Framed to Maximize Outrage: A Forgotten Paperback and a Civilization in Crisis

Last week, I traveled to Hayden, Colorado to visit my daughter and son-in-law. It’s a quiet town nestled in the Yampa Valley—unassuming, peaceful, and easy to love. One afternoon, we stopped by the local library, where a table of worn paperbacks was labeled “Free to Good Home.” I picked up one I’d never heard of before: The Fixer by Bernard Malamud. The title was intriguing, and the spine was cracked in a way that suggested it had been read more than once.

I didn’t expect much. But as I flipped through the pages at various times and places (morning coffee- Denver airport), I was surprised—not just by how well-written it was, but by how uncomfortably relevant it felt. Set in 1911 Kiev, The Fixer follows Yakov Bok, a Jewish handyman falsely accused of a ritual murder in a case eerily modeled after the real-life Mendel Beilis trial. 

What begins as a tragic historical novel quickly becomes a mirror reflecting modern dysfunction—framed accusations, tribal narratives, and outrage engineered to divide.

Later, I learned the book had been banned in some circles—too graphic, too unsettling. But maybe that’s why it hit me so hard: not because it was inappropriate, but because it was too appropriate.

The Anatomy of Outrage

In The Fixer, a grieving community is manipulated into rage. The accusations against Bok are framed to maximize emotional reaction and political utility. A corrupt system doesn’t just allow it—it demands it.

 As I read, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’re living out a modern version of this script in 2025.

Consider the public treatment of figures like Elon Musk. From labor disputes at Tesla to moderation controversies at X, narratives are selectively shaped to generate maximum outrage. 

A 2024 Media Research Center study showed that 60% of Musk-related news was negative, disproportionately emphasizing scandal over success. Much like the authorities in Bok’s case, today’s media culture often seeks not the truth, but the narrative that draws the most attention—and outrage.

We see this dynamic playing out globally. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for example, is reduced online to tribal soundbites, with nuance sacrificed for slogans. Platforms like X amplify emotion over reason, collapsing centuries of complexity into 280-character pogroms.

A Civilization in Crisis

What we’re witnessing isn’t just poor journalism or platform dysfunction. It’s a deeper sickness—a civilization losing its grip on truth. 

In one scene in The Fixer, a priest’s pseudo-religious theories (so called 'blood libel myth') to a baited crowd are treated as gospel, leading to state-sponsored persecution. Today, conspiracy theories and ideological dogmas do the same—dressed in the garb of activism or authority.

Whether it's the nationalist fervor of the Black Hundreds in Kiev in 1911 or the hashtag crusades of digital tribes today, the root is the same: illogical and unrelenting scapegoating. 

And the results are equally devastating. 

As Proverbs 18:17 reminds us, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” But we’re losing that second examination. We’re losing the tools of discernment, or as long form podcasts remind us.... the follow-up question that few in legacy media are willing to ask.

That’s why I keep returning to the metacognitive tools I’ve developed over the years—things like the Bias Barometer, which helps me weigh claims with Scripture and logic. It's not just about staying informed—it's about staying sane, and faithful.

A Call to Rise Above

Malamud didn’t write The Fixer just to expose antisemitism. He wrote it to show what happens when society replaces truth with tribalism. The book ends with Bok clinging to hope—not because he sees justice, but because he believes in it. His faith echoes the realism of Ecclesiastes and the hope of 2 Corinthians 5:7: “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

In this age of algorithmic outrage, the church has a rare chance to be something different. Not louder. Not trendier..... Truer. The gospel isn’t a tribal chant—it’s the invitation to grace and truth. But we must choose it, daily, in how we respond to the noise.

Let’s challenge poor ideas with reason. Dismantle tribalism with love. And remember that even a forgotten paperback from a small-town library can be a timely prophet. The cycle may be old—but our response doesn’t have to be.

What are things we have forgotten that are foundations and cornerstones of our civilization? I think the biggest ones are God, the value of human beings, and the beauty of the gospel message. I'm tired of the cold dark air.... let there be light!

Time is Ticking Toward the Cross

An Easter Journal

Holy Week is a slow, deliberate journey—and now we feel the pace quicken. Yesterday, shadows began gathering; today, the clock speeds toward the darkest and brightest moments of all time.

Spy Wednesday: The Betrayal Set in Motion

Yesterday, we remembered the chilling events of what is often called "Spy Wednesday."

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-16
"Then one of the Twelve — the one called Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Greed. Hate. All the darkest forces of the human heart came together. Judas, a trusted companion, gave in to disillusionment or greed (or perhaps both) and agreed to sell out the Savior for the price of a slave.

But even here, the Sovereign Hand of God was at work. Evil thought it was winning, but God was weaving redemption.

Some Methodists celebrate a Tenebrae Service- The word "tenebrae" is Latin for "darkness" or "shadows"- and they tend to include a dark service with candles that are extinguished.

Maundy Thursday: The Final Evening Before the Cross

Today, Maundy Thursday, the clock ticks louder. Jesus spends His last full evening with His disciples, and each moment is packed with eternal meaning.

1. The Last Supper:

Scripture: Luke 22:19-20
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"

At the table, Jesus transforms the ancient Passover into a new covenant meal. The bread and cup become living symbols of His body and blood, soon to be broken and poured out for the sins of the world.

2. The Washing of Feet:

Scripture: John 13:14-15
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

In a breathtaking act of humility, the Lord kneels to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. The King of Kings chooses the role of the lowest servant, teaching us that greatness in His kingdom always looks like love in action.

3. The New MANDATE:(Maundy)

Scripture: John 13:34-35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The "Maundy" of Maundy Thursday comes from "mandatum" — mandate, command. Love is not optional for those who follow Christ. It is our mark, our mission, and our testimony.

4. Gethsemane:

Scripture: Matthew 26:39
"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus' raw anguish. The weight of the coming cross crushes down, yet He chooses obedience. His yes in the garden undoes the no of Adam and Eve.

5. The Betrayal and Arrest:

Scripture: Luke 22:47-48
"While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'"

The traitor acts. The soldiers seize Jesus. The long night of trials, mockery, and torture begins.

Here is Jesus- washing MY feet, Drinking the Cup of MY deserved wrath, Giving His body to be broken for ME!

Is it too much to ask for me to simply love Him and love others?

Time is Ticking

Every moment carries us closer now — to the scourging, the nails, the cry of abandonment, the final breath.

But every moment also carries us closer to victory.

Stay awake. Stay near. The cross is coming—and after it, an empty tomb.

From Hero to Villain, and the One Who Never Changed

An Easter journal- 

There’s a quote from The Dark Knight that’s haunted me for years:

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

When I first heard it, I thought it was just a clever line. But the older I get, the more it feels like a mirror.

I didn’t set out to be a villain.
I just kept living.
And life, as it turns out, has a way of changing you.

Somewhere along the road, you gather enemies just by existing.
You make choices you regret.
You lose your innocence in bits and pieces—rarely all at once.
And eventually, you start to wonder if you’ve become what you once feared.

That’s when I stumbled across Nietzsche’s words:

“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster.
And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.”

And I knew exactly what he meant.

Because the longer in my mind.....I think I am fighting to stand for what’s right, the more I’ve seen shadows form around me—outside, yes, but also within.

I’ve grown harder. Less trusting. Less patient.
I see through illusions quicker now—but I miss the comfort of having them.

There’s an enigmatic dichotomy at work in me.
I want to be good, but I see more clearly how often I fail.
I want to be a light, but I’ve been shaped by darkness, too.
And somehow, through it all... 

Jesus becomes more radiant.

He’s the only One I’ve ever seen stare into the abyss and come out pure.

Not bitter. Not jaded. Not compromised.
He walked through betrayal, cruelty, injustice, abandonment, and death itself—and He never became the villain.
He stayed tender.
He forgave when I would’ve cursed.
He trusted the Father when I would’ve run.
And when He rose, it wasn’t with vengeance, but victory.

As I age and see more of the world’s ugliness—and my own—I find myself drawn not away from Easter, but toward it.

Not because I’ve become stronger or better.
But because I finally understand just how much I need resurrection.

The promise of eternal life doesn’t feel abstract anymore.
It feels necessary.
And the grace of God?
It’s not a sweet idea—it’s 100% oxygen.

So yes, I’ve lived long enough to feel more like the villain.
But I’ve also lived long enough to know this:

Jesus never became one.
And because of that, there’s still hope for someone like me.

Here are some of those promises:

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

---

Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

---

2 Corinthians 4:16–17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

---

Hebrews 4:15–16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

and of course a song: Staring Into the Abyss

Easter Week Resources

This is such an important week for Christians all over the globe. I have gathered links for content that I published over the years and hope these help you gather inspiration and encouragement this week.

First of all- here is a timeline for Good Friday

A Good Friday Timeline

Song: Why Still The Wound?

The next link is an audio- with graphics of a presentation I gave on Easter Sunday a few years ago

Why I Believe in the Resurrection:

Here are updates on the Shroud of Turin

Updated- Shroud of Turin

Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo

Song Link: Something Happened

This is a great week to reconnect with Christ. 

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
Acts 26:22-23

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

jayopsis@gmail.com

Let's keep climbing to the glory of Christ!

See you back in a short time.

When Love Grows Cold: Recovering Honor in a Mocking Age

I don’t know if it’s just me getting older, or maybe a bit of nostalgic haze creeping in, but the world just feels… colder these days.

Not temperature-wise—but relationally. Emotionally. Spiritually.

Not just in others...it is also in me. I too laugh at the jokes that are increasingly more jaded. I too lean into to creature comforts that satisfy me first without regard to others.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m just misremembering the “good ole days” that maybe weren’t all that good. But I do remember people loving differently—fervently, even. It felt like there was more honor back then.

 Coaches were revered. Pastors were admired. Teachers were respected. I remember people telling stories of gratitude, tearing up over how a mentor changed their life, writing letters of thanks, standing to applaud someone’s influence.

Now? Not so much.

These days, I hear more mocking than memory. Critique comes faster than gratitude. It’s easy to tear someone down with a tweet or meme, but rare to hear someone rise to speak a heartfelt word of honor. We’re suspicious of sincerity. Everything’s ironic. And I have to wonder—has our love grown cold?

Then I remember Jesus warned us about this.

“Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

He said it in the context of the last days, when deception and disorder would rise like a tide. The word Jesus used for love here was agape—that selfless, sacrificial kind of love. And He didn’t say it would disappear altogether. But it would grow cold. Chilled. Numbed. Faded.

That sounds about right.

When lawlessness increases—not just in the streets, but in hearts, homes, churches—we lose something sacred. We lose trust. We lose reverence. We lose patience with one another. And that old-fashioned kind of love that’s rooted in humility and honor? It gets buried in sarcasm and suspicion.

The apostle Paul painted a picture of this cultural cold front in 2 Timothy 3:

“In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money… proud, arrogant… disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy… slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…”
— 2 Timothy 3:1–4

It's not hard to read that and think of things we've all seen, maybe even felt. Gratitude is harder to find. Humility looks weak. Correction is seen as abuse, and authority is treated like a punchline. It’s no wonder love struggles to survive in that climate.

But here's the thing: it can be rekindled.

There’s still a choice—to be the one who remembers. We can be the one who thanks the old coach, or tells a teacher what their words meant, or sits with a pastor and says, “You helped me.” That kind of warmth still matters. It still counters the cold.

Jesus told the church in Ephesus something sobering in Revelation 2:

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance... But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”
— Revelation 2:2,4

They were busy. They were doctrinally sound. But their love had faded. That hits close to home. It’s easy to let love slip while staying “active.” But without love, the fire dims. And Jesus calls them—and us—back: “Do the works you did at first.”

So maybe it starts there. Small acts of recovered honor.

• Tell a story that lifts someone up instead of tearing someone down.

• Write the thank-you text that’s overdue.

• Teach your kids to honor their elders—not because elders are perfect, but because honoring is good for them.

• Resist the temptation to join in the mockery, the sarcasm, the icy humor that chips away at love.

I don’t want to be part of the “many” Jesus said would grow cold. I want to be part of the few who keep the fire—who still believe in honor, who still give thanks, who still love in the old ways that never really go out of style.

It may feel colder out there. But we can still build a fire in here.

Song: Cold Love

Implied Hope in the Book of James

The word "hope" is notably absent from the Book of James. Yet as we read his compact, punchy, and pastoral epistle, we encounter a persistent thread of hope woven into the heart of his exhortations. James, writing to believers scattered and suffering, doesn't use the word itself, but he builds an entire framework of Christian endurance, godly wisdom, and steadfast faith that leans heavily on the unseen reality of hope in Christ.

Hope, in James, is implied in the way he calls believers to live in the tension of trial and triumph. It’s there when he says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life" (James 1:12). This crown is a future reward. It is promised. It is anticipated. And anticipation, anchored in God’s character and promises, is the very soil of biblical hope.

He tells us to be patient and establish our hearts (James 5:8), to not grumble (James 5:9), and to pray in faith (James 1:5–6; 5:13–18). Why? Because something is coming. The Judge is at the door. The rain is on its way. The fruit will come. The Lord is compassionate and merciful (James 5:11). All of these are hints and shadows of hope pointing forward.

Church history and biblical consensus attribute the letter to James, the half-brother of Jesus. He didn’t always believe—John 7:5 tells us that during Jesus’ earthly ministry, His brothers did not believe in Him. But post-resurrection, everything changed. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that Jesus appeared specifically to James after rising from the dead. That personal encounter seems to have transformed him.

James became a key leader in the Jerusalem church. Paul refers to him as a "pillar" (Galatians 2:9), and Acts 15 records him presiding over the Jerusalem Council with wisdom, humility, and authority. He was deeply respected, known for his piety, prayer life, and justice. Early church tradition even nicknamed him "James the Just."

Though he didn’t flaunt his relationship with Jesus (he introduces himself only as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"), James’s letter reflects a deep intimacy with Christ’s teachings. His tone is pastoral, his words prophetic, and his aim practical—faith must be lived out.

Echoes of Hope and Echoes of Jesus

Some scholars note that James's epistle feels like a commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. Though he never quotes Jesus directly, he echoes Him constantly. From the call to be doers and not just hearers (James 1:22 // Matthew 7:24), to his teaching on mercy (James 2:13 // Matthew 5:7), and his rebuke of swearing oaths (James 5:12 // Matthew 5:34–37), James is deeply shaped by the voice of his older brother.

Jesus taught, "Blessed are the peacemakers," and James urges believers to sow peace and reap righteousness (James 3:18). Jesus said not to lay up treasure on earth, and James cries out against the corruption of the rich and the exploitation of the poor (James 5:1–6).

The Sermon on the Mount and the letter of James share a vision of the upside-down kingdom—a life where meekness is strength, trials refine, mercy triumphs over judgment, and true religion cares for the vulnerable. That kind of life requires hope. Even if James never says the word, his whole letter points to it.

James gives us a gritty, grounded hope. It’s not pie-in-the-sky optimism or vague positivity. It’s a hope that works—through suffering, through injustice, through the grind of real life. James tells us that such hope, though unspoken, is lived. And when it is lived, it transforms everything.

So while James may not say hope, he most certainly preaches it.

And we who live in this tension—between trials and triumph, sowing and reaping, groaning and glory—can read James and hear a steady voice urging us on: "Be patient. Establish your hearts. The Lord is coming."

Using Logic to 'Prove' God

Logic is one of the most powerful tools we have for evaluating truth. It operates through unchanging principles, such as:

• The Law of Identity (A is A)
• The Law of Non-Contradiction (A cannot be both A and not-A)
• The Law of the Excluded Middle (A is either A or not-A)

These universal laws govern not only reasoned thought but also meaningful communication. But where do they come from?

When we label something 'logical' or 'illogical', we appeal to a standard beyond ourselves—a standard that applies across all cultures, times, and circumstances. Unlike human customs or conventions, the laws of logic do not change or evolve. They are discovered, not invented.

But if logic is not a product of human invention, what explains its existence? If the universe were merely the product of matter, time, and chance, could something as immaterial, precise, and universal as logic arise from it?

A purely materialistic worldview holds that everything can be explained by physical processes alone. But can such a framework account for immaterial absolutes like logical laws? If logic were just neural firings, why does it hold true beyond individual brains, binding even the cosmos to its rules?

Imagine a spider randomly spinning silk and, through millions of years of trial and error, developing the perfect web. In evolutionary biology, such adaptations are attributed to natural selection. Natural selection refines physical traits, but logic isn’t a trait; it’s a framework that governs thought itself, transcending biological adaptation. To credit randomness with its precision strains credulity.

Could mere physical processes, governed by chance, produce unchanging, universal laws of thought? The leap defies calculation.

If logic were merely a byproduct of neural activity or social convention, it would be subject to change. But logic does not change—it remains constant, pointing to something beyond the physical world.

Logic isn’t alone in this; its close cousin, mathematics, also hints at a reality beyond the physical. Numbers are not tangible objects, yet they are essential for describing reality. No one has ever seen the number “2,” yet its properties remain consistent. Even more intriguingly, mathematics often reveals truths about the universe before they are observed empirically.

For example, imaginary numbers (like the square root of -1, denoted i) were once considered theoretical but later became indispensable in physics and engineering.

What if God is like that—an unseen yet necessary reality, foundational to everything we experience? Just as mathematical laws require a rational framework to exist, so too does logic. And a rational framework implies intention, suggesting a Mind, not just a force. Could that Mind be personal, engaging with what it has made?

Many skeptics dismiss this idea, pointing to contradictions among religious believers or failings within religious institutions. That’s fair—human imperfections exist.

But what if the question of God isn’t about flawed people, but about ultimate reality? If logic suggests a rational, unchanging foundation, wouldn’t it make sense to explore whether that foundation is personal?

If there is even a possibility that God is real, would it not be worth investigating? Here’s a simple challenge:

Humbly ask:
"God, if You are real, show Yourself to me in a way I can understand."

Then, approach the Bible not as myth, but as a potential window into truth. Read with an open mind.

Humbly ask again:
Does this explain reality better than its alternatives?

My prayer for you:
"Father, You have revealed Yourself powerfully to those who seek You. Please do the same for anyone reading this today. Let them see what is true. Amen."

No doubt, no sin, no past is beyond Christ’s forgiveness for those who turn to Him. If logic itself points beyond the material world, perhaps truth is not just an abstract principle—but a Person. Seek with an open heart, and follow the truth wherever it leads.

Updated: The Shroud of Turin: A Cosmic Clue in Linen

I’ve written about the Shroud of Turin before, captivated by its mystery and the questions it raises.

But recent research—and an AI-enhanced image —has reignited my fascination. New studies suggest the Shroud’s uncanny 3D image, projecting up and down like an x-ray, might echo something profound: a singularity, an event horizon, a moment where the physical brushes the eternal. As a physicist recently proposed, this relic could be more than a historical curiosity—it might be a teaching tool, much like the stars above us.

The Shroud, a long linen cloth bearing the faint outline of a crucified man, has always defied easy explanation. Its image isn’t painted or dyed; it’s a negative, revealed fully only through modern photography, with depth that lifts off the fabric in three dimensions. Then there’s the Sudarium of Oviedo, the lesser-known face cloth, its wounds and measurements aligning with the Shroud’s in a way that feels too precise to dismiss. John 20:5-7 whispers a connection—linen cloths left in an empty tomb, the face cloth rolled up with care, as if someone wanted us to notice. Together, these relics pull us into the crucifixion’s raw reality, whether we approach them with skepticism or faith.

But this latest theory—a singularity?—takes it further. Black holes teach us about gravity’s extremes, warping space and time into points of infinite mystery. Solar eclipses, too, are lessons: the moon’s size and distance align so perfectly with the sun that we can witness totality, a cosmic dance designed for us to see.

The universe, I’ve long believed, is fine-tuned not just for life but for discovery. We’re placed on a platform where we can gaze at the stars and ask why. What if the Shroud is part of that same design? A moment of divine collision—suffering, death, and resurrection—captured in cloth, left for us to wrestle with?

That AI-enhanced image only deepens the pull. It sharpens the face on the Shroud, bringing the weight of that suffering into focus. I see a man who didn’t live for Himself but died for us, a love so vast it bends the rules of what we think possible. The singularity idea fits here: an event horizon where time and meaning collapse, where the Creator’s hand leaves a mark we’re still deciphering. Like the stars, the Shroud invites us to look closer, to learn, to reflect.

And yet, skepticism often clouds the conversation. Some dismiss the Shroud outright, claiming it “can’t be true” because there were two cloths—missing the Sudarium entirely. I’ve even heard Christians argue this, unaware of the second relic that complements the first. It’s one thing to say, “I have my doubts”—that’s honest, open, a mind still seeking. But to slam the door with “No way”? That’s not a life eager to learn. The skeptics who dig in, ignoring evidence like the Sudarium’s eerie alignment, sometimes reveal more about their bias than the relics themselves. The universe teaches us through mystery; closing our eyes to it doesn’t make the lesson disappear.

I don’t claim to have answers. But I do see a thread—from the fine-tuned cosmos to this enigmatic relic—that points to a Logos who wants us to seek. The Shroud and Sudarium aren’t just artifacts; they’re windows into a sacrifice that transformed death into life. They remind me that the universe, in all its grandeur and mystery, is a classroom. And maybe, just maybe, the Shroud is one of its most haunting lessons.

Feet of Clay, Foundations of Sand, and Lost in the Noise

We’re a nation divided, and it’s not hard to see why.

Anger and bitterness pulse through our veins, fueled by a culture that thrives on reaction and retribution. I’ve been watching it unfold on X lately, where terms like “woke right” bounce around—half critique, half weapon—exposing the raw nerves of a fractured people. It’s the latest symptom of a deeper ache: we’re all hurting, and instead of healing, we’re shouting over each other. X is just the megaphone, turning our pain into soundbites and our divisions into snarky one-liners. It’s a marketplace of ideas, sure, but the format—short, sharp, and prone to venom—pours gas on the fire.

I have a love-hate thing with X. When Elon Musk took it over, I cheered. He made it freer, messier, and less a tool of propaganda for globalists and leftist elites. It now has both sides... better, but both sides have wolves in sheep's clothing.

It’s a window into the heartbeat of our culture—news breaks there, trends rise, and you can feel what people are wrestling with, unfiltered. I lean on it to stay connected, to know what’s stirring beyond the polished headlines. But there’s a shadow side. For every honest voice, there’s a chorus of bad actors—negativity merchants, false prophets, gossip vendors, and flat-out liars. The freedom I celebrate comes with a flood of noise, and sifting through it is exhausting. It’s a tool that reveals us, but it doesn’t redeem us.

That’s where I keep hoping the American church could step in. In my bones, I believe gospel messaging and Biblical values—grace, truth, love—could be a balm for this mess. Imagine a voice cutting through the X chaos, reminding us we’re all broken, all in need of something bigger than our grudges. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” There’s power in that—stopping the scroll, quieting the noise, and remembering who’s in control. But the church feels lost in the noise too. It’s got feet of clay—flawed, human, stumbling—and too often builds on sand, chasing relevance or political points instead of bedrock truth. I see pastors on X with big platforms, but half the time they’re just playing the influencer game, not pointing to something different.

The “woke right” dust-up is a perfect example. It’s a term born from hurt—conservatives feeling betrayed, liberals mocking, everyone clutching their piece of the victim pie. On X, it’s a snark-fest, not a reckoning.

And the church? Mostly silent, or worse, joining the fray with its own hot takes. We’re reacting to reactions, nursing wounds with salt instead of salve. Division isn’t new—maybe we’re just better at broadcasting it now—but it’s hard to shake the sense that we’re stuck. X amplifies our human reflexes: when we’re hurt, we lash out, and when we’re lost, we dig in.

Yet there’s hope woven into the mess if we look for it. Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Trouble’s a given—X proves that daily—but it’s not the end of the story. The church could lean into that, offering a lifeline instead of a loudspeaker. Ephesians 4:2-3 nudges us further: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” That’s a tall order in a soundbite culture, but it’s a call worth answering—less yelling, more bearing with each other.

I don’t have easy answers. I’m as tangled in this as anyone—drawn to X’s pulse, repelled by its poison.

But I keep circling back to that gospel hope: a call to step off the sand, past the clay, and onto something solid. The noise won’t quiet on its own, and the church won’t find its voice by mirroring the shouting match.

Maybe it starts smaller—less megaphone, more mercy.

Less trending, more timeless.

We’re a nation adrift, but there’s still a foundation to stand on. For now, the static’s loud, and I’m left wondering how long we’ll keep yelling into the void. But I’m holding onto this: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). Clay crumbles, sand shifts, but that doesn’t move.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24–27 ESV)

Undiscovered

Sam Walter Foss once wrote,

"The face of the earth is a wide stretch of ground,
And the best of the world is forever unfound."

There is something within us—deep, restless, and unshakable—that longs for what has not yet been seen, tasted, or understood. We were made for discovery.

And yet, how easy it is to slip into a "been there, done that" mentality. It is the true mark of old age—not the passing of years, but the loss of wonder. When curiosity fades, when learning ceases, when we no longer chase after the undiscovered, we begin to wither.

From the moment we take our first breath, we are wired to explore. A child sees the world as an endless landscape of possibility—every tree is a mountain to climb, every shadow a mystery to uncover. This thirst for discovery does not belong solely to youth; it is embedded in the fabric of our being. It is why we push the boundaries of science and technology, why we dream of what lies beyond the stars, and why we yearn for deeper love, richer experiences, and greater understanding.

But why?

Why do we never reach a point of complete satisfaction? Why do we always hunger for more?

Our love of the ideal—of a perfect father, a devoted mother, a lifelong spouse, unbreakable friendships—points to something beyond us. We crave a version of these relationships without betrayal, without loss, without the ache of time stealing them away. Deep in our souls, we seem to remember something we’ve never actually known—a world without entropy, without decay.

Could it be that this longing is evidence of God?

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

I have written on this though extensively- an example: Hope in Living Water 

If God is who the Bible says He is, then He is infinite. And if He is infinite, then eternity will never be stagnant, never dull, never a static paradise of harps and clouds. It will be an endless unfolding of new experiences, new beauty, new depths of understanding.

Paul captures this thought perfectly in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

"But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

This verse reminds us that our understanding of what lies ahead is incredibly limited. No matter how much we dream, invent, or push the boundaries of human knowledge, there is still an unimaginable reality waiting for us in God’s design. We yearn for more, not because we are unsatisfied, but because we are wired for a future where fulfillment and discovery are not opposites—they coexist in perfect harmony.

Our thoughts of heaven are often too small. Too shallow. Too confined to our earthly limitations. But what if eternity is a grand adventure, a limitless pursuit of the undiscovered? What if, rather than a place of passive existence, it is a place where we continue to create, to explore, to advance, to dive deeper into the wonder of an infinite God?

If we are made in His image, and He is the great Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense that our eternity is filled with unending creation?

So we press on. We refuse to stagnate. We fight against the dull weight of complacency. Because life is not about reaching the end—it is about continuing the journey.

And maybe, just maybe, the best of the world is forever unfound... because we were never meant to stop searching.

Are you ready to discover the Undiscovered?

Peter - He Called Me Rock (Intro to the Album)

Back in 2020, I wrote a number of story narratives and exposition of the Epistles of Peter- the last few weeks I have revisited the project and decided to add music to the journey- here are the narratives and lyrics for the entire album:

Full Album link- He Called Me Rock- Songs from The Life of Peter

Individual narratives and lyrics- one tip- if you want to read the lyrics along with the music- I suggest finding the album on your phone- read the narrative and then read the lyrics as you listen.

We Meet Simon-

It had been a spectacular day.

Only fishermen understand the profound satisfaction, the tangle of emotions that swell at the end of a perfect trip on the water.

Simon was spent, yet exhilarated. His back ached as he spread the last net across the pebbled shoreline, now aglow with the crimson brilliance of the Mediterranean sunset. The deep blue sky, rippling waves, and low clouds painted the horizon in hues of purple and orange—Jehovah’s final, breathtaking strokes, cast in the fleeting minutes of His glory.

Birds wheeled and dove, their cries echoing the triumph. Baitfish had swarmed the boat all day, and even now, predatory schools erupted on Lake Gennesaret’s surface. No need to cast the nets again—Simon’s boat groaned under the weight of the haul.

Days of failure, heartache, and missed chances always paved the way to moments like this. Fishermen’s hopes die hard, though. This day would fuel countless more—high winds, snarled nets, bloodied hands, and meager catches—but for now, it was enough.

The sons of Zebedee sprawled nearby. John gazed at the sunset, while James lay motionless, dead to the world. Simon swallowed the urge to bark orders; perfection softened even his edges. The ideal conditions had driven the brothers with relentless vigor, too busy to bicker—a rare and welcome peace amid the chaos.

Andrew, Simon’s brother, stoked the shoreline fire until it roared, then hurried back to secure the boat and ready the catch. “Want me to call them?” he asked, nodding toward the dozing pair.

Simon glanced over—both brothers out cold now—and shook his head slowly, hands on his hips. “No, give them a minute. We’ve a long night ahead with this bounty.”

Andrew grinned. He liked seeing his brother happy.

“The Jordan’s running strong today,” Andrew said. “Clean, powerful water.”

Simon nodded, unusually quiet, though contentment radiated from him. “Yes, brother,” he said at last, unable to hold it in. “Miracle water. We haven’t had a day like this in ages.”

He whistled sharply, and a pack of local boys raced toward the boat, jostling to outrun each other. Simon laughed at the sight. “We’ve had a good day!” He tossed a small coin to the fastest. “Run to my wife and her mother—tell them we’ll need help tonight. Bring more salt, too.”

A few more boys from Bethsaida lingered, wide-eyed, half in awe of Simon’s towering silhouette against the dying light. “Ok, ok… you three, but no more,” he relented.

Andrew set them to work, and the bustle roused James and John to their feet. One boy, bolder than the rest, piped up. “This is the best catch in all of Capernaum today!”

Simon’s chest swelled at the praise. Fishermen are good at that, too.

Deep inside though, Simon’s discontentment always lingered…….

Song 1: Lost at Sea

Verse 1:

The salt air cuts like a sharpened blade,

Hands like stone from the life I’ve made.

I pull the nets, I call the crew,

They hear my voice, but they don’t know the truth.

Pre-Chorus:

The waves keep rolling, the years slip past,

I built my name, but it won’t hold fast.

Chorus:

I’m lost at sea, though my feet touch land,

The tide pulls deep, but I won’t reach for a hand.

They call me strong, they say I lead,

But I’m drowning slow where no one sees.

Verse 2:

The market’s full, and the fire burns bright,

We raise our cups in the lamplight.

I laugh along, I play my part,

But silence howls inside my heart.

Pre-Chorus:

The nets are full, the silver’s weighed,

But something’s missing I can’t name.

Chorus:

I’m lost at sea, though my feet touch land,

The tide pulls deep, but I won’t reach for a hand.

They call me strong, they say I lead,

But I’m drowning slow where no one sees.

Bridge:

I’ve heard whispers on the wind,

Of a voice that calls, of a hope within.

They say He walks upon the waves,

But I don’t believe—not yet, not today.

 Chorus:

Still lost at sea, though my feet touch land,

Still driftin’ deep, afraid to take a hand.

They call me strong, they say I lead,

But maybe there’s more than what I see.

Peter- Fire in Her Bones (pt 2)

Andrew had never seen his brother cry.

Yet there Simon was, unmistakable, slumped against the mud-brick wall of his house, tears streaking his weathered face. Andrew’s own eyes welled up at the sight. The day was a bleak capstone to a week of dread. Inside, the house brimmed with people, but a heavy stillness smothered it—no movement, just the amplified sound of stifled sobs.

Andrew had followed Simon outside. Even in the dark, the pain radiating from his brother was palpable. He hesitated, unsure. Dare he approach Simon in this rare, raw moment?

Simon sensed him anyway. “What do you think, brother?” The words barely escaped, trembling through short, ragged breaths.

Andrew stepped closer, resting a hand on Simon’s neck. “We must pray. God can heal this fire in her bones.”

Simon didn’t argue—didn’t want to dampen Andrew’s flickering faith—but he pulled away, staring at the stars. Silent questions burned in his chest, the kind all men howl in their anguish. Around them, life droned on: dogs barked, sheep bleated, the faint scent of Capernaum’s fires hung in the air. Meaningless. Empty.

They stood in uneasy quiet until Andrew ventured again. “What of the Healer?”

Simon shook his head. “She won’t survive the Jordan. You know that.”

“No, Simon—not John. The man in Galilee. The Christ!”

“The demon fighter?” Sarcasm laced Simon’s voice now, sharp and bitter. “The one who wants to rename me? The Messiah you keep prattling about?”

Talk of the Nazarene had swirled lately—teaching in synagogues, casting out a demon from a man shrieking curses. Most dismissed it as a stunt. Simon had met him once, dragged by Andrew after John the Baptist spouted some cryptic line about a lamb and sin. Andrew had been giddy, but Simon found Jesus unremarkable—too ordinary. Worse, the man had called him “Petros,” a rock, sparking laughter from the others. No one mocked Simon and won his favor. He’d fired back later, chuckling with the skeptics: “Nothing good comes from Nazareth.”

Andrew could chase after this Nazarene or that wild locust-eater in camel hair, dunking sinners in the Jordan—fine. Simon had told him to keep it off fishing time. Andrew, ever loyal, obliged.

When Andrew recently credited the Jordan’s waters for their latest haul, Simon saw through the hint. Ceremonial washings boosting fish? Absurd. He’d brushed it off, too weary to argue.

“He won’t come,” Simon muttered now. “Why would he care about the mother-in-law of a man he calls a rock?”

“Do you mind if I ask him?” Andrew pressed.

Simon’s wife cut in, her voice fierce from the doorway. “Andrew, what are you waiting for? Go!”

Simon shot her a glare, jaw tight. He’d be no part of some sideshow. This Christ wouldn’t come anyway. Kicking the dirt, he wondered if they had enough for a funeral. Deeper still, guilt gnawed at him—he loved her, this woman, and feared she’d never known how much.

---

“He’s coming! Go tell Simon—the Christ is coming!”

Simon jolted awake against the wall, disoriented. How long had he drifted in his grief? His wife grabbed his arm. “You’ll need to invite him in, Simon!”

He stumbled to the front, half-dreaming. Torches bobbed in the distance, a crowd swelling from the synagogue’s direction. Andrew’s voice rang out, unmistakable: “Here, Rabbi! This way! Almost there!” He darted ahead, then back, while the figure behind him walked with maddening calm.

Firelight revealed the Nazarene—same ordinary face Simon remembered. Their eyes locked. “Andrew pressed me to come see your mother-in-law,” Jesus said, firm. “May I enter, Cephas?”

That name again—“Peter”—snapped Simon alert, bristling. “She’s very sick, my Lord,” he stammered. “A fire’s raging in her bones. We fear she won’t last the night.”

Jesus’ gaze cut sideways at “Lord,” piercing through Simon’s flippant tone. Then, gently, he took Simon’s wife by the face, whispering something private. She clutched his hands, weeping. “Yes,” she said, urgent. “She’s in here.” Jesus ducked into the dim, sickness-laden room.

He emerged a moment later, scanning the gathered faces. Andrew spoke first, voice steady. “Rabbi, you can make her whole. I believe it with all my heart.” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Simon marveled at his brother’s certainty.

Jesus beckoned them inside. In the cramped space, he raised his hands and eyes heavenward, whispering words Simon strained to catch but couldn’t. Then Jesus stepped over the trembling, fever-wracked form on the floor. In a voice like thunder, he rebuked the illness—cursed it, in the name of Abraham’s God, as if it were a living foe.

Simon thought he’d hated this sickness. Now he felt Jesus’ fury dwarf his own, raw and commanding. After a pause, Jesus knelt, looked up at Simon’s wife, and said simply, “Your mother is whole.”

Before anyone could move, she rose—steady, alive—kissed Jesus’ cheek, and the room exploded in praise. No sound like it had ever filled Simon’s home. Outside, shouts grew: “The Master healed her! Praise God! The Messiah!”

They sat, stunned. Andrew grinned at Simon, hopeful. Simon’s wife and her mother—now bustling as if never ill—brought bread and wine. Simon stared at Jesus. That rebuke had pierced him, too, arrowing past the fever into his doubting heart.

Jesus left later, same unhurried stride, toward the synagogue. He didn’t say “Cephas” again.

“Andrew,” Simon rasped, “tell James and John we’re not fishing this morning. We’ll go tonight.”

How could he fish now? Too much churned in his mind.

Song 2- Fire in the Bones

(Verse 1)

I’ve never let them see me break

Never let the cracks show through

But here I am, my knees are weak

And I don’t know what to do

(Pre-Chorus)

I hear Andrew’s voice, a hopeful cry

Speaking of a man, the healer of time

But why would He come for me?

For the woman who raised my bride?

(Chorus)

Fire in her bones, burning through the night

She fades like embers losing light

Can He command the flames to cease?

Can He bring this storm to peace?

(Verse 2)

I met Him once, He called me rock

A jest, a name, a word, a thought

I laughed, I turned, I cast my doubt

But now I call His name out loud

(Pre-Chorus)

And there He stands, walking slow

A carpenter’s son with a heart aglow

He looks at me, He sees right through

Like He already knows the war I lose

(Chorus)

Fire in her bones, burning through the night

She fades like embers losing light

Can He command the flames to cease?

Can He bring this storm to peace?

(Bridge)

He speaks a word, He calls it out

Like fire itself should know His sound

And in a breath, the fever’s gone

She stands, she smiles, she carries on

(Chorus)

Fire in her bones, now turned to grace

The heat has left without a trace

And in my chest, something stirs

A fire now burns inside of me

(Outro)

I call Him Lord, but does He know?

How deep my doubts, how much I’ve closed?

Yet still He walks, yet still He stays

And still He calls my name today