What’s a completely useless fact you love sharing?
People rarely learn from their mistakes. They usually continue to make them until they become so extremely painful, that they execute change via the latter.
Scripture admonishes us to pray continually so that there is always a connection. Some cookies in our baskets if you will.
What do we do, as soon as we get a glimpse of the desire being fulfilled, we stop praying and go back to our little god.
Only 30% of Americans attend a religious service weekly in 2026, down from 42% in 2000. But that single statistic hides a far more complex reality: some denominations are growing explosively while others face existential decline.
The post-COVID attendance landscape has permanently reshuffled how people engage with church, and the gap between the most-attended and least-attended churches in America has never been wider.
Drawing from Pew Research Center, Gallup, Barna Group, the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Lifeway Research, and denominational self-reporting. This is the most comprehensive collection of church attendance statistics for 2026
This does not mean that people have stopped worshipping. The prominent Australian writer, speaker, and theologian Sheridan Voysey wrote, “Our ‘god’ is whatever we rely on to give us purpose and security.”
Novelist David Foster Wallace said, adding this warning: If you worship money and things…then you will never have enough…worship your body and beauty…and you will always feel ugly… Worship your intellect… and you will end up feeling stupid.
The Apostle Paul said while visiting the Agora, “I see that in every way you are very religious. The Apostle then described the one true God as the Creator of all who wants to be known and who has revealed Himself through the resurrection of Jesus.
Albert Einstein believed that the meaning of life is found in serving others, and expanding our compassion to all living things. Many other Scientists have shared that complete satisfaction in life only comes from our God.
St Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” An inherent void: Augustine argued that human beings possess a deep, natural capacity for the divine. Because we were created by God, our souls naturally crave a relationship with Him.
The illusion of material satisfaction: Before his conversion, Augustine spent years chasing worldly status, academic prestige, and physical pleasures. He wrote that trying to fill this spiritual longing with temporary, worldly things leaves a person perpetually unsatisfied and “drunk of ambition.”
You often hear it said, “There is no reason for anyone to go hungry in the United States of America, the richest country in the history of existence.” On the other side you will hear someone say, “Jesus, Himself, said the poor will always be with us.” So, why fret?
I was a “Pauline Christian.” A WIDE AWAKENING when I entered seminary. I was introduced to the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament. If you do not start with the foundation, or constantly refer to bits and pieces from either, you’re bound to take what you read out of context.
“You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today (Deuteronomy 15:3-5).
“For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother” (Deuteronomy 15:3-5).
“Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing (Deuteronomy 15:3-5).
The New Testament emphasizes compassion and care for the poor. It highlights the importance of helping those in need and reflects God’s concern for the marginalized. Jesus often spoke about the poor, stating, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
He also encouraged giving to the poor, suggesting that such acts lead to treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21). Acts of Kindness: The New Testament urges believers to show kindness and mercy, not oppressing the poor or vulnerable (Zechariah 7:10).
Early Christians were known for their communal support, sharing resources to ensure no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45). The New Testament consistently advocates for the care of the poor, urging followers to embody compassion and generosity in their lives.
Just as a reminder, under the above criteria, “There is no reason for anyone to go hungry in the United States of America, the richest country in the history of existence.”
This is one of the most sinister phrases used to get a person to do something against their moral character. Not to be confused with the phrase, “Do you love me?”
The phrase “Do you love me?” appears in John 21:15 where Jesus asks Simon Peter three times.
Jesus asks Peter the question after His resurrection by the sea of Galilee.
Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus then tells him to “feed my sheep.”
According to Dionne Eleanor, a transformational coach:
The language you use shapes the reality you create; it’s wise to try your best to choose words that empower growth, foster understanding, and build lasting connections in your relationships.
There are certain things you shouldn’t say to someone you love, no matter how open you are with one another. More than anything else, you should not use toxic phrases out of respect for the other individual. Here are some of them.
1. “But…” It’s not a bad word per se; it’s commonly used to prove a point. However, it becomes part of toxic things to say in a relationship when you use it to outdo your partner.
2. “It’s not a big deal.” These are things toxic partners say to make their partners stop arguing. They will say that something is not a big deal even though it is.
3. “Let it go.” One of the most toxic phrases you will hear from your partner, especially when your emotions are high, is the advice to let it go. It sounds uncaring.
4. “Relax.” This is one of the things you shouldn’t say to anyone, especially when they are invested in what they are saying. They are not asking for your participation, they simply want to be heard.
5. “Calm down.” Among the most irritating and toxic things to say to your partner is the phrase “calm down”, especially if it is said at the peak of their anger. It would be better to let them rant while you listen.
When the statement “If you love me” is used in conjunction with something that you do not agree with, it is ok to say, “If you love me,” you will respect my decision. That should be the end of the discussion. You do not have to be the one who gives in.
According to Derrick Q Sanders, the relationship between a parent and child in any pairing is of great benefit to the development of the child. Of particular interest is the dynamics between fathers and daughters and mothers and sons.
Unlike a “Daddy’s girl”, a “Momma’s boy” is never an acceptable title for a man. It usually refers to a son that has been spoiled and otherwise ruined by a mother who hindered his ability to “man up.” And the woman that he pursues, will be expected to act as a surrogate mother.
The more favorable relationship between a mother and son earns the highest honorable mention; where a son places his mother on a pedestal. Thus, there is the belief, “If you want to know how a man will treat you, pay attention to how he treats his mother.”
Yet, there are some men who have no respect for their own mothers. Whereas treating other women with upmost respect. That is not easily explained without a further history of their upbringing.
“Daddy’s girl” is considered an acceptable title for any girl who loves her father. Daddy’s girl, unlike “Momma’s boy”, is almost never, if ever, used as a negative connotation. On the other hand, “Momma’s boy should be treated with the same respect. Especially the parent who stays.
The greater issue is that many women view their fathers as the model of what a significant other should look like in matters of function. They look for the men in their lives to mimic the role that a father serves in the life of a daughter. The lack of can steer you into remaining single.
Daddy’s girl is a father-daughter relationship not to be modeled by any other man than a father for the daughter he loves. When a woman desires to be treated like this in a dating relationship, she forgets that this man is not her father, he is her husband.
Also, a Momma’s boy is the mother-son relation relationship not to be modeled by any other woman than for the mother he loves. When a man desires to be treated like this in a relationship, he forgets that this woman is not his mother, she is his wife.
It is about time that we learn and teach that both genders are to be treated with respect. More especially as parents of both. This is done by example. Don’t teach gender jobs. They should be based on skills, availability, and desire. My wife would rather mow the lawn than take the kids to the doctor. I would rather clean up afterwards, than cook. Not that I can’t.
Do you think everything happens for a reason?
Yes, I believe everything happens for a reason. Scripture reminds us that it does. Even If you do not believe in a higher being, history shows that it does. It does not happen in a vacuum. Cause and effect drives it. Study the Roman Empire. Has anything been learned? Look at the twenties when a few families were driving the world. Laws were passed to restrain their power. Later, power was regained and placed in a branch of government that guaranteed it would be sealed for generations to come. Reasons?
Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?
This is not an easy question to answer as written. We, I believe are who we are because of our experiences.
For instance, one who is privileged is shaped by certain experiences that were available to them without any effort. All needs and many desires met. Therefore they can take chances good or bad to become someone else.
On the other hand, one who is not born into privilege has to see or be made aware of differences and seek to acquire them. Many times their needs are not met and their desires are a mere dream. They take full responsibility for their outcome without a blessing.
Just as Sociologists and Psychologists have studied over the years whether environmental influences or heredity being the greatest influence, the jury is still out.
A sixth grade student with a learning disability convinced me that you cannot definitely separate them, only God can do that. He said it was a moot point. Go figure.
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?
When I was a child, with limited access to sports minded young people, swimming was touted as one of the most dangerous things that one could do.
You were always told, “Don’t get into that water until you learn how to swim.” Listening to that on its own merit, does not make sense.
What they were really saying was that you needed to be taught how to swim before you got into the water.
Living in the South with elderly parents, who could not swim, and no access to recreational facilities prevented that from happening.
It is very difficult to learn any skill that you have been constantly taught to fear, and have seen evidence that water can kill you.
My brother was an excellent swimmer who dove off a “dragline” into a canal and broke his neck because it was too shallow.
Being an excellent swimmer, and not making safe decisions can still kill. However, very seldom is the latter mentioned.
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
The Holy Bible. Specifically, the New Testament. I can’t say that I had some special relationship with my Creator. It was the only book I had access to.
My parents were up in age when I was adopted, and were illiterate. It was traditional to have a Holy Bible in the house whether you could read or not.
The Apostle Paul was my favorite character. I remember reading the whole book several times. However, I avoided reading Revelations. It was scary to me.
Jeremiah was the biblical prophet called by God as a youth. This calling set him apart from his peers, as he was trained in a priestly family but became a prophet instead.
Although he was likely around 20 years old at the time, he expressed feelings of inadequacy. In today’s standards he would be considered an adult.
Although I read the Bible and loved it I did not understand that reading as a piece of literature is not the same as the time I spent in seminary.
There I picked up on its true meaning and how it affects our life and the relationship one receives from God.
“When people face repercussions or unintended consequences after making a mistake, their fear may cause them to defend themselves by shifting the blame away from themselves and onto a scapegoat,” says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.
To avoid responsibility people find themselves in this dynamic if they try to detach or distance themselves from culpability when something goes wrong and their position is threatened. They try to avoid responsibility by shifting the blame onto someone else.
To protect their reputation, people tend to play the blame game when they fear that owning their mistakes or taking responsibility for an error could negatively impact the way they are perceived.
Sometimes it can be quite evident that someone is trying to shirk responsibility. Other times, it can be more subtle. Here are some indications that someone is playing the blame game:
Finger-pointing- People may point fingers at others. For instance, they may say, “He/She was supposed to send me the data for the graphs. I couldn’t make the graphs without that information.”
Denial- People may deny their responsibility. For instance, they may say, “No one told me we needed to include graphs in the presentation, how was I supposed to know?”
Exclusion- People may consistently exclude or marginalize a member of the group, and then make them the scapegoat when things go wrong. Immigrants are reason we are having problems in our society.
Blaming is a natural human behavior. When something bad happens, our first instinct is to figure out who is responsible. The problem is that when we are the ones to blame, our instincts may be to look for a way to avoid the potential consequences. Even Scriptures mention these behaviors.
In Genesis 3:12, Adam blames Eve for disobeying God. “Adam replied, ‘The woman You put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Adam, not Eve, received the original prohibition (Genesis 2:16-17).
• Exodus 32:22-24 – Aaron blames the people for the golden calf.
• 1 Samuel 15:20-24 – Saul blames “the people” for sparing Amalekite spoil.
• Luke 10:29 – A lawyer, “wanting to justify himself,” questions Jesus.
