Watch Out

As someone passionate about faith, understanding it, living it, and where I can, defending it, the reporting of what is happening around faith today has my full attention.

And I want to suggest it should have your attention as well.

Jesus said these powerful and I think important words that I want to share today:

"Watch out that no one deceives you" 

Matthew 24:3 NIV

He goes on to say after this all important and attention grabbing phrase the different ways this could happen to you and me.

I am reminded that there is first of all potential to be deceived along with deception being around.

I am reminded that I need to take responsibility for my faith, what has been entrusted to me freely, and guard what God has deposited in my life.

I am reminded that what I believe matters for eternity. What I study. What I watch. What I look at. And also what I propagate into the world.

Other Bible verses encourage things like:

Study to show yourself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15

Be ready to give a reason for the hope you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Make the most of today. Ephesians 5:15-16

Invest wisely with what God has given me. Matthew 25

My big takeaway is that I need to wrestle with my faith and protect it.

To watch out that I am not deceived. Because deception could be around any corner if I am not purposeful to avoid it, to have mastery over it.

Can I encourage you to do the same?

Watch what you watch.

Analysis carefully what is presented as fact.

Measure the so called truth out there against God's truth.

Something to think about...

View Numbers Update | August 2026

I find it amazing, humbling and honouring to see how far and wide this blog actually goes...

Thank you to you amazing people for checking it out!

And as always I hope in some way it helps you navigate your life and faith.

Last 30 Days as of 1st August 2026

1st    Germany

2.45K

2nd    Brazil

1.43K

3rd    Saudi Arabia

595

4th    United States

594

5th    France

581

6th    Bangladesh

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7th    India

549

8th    Argentina

461

9th    Singapore

440

10th    Pakistan

421

Growing Faith vs Tested Faith

...you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3 NIV

I was thinking about the challenges we have faced in the last few years and this verse came to mind.

I think maybe I have focused more of doing things in faith, having more faith, more than the concept of God allowing my faith to be tested. 

Growing in faith is challenging and creates an adventure in faith, testing on the other hand feels a whole lot different.

James goes on to explain why this happens.

To produce other key attributes in my life, to get to the "not lacking anything part", the testing part, the uncomfortable seems to be a necessary step.

But it is not easy and is many times hard to reconcile,

For example the more I have considered myself to be living in, operating in faith, I wonder if God has allowed it to tested as much? Not something I can quantify, it is more of a feeling.

My hearts prayer today...

"God please use this time to grow me into who you need now and in the future. " 

"Help me to handle this season better."

"I can't want for what comes next after this work you are doing."

Maybe you can relate or this helps in some way?

Something to think about...

Maybe the Opposite Should Be True?

When I look at the New Testament teachings about how to best do this "christian living" thing, what the apostles wrote and what of course what Jesus said, I have always found that their statements countered the culture of the world we live somehow.

The concepts of turn the other check, when someone ask something to give them more, to forgive your enemies. It is an endless list of contradictions to the way the world recommends and acts. Even I would say counter many times to our nature and intuition.

It is for me what helps set apart Jesus teaching from all other religious leaders.

He never seemed to just teach what was expected or was already accepted, it was supposed to be better!

Then something like what I saw in the last week happens.

And something inside me says, "hey this can't be right???"

I will link the video I saw below, but in case the link doesn't work, let me paint the picture for you.

It shows two men riding in a horse drawn carriage into a lavish venue arrangement. 

People dressed as angels wave their fake wings.

Both men are dressed in finery with one wearing what appears to be a crown and robe like he is a king.

And then the "icing" on this whole visual cake is there is announcer who proclaims and I quote, "A man of God makes a glorious entrance. The man of God of the universe!"

I have a strong reaction to this video.

It strikes me as being something that is completely opposite of how Jesus taught us and especially leaders should act. In my opinion this is dangerous and wrong!

It takes respect into what many could construe as idol worship.

Scripture clearly teaches concepts and patterns for removed from what is shown here.

He must increase and I must decrease. John 3:30

Humble yourself so that he can lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6

God responding to a contrite heart. Psalm 51:17

God opposing the proud! 1 Peter 5:5

Leaders should serve. Matthew 23:11-12

Can I encourage you to not be tricked to live as the world lives and how these so called leaders operate? Let the challenge of Jesus teaching, what the apostles and early church taught, challenge your being and give you a better way to live for Him.

Something to think about...

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Last night Suze asked me if I enjoyed it?

We had just finished watching a new movie on Netflix and I technically lied.

Said that I didn't enjoy it. That it didn't affect me.

The reality was it did.

It was another movie which has a theme, direction, plot that is while not new, yet communicates powerfully to your insides. And in ways that I don't always like to acknowledge.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is not a typical feel good story with the story telling via an octopus, really helps paint things the way they should be.

It is not light and tasty.

It is not action and drama.

It is to me similar to other movies that deal with deep heart issues, pain and the "human condition".

Think The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry meets Babe with sprinklings of Mr Hollands Opus and even a dash of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty sensibilities.

Movies that deal with real life issues, how we sometimes try to struggle through them alone, afraid, and invariably with a sense of being stuck, these movies move me.

The powerful moments of hope expressed in them do something inside of me.

...and my stupid eyes always seem to leak...

I kind of recommend you watch it.

Don't watch it to be entertained, but more to be awaken in some way.

You might want to avoid it to avoid feeling things and then maybe dealing with things? And that kind of matches the story behind the story, and another reason to watch it.

Maybe it will help you understand someone else, if not yourself?

My prayer for you if you are facing or have faced anything relatable to this great movie is simple.

I pray that you will find peace.

That you will find your people.

That you will find hope and a way forward.

Check it out...