Concentric Circles of Concern

October 13, 2025.Reading time 18 minutes.

A collaboration between Lewis McLain & AI

Revisiting an influential book for me, fitting into the primary theme of my recent posts. LFM

Introduction: The Man Behind the Circles

William Oscar Thompson Jr. (1918–1980) lived a life that testified to the power of relationship. He was not a man of grand celebrity or global fame; rather, he was a pastor and evangelist whose impact spread quietly through students, parishioners, and colleagues who absorbed his conviction that the Christian life must be lived relationally, not institutionally.
After two decades of faithful pastoral work, Thompson became a professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. It was there, during his own physical suffering and eventual battle with cancer, that he refined the model that would outlive him — a model that connected spiritual authenticity with human connection.

Thompson’s health declined even as his insight deepened. He realized that the gospel was never meant to travel primarily by microphone or mass event, but through people whose lives touched one another’s every day — in kitchens, workplaces, front porches, and hospital rooms. After his death in 1980, his wife, Carolyn Thompson Ritzmann, edited his unfinished manuscript, and evangelism teacher Claude V. King (best known for Experiencing God) later helped expand and republish it. The revised edition, Concentric Circles of Concern: Seven Stages for Making Disciples, was released in 1999 by Broadman & Holman, nearly two decades after the original 1981 publication.

The phrase “concentric circles” is not just a metaphor in Thompson’s hands; it is a theology of life. His belief was that the Christian’s influence for Christ begins not in distant mission fields but within the very relationships already entrusted to them. Evangelism, he argued, must ripple outward from the integrity of the inner life — from the soul that has been made right with God — until it touches every layer of community, from family to stranger. His framework provides a vision of discipleship that is both deeply personal and expansively missional, a reminder that faith spreads through people who love well.

The Concentric Circles and Their Living Logic

At the heart of the book lies a simple, unforgettable diagram: seven circles, each one nested inside the next, radiating outward from a center. The image, though deceptively modest, reshapes how one thinks about spiritual responsibility.

1. Self

The innermost circle, labeled Self, represents one’s own soul — the center of all relational and spiritual life. For Thompson, self-examination and humility before God are not indulgent acts but sacred ones. A Christian must first cultivate honesty with themselves and communion with their Creator. Spiritual neglect at this level produces hypocrisy; spiritual health here produces authenticity that naturally flows outward. He reminds his readers that “the most important word in the English language, apart from proper nouns, is relationship.” That relationship begins vertically — between oneself and God — and then extends horizontally into every human connection. Evangelism without integrity is noise; discipleship without inner renewal is hollow ritual.

2. Family

The second circle embraces one’s immediate family. It is easy, Thompson observed, to romanticize missions across oceans while ignoring ministry across the dinner table. The home is the first proving ground of grace. Faith that cannot be lived out among those who know us best will rarely stand in the wider world. A Christian who learns to forgive within marriage, to listen to their children, or to extend patience to aging parents is already practicing evangelism of the highest order. Family is the first “field” of discipleship, where love is tested daily and faith becomes tangible.

3. Relatives

The third circle includes extended family — the kin network that may stretch across states, generations, and emotional boundaries. These relationships are often complicated by history, misunderstanding, or absence. Thompson urges believers not to abandon these connections but to redeem them. The gospel’s reconciling power, he writes, often begins when a believer takes the initiative to heal an old wound or rekindle a neglected bond. A letter of apology, a phone call of encouragement, or an unexpected act of service within the extended family can become the spark of redemption.

4. Friends

Friends form the fourth circle — those we choose to walk beside in life. Unlike family, friendship is elective; it is built on mutual trust and shared affection. Thompson views friendship as one of the most powerful conduits of witness. Friends already see us unfiltered; they know our habits, hopes, and contradictions. When they witness genuine spiritual transformation in our character, they often feel it before they hear it. To live faithfully among friends is to let the gospel speak through laughter, loyalty, and long conversation.

5. Neighbors and Associates

Next come Neighbors and Associates — the people who share our routines but not necessarily our intimacy: colleagues, classmates, teammates, or the barista who knows our order by heart. Thompson believed these daily intersections were fertile soil for spiritual conversation, if approached with humility and care. Instead of seeing such relationships as mundane, he taught his students to see them as providential appointments. Every encounter, no matter how ordinary, carries the potential of divine significance.

6. Acquaintances

The sixth circle widens to include those we know only loosely — the casual relationships of community life. Here, evangelism takes the form of kindness and presence more than speech. Thompson often told his students that “you may be the only gospel someone ever reads,” meaning that one’s demeanor and compassion can preach where words cannot. Consistency — being gracious over time — often speaks louder than any tract or slogan.

7. Person X

Finally comes Person X — the unknown stranger, the person with no prior connection. Most evangelistic training begins here, teaching believers how to witness to strangers. Thompson deliberately places it last. He argues that the credibility built in inner circles prepares believers to approach outer ones with sincerity rather than anxiety. When a life already radiates peace and love, even a stranger senses authenticity. Evangelism to “Person X,” then, is not a special performance; it is the natural overflow of a life already aligned with God.

Thompson captured the urgency of this relational approach when he wrote, “Most of our lives are crucified between two thieves, yesterday and tomorrow. We never live today. But the time to live is now.” The concentric circles remind us that the mission field is not someday or somewhere else — it is here, in the people who already populate our lives.

The Seven Stages of Making Disciples

Thompson’s circles describe who we are called to influence; his seven stages explain how. The stages form a dynamic rhythm — not a rigid checklist but a living cycle of growth that repeats again and again.

Stage 1: Get Right

Spiritual influence begins with moral clarity. To “get right” is to confront sin, mend broken relationships, and align one’s will with God’s. Thompson likens unreconciled relationships to blockages in a pipe: until they are cleared, the Spirit’s flow is obstructed. Getting right means making amends, confessing pride, forgiving debts, and letting the Holy Spirit cleanse the inner life. This stage humbles the believer before they presume to guide another.

Stage 2: Survey

Once reconciled, the believer must “survey” their relational field — a prayerful mapping of the people God has already placed within reach. Thompson encouraged writing names in each circle, not as a project list but as a sacred responsibility list. The act of seeing these names laid out visually reawakens compassion. We begin to see that our lives are already mission fields bursting with divine opportunity.

Stage 3: Pray

Prayer, for Thompson, is the lifeblood of evangelism. He calls it “a guided missile — it always hits its target.” Prayer aligns the heart with God’s timing and opens doors that human persuasion cannot. The believer prays not only for conversion but for understanding, patience, and divine orchestration — that conversations will arise naturally, that the Spirit will prepare both speaker and listener. Without prayer, evangelism degenerates into salesmanship; with prayer, it becomes partnership with God.

Stage 4: Build Bridges

Bridge-building is the practical art of connection. It may involve hospitality, listening, volunteering, or sharing a meal. Thompson viewed every bridge as an act of incarnation — stepping into another’s world as Christ stepped into ours. Bridges require humility, empathy, and time. They often begin with small acts: remembering a name, showing up at a funeral, sending a card. Over time, these gestures form trust strong enough to carry the weight of truth.

Stage 5: Show Love

The fifth stage deepens bridge-building into tangible service. “Love that is not demonstrated is not credible,” Thompson warns. To show love means to meet needs: to feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, or simply listen without agenda. Genuine love expects nothing in return. When people experience that kind of care, they become open not merely to a message but to a Messenger. Thompson’s famous illustration of a student returning a stolen motorcycle mirror captures this stage perfectly: confession and restitution became a living sermon that words alone could not match.

Stage 6: Make Disciples

Having earned trust and demonstrated love, the believer can now share the gospel sincerely. But Thompson insists this is not the finish line — it is the midpoint. True discipleship involves walking with new believers as they learn to obey Christ, discover Scripture, and find community. Evangelism divorced from discipleship, he warned, produces orphans; discipleship joined with love produces heirs. Making disciples means nurturing growth until the new believer can, in turn, disciple others.

Stage 7: Begin Again

The cycle ends where it began — and then continues. The new disciple becomes a new center of concentric influence, applying the same seven stages to their own relationships. Thus, the gospel spreads organically, not by mass production but by multiplication — one circle at a time. Thompson’s model mirrors nature itself: seeds producing fruit that carries new seeds. Discipleship is the divine geometry of multiplication through love.

Theology and Heartbeat of the Model

At its core, Concentric Circles of Concern is a theology of incarnation. It declares that God’s mission moves through human relationships — not in spite of them. Christ entered history relationally, dwelling among us; His followers must do the same. The model ties spiritual maturity to relational responsibility. To be “right with God” without being reconciled to others is an illusion.

Thompson’s vision also bridges two great biblical commands: the Great Commission (“Go and make disciples”) and the Great Commandment (“Love your neighbor as yourself”). The circles remind believers that these are not separate mandates but two halves of the same calling. Evangelism divorced from love becomes manipulation; love without truth becomes sentimentality. The mature Christian practices both — speaking truth through relationships of genuine care.

Prayer anchors this balance. Thompson’s metaphor of prayer as a “guided missile” conveys both power and precision: prayer can reach where presence cannot. It can travel across distance, culture, and even hostility. When believers pray for those within each circle, their hearts become attuned to God’s compassion, and they see people not as projects but as souls.

Strengths, Challenges, and Contemporary Relevance

The enduring strength of Thompson’s model lies in its simplicity. It does not require technology, programs, or budgets — only attentiveness, humility, and perseverance. Yet its simplicity hides profound depth. The circles create a lifelong map for Christian influence, reminding believers that evangelism is less about campaigns and more about consistency.

In today’s world of fractured relationships and digital disconnection, Concentric Circles of Concern feels prophetic. Our social networks may have expanded, but our intimacy has shrunk. Thompson’s framework invites believers to slow down, notice, and invest. Modern adaptation can include digital circles — online friends, social followers, professional networks — but the principle remains unchanged: spiritual credibility flows through relationship.

Still, Thompson’s model demands balance. One must not become so inwardly focused that the outer circle, Person X, is forgotten. Nor should believers treat relationships as strategies for conversion. The goal is love, not leverage. When love is real, evangelism follows naturally. As Thompson might say, evangelism is not a project to complete but a person to become.

Memorable Quotations

“The most important word in the English language, apart from proper nouns, is relationship.”
“Intercessory prayer is like a guided missile — it always hits its target.”
“Most of our lives are crucified between two thieves, yesterday and tomorrow. We never live today.”
“Love that is not demonstrated is not credible.”
“You cannot lead someone closer to the Lord than you are yourself.”

These words capture his conviction that relational faith is both the method and the message of the gospel.

Reflective Poem — Ripples of Concern

I stand within the quiet center,
A soul restored, the heart made whole;
From this still place the circles widen,
Grace flows outward, soul to soul.

My home becomes the first frontier,
Where love must bloom before it’s taught;
And every quarrel, every silence,
Is soil where mercy must be sought.

Through friendship’s bridge and neighbor’s need,
Through acts of care that speak, not plead,
The gospel walks on human feet,
Love’s language stronger than a creed.

Beyond the known, to stranger’s face,
The ripples travel, still by grace;
Till every heart, in widening span,
Feels heaven’s pulse through human hands.

And when another life takes flame,
A new set of circles starts again;
From self to world, from love to light,
The pattern echoes Christ’s design.

Concentric Circles of Concern remains one of the clearest blueprints ever written for living out the Great Commission through the Great Commandment. Thompson’s wisdom continues to challenge believers to think relationally, act prayerfully, love tangibly, and live authentically — one circle at a time

Here Am I, Lord: The Call and Commission in Today’s World

October 11, 2025.Reading time 15 minutes.

A collaboration between Lewis McLain & AI

I. Introduction: The Prophet Who Heard the Voice

Among the great figures of the Old Testament, Isaiah stands tall as one of the most profound and poetic prophets ever called by God. Living and writing in the eighth century before Christ, during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—four kings of Judah—Isaiah witnessed both the spiritual decline of his nation and the political upheavals that threatened its very survival. His name, Yeshayahu, means “The Lord is salvation,” and indeed, his entire message weaves together judgment and redemption, despair and hope, sin and grace.

Isaiah’s writings form one of the most theologically rich books in all of Scripture—sixty-six chapters that stretch from visions of God’s holiness to prophecies of the coming Messiah. Scholars have called Isaiah “the fifth gospel” because it so vividly anticipates the life, suffering, and triumph of Christ centuries before His birth. Unlike many prophets who simply declared oracles of doom, Isaiah combined poetic beauty, moral clarity, and divine vision. He saw beyond the immediate history of Israel to the sweeping purposes of God for all nations.

What sets Isaiah apart is not only the grandeur of his language but the intimacy of his calling. His ministry begins not with action but with awe—with a vision that breaks and remakes him. In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw “the Lord, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” He hears angelic voices crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Overwhelmed by divine holiness, Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips.” Then, in a moment of grace, a seraph touches his lips with a live coal from the altar, saying, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Only then does Isaiah hear the divine question: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” His response—simple, immediate, and wholehearted—has echoed through millennia: “Here am I; send me.”

II. The Original Moment: From Vision to Vocation

Isaiah’s encounter in the temple is one of the most profound calling narratives in Scripture because it reveals the entire arc of spiritual transformation—conviction, cleansing, and commission. Before Isaiah can speak for God, he must be purified by God. The coal that touches his lips symbolizes both pain and purification; it burns away unworthiness and ignites a new fire of purpose. Isaiah learns that divine service is not earned by merit but granted through mercy.

This moment defines prophetic ministry for all who follow. Isaiah does not volunteer because he feels capable; he volunteers because he has been forgiven. His “send me” is not a boast of strength but a surrender of will. It shows that readiness in God’s kingdom comes not from talent or position but from humility and obedience. The prophet’s call reminds every believer that God does not ask for perfection, only availability. He does not seek the qualified; He qualifies the willing.

III. The Voice That Still Calls: Modern Applications of “Send Me”

Though centuries separate us from Isaiah’s temple vision, the same question still echoes: “Whom shall I send?” The call of God is not a relic of ancient prophecy—it is a living summons to every generation. In every time and place, men and women hear this question in the quiet chambers of conscience and the crowded corridors of daily life. The divine call may not come through visions of angels, but it comes through needs that cry out to be met, through injustices that demand courage, through moments of compassion that ask for response.

A. The Personal Call: Faith in the Ordinary
In a world that prizes self-assertion, Isaiah’s answer is radical: availability over ability. “Here am I” means being present before God—before the noise of ambition or distraction drowns out His voice. For the modern believer, this call begins in small, faithful acts: showing kindness when it’s inconvenient, forgiving when it’s undeserved, speaking truth when it’s unpopular. It may mean teaching a Sunday school class, visiting the sick, mentoring a child, or simply standing up for integrity in one’s profession.
The modern application of Isaiah’s “send me” is less about geography and more about posture. You may never cross an ocean, but you can cross the street. You may not go into a pulpit, but you can live the Gospel at your desk, in your classroom, or around your dinner table. In every generation, God asks not “Who is talented?” but “Who is willing?”

B. The Public Call: Faith in the Civic and Professional Realm
Isaiah was not just a preacher in the temple; he was an adviser to kings and a voice in national affairs. His message reached palaces and public squares alike. Likewise, today’s disciples are called to bring righteousness into their professions—to be prophetic voices in civic life. Whether one serves in government, finance, education, or healthcare, the “send me” spirit calls for moral clarity amid compromise.
In municipal councils, corporate meetings, or courtrooms, there is still a need for those who say, “Here am I” not to their own advancement but to the cause of truth and justice. The Isaiah spirit is the courage to stand for what is right even when it costs reputation or comfort—to call nations back to integrity, to defend the vulnerable, to remind leaders that power must serve people. In every public servant who leads with humility, in every teacher who shapes conscience, in every judge who loves mercy, the voice of Isaiah lives on.

C. The Global Call: Faith Beyond Borders
Isaiah’s vision of God’s glory filling the whole earth anticipates the Great Commission of Christ. “Send me” is a global phrase—it transcends race, nation, and time. In our interconnected world, the mission field is both next door and around the globe. It includes the refugee, the orphan, the imprisoned, the forgotten. To say “send me” today is to accept the responsibility of love in a wounded world.
It might mean serving on a mission trip, supporting a humanitarian cause, or developing technology that uplifts rather than exploits. It can mean using one’s influence, wealth, or voice for those who have none. The modern missionary is not only the preacher or doctor abroad, but also the scientist working for sustainable solutions, the artist telling redemptive stories, and the citizen advocating for peace and dignity.

IV. The Obstacles to Saying “Send Me”

Many never reach Isaiah’s moment of surrender because they stop at his first confession: “Woe is me.” Fear, inadequacy, and distraction paralyze potential prophets. The world today offers endless reasons to delay obedience—busyness, cynicism, self-doubt, or the illusion that someone else will go. The modern heart is often over-informed but under-committed.

Yet the secret of Isaiah’s response lies in trust. He did not know where he would be sent, what he would face, or whether he would succeed. God revealed only the call, not the destination. And still he said yes. The modern disciple must learn this same holy courage—the faith to say “yes” before knowing the cost. Real obedience precedes full understanding.

We also face cultural barriers. The age of irony mocks conviction; the age of comfort avoids sacrifice. But God still calls amid the noise. Every generation must rediscover the sacred simplicity of Isaiah’s answer: to stand up when called, to speak when it’s easier to stay silent, to go when it’s safer to stay home.

V. The Transformation of the Willing Heart

The power of Isaiah’s response lies in transformation. He entered the temple burdened by guilt and left commissioned by grace. The same God who cleansed his lips also shaped his life. Service becomes the fruit of forgiveness. Every believer who says “send me” enters this same pattern: encounter, cleansing, and calling.

Modern discipleship is not a part-time endeavor but a lifelong response. When we offer ourselves to God’s purposes, He transforms both us and the world around us. A single “send me” can ripple through generations. One teacher who sees their classroom as a mission field, one civic leader who governs with justice, one artist who creates with reverence—each becomes a vessel through which God’s light reaches others.

In this way, Isaiah’s call is not a moment but a movement. It is the continual surrender of the heart that says, “Use me, Lord, wherever You will.”

VI. Conclusion: The Call Continues

Isaiah’s cry, “Here am I, Lord; send me,” remains one of the purest expressions of faith in all of Scripture. It is both an answer and a challenge. Across the centuries, prophets, apostles, and saints have echoed it in their own tongues—Moses before Pharaoh, Mary before the angel, Peter beside the sea, Paul on the Damascus road. And still the question comes: “Whom shall I send?”

Every believer must decide whether to remain a spectator in the temple or to become a servant in the field. The call may come through Scripture, through conscience, or through the cry of human need. The answer must come from the heart: “Here am I.” In those three words lies the essence of Christian discipleship—the surrender of self to the will of God.

In a fractured world that hungers for hope, the echo of Isaiah’s voice is needed more than ever. The Lord still seeks those who will go—into classrooms, hospitals, city halls, neighborhoods, and nations—to live out His message of redemption. To every willing soul, He still asks the ancient question. And to every heart brave enough to respond, He still gives divine purpose.

“Here am I, Lord; send me.” May it not be only Isaiah’s prayer—but ours.

Reflective Prayer: “Here Am I, Lord”

O Lord, high and lifted up,
whose glory fills the earth and whose mercy touches even the most unworthy lips,
we come before You with humbled hearts.

We have heard Your question echo through the ages —
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
And though the world grows noisy with fear and distraction,
still Your voice breaks through.

Touch our lips as You touched Isaiah’s,
burn away our pride, our hesitation, our excuses.
Cleanse what is unclean,
renew what is weary,
and make our hearts burn again with holy purpose.

When the needs of the world seem too vast, remind us:
You do not ask us to save the world, only to serve in it.
You do not need our strength, only our surrender.
You do not require our perfection, only our presence.

So here we stand, O Lord —
in our cities, our classrooms, our homes, our workplaces.
Here we are, with our small voices and open hands.
Send us where love is lacking.
Send us where truth is silenced.
Send us where hope has grown dim.

And when we go, go with us —
that every act may carry the mark of Your grace,
and every word may bear the weight of Your holiness.

We pray this not in our own name,
but in the name of Jesus Christ,
the One who was sent and who sends us still.

Amen.

Searching for God’s Plan Is Part of God’s Plan

October 10, 2025.Reading time 19 minutes.

🕯️ A collaboration between Lewis McLain & AI

🕯️ Searching for God’s Plan Is Part of God’s Plan

A meditation on divine purpose, patience, and the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit

✨ Introduction — The God Who Is Three in One

When we speak of God’s plan, we must first understand who God is.
All of Scripture — and every whisper of divine purpose — flows from the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the eternal truth that God is One in essence and Three in person: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

From the first pages of the Bible, God reveals Himself not as solitary but as relational. In Genesis 1:26, the Creator declares, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness.” This “Us” is not the language of royalty but of communion — a glimpse into the fellowship that has always existed within the Godhead.

God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the One who spoke light into being and still speaks purpose into creation. He is the source from which all love, justice, and wisdom flow.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the Word made flesh — “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Fully divine and fully human, He entered time so that eternity could enter us. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He revealed the Father’s heart and opened the way for humanity to live in communion with God once more.

God the Holy Spirit is the living presence of God with us — the Comforter Jesus promised in John 14:26, the One who guides, convicts, empowers, and renews. The Spirit does not simply move around us but dwells within us, breathing life where there was none and transforming belief into becoming.

Together, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God — distinct in person, united in essence, perfect in love. The Father wills, the Son reveals, the Spirit indwells. This divine harmony is not a concept to be solved but a communion to be entered — the eternal dance of love that invites us to join.

To seek God’s plan, then, is to be drawn into the life of the Holy Trinity itself — to hear the Father’s call, to follow the Son’s example, and to walk in the Spirit’s guidance. Every act of faith, every search for purpose, begins and ends within that holy fellowship of love.

🌅 I. The Longing to Know

Every soul, at some quiet moment, comes to the edge of its own mystery and whispers,
Why am I here?
What am I meant to do?
How will I know when I’ve found it?

These are not small questions, nor are they unspiritual ones. They are the pulse of eternity within human clay — the proof that we were made by a purposeful God who designed us to long for Him. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says, “He has set eternity in the human heart.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). That longing, that inward ache for meaning, is not a flaw in the system — it is the invitation itself.

Before we ever lift our eyes toward heaven, the Holy Spirit has already stirred the waters of our hearts. It is He who awakens the desire to seek, to question, to yearn for direction. We imagine that we begin the search, but in truth, we are responding to One who has already begun calling our name. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” says the Lord (Jeremiah 1:5). The search is not the beginning of God’s plan — it is the awakening to it.

We live in a world that tells us to chase identity through productivity — to define purpose by what we do. Yet the Spirit teaches us to begin with who we are: beloved, chosen, formed for good works prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10). When we start from belovedness, direction becomes less about achievement and more about alignment. The question shifts from “What is my plan for my life?” to “What is God’s life doing through me?”

There are times the longing feels like a burden — like a hunger that won’t be filled. But that hunger is holy. It is the echo of Eden within us, the part of the soul that still remembers walking with God in the cool of the day. Every time we ask “Why am I here?” we are really asking, “Lord, where are You?” And the Spirit answers softly in the dark: “Closer than you think.”

The longing to know is not a sign that we are lost; it is proof that we are loved. God hides His purposes not to frustrate us but to form us. Like a sunrise that slowly brightens the horizon, His plan is not a flash of lightning but a gentle unveiling. And as we watch for the light, we come to see — the search itself is sacred. The seeking heart is already standing within the circle of His will.

🌾 II. The Restless Heart

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God.” — Psalm 42 : 1
“It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” — Philippians 2 : 13

There is a restlessness that runs through the human spirit — a holy discomfort that keeps us from settling for less than what God intended. We call it anxiety, ambition, or uncertainty, but beneath those names lies a deeper truth: the soul was not designed for stagnation. The Spirit keeps us moving because life in Christ is a pilgrimage, not permanence.

The restlessness of the heart is a divine stirring. It is what moved Abraham to leave Ur without a map, Moses to wander through desert silence, and Paul to cross seas with only the Spirit’s whisper, “Go.” None of them saw the full plan, but each trusted that the One who called would lead.

When the Holy Spirit “woos” the soul, He does not always comfort first; sometimes He unsettles. He loosens our grip on comfort so that we might reach for calling. The Spirit’s invitation is often disguised as discomfort — not to harm us, but to stretch us toward holiness.

We often mistake that tension as something to escape. But restlessness can be sacred ground if we let it drive us to prayer instead of panic. The heart that refuses to grow numb, that dares to ask “Is there more?” is already being moved by the Breath of God.

If you feel restless today, take courage. The ache itself is evidence that the Spirit is alive within you — awakening desire, stirring purpose, leading you toward something truer than you can yet name.

🌊 III. The Hidden Path

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119 : 105
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3 : 5–6

We wish God would hand us the map. Instead, He gives us a lamp.

Faith does not come with a blueprint; it comes with a Person. The Holy Spirit does not reveal the entire road — He reveals the next step. That is why the lamp is at our feet, not miles ahead. If God showed us everything at once, we would no longer need faith; we would manage life by sight.

The hidden path is the training ground of trust. We take one obedient step, and the next is revealed. Guidance in Scripture always comes to those who are already moving: Abraham stepping out, Peter stepping onto the water, Paul stepping toward Macedonia. Divine direction is discovered in motion.

Discernment grows in stillness and obedience. God speaks through His Word, through the peace that follows prayer, through the wise voices He plants around us. The Holy Spirit confirms through alignment — when Scripture, conscience, and peace all point in the same direction.

We are not asked to see far, only to walk faithfully where the light falls. The Spirit’s guidance often turns like a lighthouse beam — rhythmic, partial, but consistent. The light always returns.

⚓ IV. The Stillness of Trust

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46 : 10
“Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” — Habakkuk 2 : 3

The hardest obedience is not movement — it is stillness.
We can act, plan, or work; but to be still and trust feels like doing nothing. Yet Scripture reveals that stillness is not inactivity; it is surrender.

Stillness says, “God, You do not need my panic to accomplish Your promise.”
It is a holy resting of the soul, a decision to stop wrestling for control.

When Elijah fled to the cave, God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). Jesus, too, embodied that peace — sleeping through a storm that terrified seasoned fishermen. Both moments show the same truth: the presence of chaos does not mean the absence of God.

In a world that rewards busyness and noise, stillness is an act of rebellion. It is spiritual warfare against hurry, fear, and self-sufficiency. To be still is to declare that God’s timing is trustworthy, His sovereignty complete.

Waiting is not wasted time. It is the slow shaping of faith into maturity. What we think is delay is often design. And while we wait, the Holy Spirit breathes courage into our quiet — a courage that does not demand proof, only Presence.

🌤 V. The Mystery of Hindsight

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” — John 13 : 7
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” — Romans 8 : 28

God’s handwriting is easiest to read backwards.

Joseph understood his suffering only after the famine was over. Ruth saw redemption only after returning from Moab. Peter grasped the grace of denial only after resurrection morning. Each could have cried in the middle, “What possible good could come of this?” — yet each found that God had been writing something beautiful in invisible ink.

The Spirit is the Interpreter of the Past. He helps us re-read our pain through the lens of providence. What once looked like abandonment becomes preparation. What once felt like punishment becomes protection.

When hindsight meets humility, gratitude is born. We begin to thank God not only for what He gave but for what He withheld. The fog clears, and we realize that every step, even the missteps, were guided by mercy.

In time, revelation becomes remembrance — and remembrance becomes worship.

🕯️ VI. Living Inside the Plan

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6 : 8
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29 : 13

To live inside God’s plan is not to solve a puzzle; it is to live in relationship.
We seek His will not as detectives chasing clues but as children trusting a Father.

The will of God is not a distant treasure buried under mystery; it is the life of Christ formed in us through faith. Every decision, every act of love, every moment of humility becomes the shaping of divine purpose.

When we walk in love, we are already in the center of His will. When we forgive, serve, give, and trust — we are fulfilling His design more than we realize.

Faith is not a destination but a direction. The Spirit leads not by shouting orders but by indwelling presence. To live “in the plan” is to live with the Planner — daily, presently, obediently.

We spend so much time asking, “Am I in God’s will?”
Perhaps heaven’s better question is, “Am I walking with God?”

The seeker who walks with God is never off the map.

🕊️ VII. The Seeker’s Prayer

Lord of the journey,
You who shape the tides and light the stars,
teach me to trust the mystery of Your plan.
When I cannot see the shoreline,
let me rest in the rhythm of Your waves.

When my heart cries, “Why am I here?”
whisper back, “You are Mine.”
When I ask, “What should I do?”
remind me to keep the lamp trimmed,
to walk one faithful step at a time.

Holy Spirit, gentle Companion,
thank You for stirring my questions
and for meeting me inside them.
Let Your whisper rise above the wind,
Your peace outshine my fear.

I do not ask for the full map —
only the courage to follow the next light.
For even my searching belongs to You.
Every longing, every delay, every unanswered prayer
is already written in Your design.

Keep me seeking.
Keep me trusting.
And when the dawn finally breaks,
may I find that the path I wandered
was the one You planned all along.

Amen.

🌅 VIII. Epilogue — The Morning of Understanding

The first light slips across the sea. The storm has passed. Whether one stands on a balcony or kneels beside a bed, there comes a moment when striving ceases and trust begins.

The questions that once pressed hard against the heart grow quiet.
We do not have every answer—only peace. The waiting, the wondering, the wandering — all reveal themselves as the Spirit’s slow choreography toward surrender.

Below us, life continues — tides rise and fall, plans shift and change. Yet above all, God remains steady. His plan, mysterious and merciful, unfolds with perfect rhythm.

In that awareness the soul finds rest.
The search, it turns out, was never about discovering a destination but discovering Him.

The Spirit still whispers over the waters:
Be still and know that I am God.

And the heart that listens understands at last —
to search for God’s plan was always to walk within it.
The light was never lost;
it was leading all along.

Forgiveness and Redemption in Scripture, Life, and Literature

October 5, 2025.Reading time 18 minutes.

By Lewis McLain & AI

I. Biblical Foundation: Forgiveness First, Redemption Next

Erika Kirk forgave Charlie’s killer, pointing to Christ’s words from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Her act of mercy embodied the heart of the Gospel—entrusting justice to God, rejecting bitterness, and opening the door to redemption.

The Bible presents forgiveness and redemption as inseparable. Forgiveness cancels the debt; redemption restores life and dignity. Paul wrote, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). Forgiveness is not weakness or excusing evil—it is entrusting vengeance to God and releasing hatred. Redemption then builds on that foundation, transforming what was broken into something new.

This is the theme W. A. Criswell called The Scarlet Thread Through the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Scripture is the story of redemption through the blood of Christ. The animal slain to clothe Adam and Eve, the Passover lamb in Egypt, the sacrifices in Leviticus, the prophecies of Isaiah, the cross of Calvary, and the redeemed multitudes in Revelation—all are tied together by one scarlet thread: forgiveness by blood, redemption by grace.

II. What This Means Today: Living Forgiveness in Modern Life

In the Home

Families are the first classrooms of forgiveness. A husband and wife who refuse to forgive calcify around resentments. Parents who forgive rebellious children model the father in the parable of the prodigal son, who ran to embrace his returning child.

A teenager who totals the family car may face consequences, repayment, or loss of privileges. Yet when the parent says, “I love you. We will get through this together,” forgiveness restores trust where anger alone would sever it. Families that practice forgiveness learn resilience; those that don’t fracture under the weight of accumulated grievances.

In the Community

Communities unravel when grudges fester. They are healed when forgiveness is practiced. The Amish of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, in 2006 forgave the man who murdered their children, visiting his widow to comfort her and even contributing to her support. Their forgiveness stunned the watching world.

In daily life, forgiveness might take the form of neighbors ending a property-line feud with a handshake, or a school board reconciling after heated conflict. Communities cannot legislate love, but they can embody it. Forgiveness prevents bitterness from defining the neighborhood and replaces hostility with shared peace.

In the Workplace

Workplaces thrive or rot on whether people forgive. A forgiven mistake can become a growth story; an unforgiven one can poison culture. A financial firm once forgave a young broker after a costly trading error, retrained him, and gave him another chance. He later became one of the company’s top leaders. Forgiveness became an investment, not a liability.

When leaders practice forgiveness, accountability does not disappear, but it is coupled with dignity. Employees learn that mistakes can be addressed without humiliation, and culture shifts from fear to resilience. Forgiveness builds loyalty; unforgiveness breeds turnover and distrust.

In Government and Public Life

Forgiveness in government never erases justice, but it tempers it. After apartheid, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission created space for confession, repentance, and conditional amnesty. Victims spoke, perpetrators admitted crimes, and some measure of national healing began. In the United States, President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon to spare the country endless bitterness over Watergate.

In some American cities, restorative-justice programs allow offenders and victims to meet face-to-face. Offenders confess, victims voice pain, and restitution is required. Forgiveness then becomes more than sentiment—it takes on civic power, reducing recidivism and building safer communities. Mercy and justice, long at odds, begin to work together.

III. Forgiveness and Redemption in Literature

Les Misérables — Victor Hugo (1862)

Jean Valjean, imprisoned for stealing bread, emerges from prison hardened and bitter. When Bishop Myriel forgives him for stealing silver and even gifts him more, Valjean’s life changes course. He devotes himself to mercy, raising Cosette, protecting Marius, and showing compassion to the poor. His lifelong nemesis, Inspector Javert, hunts him relentlessly but cannot comprehend mercy.

The contrast between Valjean and Javert is the contrast between forgiveness and unforgiveness. Valjean finds redemption in grace; Javert cannot accept it and perishes. Hugo suggests that forgiveness not only transforms individuals but has the potential to reshape an unjust society.

The Count of Monte Cristo — Alexandre Dumas (1844)

Edmond Dantès is betrayed by false friends, falsely imprisoned, and robbed of years of his life. Escaping from prison, he discovers a treasure and reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo. He systematically destroys his betrayers, one by one, savoring their ruin. For years, revenge consumes him.

Yet vengeance leaves him empty. He eventually spares some of his enemies and recognizes that only mercy can give him peace. Forgiveness becomes his redemption, liberating him from hatred. Dumas shows that vengeance enslaves the avenger, while forgiveness frees both offender and victim.

The Brothers Karamazov — Fyodor Dostoevsky (1880)

This Russian epic explores forgiveness as a communal duty rather than a private choice. Father Zosima insists that each person is responsible for all others’ sins, binding humanity together in shared guilt and mercy. Dmitri, the eldest brother, learns to repent and seek forgiveness. Ivan, the intellectual skeptic, despairs over a world of suffering that seems to defy forgiveness. Alyosha, the youngest, becomes the living embodiment of mercy.

Dostoevsky portrays forgiveness as agonizing, costly, and communal. Redemption does not emerge from philosophy or law but from grace lived out in flesh and blood. The novel insists that forgiveness is humanity’s only hope for breaking cycles of despair.

Cry, the Beloved Country — Alan Paton (1948)

Set in apartheid South Africa, this novel follows Stephen Kumalo, a black pastor who discovers his son has killed the son of James Jarvis, a wealthy white landowner. All seems set for permanent hatred. Yet the fathers meet and, through grief, discover forgiveness.

Their fragile reconciliation becomes a symbol of what South Africa desperately needed: mercy that could lead to national redemption. Paton does not romanticize forgiveness; he shows its difficulty. Yet he insists it is the only way to heal deep racial divides and to build a shared future.

The Hiding Place — Corrie ten Boom (1971)

Corrie ten Boom’s family hid Jews during World War II, were arrested, and suffered terribly in Ravensbrück concentration camp. After the war, Corrie spoke widely on forgiveness. One day, she was approached by a former prison guard who had repented and asked for her pardon.

In that moment, Corrie wrestled with rage and weakness. Yet she extended her hand and forgave him, later writing that it was not her strength but Christ’s. Forgiveness freed both guard and survivor, redeeming not only his guilt but her pain. Corrie’s story shows that forgiveness can seem impossible—yet with God, redemption is possible even in the darkest places.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C. S. Lewis (1950)

Edmund betrays his siblings for Turkish delight and the White Witch’s false promises. His treachery condemns him to death by law. Aslan, the great lion, offers himself in Edmund’s place, dies, and rises again. Edmund is forgiven and restored to his family.

Lewis uses children’s fantasy to portray profound theology. Forgiveness costs sacrifice; redemption transforms the forgiven into someone new. Edmund becomes courageous and loyal, his betrayal redeemed by grace. Forgiveness and redemption here are not abstract—they are embodied in blood, sacrifice, and renewal.

A Tale of Two Cities — Charles Dickens (1859)

Sydney Carton begins as a bitter, wasted man—drunk, cynical, and purposeless. Yet through his love for Lucie, he discovers the possibility of redemption. In the climax, Carton takes another man’s place at the guillotine during the French Revolution, offering his life in sacrifice.

His final words—“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done”—mark his transformation. Carton forgives himself for wasted years, redeems his life through death, and shows that even the most broken person can end in glory. Forgiveness clears his shame; redemption crowns his story.

Great Expectations — Charles Dickens (1861)

Pip, a poor boy suddenly elevated by wealth, becomes ashamed of his upbringing and mistreats Joe, the blacksmith who raised him with kindness. He pursues false dreams of gentility, only to watch them collapse. Humbled, he returns to Joe in repentance.

Joe forgives him without hesitation, restoring their relationship. Redemption comes not through wealth but through forgiveness and humility. Pip matures, learning that love and loyalty matter more than status. Dickens portrays forgiveness as the foundation for personal redemption and moral growth.

East of Eden — John Steinbeck (1952)

Steinbeck reimagines the biblical story of Cain and Abel across generations in California’s Salinas Valley. Families repeat cycles of sin, betrayal, and vengeance. Yet the novel hinges on one word: timshel—“thou mayest.”

“Timshel” insists that each person can choose forgiveness instead of vengeance. Redemption is never fated, but always possible. Forgiveness breaks the cycle, and redemption emerges when people seize their freedom to choose mercy. Steinbeck offers hope in the midst of human brokenness.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin — Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852)

Uncle Tom suffers under slavery’s cruelty yet refuses to hate his oppressors. Even when beaten to death, he prays for his tormentors. His forgiveness becomes a moral witness that redeems others, piercing even hardened hearts.

Stowe uses Tom’s forgiveness to expose slavery’s evil and to show mercy as resistance. Forgiveness redeems not only individuals but can move the conscience of a nation. The novel helped spark movements that changed history, suggesting that forgiveness can be a force for social redemption.

The Secret Garden — Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

Mary Lennox and Colin Craven begin as bitter, selfish, and isolated children. Through friendship, care, and the willingness to forgive themselves and others, they begin to heal. The hidden, barren garden comes alive again as they change.

Forgiveness transforms their relationships, and the garden becomes a metaphor for redemption. What was neglected and dead blooms with life. Burnett shows that forgiveness can soften hearts, restore families, and redeem what seemed lost.

Heidi — Johanna Spyri (1881)

Heidi, an orphan girl, goes to live with her embittered grandfather in the Swiss Alps. At first cold and harsh, he is gradually melted by Heidi’s innocence, love, and forgiveness. She brings joy not only to him but to all she meets.

Her grandfather’s transformation is redemption born of forgiveness. Their home, once joyless, becomes full of warmth and light. Spyri portrays childlike love and mercy as powers that heal and redeem the hardest hearts.

To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee (1960)

Set in the American South, the novel explores justice and prejudice. Atticus Finch teaches his children to forgive insults and hostility. Scout learns to see life from Boo Radley’s perspective, realizing he is not a monster but a protector.

Boo’s redemption—from feared recluse to guardian—depends on the town’s willingness to see him differently and forgive past misunderstandings. Forgiveness reshapes perception, and redemption restores dignity. Lee shows that mercy changes how we see—and how we live.

The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini (2003)

Amir betrays his loyal friend Hassan as a child, and the guilt haunts him for decades. Hassan dies before forgiveness can be spoken. Yet Amir seeks redemption by rescuing Hassan’s son from Afghanistan, risking his life to give the boy a future.

The journey is dangerous, painful, and costly, but it redeems Amir’s betrayal. Hosseini shows that even when forgiveness cannot be received directly, redemption remains possible through courage and sacrifice. Forgiveness opens the way; redemption completes it.

IV. Conclusion: Release and Renewal

When Erika Kirk forgave Charlie’s killer, she bore witness to the scarlet thread Criswell described—the flow of forgiveness and redemption running through history and through human hearts. Her words echoed Christ’s from the cross, proving that mercy is not weakness but power, and that redemption begins wherever forgiveness is given.

(Erika Kirk video here — click or paste this line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OUj_Hzgnjs)

Two years after an assassin’s bullet nearly took his life in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II offered one of the most public and profound examples of that same mercy. On May 13, 1981, the Pope was shot at close range by a Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Ağca, and nearly died. While recovering, he announced that he forgave his attacker. Then, on December 27, 1983, he visited Ağca in prison. In a small cell in Rome’s Rebibbia Prison, the Pope sat face-to-face with the man who had tried to kill him, held his hand, and spoke to him quietly as a brother. That image—the white-robed pontiff leaning toward his assailant in a gesture of peace—became one of the defining portraits of forgiveness in the modern world. John Paul II’s mercy embodied the truth he preached: that forgiveness is stronger than fear, and redemption can reach even into the darkest corners of human intent.

From Scripture to Hugo, Dickens, Dostoevsky, Paton, Ten Boom, Lewis, and Hosseini, the pattern is clear: forgiveness releases, redemption restores. Forgiveness ends cycles of bitterness; redemption gives new purpose. Together, they are humanity’s deepest hope—for individuals, families, communities, and nations.

The Bible declares it; life demands it; literature dramatizes it. Revenge destroys. Forgiveness liberates. Redemption renews.

Exploring the Bible: History, Structure, Literature, Theology, Application, and Influence

September 28, 2025.Reading time 26 minutes.

A collaboration between Lewis McLain & AI

Introduction

Few books (if any) have shaped human history as profoundly as the Bible. Revered as sacred Scripture by Jews and Christians, and respected by other traditions, the Bible is at once an ancient library, a theological manifesto, a work of literature, and a source of personal devotion. For Christians in particular, it is not merely a record of human religious thought but the inspired Word of God — “God-breathed,” as the Apostle Paul put it (2 Timothy 3:16). Inspiration means that, while written by human authors in particular times and places, the Bible ultimately conveys the message and truth of God Himself.

Because of this conviction, believers affirm the Bible’s infallibility: that in all matters of faith and practice it speaks without error, reliably guiding humanity to God’s will and salvation. The trustworthiness of the Scriptures is supported not only by theological conviction but also by historical evidence. The remarkable preservation of manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (1), shows the consistency of the biblical text over centuries. Thousands of New Testament manuscripts, some dating to within a century of the originals, provide far more textual support than any other ancient work. Archeological discoveries — from the ruins of Jericho to the records of Babylonian kings — often corroborate biblical accounts. Prophecies fulfilled in history, such as Isaiah’s foretelling of the suffering servant or Micah’s prediction of Bethlehem as Messiah’s birthplace, lend further weight to the claim of divine inspiration.

Yet Christians also recognize that not every mystery of the Bible can be resolved by reason or evidence alone. Faith is required. The most faithful of believers often acknowledge that some questions belong to what they call the “Why Line” — matters that will only be fully understood when we reach Heaven. This humble acceptance of mystery underscores the conviction that the Bible is trustworthy even where human understanding reaches its limits.

Historical Foundations and Canon

The Bible is best understood as a collection of sacred writings rather than a single book. Composed over some 1,500 years, it brings together voices as varied as shepherds and kings, prophets and priests, apostles and tentmakers. The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, is traditionally divided into three major sections: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings. Christians inherit this structure but order the books differently and add the New Testament, which consists of Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.

The Torah provided the foundation for Jewish faith and practice, while the Prophets carried forward Israel’s story and interpreted it through the lens of God’s covenant demands. The Writings offered poetry, wisdom, and reflections for worship and daily living. Christians then recognized the Gospels as testimonies to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; Acts as the bridge between Jesus and the early church; the Epistles as letters of instruction; and Revelation as a vision of ultimate hope.

The recognition of these writings as authoritative was gradual, with Jewish communities closing their canon in the first centuries AD, and the Christian church largely confirming the New Testament canon by the fourth century. The very process of canonization (2) reveals how the community of faith shaped the Bible even as the Bible shaped the community. For believers, this process was guided not merely by human decision but by God’s providence, ensuring that the inspired Word was faithfully preserved for future generations.

The Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

The Torah, sometimes called the Pentateuch, includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These five books lay the theological foundation for everything that follows. Genesis introduces creation, humanity’s fall, and the beginnings of God’s covenant with Abraham. Exodus recounts Israel’s dramatic liberation from slavery and the giving of the Law at Sinai. Leviticus focuses on holiness, ritual, and the priestly system, while Numbers portrays Israel’s wilderness wanderings. Deuteronomy concludes the Torah by rehearsing the covenant and calling the nation to faithfulness before entering the promised land.

The Torah reveals God’s character as Creator, Redeemer, and Lawgiver, and its preservation through centuries testifies to its central role in Jewish and Christian faith. While skeptics debate details of chronology or authorship, believers affirm that God ensured the Torah’s message remained intact, even if some questions about its composition remain for the “Why Line.”

The Prophets are traditionally divided into the Former and the Latter Prophets. The Former Prophets — Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings — recount Israel’s history from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile. These books are not merely chronicles of events; they interpret history through the lens of covenant obedience and disobedience.

The Latter Prophets include the “Major Prophets” — Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel — as well as the “Minor Prophets,” the twelve shorter books from Hosea to Malachi. Isaiah brings a grand vision of judgment and restoration, Jeremiah warns of destruction yet promises a New Covenant, and Ezekiel combines vivid symbolic acts with hope for renewal.

This “New Covenant,” first announced in Jeremiah 31:31–34, promised that God would write His law not on tablets of stone but on the hearts of His people. Unlike the old covenant, which Israel repeatedly broke, the New Covenant would be marked by forgiveness of sins, an intimate knowledge of God, and a transformed inner life. Jesus later defined its essence when He declared that all the Law and the Prophets rest on two commandments: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37–40). In this way, the New Covenant is both fulfillment and simplification — distilling the law’s deepest intent into love for God and love for others, made possible through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

The Writings form a diverse collection that includes poetry, wisdom, and historical reflection. Psalms gathers prayers and songs that span the full range of human emotion, from despair to jubilation. Proverbs offers compact sayings of wisdom for daily living, while Ecclesiastes reflects on the meaning of life in the face of mortality. Job wrestles with suffering and divine justice — a book that especially challenges human understanding, where many Christians confess that only eternity will fully reveal God’s purposes.

Other writings, like Ruth and Esther, tell stories of ordinary faithfulness and courage in extraordinary times. Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, while Daniel combines narratives of exile with visions of God’s sovereignty. Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah retell Israel’s story with an eye toward restoration after exile. Together, the Writings remind readers that faith involves trust in God’s wisdom even when the reasons behind life’s trials are hidden.

The Judeo-Christian Heritage

The close relationship between the Old and New Testaments explains why many speak of the “Judeo-Christian” tradition. Christianity is deeply rooted in the faith of Israel. The moral law of the Torah, the prayers of the Psalms, and the prophetic hope of redemption all form the groundwork upon which Christianity is built.

Jesus himself was a Jew who affirmed the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures and declared that He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). The early church drew its Scriptures, liturgy, and moral vision from Judaism, even as it proclaimed the New Covenant established in Christ — the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s promise of a covenant written on the heart, sealed in the blood of Jesus, and offering forgiveness and transformation to all who believe.

When Christians use the term “Judeo-Christian,” they affirm continuity — that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ. The phrase also highlights shared ethical commitments, such as the sanctity of life, justice, compassion for the poor, and the dignity of work, which have shaped Western civilization.

This heritage also explains why many Christians express solidarity with the Jewish people and support for Israel. While Christianity and Judaism diverge in their understanding of Jesus as Messiah, Christians nevertheless honor Israel’s role as God’s covenant people and see in them the roots of their own faith. For some, this connection is not only historical but also prophetic, tied to God’s ongoing purposes for Israel. Thus, the Judeo-Christian tradition is more than a cultural phrase — it represents a living bond between two faiths that share Scripture, history, and hope.

The New Testament

The Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — stand at the heart of the New Testament. Each one offers a distinctive portrait of Jesus. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, Mark presents a fast-paced account of His ministry, Luke highlights compassion for the marginalized, and John portrays Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh.

While critics sometimes note variations among the Gospel accounts, Christians see these differences as complementary perspectives rather than contradictions — much like multiple witnesses to the same event. The sheer number of manuscript copies, their closeness to the originals, and their consistency across centuries provide strong evidence of accuracy. Yet, faith still plays a role: Christians acknowledge that understanding how divine sovereignty and human authorship blend is part of the mystery left for the “Why Line.”

The Acts of the Apostles continues the story, tracing the Spirit-empowered spread of the church from Jerusalem to Rome. Its historical details align with known geography, customs, and Roman administration, lending confidence in its reliability. At the same time, it reminds believers that the work of the Spirit often exceeds human explanation.

The Epistles provide pastoral and theological guidance, shaping doctrine and practice. Their survival across centuries and wide circulation among early Christian communities speak to their authenticity. Still, Christians accept that some teachings, like the relationship between divine sovereignty and human choice, will only be fully understood in eternity.

Revelation: The Consummation of God’s Story

The New Testament concludes with the Book of Revelation, a work unlike any other in the biblical canon. Written by the Apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos, Revelation is both a pastoral letter to persecuted churches and a sweeping vision of cosmic conflict and ultimate victory. Its opening chapters contain messages to seven churches in Asia Minor, urging faithfulness amid suffering and compromise. These letters ground the book’s apocalyptic visions in real communities, reminding readers that Revelation is not mere speculation about the future but a call to perseverance in the present.

Revelation is filled with vivid imagery: beasts rising from the sea, trumpets sounding, bowls of wrath poured out, and a radiant city descending from heaven. These symbols draw heavily on Old Testament prophecy — echoes of Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Zechariah run throughout the text. Rather than providing a literal timetable of end-time events, Revelation uses this imagery to unveil spiritual realities. The word “apocalypse” itself means “unveiling.” What John unveils is the deeper truth that behind political powers, wars, and persecutions lies a spiritual battle between the Lamb who was slain and the forces of evil.

Central to Revelation is the vision of Christ as the triumphant Lamb. Though slain, He is victorious, and by His blood people from every tribe and nation are redeemed. This paradox — victory through sacrifice — is the heart of Christian hope. The book shows that worldly empires may rage, false prophets may deceive, and persecution may intensify, but Christ reigns sovereign. The throne room vision in chapters 4 and 5 pulls back the curtain on history to reveal that God, not Rome or any earthly power, sits at the center of the universe.

Revelation also portrays the judgment of evil. Babylon, the symbol of corrupt power and idolatry, is cast down. The dragon, representing Satan, is defeated. Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire. These images remind believers that evil, though real and destructive, is not eternal. God’s justice will prevail, even if its timing is hidden from human sight. For many Christians, the exact details of how and when these events occur belong to the “Why Line” — mysteries entrusted to God until eternity clarifies them.

The climax of Revelation is its vision of new creation. In the final chapters, John sees a new heaven and a new earth, where the holy city, the New Jerusalem, descends like a bride adorned for her husband. Here God dwells with humanity, wiping away every tear, and abolishing death, mourning, and pain. The imagery returns readers to the garden of Genesis, now transformed into a city where the river of life flows and the tree of life bears fruit for the healing of nations. The Bible’s story, which began with creation and was marred by sin, concludes with re-creation and eternal communion with God.

For Christians, Revelation offers both warning and comfort. It warns against complacency, idolatry, and compromise with worldly powers, while comforting believers with the assurance that Christ is victorious and that suffering will give way to glory. While debates about millennial timelines, rapture theories, and symbolic details have divided interpreters, the central message remains clear: God is sovereign, Christ has triumphed, and the faithful are called to endure with hope.

Revelation continues to speak powerfully to the modern church. In a world marked by war, corruption, persecution, and uncertainty, its message of hope remains as relevant as ever. Believers under oppressive regimes find courage in its assurance that earthly empires do not have the last word. Christians navigating cultural pressure are reminded, like the seven churches of Asia, to hold fast to truth and resist compromise. Even in prosperous societies, Revelation warns against complacency and lukewarm faith. Most of all, it reassures every generation that history is not spiraling out of control but moving toward God’s promised renewal. For the church today, Revelation calls for perseverance, purity, and trust in Christ’s ultimate victory — a hope that sustains the faithful until the day when the “Why Line” is finally crossed and God’s purposes are made fully known.

Literary Diversity

Across these divisions, the Bible reveals itself as a rich tapestry of literary forms. Historical narratives, poetry, laws, parables, letters, and visions each serve unique purposes. The diversity of style strengthens rather than weakens the Bible’s credibility, demonstrating that its inspiration spans genres and cultures while still carrying a unified message.

Theological Core

Through all its varied voices, the Bible tells a single story: creation, fall, covenant, Christ, church, and consummation. At points this story confronts human understanding with mysteries — how God’s sovereignty works with human freedom, why suffering persists, or how eternity will unfold. Christians hold that such questions belong to faith, trusting that the God who inspired Scripture will one day supply answers.

Practical Application

Because of its varied content and structure, the Bible speaks to every dimension of human life. The Torah calls for obedience, the Prophets demand justice, the Writings shape worship and wisdom, the Gospels reveal Christ, the Epistles guide the church, and Revelation instills hope. Believers live with confidence in the reliability of God’s Word, while also acknowledging that some matters remain beyond comprehension — entrusted to God until the “Why Line” is crossed in eternity.

Cultural Influence

The Bible’s influence extends beyond the boundaries of faith communities. Its stories and phrases have seeped into common speech — “the powers that be,” “the writing on the wall,” “by the skin of your teeth.” Its themes have inspired the greatest achievements of Western art and music, from Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam to Handel’s Messiah. Its moral vision has informed legal systems, human rights movements, and social reforms.

At times, its words have been misused to defend injustice, but they have also served as rallying cries for freedom and equality, from the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement. The Bible’s cultural legacy demonstrates its unique power to speak to the human condition across time and space.

Conclusion

To explore the Bible is to encounter both unity and diversity. Its structure — Torah, Prophets, Writings, Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation — provides the framework for God’s grand story. Within this structure lie literary beauty, theological depth, practical wisdom, and cultural influence.

For Christians, the Bible is more than history or literature; it is the inspired, infallible Word of God. It is accurate in its transmission, reliable in its message, and enduring in its truth. At the same time, it calls for faith — faith that accepts both what is clear and what remains a mystery for the “Why Line” in Heaven.

The Bible is a historical witness, a literary masterpiece, a theological anchor, an ethical guide, and a cultural fountainhead. Above all, it is the living Word of God that continues to speak, comfort, challenge, and transform.

Notes:

(1) The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1946 and 1956 in a series of caves near Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in modern-day Israel.

The first discovery came in late 1946 or early 1947, when Bedouin shepherds stumbled upon clay jars containing scrolls.
Over the next decade, archaeologists and local tribesmen uncovered 11 caves with thousands of fragments.
In total, the scrolls represent about 900 different manuscripts, including portions of nearly every book of the Hebrew Bible (except Esther), as well as sectarian writings from the Jewish community that lived there.

These texts are dated from about 250 BC to AD 70, making them the oldest surviving biblical manuscripts, and they confirm the remarkable consistency of Scripture over centuries of transmission.

(2) The Process of Canonization: Canon comes from the Greek word kanōn, meaning “rule” or “measuring rod.” In the context of Scripture, it refers to the official list of books recognized as inspired and authoritative for faith and practice.

1. Old Testament / Hebrew Bible

Torah (Pentateuch): The first five books were accepted earliest. By the time of Ezra (5th century BC), the Law of Moses was already authoritative.
Prophets: Historical books (Joshua–Kings) and prophetic writings were recognized as Scripture by around the 2nd century BC.
Writings: Books like Psalms, Proverbs, and Chronicles were accepted later. By the end of the 1st century AD (around the time of the Jewish Council at Jamnia, c. AD 90), the Hebrew Bible was essentially fixed.
Criteria: Books were accepted if they had recognized prophetic or divine authority, were consistent with the Torah, and were widely used in worship.

2. New Testament

Early Use: By the end of the 1st century, Paul’s letters and the four Gospels were already circulating among churches. Early Christians read them alongside the Hebrew Scriptures.
Apostolic Authority: Writings had to be connected to the apostles or their close companions (e.g., Luke with Paul, Mark with Peter).
Orthodoxy: The teaching had to align with the “rule of faith” — the core message of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.
Widespread Use: Books accepted and read across many churches carried more weight than local or sectarian texts.
Recognition, not Selection: Early councils did not “create” the canon but confirmed what was already being used and recognized as inspired.

3. Key Milestones

By AD 170, the Muratorian Fragment lists most New Testament books.
By the 4th century, church councils (Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397) confirmed the 27 books of the New Testament we know today.
The canon was recognized by both usage and consensus — seen not as human invention, but as God’s providence guiding the church.

📖 Summary:
The canonization process was organic and Spirit-led, unfolding over centuries. The Bible wasn’t “invented” at a council but recognized as Scripture because the people of God had already experienced these writings as the inspired Word.

Acts 23

September 23, 2025.Reading time 15 minutes.

A collaboration between Lewis McLain & AI

In recent chapters, a recurring theme emerges as Paul preaches before being beaten, jailed, and run out of town, preventing further harm. However, the tension grows as the crowds now want him killed. We know something terrible is going to happen, but when, where, and how is still not known.

Section 1: Paul Before the Sanhedrin (vv. 1–11)

Summary

Paul, standing before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council composed of elders, priests, and scribes, functioning as the highest court in religious and civil matters), begins by declaring his clear conscience before God. The high priest Ananias orders him struck on the mouth, prompting Paul to call him a “whitewashed wall.”¹ Realizing afterward that he had spoken harshly against the high priest, Paul cites the law forbidding him from reviling a ruler of the people.³

Cleverly, Paul then shifts the focus by declaring his belief in the *hope of the resurrection of the dead.*² This phrase immediately divides the council. Some were Pharisees (a group devoted to strict observance of the Law of Moses, the oral traditions, and belief in resurrection, angels, and spirits), while others were Sadducees (a priestly, aristocratic group that rejected resurrection, angels, and spirits, accepting only the written Torah). This difference causes violent dissension, forcing the Roman commander to intervene and remove Paul by force. That night, the Lord appears to Paul, assuring him that just as he testified in Jerusalem, so he must also testify in Rome.

Text (NIV)

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!¹ You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’³”
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.²”
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

¹ The phrase “whitewashed wall” draws from Ezekiel 13:10–15, where false prophets covered weak walls with plaster to hide their flaws, and from Jesus’ rebuke in Matthew 23:27 calling the Pharisees “whitewashed tombs.” Whitewashing made a wall or tomb look clean outwardly, but it could not change the corruption or weakness beneath. Paul applied this imagery to Ananias, exposing his hypocrisy as a judge of the law who violated the law.

² Paul uses the phrase “hope of the resurrection of the dead” not because he lacked certainty (he had seen the risen Christ and even witnessed resurrection miracles) but because “hope” in biblical usage means confident expectation rooted in God’s promise. It also strategically appealed to the Pharisees, who shared this doctrine, creating division with the Sadducees. The phrase reflects both the already of Christ’s resurrection and the not-yet of the final resurrection still to come (see 1 Corinthians 15:20–23).

³ Paul’s statement comes from Exodus 22:28: “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.” The Torah commanded respect for leaders as an extension of respect for God’s authority. Even David refused to curse or harm Saul, calling him “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6). Paul quickly acknowledged that Scripture restrained his words, even when the high priest acted unjustly.

Reflection Questions

How does Paul’s appeal to resurrection strategically divide his opponents?
What can we learn from Paul’s correction after insulting the high priest?
How does the Lord’s reassurance to Paul at night shape his courage for the trials ahead?

Section 2: The Plot to Kill Paul (vv. 12–22)

Summary

A group of Jews form a conspiracy, vowing neither to eat nor drink until they kill Paul. More than forty men join this plot, seeking the support of the chief priests and elders. But Paul’s nephew overhears the plan and reports it to Paul, who sends him to the Roman commander (Claudius Lysias). The commander hears him privately and warns the boy to tell no one that he has revealed this conspiracy.

Text (NIV)

The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
More than forty men were involved in this plot.
They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul the prisoner sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Reflection Questions

What does this plot reveal about the depth of opposition to Paul?
How does God’s providence work through Paul’s nephew?
What lessons can believers take from the commander’s discretion with Paul’s nephew?

Section 3: Paul Sent to Governor Felix (vv. 23–35)

Summary

The commander arranges for Paul’s safe transfer to Caesarea under heavy guard, recognizing the seriousness of the plot against him. He writes a formal letter to Governor Felix, explaining Paul’s situation: that Paul is accused over religious disputes, not crimes deserving death or imprisonment. Paul is escorted with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to Antipatris, then to Caesarea. There, Felix agrees to hear Paul’s case once his accusers arrive, and Paul is held in Herod’s palace.

Text (NIV)

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
He wrote a letter as follows:
Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said,
“I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

Reflection Questions

What does the military escort say about the seriousness of Paul’s situation?
How does Claudius Lysias’s letter reveal Roman attitudes toward religious disputes?
Why is it important that Paul ends up in Caesarea before Felix?

Expanded Poetic Conversation

Paul:
“The council rages, yet I stand,
My hope in God, not built on sand.
Through chains and threats, I will proclaim,
The risen Lord, His holy name.”

High Priest Ananias:
“Strike him down, this man of lies!
He mocks the law, he dares defy.
Yet law I bend for power’s gain,
A robe of white hides inward stain.”

Pharisees:
“Perhaps a spirit spoke his word,
Perhaps an angel he has heard.
The dead shall rise, the prophets say,
On such a hope we stake our way.”

Sadducees:
“No angel comes, no dead shall wake,
The Law is ours alone to take.
His words are smoke, his hope a snare,
No life awaits beyond the grave’s cold air.”

Paul’s Nephew:
“My heart beat fast, my voice was low,
A deadly plot I came to show.
O God who guards the weak and small,
Through me You chose to save Your Paul.”

Commander Claudius Lysias:
“A Roman citizen, I must defend,
From mob and oath that seek his end.
By night we ride, with torch and steel,
To guard this man of fervent zeal.”

Governor Felix:
“A letter comes, I read with care,
This Paul shall answer judgment here.
I’ll wait until accusers speak,
And weigh the strength of law they seek.”

The Lord (to Paul):
“Take courage, son, the night is mine,
In Rome your voice shall yet still shine.
Though plots may rise and chains may bind,
My sovereign hand directs mankind.”

Confession of Beliefs, Faith, and Confidence

September 21, 2025.Reading time 13 minutes.

1. The Bible

I Believe
that the Bible is the inspired, trustworthy, and authoritative Word of God, the supreme guide for what I believe and how I live.

I Am Confident
because its manuscripts are preserved with extraordinary accuracy, its history confirmed by archaeology, its prophecies fulfilled in Christ, and Jesus Himself affirmed its truth. The Bible continues to transform lives and cultures across centuries, showing divine origin and power.

Scripture
2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:20–21; Ps 19:7–11; Ps 119:105; Matt 5:17–18; John 10:35; Luke 24:27.

2. God

I Believe
in one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—eternal, holy, sovereign, and love.

I Am Confident
because creation, morality, and human longing point to a personal Creator. Only the triune God revealed in Scripture explains reality fully and satisfies the deepest needs of the heart.

Scripture
Ex 3:14; Ex 34:6–7; Deut 6:4; Isa 6:1–5; Ps 139; Acts 17:24–28; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14.

3. Jesus Christ

I Believe
that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the eternal Son who became flesh, lived a sinless life, died for my sins, rose bodily from the dead, and reigns as Lord.

I Am Confident
because the evidence for His resurrection is overwhelming: eyewitnesses, empty tomb, transformed disciples, fulfilled prophecy, and the rise of the Church. No other religious figure has claimed and proved divinity as He did.

Scripture
John 1:1–14; Phil 2:5–11; Col 1:15–20; Heb 1:1–4; Isa 53:5; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:21–26; 1 Cor 15:3–8; Matt 1:23.

4. The Holy Spirit

I Believe
in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who convicts the world of sin, regenerates the sinner, indwells, seals, and sanctifies believers, distributes gifts for service, and produces fruit of holy character.

I Am Confident
because His transforming work is seen in changed lives across centuries and cultures, producing unity, gifts, and fruit beyond human ability. He continues to glorify Christ and empower the Church for mission.

Scripture
John 3:5–8; John 14:16–17, 26; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:8; Acts 5:3–4; Rom 8:9–16; 1 Cor 12:4–11; Gal 5:22–23; Eph 1:13–14.

5. Angels & Satan

I Believe
that God created His holy angels as servants and messengers, and that Satan and his demons are fallen angels who oppose Him but stand defeated at the cross and doomed for final judgment.

I Am Confident
because evil is not merely abstract but personal. Yet Christ triumphed at the cross, disarming the powers of darkness. Believers resist not in fear but in God’s strength, clothed with His armor.

Scripture
Heb 1:14; Ps 103:20–21; Gen 3; Matt 4:1–11; Luke 10:18; Eph 6:10–18; 1 Pet 5:8–9; Col 2:15; Rev 12:7–12.

6. Humanity & Life

I Believe
that man and woman were created in the image of God— to know Him, love Him, and reflect His glory.
Life is God’s sacred gift, beginning at the moment of conception.
The unborn are fearfully and wonderfully made, known and called by God before birth, and worthy of dignity, protection, and love.
Through sin, humanity fell, and now all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.
Yet in Christ we are made new, restored as His image-bearers and called into fellowship with Him.

I Am Confident
because humanity’s uniqueness — conscience, creativity, worship, and love — cannot be explained apart from God’s image. Science affirms that life begins at conception, while Scripture insists on the dignity of every person. Christianity both exalts human worth and diagnoses human sin, giving the truest picture of man.

Scripture
Gen 1:26–28; Gen 2:7; Ps 8; Ps 139:13–16; Jer 1:5; Luke 1:41; Ex 21:22–25; Rom 5:12–19; Rom 3:23; Acts 17:26–28; 2 Cor 5:17.

7. Sin

I Believe
that sin is rebellion against God, corrupting every part of our being, separating us from His presence, and bringing death as its wage. But God, rich in mercy, forgives those who repent and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

I Am Confident
because sin explains both personal failure and global brokenness. Scripture’s verdict that “all have sinned” matches reality. Yet God’s grace in Christ proves that sin’s curse is not the last word.

Scripture
Rom 3:9–23; Rom 6:23; Isa 59:2; 1 John 3:4; Jas 4:17; Rom 14:23; Ps 51; 1 John 1:9.

8. Salvation

I Believe
that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
By His mercy we are justified, adopted into God’s family, sanctified by His Spirit, and kept by His power until the day of glory.
I believe He who began a good work in me will carry it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.

I Am Confident
because the gospel is grounded in fact, not feeling. The cross satisfies God’s justice; the resurrection guarantees life. Salvation rests in Christ’s finished work, not human effort, making assurance possible.

Scripture
Eph 2:1–10; John 3:16; Titus 3:4–7; Rom 5:1–11; Rom 8:1, 28–39; 2 Cor 5:17–21; John 10:28–29; Phil 1:6.

9. The Church, Lord’s Day, Marriage & Mission

I Believe
in the one holy Church, the body and bride of Christ, set apart for worship, fellowship, and mission.
We are a royal priesthood, called to proclaim His marvelous light.
Christ gave us baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of His grace and our covenant in Him.
We gather on the Lord’s Day to worship, rest, and renew our devotion.
The Church is sent to the nations, and every believer is called to witness, to make disciples, and to live as Christ’s ambassador.
I believe God created marriage as the covenant union of one man and one woman for life, a holy mystery reflecting Christ and His Church, the foundation for family, fruitfulness, and faithfulness.

I Am Confident
because the Church has endured through persecution and failure, yet thrives across cultures. Worship on the Lord’s Day strengthens believers in faith. Marriage continues to witness to God’s covenant love. Evangelism through ordinary Christians advances the gospel powerfully.

Scripture
Matt 16:18; Matt 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; Acts 20:7; Rev 1:10; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4:1–16; 1 Pet 2:9–10; Heb 10:24–25; 2 Cor 5:20; Eph 5:31–32; Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4–6; Heb 13:4.

10. Stewardship

I Believe
that all I have—time, talents, and treasure—belongs to God, entrusted to me as His steward.

I Am Confident
because the earth is the Lord’s, and I am His trustee. Faithful stewardship glorifies Christ, blesses others, and brings eternal reward.

Scripture
Ps 24:1; 1 Cor 4:2; 2 Cor 9:6–8; Matt 25:14–30.

11. Peace, Justice & Liberty

I Believe
that Christ calls me to seek peace, pursue justice, defend the oppressed, and love mercy.
I believe in religious liberty, that faith cannot be coerced, and that church and state are distinct under God’s authority.

I Am Confident
because God’s kingdom is righteousness and peace. Religious liberty protects conscience, allowing true worship. Justice and mercy flow from God’s heart and remain central to the Church’s witness in the world.

Scripture
Micah 6:8; Amos 5:24; Jas 1:27; Matt 5:9; Rom 12:18; Eccl 3:8; Matt 22:21; Rom 14:5; Gal 5:1.

12. The Future

I Believe
that Jesus Christ will return in glory, visibly and with power, to raise the dead, to judge the nations, and to make all things new.
The redeemed will dwell forever with God in the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness, peace, and joy abound.
The wicked will face eternal separation from Him.

I Am Confident
because prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s first coming assures His second. The resurrection of Jesus is the pledge of our resurrection. Hope in eternity provides courage and joy for the present.

Scripture
Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 15:20–28, 50–58; 1 Thess 4:13–18; Matt 25:31–46; John 5:28–29; Rev 20:11–15; Rev 21:1–5; 2 Pet 3:10–13.

13. The New Covenant of Love

I Believe
in the new covenant that Jesus gave: to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. On these commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

I Am Confident
because love fulfills the Law, and the Spirit empowers what the Law demands. The history of Christian love — in hospitals, schools, abolition, reconciliation — testifies to God’s presence in His people.

Scripture
Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18; Matt 22:37–40; John 13:34; John 15:12.

14. Assurance of Salvation and the Life Ever After

I Believe
that those who trust in Christ have eternal life and cannot be separated from the love of God.
At death the believer is present with the Lord, awaiting the resurrection of the body.
In the age to come, God will wipe away every tear, death shall be no more, and His people will dwell in His presence forever in glory.

I Am Confident
because Scripture promises that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Assurance rests not on feelings but on God’s promises, Christ’s finished work, and the Spirit’s witness. Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Paul declared, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Revelation describes heaven as a restored creation: no curse, no sorrow, no night, for the Lamb is its light. This hope anchors the soul, conquers fear of death, and fills the believer with longing for eternity.

Scripture
Rom 8:38–39; John 10:28–29; John 14:1–3; Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:6–8; Phil 1:21–23; 1 Thess 4:16–17; Rev 21:3–4; Rev 22:1–5.

15. The Way of Salvation — Becoming a Christian

I Believe
that to become a Christian, a person must respond to God’s grace with repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Salvation is not earned by works or religious effort but is received as a gift of grace.
Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, baptized as a public witness, and joined to the body of Christ.

I Am Confident
because Scripture clearly reveals the steps of response:

Hearing the gospel of Christ crucified and risen (Rom 10:17).
Repenting of sin and turning to God (Acts 2:38).
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ with the heart (Acts 16:31; John 3:16).
Confessing Him openly as Lord (Rom 10:9–10).
Being baptized in obedience as the sign of new life (Acts 2:41; Matt 28:19).
Living as a disciple in fellowship with the Church, growing in faith and obedience (Acts 2:42).

This is the biblical pattern: by grace through faith, in Christ alone, sealed by the Spirit, demonstrated in repentance and baptism, and lived out in the community of believers.

Scripture
John 3:16; Acts 2:37–41; Acts 16:30–31; Rom 10:9–13, 17; Eph 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7; 1 John 1:9; Matt 28:19–20.

Closing

This is my faith and my confidence—
what I believe and why I believe it.
Founded on God’s Word,
grounded in history,
confirmed by reason,
and lived by the Spirit’s power.
To God alone be glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Sources:

Suggested by Dr. Bobby Waite
The Scriptures
Paul E. Little
- Know What You Believe (1967) – a summary of essential Christian doctrines.
- Know Why You Believe (1968) – addressing questions and objections to the faith.
The Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
Compilation & Expansions by Lewis McLain & AI

A Public Argument for What I Believe and Why (In Charlie Kirk’s Voice)

September 20, 2025.Reading time 13 minutes.

A Public Argument for What I Believe and Why

By Charlie Kirk (in first person voice)

I believe in truth. Not “my truth” or “your truth,” but truth itself—absolute, unchanging, and grounded in something higher than government, opinion polls, or cultural fashion. That is where everything begins for me.

I believe that every single human being is created in the image of God. That’s not just a theological claim, it’s the cornerstone of freedom. If rights come from government, they can be taken away. But if rights come from God, then government’s only legitimate role is to recognize and protect what has already been given. That’s why the Declaration of Independence starts not with a policy proposal, but with a statement of natural rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

America is unique because it was founded not on tribe or bloodline, but on principle. The principle that people can govern themselves, because they are moral beings capable of self-rule. This is why our Constitution limits government, divides power, and presumes liberty. I stand for that. I defend that. And I oppose anyone who tries to rewrite it or hollow it out.

Faith and Culture

But here’s what I’ve come to see: politics is downstream of culture, and culture is downstream of faith. If you lose faith, you lose the culture. If you lose culture, politics becomes a tool of tyranny instead of a safeguard of freedom.

That is why I speak not only about government budgets or Supreme Court cases but also about family, faith, and the church. Strong families make strong communities. Strong communities make a strong nation. When families collapse, when fathers are absent, when virtue is mocked and vice is celebrated, no tax policy or government program can repair the damage.

Our culture today celebrates confusion over clarity, autonomy over accountability, and feelings over facts. We tell young men they can become women, we tell students their history is only one long tale of oppression, we tell children that faith is superstition, and then we’re shocked when they grow up anxious, angry, and lost.

I believe truth sets you free. But lies enslave. And right now, we’re enslaving a generation to lies.

Freedom With Virtue

Freedom is a beautiful thing, but freedom without virtue is chaos. Liberty must be tethered to responsibility, or else it becomes license. That’s why the Founders said our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. That’s why John Adams warned it would be wholly inadequate for anyone else.

I believe we must recover the connection between liberty and virtue. True liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not just what is easy.

Current Issues

So let me connect this to where we are right now.

Free Speech: I believe every American has the right to speak freely, even if it offends, even if it challenges, even if it disrupts. The cancel culture mobs that try to silence debate are not just annoying—they are dangerous. Without free speech, there is no free society.
Life: I believe life begins at conception, and that every unborn child has the right to live. This is not a matter of “choice”; it’s a matter of justice. You cannot claim to defend the vulnerable while ignoring the most vulnerable of all.
Borders: I believe a nation without borders is no nation at all. If we cannot control who enters our country, then we have surrendered sovereignty. This is not about hatred or xenophobia—it’s about order, law, and the ability to govern ourselves.
Education: I believe education should be about truth, not indoctrination. Parents, not bureaucrats, are the primary educators of their children. When schools push ideology instead of knowledge, when they teach activism instead of excellence, they are robbing kids of their future.
Economy and Government: I believe in limited government, low taxes, and individual initiative. Every dollar the government takes is a dollar less in the hands of a family, a business, a church, or a charity that knows how to use it better. The bigger government gets, the smaller the individual becomes.

Opposition

I am not naïve. I know these positions make me enemies. I know they bring mockery, cancellation, even threats. But truth has never been popular with everyone. Jesus said, “The world will hate you because it hated me first.”

The left today pushes a worldview that says government is God, identity is fluid, and morality is relative. They claim they’re expanding freedom—but in reality, they’re destroying it. Because when you remove truth, you remove the very foundation of liberty.

They say diversity is our strength. I say truth is our strength. Diversity without truth is just division. They say equity is justice. I say equity is enforced mediocrity. They say secularism is neutral. I say it is hostile to faith.

I will not apologize for saying so.

Personal Conviction

I did not choose this path because it’s easy. I chose it because it’s necessary. Young people today are searching for courage. They’re searching for someone who won’t bend when the pressure comes, who won’t sell out for applause or retreat in fear.

I believe courage is contagious. When one person stands, it gives others permission to stand. That’s why I speak at campuses, why I organize with Turning Point USA, why I debate professors and challenge institutions. It’s not because I enjoy conflict—it’s because truth is worth conflict.

Call to Action

So what do I ask of you? Don’t just agree with me. Don’t just nod along. Live it. Speak it. Defend it.

Stand for your faith, even when mocked. Stand for your family, even when culture attacks. Stand for freedom, even when it costs you friends. The future of America depends not on what politicians in Washington do, but on what ordinary Americans are willing to defend in their homes, their schools, and their communities.

I believe America is still the greatest nation on earth, not because we are perfect, but because we are built on principles that are timeless. Principles rooted in truth. Principles worth fighting for.

That is what I believe. That is why I stand. And that is why I will never be silent.

Now That I’m Gone

(Imagined last reflections, addressed to the nation, supporters, family, belief-holders.)

Now that I’m gone, know this: my voice may be silent, but my convictions remain. I want you to remember that truth did not die with me. I want you to stand even stronger, louder, bolder than before.

To my family: Erika, my children—carry on with love, with faith. Do not be driven by fear, but by the assurance that every sacrifice has purpose. I hope you look back and know I lived not for fame, not for applause, but for something better: the eternal idea that God-given rights are not negotiable.

To my teammates, my movement, the students I spoke to—do not soften. Do not trade conviction for comfort. The moment you compromise truth, you compromise the future. Hold fast. Build schools that teach not just test scores, but character. Engage not just in politics, but in culture. Be scholars and warriors of truth.

To the country: America is worth it. The founding principles are worth defending, even if the wind blows against us. Even if the loudest voices are those who deny what we know in our bones. Freedom, faith, virtue—they endure because they are anchored in something beyond us. So be bold. Speak up. Love hard. Fight well. When darkness presses, raise not hatred, but unwavering resolve.

If there is anything I would leave behind, it is this: a challenge. The world you want isn’t born in your waiting. It’s born in your standing. It’s born in your sacrifice. So live like the truth depends on you—because in many ways, it does.

When all is said and done, I hope they remember that I believed. And because I believed, I acted.

Official Obituary

Charlie Kirk (1993-2025)

Born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Charles James “Charlie” Kirk rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most prominent conservative voices in America. As co-founder of Turning Point USA, he helped mobilize young people across college campuses, championed free speech, pro-life causes, and limited government, and became a key ally to the MAGA movement.

Kirk died on September 10, 2025, aged 31, after being shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their two children.

During his life he authored several books, including Campus Battlefield (2018), The MAGA Doctrine (2020), and Right Wing Revolution (2024); hosted The Charlie Kirk Show; and addressed audiences and media across the country in universities, conferences, and media appearances.

His legacy is one of controversy and conviction: beloved by supporters for his unabashed defense of faith, family, and freedom; criticized by detractors for rhetoric they saw as divisive; but with no dispute that he mattered.

The Legacy Continues

Following his passing, his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, was appointed CEO and Chair of Turning Point USA. In doing so, she carries forward not only her husband’s mission but also the organization’s momentum into a new chapter. Those who loved and followed Charlie see this as a sign that his voice, though stilled, still echoes through the work and leadership that continue in his name.

In the World but Not of the World: A Christian Call to Distinction and Engagement

September 14, 2025.Reading time 8 minutes.

By Lewis McLain & AI

Introduction: Living the Tension

The Christian life is lived in paradox. On one hand, believers are deeply embedded in the structures, relationships, and responsibilities of this world. We work, raise families, pay taxes, build communities, and live under governments. Yet Scripture repeatedly warns that our allegiance cannot be captured by the world’s systems. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 makes the distinction clear: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (vv. 14–18).

This passage highlights two realities: Christians belong to another kingdom, and yet they are sent on mission within this world. Faithful discipleship requires living in that tension—refusing assimilation into sin while engaging the world in love.

Biblical Foundations: The World Defined

The Bible uses “world” in two contrasting ways.

The Created World – God’s good creation, which reveals His glory (Genesis 1:31; Psalm 19:1). Believers are called to enjoy and steward this gift.
The Fallen World-System – The rebellious order under Satan’s sway, opposed to God’s rule (1 John 5:19). This world is marked by lust, pride, idolatry, and hostility to God (1 John 2:15–17).

The Christian calling is not to flee the physical world, but to resist the spiritual corruption of the age. Paul urges: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

Pilgrims and Ambassadors: Our Identity

Christians are pilgrims—temporary residents in a foreign land (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11). Pilgrims do not despise the land they pass through, but neither do they mistake it for their final destination. This imagery keeps believers from despair when they feel out of step with the culture.

At the same time, Christians are ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ambassadors live in foreign territory to represent the interests of their true homeland. Likewise, the Church exists within the nations of the earth to represent the Kingdom of God.

This dual identity means Christians must engage the world with courage and clarity—neither assimilating to its patterns nor retreating into isolated enclaves.

The Discipline of Distinction

Being “not of the world” requires deliberate spiritual discipline:

Holiness – Resisting sin, cultivating purity, integrity, and obedience.
Renewed Minds – Forming thoughts through Scripture rather than cultural trends (Romans 12:2).
Alternative Allegiance – Refusing to idolize money, power, or popularity, embracing instead Christ’s call to humility and service (Mark 10:42–45).

Importantly, this distinction is not for pride but for witness. Jesus called His disciples “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–16). Distinctive lives expose darkness and point others toward God.

Confrontations with the World Today

The call to be “not of the world” is not abstract; it collides with the realities of our cultural moment.

1. Materialism and Consumerism

Our age glorifies accumulation and consumption. Advertising disciples us to believe that happiness lies in what we buy. The Christian response is countercultural generosity. Instead of hoarding, we give. Instead of self-indulgence, we practice contentment (Philippians 4:11–13).

2. Sexual Morality and Identity

Culture increasingly defines truth and identity apart from God’s design. Believers face pressure to conform or be silent. The biblical response is to hold to God’s created order with compassion and clarity—neither compromising truth nor withholding grace. Jesus modeled this when He forgave the woman caught in adultery but also told her, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

3. Political Idolatry

Nations often demand ultimate loyalty. Some Christians are tempted to baptize political ideologies as ultimate truth. Yet Scripture reminds us that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Faithful Christians may participate in civic life, but they must never confuse earthly politics with the reign of God.

4. Truth in a Post-Truth Age

In an era of misinformation, propaganda, and relativism, Christians are called to bear witness to truth. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). To live “not of the world” is to speak truth even when it costs us—whether about human dignity, justice, or the reality of sin and salvation.

Necessary Reactions: Courage and Grace

When confronted by the world’s pressures, the Christian response must be twofold:

Courage – Refusing to compromise when obedience to God conflicts with cultural demands. Like Daniel refusing to bow to Babylon’s idols (Daniel 3, 6), believers must be willing to stand apart, even at personal cost.
Grace – Responding without hatred or fear. Christians are not called to wage war against culture but to embody Christ within it. Paul reminds us: “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5). Our distinctiveness must be marked by love, not arrogance.

Hope: Our True Citizenship

The strength to resist the world comes from hope. Paul anchors believers’ identity in heaven: “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Christians endure because they know the world’s systems are temporary, but God’s kingdom is eternal.

This hope reframes suffering. Loss, ridicule, or persecution are not signs of defeat, but marks of fidelity. Jesus promised: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).

Conclusion: A Witnessing Presence

To be in the world but not of it is to live as holy exiles and faithful ambassadors. It is to work, serve, and love within our communities while refusing to bow to the idols of our age. It means meeting confrontation with courage and grace, proclaiming truth with compassion, and embodying hope when despair seems dominant.

In the end, Christians are not defined by withdrawal from the world, nor by conformity to it, but by their witness within it. As Jesus prayed, they are sent into the world for its redemption, bearing the light of a kingdom not yet fully seen, but one day revealed in glory.

The Need to Remarry Every Day

September 13, 2025.Reading time 14 minutes.

By Lewis & Linda McLain (after 60 years), Assisted by AI

Marriage begins in radiance. Most of us can still picture that day—the nervous glances down the aisle, the joy in the faces of family and friends, the music rising as if the world itself paused to bless this covenant. The vows spoken then carry the sound of eternity: promises to love, to honor, to cherish, to remain faithful “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.” In those moments, dreams were unclouded. We imagined a life woven together in harmony, our future children, our shared home, our journey of growing old side by side.

And in 1966, The Beach Boys gave voice to that very longing with their iconic song Wouldn’t It Be Nice. It was the anthem of courtship dreams—“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, if tomorrow could start today?” For many couples, it became the soundtrack of first dates, long drives, and handwritten letters. The melody wasn’t just music; it was the hope of what love could become.

But dreams, no matter how sincere, eventually meet reality.

The Ups and Downs of Real Life

The truth of marriage is not just the wedding day, but every day that follows. Bills pile up, children cry in the night, careers bring stress, health falters, and personalities clash. Disappointments enter quietly: unmet expectations, miscommunications, small slights repeated until they sting more sharply. What once seemed effortless becomes labor. Disillusionments are not one-time events—they reappear, reshaping themselves with each stage of life.

In those moments, the youthful harmony can feel far away. Yet the refrain still calls: Wouldn’t it be nice if we could hold on through this storm, if we could rediscover the song that first drew us together?

The Daily Choice to “Remarry”

To stay married is not simply to refrain from leaving; it is to remake the choice of love every day. To “remarry” daily means that each morning we must decide again:

I will see you not as my opponent, but as my partner.
I will treat you not with indifference, but with honor.
I will choose forgiveness over resentment, conversation over silence, and patience over irritation.

This is not sentimental—this is disciplined love. To remarry each day is to awaken and recall the covenant made in youth, while layering it with the wisdom of years, the scars of hardship, and the humility that says, “I am still learning how to love you well.”

And each morning, as the alarm clock sounds, a faint echo might be heard: Wouldn’t it be nice if today we chose one another all over again?

The Skill Set of Endurance and Renewal

Love that endures is not merely a feeling; it is a skill set. Among the needed skills are:

Listening with depth. Hearing beneath words to the heart that speaks.
Conflict navigation. Arguing fairly, forgiving quickly, and refusing to keep score.
Resilience. Not giving up when seasons are barren, but waiting and tending until spring returns.
Humor. Finding laughter even when life is heavy, to remind one another that joy is still possible.
Faith. Believing that the story is bigger than today’s difficulty, and that grace is always available.
Presence and touch. Recognizing that sometimes love is best expressed without words—by simply sitting together, or by the gentle brush of a hand. Even the smallest touches—fingers brushing while passing a cup, a hand on the shoulder, the quiet weight of leaning against one another, maybe even a loving nudge with a sheepish smile—speak volumes. They are unspoken vows, reaffirmed in silence.

These are the harmonies that keep the melody alive.

More Than Vows: Returning to Courtship

But it is not only the vows we must recall. It is critical to return to the days of courtship—the beginning of the story. Do you remember the first conversation that made your heart race? The nervous excitement of a first date, the surprise of discovering how much you enjoyed being together, the eagerness to call or write, the long walks that felt too short? These are not frivolous memories; they are stored fuel.

And in those days, wasn’t there always music? Songs of longing, of wishing life could hurry up so you could finally build a life together. For some, The Beach Boys’ refrain became the anthem of that season: Wouldn’t it be nice if the world gave us permission to live out our love fully, right now?

But the heart of courtship was not only the words you spoke—it was being together. Sitting in the car long after the date ended, not needing conversation, just soaking in the nearness. The thrill of reaching for a hand and feeling it returned. These small gestures were never small; they were the first language of love. And they remain vital today. Presence itself is a gift. Touch itself is communication, no less meaningful than speech.

Rekindling the spark means asking again: What was it about you that first captured me? And then letting that answer guide new actions today—whether it is planning a small surprise, holding hands more often, or simply looking into your spouse’s eyes with the same wonder as in the beginning.

Love is not only covenant; it is also courtship renewed.

Returning to the Vows

When we “remarry” daily, we do not create new promises; we live into the ones already made. To recall the vows is to re-anchor ourselves:

“For better or worse” reminds us not to run when the worse comes.
“For richer or poorer” steadies us when financial strain presses hard.
“In sickness and in health” calls us to tenderness when bodies fail.

The vows are more than a contract; they are the rhythm section, steadying the music of love when the melody falters.

Practices of Daily Remarriage

Leave Notes or Send Love Wishes. A small text in the middle of the workday—“Thinking of you”—or a sticky note tucked under the coffee mug can carry more weight than a grand gesture. These whispers of love remind your spouse: I see you. I choose you again today.
Pray Together While Holding Hands. To clasp hands, look into each other’s eyes, and lift your marriage before God is both humbling and powerful. It says, We are not only for each other—we are with God together.
Explore “For Better or Worse” Anew. Over time, the phrase deepens. What does “worse” look like in your season—financial struggle, illness, misunderstanding? Naming it together transforms the vow into shared resilience: No matter what comes, we endure side by side.
Recount Your Blessings. Gratitude is glue. Sit together, list aloud the small and great gifts—your children, your laughter, your home, your faith. Counting blessings makes the heart remember that love has been carried by grace.
Discuss Your Relationship with God. A marriage anchored in faith has a third strand that does not break. Speak openly about where you see God’s hand in your story, what you are praying for, and how your love can mirror His. In doing so, you are not just married to each other—you are bound within His covenant love.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Renewal

The wedding day was the first “yes.” Life after that requires thousands more. The beauty of remarriage every day is that it transforms endurance into renewal. It says that even in the weariness of years, we can rediscover the spark of the beginning. Love then becomes not only a memory of what was promised, but a living testament of what is still possible.

And so the chorus returns, softer now but deeper: Wouldn’t it be nice if today we made the same choice again, and tomorrow too, and the day after that—until one day we find that the dream we sang about in 1966 has become the life we’ve built together?

And sometimes, the most profound choice is made without a word—just in the quiet joy of being present, hand in hand, heart to heart.

A Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the gift of marriage, for the joy of courtship, for the vows once spoken in trembling voices and still lived today. We ask for the courage to remarry each morning, to choose again the one You have given us.

May we be faithful for better or worse, patient for richer or poorer, tender in sickness and in health. May we learn daily to love, honor, and cherish—until death parts us, and even then, until love is made perfect in eternity.

Teach us also to treasure the quiet gift of presence—the holy silence of simply being together. May we never take for granted the power of touch, even the smallest brush of the hand, as a sacred language of love.

Bless every couple with the grace to return to their first love, to recall the courtship that began their story, to whisper love through notes and prayers, to count their blessings often, and to sing again the refrain of hope: Wouldn’t it be nice if, today, we chose each other anew?

Amen.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys

Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older?
Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long
And wouldn’t it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong?

You know it’s gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new?
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

Happy times together we’ve been spending
I wish that every kiss was never ending
Oh, wouldn’t it be nice?

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray
It might come true (run, run, we-ooh)
Oh, baby, then there wouldn’t be a single thing we couldn’t do
We could be married (we could be married)
And then we’d be happy (and then we’d be happy)
Oh, wouldn’t it be nice?

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But let’s talk about it
But wouldn’t it be nice?

Goodnight, my baby
Sleep tight, my baby
Goodnight, my baby
Sleep tight, my baby
Goodnight, my baby
Sleep tight, my baby

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Brian Douglas Wilson / Mike E. Love / Tony Asher