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Let's get real simple about being a "good person"

We all feel it — that intense, constant pressure to be a “good person.” It’s like an invisible force running through every culture, every family, and every friendship. You have this relentless inner voice — a kind of moral ledger — that insists you have to make your life count for more good than bad. Sounds healthy, right? But what if this universal quest to be “good” is actually a trap? It sends us scrambling for outside rules, like a religious or cultural checklist. We spend our energy desperately trying to tip the scales, and in the process, we burn ourselves out instead of finding true peace. Here’s the wild part: the gospel aggressively opposes this effort to be a good person and instead embraces the bad person. It’s flipped upside down from the way the world looks at the problem. But it’s the only hope any of us have. So, let’s get real simple about being a good person. You’ve probably been told your whole life that you should be trying harder, doing better, and cleaning up ...
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Let's get real simple about "The Kingdom of Heaven"

Let’s be real, life on this planet can feel like a never-ending grind. We scroll past tragedy, stress over bills, lose people we love, and wake up some days wondering what the point even is. The world’s messy, unfair, and exhausting. And if you’ve ever thought, “There’s got to be something better than this,” you’re not wrong. A lot of people picture that “something better” as paradise in Heaven. A perfect place somewhere out there, full of peace, laughter, and eternal happiness. Sounds amazing, right? I wish we all could have been born into the Kingdom of Heaven instead of this place. But here’s the twist: when Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven, that’s not what He was talking about. And understanding what He actually meant will completely change how you live right now. So, let’s get real simple about the Kingdom of Heaven — it isn’t a place, it’s an authority. Think of a “kingdom” as the territory ruled by a king. So the Kingdom of Heaven is wherever God rules. In Heaven,...
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Let's get real simple about religion vs reality

That's the plot twist most people never see coming. I’ve never been comfortable with religion. Honestly, it always felt like a lifelong game of pretend that adults take way too seriously. Different religions offer different answers to the biggest questions in life, and they can’t all be right at the same time. I don’t want “maybe,” “possibly,” or “just have faith because we said so.” I want truth. Real, solid, life-changing truth. I don’t want to wander through life in the dark while everyone shrugs and says, “Well, no one really knows.” You shouldn’t settle for that either. So, let’s get real simple about reality versus religion. There’s a difference - and it matters. Most of us grow up being trained to believe two things without even realizing it: first, that anything supernatural is unknowable; second, that if God exists, He’s mostly hiding from us. If you believe those two ideas, then the whole world feels like a guessing game and religion feels like blindly picking the “least...
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Let's get real simple about experiencing God

Many people don’t realize that what’s written in the Bible didn’t come from people sitting around imagining God. Every word came from someone’s real, personal encounter with Him. The authors weren’t describing ideas. They were describing what they witnessed in the real presence of God . So, let’s get real simple about experiencing God. God is meant to be experienced! Not just understood. Not just agreed with intellectually. He invites us into something far deeper: a spiritual and even physical experience of His presence. When David wrote the Psalms, he wasn’t singing about how he felt about God from a distance. He was writing about what he actually experienced in the presence of the Almighty. His words came from real moments where God’s reality became David’s reality. Those experiences aren’t just for the few like David; they’re for all of us too. Consider the how the bible describes eternal life. “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Chr...
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Let's get real simple about the powerlessness of sin

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His blood became the payment for all your sins; once and for all. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin, forever. You don’t lose your standing with God when you fail. So let’s get real simple about the powerlessness of sin. Jesus’ death was the final payment for all sin. John declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” The work of the cross is complete. He can’t be re-crucified for your “next” sin. It’s already paid for. Every debt is forgiven. But here’s where many Christians struggle: the enemy constantly feeds the lie that sin still separates you from God. That lie is rooted in what used to be true under the law. Sin entered through Adam and carried the power of death. For generations, it kept its grip until the debt of sin was fully paid. Even now, Satan only operates under the old law of sin. But Jesus broke that power. When Jesus gave His life as the full payment for sin, sin lost its author...
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Let's get real simple about violence in the kingdom

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and violent men take it by force. - Matthew 11:12 Let’s get real simple about The kingdom of Heaven. It isn’t confined to a building, a nation, or a plot of land. The kingdom of heaven is God’s reign in each human heart. Wherever a life bows to Christ, the kingdom is present. And this world, enslaved to sin and rebellion, lashes out against it - violently. Striking out against those who bear God’s image and carry His Spirit. Here’s the simple, but important part: the violence takes many forms; some swift, like murder, abortion and suicide. Others slow and crushing, like abuse, degradation, and rejection. None of it is random. It’s the same storm that once raged against Christ Himself, because the world cannot tolerate the light that exposes its darkness. But here is our comfort: though the kingdom suffers violence, it is never defeated. Every martyr, every broken saint, every tear shed in the face of cruelty becomes seed for greater life. The cros...
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Let's get real simple: Nothing is Wasted With God

Life may drain you, but nothing you give to God is ever forgotten. With Him, even the smallest act has eternal weight - so don’t let the enemy keep you from giving it. Life can feel like a constant cycle of demands and fights. The to-do lists never end. Work piles up. You do your best, but it often feels like there’s always more to carry. And in the middle of it all, you begin to feel like finding time for God just adds to your burden. But, God’s not a burden to be carried or an item on a to-do list. He’s a father and a friend, patiently waiting for moments with someone He loves. That’s you! And He will take anything you give him - a quick moment of gratitude, a whispered prayer, a small act of love - and He calls it precious. Let’s get real simple about this: with God, nothing is wasted. Jesus said, *“My yoke is easy and My burden is light”* (Matthew 11:30). Compared to the heavy load the world puts on you, what God desires from you is light. He doesn’t demand endless striving; He del...
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Let's get real simple about your power over anger

Sometimes people’s anger feels far bigger than the disagreement or situation at hand. It can happen when a casual chat about differing opinions—or a lighthearted debate—suddenly spirals into a storm of frustration, raised voices, and sharp words. In those moments, the reaction seems out of proportion to the issue, and you’re left wondering, “Where did all this anger come from? Why can’t we just share our opinions without it turning into a fight?” Let’s get real simple about anger: it often boils down to one thing—fear. When people get angry, it's usually because they’re afraid. Afraid of losing control, getting hurt, failing—fear shows up and anger becomes a shield. It’s the fight part of the "fight-or-flight" response, making you feel strong and in control while hiding the vulnerability of fear. Think about it: Fear of rejection can turn into anger during an argument, as people lash out to protect themselves from feeling hurt. Fear of failure might make someone snap...
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Let's get real simple about how your life proves God

Did you know your life is actually proof of what God says? Seriously! Your life tells a story about who God is and who you are to Him. So, let's get real simple about how your life proves what God says! There’s this ancient story in the Bible about God, Satan, and a man named Job. One day, God asks Satan what he’s been up to. Satan says, "I’ve been roaming the earth." God replies, "Have you seen my servant Job? He’s devoted to me." Satan fires back, "Of course he is - you’ve protected him and made him rich. Take all that away and he’ll ditch you." God basically replies, "Not true. I'll prove it." So, God allows Satan to test Job. What happens next is brutal. Job loses his family; looses his wealth; looses his health; looses everything! But even in his pain, Job stays loyal to God. In the end, Job’s response to what happened proves Satan wrong and God blesses Job with even more than he had before the trial. It’s a wild story - one of...
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Let's get real simple about your forgiven life

Let’s get real simple about forgiveness. You are forgiven. Period. When Jesus said, “It is finished!” He meant it. His work is complete. There is nothing for you to add to what He has done. There is nothing outstanding. He has already done all that was needed to forgive you and restore your relationship with Him. But here’s the simple, important part: the absolute greatest part of the kingdom of heaven is forgiveness. It is the most kingdom “thing” you can do on earth. It is the absolute most “Christlike” thing you can do. Forgiveness is being like God. So, now all that remains unanswered is what are you going to do with the forgiven life that you have? Are you going to be Godlike, forgiving others, putting their lives above your own the way that God Himself did through Jesus Christ? Or are you going to hold on to your own life, putting yourself first, trying to get your own way? Are you going to hold on to your own hurt until you feel your own sense of justice satisfied? Or will you ...
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