Month: September 2026

“Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent. But who is able to stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4) I’ve listened to President Trump say he doesn’t really care about the war in Iran. He then lies as to the destruction caused by this war of choice. He has deficient people representing us in negotiations and a Defense Secretary that is the epitome of incompetence. Our military is being disheveled before our eyes. And now Trump says this will all be taken care of after the mid-terms so just vote for maga politicians and you’ll be fine. And so much of this quagmire we are in is the result of Trump’s jealousy of Obama.

Trump’s reactive jealousy of anything having to do with Obama caused him to dismantle the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran. He is intent on dismantling anything that people feel was a successful part of Obama’s legacy. We had the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany, and the European Union supporting this. And this deal provided sanctions, limits and reduction for Iran’s nuclear attempts. Most importantly, it provided agreement to inspections and verification that the deal was being adhered to. But envy and jealousy prevailed.

Malignant narcissists like Trump cannot deal with someone else being regarded as better or more capable. Trump’s view of himself in the eyes of others requires him controlling everything he believes is necessary to be seen in the light he sees himself. That means he’ll have no problem tearing down something and putting in his own plan or putting his name above what once existed. Just like with the Kennedy Center. Everything must have his name on it. He would love to be called “dear leader.” His self-esteem is contingent on praise from others. And whatever is necessary to accumulate wealth and power needed to obtain these objectives will be used without care of whether or not it is ethical.  

We see a similar portrait of jealousy and envy in 1 Samuel dealing with King Saul and David. Saul became quite jealous of David. When the women in Israel sang of David’s exploits as being greater than Saul’s, he was suspicious of David from that day onward. This pathological envy became so severe Saul sought to kill David numerous times. His self-worth, like Trump’s, became totally contingent on his dominating his perceived rival. Eventually Saul became so self-obsessed with pride and control it led him to being at odds with God. The spirit of the Lord departed from him. And then an evil spirit tormented him.

Like King Saul, Trump endeavors to tear down anything that points to someone else. Trump’s self-worth depends on being able to dominate or be seen in a better light than his peers. At one point Saul walked with God. But, and I say this carefully, I feel Trump has never known God. Trump has been consumed with acquiring wealth and power. Especially that kind of power that can make his adversaries fear him. He cannot abide another’s good fortune or acclaim that is heralded by those he feels should bow to him. He sees this as betrayal of the loyalty he should be shown.

I feel Trump has sold his soul. And anyone that still supports him and has no problem with the evil he secretes daily is walking contrary to all Jesus taught. We now are subjected to the harm his evil ways have produced on a daily basis. It is not in alignment with His ways. Trump feels anyone that does not agree with him or what he wants is disloyal to him. That’s what jealousy does. But if we remain silent during this, we are betraying what the Lord tells us. We are to have no part with the works of darkness. Galatians 5 calls jealousy and selfish ambition works of the flesh that will not go unpunished. We are told to crucify our flesh to the evils of selfish ambitions and jealousy. Walk in the Spirit. As this evil produced by jealousy and envy increases, we must pray without ceasing. We must stand. Blessings.

There is a scene near the end of the movie Cold Mountain where Nicole Kidman’s character, Ada Monroe, confronts the villainous character, Teague, played by Ray Winstone. Ada has seen evil increasing. Evil men like Teague and his marauders are killing, stealing and inciting terror without fear of retribution. They have become a law unto themselves. Vicious men like Teague steal, threaten and kill with impunity. Ada tells Teague, when once again being threatened saying, “There will be a reckoning.” His response to her was, “Reckoning is for your world, not mine.” And this is where we are in our country today.

We see God warning that He will require a reckoning from every man in Genesis 9:5. In Romans 14:12 we are also told that each of us shall give an account of ourselves to God. We seem to live in a time where man can make up his own rules and then hold up a bible or say the name Jesus and whatever evil you do will become clean. All theft, all pride, all avarice, all murder and all twisting of His word to get what you want will be answered for. In every world. No one gets a pass. And if you say you’re not like that but support such people, you’re guilty.

We have watched a new order come into power in America. We have incorporated some of the most evil times in our history yet are managing to attempt to whitewash them by having so many in our “church” sign on as if this is acceptable. We are allowing murder by government officials (ICE). We are threatening constitutional freedoms and disregarding lower court rulings against unlawful acts hoping you can get to the Supreme Court, which our President feels he has power over. Many of the harmful acts being done is intentional. It’s being done to instill fear. People of different ethnicity fear being detained or jailed. Those who speak out are being investigated and reporters are being denied access. Threats are the order of the day. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Speak carefully.

Isaiah 10:3 (ESV) says, “What will you do on the day of punishment? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth?” Isaiah is warning that your connections, your self-protecting interpretation of scripture, your money and esteem, your might, and your ignorance of the penalty that awaits those that believe they will escape the coming judgement, will not preserve or spare you. 1 Corinthians 3:13 says, “Each one’s work will become clear on judgement day. It will be revealed by fire.” And the fire will test each one’s work to assess its quality and motive.

Each day we are seeing evil in our world become darker. Men walking contrary to what is right become bolder. And when good people, those who can discern between right and wrong, sit back and remain quiet, this evil will only increase. You may agree with the evil spoken by Ray Winstone in Cold Mountain that your world is immune from a reckoning but you are sadly mistaken. The coming reckoning will be such a severely strict awakening. Peter warns us in his first epistle that judgement will begin at the house of the Lord. We must seek Him in all truth. We must speak against the evil that has been able to take its place comfortably at the table of our nation and of our Lord. There will be a reckoning. We must pray for His guidance and insight. We must stand. Blessings.

I was in my garage the other day and the next thing I knew I was flailing at a spider’s web that I had walked into. I was in the same spot just a few hours earlier and there was no web. How quickly that spider created something that was hard to see but easily capable of ensnaring someone.

Charles Spurgeon likened a spider’s web to a hypocrite’s religion. He said “A spider’s web is a marvel of skill. Look at it and admire the cunning hunter’s wiles. The spider’s web comes from the creature’s own bowels. While a bee gathers her wax from flowers, the spider sucks no flowers and yet spins out her material to any length. Even so hypocrites find their trust and hope within themselves. A spider’s web is very frail. It is curiously wrought but not enduringly manufactured. It is no match for the servant’s broom. Hypocritical cobwebs will soon come down when the besom of destruction begins its purifying work.”

These deceptive webs are being spun at breakneck speeds by so many in our government and our church. The two seem interconnected by the conjoining of lies and half-truths spun like a web to ensnare even those who say they are seeking truth. And sadly, those who purport to being followers of Jesus have no fear of embracing and walking in lockstep with the constant web being spun from Donald Trump and his fellow arachnids. They become easily beguiled by a web of deceit.

God’s prophet speaks to this in Isaiah 59:5-6 saying, “They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave a spider’s web; He who eats of their egg dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. Their webs will not become garments. Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity. And the act of violence is in their hands.” Isaiah says these people will not know peace.

As I removed that web from myself, the line by Sir Walter Scott from his poem “Marmion” came to mind. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” And is this where we are. Small lies must be enforced with more lies. Greater falsehoods. Whatever is necessary to keep the web from being torn down. People end up doing whatever is necessary to support dishonest actions. And when they become entangled, they find that the adhesive binding action in that web can bend with even the most ardent cry of sorrow when caught. And tears do not affect it any more than rain.

Today, people weaving webs of deceit and destruction masquerading as spiders, appear to be working overtime. Ephesians 4 tells us we should not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine and the trickery of men nor the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. Yet those words seem to go unheard. Spurgeon gives his final warning on spider’s webs and those who spin them saying, “Such cobwebs are not to be endured in the Lord’s house: He will see to it that they and those who spin them will be destroyed forever.” Have no part in these evil works of darkness. Pray His vision. His direction. His understanding. Stand. Blessings.

America has come to a place quite similar to the ship Paul was on in Acts 27. Paul warned the men on the ship that he perceived the voyage would end in disaster. But the one steering the ship, the helmsman, and the owner of the ship did not heed Paul’s warning. And after setting sail, they ran into a violent and tempestuous storm called a Euroclydon. The storm became so severe the sailors gave up trying to steer the ship and just allowed the winds to push them wherever it wanted to. They lost control and were at the mercy of the wind.

Paul encouraged the crew that they would not lose their lives, as an angel of God had appeared to him saying they would run aground on a certain island but all would be spared. But in order to do this they had to lighten the ship and throw all the ships tackle and rigging overboard. Some sailors looked to escape the ship by a skiff, but Paul warned the centurion on board that they would die if they tried this, and they were stopped. The ship ran aground but all were able to get to shore using parts of the ship that had broken apart.

We have been in this storm for a while. Just as Paul told the crew that they should have listened to him, many men of God are today warning those who follow the orders of a government gone amok under Donald Trump. We are in storms of division, racism, sexism, elitism, and every plan imaginable to grift and steal to pad the coffers of evil men. Unlike the promise Paul gave that none would perish, we daily see people dying in internment camps in America. Being killed and injured by our gestapo, ICE. Lacking food and medical care. Rather than looking to the care of others, we see every imaginable thing done to conspire to keep power by those in leadership in America. Our motto is “grifting is good. Me first.”

Paul was on a mission from God. We are supposed to be, but we’ve lost our moral compass. The church too often relies on the world’s technology and programs rather than just following the words of Christ. Love your brother as yourself. Take up your cross and follow Me. Yet in this raging storm we see hate increase and people follow the dictates of their own hearts. We see people look to escape the storm by embracing a doctrine of Christian nationalism. Relying on modern technology like A.I. Looking to man to quell the storm.

We will find that all man’s ways and riches that encumber us and keep us from His life will have to be thrown overboard. Will we trust in the words of Isaiah 43:2 promising us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” Your life with Him is promised, not your goods. We must realize that America must divest itself, rid itself, of so much that is contrary to Christ. We are sinking yet many still ignore Jesus’ warning to not lay up treasure for yourselves that moth and rust will destroy.

America is a ship overburdened with so many things that have no place in His kingdom and must quickly be thrown overboard. So much of what we see taking place before our eyes is man’s version of God’s ways. Not one billionaire will be able to survive this storm holding onto his money and quest for more. Not one person looking to acquire power contrary to His direction will survive the storm. And no one looking to man will survive. No one will be able to hoard anything. All evil being hidden will be seen as waves destroy their cloak. The perishable will not inherit the imperishable.

We are in the storm like in Acts 27 called Euroclydon, but there is hope in Him. Cast off the works of darkness. Have no part in that which seeks a kingdom contrary to that which is His kingdom. And look to what Jesus said in John 16:33: “In Me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer as I have overcome the world.” We must continue in prayer. We must speak truth and not be silent. Stand. Blessings.