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Dave Welding has a problem. He can only listen to one station. He has a Mazda that, for some reason, had the “connectivity master unit” fried. Now, his clock doesn’t work, his navigation system is dark, and his Bluetooth is becoming a faded memory. But the one that bothers him most is now he can only listen to Seattle station KUOW, a talk channel. He has no other options. Something happens when a life hears only one station, the one the world plays. It absorbs the negative, and the soul becomes cynical. Our society bombards us with alarming messages, from politics to war to finger-wagging protestors of all stripes. No wonder we have a world find with so much tension. Paul reminds us that the messages we hear constantly reshape our hearts. He instructs: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9) While the Mazda has no other choice, you and I do. Change the channel your soul listens to. You don’t have to keep listening to the junk. -Robert G. Taylor-

Claybourne Elder is not a typical Broadway actor. He and four-year-old son Bo makes a monthly date at a diner for breakfast. While they are eating, Bo watches the others and finally says, “that’s him.” Then, Elder quietly pays for the stranger’s meal. It started when he was a starving actor. He watched a play in cheap seats. When a stranger came to him and told him, “You look like you were enjoying the show more than the people in the expensive seats.” The man gave him $200 to buy good seats at a Broadway sold-out musical. From that moment, Elder seeks out people to show silent kindness. He gives away tickets to people who cannot afford them. Paul knew what Elder had learned. He reminds the Ephesians: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Christ showed us the ultimate kindness. Indeed, we can offer a little kindness to others because of God’s gift. Elder keeps giving way tickets and paying for meals. He received, so he gives. Perhaps, we can, too. -Robert G. Taylor-

All faced the problem during the pandemic. How do you get food from the grocery store? And perhaps, you share my experience. You often did not get what you ordered, but received a substitute. The experience of Ajanay Barnes was the worst. They had a yen for strawberry shortcake ice cream, so they placed an order through Instacart. But, instead of the ice cream, they received sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast rolls. In spiritual affairs, a substitute is not just displeasing to the palate, but dangerous to the soul. It happens to the truth. We seek the truth and hear something else. Isaiah was a prophet witnessing the spiritual blight brought on by the priests of Judah. When he told the people the truth, the priests turned their minds with interpretations. So, Isaiah warned: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, ESV) Our world is full of spiritual substitutes. We hear experts quoted rather than the text speaking. The Bible gets distorted through ego-laden spokesmen. If you get breakfast sandwiches rather than ice cream, you might complain. But when it comes to your soul, demand a genuine message. -Robert G. Taylor-

In 2018. Oprah Winfrey accepted an award at the Golden Globes with this speech: “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.” “Your truth.” Listen carefully to those two words. They have formed the core value of American society. Truth is relative to people. Each decides what is right and wrong, accurate and false. Pundits spin the narrative to what suits their popularity. When a person is convinced of “his truth,” he can justify any sin or remake any lie into the truth. Paul warned the Colossians about shifty thinking. “See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) When we exchange “the truth” for “my truth,” we lose the truth. When we judge our lives against the cultural standard, not the holy one, we lose all connection to God, reality, and hope. What do you choose to believe? Your truth or God’s truth? -Robert G. Taylor-