Unity.

When Jesus was praying in the Garden just hours before He was crucified, He prayed for His disciples - and for those who would believe because of their testimony - that we would be one.

It hasn't worked out that way, has it?

There are approximately 46 distinct demonimations - oops, denominations - in America with thousands of off-shoots within the different demonimations, oops again, denominations.

John 10:10 states specifically "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy," and that's what has happened within those who claim to be "true believers." So, if Jesus prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one, where have we missed it? The Church, the Bride of Christ, really isn't a Body fitly joined together like the Word says we should be.

So, what's the answer?

Our separation, to put it bluntly, is demonic. The Church has been rendered impotent because we too often are fighting each other when we should be fighting the fight of faith, side by side, for the glory of the King.

It's time to expose the enemy's tactics and rise up as a pure, spotless Bride.

The Bible. Just a book?

One of the characteristics of Progressive Christianity is they keep the language of Christianity but trade the authority God's Word for the approval of the current culture.

If you struggle with whether you can rely on the Word of God, then it's not the Bible you need more of but first a true revelation of the God of time, space, and matter. He is very adamant that His Word is truth and is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and incorruptible. It has incredible integrity, period.

There is a growing passion for God's Word but, at the same time, there is an attack on it as people water it down, doubt its applicability, or ignore it completely.

If the God Who created the universe can't keep His Word, then we're wasting our lives following Him. But if He can, and He can, then a passion for His Word is absolutely essential for our walk with Him.

There's a huge difference between being alone and being lonely but what is it? Gilbert O'Sullivan's song, "Alone Again (Naturally)" might well be titled "Lonely Again (Naturally) as he sings about the emotional pain he goes through as life deals him more and more loss.

Some people are turning to AI to the detriment of meaningful connections, like the lady who reportedly said, "I spend five hours a day with my new companion...and I like her more than my daughter." Her new companion is AI.

Being alone is a physical condition based upon external connections. Loneliness is a mental/emotional condition based upon feelings and it's the lens through which people look at the world, others, and themselves.

The world has its solution to loneliness, though it is quite impotent to solving loneliness but God has the real solution. He says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," and He means it. He has provided six ways to not just combat loneliness but banish it. Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

If someone would have thought of operating a cart with rocks to sell in Jerusalem around Jesus' time, they would have made a killing! Between apostates like Stephen and prostitutes, they would have had a big business.

But check out the account of the prostitute they brought to Jesus. It didn't end well for the Pharisees.

So many churches are in decline because of the perversion of the gift of discernment, a.k.a. Criticism. Like they say in show business, "Everyone is a critic!" Well, not everyone in the church but way too many, that's for sure.

Jay and Tom share the 5 D's of criticism: It's divisive, it's demeaning, it's disruptive, it's discouraging, and it's demonic. Listen and find out why.

And also discover the alternative and change from being critical to being encouraging. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."

Nearly a generation has gone by since the horrific events of September 11, 2001.

Even most who have been born since then are aware of what happened as thousands of Americans lost their lives as a result of evil in the world. When the towers fell and the jets fell from the sky, many had a wakeup call.

And it would have been nice if that wakeup call lasted, but something happened just this past week that reveals we have a serious problem in our country. When Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA fell because of being shot by an assassin, we were shown just how deep the evil and the division is in our country.

Some mourned in agony, some in disbelief that anyone would do such a horrific thing, but others cheered and jeered.

- Have we lost our humanity?

- Have we lost our dignity?

- Have we lost our rule of law?

Friends, it's not a political problem, it's not a social problem, and it's not an economic problem, though these do exist and continue to grow. But it is a spiritual problem where evil is exalted and truth is spurned. We no longer can dialogue peacefully but have to resort to character assassination as well as physical assassination.

America is at a turning point and the followers of Jesus Christ have some decisions to make. Our response will make a difference in the future of our country.

God's kingdom isn't a competition.

There are many who call themselves "believers" that have quite a skewed perception of the role of men and women when it comes to kingdom ministry. When the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, he made some statements that some denominations have used to subjugate women to subservient positions

So, how do we deal with Paul's "women should learn quietly" and 'I do not permit a woman to teach?"

He told the Galatians that "there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. All are one in Christ."

Some church leaders may not agree with Jay and Tom but they do need to consider the truth from God's Word and not just operate on historical culture or traditional opinion.

We're in God's kingdom together and need to work together to be His Body "fitly joined together."

We all have an "expiration date"

It's not printed on us like a jug of milk, but God has it written in His Book of Life. He knows that date but doesn't let us in on it.

When we think of mortality, it brings up two very important concepts:

1. What happens after we do pass over into eternity?

2. How should we live now in preparation for that day?

Too many people cling to this life with a death grip. What does this life hold that our promised eternity with the Father compares to? Storing up treasures in heaven, like Jesus said, doesn't mean piling it up down here.

Sure, we miss those that have "gone down the long road from which no one returns," but they don't miss us. They're in the presence of the Almighty!

Embracing our mortality is important because our mortality will soon put on immortality and we'll never regret living in preparation for that day.

When King David sinned against God via adultery and murder, he had a friend in Nathan to whom he was accountable.

It took courage for Nathan to approach the king, who could end his life right there, and help him account for his actions and repent. David and Nathan had a relationship of trust too many people lack in their life.

Sin percolates in darkness. Each one of us has areas of weakness that must be confronted and dealt with. Blind spots in our spiritual walk may elude us but with someone to whom we are accountable, we can eradicate them.

Trust and accountability doesn't just happen. It takes building a relationship over time and a willingness to be vulnerable.

Restoration and reconciliation is what we are called to as believers. Little compares to the freedom we have in Christ when this happens.