The Secret

October 16, 2026August 21, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Paul says something stunning in Colossians 2:2–4 (MSG) — that God wants us “woven into a tapestry of love,” and that as we grow in Christ, we “get in on the riches of this mystery.” The Message paraphrases it as “the secret is Christ himself.” That’s the heartbeat of this passage: the more clearly we see Jesus, the more clearly we see everything else.

The Secret That Brings Peace

Paul explains that God’s desire is for us to have a mind settled by truth, not shaken by fear or confusion. In Colossians 2:3, he writes that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, meaning every answer our hearts crave is found in Him.

When we try to carry life with our own understanding, anxiety becomes normal. But when we lean into the wisdom of God, the wisdom found in Christ, our minds begin to rest. We stop scrambling for control because we realize we already have access to the One who knows everything. Jesus doesn’t just give wisdom; He is wisdom, God’s wisdom, Christ’s mystery – Spiritual peace.

Knowing Everything by Knowing Him

This doesn’t mean we become all‑knowing. It means we’re connected to the One who is. And that connection changes how we think, how we respond, and how we rest.

When we don’t know what to do, His wisdom steadies us.
When life feels uncertain, His knowledge reassures us.
When fear whispers lies, His truth anchors us.

Paul warns in Colossians 2:4 that smooth‑talking arguments will try to pull us away from this peace. But when Christ is our center, deception loses its power. We don’t panic at every new idea or cultural shift because our foundation is unshakeable.

A Mind at Peace

The wisdom of God doesn’t just inform us; it forms us. It shapes our reactions, calms our thoughts, and settles our hearts. This is the secret Paul wanted the church to grasp: peace isn’t found in knowing everything; peace is found in knowing Him. And when you know Him, you begin to see everything else with clarity.

Dunkin Disciples

June 23, 2026May 5, 2026 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Dunkin' Donuts store with people holding coffee and donuts, parking lot, and drive-thru lane — Image generated via AI.

Water baptism is like dunking a donut — you go in one way and come out completely changed. The old you is gone. The new you is freshly made in Christ. At the church we attend, we recently had eleven people get baptized.

First up was a little girl. She was smiling as the minister started having a conversation with her, confirming she understood what she was doing. The young girl must have been excited about her decision to go public with her faith because before the minister could say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” she went underwater. She dunked herself. When those in attendance realized what had just happened, they laughed. The surprised minister said, “Well, okay then!”

Water baptism is a public declaration of an inward transformation. It’s the moment you step into the water and say, “My old life is gone. I belong to Jesus now.” It’s simple, humble, and powerful — a physical picture of a spiritual reality.

Different donuts. One Dunkin’.
Different stories. One Savior.
Baptism unites us in the same message: Jesus makes us new.

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27)

No matter your background, personality, or story, baptism unites every believer under the same truth.

The last person to be baptized was an older gentleman. I met him afterwards, and he shared with me that he felt bad that it took him 51 years to accept Jesus into his life and then to get baptized. I congratulated him on making the most important decision of his life, and then said, “Wow! 51 years of sin. No wonder the water was dirty when you got out.” We laughed and celebrated that he is now a new creation.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Cor. 5:17 (NLT)

Water baptism is one of the most beautiful, symbolic moments in a believer’s life — and surprisingly, it has more in common with a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts than you might expect.

Next time you see someone dunking a donut into coffee — or you do it yourself — let it remind you of your baptism:

“Buried with Christ. Raised to new life.”

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

December 3, 2024November 22, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

The Christmas song “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” gives the reason, the story, of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the future of his saints.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of ev’ry nation, joy of every longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see Thee Day-spring from on high, appear.
Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse, of Thy birth, we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth; “Go to Him your praises bringing Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end. By His life He brings us gladness, Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend. Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall; this the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. by Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Come, Thou whom the prophets promised. Thou of whom the canters sing; Come, Emmanuel, God be with us. Thou our Prophet, Priest, and King. Jesus, Thou are all perfection, Thou whose fellowship we crave; Thou the Life and Resurrection, Come redeem us from the grave.

Come, Thou King, receive Thy kingdom; With the angels, split the skies! Come with shouts and trumpets sounding, Bid Thy slumb’ring children rise! Gather in Thine arms so tender Sinners saved through grace alone; Lead us though Thy gates of splendor Unto our eternal home.

Any questions?

Songwriters: Words: Charles Wesley, 1744 (Verses 1 & 4) Mark Hunt, 1978 (Verses 2 & 3) Ann Aschauer 2022 (Verses 5 & 6)

My First Christmas in America

December 24, 2021December 22, 2021 / Mark Brady / 6 Comments

by April Joy Brady (Mark’s wife)

This is my first Christmas in America. My previous ones have been in my home country of the Philippines. People’s attitudes here toward Christmas are a lot different than there. It seems as if some of the people are forgetting the real reason for Christmas. Some even go as far as to remove “Christ” from the word Christmas with “X-mas”. It makes me wonder if they have removed Christ from their hearts as well. I’m not trying to be judging, it would be difficult not to be that way growing up here in America, with constantly being bombarded with TV ads and popular culture.

This season here seems to be more about parties, gifts, and where to spend the holiday. When in the Philippines, where resources don’t flow so freely, Christmas tends to be much simpler, and we are happy to get to see family and share a simple meal, and laugh. There is a lot of laughter back home. I imagine Jesus’s first Christmas was simple as well. Mary and Joseph adoring their new born son, lying still in a feeding trough with some hay, and perhaps an animal’s covering over him. A far cry from a beautiful wooden crib from Ashley Furniture with blankets from Macys!

I think I have been blessed to have my previous life and Christmas’ in the Philippines. I hope in the years to come I do not stray too far from my roots, especially when it comes to the attitude of what Christmas really is, or supposed to be about.

I will enjoy the time spent with my husband and the gifts he has bought for me as well as the other gifts from friends and coworkers, but in my heart I will be in Bethlehem, humming, “Away in the Manger”.

Merry Christmas everyone. May Christ fill your hearts with his love.

April

Do You Have a Pulpit?

January 2, 2019January 1, 2019 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

…I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! (Phi 1:20 MSG)