Hello!

What I am about to say is heterodox. Meaning, it is not orthodox nor is it heresy. But I will confess the following: There is only one God, the God of Israel, and we are to love Him with our whole being. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah who is King, High Priest, and Prophet. Jesus died because of us, redeemed us, resurrected, is the voice of God, and rules Earth. Lastly, the Law & Prophets are the Holy Spirit that is living and continues to guide those with ears that listen and hearts that understand.

While not an orthodox view, the Trinity can be viewed as the God of Israel – Father, Jesus the Messiah – Son, and Law & Prophets – Holy Spirit. We are truly blessed to be a part of the Kingdom of God.

We often read the Bible as it is some final document. As modern day Christians (or better, Disciple of Jesus), we forget that Jesus and the early Church did not have a “New Testament.” Their most important scripture was the Torah (or the first 5 books of the Bible).

As Jesus the Messiah as the framework and worldview, the Torah takes on a new dimension that should be a required devotion for all Disciples of Jesus.

I was recently listening to J.D. Greear’s Bible study over the Gospel of Luke. He made an interesting observation with the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of the traditional “Golden Rule,” he flipped it into the “Platinum Rule.”

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to check ourselves way before judging others. Forgiveness should flow from us at all times because God has forgiven us. Easier said than done. My Lord Jesus, help me to forgive as you have forgiven me. – Amen.

Habits can be a great way to make healthy choices a permanent fixture in our lives. Examples of these choices can be diet, refraining from alcohol, or saying positive affirmations in the morning.

What about habits that bring us shame? Are there things that we do in secret that we do not want the light of day to see? Do these habitual actions cause us guilt when doing healthy activities? These choices can make life difficult.

There are a lot of benefits of promoting an accountable culture. A culture where people take responsibilities for their actions and work towards making changes that promote a more positive future; however, “Extreme Ownership” can lead to some unintended consequences (look at the military suicide rate).

There are nuances to the idea of “Extreme Ownership.” There is something inherently honest and strong with the idea that we can own our fate. That can take a toll on your mind, body, and soul when the mission is life-long.