Faith. Family. Freedom.

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 faith, Family, Freedom, values

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

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Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4

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Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

If you were raised in mid-America during the 1960’s, your life was built on the pillar of three important values. It didn’t matter which side of the tracks you were born on. It didn’t matter the color of your skin. It didn’t matter what religion you practiced. Faith, Family, and Freedom were ingrain within you the day you were born.

Faith was an expression of everyday life. Going to church on a weekly basis was the norm. The church service wasn’t a rock concert for Jesus. But the opportunity to meet others, listen to a man speak about God, and share time together in community.

Family get-together were a regular occurrence. Grandparents, their children, and their children would gather together for at least once a month potluck. Aunts and uncles would see one another. Cousins would play together. Family life was the norm.

Freedom was taken for granted. Children roamed the countryside and alleys until the street lights went on or the sun set over the horizon. Any government interference in the daily routine of life was frown upon. People in the community knew who you could trust and who you had to be extra careful in your dealings. Police were respected. The law was followed. If there was a policy that the community didn’t find practical, the council leaders would meet and quickly make changes for the betterment of society.

Faith, Family, and Freedom are all godly virtues held in high priority with Jesus. When you read the Scriptures, you find HIS words and actions to uphold these values.

HE lived HIS faith. HE expressed the importance of doing God’s Will. HE revealed HIS Father God to the world.

Family was the bedrock of HIS culture. Even if one didn’t have a parent, sibling, or child, HE would remind the lonely that those who do God’s Will are included in HIS family.

HIS life demonstrated the freedom one has within the Will of God. Real freedom comes from a relationship with the living God; not through rituals and rules. With God, one has the license to pursue many venues. Yet one realizes there are consequences from thoughts and actions. Real freedom comes with responsibility to serve others and glorify God through one’s choices.

Over the years, we have witnessed the destruction of faith, family, and freedom around us. The result has shown an increased in mental health problems. The alienation of families. The overreach of governmental powers. The hostility of people between each other. The slow destruction of a healthy culture is happening before our eyes.

Yet, those who have continued to practice the importance of faith, family, and freedom show a different outcome. Ask any rural American today living in a small community what has changed. The world around them has. But their community is still practicing the old-fashion ways. Faith, family, and freedom are still the core values that all within their community practice and share.

Maybe there is a lesson we all can take from them.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Where Did You See Jesus This Week?

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 focus, Jesus, listen, look, watch

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receives their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matthew 11:2-6

In our morning life group, the question we start each week is the above. Where did you see Jesus this week? It is always enjoyable to see the replies from each of the men. Some men focus on the physical blessings that occurred. Others on the spiritual essence at the time. Yet a few are still looking for HIM.

At times, we may rephrase the question. Instead of using Jesus’ name, we list his characteristics. For example, the fruit of the Holy Spirit includes love and joy. And since Jesus was fully empowered by the Spirit, the fruit would always be displayed. So we also ask, “where did you see love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Gentleness? Self-control?” We often receive more replies from others.

Then there are times we ask, “when you looked into the mirror this morning, did you see Jesus.” This one makes each man realize that Jesus is alive and lives in each man. But are you allowing HIM to express HIMSELF through you?

The real reason behind these questions is to provoke one to focus more on Jesus. We all get busy and distracted. So it’s comforting to know that through it all that one question over time becomes a repeated mantra in our minds. So when times get tough, or an event occurs in front of you, stop and look. You may be witnessing Jesus in action.

In today’s Scripture, John the baptizer was in prison. He needed confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah. So he sent his disciples to Jesus with the question. Jesus replied to tell John what they saw and heard about HIM in action. In other words, what did you see Jesus do this week? HIS reply focused on the healing miracles and the good words they heard spoken by HIM.

When we start looking for Jesus in our small corner of the world, HE will reveal HIMSELF. We will see HIM through the Spirit’s work. We will see spiritual fruit blooming in the lives of others. We will see improbable events occur. We will hear voices from heaven. Encouraging words in time of need. We will see a helping hand in a time of trouble. Sunshine in a place of darkness. The world may be in turmoil, yet peace rests upon you. At the fork road of a major decision, wisdom appears. While waiting for a solution, answers come. Not too many to choose from, only one. The one which propels you to your promise land.

Even when times are hard, you realize you may be broken, busted and beaten, but still hopeful. You know your redeemer lives. HE is holding you together. HE is transforming you into the mold you were wired to become. You accept the short-term pain knowing the long-term gain is truly worth it. Even though you see yourself as a total wreck, a voice within you reassures you that HE is with you. Hang in there. This part of the transition is almost over. You will come out stronger. More trustful. More assured. More on fire for the God you serve.

Yes, it starts when you focus your day on what Jesus is doing in your world now. Afterwards, you know Jesus better than ever before.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Distractions and Traditions

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 Christ-centered, discipleship, life in christ, Love God

“…but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

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And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:5-7

One day, if you haven’t done already, you will come to a place in life you stop, look around, and shake your head at all the distracting noise surrounding you. Each way you look, you see nothing but others pushing their agenda upon you. Influencers vying for your attention. Marketers packaging their merchandise in your face. Politicians communicating their message of fear and more dollars to feed their mission. Every which way you look you are being bombarded with distractions from your goals.

Then there are those who still live in yesterday’s past. They want to keep the fences in place but cannot give you a viable reason for their position. To remove the fence would change their surroundings. They cannot tell you the importance of the fence. All they mutter is tradition is important and we need to continue keeping it.

Jesus faced the same issues in his time on planet earth. The religious people made up traditions that they placed more importance over God’s way of life. The cares of everyday living and the pursuit of power, money, and sex is nothing new. The same carnal desires humans pursue today were alive and well in Jesus’ time.

All these distractions and made-up rituals are the same battles we face today. They challenge us in our walk with Jesus. We may notice the spiritual fruit of a godly life is missing. Then wonder why? Could it be time to stop; get off the worldly bus, and start down the road the slower way – walking with Jesus.

He has a way of teaching you where to find real freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment. HIS Word, Spirit, and Kingdom ways open the door for you to fully live as a human being. HE leads you to discover real love, joy, and peace without the trappings of social customs. HE welcomes you into a family of the Triune God circle. You meet Papa God. You are introduced to the Holy Spirit. You capture HIS vision for humanity. You find purpose in your life. You find a way of life that is grace-paced. It all starts when you disregard the noise around you and focus your eyes and heart unto Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)