“ …Hollis wasn’t her blood relative, but they were still family. It was the collectiveness of the black experience,” writes Crump. “Something he believed had been transmitted across generations, beginning in ancient Africa where the notion of the individual didn’t exist. There was no I, only we, and together, we’d rise or fall.”

As with many families, some of us roll our eyes at the idea that we move supportively and cohesively. Truly, some of our personal opportunities have afforded us the luxury of feeling removed from the family, yet the challenges that dog our steps find themselves on our doorsteps, even when we thought we moved away.

The case of Nolan Wells, the Mississippi youth who ended up dead after a July 4th boat outing shocks our senses because of the confederated wall of silence surrounding his death among his friends. The case of Karmelo Anthony disrupts our suburban peace because we’ve come to trust when boys will be boys, no one ends up having to fight for their life. Gary, Indiana residents — the majority of whom are black — sustained a three week utility stoppage after a summer storm. And, the administration is stepping up the removal of our Haitian brothers and sisters with weekly deportation flights. Our mission elevates the people by shining a light on these issues, challenging our sense of “truth” and finding spiritual resilience and survivability in it all, together.

A few months ago, a vocal critic of Message used his platform to proclaim to the Christian community that our “progressive” articles encouraged young people to resist ICE. He even associated the ideas within as Marxist.

What we resist is a strict hermeneutic that allows one to read the words of Jesus and the Bible and not internalize an outgrowth of operational love and justice.

In Isaiah 58, the prophet rhetorically laments the slow answer to prayers of God’s people. They think they’re doing everything right. Yet their prayers, their showy feasts and general piety are all ineffectual when it comes to God’s blessings and favor. He’s not impressed. Rather, He’s specific regarding the kinds of things that He wants to see:

Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?”

Quotes from noted Americans remind us of the importance of voting.

• “The ballot is stronger than the bullet” said President Abraham Lincoln.
• “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” said Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it” said Susan B. Anthony.

From Labor Day to Election Day, we are bombarded by political advertising. It is not unusual to receive multiple pieces from different organizations supporting the same candidate in the mail before the absentee ballot is due and again before in-person voting. All because our votes matter.

Despite the outside noise, we know the importance of voting to impact our democracy.

“The vote is precious. It is almost sacred,” said former U.S. Congressman John Lewis. “It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.”

As our civic responsibility, we know voting requires us to ensure we are registered to vote, and know our polling location, and the issues at stake in the election. That’s why voter education necessitates researching the candidates, analyzing the impact of ballot proposals, identifying the issues, and planning to vote.

The League of Women Voters, www.vote411.org, can assist you in these endeavors. All because our votes matter.

After the second election of President Barack Obama, the Brennan Center issued a report, “The State of Voting in 2014”, prior to the midterm election that year. It noted the impact of voter restrictions such as Voter ID, Voter Registration, Early Voting, and Restoring Voting Rights to People with Past Convictions. As it relates to the impact on black votes, the Brennan Center notes the following:

• Seven of the 11 states with the highest African American turnout in 2008 (Obama’s first election as U.S. President) had new restrictions.
• Nearly 67 percent of the states formerly covered by Section 5 (note U.S. Supreme Court case, Shelby County v. Holder in 2013) of the Voting Rights Act had enacted new restrictions after 2010.
• African Americans relied disproportionately on some of the early-voting opportunities being eliminated.

Once again, this points to the reality that Our Votes Matter.

The Washington Post Fact Checker found that President Donald Trump repeated the claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent 76 times without any press, election officials, or courts to support his assertion.

It’s important to note that even though elections are under the state’s control. The Department of Justice, mainly the Federal Bureau of Investigations, investigates federal crimes that impact the integrity of elections was under the control of President Trump and found nothing to support his claims. Despite this ongoing propaganda, it serves as a stern reminder that our votes matter.

Knowing that voting disinformation represents a real threat to democracy, we must identify resources to verify the veracity of information targeted toward any community as it relates to voting, candidates and ballot proposals. Election Protection, 866ourvote.org, works “365 days to advance and defend your right to vote.” Bot Sentinel, botsentinel.com, identifies deceptive AI information and is a free resource. All because our votes matter.

It’s clear from catch phrase slogans, inspirational quotes from iconic leaders, desire for a fair and free democracy, the election of President Barack Obama, propaganda about voter fraud, and voting disinformation that our votes matter.

In essence, Our Votes Matter because it represents our voices, our power, and our community. To amplify your voice and your community, check out the resources available at Our Votes Matter at cjcouncil.org/resources.

Please make sure you and your community vote no later than Tuesday, Nov. 3, because Our Votes Matter.

For example, suppose that Group A routinely wins the popular vote in State X (say 80% to 20%), but because Group B has gerrymandered the congressional districts, Group B wins 90% of the seats in State X. Proportionally speaking, Group A’s votes count for less than Group B’s in terms of voter will: despite their will expressed in the popular vote (80%), Group A is nonetheless unable to elect the representatives of its choice, securing only 10% of the representation. The democratic problem is real.

On April 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court decided Louisiana v. Callais, ruling that section two of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) did not require the state of Louisiana to draw a second federal congressional district to protect the collective voting power of Black voters. The Court ruled that requiring Louisiana to draw a legislative district to remedy effects of past discrimination against Blacks was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The Court interpreted a race-conscious statute, with a race-neutral standard, turning the VRA on its head.

Questions abound. What does Louisiana v. Callais mean for future elections? Was “Bloody Sunday” in March, 1965 all for naught? Has the Black freedom struggle failed? Where do we go from here?

American chattel slavery began in 1619, 157 years before the first founding in 1776. And neither the Articles of Confederation nor the Constitution of the United States ended the slave trade. During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, chattel slavery was hotly debated; W.E.B. Du Bois discussed in “The Suppression of the African Slave Trade” (Dubois: Writings ). The principle of state autonomy prevailed, allowing each state to address slavery on its own, without pressure from the national government.

Slavery thus continued through the nineteenth century. Debates over slavery were so fractious that it led the country to Civil War in 1861. President Lincoln ended slavery by executive order in 1863. Two years later, in 1865, the combat phase of the Civil War ended. But a new, political phase of the war was just beginning.

All three branches of American government played a role in this new, political phase of the Civil War. Congress made herculean attempts to ensure Black citizenship with the Civil War Amendments and enforcement statutes. The Supreme Court would nullify these efforts through decisions that restricted congressional enforcement power. And the President would strike a deal, the Hayes-Tilden Compromise, with a political rival to remove federal troops from the South. The Supreme Court and the President thus paved the way for a reign of terror against former slaves that would last for nearly a hundred years.

Compounding these problems was the denial of the franchise to blacks. Southern states erected barriers preventing blacks from voting such as poll taxes and racial intimidation. The racial intimidation was intense and enduring. Consider that Medgar Evers was assassinated for registering black voters in Mississippi in 1963, 93 years after the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. The law changed in 1870. Hearts and minds, however, had a long way to go.

In this speech, King repeated the refrain “How long? Not long,” with the question asking how long injustice would prevail, and the answer replying that justice would soon come. Aided by the medium of television news coverage, King’s words pierced the American conscience. The political will soon emerged for the most significant congressional action since Reconstruction, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the VRA into law on August 6, 1965. The VRA provided much-needed federal oversight of southern states with a history of black disenfranchisement.

This cruel irony became tragic in June of 2013, when the Supreme Court decided Shelby County v. Holder. The Court considered a constitutional challenge to two sections of the VRA: section four, which contained the formula for determining whether to apply the preclearance provision of section five. If a southern state with a history of racial discrimination met the criteria of section four, then that state had to submit to the preclearance provisions of section five to have the federal government approve changes to their election laws.

The Court ruled that the formulas used to determine whether a southern state had to submit for preclearance were outdated, ruling section four an unconstitutional exercise of federal power over state autonomy. With section four gone, section five — the preclearance provision — is effectively inoperable. The inoperability of section five has led to what is now called “voter suppression” and it is not limited to southern states. Many states, north and south, have made problematic changes to their election laws in ways that have disenfranchised Black voters. One court found that when changes were made to North Carolina’s electoral laws, they targeted the rights of Black North Carolina voters with “surgical precision.”

A solution to this problem is for Congress to update section four of the VRA with new formulas to trigger preclearance and thus make section five operable again. A bill, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, has been proposed in the United States Senate to update the formula and thus reinstate section five of the VRA, but without the political will to secure a veto-proof majority of both houses of Congress, the bill is dead on arrival.

Since 2013, there is no federal oversight on southern states with a history of racial discrimination because the Supreme Court, rather than maintain the forty-eight-year status quo, enabled states to mischievously manipulate state electoral laws. The tragic dimension of King’s homiletic refrain bellows to us: “How long will Blacks’ right to vote be protected?” “Not long, just forty-eight years, from 1965-2013!”

Yes, black people can still vote. No, their collective political power is not the same. For example, with legislatures in southern states with histories of racial discrimination already making sweeping changes to their electoral laws since the Callais decision (Tennessee and Alabama, for example), legislative districts are being manipulated in ways that could completely eliminate any black representation in the House of Representatives, which could bring an end to the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now is the time to reverse Dr. King’s question and answer refrain from tragedy to triumph: “How long will injustice reign? Not long, because our collective courage outweighs our oppression!”

Forgiveness, boundaries, trust, and reconciliation are interconnected, but they are not interchangeable. Understanding the differences can lead to healthier relationships, wiser decisions, and deeper healing.

This concept is very different from how forgiveness is packaged both to the believer and unbeliever alike. All too often there is an enmeshment baked into our understanding of forgiveness. We feel shamed or coerced to forgive as if the offense never took place. On the contrary, forgiveness in its truest sense is as much an act of justice as it is an act of grace. Forgiveness is an action word that simultaneously releases the desire for personal revenge and aims to hold the offender accountable for their actions.

It does not require denying pain, minimizing wrongdoing, or excusing sinful behavior. Both the Biblical account and modern psychology echo the sentiment that while genuine forgiveness can reduce anxiety, depression, anger, and chronic stress, it does not automatically restore trust or require reconciliation. In other words, forgiveness changes the condition of the heart, but it does not rewrite history or eliminate the need for wisdom. Considering this, establishing boundaries serves an important purpose.

Both Scripture and the literature point to the setting of healthy boundaries as an act of wisdom. Boundaries create the opportunity to give, but not overextend. They afford an opportunity to sacrifice, but not to the point where we are scarred.

There is a misnomer within the broader Christian context that suggests boundaries are not “Christ-like.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Throughout the gospel accounts we see Jesus healing, delivering, and fellowshipping with His community but we also see Him slip away and “recharge.” We witness Him asking those whom He desired to heal if they desired the healing themselves first. Jesus understood the connection between their desire and His mercies. In human terms, we would say, “I cannot want something more for you, than you want it for yourself.”

Healthy boundaries leave space for deeper connection, while also teaching others how we want to be treated. Brené Brown puts it this way: “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.”

Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “above all else, guard our heart.” It is indeed Christ-like to both serve others and set up guardrails to protect our peace.

Historically, my father and I had not been able to consistently discuss our feelings without an eventual “fallout” of some sort. However, this moment was different. I found myself communicating words that allowed us both to be on one accord. Dad squeezed my hand back after my apology as if in agreement and in that moment, reconciliation had taken place.

One individual can choose to forgive. Two people are required to reconcile. The New Testament uses the Greek word katallage to describe reconciliation, implying a relational nature that requires both parties to agree. Both scripture and relationship research agree that reconciliation requires several essential ingredients:

• genuine repentance rather than empty apologies
• personal accountability without blame shifting
• consistent behavioral change over time
• rebuilding trust through faithful actions
• emotional and physical safety

Forgiveness may happen in a moment. Reconciliation often unfolds over months or even years.

It is important to note that in no context is abuse in any form the will of God, nor does it have a place within the scope of the law of land. Many survivors of domestic abuse have been told that true forgiveness of the aforementioned offenses should result in a return to the relationship. We have learned that unrepentant, unchanged behavior is the indicator that reconciliation is not an option at the time. Forgiveness never requires someone to remain in danger. Scripture never teaches that reconciliation must occur at the expense of truth, justice, or personal safety. Choosing safety is not evidence of unforgiveness. It is an expression of wisdom.

1. Forgiveness releases the offense.
2. Boundaries protect the heart.
3. Trust is earned through consistent follow-through.
4. And reconciliation becomes possible only when genuine change has taken root.

It is important to note this progression does not always lead to reconciliation, nor is there a mandate for it to. It is simply a guideline one can follow if reconciliation is their goal.

It turns out my cousin was right — the last moments my brother and I had with our father were indeed his last coherent ones.

I truly believe he held on in hope that reconciliation with his sons would take place. Peace is the product of reconciliation. Peace is what my father desired from his relationship with his sons. Peace is God’s gift for those who seek it. God, through Jesus, has reconciled us to himself and has in turn given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Nobody plans to build an altar at midnight. We imagine family worship being established under better circumstances — when the children are small and compliant, when the marriage is steady, when life has settled into something resembling order. We tell ourselves we will begin when things calm down. But things rarely calm down. And the midnight keeps coming.

I did not know then that I was being handed something irreplaceable. I only knew that those words meant safety. That they meant home.

When I built my own home, I carried those rhythms with me. We covered morning and evening worship, the hymnal, the Sabbath School lesson studied in every age group represented. Somewhere along the way, even the cat and dog became part of the congregation. Every evening at eight o’clock sharp, and without being called, they would appear. When life got busy and we were at risk of forgetting, they reminded us. Two animals who could not read a single word of Scripture became, in their own way, the most faithful members of our household worship. I tell that story not for the smile it brings, though it does, but because it points to something true: when the altar is established consistently enough, it shapes everything around it. Even the creatures.

“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).

“The same hour of the night.” There is a holy urgency in that phrase. The jailer did not ask for a week to consider it. He acted in the midnight hour, in the middle of the crisis. This is what rebuilding the family altar can look like when you have been waiting for the right moment. The right moment is the one you are already in.

We are also finding that the empty nest altar, tended faithfully, becomes something new, a place of intercession for the children who are no longer under our roof but are never outside our prayers. The altar does not shrink when the house empties. It expands. It reaches.

And perhaps that is the final word the Philippian jailer has to offer us. His household was changed in a single midnight hour. But the altar that was built that night did not belong only to the people in the room. It belonged to every person who would pass through that house in the years to come, every guest, every neighbor, every child not yet born who would grow up in a home where something holy had happened. The altar you rebuild tonight is not just for now. It is for everyone who comes after. Begin today with what you have. Begin in the hour you are in.

Life can be heavy, and sometimes we need to shake things up. According to a 2023 Pew Research study, nearly 52% of Black women in the US have felt the need to reinvent themselves at some point — professionally, personally, or both. Starting over isn’t just about making changes; it’s about reclaiming your story and stepping into your God-given purpose.

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that because of God’s great love, His compassions never fail. He gives us new opportunities, new ideas, and new hope every morning. Never forget that every sunrise is God saying, “Try again, beloved. You deserve a life that reflects who you truly are.”

As you move from one life phase, space, or creative cycle to another, remember there is no singular way to navigate a life transition. Do what works for you, in your own time and in your own way. That should be your greatest takeaway. As Audre Lorde defined self-care, it is “political warfare.” Be unwavering in caring for yourself. It requires what we call in the human development world: awareness, agency, and action.

Close the Door — End It Completely

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.” – Chinese Proverb

“Call a thing a thing.” – Iyanla Vanzant

As renowned psychologist Dr. Tabitha Mpamira cautions, the brain wants you to either be fearful or excited about change, but both conflicting emotions can be true at the same time. Allow yourself to sit in it until you can name all that comes up for you. That is awareness.

Here’s how to close the door:

• Take stock: Ask yourself, What am I carrying from this experience? Identify the lessons, strengths, and values you no longer want to carry. Then let them go.
• Release old habits: Drop routines, beliefs, or roles that no longer serve your growth. Don’t let the dopamine hit of a text chime or email notification keep you tethered to something that no longer serves you. (Go get yourself some methadone for that technology addiction. I’m kidding, but not.)
• Accept the end: Acknowledge closure without rushing to replace it. Sit in it. Grieve it. Then, throw out that stale, moldy bread and move on. As William Bridges suggests in his groundbreaking book Transitions, write an “obituary” for your past as it is dead. Name the dreams, talents, and ideas that went unrealized. It will be a turning point.
• Clear the slate: Tie up loose ends so you don’t carry unnecessary mental weight forward. Think of it like moving out of a house; some things served you well, but they won’t fit the new space. And critically: do not conflate what ended with who you are. A cracked plate that can no longer be used doesn’t define the table. It is not your identity.

Make Space for the In-Between — The Neutral Zone

You do not have to immediately know what comes next. Allow room for uncertainty, rest, reflection, and adjustment. Embrace the pause between what was and what will be. Proverbs 4:23 says it powerfully: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Stop. Rest. Recalibrate. That is how you move with intention — for yourself, your dreams, and your well-being.

• Resist the urge to panic: Confusion and lack of direction are temporary, normal parts of processing change. I’ll say it plainly: do not panic. Breathe. Move at your own pace. Don’t rush it.
• Gather insights: Use this quiet, unstructured time to listen, learn, and refocus. Chronicle what you are experiencing. It will become a powerful reference as you look back, evaluate, and realign.

Thank You, Next — Your New Beginning

• Set clear intentions: Decide what purpose, goals, and energy you want to carry forward. Journal it. Check and recheck it against your vision. Stay true to you.
• Take small, deliberate steps: Move forward with steady confidence, fully conscious and purposeful in every decision and action.
• Welcome new structures: Build fresh routines and frameworks that support your new direction. This is the time to create a real plan for how you will actualize your goals.
• Identify what you need: Consider what will keep you grounded—information, boundaries, people, time, or professional support. And be honest: not every friend is equipped to support this version of you. Friendship does not equal expertise. Know the difference and seek what you actually need.
• Re-establish anchors: Transitions disrupt familiar rhythms. Return to the small things that create steadiness like sleep, movement, meals, connection, spiritual practices, and familiar routines. They are your stabilizing forces.
• Choose what comes with you: Ask yourself, What values, relationships, and parts of myself do I want to intentionally carry forward and why? The “why” will clarify what truly belongs in your next chapter.
• Enter the new slowly and deliberately: Give yourself permission to learn the new environment rather than immediately master it. Adjustment takes time, and that is perfectly fine.
• Check in and adjust: What you needed at the start of a transition may shift. Schedule a weekly one-on-one with yourself. Ask: How am I doing? What do I need more or less of? Can I tweak how I do this? Do I need something different?

Above All — Turn It Over

The best counsel I can offer is this: turn it all over to God. Every step outlined above is rooted in His Word. He has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). You “can do all things through Christ who strengthens” you (Philippians 4:13). Walk into every room — boardroom, courtroom, or your own bedroom — knowing you are “more than a conquer or” (Romans 8:37). Your setbacks are producing something powerful. Don’t waste the lesson.

Starting over is one of the most courageous and spiritual things you can do. You carry the strength of generations, of those who prayed in the fields, sang in the darkness, and believed God when the odds were impossible. You are their answered prayer.

Every ending is a new beginning. Isaiah 43:1-3, 19 (MSG and NKJV) says it best:

“Don’t be afraid… I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior.”

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth. . . . I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

May God bless you as you choose what you will become.

The second lesson is to commit acts of glorious defiance. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was an open declaration that He was the promised Messiah. Although He knew the religious leaders opposed Him and that suffering awaited Him, He refused to retreat or compromise. His courage was not rooted in rebellion for its own sake but in complete submission to His Father’s will. The disciples and the crowds also demonstrated boldness by publicly honoring Jesus despite the growing hostility around them.

We are called to the same kind of holy courage. In a world that often rejects biblical truth, believers must stand firm in their faith, openly confess Christ, and obey God rather than yield to fear or public pressure. Such acts of faithful obedience bring glory to God, even when they invite criticism or opposition.

The third lesson is to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Jesus understood exactly why He had come to Jerusalem. He was not simply entering a city; He was moving toward the cross, where He would accomplish God’s plan of salvation. Every step He took reflected complete obedience to His divine mission. Likewise, every believer has been created with a purpose that brings honor to God. While our individual callings may differ, each Christian is called to love God, serve others, share the gospel, and faithfully use the gifts God has given.

Fulfilling God’s purpose often requires sacrifice and perseverance, but it also brings lasting joy because it aligns our lives with His perfect will. Like Jesus, believers should remain committed to God’s calling regardless of the cost.

The fourth lesson is to go the extra mile in making love’s appeal. Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently reached out to people with compassion, mercy, and grace. Even during His final journey into Jerusalem, He welcomed the praise of the crowds while continuing to extend God’s invitation to all who would believe. The disciples willingly carried out His instructions, and the people freely expressed their devotion by laying their cloaks before Him. These actions reflected generous love and wholehearted commitment. His followers display that same spirit by serving others sacrificially, offering forgiveness, showing kindness, and faithfully sharing the message of Christ’s saving love. Love is most powerful when it goes beyond what is expected, reflecting the selfless example of Jesus Himself.

In conclusion, when we read Luke 19:28–40, it reminds believers that triumph often follows tears. Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing that the cross would come before the crown, yet He faithfully continued His mission. His example challenges Christians to prepare diligently, stand courageously for what is right, fulfill God’s purpose with unwavering obedience, and go the extra mile in extending His love to others. Those who follow Christ in faithful service can trust that temporary trials will one day give way to eternal victory, for God always fulfills His promises to those who remain devoted to Him.

I laughed at first. It sounded like something straight off social media, the kind of phrase you scroll past on TikTok or Instagram. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how deeply impactful this concept is to relationships and dating, friendships, fitness goals, self-respect, and our spiritual walk.

The concept of “Match my energy” is a popular phrase and trend across social media platforms. It essentially means, bring the same level of effort, enthusiasm, or vibe that I’m bringing. At its core, the phrase is about reciprocity. Match me, emotionally, socially, romantically, spiritually or professionally. Invest in me; I’ll invest in you.

In our closest relationships, love is not passive. It is responsive. It listens closely. It notices shifts in tone. It senses when someone’s emotional tank is running low. This is called emotional attunement. It is the ability to read and respond to another person’s emotional state. Scripture says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15).

To rejoice when someone rejoices means matching their joy. To weep when they weep means matching their sorrow. That’s the kind of energy matching I’m referring to.

In friendships and partnerships, emotional care cannot be the job of one person. Relationships thrive on balanced deposits and withdrawals of affection, effort, and grace. When one person is constantly over-functioning, always planning, always pouring, always holding space, resentment quietly grows, rotting roots that can quickly wither the structure of any relationship.

For those who have been giving of their energy to sustain relationships all on their own, resentment quickly builds up because they are waiting for the other person to match their investment. As a result, emotional burnout, and score-keeping can easily become pitfalls of the “match my energy” philosophy.

However, energy matching should be one’s ability to have the insight needed to care for and meet the needs of our partners when their emotional tanks are running low. In those cases, love and connection demand that we still show up, ready to carry the load our partners cannot carry on their own.

It is showing up for our loved ones when they need us to, and meeting them in the caves of their distress. This is healthy energy matching. I see you. I’ll meet you where you are. I’m not score-keeping, withholding emotional affection and intimacy, not passive aggressive, just present, connected and committed.

When I think about my relationship with God, I have come to realize that God never asks us to show up for others in ways He hasn’t already shown up for us.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). God moves toward us. When we are broken, He is near. When we call, He answers. When we fall publicly, He restores publicly.

When our children were younger, Gianna and I did our best not to interrupt their daily routines or their bedtimes. As a pastor, there were times when I would leave the house before they woke up and arrived home just after their bedtime. Well-meaning people would tell me that once they got older, spending time with them would become easier, and for a while, I thought this was true.

As our kids grew older, their activities added to the household schedule, which was already somewhat overflowing. Gianna and I found ourselves balancing our own obligations between taxiing our children to their various appointments and after-school activities. Meanwhile, as my church responsibilities grew and my wife’s business grew, the time I thought I would have seemed to get lost to frequent travel and increased business-related demands. It seemed like there weren’t enough hours in the day or days of the week.

But I realized something that I think many people take for granted. In Genesis 2:3, we learn that God rested on the seventh day and made it holy. Then, in Mark 2:27, we further understand that God made the Sabbath for man. Through both verses, we know God purposely set aside time for His children to spend with Him. If an all-knowing God set aside time so that we could spend it with Him, we should make it our practice to do the same for our own families.

In our lives, we become adamant about scheduling doctors’ and clients’ appointments; some of us even have established a scheduled appointment with God through our personal devotion and church attendance. Yet, in our busy lives, we hope that our family time will happen organically. Friends, let’s start prioritizing “appointments” with our families.

I know there is a familiar phrase that says, “the family that prays together stays together,” but I believe we could add more to that. The family that plays together, talks together, eats and laughs together, has a greater chance of staying together. We shouldn’t settle for only having worship or sitting next to each other at church. There is an urgent need to put down our devices and purposely set aside time to focus on our families.

Whether it’s a scheduled board game night, watching old movies in the living room, or an outing to one of the local parks, pull out your calendar and put it on your schedule. It doesn’t have to be hours of set-aside time. Sometimes, a simple 30 minutes can go a long way.

As we continue through the remainder of this year, let’s take the time to make time to spend with our families.

HEART SCAN

Jesus speaks in John 14:1-3, saying, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

In other words, don’t let your experiences cause you to be anxious; don’t let the trauma you experience put you in distress, because if you trust God, then you can also trust Me (Jesus).

• So those of you who are depressed, let not your heart be troubled
• Those of you struggling in poverty, let not your heart be troubled
• Those wanting freedom from oppression, let not your heart be troubled
• Those wanting deliverance from anger, let not your heart be troubled
• Those wanting deliverance from addiction, let not your heart be troubled
• Those wanting redemption and forgiveness, let not your heart be troubled

We are not to be troubled, but remain hopeful because:

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” (John 14:2-3).

This is the hope you have for a better life, a worry free life, a life where you will never have to experience pain again, a life where you will not have to feel unsafe, or in danger of being abused or neglected, a life where true happiness will flow through your veins and you smile once again and the sound of your laughter will find its way out.

Today’s lesson will discuss the end of all trauma, pain and suffering and the beginning of a life free from misery, suffering and death.

What areas of your life would you like to be rescued from? Why?

When you hear the word “Heaven” what picture is painted in your imagination?

DISCOVERY

1 Kings 19

• John 14:1-3
• Revelation 21:3-4
• Revelation 1:7
• Matthew 24:36-51
• Revelation 22:17

Legacy isn’t what you leave in your will. It’s what you activate while you’re still breathing.

Legacy is about rhythm and not riches. Legacy builds a system your children can stand on, not just inherit. This module is about preserving that — by documenting, teaching, transferring, and protecting what we’ve worked for and what we believe.

Because if we don’t move with intention, systems will keep moving without us.

They Didn’t Wait for Retirement — They Bought the Block
Lisa and Jerome, both educators in Newark, started with a duplex. Then came a triplex. By the time their kids were in high school, they’d purchased four properties on their street. But here’s the twist: they put each home in a trust, tied to a family foundation. Their children don’t just inherit keys — they inherit responsibilities.

Every quarter, the kids help manage books, vet tenants, and attend workshops on asset protection and philanthropy. This isn’t just real estate. It’s real formation.

The Family Meeting That Changed Everything
In Birmingham, the Holloways had one Sunday dinner that shifted the trajectory of three generations. Grandma brought out a binder. Inside: her will, advance directive, funeral instructions, insurance papers, bank accounts, passwords, deeds —and handwritten prayers.

She called it The Book of Peace.

That night, they cried, planned, and made appointments — together. Now every cousin has a folder. Every sibling has a policy. And the next gen knows: money is not a mystery — it’s a ministry.

• If it’s not in writing, it’s not protected.
• Life insurance is not a luxury. It’s a launchpad.
• Your name should live in deeds, not just obituaries.
• Teach the next generation how to receive — and how to grow what’s received.
• Wealth without wisdom breaks a family. But wealth with faith builds a future.

Don’t just leave wealth. Leave instruction.
Don’t just pass on assets. Pass on authority.
Don’t just hope they’ll be okay. Make sure they’re equipped.
This is how we stay alive in the story.
Not just as names on paper, but as foundations in motion.