Your Faith

April 17, 2026April 2, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

A detailed reproduction of the Shroud of Turin resting on a wooden table. — Image generated and edited via AI.

I was in a Bible study group once, and one subject came up that kind of surprised me. Before I get into the topic, I want to say how much I appreciated and respected those guys in the group. We all had walked with God for various lengths of time and have come from different backgrounds and denominations.

One guy brought up the Shroud of Turin, which was allegedly the cloth that Jesus Christ’s body was wrapped in after he died. He was really into it and talked about how some scientists have proven that it is real and dates back to the age when Jesus was on Earth. (Some scientists have disproven it as being authentic.) Some of the other guys had never heard of this cloth before. I, for one, am a skeptic.

First of all, it’s okay if you have a different opinion than I do. Believing in the Shroud of Turin or not has nothing to do with whether you will make it into heaven or not. I asked the gentleman who believed it was real if it helped his faith or strengthened his faith. I was surprised when he responded that it did.

I’m not a “super saint” or anything, but I believe in Jesus Christ and that he is the Son of God and walked this Earth to show us a better way to live, and that his death on the cross gives us forgiveness of our sins. I believe that without any physical proof. I mean, I have evidence of the changed lives of others and of who I would be without his love in my heart. Only God’s love and his Son could change the heart of man. I have seen all that God has done in my life, the miracles, etc. I believe, period!

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 (MSG)

There has been a lot of analysis and study of the shroud, yet the results remain inconclusive. Some scientists place the cloth at the time of Jesus, while others don’t.

My point is this: either believe in Jesus from the word of God or not. Don’t be wishy-washy, for that will only make you weak. Physical evidence shouldn’t matter. It’s intriguing or interesting, but it shouldn’t be necessary. Look how many followed Jesus and saw miracles right in front of their eyes, yet after they left, they most likely allowed the limitations of their mind to reason the miracles away. The result is they stopped believing in Jesus.

Jesus didn’t do miracles to “prove” that he was indeed the Son of God. He did them because people needed them. Remember, God does the supernatural when the supernatural is needed. Jesus’ main mission was to be a savior for the lost, because that was our greatest need.

God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor. Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!” Luke 4:18 (MSG)

Some people are “poor” in spirit, others are prisoners of their sins, and the blind are spiritually blind.

I used to work with a guy, and he didn’t believe that God was real. After some discussion, I finally asked him, “What would you have to see to believe?” He sat there and thought about how to answer the question for what seemed like eternity. I broke in and said, “Nothing comes to mind, does it? And here’s why: no matter what God did for you to prove his existence, it wouldn’t be enough. Your mind would then try to reason the proof away.” He turned to me with sadness in his eyes and responded, “You’re right.”

Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. It was this kind of faith that won their reputation for the saints of old. And it is after all only by faith that our minds accept as fact that the whole scheme of time and space was created by God’s command—that the world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible. Heb. 11:1-3 (Phillips)

Don’t Jump

April 14, 2026March 26, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I was attending a retreat many years ago. I was a young man at the time and preparing to enter the ministry. During our free time on Saturday afternoon, I went for a hike. The trail took me to the top of a cliff that overlooked some woods below and, further out, the lake.

As I was admiring the beauty of it all, I suddenly heard a voice in my head that said, “If you have so much faith in God and trust him so much, then take a step off this cliff. God will save you” Honestly, it scared me. I wanted to do it to prove I believed in God and by how much.

I inched forward, making my way closer to the edge, and I raised one foot off the ground. I hesitated, but I almost did it. Then I thought that’s nuts! I felt bad as I made my way back down to the retreat center, as if I had failed God.

When I entered my cabin, I saw my friend, Brian. He noticed the strange look on my face and asked, “What’s wrong?” I didn’t want to admit what I had done, but he kept insisting I share with him, so I told him what had happened. Then he told me one of the most profound statements (Steve) I have ever heard. He said, “Mark, God does the supernatural only when the supernatural is needed!” I have never forgotten those words. In short, I would have gotten hurt if not killed, and I’m sure that would have pleased the devil a lot.

Brian’s words are true, and you can see that when you read the Bible. Like when the Israelites walked across the Red Sea on dry ground to escape Pharaoh. (Exo. 14:29) Or when Phillip was transported to another city after baptizing the eunuch. (Acts 8:39) And don’t forget when Jesus calmed the storm by speaking to it. (Mark 4:35-41)

Those were just a few of the supernatural things God did in the Bible. Also, Jesus warns us not to tempt God. In other words, don’t purposely put yourself in a situation tempting God or “testing” God to do something.

The scripture “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” is found in Deuteronomy 6:16. In the context of the New Testament, this verse is referenced in Mathew 4:7, where Jesus responds to the devil during His temptation, emphasizing the importance of not testing God. This principle is crucial for believers, as it teaches that true faith does not require testing or proving God’s existence but rather trusting in His divine authority and promises. (Source: Bible Hub.)

God will take care of you. Consider Psalms 91. Trust him but also use wisdom and common sense when walking with your God.

Life on the Side of the Road

April 10, 2026March 26, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When I was working and living in the Chicago area, I was away from my family. So, I would periodically call my father to check in with him. He was always up to something, so there was never a dull moment.

During one such phone visit, he complained about having two flat tires in a one-month period of time. I laughed, and he wanted to know why I was laughing. Truthfully, he got a little upset. I said, “Dad, I’m sorry you have had to deal with that, but honestly, I’m not surprised.” “Why is that?” he responded. “Because when you drive, you are always looking for a new fishing spot or reminiscing about a large one that got away from that pond. Or you are watching for deer, or a hawk, or something. You are doing something other than keeping your eye on the road and driving! As a result, you are constantly driving on the side of the road or in the gutter where all of the trash, debris, and garbage is.” He didn’t like what I said, but it was the truth. The whole family and his friends who rode with him knew it.

I have observed how some people live. Instead of staying on the straight and narrow, in their lane, they meander off the path. They believe they can live for God and still do the things that other people do who are not yet Christ followers. As a result, they fall “flat,” get hurt, and are frustrated with how their life is going. They are up one minute and down the next.

You probably know someone like this, or perhaps this is you. If it is you, know this: God knows, and He cares very much. One thing that would help is spending more time with the one who made you and understands you. You do that by talking to God as if he is your friend because He is, and reading his word, the Bible. There, you will learn about human nature and the enemy who wants you to fail. He’s the one who puts debris, nails, so to speak, and other things in your path to hurt and keep you down. “Life” on the side of the road is not fun! Better to do life with the One who is rooting you on, and that is God.

“In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)

“Guilty, as Charged”

April 7, 2026March 23, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I have a friend, and whenever they are exposed of doing something wrong, they immediately have an excuse. It took me some time to notice their behavior, their pattern. I’m not saying it’s sometimes, but it is all the time! I haven’t quite discovered their need to defend themselves, as I didn’t study psychology in depth, but I know there is something deep inside of them that projects this behavior, this need to defend themselves, to blame another or situation.

I, on the other hand, sometimes say, “I’m sorry” before my offense has even registered with an individual. The Holy Spirit brings conviction quickly to me, and I feel the need to ask God for forgiveness, soon! It is freeing to be able to say, “Guilty, as charged,” and to then take care of it.

One of the best things that came about from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was that the veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom. What once separated us from going to God directly is gone because Jesus was a pure sacrifice for our sins.

Walking around with sin still attached to us can weigh us down and even bring depression. Charles Oswald put it like this:

“Whenever the Spirit of God detects something wrong, he doesn’t ask you to make it right; he asks you to accept the light so he can make it right. A child of the light confesses instantly and stands naked before God. A child of darkness is defensive and says, “Oh, I can explain that away.” When the light breaks and you feel convicted of having done wrong, be a child of the light. Confess, and God will deal with it. If you try to excuse or vindicate yourself, you will prove yourself a child of darkness.”

Some people are so perfect in their own minds that they will even try to stand before God and blame others for how they lived their lives. Spoiler alert: It won’t work! I tell my friend, “It’s okay to make mistakes. Notice I didn’t say, “Do wrong.” Then I tell them, “Just admit it, apologize, and ask God to forgive you, and then move on. No one will think badly of you. And if they do, then they have a problem.” Live in the light of forgiveness.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:1-2 (NIV)

Where Jesus Is

April 3, 2026March 20, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I know a guy who has had the privilege of traveling in and around Jerusalem. Many times, during our men’s Bible study group, he will give us insight into certain places where Jesus has allegedly been. He will describe the scene to us. I’m sure some of the places are accurate, and Jesus was certainly there, but I have to think that some of the other places are nothing more than wishful thinking, or to get a few bucks out of tourists.

Perhaps I am weird or something, but I have never been one to want to be where someone else has “once” been. I mean, I have seen where the Wright brothers first took flight, been in the church where Paul Revere saw how many lanterns were hanging to know if the British were coming by land or by sea. I have been to other places, too, where famous people once allegedly walked, but I wasn’t really moved.

What would excite me is if I were at those famous locations “with” the individual or persons who made it famous! I can’t imagine the expressions on the Wright brothers’ faces when their theory on how to make an airplane fly worked. Can’t you just see Lazarus when he hobbled out of the tomb alive again? Or the tears as they flowed from the woman caught in adultery, and she realizes she has been forgiven? What about eating fish and bread that Jesus blessed, and it multiplied?

I guess what I am saying is I would rather be “with” Jesus and walk beside him than be where He might have been so many years ago. There is nothing better than being in the presence of God and feeling Jesus by your side. I desire to always be where Jesus is, for I know, and am confident that He is always with me. Now that moves me!

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Mat. 28:20b (NLT)

Home is Where the Heart Is

March 31, 2026March 14, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

It has been said, “The shortest distance between point ‘A’ and point ‘B’ is a straight line.” It would be nice if we could fly so we could go straight home. That would reduce the amount of time we are out.

“Home” is a special place. It should be a place of peace and security. A place to feel comfortable and relaxed, but I realize it isn’t for everyone. I like being “home.” I don’t always enjoy being out. I have said I could be like Ted Kaczynski, living by myself in a small structure in Montana, and be okay. (Without the “Unabomber” part of course!)

I mentioned the other day how smart our car is. It knows where it is parked overnight and has labeled that location as “home.” So now, if we are out and need directions to find “home,” we can select it on the car’s GPS. We did that recently, and as we were pulling into the driveway, the car said, “Welcome home.”

For one who believes in God and has accepted His Son, Jesus, into their life, then we know that this Earth is not our home. In that regard, home is where your heart is, where your priorities are. Are you living for yourself, or are you living for God? Are you striving to build up treasures here on Earth, trying to make a name for yourself? Spoiler alert! You will never be satisfied. It will never be enough.

For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come. Heb. 13:14 (AMPC)

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Phi. 3:20 (NLT)

I have observed that some people are extremely reluctant to accept God. I believe they are more concerned about the kind of life they live, as if they enjoy their sins and don’t want to give them up. But at the same time, they seem to live a life of struggling and suffering. They don’t realize how much God loves them and wants to help them overcome the world. They fail to understand the kind of life they could have if they changed their address to heaven. Problems don’t disappear after we accept Jesus, but it sure is easier to go through them with Him!

Some eventually stop trying to do things their way and surrender to life in God. It’s as if it took them a long time to find “home,” but I am so glad they eventually do, and so are they. They now know that place of peace, security, comfort, and rest. And if you are new to living a life with God, then I have one thing to say, “Welcome home.”

Albert Ienstein

March 27, 2026March 11, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I owned it for fifteen years. One hundred and fifty-eight thousand miles. The front bumper kept trying to come off, the windshield was cracked, the heater didn’t work, the transmission slipped in third gear, it was banged up from a wreck, and the trunk wouldn’t stay open without a stick. It had to go.

The vehicle we got to replace the old one is smart. Like really smart! I have a feeling it is smarter than me. It must be loaded with “Albert Ienstein.” (A.I.) It comes with a safety system that tells me all kinds of things. Today, while on a day trip, it kept sounding an alarm, thinking I was distracted, and perhaps I was. I’m beginning to think there is a camera watching my eyes. The steering wheel will shake as if I am in California during an earthquake when the vehicle is in reverse, and another car is approaching. It can scare the crud out of ya. It will even alert me if I leave a pet or April in the back seat and try to walk away.

I wonder how in the world we drove to the store before these cars had safety systems. Or, are we that stupid now? And the way some people drive, yeah, probably.

Life with God comes with a safety system, too.

Psalms 91You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you, and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them, you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.

Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me, and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!” (MSG)

God’s safety system is calming, comforting, and definitely not scary. I hope you have him in your life and His way of living, too. He doesn’t need Albert Ienstein (A.I.) either. There is nothing artificial about God’s intelligence.

Overcoming Rejection

March 24, 2026February 28, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

There was a news story a few weeks ago, about a baby macaque monkey (snow monkey) at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan (about 20 miles east of Tokyo), the zookeepers named “Punch.”

His mother abandoned Punch at birth. The zoo staff stepped in and started raising Punch, even giving him a stuffed, orange orangutan to help him deal with the enormous amount of rejection he was facing and the loneliness. Even the other monkeys in the compound ignored him at first. Lately, though, the other monkeys have accepted him. Not sure if they realized he was now a celebrity, or, more likely, saw something in Punch they admired. Maybe they saw how he was handling the rejection. Maybe they noticed how he still cared for others even though others didn’t care for him.

I heard a line once in a movie that went something like this: “It’s not that they like you or that they don’t like you. You’re different from them. They don’t understand you, and sooner or later, people fear what they don’t understand.” Rejecting an individual because they are different from you is crazy. Sadly, people get rejected for most likely the stupidest of reasons every day. How you deal with it is important.

Take a cue from Punch. Don’t let it bother you. Know who you are and how special you are. Discover your talents and strengths and then excel in them. Know that you were fearfully and wonderfully made by God. (Psalms 139.14) And treat others the way you want to be treated. I wouldn’t necessarily walk around with a bright orange, stuffed orangutan, but a nice smile may do it. And remember, if you are really struggling, please talk to someone. And in America, you can dial 988 for help. Jesus was rejected. He knows your pain, and He is there ready and waiting to help if you will ask him to.

The Almighty God

March 20, 2026March 21, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

By Oswald Chambers

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.” — John 4:11

“The well is deep”—indeed! The well of human nature is even deeper than the Samaritan woman knew. Think of the depths inside you, the depths of your thoughts and your feelings, of your hopes and your fears. Do you believe that no depth is too deep for Jesus?

Imagine that there is a fathomless well of trouble inside your heart. Then Jesus comes and says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Do you reply, “But, Lord, the well is too deep. You’ll never draw quietness and comfort up from it”? It’s true; he won’t. Jesus doesn’t bring anything up from the wells of human nature. He brings it down from God above.

If we’re looking inside ourselves for the answers, diving into the wells of our incompleteness, we’ll only succeed in placing limits on God. Sometimes, we limit God by forgetting what he’s done for us; sometimes, we limit him by remembering. We remember how far we’ve allowed him to go for us in the past, and we think that he can never go any further. But God has no limits; God is almighty. As disciples, we must believe this fully. To believe in God’s almightiness means believing in the very thing that seems to challenge it. We find it easy to believe that God can sympathize with us, but when it comes to something we’ve already decided is impossible, we shrug and say, “God can’t do everything.” God’s ministry is infinitely rich; we impoverish it when we talk like this.

The reason some of us are such poor specimens of discipleship is that we don’t believe in an almighty God. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but we aren’t abandoned to our Lord. Beware of the satisfaction that comes from sinking back and saying, “It can’t be done.” You know it can, if you look to Jesus.

I write a lot about the subject matter above. I thought you all might enjoy hearing from one who walked with God about 100 years ago on this matter, but yet his words are still relevant today.

Track Package

March 17, 2026February 25, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When you are expecting a package from Amazon, do you ever track the package? Like, actually watch the little Amazon van move on a map. I can’t get it to work on my phone, probably because I suffer from techunsavvy syndrome, but I can on my desktop PC. It’s kind of cool to watch as the driver gets closer to your house and the number of stops before you go down until you see, “You’re the next stop.”

That’s when I get excited and go sit on the stairs to watch out the window. Can you tell I am retired? You should see the delivery guy’s face when you open the door just as he is about to set your package down. As if, “How did you know?” I usually have to say, “Go ahead. Take the picture to prove it was delivered.”

For believers in God, it seems as if the most challenging aspect of our faith is waiting for God to answer our prayers or wondering whether He has heard us at all, because we don’t see anything happening. Wouldn’t it be cool if somehow, we could “track” our answered prayer or “package”? If we could see that we were the next stop on God’s route. Or if our answer was “Out for delivery.” That would certainly make things easier and more comforting, but would it be faith?

It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Heb. 11:6 (MSG)

A few years ago, I prayed and asked God to heal my finger of Dupuytren’s disease. He did, but I did not see total healing for four months. God’s latest miracle in our finances took almost 6 months to be delivered. A tracking program would have been helpful. But though I did not know “when” I chose to believe anyway.

If you have prayed and asked God for a miracle and have not seen the answer delivered yet, do not despair. God has heard you, and I assure you, He is acting on your behalf in a way that will not harm you but in a way that will help you believe in bigger miracles in the future. And when you testify to God’s goodness and greatness in your life, it will, in turn, help someone else to believe for a miracle in their own life.