Jesus

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #315

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Introduction: A couple of years ago, I made the mistake of watching all of a series on a streaming platform titled House of Cards. I write that it was a mistake because it messed with me spiritually. The themes in that show were so dark, so vile, that I literally felt sick to my stomach when viewing more than a few episodes. The acting was superb; the cinematography was top-notch; the storylines were riveting; all of that is accurate. But something happened inside my spirit and in my guts because of watching that show. I felt like I’d seen inside the belly of the beast. I felt like I’d seen behind the black curtains into the very bowels of hell and its denizens. I still think about that show, and what it portrayed about the lengths to which some evil people will go to get and maintain power. It sickened me then and it sickens me now. For some, their god is their belly, their appetites. In short, they are their own gods (Phil. 3:19).

Connection to Scripture: In Luke 11, Jesus was teaching about the Devil and unclean spirits. Listen to the words of Christ: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Lk 11:24-26, ESV).

What’s going on here? In short, Satan is persistent; he hates the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He hates God. He hates God’s people, Christians. So, when the powers of hell are confronted, they must be vanquished entirely. They must be defeated. Fully. God’s light must vanquish the darkness. The spiritual lights must be turned on like a switch for the dark deeds to be exposed. That’s why House of Cards troubled me so deeply; darkness prevailed there. That’s why there was always a spirit of suspicion, narcissism, and jockeying for power. No one loved anyone but himself/herself.

Jesus says in John 3:19 (ESV), “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Takeaway: Still now, years later, that show haunts me. Why? Because I so long for light and truth and beauty to prevail. I’m hard-wired to root for the righteous. I believe in truth, in the good, and the beautiful. But those categories only make sense because they are rooted in the God who is. Lord, may You be pleased to vanquish the darkness, shine the light of Your holiness on the myriad houses of cards using spiritual forces of darkness to blind the minds of countless souls. Bring glory to Yourself by exposing sin and exalting righteousness.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #314: The Good Portion

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Intro: The works wheel. That’s what I call it. It’s the tendency that many folks have to think that they can work their way into God’s favor via their own labor and/or merits. But what the Lord desires is obedience to His revealed will.

It’s an easy trap to fall into, let us admit that. I cannot speak for others, but I was raised to work hard. As a boy, I was taught discipline and the value of labor. It started off with simple tasks appropriate to my age, and now that I’m much older, those lessons have followed me. I have a deep distaste for laziness. Biblically, we were designed to labor, not to coast. So, it is easy for me to get on the works wheel and think that I’m somehow pleasing God. It can be a sneaky spiritual virtue signal, if you will, where one points to himself/herself and says, “See what all I’ve done, Lord? See all my efforts?”

There is a short episode in Luke 10 of Martha and Mary that demonstrates what I’m exploring. Here’s the text:

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:38-42, ESV)

Teaching: Did you catch Jesus’ rebuke? Wasn’t it unexpected? Martha was busy, busy, busy. Martha was a worker. She was getting after it. You’d think she’d be the one commended by the Lord Jesus, right? But the Lord rebuked Martha because she was “anxious and troubled about many things.” Martha’s sister, Mary, was the one to receive the commendation. Why? She was seated at the feet of the Lord Jesus. She was looking to Christ; Martha, on the other hand, had been looking at Martha, and at her own works.

Have you ever worked yourself to a frazzle for folks who didn’t appreciate it? Have you ever labored for what seemed like ungrateful people? Have you ever been a Martha, and the Lord had to teach you to trust Him rather than your own works? I cannot speak for others, but I certainly have that tendency. And it’s painful to learn (and re-learn) that we cannot make others see; we cannot make others care; we cannot work ourselves or anyone else into a state of grace. We are simply recipients of grace that comes from the hand of Christ. Mary sat at the feet of God, and she was commended. Martha was working herself into a state of anxiety and was rebuked. May God be pleased to rebuke us to alert us to the truth that He’s the source of any Godly change, not anything that we do or manufacture.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #313: The Root of Righteousness

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Introduction: What does this level of violence reveal about a people? Like many others, I am aghast at the assassination (on video) of Charlie Kirk. He was a model of open debate. He traveled to colleges and universities, supposedly institutions grounded in the free and open exchange of ideas, and welcomed Q & A times with students and faculty. He made a huge cultural impact. The POTUS is even to bestow the nation’s highest honor upon Charlie soon. It’s a posthumous award, of course, but it speaks to Charlie’s testimony as a Christian, husband, dad, and kind warrior for open debate. But I again ask the question: What does this level of violence reveal about a people?

Just weeks ago, a ‘trans’-identifying person (Hale), murdered three children, three adults, and injured scores more at the Covenant School in Nashville, TN. And on 27 August 2025, Robert Westman, another ‘trans’-identifying person, murdered two children and injured twenty-one adults at Annunciation Catholic School, a Roman Catholic school in Minneapolis, MN. And this week, Charlie Kirk bled out on camera for all to see. It was horrifying to watch. He bled out because it appears he was shot by a young man whose shell casings are stamped with Leftist slogans. There’s even video of people cheering the public assassination of Kirk. Regardless of one’s politics, that ought to break our hearts, that folks can be that cold-hearted and blinded by ideology. But Charlie’s legacy will endure because he was an open book. He, contrary to his haters, welcomed open dialogue and debate. In fact, a theme that recurred through his ministry was that if we stop talking to one another, violence is next. And he was proven, yet again, to be correct. He has now been made a cultural martyr for conservatism and open debate and dialogue.

Scripture: Solomon wrote “No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved” (Pr 12:3, ESV). Charlie has been murdered by one, it appears for now, anyway, to be yet another bitter Leftist bent upon destruction. I’m sure he’ll be caught soon. But we’ll see how it all plays out. What is clear, however, is that Charlie was right: if and when courteous dialogue and rigorous honest debate are squashed, violence is creeping at the door.

Encouragement: The “root of the righteous will never be moved,” however, just as Scripture teaches. You can murder truth and truth-tellers, but both abideth still.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #311: The Alternatives (Lessons from Daniel)

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Introduction: Daniel is one of the most debated books when it comes to its prophetic sections. There are some cryptic passages about which there’s no paucity of debate. But what is clear in the section I want to look at in this piece is Daniel 11:32-35. These four verses speak to a vital issue, namely, the alternatives facing a people. Follow me …

Text:

32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. (Dan 11:32-35, ESV)

Most scholars with which I’m familiar teach that the man referred to here is Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 160s B.C. and the Maccabean revolt that resulted due to Antiochus’ destruction and profanation of the temple in Jerusalem.

First, what interests me here is how “the wise among the people” (v. 33) behaved. What does the text say about them? It says they “knew their God” and that they “[stood] firm” and “[took] action” (v. 32).

Second, the wise helped others understand because destruction was afoot (v. 33).

Third, a winnowing occurred as part of judgment (vv. 34-35). In other words, purification.

God was refining His people. He was separating wheat from chaff. He was using suffering to purify His people. He was teaching them.

Encouragement: The alternative was made plain, in other words. God’s people could either bow to the pagan forces and capitulate or they could stand firm in the Lord, and fight for truth and light. This is simple but not easy. Simple, I say, but not easy.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #310: The Matter of Separation vis-a-vis the Truth

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The Issue: The Matter of Separation vis-à-vis the Truth

Background: For over a year now I have been teaching the saints from class. We are near the end now of Matthew’s gospel. This Sunday we will be in Matthew 26. This is where the chief priests and elders plot together to kill the Lord Christ. It is also the section in Matthew’s gospel where a woman anoints Jesus’ body with very expensive ointment she pours from her alabaster flask. And do you know what’s happening? A separation is occurring. A division between the spiritually hardened (the chief priests and elders) and the spiritually regenerate and tender (the woman with the flask of ointment) unfolds in real. Two types: those hostile to the truth vs. those who embrace the truth.

Jesus’ Words about the Woman:

10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Mt 26:10-13, ESV).

Teaching: In sum, Jesus was rebuking those who were more concerned with criticizing the woman than with embracing Him as the only Savior. They were more concerned with external appearances and finances. Meanwhile Jesus says this woman’s obedience will remain forever lauded wherever the gospel is proclaimed. How’s that for a commendation?

Encouragement: When your desire is to please the Lord, rest assured that separation will occur. Those whose longing is for the approval of man will resent you. But your obedience is known by the Lord Christ. Stay true, stay humble, and trust the Lord.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #309: (3) Profound Verses about Discernment

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Introduction: There are three verses in Proverbs 9 that are utterly profound. Here they are:

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction  to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (Pr 9:7-9, ESV)

How are they profound?

In at least (3) ways:

  • It is unwise to try and lead scoffers. They’ll just resent you for it. That’s what vv. 7-8a teach.
  • It is wise to try and lead the teachable, the wise, and the humble. That’s what v. 8 teaches.
  • It is wise to invest in those who are genuine; it is unwise to exhaust yourself upon the posers/impostors/foolish. That’s a summary of all three verses.

What’s Proverbs about as a whole? Wisdom.

Encouragement: There’s a stunning passage in John 6 where many folks walked away from the Lord Jesus, truth incarnate. Verse 66 of John 6 reads, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (Jn 6:66, ESV). That should break your heart, folks. They abandoned the Holy One, the truth-teller. They simply left. And yet that is what God used as part of His plan to redeem His people. We cannot miss that or we misread Scripture.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

So how is this encouragement, you ask? I think it’s this: We are told and shown up front in Scripture that truth divides. Most don’t want it; they in fact hate it. That’s why Jesus was treated the ways He was. When truth appears in history, we sinners have a tendency to crucify it. But truth won’t be silenced. It rises from the grave, you see. Why? Because God will not be mocked. Truth eventually is revealed. Let us teach those who desire it, and know up front what Solomon taught in Proverbs and what Christ Himself taught in the Gospels. Just be faithful, entrusting the results to God.

Another Reason to Believe

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Intro: I had a few hours of drive-time ahead of me. Several hours alone in my car. A friend from Sunday school had sent me a text message that said, in short, “Watch this. Important.”

After I labored to teach the saints from Matthew 25 this morning, I was once again on the road, headed out. Back to work.

The power of music: As is my custom, I had a few moments of unfiltered thanksgiving where I told the Lord what He already knew: “Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities You gave me yet again today … to love, to serve, to teach, and to be with Your saints. There’s nothing like it, nothing I love quite so much. I don’t deserve a seat at Your table. I’m well aware of this. Therefore, from the bottom of my being, thank You for mercy.”

Then, again, as is my custom, I put on my favorite driving tunes for the drive back to post. My go-to music includes the Allman Brothers Band, the Beatles, scores of tunes from Van Morrison, Cream, John Mayer, E.L.O, E.L.P, Rush, Zeppelin, more Beatles, the Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS), the Eagles, Johnny Cash, Jackson Browne, George Jones, and more. But mostly, it’s the ABB.

Perhaps it’s because I spent most of the formative years of my life a stone’s throw from Macon and know the ABB’s zip code today as well as I knew it then. I still hate the heat and humidity and gnats, but in terms of music, the ABB’s best tunes pluck my soul’s strings like little other soulshine.

But back to reasons to believe… My friend Jim had texted me. As a former Roman Catholic steeped in reliquaries, he said, in sum, “Send this out.”

I listened to Jeremiah, the interviewed scholar, non-stop. He was/is clearly very bright and steeped in academia and history. I was hooked.

What’s the draw? Science, evidence, empiricism, blood samples, 3-D imaging, non-reproducibility, etc. It can all get technical, but Jeremiah (PhD from Oxford) kept it relatable.

Showing my cards: I don’t believe this is a clincher argument, to be sure. Most will not believe. We are told that up front in Scripture (John 3:18-36). But for those with integrity, with those who will truly follow the evidence, for those who say, “If You’re there, I’m here. And I’ll follow the truth!” then this is gold. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/rKMQY49py4w?si=W08vly-42yL94a_X

Jim, thank you, brother.

Press on.

My goal is to see you both in the end zone and hear, “Welcome …”

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #305: A List from the Apostle Peter

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Introduction: We Soldiers love lists. We have packing lists, lists for manifests, lists of personnel and equipment, lists that accompany various pieces of equipment, etc. I carry a little black notebook nearly everywhere with me that contains, you guessed it, lists that I have for each day—everything from my Bible-reading plan, to Soldiers I counsel, to what I’m teaching on at church, to reminders to contact my dad for his birthday this week.

Segue: The Apostle Peter provides a list, too, and it’s for the Christian.

Here’s the text:

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pt 1:5-7, ESV).

Teaching: In plain terms, all Peter is teaching is that our theology is made visible by our lives, our behavior. “What a man believes, he lives; everything else is just talk,” is a way I’ve heard it and even phrased it myself.

To what does the phrase “For this very reason” in the beginning here refer? The reality of true repentance and saving faith that God grants to His people. Peter’s saying to us, “If you’re born again, live like it.”

Encouragement: What encourages me so much is that Peter knew his own weaknesses. He wasn’t too big for his britches. I mean, think about it. The Apostle Peter was also the man who denied his Lord three times on the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested—just as Jesus had predicted. It was fulfilled in precise detail. Don’t we think that Peter always carried that shame with him? I do. I don’t think he ever forgot how he betrayed his Lord. But Peter was still a ransomed sinner and apostle of Christ. Be encouraged, is what Peter’s saying. Why? Because he, too, blew it. And yet Christ restored him. May we learn from Peter’s list, just like the Apostle Peter did. He gave his life in service to the Redeemer. What an honor.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #304: The Importance of ‘Insofar As’

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Text from 1 Peter 4:

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Context: “Suffering as a Christian” is the superscription editors have placed in most English Bibles. As a summary headline. It summarizes the big idea(s) of what immediately follows. Therefore, let us examine what follows in these sentences from the Apostle Peter, especially the phrase “insofar as” found in verse 13.

Here are the “big ideas” from the passage as a whole:

  • The wisdom of spiritual vigilance (v. 12)
  • The necessity of suffering due to one’s Christian witness, not suffering due to one’s folly (vv. 13-16)
  • Judgment of the Christian/church (v. 17)
  • Trusting God as sovereign (v. 19)

This Phrase: “Insofar as” is crucial as a phrase. It appears in v. 13: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Grammatically speaking, it functions here as a conjunction that essentially means, “to the degree that” or “to the extent to which.” It’s a meausement, in other words, a comparison.

Why It’s Important: Context, context, context; that’s why “insofar as” is vital. What’s Peter’s main point in his first letter? Joy amidst suffering. Don’t forget that. It’s not to be a fake joy, a sort of perfunctory facade of “Too blessed to be stressed” nonsense platitudes. No, none of that silliness.

Rather it is a divine joy imparted to the Christian who has learned to understand that trials come by the providence of God who ordains even evil for His purposes. Isaiah 45:7 (ESV) reminds us of this truth:

I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Encouragement: “Insofar as” is important, dear reader, because, as a conjunction, it links the thoughts of joy and suffering. We’re not to be surprised at the fiery trials (v. 12) because they’re part of God’s plans for His people. He uses our sufferings for His glory. Admittedly, this is a hard lesson of Scripture, but it is there nonetheless. Learning to persevere in God amidst the fiery trials burns away spiritual fat in our lives, conforming us to the image of God the Son. We don’t like suffering, but it is (we must say it) good for us when it’s part of God’s plan. Not self-inflicted suffering, mind you; that’s our own folly. But the text says that when we suffer as Christians, then we should rejoice and be glad. That’s a hugely important distinction.

Are you struck down? Are you amidst fiery trials? Are you persecuted? If you’re a follower of the Lord Christ, rejoice, Christian pilgrim, for God has His hand upon you and is using those sufferings to draw you to Himself.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #302: Sagan’s Folly

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Introduction: I was reading a book of theology and cosmology recently. In it the author quoted atheist Carl Sagan. I’m old enough to remember Sagan’s melodramatic program Cosmos. Here’s what Sagan wrote: “In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” That’s from Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot book. You get the idea straightaway: We humans are flying solo out here on this globe known as earth. No pilot. No architect. Just material in motion. Cosmic dust. As John Lennon sang,

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy if you try

No Hell below us

Above us only sky

If the materialists are right, it’s pretty soul-crushing. You’re not special. I’m not special. We’re all just molecules in motion. Flotsam and jetsam afloat on a pillow of meaninglessness.

Isn’t it ironic, however, that Sagan aimed to convince others of his view? Why work so hard in life if you really believe, deep down, that you’re nothing, and I’m nothing, and we’re all nothing? Seems paradoxical at best.

Why would John Lennon ask us to try and imagine that we’re cosmic dust but then ask us to love one another instead of blowing one another up? Seems like a fair question, right?

Consider the Christian Alternative in Psalm 8:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

     The moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

What is man that you are mindful of him,

     And the son of man that you care for him?

But v. 6 of the poem teaches us that we’re not cosmic dust, but that God has created each of us imago Dei, and has given us dominion and stewardship of His creation. That’s a far cry from Sagan’s depressing materialism.

Encouragement: “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket,” is some country wisdom I grew up hearing. That’s very good theology. Why? Because as a man thinks, so is he. Let us labor to learn from the wise and eschew the foolish. You’re not a cosmic accident. You’re the creation of the good and sovereign God. Our duty is to know Him and His revealed will, and Scripture is where you’ll discover both. Sagan’s a believer now, too, by the way.