A Wild West Blog

Wife + Daughter + Mom + Thought Writer

[awildwestblog]

There’s something worth pausing over when a person shows up asking for church recommendations—with a checklist.

Not just “a good church,” but a very specific kind of church: affirming, aligned with personal expectations, and carefully filtered so nothing too challenging sneaks in.

Just the other day I came across this exact scenario. The person even acknowledged they expected gospel-centered responses—meaning they already knew many Christians would say, “Church isn’t about affirmation, but about repentance, truth, and being shaped by Scripture.”

So that raises a pretty straightforward question:

If you already know that… why go looking for affirmation from the very institution that exists to call people to repentance and truth?

The church isn’t built to revolve around personal preference, cultural mood, or whatever version of faith feels most comfortable. The church is shaped by Scripture and the world is shaped by the Word. Not the other way around.

Scripture is not subtle about this goal:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NIV).

Notice it doesn’t say, “affirm what you already think.” It says renew your mind. Which implies the original settings are not the final version.

And yes—praise God when people genuinely seeking Jesus come into the church! That is exactly what it is meant to be: broken people encountering the only One who restores. But that’s increasingly not the case and these conversations tend to reveal something deeper.

In one exchange, a person claimed she had never seen anything in the Bible about homosexuality beyond a disputed phrase she understood differently, suggesting it referred only to abusive behavior.

My response pointed not to a single verse, but to the consistent witness of Scripture: creation (Genesis 1–2), where God establishes male and female and the one-flesh design of marriage; Jesus reaffirming that design (Matthew 19:4–6); and apostolic teaching such as Romans 1:26–27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9–11.

The point was a consistent biblical framework—from creation to Christ to the apostles—that defines God’s design and humanity’s need for redemption.

And that matters, because when Scripture is only partially seen, it becomes easy to miss its message entirely.

Which is exactly why the church matters.

Because when the church is not grounded in the whole counsel of God, people don’t just form different opinions—they form different understandings of what Scripture actually says.

Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, NIV).

So when affirmation becomes the primary requirement for a church, it’s worth asking what the church has been reduced to.

A community center? A support group? A place to reinforce whatever someone already believes?

Those already exist—and many do them well.

But the church is not less than community; it is far more than that.

It is the gathering of people under God’s Word, where truth confronts what is broken, grace restores what is lost, and Christ makes new what was dead.

“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

The church isn’t there to rubber-stamp your current identity.

It’s there to point you to Jesus, who makes you new.

And that leads to the real question underneath all of this:

If the church isn’t primarily about affirming who we are, but about transforming us into who Christ is making us… then what exactly are we asking for?

[awildwestblog]

What breaks my heart isn’t simply how people treat one another—it’s why. Beneath every harsh word, divided relationship, and broken friendship is a deeper issue: the human heart.

We were created to reflect heaven, but when sin entered the world, we began reflecting something else. Instead of God’s love, we mirror pride, fear, self-rule, and division. We choose our own definitions of good and evil rather than trusting His (Genesis 3:1–7, NIV). The result is that the very people we were created to love become separated by walls built from hurt, ideology, and sin.

The truth is, I’m not above it. I’ve broken hearts too. Most of all, I’ve grieved the heart of the One who loves me perfectly. Every time I choose myself over Christ, I trade His freedom for my own chains.

Yet Jesus still offers something better. He doesn’t just improve our behavior—He transforms our hearts. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). When our hearts are surrendered to Him, we begin to look like the Kingdom we belong to instead of the broken world we’re passing through.

Maybe the greatest tragedy isn’t that we disagree with one another. It’s that relationships meant to reflect heaven end up resembling hell because we cling to our own identity instead of Christ’s.

The heart of the matter has always been the heart. And only Jesus can make it new (Ezekiel 36:26; John 8:36, NIV).

[awildwestblog]

No, Women Aren’t Preachers, And Here’s Why…

From the very beginning in Genesis, the pattern has been painfully consistent.

The serpent doesn’t start with outright denial of God’s Word. He starts with a question:

“Did God actually say…?” (Genesis 3:1, ESV)

That question is still at the center of so much of today’s confusion—especially when it comes to God’s design for His church, His authority, and the way He has ordered both men and women within it.

We are living in a moment where emotional reasoning is often treated as ultimate truth. Where “this feels right to me” is frequently elevated above “this is what Scripture says.” But God has already spoken clearly: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, ESV).

And yet, just like in the garden, there is still a constant pressure to reinterpret, reframe, or soften what God has said so that it better fits the spirit of the age.

One of the clearest examples of this today is the ongoing conversation around women preaching and holding teaching authority in the gathered church.

And it’s important to say clearly: this is not a question of worth, value, intelligence, or spiritual gifting. Scripture is unmistakably affirming of women as image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:27, ESV), co-laborers in the gospel, and active participants in the life and mission of the church (Romans 16:1–7, ESV).

Women prophesied, served, taught other women, supported ministry, and were essential in the spread of the gospel from the earliest days of the church.

But Scripture also draws lines of order within the gathered body of believers—not as oppression, but as design.

In passages like 1 Timothy 2:12 (ESV), Paul writes, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” And in 1 Corinthians 14:33–35 (ESV), he again addresses order in the gathered church.

These are not isolated opinions of Paul disconnected from the rest of Scripture, but instructions given to the church as it was being established under apostolic authority—meant for the good, health, and clarity of the body.

And in a culture that often bristles at the idea of limits, we have to ask whether we believe boundaries from God are restrictive—or protective.

Because from Eden onward, the temptation has always been the same: to see God’s instruction not as life-giving order, but as something to be questioned, revised, or rejected in favor of self-defined truth.

That is the deeper issue beneath every theological debate: not just what we think about a specific role or practice, but whether we will submit our understanding to God’s Word—or place our own understanding above it.

The question hasn’t changed.

Will we trust what God has actually said… or continue to repeat the oldest deception in history by assuming we know better?

[awildwestblog]

It struck me unexpectedly—just a passing comment from my parents about a trip they had planned. Something already set in motion, details already decided, a whole experience unfolding… and I hadn’t known a thing about it. There was no hurt in what they said, no exclusion intended. But it caught me off guard in a way I couldn’t immediately explain.

And in that quiet moment, I felt it—that subtle shift.

Scripture tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We often recognize that truth when we watch our children grow. People talk about that shift all the time—how your kids move from holding your hand and being part of everything, to lives that slowly unfold beyond you. One day you are their whole world, and the next you’re catching glimpses of it as they pass through on their way to somewhere else.

We expect that season. We prepare our hearts for it, even if it still aches.

But what we don’t often prepare for is the shift that happens in the other direction with our own parents. They, too, begin to move differently in your life. The ones who once invited you into every plan, every detail, every decision… begin to live full, unfolding stories that don’t always include you. Not out of distance, but out of design.

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). There is a tenderness in that kind of closeness, but even that tenderness lives within the boundaries of time and season.

And so, without fanfare, things change. They take trips you’re not on. They make memories you hear about later. You’re not strangers, not even close, but the relationship stretches, softens. What was once constant presence becomes meaningful connection in smaller, more scattered moments.

It’s natural. It’s right. But it can feel sudden all the same.

And then, if you step back even further, you begin to see it, the pattern woven through generations. Your parents have already lived this shift with their parents. The ones who once anchored them became, over time, voices on the phone, visits marked on calendars, memories held more than moments shared.

“One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4). The passing down is intentional, but so is the releasing.

And just as you feel your parents’ lives widening beyond you, your children are beginning to do the same. What feels like loss is, in truth, a quiet unfolding of God’s design, each generation moving outward, while still being held together by Him.

“So we do not lose heart… For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16,18).

Because the truth is, love doesn’t diminish in these shifts, it deepens. It matures. It becomes less about proximity and more about presence of heart.

Still, there is a tenderness in realizing that what once was constant is now fleeting. And maybe that’s the gentle invitation tucked inside it all, to pay attention, to lean in, to hold sacred the moments we do have.

To linger a little longer.

To ask one more question.

To listen more closely.

Because every season is moving, quietly, faithfully, into the next. And the God who ordains them all is not absent in the shifting…

He is steady within it.

[awildwestblog]

Let’s be honest—sometimes we try to shrink God’s creation down to something we can fully explain, and when we can’t, we start forcing the Bible to fit our limits instead of letting it expand them.

But Scripture actually leaves more room than we give it. In Book of Genesis 1, the firmament is called heaven—birds fly across it, and the sun, moon, and stars are placed in it. That doesn’t read like a solid dome over a flat earth, but like an expansive, ordered reality designed by God Himself.

Then you see Second Epistle to the Corinthians 12:2, where Paul speaks of being caught up to the “third heaven.” That language points to layers, depth, and dimension—far beyond a simple, closed system. Scripture stretches our understanding—it doesn’t box it in.

And then you look up—and realize we’re living in a moment previous generations only read about in wonder.

During the Artemis II mission, astronauts are traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them, circling the moon and looking back at our planet from a distance that reshapes perspective.

When Victor Glover was asked for an Easter message, he didn’t have one prepared—but what came out was powerful. He talked about reading the Bible and recognizing the wonder of creation, pointing out that while they were on a spacecraft far from Earth, every single one of us is already living on a “spaceship” designed by God—perfectly placed, sustained, and intentional.

That’s the kind of perspective that doesn’t weaken faith—it expands it.

The heavens really do declare the glory of God, and now we’re watching that declaration from angles humanity has never seen before.

The tension isn’t between the Bible and reality—it’s between our interpretation and the fullness of what God has made. His ways are higher, His works are greater, and His creation reflects that truth.

So no, the earth is not flat.

Creation itself points to something vast, layered, and held together by Him. And here’s the grace in it: this isn’t a salvation issue. We’re not saved by perfectly understanding the universe—we’re saved by Jesus Christ.

We can stand in awe of the fullness of His creation—or reduce it to what we can grasp. But the invitation remains the same: to know Him, the One who created it all.

[awildwestblog]

I am not like Judas, not even maybe.

Friends, in these end times the Spirit warns us with urgency:

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV). Many are already falling away (Matthew 24:10-12). The enemy is subtle—he advances not with bold lies but with almost truths that sound close enough, feel emotional, and tickle the ears while quietly eroding the foundation of pure doctrine.

Consider the recent conversation surrounding Christian artist Josiah Queen’s song “Judas.” With poetic license, the lyrics declare things like: “Yeah, maybe I’m like Judas… Maybe I’m that thief… Maybe I’m that sinner that put You on that tree… For thirty pieces of silver, he ain’t worse than me… ’Cause he betrayed You for money and I did it all for free.” It frames everyday sin and personal failure around Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, aiming to stir reflection on guilt, brokenness, and redemption. The intent is to encourage and draw hearts closer. It sounds almost right. But theology matters—especially now—and music is a powerful mission field that must not blur the lines of sound doctrine.

Here is the danger: Judas was never devoted to Jesus. His heart was against Him from the beginning. Scripture reveals he was controlled by Satan (John 13:27), and Jesus Himself called him “the one doomed to destruction” (John 17:12 NIV): “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction—so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” Judas never truly repented; he felt remorse but remained hardened, leading to despair and death rather than restoration. He was not part of the redeemed. As Romans 10:9-10 NIV declares, salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection—something Judas never embraced.

A true believer, saved and redeemed by the blood of Christ, should never identify with Judas. We have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:1-2 NIV reminds us: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Our identity is in the redeemed, not the son of perdition.

Instead, we should find a far more theologically accurate reflection in Peter.

Our sinful actions may mirror moments of denial—like that dark night when Peter denied Jesus three times out of fear. Yet Peter’s story explodes with hope: he repented with bitter tears, was restored by the risen Lord, and powerfully used by God to build the early church. I’d rather be compared to Peter. Our sinful actions can show moments of denial… But look at Peter’s redemption story—what God accomplished through him and how He used him. So, yeah… “maybe I’m like Peter.”

When worship music blurs this line, it confuses the gospel through a worldly lens. What we sing plants deep in the heart before the mind fully grasps it. Colossians 3:16 NIV commands: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” This demands precision, not creative reinterpretation.

A wide audience turns lyrics into a de facto pulpit—there is no room for “almost” when proclaiming the pure gospel of Jesus.

Theology is not optional nitpicking; it guards the fullness of God. Trading sharp doctrine for emotional resonance numbs us to sound teaching. Good intentions to encourage cannot replace the unmatched power of uncompromised truth. In the same way iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17 NIV), we must lovingly yet firmly correct these near-truths—especially from platforms that reach many.

Hear this final fiery truth: Nobody sent Jesus to the cross—He sent Himself.

We do not possess that power. Jesus laid down His life willingly: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18 NIV). He loves us all and died for us despite our sin, sovereignly using even hardened hearts like Judas to fulfill His divine mission of redemption. Our songs must exalt this sovereign grace, not flatten the eternal distinction between the unredeemed betrayer and the blood-bought saint.

Saints, wake up and exercise discernment.

Test every lyric against Scripture. Nothing is more encouraging than the undiluted gospel. Pray for artists, for the church, and for hardened hearts still walking Judas’s path—that they would respond to Christ’s call before it is too late and experience the transforming power of His redemptive blood.

Here is my suggestion to the artist for a re-write. It rejects identification with Judas, points instead to Peter-like failure and restoration, and exalts Christ’s sovereign love and self-giving sacrifice:

“Peter” (or “Restored”)

[Verse 1]

I met the Savior from Galilee

Who opened blind eyes and set captives free

He said, “Come and follow Me

I’ll show you life as it’s meant to be”

[Pre-Chorus]

I said I’d never turn away

I’d never leave His side, all my days

But I am weak, and I’m afraid

In the moment of testing, my faith gave way

[Chorus]

Yeah, maybe I’m like Peter

Denied Him in the night

Three times I said I never knew the Light

But mercy found me, grace restored my soul

He called me by name and made me whole

Nobody sent Him to that tree

He laid His life down willingly

For sinners like me, He chose the shame

Jesus, my Lord—forever I’ll praise Your name

[Bridge]

Though my heart can wander, Your love remains

You use even the broken to glorify Your name

No silver could buy what Your blood has won

I stand justified—through faith in the Son

[Final Chorus]

I’m not like Judas, whose heart stayed cold

Doomed to destruction, Scripture foretold

I’m redeemed, justified, at peace with my God

By grace I stand in hope of His glory (Romans 5:1-2)

This correction upholds the distinction between the unredeemed and the redeemed, highlights true repentance and restoration, and centers the cross on Christ’s voluntary, sovereign sacrifice. May artists and the church rise to this standard.

The King is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle, one who knows His voice clearly, undistorted by the spirit of the age. Stand firm. Sing true. Let every note carry the fullness of sound doctrine. No compromise—not even in the music. The stakes are eternal.

[awildwestblog]

I want my legacy to be JESUS.

When a righteous person leaves this world, it isn’t just devastating, it’s motivating. The righteous fire they carried doesn’t go out; it burns brighter in those they leave behind. There is grief in the loss, yes, but there is also a renewed intensity for the mission.

One of the things I loved most about my grandma was that I could bring her my biblical questions. We would sit and talk about wisdom and what Scripture said about whatever I was wrestling with. I will miss that deeply. But I haven’t truly lost it, because I still have God’s Word. I still have her notes. I still have what God has already said in Scripture.

She once gifted me her chronological Bible. When I opened it, a check fell out, a donation she had written and forgotten to give. We both just laughed. Of course she had. Even tucked between the pages of Scripture were reminders that she lived to give, to serve, to build the Kingdom. That was her heart.

And in her sanctification, I watched her grow even bolder in her declaration of who she knew Jesus to be. The longer she walked with Him, the less hesitant she became. She didn’t soften the truth to make it comfortable. She delivered it with conviction and love. I want to be like her in that boldness, unwavering, unashamed, anchored.

I remember seeing notes about how she led someone to salvation in her living room. And I know it wasn’t my grandmother who saved that person, it was Jesus. But it was through her obedience that He did it. That’s the kind of spiritual fire we are called to carry while we’re here. That’s the mission.

If I have questions now, I can’t walk into her kitchen and ask her. But I can open the Bible, the same place she went when she needed answers. That was the whole point of her life. Everything about how she lived pointed to Jesus.

The legacy she left wasn’t comfort, or tradition, or even wisdom.

Her legacy was JESUS.

I pray everyone is blessed with a Nannie like mine in some way, someone who speaks truth without apology and loves without compromise. What a gift it is to have a steady voice of truth in a culture that so often trades it for confusion.

[awildwestblog]

When Nannie passed, the only things I asked to keep were her Bible and her plants, because both to me told the same story.

Her Bible tells of a life rooted in God’s Word. Pages worn by faith, marked by prayer, shaped by wisdom over time. And her plants tell that same story in living form.

There’s a plant that blooms, then rests, storing strength quietly beneath the surface, waiting for the right time to bloom again. Another that grows slowly and steadily, requiring patience, light, and care, never rushed. And one that trails and keeps going, resilient and forgiving, even when conditions aren’t perfect.

Each one carries the evidence of quiet faithfulness, the kind of care given daily, without recognition, that produces life over time.

Grief has a way of settling into the ordinary. It shows up when I open a Bible she once opened. When I water plants she once tended. And in those moments, God gently reminds me that what He grows does not end when a life on earth does.

“The righteous flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12)

Growth doesn’t stop at goodbye, it is entrusted forward.

What looks dormant is not dead. What appears unfinished is not abandoned. God carries life across generations, often placing it into the hands of those still learning how to hold it.

So today, as I turn the pages of her Bible and tend the plants she loved, I’m reminded that the same God who sustained her faith is sustaining mine. He is present in the waiting, faithful in the tending, and He will bring beauty again, in His perfect time.

See you again, Nannie. We’ll plant some real beauties in God’s garden together.

[awildwestblog]

Absent from the body, present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

While the enemy thinks he won something when Nannie didn’t open her eyes this morning, he misunderstands how the Kingdom works. When one of God’s warriors is called home, the ranks don’t shrink, they multiply. Nannie’s prayers didn’t stop; they were entrusted.

That is the legacy Nannie left behind for me.

She was unshakable in her faith, steady in her walk, and joyfully stubborn in her commitment to prayer. She lived with a holy confidence that God was listening and prayed like she knew He was going to answer. Watching her taught me what a life anchored in constant conversation with the Lord really looks like. And she did it with humor and a stubbornness only the Lord could fully appreciate.

We may wonder why God allows His faithful servants to suffer or be taken from us. We know we live in a fallen world, but that answer alone doesn’t capture the weight of moments like this. The truth is, God’s grace shines brightest where the world expects us to fall apart. Even in grief, He gives us opportunities to display His strength and let His love speak louder than loss.

Death is always painful. Separation always stings. But for the believer, it is not permanent, it is temporary. And so while tears have fallen, they’ve been mingled with gratitude and peace. We are overwhelmed not by despair, but by the quiet assurance Jesus gives us: Nannie is alive. Fully alive. And we will see her again.

This moment, even now, is another invitation to testify to what the Lord has done.

As Nannie would be quick to remind us, we aren’t lucky. We are blessed. And though we are grieving, we are also grateful for the gift of waking up today with purpose and peace. Nannie finished the work God assigned her, and her life gently but firmly reminds us that ours is not finished yet.

She went to sleep here and woke up at home. And we can rest, too, knowing that when our names are called, she’ll be there, probably smiling, maybe laughing, and certainly praising the God she trusted with everything.

Love you Nannie, see you again!

[awildwestblog]

Staying on Mission in a World at War with Truth

How do we stay on mission when the world seems drunk on confusion?

When twisted logic seeps into politics, classrooms, courts, and even churches—when men and women play god, reject order, despise law, and redefine justice?

How do we move forward when everything feels upside down?

The answer is simpler than we want it to be—and far more costly.

We live like Jesus.

Not the Jesus shaped by culture.

Not the Christ reimagined to fit human desire.

But the Jesus of the Gospel—fully God, fully man, the eternal Son within the Godhead, unmoved by popular opinion and unbending before truth.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, NLT).

Truth is not an idea. Truth is a Person.

And if we know Him, we know how to live.

We stay on mission by walking with Him daily.

We are not led by feelings.

We are not fueled by outrage.

We are not motivated by hate.

The world acts in opposition to God because it does not know Him. Scripture is clear: “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT).

So how do we respond to those who oppose truth?

We look to Jesus.

God’s Word does not shy away from hard realities. God judged wickedness. He destroyed what was evil. “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth… and He regretted that He had made human beings” (Genesis 6:5–6, NLT).

And yet—this same God made a way.

In love, He sent His Son.

This is the mystery of the Gospel: holy judgment paired with relentless mercy. Justice without compromise. Love without denial of truth.

We are living in days that demand discernment—not just to recognize lies, but to detect the sliver of truth woven into them that makes deception persuasive. This is nothing new. Satan’s first tactic was distortion—truth bent just enough to destroy. “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1, NLT).

Today, ideologies parade as compassion. Lawlessness masquerades as justice. Movements claim love for humanity while rejecting the very God who defines love.

Scripture is unambiguous: “God is love” (1 John 4:8, NLT).

Apart from Christ, love cannot be sustained—only imitated.

So how do we stay on mission?

We acknowledge reality.

Evil exists.

Truth is being rejected.

Many have chosen blindness.

But blindness is not the same as beyond redemption.

Paul once hunted Christians. And yet God transformed him into a Gospel warrior. “I am the worst of them all… but God had mercy on me” (1 Timothy 1:15–16, NLT).

That is where we stand—in the gap.

We do not affirm lies.

We do not bless what God calls evil.

But neither do we abandon the lost.

We combat darkness not by retreat, but by engagement—bringing truth into politics, schools, medicine, communities, and homes. We live the Gospel out loud.

Jesus never affirmed sin, but He always invited sinners to repentance and life.

And we do not fear.

Yes, these days resemble the days of Noah.

Yes, nations rage.

Yes, evil spreads across borders and systems.

But Scripture declares: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

Evil may rule for a season—but it will not endure.

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NLT).

God wastes nothing. Even rebellion will ultimately serve His redemptive purposes. And we play a role—not as spectators, but as ambassadors.

We are Christian soldiers—not wielding weapons of hate, but recruiting souls into the already-won victory. “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).

Like Christ, we become bridges—from death to life, from blind to sight.

We do not know who will choose to see. So we live as if everyone is redeemable.

One day, all will be made new.

All that has been lost will be restored.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes… All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4, NLT).

This unbreakable promise is what keeps us on mission.

And the mission is this: live like Christ.

Not a Christ who bends to human will—but the Christ of Scripture.

The Christ of order.

The Christ of truth.

The Christ who saves.

God is not chaotic. God is Creator.

And His truth is not complicated—it is eternal.

So we stand firm.

We walk faithfully.

And we live on mission—until glory.

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BUT, JESUS.

🌿 Ephesians 2:4-5

This past Sunday, the pastor said something that lodged itself in my heart and kept growing. He talked about the word “but.” And the moment he said it, I thought, Oh, that’s true. Because usually, whatever comes after but… isn’t good.

You know exactly what I mean.

“I believe in the Bible… but…”

“I know God is loving… but…”

“I try to follow Jesus… but…”

Most of the time, that little word becomes the doorway we use to slide in our excuses, soften God’s truth, or reshape Him just a little more into our own image. And when we do that, we’re not reflecting Him, we’re trying to make Him reflect us.

But here’s what hit me:

There is one place where the word but becomes holy.

It’s when it’s followed by Jesus.

“I messed up… but Jesus forgives me.”

“I am not enough… but Jesus is.”

“I feel weak… but Jesus is my strength.”

When but leads to Jesus, it doesn’t cancel out truth, it redeems it.

It doesn’t twist Scripture, it fulfills it.

It doesn’t shrink God, it magnifies Him.

So instead of using but to bend God around our preferences, let’s use it to bring our lives back into alignment with Him.

Because the best sentence you can ever speak, the one that shifts the atmosphere every single time, is this:

“I got it wrong… but Jesus.”

That’s where grace rushes in. That’s where hope rises. That’s where transformation begins.

[awildwestblog]

An Idol Is Nothing: My Daily Bread for You Today

“We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.” 1 Corinthians 8:4

God has been speaking to me lately about idols—those things that can quietly take up space in our hearts, minds, and even homes if we’re not careful. As I prayed and reflected, He reaffirmed something I had learned before: demons do not inhabit things. They oppress or possess people—sometimes even animals—but never objects.

That reminder took me back to the foundation of what it means to walk in discernment. We cannot make spiritual decisions based on what we’ve heard or how we feel. Feelings are fleeting; God’s Word is forever. Every question, every conviction, and every concern must be filtered through the truth of Scripture.

Staying Fed on the Word

What we learned yesterday was meant for yesterday. God gave it as manna for that moment. But today, we eat again—fresh bread from His table—to sustain us for today’s battles and today’s discernment. This is why it’s so important to stay active in the Word of God. It’s not just a book to reference when we’re uncertain; it’s our daily nourishment, our guide through the noise, opinions, and superstition that swirl around us.

The Bible is not a resource we visit occasionally—it’s our daily bread. Every time we open it, God reveals new truth, new strength, and new clarity for the day ahead.

What the Word Actually Says About Demons

When we look closely at Scripture, we find that demonic activity always centers on beings, not objects. In the Gospels, Jesus cast demons out of people (Mark 1:23–27) and even allowed them to enter a herd of pigs (Mark 5:12–13). But never once do we see demons inhabiting a physical object—no jewelry, no furniture, no dolls, no souvenirs.

Demons influence, deceive, and oppress hearts and minds, but they cannot inhabit inanimate matter. That’s a truth worth standing on. The spiritual realm interacts with souls, not stuff.

Now, some might say, “But doesn’t Scripture teach that the enemy walks the earth seeking someone to devour?” (1 Peter 5:8). Yes — but notice what that means. Satan isn’t a ghost haunting physical places; he’s a fallen spiritual being, influencing hearts and systems, looking for those whose faith has grown weak. Demons may seek a body to inhabit, but Satan seeks influence—through pride, fear, or deception.

Why This Matters

The enemy loves confusion. He loves when we give more power to an object than to the God who reigns above it all. But Paul reminds us plainly in 1 Corinthians 8:4, “We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.”

That means the object itself—whether carved wood, painted stone, or modern distraction—has no spiritual life or authority of its own. The problem is not in the thing; it’s in the heart that elevates it.

Israel wasn’t punished because idols had power. They were punished because the people misplaced theirs. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And if we’re not careful, we can do the same when we let fear, superstition, or human opinion carry more weight than Scripture.

The True Battle

The real spiritual battle takes place in the unseen realm of belief and obedience. The enemy whispers fear; God speaks truth. The devil deals in deception; Jesus deals in deliverance.

When we know the truth, we walk in freedom. And when we walk in freedom, we stop attributing God’s power—or the enemy’s schemes—to the wrong things. Objects may represent idolatry, but they do not contain evil. We, however, are temples of the Holy Spirit. That means His presence is what fills a space—not darkness, not demonic residue, not superstition.

Your Daily Bread

So let this be your daily bread today: open the Word. Eat of it again. Don’t live off yesterday’s revelation. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth freshly to your spirit.

And remember this—idols are nothing, but our God is everything. The only power that matters is the power of Jesus Christ living in you.

Stand firm in that truth. Walk in peace, not fear. For there is no other God but one.

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People love to quote “have nothing to do with darkness” when talking about things like Halloween, but context matters. In Ephesians 5:11, Paul isn’t talking about avoiding a certain day or staying away from people — he’s reminding believers to live as children of light. The “darkness” he’s referring to is sin and unrepentant living, not cultural moments or opportunities to connect with others.

Under the new covenant in Christ, we’re not bound by fear or man-made restrictions — we’re called to walk in freedom and obedience to God. That means living in a way that reflects His light and draws others toward Him.

Sometimes that looks like stepping into dark places — not to participate in sin, but to show what real freedom in Jesus looks like. When our hearts are surrendered to Him, every day — including October 31 — can be a chance to reveal His love, joy, and truth to people who don’t yet know Him.

Because living in the light doesn’t mean hiding from the dark. It means shining in it. 🤍 Covered by the blood means covered by the blood. Don’t give the enemy any credit.

[awildwestblog]

Here we are again—instead of the great pumpkin, it’s the “great debate” over Halloween.

While the church spends endless energy arguing about costumes and candy, Scripture says nothing about Halloween. What it does talk about is unity in the body, avoiding quarrels that don’t produce sanctification, and seizing every opportunity to point people to Christ (Romans 14:4–5, 10–13).

The Bible is clear: “Don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for celebrating certain festivals” (Colossians 2:16). God made all days for His glory, including October 31st. So no, days are not inherently evil. If you feel personally convicted about Halloween, then obey the Spirit in your own life. But that conviction is not license to condemn your brother or sister in Christ. That’s not discernment—that’s unrighteous judgment, and it is hypocrisy.

And let’s be honest, that’s far more destructive than any so-called “evil holiday.” Division in the body of Christ is Satan’s delight. The enemy loves when Christians are too busy condemning each other to actually live in the freedom Christ died to give us. He loves when we trade compassion for quarrels, when we replace evangelism with self-righteousness. Because then we are no longer fishers of men—we are stumbling blocks (Romans 14:13).

Do you believe God’s Word? Then you believe that what the enemy means for evil, God can use for good (Genesis 50:20). That includes Halloween. If Christ’s blood covers you, if the Spirit of God lives in you, then you are free. Free from fear. Free from legalism. Free to glorify Christ in every moment and every opportunity, including days like October 31st.

But here’s the sobering truth: when you condemn your brother or sister for their freedom, you may actually be condemning the very assignment God has given them. Some are called to step into the darkness to reach the lost, and your judgment becomes the stumbling block. That’s not righteousness. That’s disobedience.

Do you know how many believers have been delayed, discouraged, or even derailed from their calling because of the condemnation of other Christians? Jesus does not judge appearances, He judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Yes, we are called to test fruit, but not to weaponize self-righteous opinions against the body of Christ.

And I’ll say this plainly: if I were an unbeliever reading Christians tear each other apart over trivial holidays, I wouldn’t want to be part of that. And that should grieve us. Because our mission is not condemnation, it’s proclamation. We are called to shine light, not police shadows. We are called to unity, not quarrels.

Church, wake up. Stop letting Satan distract you with debates he authored. Stop giving him victories through your division. The kingdom of God is here, right now, in us, His Church. And we are not reflecting it when we condemn each other over freedoms God Himself has given.

Live free. Live unified. Live for Christ. Every day, every moment, every breath—until He comes!

[awildwestblog]

Courage and Faithfulness: Charlie’s legacy and our purpose

Opening to Acts 17 this morning, I was reminded of something we can so easily forget: our effectiveness for Christ is never measured by attention or applause. That doubt—that whisper telling you your life doesn’t matter for God’s Kingdom—comes straight from the enemy, not Christ.

Scripture says Jason welcomed Paul and Silas into his home, and when the crowds rioted, they “gathered troublemakers” and dragged Jason out (Acts 17:5, NLT). Jason isn’t mentioned much in the Bible, but his obedience left an eternal mark. He simply made himself available, and God used him mightily.

That same truth echoed as I watched the memorial for Charlie Kirk. Many said he was targeted because he was effective in speaking truth. And oh, how evident that was as thousands were drawn closer to Christ through his memorial service. Charlie was used in a monumental way, but what he longed to be remembered for wasn’t fame—it was courage for his faithfulness.

Whether your life resembles Jason’s quiet courage or Charlie’s public influence, the impact is the same: obedience builds the Kingdom. One life at a time.

Paul wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).

Friend, don’t let discouragement convince you that your faithfulness is small or unseen. You don’t have to be famous to be effective. You just have to be available. Jesus sees. Jesus knows. And Jesus uses every ounce of surrendered obedience to change eternity.

So today—quietly or loudly, in public or in private—live sent. Heaven is counting every seed you plant.

[awildwestblog]

How can you be a Christian and “celebrate” Halloween?

Well, for starters, if Halloween disqualifies someone from being a Christian, then the cross wasn’t enough. Praise God it was enough. Galatians 5:1.

But this really isn’t about defending a holiday. It’s about exposing the heart—because God always looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). And my heart, and yours, should be set on showing Jesus to the lost. When we condemn one another over days and traditions, we’re not walking in love—we’re placing stumbling blocks in front of our brothers and sisters (Romans 14:13).

Jesus not only called us not to walk in darkness, but to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14–16). It’s difficult to show your light when you’re locked inside with (quite literally) your light off. On Halloween night, when neighbors come to your door, that’s not darkness knocking—it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to be kind, to be present, to plant a seed of the gospel in the simplest of ways. Shutting the door won’t reveal Christ. But opening it with joy just might.

If you belong to Christ, you are covered—completely—by His blood (Ephesians 1:7). That means the enemy has no authority over you, not in your home, not in your family, not even in a man-made holiday (Colossians 2:15). Yes, if the Spirit convicts you personally to abstain, then obey Him—because obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). But don’t use that conviction as a measuring stick to judge another believer. Jesus was clear: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

Most of us won’t ever preach to crowds of thousands. Our ministry is lived out in the ordinary places—our front porches, our workplaces, the grocery store aisles, bedtime prayers with our kids. That’s where the light of Jesus shines brightest. And if we let the fear of man or the judgment of others dim that light, then we miss the very purpose God placed us here for (Philippians 2:15).

I don’t want to live dimmed by fear. I want to live lit by faith—trusting that Jesus is enough, and that His light shines brightest in the very places the world least expects.

[awildwestblog]

A Christian Apologetic: Addressing Common Objections to Halloween from a Protestant Perspective

Hey friends, let’s be reminded of this truth: once we are in Christ, we are no longer bound by fear, superstition, or the weight of manmade rules. We are covered—fully and finally—by the blood of Jesus. That means we don’t have to tiptoe around a certain day on the calendar as if the enemy has claimed it for himself. He hasn’t. Our God owns every sunrise and sunset. So whether you choose to engage in Halloween or step aside from it, let’s remember—our freedom is in Christ alone, not in our performance or our participation. Be convicted by the Spirit within you, not by the world around you. Only you know the posture of your heart before the Lord. If He has given you peace, walk in it with confidence. If He has stirred caution, honor Him with obedience. But don’t let fear, judgment, or outside voices chain you to guilt where Christ has already given you freedom.

1. Association with paganism

Yes, Halloween has historical ties to pagan festivals like Samhain—but so do many other things. The days of the week are named after false gods, wedding rings have pagan symbolism, and even Christmas trees were once tied to pagan practices. Yet, through Christ, all things are made new (2 Cor. 5:17). Christians don’t celebrate Halloween to honor Samhain or spirits—we participate in community, costumes, candy, and creativity. Just because something had pagan origins doesn’t mean it still carries pagan meaning today. What matters is the heart of the believer, not the past of a tradition.

2. Glorifying darkness and evil

The Bible tells us to walk in the light, but it also tells us we are not bound by fear. Halloween today is largely cultural, not spiritual—it’s kids in costumes and neighbors opening their doors. Darkness is not stronger than the light of Christ (John 1:5). For the Christian, celebrating Halloween does not equal glorifying death or evil. In fact, it can be an opportunity to be a light in the darkness by showing joy, hospitality, and kindness on a night when the world expects fear.

3. Fear of occult involvement

Practicing witchcraft and worshipping demons are indeed condemned in Scripture (Deut. 18:10–12). But passing out candy or dressing up as a firefighter isn’t witchcraft. We must not confuse imagination with idolatry. To say Halloween automatically opens a door to the occult is to give Satan too much credit. The blood of Jesus covers us, and He has already disarmed the powers of darkness (Col. 2:15). The devil doesn’t get to claim one day of the calendar as “his”—this is the day the Lord has made (Ps. 118:24).

4. Promoting worldliness

The problem isn’t with costumes or candy—it’s with the human heart. Worldliness can show up in greed, pride, gossip, and idolatry any day of the year. Halloween doesn’t have a monopoly on sin. Christians can absolutely engage the culture without becoming corrupted by it (John 17:15–16). The key is intention. If your heart is to glorify God—even while carving pumpkins—you are not sinning. Legalism creates unnecessary burdens where Scripture does not.

5. A matter of personal conviction

Romans 14 makes it clear: some will abstain, some will participate—and both can glorify God if done in faith. What we cannot do is condemn each other for matters of Christian liberty. Whether you host a harvest festival or walk the neighborhood in costume, you are free in Christ. What binds us together isn’t whether we celebrate Halloween—it’s that we are covered by the blood of Jesus, freed from sin and the law, and made righteous by grace alone.

Bottom Line: Halloween is no more “satanic” than any other day in this fallen world. After the Fall, all creation was corrupted—but Jesus redeems and restores. We don’t need to live in fear or legalism. Whether you choose to participate or not, you are free in Christ. We should spend less time condemning one another and more time using every opportunity—including Halloween—for God’s glory.

Satan’s greatest weapon is sowing division and chaos among believers. But Jesus prayed that we would be one (John 17:21), and He warned us not to judge with the judgment that belongs to God alone (Matthew 7:1). Don’t give the enemy a foothold by tearing down the very unity Christ died to secure.