My Journey in Christ

When Jesus said “the first will be last, and the last will be first,” He wasn’t tossing out a cute quote for bumper stickers. He was flipping our entire way of thinking upside down. It’s like He took all the stuff we usually admire—success, status, reputation—and said, “Yeah… that’s not how God’s kingdom works.” Let’s be honest: we live in a world that worships being first. First in line. First place. First to speak. First to succeed. But Jesus comes along and tells us that the ones who are last now—the overlooked, the quiet, the humble—are actually the ones who’ll be honored in God’s kingdom. And those who’ve been living like they’re always number one? They might want to take a seat at the back. This idea shows up in a few spots in the Bible—Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16, Luke 13:30. But one of the clearest examples is in the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20). Jesus tells a story about a landowner who hires some workers early in the day and others later on—some just a...

Alright, so let’s talk about the Trinity, aka the Triune God, aka the Godhead. This can sound super complicated at first, but it’s actually one of the most important things we can understand about who God is. The Bible teaches that God is one, but within that one God there are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. They're not three gods, and they’re not just different “modes” or versions of God. They are one God in nature, but three persons in relationship. Now I know that might sound confusing, but here’s the key: we’re not saying God is one and three in the same way. He’s one in essence or being—like, what He is—but three in person, meaning who He is. The Father isn’t the Son, the Son isn’t the Spirit, and the Spirit isn’t the Father. But all three are equally and fully God. Some people say, “Well, the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible.” And they’re right—the word itself isn’t there. But the idea absolutely is, all over the place. The early Chris...

The most repeated question Jesus asked in the Gospels is this: “What do you want me to do for you?” At first, it seems like a simple, courteous phrase. But coming from the Son of God, it carries weight far beyond the surface. He asked it not because He lacked information, but because He was drawing something out of the heart—faith, motive, and trust. We see it in Mark 10 when James and John approached Jesus and asked to sit at His right and left hand in glory. Jesus responded, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36). Their answer revealed pride and ambition. They weren’t asking for Jesus—they were asking for power. And He told them they didn’t know what they were really asking. Just a few verses later, Jesus encountered blind Bartimaeus. The man cried out for mercy, and Jesus asked him the exact same question: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). Bartimaeus didn’t ask for wealth, privilege, or honor. He said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” And Jesus healed him and comm...

A lot of Christians today talk about Israel a lot. Some even say that being a true Christian means supporting the modern nation of Israel no matter what. This idea is called Christian Zionism. But is that really what the Bible teaches? And with all the recent fighting and political chaos in Israel and Gaza, it’s a good time to think about this carefully. First off, Christianity is all about Jesus Christ and following Him. The Bible doesn’t say that Christians have to pledge political loyalty to any country, including Israel. The Israel of the Bible was God’s chosen people long ago, but that doesn’t mean the modern political state carries the same meaning. Jesus made it clear that our true citizenship is in heaven, not on earth (Philippians 3:20). So putting too much focus on any nation, even Israel, can distract us from following Christ’s kingdom first. Right now, Israel and Gaza are in a terrible conflict, with many innocent people suffering. Some Christians cheer for one side or the ...

In many churches today, salvation is still presented as little more than a spiritual escape hatch—get saved so you won’t go to hell, and you’ll go to heaven when you die. It’s a message often delivered with urgency and sincerity, and it is not wrong. But it is profoundly incomplete. Recently, I heard a sermon that started off with an awkward joke—something about doing a second week on hell and quipping, “But the hell with it, we’re gonna talk about it.” Thankfully, the message quickly moved past the attempt at humor and dove deep into a biblical truth that far too many Christians overlook: salvation is not only about the future; it is deeply about the present. The sermon reminded me of something C.S. Lewis once wrote in Mere Christianity: "Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither." But what happens when believers misunderstand heaven altogether? Too many people see faith as little more than fire insurance—just a way to av...

Many of you know my story—and many don’t. When I moved back to Kansas from Wisconsin, I began searching for a local church where I could worship and grow. I initially chose Manhattan Church of the Nazarene because it was where my oldest daughter got married, and I was familiar with the then-pastor, Pat Weyrauch. I stayed there for a number of years until a new pastor came in. For a time, things were fine—but as I listened closely, some concerns began to emerge in his preaching. Eventually, I left. Still committed to the Nazarene denomination and what it stands for biblically, I transferred to the Junction City congregation. Again, things were good at first, and I appreciated much of the preaching. But in time, the Holy Spirit began to tug at my heart. Something didn’t sit right. I began noticing inconsistencies between the preaching and what I understood from God’s Word. That’s when I heard about Pastor Jay Bessmer and the renewed life at Manhattan Nazarene. I took a chance and visited...

In an age of increasing emotional awareness and relational boundaries, many Christians find themselves asking: what does the Bible actually say about dealing with toxic people? This question is more than just practical—it speaks to the core of how we live out the love of Christ while also protecting our spiritual and emotional well-being. Contrary to the perception that Christianity demands boundless tolerance, Scripture offers nuanced and firm counsel when it comes to toxic individuals. The Bible does not use the modern term "toxic people," but it provides clear warnings about the kind of individuals who bring spiritual, emotional, or moral harm. In 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Paul gives a stark warning about the types of people who will appear in the last days: “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy… having a form of godliness but denying its power.” He concludes, “Have nothing to do with such people” (v. 5, N...

After much prayer and soul-searching, I’ve decided to speak openly about why I left my previous church. It was not a decision I made lightly. I had invested time, trust, and my heart into a church community that ultimately failed me—not because I was expecting perfection, but because I hoped for basic care, humility, and integrity from those in leadership. I had undergone foot surgery and was on medical leave, struggling to get up and down the stairs at home. A family member reached out to the church leadership to ask if a ramp could be built to help me with accessibility. The lead pastor apparently passed the request to the executive pastor, who forgot about it. Not once did either of them follow up with me, check on my condition, or ask what I needed. The ramp was never built. What hurt more than the physical struggle was the emotional and spiritual disappointment—being unseen and uncared for by the very people tasked with shepherding the flock. Worse still, the lead pastor often pre...

A lot of people wonder why the Protestant Bible has only 66 books when the Catholic Bible has more, the Ethiopian Bible has 88, and even the Orthodox churches include additional books. It’s a fair question, and the answer comes down to history, theology, and how the early church recognized what was truly inspired by God. Let’s start with the basics: the 66 books in the Protestant Bible aren’t some random collection that came out of nowhere during the Reformation. These are the books that the early Christians—and even Jesus Himself—recognized and quoted from. The Old Testament matches what the Jewish people already accepted as Scripture (the Hebrew Bible), and Jesus frequently quoted from those writings, not the extra books you find in the Catholic or Orthodox versions. He referred to the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings—just like how the Hebrew Bible is organized (Luke 24:44). That’s a big deal. Now, the Catholic Church includes extra books called the “Deuterocanonicals.” These were...

When people ask, “Where’s the archaeological evidence for things like the Garden of Eden, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Exodus, or David’s kingdom?”—they’re often hoping to expose the Bible as unreliable. But the truth is, archaeology has actually confirmed a lot more of the Bible than critics like to admit. Here’s a simple breakdown with scholarly sources for each claim. 1. The Garden of Eden and the Four Rivers Genesis 2:10–14 describes Eden’s geography with four rivers—Tigris, Euphrates, Gihon, and Pishon. Two of these, the Tigris and Euphrates, are known today and still flow in modern Iraq. Scholars like Gordon Wenham interpret this as pointing to a Mesopotamian origin for the Eden narrative, though Eden itself may not be archaeologically identifiable. The other two rivers are debated and possibly refer to now-dry or unidentified streams. Citation: Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 1, Word Books, 1998. 2. Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19 tells of fire from heave...

Every now and then, someone tries to knock down the Bible’s credibility by pointing out a list of “problems” with the text. Maybe you’ve heard it before—someone says, “You know some verses aren’t in the earliest manuscripts, right?” Then they rattle off passages like Mark 16:9–20 or Acts 8:37 and claim that means the Bible can’t be trusted. Honestly, it’s a tired argument. But let’s talk it through, because the truth here is actually pretty encouraging. First, let’s get something straight: yes, there are a few verses where scholars have found some differences between ancient copies of the Bible. And guess what? That’s not some big cover-up or secret. It’s all right there in your Bible. If you use a decent translation like the ESV, NIV, NASB, or CSB, you’ll see little notes or brackets telling you exactly where these verses are debated. Christians don’t hide from this stuff—we welcome it. We want to know the truth. And here’s the good news: none of these differences change what the Bibl...

Let’s talk about something that’s absolutely central to who God is—He doesn’t change. I mean ever. That might sound basic, but it’s actually a huge deal. The Bible says in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” That’s not just a cool thing to know—it’s something you can build your entire faith on. Because if God doesn’t change, then you never have to worry about Him shifting the goalposts or changing His mind about you, the gospel, or truth in general. He’s not moody, and He doesn’t evolve like humans do. He’s not adjusting to culture. He’s already perfect, and perfection doesn’t need to be updated. If God could change, He’d either be getting better (which would mean He wasn’t fully good to begin with), or getting worse (which would be terrifying). Either way, it would mean He’s not trustworthy. But He is trustworthy, precisely because He never changes. That’s why Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Jesus didn’t come to earth one way...

Matthew 7:21 is one of those verses that really makes you stop and think. Jesus says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” That’s a heavy statement. It’s not directed at people who hate God or want nothing to do with religion. It’s for people who say they believe in Jesus—people who might pray, go to church, or even preach. And yet, Jesus says some of them won’t make it in. The big takeaway here is this: just saying the right religious words or doing impressive spiritual stuff doesn’t mean your heart belongs to Jesus. Anyone can call Him “Lord.” Anyone can do things in His name. But what really matters is whether you actually know Him and whether your life shows it. This is about more than just external behavior—it’s about a relationship with God that leads to real-life change. This isn’t just an isolated verse. The Bible echoes this truth all over. Luke 6:46 hits the s...

I recently listened to a sermon that shook me to the core—not because it was fancy or polished, but because it told the hard truth. The preacher sat in a coffee shop and watched dozens of people walk by, and he suddenly realized: most of them are lost. Not just confused or struggling—spiritually lost. Headed for hell. And many don’t even know it. Hell isn’t a popular topic these days. Even in churches, we often soften it, avoid it, or explain it away. But Jesus didn’t. He warned about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus said, “They will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” That’s as clear as it gets—hell is real, eternal, and final. The preacher reminded us that hell wasn’t made for people. It was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But when people reject God, they end up sharing the devil’s fate. The scary thing is, many are walking that road right now—the broad road that leads to destruction (Mat...

You ever try explaining something important to someone who just mocks it, shrugs it off, or flips it back in your face? That’s exactly the kind of moment Jesus was talking about when He said, “Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!” (Matthew 7:6, NLT). It sounds harsh at first, but Jesus wasn’t calling people animals—He was making a point about how we treat the truth, and how others sometimes reject it. This line shows up right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus’ biggest teaching moments. He’d just warned people not to judge hypocritically—like pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye when you’ve got a log in your own. Then boom: He switches gears and tells His followers not to give what’s holy to those who won’t value it. In other words, there are times when trying to explain or defend God’s truth to someone who’s just looking to argue or mock is a waste of breath—and it could even lead to you getting hurt emotionally or spiritually. Not everyone is ready to hear it,...

Disney’s recent revision of the iconic song “It’s a Small World” introduces lyrics that on the surface appear warm and unifying: “Mother Earth unites us in heart and mind / And the love we give makes us humankind / Through our vast wondrous land / When we stand hand in hand / It’s a small world after all.” However, beneath these seemingly innocent lines lies a worldview that stands in stark contrast to biblical Christianity. As Christians, we must carefully discern the underlying messages conveyed by cultural influencers like Disney, recognizing how they reflect and shape society’s spiritual direction. The song’s lyrics center “Mother Earth” as the unifying force behind humanity, suggesting a quasi-spiritual reverence for the planet itself. This subtly promotes pantheistic ideas by elevating creation above the Creator. The repeated assertion “It’s a small world after all” suggests a humanistic ideal of global harmony but ignores the transcendent truth found in Scripture. The Bible plai...

Let’s talk about tithing. You’ve probably heard it said in church, “God wants your first 10%,” or “You’re robbing God if you don’t tithe.” Maybe it’s taught as a test of your faith or as a guarantee of blessings. Sound familiar? But here’s the thing—when you actually open up the Bible and start digging, you find out there’s way more to this topic than most churches talk about. And honestly? Some of what’s commonly taught isn’t even in the New Testament. So let’s clear the air with three big truths about tithing that a lot of Christians never hear: First off, tithing was never a rule for the church. It was a law for Israel under the Old Covenant. You can read about it in Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21. Basically, the Israelites gave a tenth of their crops and livestock to support the Levites—the priests who didn’t get land like the other tribes. It was part of their religious and national system, not some personal act of generosity. Jesus did mention tithing once in Matthew 23:23, bu...

Let’s be real—most people, even Christians, don’t have a super clear picture of what heaven will actually be like. We’ve all heard those cartoonish images of floating on clouds, playing harps, or just “worshiping forever” like it’s some kind of endless church service. And if we’re being honest, that version doesn’t exactly sound exciting. But thankfully, the Bible paints a much richer and more beautiful picture of heaven than what pop culture gives us. It's not vague and it's definitely not boring. First off, yes—heaven is real, and it’s not just a spiritual misty realm where we float around. The Bible talks about a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1), which implies that eternity won’t be some disembodied existence. It’ll be a physical, resurrected life on a redeemed earth—where the curse of sin and death is completely gone. That alone should change how we think about heaven. It’s not less real than this world—it’s more real. When Jesus rose from the dead, He gave us a...

Let’s be honest—most of us spend way too much time studying the size of our problems. Whether it’s debt, anxiety, family drama, or something deeper, we tend to obsess over how big and impossible it all looks. But when you look at the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, you’ll notice something: David doesn’t even bother analyzing Goliath’s strength. He doesn’t ask how tall he is. He doesn’t panic over his armor or his sword. Why? Because David already knew the strength of his God. That changes everything. David rolls up to the battlefield and sees grown men paralyzed with fear, including Israel’s king. Goliath had been coming out every day for forty days, daring someone to face him—and nobody had the guts. But David’s response isn’t fear. It’s almost like he’s confused. He says, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT). In other words: “Wait, this guy? You’re scared of him? Have you forgotten who our God...

God’s love isn’t something you have to earn — it’s something He gives freely. That’s the heart of the Gospel. From beginning to end, the Bible shows us a God who doesn’t wait for us to get our act together before He reaches out in love. He moves first. He loves first. Romans 5:8 (NLT) makes that crystal clear: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” That’s not conditional love — that’s love that steps into our mess long before we even think about cleaning it up. Ephesians 2:4–5 (NLT) drives it home again: “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life... (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” There’s no earning involved. No proving ourselves first. God loved us when we were spiritually dead — not when we were doing well, but when we had nothing to offer. That’s real love. Jesus told a story in Luke 15 about a son who wasted everything an...

Some people think baptism is just a way to show everyone, “Hey, I’m following Jesus now.” And yeah, that’s part of it—but if you look at it from a traditional Protestant point of view, it’s way deeper than that. It’s not just us saying something to God—it’s God saying something to us. Like, He’s marking us as His. It’s kinda like Him saying, “You’re mine. I’ve got you.” It’s not just a nice symbol or church tradition—it’s a sign that God’s already doing something real in someone’s life. Back in the Old Testament, God had His people circumcise their baby boys as a sign they belonged to Him (Genesis 17:9–14). They didn’t have to “choose” God first—He chose them. Fast forward to the New Testament, and baptism becomes the new covenant sign (Colossians 2:11–12). It doesn’t mean the person is automatically saved, but it means they’re part of the church family where they’ll hear the gospel and, hopefully, come to faith. And let’s be real—none of us naturally run to God. Romans 3:11 says, “No ...

Death is one of those things nobody wants to talk about, but we all know it’s out there. We dodge it in conversation, laugh it off in jokes, and try to distract ourselves from thinking about it. But deep down, we know—it’s going to happen. For everyone. The Bible doesn’t tiptoe around it. Hebrews 9:27 puts it straight: “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment.” You don’t get to opt out. There’s no avoiding it unless Jesus comes back first. Jesus even told a story that hits this point hard. It’s in Luke 16. He talks about a rich man who lived it up, had everything, and a poor guy named Lazarus who suffered terribly. They both die—because again, death doesn’t care how much money you had. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side (a place of peace), but the rich man ends up in torment. He looks up, sees what he missed, and realizes too late that he lived only for this world and not for eternity. That story makes something super clear—death is not the end. ...

You’ve probably heard this before—maybe you’ve even said it: “I saw a cardinal today. That means someone I love is watching over me.” Or maybe it was a butterfly, a dragonfly, a penny on the ground, a flickering light. These signs feel so personal and comforting. When you’re hurting, it’s honestly kind of beautiful to think a loved one is still close by, sending little messages to let you know they haven’t forgotten you. But here’s the honest truth: as warm and cozy as that sounds, it’s not what the Bible teaches. First off, the Bible never says people in heaven can see what’s going on down here. Hebrews 12:1 talks about being “surrounded by a cloud of witnesses,” but it doesn’t mean they’re watching us like spectators at a game. It means they’ve left us a legacy of faith—like a testimony recorded in history, not real-time surveillance from the afterlife. And those cardinals? There’s just no biblical basis for believing animals or signs are messengers from the dead. Psalm 147:9 says Go...

If you’ve ever wondered how this whole thing ends—the world, history, everything—the Bible actually gives us a clear idea. It’s not just doom and gloom. It’s a plan with a beginning, middle, and end. First, Jesus comes to take His people (that’s the Rapture). Then the world goes through a wild, seven-year nightmare (the Tribulation). After that, Jesus comes back, sets up His Kingdom for 1,000 years, then finally deals with Satan once and for all. Let’s walk through it like we’re chatting over coffee. So, first up—the Rapture. This is when Jesus shows up in the sky and snatches up everyone who believes in Him. We’re talking instant, blink-of-an-eye stuff. Paul explains it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, where Jesus shows up with a shout, the dead in Christ rise first, and then we who are still alive get pulled up too. It’s not a scary moment if you’re a believer—it’s rescue. Jesus even hinted at this in Matthew 24:40, when He said one person will be taken and the other left. That’s how quic...

Every few years, somebody new comes along claiming to be the Messiah. Or someone digs up an old historical figure and says, “See? This guy was the real deal. Jesus doesn’t own the patent on messianic hope.” But let’s pump the brakes and take a serious look at that claim. If we’re going to talk about the Messiah, we need to go back to where the whole conversation began: the Hebrew Scriptures—what Christians call the Old Testament. That’s where we get the blueprint for what the Messiah would be and do. It’s not just a vague label for a wise teacher or strong leader. The prophecies give details—very specific ones—and the bar is set high. The Old Testament lays out dozens of prophecies that paint a composite sketch of the coming Messiah. Here are just a few of the major ones: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2). “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14). “I will raise up for David a righteous...