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An Eye-Opening Email from a Sister in Ukraine

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The following tearful email comes from Kateryna, an interpreter for a Christian college in Ukraine. PLEASE read it to gain personal insight into the situation there. Next PRAY. Then SHARE. Apathy and wrong information are additional enemies:

I don’t know what day of the week it is, I don’t know what date, and if I ask someone, I immediately forget. The countdown of life is now tallied according to the days of war. Consciousness is hazy.

On the first of March, I was packing my sister’s bags to help her leave with her child when the phone rang. I heard the tear-filled voice of my pastor: “You and the other young girls of our church must urgently leave the country.” I started to become hysterical. Earlier, I had firmly decided not to do this to myself. But my mother began to beg and cry for me to leave the country. I do not remember what was around, I only remember that I was suffocating. Mom held her heart and cried. An hour later we were on the road. Tears flowed non-stop…

Now I am a refugee.

It seemed to me that the world had turned into a big Titanic: some had to stay on a sinking ship, and some had to get into boats and sail into the unknown. During my final days in my city there was less and less food – empty store shelves and closed pharmacies. During the day there were a lot of people in the streets – people began to move from big cities to small ones such as ours where they don’t shoot – or at least shoot less. 

In the daytime, they searched for food and prepared shelters for the night. Everywhere you could see people laden down with mattresses, folding beds, big bags. Men prepare defense- spikes, anti-tank structures, to be placed near the checkpoints at the entrance to the city. Women work to take food, clothes, thermoses, and other supplies to the soldiers who guard these checkpoints. 

At night, almost no one sleeps. This is due to the sirens which constantly call us down into the basements and bomb shelters. Many people get sick from the night cold in these cellars. After sunset, it is forbidden to turn on the light. The city lights are off as well. With each new day, people become like unconscious bodies.

I was worried that there might not be food, so I tried to eat less. The truth is, I didn’t want to eat. When we fled our city, we left as many supplies as possible for our parents, taking only a small share of food for ourselves. Two days on the road with almost no sleep. The first hours we did not see a single gas station that sold fuel. Almost all of them were closed – fuel, as well as medicines, have been transferred to the fighters and the victims.

After only six days of war, the sound of the air raid sirens has been hammered into our consciousness so strongly that all three of us women in the car have moments when we imagine we hear its wail once again. 

There was a buzz in my head. Our faces were covered with sores from tears. We sat silent and took turns crying. From time to time, tears turned into sobs.

Our bodies are now in another country, but our souls and hearts remain in Ukraine. The reality is this: a lot of people have evacuated. Even those who initially make a firm decision not to leave, after a day or two decide to leave the country. Men are not allowed out, women are drowning in tears, torn between the desire to save their children and stay near their husbands, whom they may not see tomorrow.

THE COUNTRY. More and more cities are being bombed every day. Just a couple of days ago, civilians rarely suffered, but now they bomb houses every day, they shoot at cars with families, they attack buses, schools, hospitals, even cars evacuating animals … in a word, everyone. 

Today the entire world heard about the shelled nuclear power plant… Many are being dug out of the rubble, trapped in their basements. 

There has been no shooting in my city yet, but a young mother with a two-year-old son was evacuated with me. They had spent every night in the basement until a bomb exploded nearby. Windows were broken in their apartment building. Airplanes, helicopters, rockets were flying above… Their town was 18 km from us.

MEDIA. Yesterday I suddenly realized that the truth about the war is being distorted not only in the Russian Federation. It is clear that each country serves it in its own “sauce”, including the USA and in Europe. 

The same can be said about Ukraine itself. The attack of fake news is so bloodthirsty that sometimes the information war seems stronger than the physical one. The struggle is not for the body or the earth, but for the mind and consciousness — for the heart.

OPINIONS. I’m tired of trying to convince someone. Every day I receive letters in which I hear reproaches and accusations, distrust and cynicism on the part of Russians. And every day I see aggression, hysteria and graveyard fear on the part of Ukrainians. Anger is so thick in the air that people cease to be people.

CHURCH. I am constantly in touch with those who remain back home. People are no longer in control of their emotions. Lack of sleep and other necessities, each announcement that someone else is leaving the country – this all tears people and their inner world apart. It threatens their fellowship with God and their faith. Satan takes advantage of such opportunities to divide people, even those in the same church. Some who remain behind consider those who left traitors.

GOD. I have experienced one particular aspect of the Lord’s character many times in my life. He often likes to exaggerate, bring to the edge of the abyss, allow us to fall into a fiery furnace or be thrown into a lion’s den, so that He might later save and shine in the dark, open his wings, enter into that fiery furnace, and extract from the lion’s den! 

And He does all this in order that He may become famous! 

I believe that God will be glorified!

“Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Christ could have healed Lazarus and that would have been a real miracle! But Christ did something more – He deliberately delayed and allowed a friend to die. 

“How is that love?” we say. “Why not rush to the aid of your beloved friend? Why did He let his body cool in the grave?” 

Because the resurrection would be much more significant than healing. Because going through tragedy is more important than getting rid of tragedy. 

Jesus was preparing to do a much more powerful miracle! The same is true of us. We just have to wait. We must wait for these long, difficult, deadly, mournful “two days” of Christ’s silence:

“When he heard that he was ill, he stayed for two days at the place where he was.” (John 11:6)

To see again how God’s life grows from the bottom of the abyss. How His glory triumphs. How people repent. How faith grows: “because for his sake [the resurrected Lazarus] many of the Jews came and believed in Jesus.” (John 12:11)

The story of the raising of Lazarus teaches me that:

1) Even those whom God loves suffer tragedy,

2) God hears our prayer, but sometimes He has a reason for delaying to answer it.

3) “Resurrection” will bring Him more glory than “healing”

4) It is necessary to have faith to the end, even if it seems that the time for faith is already too late.


For God, there is no tragedy that He can not turn into His triumph. Our tragedies our often the germ of His great miracle.

Keep praying for Ukraine. You yourself know that… our Savior has not abandoned us, although it seems to many that He is not around. 

“And I rejoice for you that I was not there, that you might believe…” (John 11:15)

The Next Fithian Has Arrived on Planet Earth!

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Rick Barry's novel The Next Fithian

Yesterday, a dream came true. My latest novel, The Next Fithian, ceased to be just an idea and became a genuine book, both in paper and digital formats. Readers who had pre-ordered the ebook reported it popping onto their devices overnight. Others are already receiving paper copies in the mail. My main emotion? “Thank You, Lord!”

I’ve already shared elsewhere how, years ago, Focus on the Family originally contacted me to develop some sort of big, fantastic storyline for young adult readers. At the time, sure, it was a blast writing speculative short stories for Breakaway magazine. Now, it’s even more gratifying to hold an 80,000-word novel born from those seedling installments. Because I literally prayed as I wrote each chapter, it’s no stretch to say the finished book is an answer to prayer. Does that mean my new novel was divinely inspired? I wouldn’t go that far. But I do believe the Lord blessed my desire to pen an inspiring adventure with a God-centered worldview and a wholesome hero that both youth and adults can enjoy. 

What’s the story like? For me, making a comparison is tough. One reviewer described it as a mix of C.S. Lewis’s space trilogy and Hunger Games. What I can say is the story employs my favorite literary technique of taking an ordinary person (a 17-year-old high school senior) and tossing him into an extraordinary situation (a strange, violent planet where he definitely doesn’t want to be). I like to imagine that, if Stan Lee of Marvel comics had wanted to create a Christian superhero, he might have dreamed up one like Rankin Fithian. 

A woman reading Rick Barry's The Next Fithian

It’s too early to know how well Fithian will be received on Planet Earth. Still, I’m already hearing of parents, brothers, and sisters competing for time to read it. (Some are using the expression “page-turner” and say it’s tough to put down. How gratifying for an author!) Two adult readers have informed me they don’t normally like science fiction but are loving this faith-filled tale. I hope you will, too!

Care to check it out? Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/3zvTyGB

Live long and prosper,

Rick Barry

A FREE offer for 20 People!

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Dear friends,

Today is the day before the official release day of my new book, Methuselah Project S.O.S. It’s no secret that book launches are exciting events for authors. After months (or years) of toil, the long-awaited project finally becomes a reality. It’s almost like having a new baby.

As part of the celebration, here’s an offer that is FREE but only for 20 of you. Today I’ve uploaded digital copies of the book (epub, mobi, PDF) to the Booksprout website. What’s Booksprout? It’s a site where readers like you can download digital books for free — with one catch. In exchange for the free read, Booksprout makes you promise to leave at least one (but hopefully more) review at online sites like Amazon, B&N, Kobo, etc. They even give you the links to the book’s page at those sites.

Note: A review isn’t telling what the book is about. (That spoils it for other readers.) A review simply means clicking how many stars you would rate a story (1-5), along with 1 to 4 sentences telling how the story struck you. What you liked, or how it made you feel. That’s it. You don’t promise to love the stories or give them great ratings. Just your honest impressions in exchange for a free read. In the case of this book, Booksprout is offering 5 weeks before your review is due.

Interested? If so, below is the link to my book on Booksprout. Remember, only 20 people can use this offer. After 20 are downloaded, Booksprout has no more. Grab one now.

Happy reading!

— Rick

https://booksprout.co/arc/49582/methuselah-project-s-o-s

P.S. You might wonder “What’s the big deal about online reviews?” For authors, the more reviews, the better. A book that has a couple hundred or even thousands of reviews looks much more intriguing to buyers than a book that earned only 3 reviews (which are probably from the author’s own family). The words you jot in your review just might be the ones that nudge someone else to buy the book.

The Desire Accomplished!

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Proverbs 13:19 says, “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.” May I add that the desire accomplished can be downright exciting, too?

I’m thrilled to say the Lord has helped me to accomplish a desire of my heart and to publish my fourth novel, Methuselah Project S.O.S. In it, Roger Greene (the hero of The Methuselah Project) receives a special distress call. Honor and duty prompt him to accept temporary duty with the CIA to help. Starting at that launch point, this Air Force pilot lands in more danger than he ever imagined.

Although I’d love to tell you more, I won’t spoil the story. What I will reveal is that each of my beta readers (volunteer readers who offer feedback) responded with incredible enthusiasm! Although all of them had enjoyed Roger Greene and his girlfriend Katherine in The Methuselah Project, I believe they agreed unanimously that this book is even better.

Diane K. in Ireland wrote, “I was struggling to put it down,” which is a reaction every author hopes to achieve. 

Despite spotting a number of mistakes, Lois H. wrote, “It lives up to expectations. You do tension so well. In every part of it, there is heart-thudding excitement.”

Jim G. wrote that he and his wife Ruth enjoyed it completely. “I was always drawn to want to know what was going to happen next.  I am looking forward to it coming out in book form. We will be buying some copies to give as gifts to friends and family.” (That’s one of the highest compliments an author can receive.)

Melissa T. provided especially detailed feedback and suggestions. She wrote, “And the humor. The Methuselah Project made me laugh, but I’m pretty sure this sequel made me laugh even more. I will have you know, the part where Roger realizes he’s [spoiler removed] had me DYING.” She went on to say, “I really loved how the stakes were higher in this book…. The stakes kept rising even within the book, which held my attention as ‘This is bad’ went to ‘This is really bad’ to ‘This is really, REALLY bad.’ Great story crafting.”

Other beta readers provided fantastic encouragement, too, but I’ll resist the temptation of sharing it all. Suffice it to say that I’m grateful to the Lord for enabling me to complete this project of the heart. After all the work that went into it, I hope many, many readers will sign aboard for this suspenseful trip through danger, duty, hope, and love.

If you’re interested, the release date is October 20. But Amazon and other online booksellers are now accepting pre-orders for both the print book and the ebook. (Only $2.99 for the ebook, and $14.99 for print). Whether you read it or not, thank you for sharing my excitement over this desire accomplished!

A Lesson for America from Star Trek

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If a 1968 episode of Star Trek contains a lesson for today’s USA, is that lesson from the future, or from the past? I’ll summarize; you can decide!

In the episode “Day of the Dove,” Klingons capture Captain Kirk and his landing party. Irate, the Klingon captain, Kang, accuses Kirk of firing at his ship—which Kirk never did. Now Kang wants Kirk’s ship. Unexpectedly, Ensign Chekhov shouts at the Klingons, accusing them of murdering his brother. The Klingons place an “agonizer” device on Chekhov’s face. To stop the torture, Kirk agrees to surrender and to beam the Klingons up with the humans. However, when he calls the ship to transport up both groups, he includes a secret signal. First Officer Spock understands: he beams up the humans, followed by the Klingons. Security captures the Klingons. Meanwhile, a glowing creature from the planet enters the U.S.S Enterprise undetected. 

Still with me?

The plot thickens…

Aboard ship but invisible, the mystery creature seals most of the Enterprise crew below decks. It also locks the ship’s engine into full speed toward the edge of the galaxy. Then, when the entity changes all modern weapons into antique swords, both humans and Klingons seize the blades. Panicked and furious, humans and Klingons begin battling each other. 

Luckily, good ol’ Mr. Spock is immune to the hatred raging through the two crews. He detects the presence of the alien and realizes it has artificially created the whole battle. The unseen enemy somehow feeds off the rage of both races. When Lt. Sulu informs Kirk that Chekhov never even had a brother, Kirk realizes the creature can even plant false memories in their brains to provoke more intense violence. The mysterious entity has turned them all into its pawns.

Unable to get his crewmen to stop fighting as long as the Klingons press the attack, Kirk tries to convince Kang of their true predicament. But Kang doesn’t believe it. Instead, he attacks. Eventually, though, with the now-glowing entity hovering above the two captains and feeding off their violence, Kirk convinces Kang that their real threat isn’t each other—it’s the alien who’s manipulating their minds to combat. 

When each side stops fighting and joins in laughing at the creature, the entity finally exits the ship. 

Pulling back the curtain

In recent months, tempers in the U.S. have been riding high. Covid-19 had already created nationwide frustration due home quarantine, job losses, business failures, mandatory masks, widespread confusion, fears, and a list of infringements. The powder keg was already set to explode when a police officer’s unwarranted actions resulted in an unnecessary death. Boom. 

Suddenly, a nation that had been in peace erupted. Some people (not all) reacted violently. The delighted media began feeding us a constant stream of insults, accusations, vandalism, looting, assaults, robbery, arson, destruction of property… The stories act like gasoline being poured on the flames of indignation. Before long, even mild-mannered citizens felt like hurting somebody.

Meanwhile, like on Star Trek, the real enemy has been invisibly hovering among us, feeding off this explosion of human violence and probably laughing his head off. In the Gospel of John (chapter 8, verse 44), Jesus called Satan a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies. Is it any wonder that Satan, our invisible foe, manipulates people and situations to spread resentment, false information, division, lawlessness, and anarchy? No doubt, the Devil would love to see Americans at each other’s throats. It’s the old military strategy, “Divide and conquer.”

What? Isn’t Satan a myth? Not at all. The same Bible that teaches us God exists teaches Satan exists, too. But he’s clever. He stays out of sight and encourages us to believe he’s not real. You can’t fight an enemy you don’t think exists. But God’s Word emphasizes he’s dangerous: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). When you ignore him, he wins.

Resisting

The first step to stopping the tide of violence is to realize (as Kirk did) that our neighbors are not our true enemy. When one person—or even hundreds of people—of a particular skin color, or with a particular job, or from a particular nationality, commits a lawless act, that doesn’t mean every person of that color, job, or nationality is evil. The moment you single out any group of citizens and say, “All _______ are bad,” you’re wrong. That kind of thinking is polluted, devilish. 

Friend, there are definitely people who commit outrageous actions. (Some people make inflammatory comments or commit violence specifically to spark violent reactions. For them, it’s like a sport.) However, if our society is going to make progress, we mustn’t fall into the trap of hating whole segments of it based on the actions of a misguided few. We can borrow a page from Mr. Spock’s playbook: We can observe. We can realize we’re being played. And we can reject the temptation to hate our neighbors. 

Does that mean we condone criminal behavior? No. We can’t, because “every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (–Jesus, Matthew 12:25). But neither should we let ourselves be suckered into race-baiting or engineered animosity. The transgressions of the few can be lawfully addressed without us hating everybody who looks like them or talks like them. (Yes, I realize I’m omitting all kinds of politics. That’s intentional.)

None of us can force others how to think or behave. But if you’re a fan of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and a harmonious society, I invite you to make a personal decision: refuse to hate. Don’t let yourself be provoked by those trying to stir up your hatred. True, we need to defend ourselves from violence and outlaws. But even then, we need not hate a whole people group based on the rhetoric or criminal behavior of individuals.

If everyone lived that way, maybe America really could live long and prosper.

My Grandfather’s Letter

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I never knew my father’s father, Theodore L. Barry. He died 5 years before I was born. But a few years back, a distant relative sent me a letter my grandfather penned in 1948. In it, Grandpa Theodore summarized much of his life for a niece. In this letter, I finally “met” my grandfather. I also learned that he nearly committed an act that would’ve prevented me from being born. 

As a young man in southern Indiana, Theodore met and fell in love with a young lady. He writes, “I was in love with Viola [—-], one of the sweetest girls in 100 miles of New Salisbury. I was sure in love with her. Finally we were married. We had two boys, Russell Barry and Ralph D. Barry and Jessie B. and Marie B. I was in love with my children and my wife. She was a dream.”

However, the dream shattered. While Theodore was working on a streetcar in Louisville, his wife was evidently seeing another man. “Then before I knew anything of what was going on, my wife took my 4 children to her folks and she went back in town.” The next time he saw her, she was with her new guy, a large man with a “sandy” complexion. She wouldn’t let Theodore see his own children. 

Theodore felt betrayed, stabbed in the back and kicked to the wayside. When at last his anger and bitterness overflowed, he decided to take revenge: “I stepped on the streetcar and my intention was to kill both.”

However, before he reached his destination, Theodore changed his mind. Regardless of how justified his anger at the other man and his heartbreak over his wife’s betrayal, he couldn’t do it. Perhaps his love for Viola stayed his hand. He simply couldn’t commit such an act. 

“I was heartbroken. I mourned for my children, but I kept my job and stayed in Louisville for quite a while.”

Yet, Louisville held too many painful reminders of the life he’d lost. So, Theodore received a letter of recommendation from Louisville Railway (the streetcar line) and relocated to Detroit, where he began a new life once again working on a streetcar. In time, Theodore met a woman name Violet Lechner, who worked in a store at the turnaround for the streetcar. Friendship grew into love, and Theodore and Violet married. He and his second wife had 6 children, and my father was the youngest of them. (I’m the youngest son of a youngest son of a youngest son.) Theodore eventually launched into successful business ventures, and he and Violet enjoyed many happy years together in Michigan.

Theodore L. Barry in his real estate office in Detroit.

But what if Theodore had acted on his furious impulse to end two lives? He wrote, “Had I shot both of them, I would not have been a free man today, so thank God.” Thank God, indeed. Venting his anger in gunshots would’ve destroyed others, plus the rest of his own life. But by letting go of his anger, by refusing to hate and moving on, he eventually regained peace and enjoyed many happy years as a successful businessman and family man. 

Eventually word reached grandpa that his first wife in southern Indiana had died, so he was at last able to reconnect with his first 4 children. He visited them in Indiana, and they visited him in Michigan. 

Of course, I’m personally glad my grandfather managed to release his anger and start over. If he’d gone to prison, my dad never would’ve been born. Me neither. 

Theodore Barry visiting southern Indiana on his 1909 Indian Motorcycle. (Note the Detroit banner.)

Anger, hatred, and rage are dangerous. If we allow them to sweep us up and we lash out with words or weapons, sure, we can hurt our targets—but we can also hurt ourselves and prevent many future blessings from happening. It’s a truth worth reflection.

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” Proverbs 15:18

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Colossians 3:8

Theodore and Violet Barry with Grace, the first of their 6 children.

The Value of Friends

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If you could throw your suitcase into the car and take a whirlwind, 5-day vacation, where would you go? 

I recently had that opportunity. First, I considered driving south to the Gulf of Mexico, where I could get relax in a Bed & Breakfast and spend time writing beside the ocean. Instead, I headed north to Indianapolis, where I stayed in one of the apartments maintained by the Christian mission where I worked for years. There, I performed some volunteer labor for the mission and visited local friends, including a Ukrainian couple who, in God’s timing, were visiting the U.S. on behalf of the ministry. 

Next, I headed to Michigan, where I stayed in Dad’s house (and picked up more of my clothing to bring back to Alabama) and visited with him. On my way back south, I swung through Indiana once more, where I enjoyed breakfast with another longtime friend. In Tennessee I paused and enjoyed supper and fellowship with another Ukrainian family I hadn’t seen in years. 

Along the way, I saw plenty of scenery and listened to tons of music and interesting podcasts. But the best part of this trip? Simply spending time with friends and family. In our lives, people come and go. Many of those we call “friends” are actually only acquaintances. But genuine, longtime friends sweeten our lives. We help each other when needed, and we simply take delight in each other, staying in touch despite distance. True friends make this journey through life better, richer. 

Is there a longtime friend or relative you haven’t seen lately? If you can’t go in person, maybe it’s time to drop a card into the mail or to make a phone call. You need not say much. Even a simple, “I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you” is appreciated and worth the time to express it!

“I’m Never Coming Back!”

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Picture Joe, a man who realizes he has some sort of problem. Despite drugstore medicines, he isn’t able to cure himself. So, he drops by the local hospital to see if they can help. But after touring the facility, Joe is appalled.

“I don’t want to stay here. Every single patient has a problem. Viruses, appendicitis, broken bones, cancer, diseases, failing kidneys… I don’t want to be like these people. I’m never coming back!”

Instead, Joe signs up for a local gym membership. Maybe exercise will help? However, on his first visit, Joe studies other gym members. He races to the check-in desk.

“I want my money back. I heard this was a good gym. Now I see it’s not.”

“What do you mean?” asks the trainer on duty.

“Just look! All of your members have serious shortcomings. That woman doing leg extensions has flabby arms. The guy on the bench press has a beer belly. And check out those people on the treadmills. Every one is huffing and puffing. From what I’d heard, I thought this gym was full of perfect specimens. I don’t want to be like these people. I’m never coming back!”

As a last resort, Joe visits the local church. Maybe a little religion will help. At first, he’s pleased with the atmosphere. Yet, as time passes, he notices… One man got defensive after a minor criticism. Pride, eh? A woman sitting behind him let slip an unkind remark about another woman. A gossip – in church? And during the service, a couple people had the gall to fall asleep. Wouldn’t they stay awake if they sincerely valued the sermon? 

“I expected these church people to be perfect. But they’re not. I’m never coming back!” 

Dear friend, no reasonable person would imitate the fictional Joe’s reactions to a hospital or a gym. But some people do copy his reaction to church. The truth is, no matter which people you scrutinize, you’ll find flaws. Yep, even in church. But, thank God, He doesn’t require people to become perfect before they worship in His house. In fact, the Bible reveals that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God is perfect. People definitely aren’t. (By the way, not everyone who attends church is actually a born-again child of God. We know they’re among us, and we pray for God to open their eyes to their spiritual need.) 

But the cool truth is that Jesus Christ died to take the punishment for the sins of all people. Placing your faith in Christ won’t suddenly make you faultless. But trusting Christ brings God’s forgiveness of sins and a new relationship with Him. He adopts us into His family. Then, as we worship God and learn more of Him, bit by bit He irons the wrinkles from our lives and makes us more like Himself. Some learn faster than others, but no Christian is 100% flawless. 

So, if you step into church and find a bunch of imperfect people—stick around! There’s room for one more. After all, we gather to worship HIM, not other people.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Delicious Poisons

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Years ago, before cell phones (yes, ancient history), I joined a church group on a two-week camping & mountain-climbing trip in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado. After days of hiking, one teen guy discovered some mushrooms. He collected them, fried them, and he and his girlfriend ate them.

When our outdoorsman guide found out, he was appalled. Many mushrooms in Colorado aren’t edible, he reminded. 

“But they tasted good,” objected the boy.

The guide looked him in the eye. “Some of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world taste delicious.” Then, to the rest of us he said, “Please, don’t anybody eat anything you find without checking with me.”

For the rest of that afternoon, we waited to see if that teen guy and girl got sick. (Even if they had, there was no way to summon help so deep in the mountains.) Fortunately, nothing happened. On this occasion, ignorance didn’t prove fatal.

But that guide’s words stick with me. Even things that are tasty can poison us. Recognizing the danger in advance should help us avoid swallowing questionable foods. But do we exercise the same caution concerning things that we allow into our eyes and ears?

Whenever anyone starts gossiping or criticizing someone else, one pastor I know interrupts to ask, “Is this a prayer request?” He will not stomach gossip and trash talk. With a simple question, he shuts it down.

What about the books and magazines we read, the TV shows and movies we watch, or the Internet sites we click to visit? Do we refuse to allow unwholesome sights and sounds into our brain? There’s a battle raging for your mind. Even a spell-binding story can dress up evil as good, can deliver carefully crafted immorality in a way that makes it look enticing, tantalizing…

The Bible agrees there is pleasure in sin—but only “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). Satan knows how to make sin look slick and enjoyable. But he doesn’t show you the flip side—the damaged relationships, the broken homes, the emotional baggage, venereal diseases… The list goes on.

“I know it’s wrong, but it feels so right,” some object.

Sure, it does. Just like the tastiest mushrooms can be deadly.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Psalm 101:3

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” Psalm 119:9-10

The Conversations that Count Most

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Warning: When you and a friend chat in a restaurant, a writer might be listening. It’s not that writers are nosey. The problem is that writers of fiction must constantly come up with fresh tidbits to sprinkle into their pages. When we find ourselves in public places, our antennae are up. Interesting snippets might get jotted down for later consideration.

But have you ever noticed that most conversations are less than gripping? While writing in coffee shops, I’ve often paused to listen to chatty neighbors. People discuss their pets, their pet peeves, their jobs, Aunt Mildred’s gall bladder, their classes… Few conversations touch truly vital topics. Yet, we as human beings are social creatures. We long to share thoughts with others. Short of capital punishment, one of the worst penalties is solitary confinement—isolation from fellow humans.

No wonder we long to connect. God Himself placed that quality inside humans. The Bible tells reveals that God created humans in His own image. He used to talk with Adam and Eve in the garden. As Alex and Stephen Kendrick point out in their Defined Bible study, “All human beings from Adam and Eve onward are created to know and relate to God.”* That was our meaning for existence, to know and enjoy a relationship with God. But the first couple rebelled against God’s one taboo and became sinners. They broke that close fellowship with the Creator. 

We could not restore the fellowship on our own. The barrier of sin in each life is too tall and thick for us to remove. So, God manifested Jesus Christ in the womb of a virgin, to live a sinless life and to voluntarily die, taking upon Himself the penalty for the sins of all who will accept His ultimate sacrifice. Faith in Christ provides forgiveness of sin and restoration to fellowship with Him. Accepting Christ actually transfers us into the family of God! 

As the apostle Paul described it in Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Wow. Adopted by GOD into His family.

What a privilege believers have, but too often take for granted—the ability to fellowship with our Creator, our Heavenly Father, in prayer. He, too, doesn’t require us to bring earth-shaking topics to the table. But He enjoys hearing from us, His children, with whatever is on our hearts.

As Jesus said, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6

Do you know God? Have you talked with Him today? If the answer to either question is No, He’d love to hear from you!

*Defined. Nashville: Lifeway Press, 2019, p. 17.