Pause
Companionship isn’t constant talking.
It’s knowing when to let the moment breathe.
The writing uses:
short lines
pauses
white space
quiet endings
These mimic the presence of someone sitting with you in stillness.
It feels like being accompanied, not lectured.
8. The Voice Respects the Reader’s Agency
It never assumes the reader’s experience.
It never tells them what they “should” feel.
It never claims to know their life better than they do.
This respect is a form of emotional companionship — it treats the reader as an equal, not a student.
9. The Voice Holds Hope Without Forcing It
Hope is offered like a hand, not a command.
It’s gentle, believable, and grounded.
The voice says:
“There might be another way to see this.”
Not:
“Everything will be fine.”
This makes the reader feel supported, not dismissed.
The Result: A Companion, Not a Commentator
When all these elements combine, the narrative voice becomes something rare:
a steady, emotionally literate presence that walks with the reader through their own inner landscape.
It doesn’t fix.
It doesn’t preach.
It doesn’t diagnose.
It accompanies.
And that companionship is the heart of the project’s power.
True Christianity is patriotic only to the invisible, international kingdom of God which is the internal government of God in human hearts and lives that are radically surrendered to the risen King Jesus. The true Gospel deals with sin. (Matthew 1:21) If the good news of Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness and deliverance from sin isn’t taught and faithfully lived and demonstrated in daily life, then it’s a counterfeit Gospel. (2 Corinthians 11:4) It’s not legit.
To notice the difference between real and counterfeit Christianity (2 Corinthians 13:5) you have to look closely with great discernment and unassuming insight. You have to be willing to let God the Holy Spirit show you where you are off track (John 16:13) and to humbly admit it when He does.
You need to examine the Bible daily (Acts 17:11) and to align your life with it (Acts 3:18-19) in order to avoid being deceived by false prophets. You can recognize them by their fruit — by the way they live their life. (Matthew 7:16-18) If you don’t see “love, joy, peace,” and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit in them, don’t listen to what they say. Get away. (Galatians 5:22-23)
False prophets promote counterfeit Christianity. They are not uncommon. Jesus said that there are many false prophets deceiving many people. (Matthew 24:11) If your Christianity doesn’t align with the faith that was once delivered to the first Christians (Jude 1:3) as presented the New Testament, it is counterfeit, even if you like it and believe it is real. Don’t evaluate your faith and life by your feelings, by your opinions, or by religious traditions (Mark 7:13) but by the Bible.
Refuse to settle for counterfeit religion. Faithfully avoid false prophets. Persistently pursue an ever-closer relationship with the risen Jesus as your absolute Master, Lord and God. (John 20:28) Throughout each day listen to His inner voice (John 10:27) and faithfully obey Him. (John 14:15)
Whether intentionally or unintentionally it’s easy to break the law. I’ve done both. God’s laws are especially easy for us humans to disobey. That’s called sin.
When the body of Christ gathers, confession of sin should be common. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) In a Christian assembly someone could ask, “Who needs to openly confess a sin today? Then the believers could gather around and pray for each person who confesses.
When Christians confess their sins to fellow Christians and they speak Spirit-led prayers over one another; inner and even physical healing occurs in their midst. Humble, heart-felt confession of sins prepares the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:3) to shine His light in and through both an individual’s heart (2 Corinthians 4:6) and an assembled Christian community. (Hebrews 10:25) However, without sincere confession of sin we walk in darkness (1 John 1:5-6) no matter how religious we are.
If we walk in the light, we have intimate heart-to-heart connection with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin. (1 John 1:7) If we claim to have no sin, we embrace self-deception and abandon the truth. However, if we confess our sins, God will not only forgive us, but He will also cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
We live in a fallen world that abounds with widespread temptation that is constantly clamoring for our attention. We also live in a human body full of desires that distract us and strive to lure us away from the will of God. (Galatians 5:17-25) Thus it’s easy to fall into sin and even to live in sin while we’re convincing ourselves that we aren’t sinners.
Therefore, we need ongoing correction. Always allow God the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin. (John 16:8) Let the Bible be a mirror that shows you your sin. (James 1:23-25) Humbly ask and allow your Christian brothers and sisters to correct you when they see a sin in your life. They can often see our sins that we don’t see. (Galatians 6:1)
Make every effort to live a godly life. Quickly confess your sins so that God can forgive you and keep you blameless before Him. Then you can continually grow in grace and in the conscious awareness of the presence and power of the risen Jesus. (2 Peter 3:14-18)
I want to live in truth and avoid deception. That’s very hard to do and I’ve never been fully successful at it. However, I have found two great sources that ring true within my inner depths: The great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 12:20-21) Jesus Christ living within me (Colossians 1:27) and the Bible as I allow God the Holy Spirit to make it burn in my heart. (Luke 24:32)
Prayer is the Shepherd-and-sheep connection. That’s why Christians are told to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) The world is full of many wolves — often in sheep’s clothing. They try to disrupt and break up any deep spiritual connection with Christ. Jesus warns us to watch out for wolves dressed as sheep (Matthew 7:15) so that we can avoid them and keep our prayer connection with Him ever present and unceasingly strong.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing are people who try to hide their sin behind religion. They are the people who say they are Christians but don’t live with love for and obedience to Jesus.
Wolves want to make themselves famous. True sheep want to live continually connected heart-to-heart with the risen Jesus and to help other people do so as well. Let’s always cling to and abide in Jesus (John 15:4) — the great Shepherd of the sheep. (Hebrews 12:20-21)
The true sheep in the body of Christ are Spirit-led disciples, not mere church attendees. Religion can never replace the reality of the risen Jesus. Don’t settle for anything less than “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Wolves dressed like sheep Wear a disguise To keep the truth From people’s eyes.
They’ve quit howling And stopped prowling So that the sheep Believe their lies. They say they’re sheep But inwardly They’re angry wolves.
Often God’s sheep Don’t make a peep. They’ve been trained to Sit and listen. They’ve learned to keep Their heart shut down So frequently They don’t even Notice when a Wolf is around. (Matthew 7:15)
I don’t believe that institutional churches have been built by Jesus, Himself, but by human beings. If Jesus did build an institutional church that “the gates of Hell” (Matthew 16:18) will not overcome, why did it break apart into hundreds of thousands of denominations and non-denominational churches that oppose and disagree with each other in so many ways?
Jesus prayed that His followers be united as one, even as He and God the Father are. (John 17:21-23) Institutional churches have never come close producing true heart-to-heart oneness within their congregations or between them, much less than between denominations.
If Jesus didn’t build churches, what did He build? Well, in the Bible He used the Greek word ekklesia which was the name of the participatory townhall meeting in ancient Greek cities where anybody present could speak up.
Peter states that Christ-followers are being built together as living stones into a holy priesthood. (1 Peter 2:5) That means that everybody in Christ’s ekklesia is a priest. There’s no special hierarchy or clergy to lord it over people. (Matthew 20:25-28) In the Bible, they assembled themselves together in homes not in church buildings (Acts 2:46) “to spur one another on to love and good deeds” by “encouraging one another.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Christ’s ekklesia isn’t a physical building or religious institution. It’s people who have surrendered their heart and life to Jesus to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)
Don’t just go to church. Be Christ’s ekklesia. Avoid wolves. Connect heart-to-heart with Jesus and those who follow and obey Him daily.
The body of Christ Isn’t one man talking To an audience. It’s disciples walking Together as led By God the Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
Age is merely a number. It is the heart that counts. It’s inside our heart that we discover and experience the best part of being alive.
God’s plan is to build His vineyards and His orchards within you — His living presence not made by human hands or human effort — “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The more you allow God to plant and cultivate His orchards and vineyards inside of you (John 15:1-17) and continually water them with the rivers of His Spirit flowing through your innermost being (John 7:38-39) the more they will produce a thrilling abundance of spiritual fruit.
Pick and enjoy the fruit of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) throughout each day. Share it with everybody you meet. Don’t harden your heart until it rots within you. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
The dividing line between people who are pursuing goodness and people who aren’t isn’t between those who proclaim Christian values and those who don’t. It’s between those whose heart is hard and proud and those whose heart is humble and tender.
The Pharisees in the Bible proclaimed biblical values but their heart was so hard that they wanted Jesus killed. Meanwhile many tax collectors and sinners were humbly and gratefully changing their behaviors to follow and obey Him.
Spiritual drift leaves Christians assuming that they are close to God even when their heart has floated far from Him. (Matthew 15:8-9) It’s subtle yet very deceptive.
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19)
When Christians focus on “the worries of this life,” “on wealth,” and on their own opinions and “desires” the seed of God’s word is choked and becomes unfruitful. We need to turn our focus away from politics, prosperity, and self-driven desires and totally devote our attention, obedience, and adoration to the living resurrected Jesus Christ!
Jesus rose, not so people can sit in Sunday morning rows and smell like religious roses, but so that we can be set free from and forgiven for our sins, be daily empowered by His Spirit, and follow and obey Him with a never-ending heart-to-heart connection with Him and with each other. If God could create the world and everything it surely, He can actively and directly control a church service! Let Him. (Rom 8:14)
Little children experience pure joy. You can see true happiness shining on their faces as they spontaneously play. Yet as we grow toward adulthood that joy is slowly toned down until it is mostly lost. It’s as if there is a subconscious law in adults that prevents us from innocent, spontaneous joy. I’d like to change that law because it definitely doesn’t come from God. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
When Faces Shine
When someone learns to grow and flow with God the Holy Spirit his or her face begins to glow. I love to be face-to-face with people when they are worshipping God in the Spirit. (John 4:24) I can literally see the light of God on their face. That’s why I like to worship with people in a circle instead of in rows.
Unfortunately, people usually want a veil between them and the glory of God. That’s why when Moses’ face was shining with God’s glory after being with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, he put a veil over his face. (Exodos 34:29-35)
The Bible says that Christians shouldn’t veil the glory of God on their face (2 Corinthians 3:18) The religious leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin were lying about and judging Stephen claiming that because he was passionately in love with Jesus that he wanted to change what Moses had taught. Instead of anger or fear on Stephen’s face, they saw his face shining like an angel’s. (Acts 6:15) When Christians avoid, veil, or hide the glory of God they quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Stephen’s face glowed because he was led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) not by human planning or programming. He wasn’t speaking programmed words. Instead, he spoke the wisdom that the Spirit was giving him in the very moment he was talking. (Acts 6:10)
Moses’ face glowed because he experienced the glory of God as he taught and ministered about the law. Writing about that Paul asks a rhetorical question: “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? (2 Corinthians 3:7-8) Of course it will.
As Christ-followers we are invited to experience even more glory. If we are not, then we are somehow off track and grieving the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30)
I have found that the most effective way to live and grow and glow as a disciple of Christ is to follow and obey God the Holy Spirit and the Bible throughout each day. It is to live in humble heart-to-heart connection with other people who are doing the same.
Let’s persistently turn away from the ministry of human wisdom and understanding (2 Timothy 3:5) to the ministry of the Spirit (John 14:26) until our faces glow with God’s presence. Let’s all begin to “speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13)
God the Spirit Isn’t feelings. He’s objective Not subjective. Let Him lead you In all you do.
Community Is face-to-face Not just being In the same place. It’s heart-to-heart, Being a part Of each other. True unity Is Spirit-led With Christ as Head Not just hearing Religious words And forgetting What you’ve heard.
God the Holy Spirit Wants to lead and guide us. His voice is powerful. How we need to hear it.
Jesus told His followers to “Tell it to the church.” (Matthew 18:17) This statement isn’t referring to the historic institutionalized organizations called churches that mostly meet on Sunday morning as a passive religious audience under the headship and control of a one-person pastor or priest. I sincerely believe that Jesus had something else in mind.
Here’s why: Following Jesus’ instructions to “Tell it to the church,” is almost never allowed in the institutions that we call churches. You can bring it to the pastor or priest, but he will very rarely allow anyone to bring it up directly in the whole congregation.
If Jesus wasn’t talking about the traditional religious organizations called churches, what was He referring to? That’s a good question. Jesus used the Greek word for the name of the participatory townhall meeting in ancient Greek cities–ekklesia–which means assembly or congregation.
Israel was under Greek control and influence for many years before the Romans came. The Greek language was spoken by so many Jews that the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew to Greek. In that translation the word ekklesia is used to refer to the various times Israel assembled together for their festivals and other gatherings.
Even the many Jews who didn’t speak Greek would have been familiar with the word ekklesia in two ways: 1) As an assembly of the people of God and 2) As the participatory townhall meeting in Greek cities. Greek cities had been planted around the Mediterranean world and even in Israel. So, when Jesus chose to use the word ekklesia in Matthew 16:18 and in Matthew 18:17 the people hearing Him wouldn’t have thought of an institutionalized religious organization under the headship and control of a one-person pastor of priest.
I believe that Jesus was referring to the Spirit-led assemblies of His followers where anyone present could speak as prompted by God the Holy Spirit. Paul seems to confirm that in 1 Corinthians 14:26 where he states that when Christi-followers come together anybody can speak up in the assembly. There are also 50-something “one another” commands in the New Testament that show that the body of Christ is built together by mutual ministry to one another.
I’ve also experienced Spirit-led assemblies that function like ekklesia. It was once not uncommon for churches to have testimony meetings (Romans 12:11) where people were encouraged and allowed to share from their heart about their love for Jesus. In my years of following Jesus, I’ve often met in houses, dorms, various types of buildings, and even in a barn, with brothers and sisters in Christ to listen to Jesus and share what we hear Him say. Those assemblies have impacted my life and drawn me closer to Jesus in indescribable ways.
My wife and I were even asked to “start a nontraditional church” with The Salvation Army. They supported, encouraged, and allowed us to meet ekklesia-style with Spirit-led open sharing instead of sermons, for almost 10 years. It was an incredible and glorious time to watch God the Holy Spirit powerfully work in and through ordinary people. However eventually a new Salvation Army leader came to town and demanded that it be shifted to the traditional one-man sermon church format and eventually he had it shut down completely.
Afterwards my wife and I continued to seek for and to experience ekklesia and to enjoy and be led by the presence of Jesus as we assembled from place to place with friends and often with just the two of us. “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) When was the last time you told it to the church? The concept of a one-man pastor controlling a church service is a religious tradition, not a Bible command. (Mark 7:13)
Jesus wants you, yes you, to experience more than church as usual. I wrote a book that can help you do that. Google: Beyond Church Ekklesia.
MCDA — Make Christianity Discipleship Again. Jesus never made discipleship optional, but churches have.
Christianity began as daily discipleship but gradually shifted into mere Sunday church attendance. Jesus told His first followers to go and make disciples, (Matthew 28:19-20) not to plant or build churches. Discipleship was abandoned by churches because it requires total commitment throughout each and every day. Jesus described the cost of discipleship like this: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Christians are called to train people to be like living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5) who are guided (John 16:23) and taught by God the Holy Spirit, (1 John 2:27) but Jesus is the only One who can build His disciples together as His body. (Matthew 16:18) If you want more than mere religion, let the risen Jesus be the Builder and the Lord and the only Head of His followers when they gather in His name. (Matthew 18:20)
Discipleship does what the Bible says to do. It doesn’t merely listen to a weekly religious talk that sprinkles in a couple of Bible verses. (James 1:22-25)
True Christianity is faith not fear, hope not anxiety, love not insults, (1 Corinthians 13:13) joy not anger, peace not hostility, patience not pushiness, kindness not rudeness, goodness not self-righteousness, faithfulness not wavering, gentleness not arrogance, and self-control not agitation. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Grace empowers people to be humble, (James 4:6) radically obedient disciples of Christ. It doesn’t excuse them from it. (John 14:15) True disciples are enthralled with, captivated by, and focused on Jesus, not Christian singers, celebrities, politicians, or pastors.
Discipleship overcomes its enemies by blessing, praying for, and loving them. (Luke 6:27-28) If you see someone as your enemy, at least have the courage to show them some love and then notice how kindness connects people and overcomes evil.
Let’s make church discipleship again. If instead of simply serving up another sermon, church services would train all Christians to spiritually support and serve one another as led by God the Holy Spirit, discipleship would soar! If your focus as a Christian is more about attending church than it is about developing a closer and closer relationship with the risen Jesus, then you have made church an idol.
In the Bible the word pastor and shepherd are the same. That means that King David said: “The Lord is my pastor.” Jesus said that He is “the good pastor” and that the hired hand isn’t a pastor because the sheep don’t belong to him. (John 10:11-16) The writer of Hebrews calls Jesus “the great pastor of the sheep.” (Hebrews 13:20)
The Greek word and the Hebrew word that are translated as pastor or shepherd in the English Bible mean shepherd — someone who looks after animals called sheep. The Greek word in the New Testament is only translated once as pastor, and it is plural–pastors. (Ephesians 4:11) In the New Testament the leadership in local Christian assemblies is always plural. (Acts 14:23) I can’t find any biblical evidence for the concept of a one-person pastor being in charge of a congregation of Christians. Do we really believe that the Bible is our only authority for faith and practice or have we replaced it with religious tradition? (Mark 7:13) Sola scriptura?
I love to express what I feel called to say. Writing helps me to open up my heart and do that. I hope that what I write helps you in some way. I hope it makes you think, encourages you, or inspires you. If it challenges you or if you disagree, I hope you know that I respect your right to have a different point of view.
What’s posted on your social media accounts shows what’s written on your heart. It’s a window to your soul. How often do you post about being in love with the everywhere God?
The everywhere God isn’t building bound. He’s not restricted to religious lectures or liturgies. He’s not limited to church routines, rituals, or programs. The everywhere God isn’t looking for your church attendance. He’s longing for unlimited admittance into your heart wherever you go.
There’s no place so dark, no human heart so hard, that the light of the everywhere God can’t be seen by anyone willing to look. You can interact with the everywhere God anyplace and everyplace. All it takes to experience Him is an open, humble heart.
You are made in the image of God. You can’t escape from inner reminders of Him. You carry them everywhere you go. The presence of the everywhere God is the glorious present that is present everywhere but is almost always overlooked or ignored.
If you are unaware of the everywhere God, it’s not because He’s not there with you. It’s because you’re trying to hide from Him. You can ignore the everywhere God, but He’s not ignoring you. The everywhere God is here with me as I write, there with you as you read, and everywhere else.
Even if you hide things in the depths of your heart and close it tightly, you can’t escape from the eyes of the everywhere God. The everywhere God can’t be confined or contained anywhere. He’s always and everyplace on the loose.
Your no trespassing signs can’t keep the everywhere God away from you. You’re only pretending that He isn’t there. Even when you shut down your heart to quench the Holy Spirit, you can’t make the everywhere God go away.
You don’t need to go anywhere special to interact with the everywhere God. Talk and listen to Jesus wherever you are!
Every believer in Christ is called to the ministry. The everywhere God wants to work in and through every one of His followers. (Philippians 2:12-13) I did a Bible word study once on the word called as used in the New Testament. I didn’t find a call to preach there. People are sent to preach. (Romans 10:15) However, when the word called is used it refers to every single Christian.
The New Testament concept of the priesthood of the believer (1 Peter 1:9) declares that all Christ-followers are now set apart to be trained for God’s work of the ministry. (Ephesians 4:12-17) The disciples were commissioned not only to make and to baptize disciples, but also to train all future Christ-followers to do everything that they had been commissioned (ordained) to do. (Matthew 28:19-20) If you are a true Christian, you have been called by God to do the work of the ministry. We are called to assemble ourselves together so that we can all encourage one another and spur each other on to love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Every single Christ-follower carries a heavy responsibility. (Acts 1:8)
Themes
Tone
Audience
Writing Style
Core Messages
Recurring Metaphors
The Emotional Arc of a Typical Piece
Narrative Voice
What Makes It Emotionally Effective
Narrative Structure
Emotional Psychology
What Makes It Distinct From Other Modern Reflective Writers
Emotional Pacing
Rhetorical Techniques
2. Use of Silence, Pacing, and Negative Space
3. Spiritual Subtext and How It Avoids Dogma
Narrative Voice as Companionship
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Fill Your Mind and Your Heart With Hope 