lies

Breaking News!

/ Mark Brady / 1 Comment
Image generated via AI.

I have started seeing fantastic news on Facebook lately. It usually starts with, “BREAKING NEWS from Branson, MO.” This gets my attention. Sometimes, my heart will even start racing. The first one I read talked about a couple living in a remote attic space above the local Walmart. The article went on to explain how they survived there for two years without being detected. It shared how they obtained their food and other necessary supplies. They were finally caught by an HVAC technician who entered the space to work on one of the air units. I believed it.

Now, though, I’m beginning to not believe any of the articles that start like that, because the last one I saw said that McDonald’s is now offering funeral services. “McFuneral’s.”

Sadly, in today’s world, you can’t believe everything you hear, read, or see. With the invention of A.I., just about any image can be created and made to look real. In the old days, newspapers verified their stories to protect their reputation. They wanted people to know that what they printed could be trusted.

The Bible warns us in Matthew 24:23 that some will say, “Here is the Messiah!” or, “There he is!” That we are not to believe and chase after such rumors. Worse, some may be yelling with excitement in their voice, that the Bible says this or that, like “BREAKING NEWS!” You might hear this and have your heart start racing.

So how do we discern the truth? Easy. By knowing the truth for ourselves! It is critical, more now than ever, to know what the word of God says. In the past, some churches proclaimed that the Bible was too difficult to understand, so leave it to those who have been trained. But with the modern language translations we have available, even free, there is no excuse.

Someone, perhaps even a friend, may proclaim, “The word of God says this.” Your brain can work fast, and you can say, “No, actually, it doesn’t.” If you didn’t know for yourself, you could easily be misled. That is one of the main reasons I show the scriptures in these posts, or at least give the reference.

Be wise. Be cautious and be suspicious of anyone who tries to tell you what the Bible says. I used to have a friend who, when we talked, always challenged me to list my sources when I mentioned something. It was a little obnoxious, but in reality, wise. He wanted to know if he could trust what I said.

Be careful, friends. Study God’s word and show thyself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The Greatest Con Artist

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Image by Leandro De Carvalho from Pixabay

con art·ist
noun
a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true

I have been conned more than once in my lifetime. Afterward, when I realized it, I felt so stupid for being so gullible. The problem is I want to think the best of people. I also thought that no one who cared about me would take advantage of me.

I once heard that the more details the person gives you, the bigger the lie. There was one person who would tell me a story, and I purposely wouldn’t respond. It’s like they got nervous and would begin to add details to their lie. I don’t think they ever figured out how I always seemed to know when they were lying to me.

But a con artist is a little different. It’s as if they have practiced their craft until they have perfected it. Like they have learned what words work and which ones don’t. They also seem to paint in some sad portions so that you will feel sorry for them. Another trick of a good con artist is they will insert a time element into what they are asking you for. Like, “I have to have the money tomorrow, or I could be arrested under false pretenses!”

No matter how sophisticated their work is, it is still based on a lie or a series of lies. I think some con artists get so good they begin to believe their cons are true. The greatest con artist is Satan, and yes, I think he believes what he says is true. He will tell you anything to get you to do wrong, sin. He will even tell you partial truths if it serves him. He hopes that his lie will keep you from God or pull you away from God. He likes to use guilt, too.

Genesis 3: 1-6 (NIV)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

If something someone or the devil says to you doesn’t sound or feel right, then it probably isn’t. If you walk away and say, “I need more time to think about it or to check it out, it will most likely frustrate the con artist! They might even get mad. I mean, what if Eve had said to Satan, “Well, the next time God is talking to us in the cool of the day, I will ask him about what you have said.”? If she had done that, perhaps we would all still be living in a garden the way God first intended.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Tell Them What They Want to Hear

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phoyo by: ThomasWolter via Pixabay

Have you ever experienced someone who only tells people what they think those people want to hear? If they are talking to you, it may take a while to pick up on it, especially if you believe people. I find it easier to detect when I hear them talking to other people.

This year, I came across one of these individuals. We entered into an agreement that required them to pay money to me. The other thing about this type of person is they “always” have “life” happen to them. (I kept it “G” rated by saying “life”) But if you knew the truth, you would know that what they say didn’t happen to them. In other words, they lied.

It amazes me how those who lie think we must be stupid and believe every word from their mouths. I often will let them dig a hole deeper and deeper by not commenting on the lie. When I suspect a problem, it is better to ask God to protect me and help me discern the lies. He is so faithful to answer that prayer.

Sad, but the one who is lying starts believing their own lies. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to live that way. How can they take advantage of, well, everyone and live with themselves? How did it turn out with the one who wronged me? On paper, they still owe us money. A lot. And although the deficit is still there, God has blessed us financially. He has brought three separate checks into our lives.

I will say this: After I knew we were being used and lied to, I sensed God wanted us to help the person out, within reason. Why? Because He knew He would take care of us, but He also knew the individual would wonder why and sit down and listen to a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was able to show them how much God loves them. The point is this: only God’s kind of love can change a person. Because God’s love doesn’t tell them what they want to hear, but it tells them what they “need” to hear.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
1 Cor. 13:7-8a (Phillips)

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

You Could be a Winner!

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Photo by: Engin Akyurt

$100.00 to the first 50 people that “like” and “comment” on this post to show my appreciation to my readers!*

Do I have your attention? Did you think, even for a moment, this could be an easy way to get $100? Scams are everywhere lately. Most of the ones I get come as text messages requiring me to click on a link and render my payment method to fix my account. I got one this past week that said my October payment for a subscription couldn’t be processed. My heart leaped for a moment, and I almost clicked on the link.

Many scams are written with fear built-in or hope to hit it rich without working hard for it. They remind me of how satan talks to us. He will tell us perhaps a half-truth but not the whole truth. He will dangle something we desperately want in front of us and make it seem so easy to obtain. Like he said to Eve in the Garden of Eden, Then he lied to her by saying, “You will not surely die.” (Gen. 3:4) He even tried to tempt Jesus.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Mat. 4:1-11 (NIV)

The devil tried three separate times and ways to get Jesus to stumble. Some say he tempted him in the big three: the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. It’s important to note how Jesus overcame satan;

  1. Jesus knew the word of God.
  2. Jesus did not respond with his knowledge and reasoning but quoted scripture. Doing so is so powerful!
  3. Jesus resisted the devil, and he fled. (James 4:7)

Whether it’s a scam or the devil’s temptation, do not act out of fear or as a quick way to alleviate a desperate desire or need. Think about it, and check to see if it aligns with God’s word. That will require you to know what is written in the Bible, which will require you to read it. Remember this:

If it’s too good to be true, it usually is!

The tester wants you to pass. The tempter wants you to fail!

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (MEV)

*(This was only an example of this post meant to get your attention, and no money will actually be paid out. Sorry, but I do appreciate everyone who reads this post.)

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Irreconcilable Differences

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Being in a relationship can be challenging at times for a variety of reasons. When married couples find that changing, or compromising is harder than they think it is worth it they many times end up in divorce court claiming, “Irreconcilable Differences”.

I had to look up what those two words mean.

Definition of Irreconcilable Differences

Noun

  1. Differences of opinion or will that cannot be brought into harmony, or cannot be brought into an agreement through compromise.
  2. A relationship that has become relentlessly hostile.

One could make the case that God and Satan declared, “Irreconcilable Differences”! That God and Satan have a relationship that has become relentlessly hostile! Although there is one definite distinction; God had the final say-so when it came to the final judgment of their case. When Satan insisted on being a “god”, in his own eyes, and having the angels worship him God said, “No way! There is only one true God and it is me, and He was not about to compromise.

To this day Satan is working day and night trying hard to appeal God’s final judgment. He is even trying to use people to win his case. He tells them lies, half-truths that convince them of things like there is no God, there is no punishment for sin, or that there is no eternity. In other words, as he told Eve in the Garden of Eden, “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) People believe him when he tells them, “There is more to life than what you currently have now, and you deserve more. You’ve earned it.”

It’s sad when they buy into his deception. If they are not set free with the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ then they will stand before God when they die and He will declare with them as well, “Irreconcilable Differences” and they will be forever divorced, separated from the presence of God, and that is called, “hell”!

Please, accept Jesus Christ into your life before it is too late. Ask for forgiveness of your sins, and wrongdoing. Read God’s word, “The Bible”. Learn about the love of God and come into harmony with Him. When all truth is revealed, and it will be, you will be glad you did.

Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

“Well!”

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

You’ve encountered them.  You might possibly even work with one.  And there is the regrettable chance you live with one.  “Who?” you ask.  The person who is ALWAYS right in their own eyes.  The self-righteous ones. The perfect among mankind.

“Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.” John McCarthy

Of course we, the realistic people of earth, know there is no such thing as a perfect person, but don’t you dare tell them they aren’t perfect.  They will argue that fact.  If you have encountered such a monster then you know how frustrating it can be to do life with them, or to have any kind of interaction with them at all.

If finding fault generated wealth then they would be among the richest people on earth.  “Well, if you hadn’t of …” so quickly and easily comes out of their mouths.  What shocks me is how deceived they are.  It’s like they are allergic to truth. They defend the smallest of actions.

Job, from the Bible, had this issue I believe:

“We’ve all heard Job say, ‘I’m in the right,
    but God won’t give me a fair trial.
When I defend myself, I’m called a liar to my face.
    I’ve done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway.’
Have you ever heard anything to beat this?
    Does nothing faze this man Job?  Job 34:5-7 (MSG)

The burning question on my mind is this, “Will they dare try to defend themselves when they stand before Almighty God and give an account as to how they lived their life?”  Will they try to blame God?  Of course God is perfect, as his son Jesus is, and has done nothing wrong.  I’ve been talking to a friend lately about this, and I have told them, “It’s okay to be wrong!”  In fact, it’s admirable, and respectful when one can sincerely say, “I’m sorry.  I was wrong.”

The Bible actually says, “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:31)  Of course knowing Truth, or Jesus will set you free.  Free from your sins and free from eternal damnation.  But knowing, owning up to, and admitting the truth is living free.  If you find yourself always defending your actions then stop it!  Try being wrong once in a while.  You might like how it feels.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

Diabolical

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In pouring through the case file I came across a photo of the woman, we were after, and her young son.  As I studied the photograph I saw he was holding a large, light blue teddy bear.  The photo was old because the bear was almost as big as he was back then, but now he is much older.  “That’s it!” I thought.  “We’ve got her now.”

A few hours later, we were in place.  The woman was hiding out in an old abandoned warehouse.  She had been on the run for a few years now.  She made no purchases herself or appeared in public.  She had help, a support network to keep her whereabouts secret.  That is until one of those with her turned against her and disclosed her location to one of my associates.

I walked up to the front of the warehouse carrying the bear.  The same one her son used to have.  I walked away and then we announced over a bullhorn that we had her son.  A few minutes later the door to the warehouse opened and someone, other than her, reached through it and grabbed the bear.  About fifteen minutes later the woman gave herself up.

This peaceful capture of a fugitive worked because we hit her where she was weak.  We realized she probably struggled every day with the guilt of leaving her son behind in order to live a life of crime, and to stay hidden so she could be what she thought was free.  But what kind of freedom is it to never be able to show your face in public, or hug your son?

Okay, in full disclosure, I borrowed the above plot, with a little bit of tweaking from a well written, popular TV drama on Netflix.  I did so to make a couple of points:

  1. Satan knows where you are weak, and he will do anything to attack you in that place.  He does not play fair at all. His operation is completely diabolical. He hates God, and to him, you are nothing but a pawn in the battle over souls.  The devil lies, steals, and cheats to build his kingdom.  God uses love to build his kingdom. And He gave as well.  He gave us his only Son to die for us, so we could live.
  2. True freedom is in Christ Jesus.  Having your sins forgiven, your wrong doing wiped away by the action of Jesus on the cross.  You see, when your sins are forgiven there is nothing the devil can use to attack you.  You don’t live with guilt, or regret.  You have the word of God that can be used against the devil to resist temptation as well.  But wait, there’s more!  You have the power of all of heaven on your side to help fight the battle and to stand firm.

Stop the sneaky attacks of Satan once and for all.  Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and enter into a realm of living in freedom.  Bask in the love of God and share this Truth with others, so they too can experience God, experience life the way God intended it to be.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

The Lies about Lies

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Job, from the Bible says, “Your lies might convince a jury – but would they convince God?” Ch. 13 (MSG) Then he goes on to say, “… they’re for nothing but gathering dust.”

It amazes me how often people lie.  What amazes me more is when the liar will defend themselves knowing they had lied.  Of course the first lie ever told was by Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden when he said to her, “You will not surely die.”  Some lies have half trues embedded in them.  No, Eve did not die immediately, this was true, but she did die spiritually in the moment she took that first bite, ever separating her from God.

  • There is no such thing as a “white” lie.  Where did that even come from?
  • There is no such thing as a “little” lie.  A lie is deception no matter what.
  • A lie is okay if it protects someone else’s feelings. Nope!
  • They will never know.

The truth always comes out in the end.  I used to teach my children, “Tell me the truth, for the truth can always be dealt with.”  Lies hurt people, create distrust, and can cause division.  A lie, no matter how small one may think it is brings about destruction.

Real harm is when people lie to themselves.  Some lie so often they can’t even remember who they have lied to and what lie they told, so they tell more lies to attempt to cover themselves.  The truth is this; there will come a day, when we all stand before God and all truth will be revealed.  Your lies might convince a jury – but would they convince God? There will be no denying the truth as God knows it, and certainly no defense mounted that can hold up to the truth.  Scriptures tell us that the truth sets us free, and the real Truth, Jesus, sets us free indeed.  Free from eternal damnation in hell.

Now you know the truth.  Please accept it, and live free, now and forevermore.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

It’s a Spirit

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

A lot is changing in the world, and fast too.  I don’t like what I am seeing either.  I know there has always been evil in the world, but it seems like it is taking a predominate place in our society.  Some other people see it too, and have shared their observations via social media.  We are entering, if not there already, in the end times.

It amazes me how people can believe a lie and go to their grave proclaiming it.  It astonishes me how a group of people can have a hold of the media, and only their words are heard over the airwaves.  It bewilders me how individuals can hear or read something and blindly believe it, just because it was on TV, radio, or social media.

Think for yourselves people!

Is ignoring a lie easier than standing up for truth?

I understand the pressure of being the minority in a group that has a difference of opinion from the others.  Jesus understood this kind of pressure as well.  His life example and teaching went against the power figures of his day.  Yes, it is true, they killed him, but the truth he gave lived on, and empowered by the Holy Spirit was spread by a very small band of believers.  What is also true, is they stayed on point and eventually changed a large portion of the world.

Although we hear words coming from people, most of the time we are battling a spirit, an evil spirit.  Here is what God says on this subject:

10 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! 12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. 13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.

14 Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. 15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.

16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! 17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Eph. 6:10-18 (TPT)

So take heart, and stand for what is true no matter what.  Your solid stance for what is true may convince others to listen to the life giving words coming from your mouth.  They might believe in Jesus and find salvation that will put them on the right side of the battle, and even if they die on earth they will live forever in heaven.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.

You Are What You Eat

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This is not a Thanksgiving post!  You will not be a turkey because you ate turkey this coming Thursday!  This is funny; I was asked if I would come over for Thanksgiving one year.  When I accepted, my friend said, “Oh good.  Now we have a turkey!”  Some friend, right?

Anyway, what I am addressing is being what you believe, what you accept to be true, even though it may not be.  Why the eating tie in?  Because people will digest something, and then they become that.

For example, people will become a worrier, simply by spending time worrying about something that most likely won’t even come into existent.  They are accepting lies as if they are truth and it affects them.  It shapes them into who they are, because of what they believe.

I told a lady the other day, “You worry a lot, and let anxiety overcome you.”  She agreed and said, “I always have, and I always will.”  What a lie from hell!  The devil has convinced her of this, even though it doesn’t have to be that way.  It certainly is not the life God wants for her, and every time she gets hurt, or believes these lies and it hurts her, it breaks the heart of God.  He loves her so much, and desires for her to be set free from this self-built prison!  This is not the life He intended for her to live.

The word of God teaches how to overcome such a life:

“We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.”  2 Cor. 10:5 (TPT)

In case you missed it; we should analyze every thought and ask, “Is this true?  Is it a good thought that lifts us up, or is it a negative thought that tares us down?”  If the thought isn’t going to do us any good, then dismiss it.  Throw it out!  Quick!  Get rid of it, don’t entertain it one more second, and definitely don’t believe it.  If you will learn to do this, overtime you will change.  You will become the person God designed you to be, and live the life He intended for you to live.

Now the truth above is something to be thankful for!  Perhaps this is a Thanksgiving post after all?

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.