God’s Original Plan: A Garden Life

August 14, 2026June 12, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Colorful flower garden next to a fenced landfill full of trash and tires — Image generated via AI.

The Bible opens not with a city, a battlefield, or a courtroom, but a garden, a place of delight, order, and relationship. “The Lord God planted a garden in Eden… and there He put the man whom He had formed.” Genesis 2:8

God didn’t just place humanity in a garden; He designed humanity for a garden.
A garden is:

Order — not chaos
Beauty — not decay
Provision — not scarcity
Presence — not distance

Eden was the physical picture of what God wanted spiritually: A life where He walks with us (Genesis 3:8), speaks with us, and fills our world with meaning.

Humanity’s Choice: Trading the Garden for a Dump

When Adam and Eve chose sin, they didn’t just break a rule; they moved neighborhoods. They stepped out of God’s cultivated beauty and into the spiritual equivalent of a landfill. Sin always does that. It takes what is ordered and turns it into clutter. It takes what is beautiful and turns it into debris. It takes what is alive and turns it into rot. Isaiah describes humanity’s condition this way:

“Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” Isaiah 59:2

Paul says it even more bluntly:

“Their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21

In other words, we traded God’s garden for our garbage. And we’ve been trying to decorate the dump ever since.

The Dump We Live in Today

Every time we choose:

Bitterness over forgiveness
Lust over purity
Pride over humility
Self-reliance over surrender

…we add another layer of trash to the soul.

Jesus described the human heart apart from Him as a place full of “dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27). That’s not just a dump—that’s a spiritual landfill with a warning sign.

God’s Redemption Plan: Turning Dumps Back Into Gardens

The miracle of the gospel is not that God tolerates us in our mess. It’s that He restores what we ruined. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come to: “Give them beauty for ashes.” (Isaiah 61:3) Ashes are what’s left after something has burned down. A dump is what’s left after something has been thrown away. But God specializes in resurrection, renewal, and replanting. Jesus didn’t just save us from sin—He saves us into a garden again. He calls it:

Abundant life (John 10:10)
New creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Fruitfulness (Galatians 5:22–23)

Notice the language:
Life.
Creation.
Fruit.
Growth.
Garden words.

God is restoring Eden in the human heart.

The Bible ends the same way it begins, with a garden. Revelation 22 describes:

A river of life
The tree of life
Healing leaves
God dwelling with His people again

Eden restored, the dump demolished, and the garden made eternal.

The Question for Us Today

God still invites us to live in His garden—spiritually, emotionally, relationally. But we still have the same choice Adam and Eve had. Will we live in the garden God planted, or the dump we built?

Construction Town

August 13, 2026June 20, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Tulsa construction had reached its final evolutionary form: pure chaos with a reflective vest.

Every morning, Stan tried to leave his driveway like a normal human being, only to discover that overnight, while he slept peacefully, a new set of orange cones had multiplied like rabbits with a union contract. By 8:15 AM, he was still inching toward the highway, whispering the same prayer he’d whispered every day that week: “Lord… just get me to work. I don’t even have to be on time. Just… get me there.”

Getting home was worse. Much worse. The morning commute was a battle. The evening commute was a pilgrimage. He’d leave work at 5:00 PM and somehow arrive home at 7:42 PM, spiritually aged by at least three decades. His Apple Watch thought he’d taken up stress-based cardio.

At one point, stuck behind a backhoe that seemed to be digging a hole for fun, he muttered: “Can I work from home like in 2020?” No one answered. But the cones seemed to nod sympathetically.

Going to the store had become a joke. One of those jokes that’s funny until you realize you’re the punchline. Stan tried to order groceries online, but even delivery had changed: “A road construction fee has been added to your order.” A construction fee for groceries in Tulsa? He stared at the screen as if it had personally betrayed him.

Sunday morning didn’t offer much relief. Getting to church required the faith of Abraham, the patience of Job, and the navigation skills of a medieval cartographer. He prayed to get there. He prayed to find parking. He prayed to find the exit. He prayed to find his way home.

By the time he finally sat in the pew, he was spiritually warmed up. Not by worship, but by surviving three detours, one lane closure, and a construction worker who waved him forward with the confidence of someone who absolutely did not know where he was sending him. When the pastor said, “Let’s bow our heads,” Stan whispered, “Already did. Several times. On the way here.”

Every day, the thought crept in: “Maybe I should move… just until this is done.” But he knew the truth. By the time the construction finished, he’d be too emotionally invested in the struggle. Too bonded with the cones. Too familiar with the detours. Besides, Tulsa construction never really ends. It just… relocates.

I’m Not the Judge

August 11, 2026June 6, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Lawyer in courtroom putting on a traditional legal wig — A Christian removes a judge’s robe and wig. (Image generated via AI.)

A judge keeps order in the court. They ensure the law is followed and determine someone’s future by sentencing them or setting them free.

People often say “Christians are judging” not because a believer has actually issued a verdict, but because something deeper is happening inside the interaction emotionally, socially, or spiritually. The feeling of being judged is usually a collision between personal vulnerability and perceived moral pressure, and understanding that dynamic helps Christians respond with more grace and clarity.

**Why People Feel Judged — Even When No One Said Anything**

Moral sensitivity — When someone already feels insecure about a behavior or lifestyle, even gentle comments can feel like condemnation.
Past church wounds — Many have experienced real judgment or hypocrisy before, so they assume it’s happening again.
Cultural tension — Modern culture equates disagreement with rejection, so moral differences feel personal.
Internal conviction — Sometimes the Holy Spirit stirs the conscience, and people misinterpret that discomfort as human judgment.
Fear of rejection — People worry Christians won’t accept them if they don’t meet certain standards.

Often, the feeling of judgment is more about the person’s inner world than the Christian’s words.

Why Christian Beliefs Can Trigger This Reaction

Christianity makes truth claims about right, wrong, purpose, and identity. Even when spoken gently, truth claims can feel confrontational.

Moral clarity — Clear convictions can feel like criticism to someone who disagrees.
Exclusive claims — Jesus’ statement “I am the way” (John 14:6) can feel narrow in a culture that values personal autonomy.
Lifestyle contrast — When someone sees a Christian living differently, it can highlight their own choices.

Even silent faithfulness can feel like judgment to someone wrestling with guilt or uncertainty.

**When Christians Actually Come Across as Judgmental**

Let’s be honest — sometimes Christians unintentionally reinforce the stereotype.

Tone over truth — Harsh delivery overshadows a good message.
Selective morality — Condemning certain sins while ignoring others feels hypocritical.
Lack of empathy — People feel judged when they don’t feel understood.
Public shaming — Social media “truth-telling” often feels like an attack, not love.

Jesus never compromised truth, but people — especially sinners — felt safe with Him. That contrast speaks volumes.

The Deeper Spiritual Reality

Sometimes the tension isn’t interpersonal — it’s spiritual.

Light exposes darkness — John 3:19 says people avoid the light because it exposes what’s hidden.
Truth confronts the heart — When truth touches a sensitive area, people may blame the messenger.
Identity conflict — Christianity calls people to transformation, which can feel threatening.

The gospel is both comforting and disruptive — it heals, but it also reveals.

How Christians Can Respond With Grace

Lead with compassion — People open up when they feel safe.
Listen before speaking — Understanding someone’s story softens their defensiveness.
Speak truth gently — Ephesians 4:15 calls believers to “speak the truth in love.”
Live consistently — Integrity removes the sting of hypocrisy.
Let God convict — It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to change hearts, not ours.

When Christians embody Jesus’ character, people may still feel judged, but they’ll also feel loved. Jesus had an extraordinary way of meeting people who felt judged not by denying truth, not by lowering God’s standards, but by creating an atmosphere where mercy disarmed shame and truth invited transformation. When you look closely at His interactions, a pattern emerges: people who expected condemnation found compassion, and people who expected approval found honesty.

Below is a clear, structured look at how Jesus handled people who felt judged, with the key themes, scriptures, and emotional dynamics that shaped His approach.

1. Jesus Led with Dignity, Not Disgrace

People often felt judged because of their past, their reputation, or their failures. Jesus countered that instinct by restoring dignity first.

Woman at the well — She expected rejection because of her past. Jesus treated her as a person of worth before addressing her sin (John 4:7–26).
Zacchaeus — A despised tax collector, yet Jesus publicly honored him by choosing to stay at his house (Luke 19:1–10).

Takeaway: Jesus removed shame before He addressed sin.

2. Jesus Asked Questions Instead of Making Accusations

Questions open hearts; accusations close them. Jesus used questions to help people see themselves honestly without feeling attacked.

“Where are your accusers?” — To the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t start with a lecture but with a question that revealed grace (John 8:10).
“Do you want to be healed?” — He invited the man at Bethesda to express desire, not defend himself (John 5:6).

Takeaway: Jesus guided people toward truth rather than forcing them into defensiveness.

3. Jesus Protected People from Public Shame

When someone was vulnerable, Jesus shielded them from humiliation.

Woman caught in adultery — He physically placed Himself between her and the crowd, turning the spotlight away from her sin and onto the hypocrisy of her accusers (John 8:1–11).
Sinful woman who anointed His feet — Jesus defended her against Simon’s silent judgment (Luke 7:36–50).

Takeaway: Jesus confronted the judgers before confronting the sinner.

4. Jesus Reserved His Harshest Words for the Self‑Righteous

Interestingly, the only people who consistently felt judged by Jesus were the ones who thought they didn’t need grace.

Pharisees — They felt judged because Jesus exposed their pride, hypocrisy, and spiritual blindness (Matthew 23).
Religious elites — They valued image over repentance, so Jesus’ truth felt like an attack.

Takeaway: Jesus comforted the broken but confronted the proud.

5. Jesus Told the Truth — But Only After Love Was Clear

Jesus never excused sin, but He never weaponized truth either.

“Go and sin no more.” — He said this after rescuing the woman from execution (John 8:11).
“Salvation has come to this house.” — He affirmed Zacchaeus after Zacchaeus experienced acceptance (Luke 19:9).

Takeaway: Truth was the invitation to freedom, not the price of admission.

6. Jesus Saw People’s Potential, Not Just Their Past

People felt judged because they were used to being defined by their worst moments. Jesus saw what they could become.

Peter — A fisherman with failures, yet Jesus called him a rock (Matthew 16:18).
Matthew — A tax collector turned apostle.

Takeaway: Jesus spoke identity before He spoke correction.

7. Jesus Let the Holy Spirit Do the Convicting

Jesus didn’t pressure people into change. He trusted the Spirit to work in their hearts.

Conviction vs. condemnation — John 16:8 shows that conviction is the Spirit’s role, not ours.

Takeaway: Jesus created space for transformation rather than forcing it.

People didn’t feel judged by Jesus because He made them feel seen, safe, and invited — not cornered.

“The Photo”

August 10, 2026June 19, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Calvin had a unique conflict‑resolution strategy. Unique in the same way raccoons shopping at Walmart instead of raiding trash cans is unique: fascinating, chaotic, and guaranteed to end badly. Whenever he got mad at his wife, Denise, he didn’t yell, sulk, or stomp around. No, Calvin deployed his secret weapon. He put “The Photo” on the refrigerator.

Not just any photo.
Not a cute photo.
Not even an embarrassing photo.

It was the photo of Calvin, shirtless, wearing sunglasses indoors, holding a fishing pole with no fish on it, flexing a bicep that looked less like a muscle and more like a confused dinner roll.

Denise hated that photo with the passion of a 1000 members of a mob. She said it made the fridge look like it was trying to warn people about the dangers of low self-esteem.

So, whenever Calvin felt wronged, forgotten laundry, missing leftovers, Denise “accidentally” deleting his favorite show, he’d march to the kitchen, remove a magnet from the refrigerator, and slap “The Photo” onto the fridge door with the dramatic flair of a man declaring war.

Denise would freeze. “Oh no. Not that thing.” Calvin bowed his head slightly, acknowledging her discovery, arms crossed like a disappointed gym teacher.

One time, she tried hiding it. He printed three more. Another time, she replaced it with a picture of Ryan Gosling. He replaced thatwith a bigger version of himself. When she threw it away, he replaced it with a laminated one.

Eventually, Denise developed a sixth sense for incoming nonsense. If Calvin got quiet, she’d whisper, “Don’t you dare fridge yourself.” But one day, after a minor disagreement about whether the dishwasher was “loaded wrong” or “loaded creatively,” Calvin stormed off to deploy “The Photo” … only to find a brand‑new picture already on the fridge.

It was Denise.

Wearing sunglasses indoors. Holding a fishing pole with no fish. Flexing a bicep that looked like a confused dinner roll. Calvin gasped. “You wouldn’t.” “Oh, I would,” she said. “Welcome to mutually assured fridge destruction.”

They stared at each other. Then they burst out laughing. And the photos stayed side by side like two warning labels about marriage, pettiness, and the power of strategic refrigerator décor.

The Warnings

August 7, 2026June 6, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Concrete storm shelter with open metal door showing emergency supplies, tornado funnel cloud in stormy sky in background — Image generated via AI.

A tornado siren cuts through the air with a single message: “Pay attention. Take shelter. Your life depends on this.” The gospel of Jesus Christ carries a message just as urgent, yet people often respond to it very differently. Below is a devotional that draws that comparison with depth, scripture, and a call to the heart.

When the sirens sound and when the Savior calls. Takeaway: People respond to tornado sirens with urgency because they believe danger is real. The gospel announces an even greater reality, eternal rescue through Jesus, yet many respond with delay, distraction, or disbelief. Scripture shows why and how God invites us to respond differently.

The siren: a warning meant to save. When tornado sirens go off in Tulsa or anywhere across the Midwest, people don’t debate the meaning; they move. Some run to the shelter. Some grab their kids and head to the safest room. Some check the sky, the radar, the news. A few ignore it, but even they know the risk, and a real Okie goes outside to see the tornado and perhaps then posts it on social media. The siren is not meant to scare; it’s meant to save. Scripture echoes this principle:

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 22:3

The warning is mercy. The call is protection. The response reveals belief. The gospel is a rescue call many treat casually. The gospel is God’s rescue siren. His announcement that danger is real, but salvation is available.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

Yet people respond in very different ways. Immediate repentance, like those who run to shelter the moment the siren sounds. Curiosity — like checking the radar but not moving yet. Delay — “I’ll deal with this later.” Disbelief — “I don’t think the storm is real.” Distraction — hearing the warning but being too busy to respond. Jesus described this same range of responses in the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1–23). The seed is the same; the hearts differ.

Why People Respond to Tornado Sirens but Not the Gospel

People trust the sirens because they’ve seen storms destroy. They believe the threat is real. They know the shelter works. But with the gospel, the danger is invisible. The consequences feel distant. The world offers distractions. Pride whispers, “I’m fine on my own.” Scripture explains this spiritual blindness:

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers…” 2 Corinthians 4:4

And yet, God keeps calling because He loves. He gives a person lots of opportunities to accept Him. Jesus doesn’t just warn, He welcomes. When a tornado siren sounds, it offers no comfort, no companionship, no hope, only warning. But Jesus offers warning and welcome.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

He is not just the shelter; He is the Savior inside the shelter, arms open, ready to receive. The gospel is not a threat; it’s an invitation. The gospel is not God shouting, “Danger!” It is God whispering, “Come home.” Salvation is not fear-based; it is love-based. Repentance is not punishment; it is freedom. Faith is not blind; it is trusting the One who sees the storm clearly. Jesus said:

“I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” John 10:9

The siren warns you. The Savior welcomes you.

A Prayer: Lord, give us ears to hear Your call not with fear, but with faith. Help us respond to the gospel with the same urgency we show when earthly storms approach. Thank You for being our refuge, our shelter, and our Savior. Amen.

Human Voicemail Notification System

August 6, 2026August 9, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

A man walked into the living room with the same expression husbands get when they’ve been sent to the store for “one thing” and forgot it. “John had a wreck. He’s in the hospital. His wife is asking everyone in the church to pray,” he announced.

His wife froze mid‑laundry‑fold as if someone had just unplugged her from the wall. “Is he okay?” she asked. The man blinked. “John had a wreck. He’s in the hospital. His wife is asking everyone in the church to pray.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How did the accident happen?” He nodded solemnly, as if she had just asked a very wise question. “John had a wreck. He’s in the hospital. His wife is asking everyone in the church to pray.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Was there anyone else in the car with him?” He took a deep breath, preparing his entire vocabulary. “John had a wreck. He’s in the hospital. His wife is asking everyone in the church to pray.”

At this point, she stared at him like he was a malfunctioning Alexa device. “Do you know anything else?” she demanded. He shrugged. “That’s all I got. I’m basically the voicemail notification.” She sighed, grabbed her phone, and said, “I’ll call someone who actually knows something.” He nodded again, relieved. “Good idea. Because all I know is,” she cut him off. “If you say it again, I’m unplugging you!” He raised his hands in surrender. “Message received.”

But under his breath, barely audible, he whispered:
“John had a wreck. He’s in the hospital. His wife is asking everyone in the church to pray.”

God’s X-ray Machine

August 4, 2026June 6, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

A woman holding glowing symbols representing deception and truth levitating between her hands — Image generated via AI.

An X‑ray machine can do something our natural eyes will never accomplish. It looks straight through the surface, revealing what is hidden beneath. Bones, fractures, blockages, foreign objects. All the things we could never see on our own suddenly become clear.

In the same way, God has given His people spiritual “X‑ray vision”. Not to judge others harshly, but to see beneath the surface of the heart through the gifts of the Spirit, especially discernment. Words of knowledge are very similar.

An X‑ray machine doesn’t care about outward appearances. It doesn’t admire clothing, hairstyles, or smiles. It goes deeper. That’s exactly what scripture says God does:

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

God sees motives, wounds, hidden sins, and hidden strengths. Nothing is concealed from Him. And because He loves His people, He equips the church or individuals with spiritual gifts that help us see what He sees, not perfectly, but purposefully.

The gift of discernment is like a spiritual X‑ray. It helps believers recognize what is true, what is false, what is healthy, and what is dangerous. Paul describes this gift clearly:

“To another the discerning of spirits, and words of knowledge…” 1 Corinthians 12:10-11

Discernment is not suspicion. It’s not intuition. It’s not a personality trait. It is a Spirit‑empowered ability to see beneath the surface. To detect spiritual realities that are invisible to natural perception. Just like an X‑ray reveals a fracture that explains the pain, discernment reveals spiritual fractures that explain confusion, conflict, or deception.

A doctor doesn’t order an X‑ray because someone looks sick, but because something deeper is wrong. Likewise, God gives discernment so the church can identify:

Hidden motives — when actions don’t match intentions
Spiritual deception — teachings or influences that look right but aren’t
Unhealthy patterns — cycles that keep people stuck
God’s direction — clarity when choices are cloudy

Discernment protects the church the same way an X‑ray protects a patient, by revealing the truth before the damage gets worse. An individual with these gifts is not special, but only in the way they have made themselves available to God to be used by him.

Before God ever uses us to discern others, He lovingly shines His light on our own hearts. David prayed:

“Search me, O God… and see if there is any wicked way in me.” Psalm 139:23–24

This is a spiritual X‑ray at its finest. God reveals what needs healing, cleansing, or strengthening. And when He shows us something about ourselves or someone else, it’s never to embarrass or shame us; it’s to heal us.

Just as a doctor uses an X‑ray to help, not harm, discernment or a word of knowledge must always be used with:

Humility
Love
Restoration

Discernment without love becomes criticism, and discernment with love becomes healing.

An X‑ray machine reveals what is hidden, so healing can begin. God’s gift of discernment does the same. It exposes what the enemy hides, reveals what the heart conceals, and guides the church or an individual into truth, purity, and spiritual health. When using these gifts to minister to an individual, I find it important to “ask” for permission to share what God has shown me. There is power in invitations.

When the Spirit gives an individual the gift of discernment, or a word of knowledge, and they speak to an individual and reveal what God has shown them, it’s not to embarrass them but to get their attention. Someone should never be in awe of the spiritual gifts but rather be in awe of the loving God behind the gifts. Words of knowledge or discernment, knowing things that only God knew, are only to get someone’s attention for what God wants to do or say to them next!

May God give us eyes to see what He sees, hearts to love what He loves, and courage to respond to what He reveals.

^1-3What I want to talk about now is the various ways God’s Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It’s different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say “Jesus be damned!” Nor would anyone be inclined to say “Jesus is Master!” without the insight of the Holy Spirit.

^4-11God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. 1 Cor. 12:1-11 (MSG)

The Bounce House on Blippity Lane

August 3, 2026June 17, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Four adults jumping inside a colorful inflatable bounce house with party guests in the background — Image generated via AI.

At a birthday on Blippity‑Bopperty Lane,
Stood a bounce house so bright it would tickle your brain.
It wiggled and jiggled in stripes red, green, yellow and blue.
But it only caused trouble for fathers who flew.

The kids bounced inside with a giggle and shout,
But nothing bizarre ever seemed to come out.
They hopped and they flopped with impeccable grace.
Not a burp, not a toot, not a sound out of place.

But the dads, oh the dads, when they stepped through the flap,
The whole thing went wild like a air‑powered trap.
One bounce made them burp like a thunderous bear,
Two bounces made farts fill the birthday‑party air.

They’d leap, and they’d squeak with a BRAAAP and a BLURP,
While the children all cackled, “Dad, did you just burp?”
The mothers just sighed with a hand to their face,
As the bounce house kept blasting its foul, funny bass.

Old Mr. McGreevy bounced once—HONK‑HOOOONK!
Then twice BLORP‑BLAT! with a vibrating bonk.
And Timmy’s dad, Todd, tried to sneak out the back,
But one tiny hop made him THWOOOOMP like a yak.

The bounce house just wobbled with mischievous cheer,
As if it had waited for this event all year.
It didn’t collapse on them or swallow a shoe.
It simply made fathers expel… windy goo.

When the party was over, the dads waddled out,
All empty of burbs and farts, without any doubt.
The kids begged to keep it for every birthday.
But the moms all agreed: “We’re throwing that away!”

What a Mess!

July 31, 2026June 1, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Man experiencing green glowing pain leaking from chest and dripping onto floor — Image generated via AI.

Reuben’s voice rang out without warning. No one addressed him, and no one asked. He just started telling us men in the circle about what was going on in his life.

Reuben mentioned his divorce and how it had been a three-year struggle. He talked about his job and how they demanded more out of him. Then, he spoke of his new apartment and how much stuff he needed.

He mentioned his son and daughter, informing us that that very evening, his son was in a rollover accident but was okay. Reuben talked about all of the bad things that had happened to his daughter as well. And then he started divulging his finances and what little he had. He also told us that his income tax refund was nine weeks overdue, and that there were problems with it, and now the IRS wanted to verify it was really him.

I started noticing a pattern. Every time one of the men tried to suggest something that would help him, Reuben would find a way to dismiss it or say why it wouldn’t work. When another one asked him what he specifically needed for his apartment, he would only list what items he had.

It was about then that I realized that Reuben was experiencing a lot of pain, and the only item he actually needed was to be heard. He wanted someone to care about what he was going through. I glanced over while the group was praying for him, and he was wiping tears. The saddest part of this whole story is that Reuben doesn’t seem to realize that, as a child of God, life doesn’t have to be this way. He doesn’t know that Satan is the one who is keeping him down by stirring up “drama” and “chaos” in his life. Reuben should know that with God, he can take control over his life in the name of Jesus Christ. He just needs to do it and believe it, and then walk it out.

There are hurting people all around us. Not all of them start leaking pain, like Reuben in our group, but if you take the time to dig a little, you may discover they are hurting and need to be heard. The great thing is you don’t even have to know what to say because most of the time they simply want someone to listen and know.

Proverbs 18:13 — “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 — God comforts us so we can comfort others.

God is listening and He knows how to help the broken-hearted.

Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear… I will strengthen you and help you.”

Psalm 56:8 — God keeps track of your tears.

John 16:33 — “In this world you will have trouble… but take heart!”

1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

(The above is a true story, but the name was changed to protect the hurting.)
Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The Carwash That… Didn’t.

July 30, 2026June 16, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Car wash entrance blocked with signs stating temporary closure and maintenance in progress — Image generated via AI.

There once was a wash on Old Highway Nine,
That promised your car would come out shiny and fine.
But the moment you paid and your wheels rolled inside,
You realized this wash had… absolutely died.

The sprayers just hissed like a grumpy old cat,
The brushes hung limp like, “Yeah, I’m not touching that.”
The soap didn’t bubble; the wax didn’t gleam.
It misted one droplet, then ran out of steam.

The dryer? It wheezed like a man needing to sneeze,
Then coughed once and quit, like, “I’m taking my leave.”
Your windshield got foggy, your bumper was still lame,
But somehow your car looked exactly the same.

You rolled out the exit, confused and annoyed,
While the wash proudly flashed: “CLEAN CAR DEPLOYED!”
And you muttered, “Well dang… we just got robbed,”
As the dust settled back on your hood, “That has to be fraud!”

So now folks all whisper, “Don’t go there, my friend.
That wash hasn’t cleaned a car since two thousand‑and‑ten.”
But still it stands proudly, a monument seen.
To the world’s first carwash that never washed clean.