How Many Stories is Your House?

September 19, 2025August 8, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“BREAKING NEWS! Man arrested for killing his wife and two kids. Film at 10!” Then you watch the story, and how many times do you hear, “I’m shocked! He was a quiet man who always helped his neighbors.”

Yesterday, we learned that a long-time city official, here in my hometown, was arrested for dealing in child pornography. And a few months ago, a story came out of a man held captive in his bedroom for decades. He finally set a fire so they would break into his room and rescue him.

My point is this: you never know what is going on in a house when the door is closed. But we do, “Stories.” Stories are being written. Some are good ones while others are bad, dark, and downright evil. Most of them aren’t perfect, and all of them are written with drama. Life doesn’t always end with, “and they all lived happily ever after.”

One can only hope for the best outcome, and for the believer in God, that usually happens if we rely on His help. If we practice life with the other members of the household, exercising the “Fruit of the Spirit” and God’s kind of “Love.” If we create an atmosphere of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And practicing God’s kind of love, which is not selfish, envious, boastful, or arrogant. It remembers no wrong. It hopes all things, believeth all things, and endures to the end.

The above words are difficult to live out, all the time, but if we try, then we can be sure that our stories, in our home, will be good ones. There will be laughter instead of crying. There will be building up versus tearing down. Members of the family will feel love and be prone to love back. So, I must ask, how many stories is your house and what kind? Remember to pray for your neighbors. They might wave when they see you getting the mail, but I dare say, you have no idea of the truth when they go back inside and shut the door.

Fruit of the Spirit = Gal. 5:22-23
God’s love = 1 Cor. 13:4-8

Take 2

August 29, 2025July 29, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

April and I joke whenever we see Liam Neeson in a new movie coming out. Before we know the real name of the film, we call it “Taken 27.” It seems Hollywood often creates sequels to successful movies. Seldom are the sequels even close to being as good as the first one, though. And the average movie buff perpetuates the problem by going to see it. The problem is they don’t know how to tap into the creative power of God, but that’s another blog post.

Maybe the movie makers keep doing the same movie until they get it right. I’m not sure. With most issues in life, there are no “do-overs,” “retakes,” or “sequels.” Well, on second thought, some people do keep repeating the same life choices and patterns. Sometimes, a person’s life choices can have detrimental results that can change one’s life forever. It is usually in those moments that they might say, “Boy. If I could just go back and change my decision.”

At the time of this writing, a corporate professional was recently caught on a “Kiss-Cam” with his arms around a woman who was not his wife. A day or two later, he resigned. You think he didn’t wish he could make a different choice?

Yes, life can be ruff if one makes a wrong decision. It’s also not very forgiving, and neither are people in general. When I worked for AT&T, there was a phrase that I always thought was rather odd: “If you do something wrong, people may not remember what you did, but they will remember your name.” It seems like those were the individuals who got promoted!

Living with regrets can be overwhelming. So may living with the results of bad decisions. I have certainly experienced both. You dwell on them too much, and it can bring about your demise. That is why I am so grateful to know God. He not only forgives us but remembers our sins no more. I figured if God can let it go, then why shouldn’t I? Why let my wrongdoing hold me back from being the best person I can be with God’s help?

When I screwed up and had to leave the ministry, I thought life was over. Like David, in Psalm 51:10, I cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Neither did I want God to cast me from his presence or to remove his Spirit. A few months later, a friend sent me a letter. No email back then. They wrote that God had given them a scripture for me:

I will build you up again, and you, (Mark Brady) Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Jer. 31:4 (NIV)

It has taken some time, years, but God has kept his word. I am still a pastor. It’s just my flock doesn’t meet with me in a sanctuary, and it’s small, but I have known for a long time, success in ministry has nothing to do with numbers. I am so grateful that God gives us second chances, or another take on life. “Thank you, Father!”

¹⁰he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Ps. 103:10-12 (NIV)

¹⁸Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
¹⁹You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)

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)

God’s Hardware Store

July 15, 2025June 21, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

The other day, I had to fix April’s closet bi-fold door. It fell off and landed up against April. She wasn’t hurt, but it did scare her. The problem was the hole that holds the support bolt got too big after I cut the door off because of the carpet. The door was dragging.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to fix it. As I usually do, I prayed and asked God to help me. I needed an idea of what kind of hardware to use to hold the bolt in and still let it do its job.

I went to my garage’s hardware store. In the box, I keep miscellaneous nuts, bolts, odd parts, and leftover hardware from previous purchases. Maybe it’s a “guy” thing to say, “I can’t throw that away. I might need it someday.”

As I rummaged through the container, I saw a thin piece of metal that had a 90-degree angle in it and four holes. I looked at it and saw potential. I put it in the vice and applied a lot of pressure. I was able to change its shape and now was able to change its purpose. It worked! At least so far. The door has not come off again.

“Okay, Mark. You were resourceful, and you fixed April’s closet door. Big deal. What’s the point?” You might be thinking. While I was working on the door, I realized God does the same thing. He needs someone to go somewhere they have never been before and do his will. You may not have ever thought of doing that before. And others may say, “You can’t do that.” Or “You’re not qualified.” And the worst disbelief, “You weren’t made for that.”

God hears such comments and laughs. He sees potential. True, He may have to apply some pressure to get you to be the shape He needs you to be, in order to get you to fit and work out. God knows what your true purpose is, and He is waiting for you to take his hand, trust him, and get about advancing his kingdom.

Be willing to be used by God, however He needs you. Be available and okay with him shaping you so you can become even more powerful. Doing so may reveal your true purpose.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13 (ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt. 6:33 (ESV)

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Ps. 138:8

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12:2

No Aprils were seriously injured in the making of this post.

Would You Take 5 Minutes?

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

Have you noticed how every store and company lately is asking you to take a few minutes to fill out their survey? They sometimes entice you by saying your name will be entered for a “chance” to win a prize. I have often wondered if anyone “ever” wins. One definition of the word “survey” is to investigate the opinions or experiences of people by asking them questions.

I don’t think I am brave enough to send a survey to April, but if I did, I might get her to take five minutes and fill it out if I offered her the “chance” to go on a shopping spree. The survey would probably look something like this:

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is “Not satisfied at all,” and 10 is “Very satisfied,” rate Mark on the following issues. Please circle your response.

“How is Mark doing with helping out around the house?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How is Mark doing with seeing your needs?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How is Mark doing with loving you?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How likely are you to want to stay in this marriage with Mark?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“How likely are you to tell a friend about how Mark is doing?”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“Is there anything you would like Mark to do better?”
Comment: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

“Please list anything you would like Mark to change.”
Comment: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

“May we contact you concerning your responses?”

I don’t need to send April a survey. Over the last five, no wait, six years, I have noticed that when I am doing a good job, she sings around the house. She is more relaxed. She gets funny and goofy, which I love.

The other day, she was throwing items into our shopping cart as if they were basketballs. Then, when she wanted to verify that the item she wanted to purchase was the correct one, she opened the package in the store and said, “This is America. I can do this!” (You don’t open items in stores in the Philippines.) Both actions made me laugh.

So, today, I got it right. I loved on April enough to cause her to sing. It’s almost as if when I hugged her or squeezed her, joy came oozing out.

His anger lasts only a moment.
But his kindness lasts for a lifetime.
Crying may last for a night.
But joy comes (oozing out) in the morning.
Ps. 30:5 (ICB) [words in parentheses, mine.]

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16

Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
James 5:13b

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:2

Rich Man, Poor Man

June 24, 2025June 27, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“People don’t know how expensive it is to be poor!” From the movie “Straw.” It is hard for me to relate to the above quote. I’m not privileged or from a wealthy family, but compared to 99% of the rest of the world, I am rich.

None of us get to choose who and where we are born. If given a choice, most of us would pick a wealthy family in America so we would have opportunities. The movie Straw portrayed a side of life that a lot of people deal with every day. The movie was good, but the language was very rough. Honestly, it was difficult for me to relate to, but I feel for anyone who is struggling financially.

There are situations where individuals struggle due to their own issues and decisions. There are usually ways out of your current situation and ways or means to better your life. I’m sure doing so is a huge fight and it probably feels like trying to climb Mt. Everest, almost impossible. But there are stories of people who do it.

Struggling financially is certainly not the life God had wanted or planned for people. He placed Adam and Eve in a garden. And Jesus said in John 10:10 that he had come to give people life and to give it to them more abundantly. The one word that determines abundant living is “contentment.” Someone who is just barely making ends meet might say they are content. They have a warm, safe place, food on the table, and reliable transportation. For one who has limited resources, if any one of those needs more and they don’t have more, that is when they can get into trouble.

They can quickly find themselves without a place to live, struggling to put food on the table, or having a vehicle they cannot afford to maintain. They may suffer a physical illness that they can’t afford, or if they can’t get to work, they could lose their job, and that might cause them to lose where they are living. I can understand why someone would get depressed and potentially snap.

Living a life that is surrounded by sin and that is open to demonic influence doesn’t make life easy either. In the first part of John 10:10, Jesus tells people that Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan wants to influence people to the point where their lives are ruined!

I contribute what I have to God. He has guided me in making good decisions. I’m not bragging because it was God, and I am not a financial genius, but I was able to retire at the age of 55. I have a home that has increased in value by $134,000 from when I bought it eight years ago. I live within my means, and I tithe on the income I have. God upholds his end of the tithing thing. He closes the mouth of the devourer. (Mal. 3:10-11) I do drive an old, beat-up car that is 15 years old, but it is dependable. I give God all the credit and the glory.

Do life WITH God. Accept Jesus, have your sins forgiven, and get on a road that leads to contentment. Learn how to live life abundantly.

One Man’s Journey

June 20, 2025June 9, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I met a guy the other day who admitted he wasn’t a Christian. I think he said he wasn’t sure about the whole man needs saving from his sins thing and that the only way to heaven was through Jesus. His wife recently asked Jesus into her life because of the change in her father after he did and then the miraculous healing that took place in him. Perhaps I’ll share his testimony in some post.

As the guy and I talked, I kept saying to myself, “Don’t be weird, and don’t be ‘religious.’” I don’t think Jesus was when he had conversations with those who had not yet accepted him and had not started following him. I wanted him to see that some Christ followers are just regular people who love God because He first loved us.

The man was highly intelligent and extremely funny, although some of his humor was a little dark. Speaking of dark, he told me he tried to get his wife to put some kind of balls in her pockets when she was baptized. He said it would have turned the water black. He laughed, implying that perhaps she hadn’t bathed in a while. I thought about it, and I said, “She should have!” He looked at me with a strange look. “I said that would have been symbolic of what happens when one accepts Jesus and gets baptized. Their sins, their filth, are washed away, and they come out clean, forgiven.”

As we were ending our time together, I told him that it was okay, as he was on his own private journey to God. I also told him that we (the church) loved him. He was surprised and asked, “Why? You all don’t know me.” I replied, “True, but God does, and He loves you, so we love you.” The Holy Spirit whispered that line to me. I’m not that smart.

I hope and pray those last words will become like a pebble in his shoe. As he walks and continues his journey, the pebble, those words will not depart from him, but will be like a goad that leads him to Christ.

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me [to harass and trouble and molest Me]? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads [to keep offering vain and perilous resistance]. Acts 26:14 (AMPC)

Life, When Not on Stage

June 13, 2025June 3, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Most people share their “happy moments” on Facebook. Smiles and friendly hugs. Love and happiness. But what do snapshots of their lives look like when they are not intending to post on Facebook? When they are not on stage?

I tend to be a private individual unless being open helps me minister to someone. But other than those times, I would rather keep my struggles, weaknesses, and bad thoughts to myself! Our pastor admitted last Sunday that he hates getting behind people who walk slowly. And that he had just spent several days the previous week at the Magic Kingdom. Probably the capital of people who walk slowly. He said he doesn’t wish them harm but like a virus to come upon them that would prevent them from being there.

I get it. I used to fuss in my head about senior citizens being at the grocery store after I got off work. I just wanted to run in, grab what I needed, and get out, but “No,” I had to deal with them in front of me. I used to think you had all day to be here. Why now? Now that I am counted among them, I understand how hard it is to get out of bed, get dressed, and get motivated to leave the house.

And that’s the kindest of my evil thoughts. I have worse ones than that. And sometimes those thoughts lead to bad actions that I certainly wouldn’t want posted on social media.

Whenever we encounter a situation that we don’t like, a bell will go off, and our first thought is to respond out of our flesh. But if we can pause just long enough, a second bell will go off, and we can choose to act in a spirit of love, demonstrating one of the fruits of the Spirit. Or multiple ones, in my case! The challenge then becomes reducing the amount of time between the bells going off.

The truth is this: we are always on stage before God. He sees our actions, hears our words, and knows our darkest thoughts. We should strive to always walk in love and by the Spirit. In my case, if I did, fewer people would get hurt. Knowing how difficult that is, I pray and ask God all the time to help me represent him well.

²and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Eph. 5:2 (NET)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23 (NET)

“You Give Love a Bad Name”

June 6, 2025May 26, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

You live life however you want to. It’s all about you. You are the only one that matters. Your opinions are always right. You build yourself up while putting others down. It’s your way or no way.

Have you ever met someone like that? I hope you aren’t married to one. It’s bad enough when you have one in your family. If you must deal with someone who lives like that, then you know firsthand how difficult it is. You also know how many times they have hurt you. I’m sorry if you have.

To make matters worse, they will lie about you and spread lies. Truth is whatever “they” believe. They tend not to have any true friends. And the ultimate insult is when they go to church and claim to have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. They give love a bad name!

I have known a few. Most people probably do, too. I have thought about one of them, in particular, standing before God. I wonder if He will say, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Now, I’m not judging them, but it is biblical to judge the fruit of their life. And I gotta say, it’s sour!

When one accepts Jesus into their life, it should change them. They should trust him to help them deal with whatever demons are slow to come out of them. There may be reasons, valid ones, as to why they are full of hate, but after inviting Jesus to rule and reign in their life, they need to let those things go.

“Christian” means follower of Christ. If you claim to be a Christian, then you should strive to be like him, full of love. Loving people as you love yourself after loving God first. Reading his word, the Bible, learning what truth really is, and walking it out daily.

If you are one of these types of individuals, then I pray for God to help you and let him do a work in you. You can overcome anything going on now and anything that happened in your past that might be causing you to be resentful or, perhaps, jealous of others and their lives.

Don’t be a person who gives love a bad name. Be known as one who, no matter what, loves. And one who walks this planet with the presence of God about them, demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit. If you do, you will probably find others wanting to be around you instead of avoiding you. He’s got this because He’s got you. Give love a good name.

¹⁶You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Mat. 7:16-20 (NLT)

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (NIV)

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Mat. 7:21-23 (ESV)