i12go4God

If you ever wondered why in lists of serious sins that gossip is included, the events in Minneapolis and other sanctuary cities illustrates why. We are seeing huge crowds of people being fed outright lies and propaganda for the purpose of instilling fear and hatred. Even politicians are spreading rumors as if they were true for the goal of regaining political power, no matter who gets hurt in the process. Is your community being terrorized? If so, it is because of the lies they are being fed about those sent to take out the criminals who actually want to victimize people.
Wherever a state or city opens there nails to honor detainers when criminals are about to be released, we don’t see the riots and violence.
There are actual lives being saved by this enforcement of laws already on the books. The murder rate took its biggest drop in 125 years! Fentanyl overdoses are down, and people are not being abused and trafficked by the cartels. Does any of that matter to you? Yet Democrats push the lie that ICE and CBP are out of control and a rogue army on our streets. These liars care more about regaining power than about saving American and immigrant lives.
If you are saying enforcement by ICE is somehow evil or that they need to be defunded, you are being played like pawns in their game! Yes, what is being done is very good and saves lives.
Demand that your government opens the jails and honors detainers. Keep the border secure. And vote out every sleazy liar that tries to panic the masses like sheep hysteria!
This is the truth in love. Stop believing the gossip. Let agents do their job protecting your community.

The Reliability of New Testament Manuscripts: A Reexamination of the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus

When it comes to determining the reliability of New Testament manuscripts, many scholars and theologians rely heavily on the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. These two manuscripts are often considered the most authoritative and reliable due to their age, with the Sinaiticus dating back to the 4th century and the Vaticanus to the 4th or 5th century. However, a closer examination of the manuscript evidence reveals that these two codices may not be as reliable as previously thought.

One often overlooked aspect of New Testament manuscript history is the Latin Vulgate, translated by Jerome in the 4th century. The Vulgate was translated from Greek manuscripts that were contemporary with, or even older than, the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. While the Vulgate should not be used to determine specific word choices, its significance lies in the fact that it contains the full ending of the Gospel of Mark and the account of the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel of John. These passages are significant because they are not found in the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, leading some to question the reliability of these two manuscripts.

The presence of these passages in the Vulgate, combined with the testimony of the apostolic fathers and over 1400 manuscripts that contain these passages, raises serious doubts about the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. If these two manuscripts are truly the most reliable and oldest, why do they not contain these passages? The fact that the Vulgate, which was translated from earlier Greek manuscripts, contains these passages suggests that the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus may have been altered or edited at some point in their history.

The implications of this are significant. If the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus are not as reliable as previously thought, then translations that rely heavily on these manuscripts, such as the NIV and ESV, may not be entirely trustworthy. In fact, the use of these manuscripts as the primary basis for translation may have led to the omission of important passages and the alteration of the original text.

A More Nuanced Understanding of Manuscript History

The manuscript history of the New Testament is complex and multifaceted. While the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus are important manuscripts, they should not be relied upon as the sole basis for determining the reliability of the New Testament text. The Latin Vulgate, apostolic fathers, and the vast array of manuscripts that contain the disputed passages all contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the manuscript history.

In conclusion, the reliability of the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus has been overstated, and translations that rely heavily on these manuscripts may not be entirely trustworthy. A more careful examination of the manuscript evidence, including the Latin Vulgate and the testimony of the apostolic fathers, reveals a more complex and nuanced picture of the New Testament text. As we continue to study and translate the Bible, it is essential that we approach the manuscript evidence with a critical and nuanced perspective, recognizing the limitations and potential biases of individual manuscripts.

The Bottom Line

The Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, while important manuscripts, are not the only authority on the New Testament text. The Latin Vulgate, apostolic fathers, and the vast array of manuscripts that contain the disputed passages all contribute to a more complete understanding of the manuscript history. Translations that rely heavily on the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, such as the NIV and ESV, may not be entirely trustworthy and should be used with caution. As we continue to study and translate the Bible, it is essential that we approach the manuscript evidence with a critical and nuanced perspective.

When we lift our voices to God, the posture of our heart matters more than the pitch of our voice. Even if you honestly think your singing is off-key, if your heart is tuned to worship—seeking God, praising Him sincerely—the Spirit takes that offering and makes it beautiful before the Lord. The Bible calls us to sing and to make a joyful noise (Psalm 95:1; Psalm 100:1), and God delights in praise offered in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). In that sense, the Spirit “auto-tunes” our sincere worship so it reaches God as sweet and acceptable praise (Hebrews 13:15).

By contrast, a technically lovely voice can be hollow before God if the singer’s motive is pride or show. Scripture warns against outward form without inward devotion (Matthew 15:8–9; 1 Samuel 16:7). Vain or performance-driven praise becomes offensive when the heart is absent; God values the broken, contrite spirit over flawless performance (Psalm 51:17).

We read of singing new songs to the Lord—fresh, heartfelt praise that springs from encounter (Psalm 33:3; Psalm 40:3)—and we are also told to make a joyful noise, regardless of musical skill (Psalm 98:4; Psalm 100:1). So whether someone sings a new song or simply makes a joyful noise, the decisive thing is the heart. In the end, authentic worship—no matter how imperfectly sung—is what the Spirit beautifies and presents to God.

Studies across psychology, education, and neuroscience have consistently shown that exercising imagination provides significant cognitive, emotional, and social benefits for both children and adults. 

In Children

Imaginative play, often considered the “work of the child,” is crucial for early development, with research highlighting a strong correlation between pretend play and future success. 

• Cognitive Development: Imaginative play activates key brain areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which are vital for higher-order thinking, memory, and spatial navigation. Studies suggest strong links to enhanced executive function (self-regulation, planning, and goal achievement), language development, and early literacy and math skills.
• Emotional & Social Skills: Pretend scenarios allow children to explore and practice emotional regulation, empathy, and social skills like cooperation, negotiation, and perspective-taking. This helps them safely navigate real-life experiences and build emotional resilience.
• Creativity: Play directly facilitates creative thinking and problem-solving processes by allowing children to experiment with new ideas and scenarios. 

In Adults

Far from being only a childhood activity, imagination is a powerful tool for adult development, promoting lifelong learning and well-being. 

• Cognitive Benefits: Engaging in imaginative activities can lead to increased cognitive flexibility, enhanced problem-solving skills, and greater openness to new experiences. Research shows that adults who regularly engage in playful thinking maintain sharper cognitive function and may exhibit slower cognitive decline as they age.
• Mental & Emotional Well-being: Play acts as a therapeutic outlet for stress, triggering the release of endorphins and reducing stress hormones like cortisol. Studies have found that playful adults report lower stress levels, higher life satisfaction, and improved coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression.
• Enhanced Performance & Communication: Mental rehearsal and visualization (forms of exercised imagination) have been shown to improve skill performance, almost as effectively as physical practice in some cases (e.g., in a free-throw shooting study). Imaginative role-playing can also enhance communication skills, empathy, and effective parenting strategies. 

In essence, imagination is a fundamental human capacity that, when exercised throughout life, is linked to improved adaptability, creativity, and overall mental health in all age groups. 

ONE SOLUTION – Radio Shows and Audiobooks

Radio shows and audiobooks stimulate imagination by requiring the listener to be an active participant in creating the story’s world within their mind, a process often called the “theater of the mind”. This contrasts with visual media like TV or movies, which provide all the imagery for you. 

Key Mechanisms of Stimulation

• Active Mental Visualization: Without visual cues, the brain must generate its own mental representations of characters, settings, and actions based solely on auditory input. Studies suggest that listening can free up the brain’s visual processing centers, allowing for more vivid and personal mental imagery than even traditional reading in some cases.
• Narrator’s Performance: A skilled narrator uses intonation, pace, pitch, and character voices to convey emotion and tone, which guides the listener’s imagination and deepens the emotional connection to the story. The human voice is psychologically stimulating and effective at eliciting emotion and empathy.
• Sound Effects and Music: Radio dramas often use sound effects and musical scores to enhance the atmosphere, set the mood, and signal scene changes. These elements provide rich sensory input that the listener’s brain interprets and integrates into their imagined world, further stimulating creativity.
• Cognitive Engagement: Listening is an active process that requires concentration and focus to follow the narrative, particularly when multitasking. This continuous cognitive effort, engaging brain regions involved in language comprehension and memory, helps build stronger neural pathways and reinforces memory traces.
• Engagement of the Default Mode Network (DMN): The DMN is a brain network associated with mind-wandering and creativity. Listening to narratives engages the DMN, suggesting listeners are deeply immersed in the story and actively constructing scenarios in their minds. 

By leveraging sound to spark the brain’s natural ability to create mental pictures, radio shows and audiobooks provide a unique and powerful workout for the imagination.

There once were a group of sea captains who decided to embark upon a journey to the shores of eternity across the ocean of life. To aid them on their journey, they were each given a navigator to chart their voyage.

The first navigator was guided by experience and knew the courses to take by heart. They had been passed down to him and he was filled with confidence that he could get the ship across the ocean directly and with the least number of hazards. As they set out on their voyage and disappeared over the horizon, it occurred to him and the captain that every direction looked the same. They had no landmarks or fixed points from which to navigate. They headed in the general direction and stayed on the same course the entire trip. But the waves, the winds, and the currents pushed them off course, and since they had no fixed reference points, they ended up hundreds of miles away from their destination and in the wrong harbor. 

The second navigator had the entire library of charts and knew which navigation points to use. But he lacked confidence in his skills and frequently changed courses out of self doubt and fear of getting it wrong. He ended up going in frequent circles and took five times as long as it should have taken him. They eventually got to the correct harbor terrible late, and the captain considered throwing him overboard. They made it, but it was way more stressful than it needed to be.

The third navigator had basic competence and convinced the captain that he was doing a great job. But what the captain didn’t know was that the navigator was steering whichever course would get him the captain’s approval. Pleasing the captain was his goal, and as a result they never made it to the harbor, but at least they felt good about it! 

The fourth navigator knew his craft, had all the charts and tools for navigation and me-t his focus on the mission. When he would get an update on his position, he would change course. He wasn’t concerned with the captain’s approval, since that would be useless if they didn’t complete the journey. When the captain didn’t like where they were, he stayed on course. He knew the charts and the instruments were correct and the fixed reference points were accurate. He sailed with confidence and they arrived in time and without incident at their harbor.

On your spiritual journey, which navigator are you? Are you sure?

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Introduction:  When speaking about spiritual matters, it is not uncommon to hear people say things like “God told me” or “The Holy Spirit told me” when referring to so—called private revelation from God. Is that the case? Is God giving additional revelations, or is he leading people directly and independently of His written Word?  Let’s see what the Bible says.

A. God Has Spoken

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Notice it is past tense. God is not continuing to speak (is speaking) nor will he add to what he has spoken (will speak).

John 14:26 (NKJV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you [the apostles] all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

If it came after the time of the Apostles, it is not part of the truth that was once for all delivered to the saints! In context, this is a promise to the apostles, not every single believer.

Jude 1:3 (NKJV)

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

“If it’s new, it is t true. If it’s true, it isn’t new!”

Point: God’s communication to us from Jesus via the Apostles is complete!

B. The Revelation Communicated To Us In Scripture Is Complete!

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NKJV)

and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:2-3 (NKJV)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

 Not only has he given us everything, it is again in the past tense. It’s already been given!

Point: We do not need any further revelations from so-called modern day prophets. God is not telling you something he did t tell everyone else.

C. Conclusion (what’s the point?)

The communication of the will of God is complete, having been given in its entirety to the Apostles and passed down to us in the New Testament. We have no need of new scriptures, personal revelations, or direct messages from the Holy Spirit. To seek such is to attempt to add to God’s all sufficient Word.

• Do you need a word from God? Go to the Word OF God! 
• Want to get guidance by message from the Holy Spirit? Go to the complete message given through the Holy Spirit! 
• Want to hear that message audibly? Read it out loud! 

God is not telling you something he hasn’t revealed to everyone else!

If someone says, “God told me” or “The Spirit led me” and they aren’t pointing at a Bible verse, they are either lying or in error. Don’t believe it!

Many times we hear people say that the Lord revealed something to them directly, or that the only thing you need is your Bible and the Holy Spirit will teach you directly. Often there are those online who claims to be Apostles or prophets today that give us a word from God. But is that true?

John 16:12-15 (ESV)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.“

This promise from Jesus was directly to the Apostles, and assures us that they got all the truth Jesus intended to pass down to us. If it doesn’t date back to what they left us, the New Testament, then it is not truth Jesus wants us to have. This was further reinforced in 

Jude 1:3 (ESV):

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

The truth was delivered once for all. There is no further additional revelation. Notice the way the Hebrew writer put it at the beginning of his letter:

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Notice he “has spoken”, not “is speaking”. The revelation is complete in Jesus. That is why the Word is not still being confirmed by signs and wonders.

Hebrews 2:4 (ESV)

while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Again, notice the past tense without allowance for continuing action.

So what does this mean?

1.  God spoke through jesus, and by extension his apostles. He is not continuing to speak outside of his Word today. We have the apostle’s doctrine in the New Testament. (Acts 2:47; Luke 10:16)
2. Elders and teachers are needed in the church today, precisely because the promise of Spirit guidance into all truth was for the Apostles, not every single believer. The Spirit teaches through the Word. (2 Tim 3:15-17)
3. If a teaching is extra biblical, it is not for us today. If it’s new, it is t true. If it’s true, it isn’t new. We have all we need in the New Testament. Period. If you want a word from God, then open the Word of God!
4. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, we must search the Scriptures to see if something is true rather than just praying and asking the Lord to tell us if a teaching (or teacher) is true or not.
5. There are no prophets or apostles today. Their foundational ministries are completed.
6. The Word is already confirmed, so we have no further need for signs and wonders to do so. (Hebrews 2:4)

The Bible. 

It isn’t just old, it’s eternal.

It doesn’t just tell us what happened, but what always happens.

It is a lens through which we look to make sense of eternity and the what’s going on in the world.

Do you need a word from God?

Then open up the Word of God!

Want to hear from God? Read it!

Want to audibly hear from God? Read it out loud!

In the past God spoke through prophets, but not He has spoken (past tense) in His Son. We have all we need for life and godliness and revelation is complete. 

The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God, and only the Word of God. The Spirit speaks through the Word and not directly to us. 

This Word was affirmed by signs and wonders, and since God has completed that revelation in His confirmed Word, we no longer need those miracles, as revelation is completed.

The Bible is Sufficient for all we need and we need look no further for miracles or personal direct revelation. The Apostles, and only the Apostles, were promised to be led into all truth. They left that for us as the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

If it’s true, it isn’t new. And if it’s new, it isn’t true!

Turning the Tables

Matthew 21:12-13 (NKJV)

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

When Jesus entered the temple, which was His Father’s house, He was righteously indignant about what He saw happening there. They had opened up a house of prayer to make it a commercial venture. In many ways, in these days of compromise, we too often look for a seat at tables we should be overturning. Here are three of those tables.

The Table of Commercial Christianity

2 Peter 2:3 (KJV)

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

There are entire industries built on marketing to the Christian market. Everything from home decorations to the latest spiritual fad is available amongst a host of books. These books are plentifully interspersed with both good and heretical content. The music section alone represents a CCM industry that is rife with the unregenerate who are exposed for scandals on a weekly basis. This is music designed to suspend rational thought and enter into a spiritual experience that primes their minds for heresy and worship that is based on how if makes one feel rather than what it contains.

The Table of Worldly Approval

John 17:14-17 (KJV)

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus never promised us popularity. In fact, He promised us the opposite. He said the world would hate us! So, while we shouldn’t set out to offend people, we should not be adjusting our message so that if doesn’t offend sinners! Jesus said they hate the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20). If we seek friendship with the world, we become enemies of God (James 4:4). Our commission is to preach the pure, unadulterated Gospel and let the Word of God do what it was designed to do. It will not return void! 

The Table of Denominational Doctrine

2 John 1:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

All too often, we (including me) fall into the desire to be like those around us. This was one motivation for the Israelites wanting a king to rule over them, just like the nations around them (1 Samuel 8:20). We all know good and sincere people who are attempting to follow Christ, but have differences in doctrine which are major. I’m not talking about how many cups to use for communion. I’m talking about belief in salvation before baptism or being baptized for reasons other than salvation being valid. In our desire to have these fine people as friends, are we leading them to hell by not giving them the truth about such things as baptism and miraculous gifts of the Spirit for today? We even adapt their music to acapella in an attempt to be more contemporary, not realizing that many of these songs sound odd because they were designed for instrumental accompaniment. Brothers and sisters, there are certain things we cannot bend on and certain lines beyond which we cannot go. If we become just like everyone else and meld into the denominational milieu, we will continue to witness souls wander into error since “all churches are basically the same”. In fact, we should be evangelizing them.

Conclusion

It is not my intent to be divisive, but rather to stand for the truths which we need to hold dear. Not because that’s what churches of Christ have always taught, but because that is what the Bible continues to teach! We need to serve in the Lord’s house and sit at His table, while invited everyone in the highways and byways to feast upon the Word of God and be biblically saved. We dare not strive to please anyone but our Savior!

Imaginative contemplation is a powerful method for engaging with narrative texts in the Bible, allowing individuals to immerse themselves in the stories of scripture and gain fresh insights. Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, this practice invites believers to use their imagination to envision biblical events, making them more relatable and personally meaningful. By stepping into the narrative, we can foster a deeper understanding of the underlying messages and themes.

The Essence of Imaginative Contemplation

At its core, imaginative contemplation involves using one’s senses and emotions to visualize scenes from the Bible. This method encourages readers to interact with the text actively rather than passively. The practice typically involves the following steps:

1. Preparation: Begin by finding a quiet space and reflecting on a specific biblical passage that resonates with you.

2. Visualization: Close your eyes and picture the scene in detail. Who are the characters? What are their emotions? What surroundings envelop them?

3. Engagement: Consider your reactions to what is happening. What stands out to you? How might this impact your understanding of the passage?

4. Reflection: Take time to reflect on the encounter and write down any insights or feelings that emerged.

Examples of Imaginative Contemplation

1. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): Imagine yourself walking along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Visualize the dusty terrain and the sounds of travelers. As you come upon the beaten man, feel his pain and vulnerability. Consider the reactions of the priest and Levite, followed by the Samaritan’s compassion. By placing yourself in this moment, you can explore themes of mercy, prejudice, and the call to love one’s neighbor.

2. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): Picture the home of the father, the bustling atmosphere, and then the emptiness when the younger son leaves. As the son experiences life away, reflect on his feelings of regret and longing. When he returns, visualize the father’s exuberant embrace. This scene provides profound insights into forgiveness, grace, and the dynamics of familial love.

3. Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41): Envision yourself in a small boat with Jesus and the disciples as the storm begins to rage. Hear the howling winds and see the crashing waves. Feel the fear of the disciples and the contrasting calm of Jesus. This narrative not only illustrates Jesus’s authority over nature but also serves as a reminder of faith in the midst of life’s storms.

Conclusion

Imaginative contemplation offers a transformative approach to engaging with the Bible’s narrative texts. By actively participating in the stories, we deepen our understanding and appreciation of biblical themes, fostering a more profound relationship with God. Whether exploring narratives of compassion, forgiveness, or divine authority, each imaginative experience invites us to apply these lessons to our own lives.

References

1. Ignatius of Loyola. *Spiritual Exercises*.

2. Harris, Charles. *The Art of Imaginative Prayer: A Guide to Applying Ignatian Spirituality*. Ignatius Press, 2019.

3. Flaherty, Patricia. *Praying with Imagination: Ignatian Spirituality for Today*. Paulist Press, 2018.

4. O’Leary, John. *Finding God in All Things: Ignatian Spirituality in Daily Life*. Loyola Press, 2021. 

Through these practices and reflections, we cultivate a deeper relationship with scripture, enriching our spiritual journey. Engage with a passage today, and experience the transformative power of imaginative contemplation.