We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rules!

August 19, 2025July 18, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

When I was a little boy, I didn’t understand why the school cafeteria always served fish sticks on Fridays. As I got older, I learned it was because people who followed the Catholic faith couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. I don’t mean any disrespect, but what in the world does that “rule” have to do with accepting Jesus Christ and having your sins forgiven?

I have read the Bible several times and from different versions, and I have never seen that “rule” in the Word of God. And for that matter, I have never seen that we had to go to a man to confess our sins, but rather we could go to God himself. And nowhere did I read that when we pray, we have to face East. (Some people, directionally challenged, might find that one difficult.)

Again, I don’t mean any disrespect, but isn’t it obvious that these and other “rules” are man-made? I kind of get it, some feel they need to “do” something to “earn” their way into heaven. As if they can be “good” enough to deserve heaven. The truth is, they can never be “good” enough or “do” enough to get into heaven. There is only one way into heaven, and I stated earlier that is by asking Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins, wrongdoings, and to ask Him into your life, thus foregoing the “rules” and starting a “relationship” with God.

I have heard that “religion” (rules) is man’s way to God, but God’s way to man is through his Son, Jesus (relationship).

Some may say, “Wait a minute, Christianity is full of rules.” No, it’s not. Christianity is a lifestyle. A way to live that is based in love. Loving God first and then loving others as you love yourself. Christianity is freedom. Walking with God and talking to him anytime you want to. Just like He intended, and the way things started out with Adam and Eve.

If you haven’t tried living life God’s way, then what are you waiting for? What are you afraid will happen? You are only delaying real life, true living, so forget the “rules” and start walking with God. You’ll love it, you’ll love Him, and you will love others.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Mat. 22:37-40 (MSG)

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 1 John 4:7-10 (MSG)

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
Acts 5:29 (NLT)

Coincidence?

August 15, 2025July 18, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I once heard that a “coincidence” is a small miracle where God insists on remaining anonymous. Maybe, but I’m not sure, because He wants to be known. For the devout follower of God, one who has a great relationship with Him, their steps are ordained (officially ordered by God).

It still amazes me, to this day, how God does such a thing. Especially, if your path is to cross with someone else’s. If left to your decisions, would you be too early, or too late for your assignment? But when you yield to God, you are always on time! That kind of relationship takes trust and faith in the God who runs the universe.

This happened to me yesterday. I was going to get out the door and run my errands before it got too hot. I also wanted to mow the lawn. Lately, the grass has been wet from a heavy dew until as late as 2 – 3 PM. I looked out the window and saw that the dew wasn’t too bad and there was a strong breeze. I heard a soft prompting in my spirit, “Go mow.”

I did, and I have to say, for the middle of summer, it wasn’t too bad. After finishing, I was glad I got it done. I came in, showered to help cool down, ate lunch, and then headed out to deal with the errands.

On my second stop, I encountered a young man. Through a thread of conversation, we wound up talking about church. It seemed as if he wasn’t going or wasn’t happy where he was going. I invited him to the church that April and I are going to. I shared with him why we like it so much. I am excited because I believe he will come. Then, on my last stop, I had a serious conversation with another young man about the importance of a trusting faith in God.

I could not dismiss what had taken place and knew that if I had run my errands earlier in the day as I was planning on, I probably would have missed both of them. I love being led by God and having my steps officially ordered. I have learned to trust him in knowing what to say to people and how much. I am humbled that God would allow me to take part in conducting his business. Of course, I won’t know the outcome until I get to heaven, and I’m okay with that, because I know that God’s words never return to him void.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Prov. 3: 5-6 (MSG)

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Is. 30:21 (NLT)

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Prov. 16:9 (NLT)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Ps. 37:23 (NLT)

God wants to be known:

To you it was shown, that you might realize and have personal knowledge that the Lord is God
Deut. 4:35a (AMPC)

Never Too Close!

August 12, 2025July 14, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” Rom. 10:11 (MSG)

Yesterday, at the time of this writing, my pastor spoke from the book of Genesis about how Abram (later Abraham) picked up and left everything to follow God and his plan for his life. Today I sent the following message to him.

Hi Pastor,

I could relate to your message yesterday. When I was 20, God called me into the ministry. Three weeks after I turned 21, I left Tulsa, my budding, stable career with PSO, family, and friends, and drove 1640 miles to Acton, MA.

I took a position in an Assembly of God church that was new, and they said they couldn’t pay me a salary. Yet I had a car payment, a student loan to pay back (with no Joe Biden’s help), and living costs. My father forbade me from going. (I was not living under his roof at the time.) Also, I lost my best friend over it because he thought I should obey my father. Yet I knew God told me to go, and I wanted to “trust” Him and obey.

God was faithful, and everything got paid. I learned so much about following God back then. It has truly been the greatest adventure one could ever live! I, too, desire for everyone to experience that kind of relationship with God, and that is the basis of my blogs.

In closing, I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper to me yesterday while you were speaking, “Because you trusted me and obeyed, I have poured out my blessings upon you ever since.”

Romans 10:11 is so true! You don’t follow God for what you can get from him. He simply likes to bless his children who believe so strongly in him. One can never follow God too closely.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb. 11:6 (NIV)

⁶So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ⁷Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ⁹So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Gal. 3:6-9 (NIV)

You’re Close!

August 8, 2025July 9, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I have been volunteering at our church’s Vacation Bible School. Last night, the children’s pastor had them play a game where one student went up on stage and was blindfolded. Then he hid a lantern on the stage. That student’s teammates had to “cheer” when the student was moving in the right direction toward the light and “boo” when they were going the wrong way. It was loud!

Watching the fun, I realized, shouldn’t we do the same with people who have not accepted Jesus? I mean, shouldn’t we “cheer” them on when they go in the right direction? And shouldn’t we be loud? Then, likewise, shouldn’t we show our disapproval when we see someone making bad decisions and or walking away from the Light?

People who have not accepted Jesus Christ yet and have had their sins forgiven are indeed blind to the truth. And the devil does everything he can to confuse, distract, or lie to them to keep them away from God. He tries so hard to convince them that they know the way and can do life on their own, their way. The Bible has some things to say about this.

This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. Mat. 13:13 (NIV)

If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get. 2 Cor. 4:3-4 (MSG)

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)

I See You!

August 5, 2025July 7, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I watched a movie today, where a son was bitter against his father. His dad was a world-renowned photographer, and he didn’t think his father was around enough or even saw him. The father learned that the last company in Kansas doing so was going to stop developing film. He had some, according to him, important photos that had never been developed earlier in time. He wanted his son to drive him halfway across the country to Kansas. As well, he hoped to reconnect with his estranged son one more time. The father was also very sick and dying of cancer.

The movie played out a lot like real life, where when someone is around long enough, their true feelings about them have a way of coming out. Words, hurtful ones but sometimes true ones, are spoken.

They make it to Kansas just in time, and if you are like me, you will guess (sorry, spoiler alert) that the father dies the night before the slides are made, preventing him from ever seeing what he considered his best work.

Some people may think or feel as though God doesn’t see them. Or perhaps he isn’t around enough. They might believe this because life isn’t going the way “they” want it to. I assure you, God has never taken his eye off of you. And He is always right there with you.

Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. Ps. 33:18-19 (MSG)

God would say, “I see you!” There have been times when I felt God’s presence so strong that I knew He not only sees me and what I am going through, but is right there with me in the moment. Faith helps you know that God is there and that He sees you.

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deu. 31:6 (MSG)

At the end of the movie, the son loads a slide carousel projector to view what his father claimed was so important that he had to deliver it to the developer himself, rather than trust a shipping company to handle it. Turns out, the photos were of him as he was growing up. Yes, his dad was there, and yes, he saw him!

First Place Trophy?

August 1, 2025June 30, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

One man bragged that he had a trophy wife. His buddy said, “Yeah, but she came in sixth place!”

I know a man, and the second time I had a conversation with him, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Watch out for this man. Don’t get too close to him and guard what you say to him.” He started sharing with me his religious trophies. In other words, what he thought he had done “for God,” but in reality, he did them for himself. There was one such trophy that shocked me when he shared it. He seemed proud of it, too, which bothered me. It was something that didn’t seem right, for one who claims to be a Christ follower, to be a part of.

I’m sorry I can’t reveal more about what he told me because it is possible that some who read these blogs know him and I have always strived not to expose people for what they are, but to make a point. Who this man is isn’t important, but his being “religious” is!

Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. Jam. 1:26-27 (MSG)

Focusing on the part of the above verse that is labeled as “Real religion” is really about “love.” God’s love. Simply loving on people. Bob Goff wrote a book about it titled “Love Does.” I’ve had the opportunity to hear Bob speak in person. One story he shared I can’t forget.

He said he was picked up at the airport in a limo. On his way to his hotel, he asked the young driver, “Have you ever ridden back here?” “No,” said the chauffeur. Bob says he thought for a moment and then said, “Why don’t you pull over and get back here and I’ll drive for you.” “What?” exclaimed the driver. “Of course, if we do this, you have to let me wear the hat!” They exchanged places. The young man had never been shown or felt such love.

Doing something out of the ordinary for someone else gets their attention. They sit up and start paying attention to why this person is different than anyone they have ever met. Many times, they will even ask, “Why are you doing this?” Or, “Why are you different?” Jesus dined with tax collectors, and they were considered bad people. He became friends with a woman caught in adultery. He understood and didn’t condemn when a woman went against her culture to touch the hem of his garment.

Those people didn’t see “religion,” they saw “love in motion.” Jesus never dragged out his trophies of all the miracles he had performed and showed them off. He never had the disciples stop and polish them either. Jesus simply loved, and talked about his heavenly Father and a better way to live.

Big Enough for You, Two

July 29, 2025June 30, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Our pastor preached from the book of Genesis this past Sunday. He spoke about Noah and the ark. I have been to Williamstown, KY., where there is a life-size replica of the ark. One thought that came to mind this past Sunday was that it was big enough to take in “all” who believed. So is heaven.

In Genesis 7:16, God shut the door of the ark. He had given mankind time to believe, enter the ark, and be saved. The ark was a type of salvation. God saw that mankind was getting out of hand. He had had enough, but everyone on Earth at that time had an opportunity to live.

In Matthew 24, Jesus says that in the last days, life on Earth will be as it was in the days of Noah. Man will once again be vial, evil, and corrupt. And once again God will say, “Enough!” God knows that sin hurts people. The one doing wrong and usually someone else. That may be why He will end it someday soon, but He has once again given mankind time to accept him, this time, through believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

Our pastor said it was Noah’s faith that saved him and not the ark. Your faith will save you, too. You can enter heaven by yourself, or you can enter heaven with someone else, as in two by two. In fact, invite everyone to join you. Noah did. Don’t accept the majority opinion. Just because it may be popular doesn’t mean it is right. The people in Noah’s day most likely said Noah was crazy. “What rain?” “It has never rained before!” They turned out to be wrong. Don’t be wrong. Get on board with believing in Jesus.

In the end, it won’t physically rain on the Earth to the extent of flooding it, but the next time, justice will rain down!

For just as life went on in the days of Noah so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat. 7: 37 (PHILLIPS)

“You must be on the alert then, for you do not know when your master is coming.
Mat. 7: 42 (PHILLIPS)

Oh, and the typo in the title was intentional. It was a pun on words.

A Random Encounter

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

We all want answers to life’s questions. Usually, we ask them before something happens. “Should I change jobs?” “Should we sell the house?” But then, after something does happen, they change to “Why did that happen?”

For the one who talks to God, we want, and at times, expect him to answer our questions immediately, but if you have walked with God for a while, then you know He doesn’t always answer them on our timetable!

I stopped the other day at a fireworks stand. I have been a big fan of them since I was a child. Last year, I got to shoot off the free package of fireworks that April had won in a raffle. The show was incredible for non-professional ones! I was hoping there would be a way to get some for this year, so I stopped to see what the prices were.

I started talking to the salesman. I knew a church in a small town about 70 miles away ran the stand as a fundraiser. I also knew what organization the church was affiliated with. Turns out, the man I was speaking to was the pastor of the church.

I wasn’t sure why I did, at the time, but I told him I used to go to a church nearby, also affiliated with the organization. I shared with him the struggle April and I had in meeting people there, and how we tried to join a “home group,” but the leader of that group never called us. I mean, April and I shower regularly, and I don’t think we look funny or are weird or anything. I assured him I wasn’t angry or bitter over the circumstances and that we are now going to another church that we like, and that we have already met several people.

The pastor looked at me and said, “Perhaps you were never meant to go there.” I stood stunned for a moment and then replied, “You may be right.” My friend Steve would say, “Now that’s profound!” And it was. You see, I had been questioning for a while, “Why is it so hard for us to meet people here?” God directed us to where we “should” be attending out of frustration.

Perhaps randomly meeting someone isn’t so random after all. What if the encounter was set up by God? Did He have the meeting on “his” appointment schedule, but knew I didn’t need to receive a memo about it? In certain situations, like me meeting the pastor of a church at a fireworks stand, wasn’t random at all! God knew that the pastor had the answer to the question that was in the back of my mind. “Thank you, Father, for the encounter and the answer.” Now I can delete that one and make room for a new question.

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. Ps. 37:23 (AMP)

This post was written days before the 4^th of July. Not only will I be reflecting on my freedom as a citizen, but I will also be celebrating that God cares and answers my questions.

Your Story

July 22, 2025June 27, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I am reposting from Facebook. I tried to find the author and get permission to share, but I was unsuccessful. Yet the words should be shared, and I love the image that was used with the post.

When you die, don’t worry about your body. Your relatives and funeral staff will do it. I know this firsthand. I’ve done it myself. They will take you out of the house and deliver you to the funeral home of your family’s choice. They will take off your clothes. They will wash you. They will dress you up. They will even apply makeup to make you look presentable. Many will come to the funeral to honor you. Some will even cancel their plans and ask for leave to go to the funeral.

Your things, things you hate to be borrowed, will be sold, donated, or burned. Your keys, your tools, your books, your CDs, DVDs, games, your collections, and your clothes.

The world won’t stop and cry for you. The economy will continue. You will be replaced at work. Someone with the same or even better ability will take your place. Your property will switch to your heirs. And don’t doubt that the small and big things you have done in your life will be spoken of, judged, doubted, and criticized.

People who only knew your face will say, “Poor thing!” Your good friends will cry for a few hours or several days, but then they will laugh again. Your pets will get used to their new owner.

Your pictures will be hanging on the wall for a while, then they will be put on furniture, and finally stored at the bottom of the box. Someone else will sit on your couch and eat from it. Deep pain in your home will last a year, two, maybe ten… Then you will join the memories, and then your story will end. It will end among people, end here, end in this world.

But your story begins in a new reality… in your life after death. The things you once had will lose their meaning. You cannot bring your earthly possessions here. The beauty of your body, last name, property, loans, working position, bank account, the house, the car, academic titles, classmates, trophies, friends of the world, man/woman, the kids, the family.

In your new life, you will only need your soul. The only property that will last is the soul. The big question is: Do you know where your soul is going after this life is over? Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) The Bible is clear that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3). John 3:18 explains in the simplest terms who will go to heaven and who will go to hell: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” So, those who go to hell are specifically those who do not believe in Jesus’ name.

Simply, if you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, by grace alone, through faith alone, you will spend eternity in heaven. If you do not receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will be eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:46).

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We can choose to trust in Jesus’ payment for our sin, or we can choose to pay for our sins ourselves—but we must remember that the payment for our sin is eternity in hell. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31)

What’s That Smell?

July 18, 2025June 27, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

The other day, I was cutting some wood with a dull blade. It caused the wood to smoke. The smell didn’t bother me. I kind of like the smell of smoke. Like from campfires and especially from fireworks. I noticed hours later that I could smell the smoke from the burnt wood in my shirt. I found it pleasing. Instantly, my thoughts turned to the incense that burned in the temple day and night.

From the temple found in the Old Testament, the altar incense symbolized the prayers of God’s people. The incense burned day and night. We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. (Luke 18:1) The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice. Today, it is the blood of Jesus Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable.

In my imagination, I can see the fragrance of our prayers getting into whatever outfit God is sporting that day. Okay, probably some type of robe. And as I did with my shirt and the burnt smoke, I can imagine God turning to one side and sniffing, and the odor putting a big smile on his face because his people are praying.

If they are praying, that indicates they trust in God to do what He does best. It means they are relying on him to meet their needs or the needs of someone else. To deliver or heal whatever the situation requires. It is understandable, then, why our prayers cause him to smile. God loves us so much. He wants to be active in our lives and even give us good gifts.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 (NIV)

If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Mat. 7:11 (NET)