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06/17/2026

Walk in the Light

In Ephesians 5:1–2, believers are called to be “followers of God, as dear children,” which means we are to imitate Christ in both character and conduct. The word “imitators” carries the idea of mimicry — reflecting the love, mercy, holiness, and truth of Jesus in everyday life. Christians are called to walk in love because we are already loved by God as His beloved children, redeemed and purchased at a great price through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Romans 5:10 reminds us that while we were still enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament offerings in Leviticus chapters 1–3 point forward to Christ. The burnt offering symbolized complete surrender to God, while the meal offering reflected purity of character and devotion. These sacrifices foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, who declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Acts 4:12 confirms that salvation is found in no one else but Christ alone. Like the picture presented in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where Aslan willingly gives his life to save another, Jesus willingly laid down His life to redeem sinners.

Ephesians 5:13–14 calls Christians to “walk as children of light.” Believers are to reject the darkness of sinful living and expose it through holy living. Scripture warns against foolish talking, crude joking, vulgar speech, boasting, greed, drunkenness, covetousness, and taking advantage of others. Much of today’s culture normalizes corrupt communication and irreverent humor, but Christians are called to reflect the purity and grace of Christ even in speech.

Humor itself is not condemned — Jesus often used vivid and memorable illustrations, such as the man with a beam in his eye trying to remove a speck from another’s eye — but humor should never dishonor God or wound others.

Paul also warns against pride, false teaching, and deception. Throughout history, false teachers have attempted to change or distort God’s truth, including the early Gnostic teachings addressed in Colossians 2. Yet Scripture teaches that all wisdom, truth, and spiritual understanding are found in Christ alone. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that nothing is hidden from God, and John 8:12 declares Jesus as “the Light of the world.” Christians are therefore called to put on the “armor of light” (Romans 13:12–14) and live differently from the world around them.

Ephesians 5:15–17 teaches believers to walk carefully and wisely, redeeming the time because the days are evil. To walk “circumspectly” means to live thoughtfully, alertly, and with spiritual discernment. Christians are called not to waste their lives, but to use their time for God’s glory — encouraging others, serving faithfully, giving thanks, and being a light in dark places. Even simple acts, such as writing a letter of encouragement or speaking words of hope, can reflect the love of Christ.

The chapter also emphasizes humility, gratitude, and submission to one another in the fear of God. Biblical submission is not weakness, but a spirit of mutual love, honor, and service rooted in Christ. Families are called to reflect God’s order and care. Children are instructed to honor their father and mother, with the promise of blessing and long life, while parents — especially fathers — are given the responsibility to teach, nurture, and admonish their children in the ways of the Lord. Children often learn more by what they observe than by what they are told, making godly example essential within the Christian home.

Ultimately, walking in the light means living daily in fellowship with Christ — rejecting darkness, pursuing holiness, speaking truth, loving others, and reflecting the grace of God to the world around us.

06/16/2026

Ruth: A Glimmer of Hope in a Dark Time

The Book of Ruth begins in one of the darkest periods in Israel's history. The book of Judges closes with a troubling statement: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." The nation had drifted from God, and spiritual famine soon became physical famine.

Into that darkness steps a family from Bethlehem. Bethlehem means "House of Bread," yet there was no bread. Elimelech, whose name means "My God is King," left the land God had given His people and traveled to Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. The names of the sons seem to foreshadow tragedy. Mahlon means "sickly," and Chilion means "frail" or "pining."

Moab was not a place associated with blessing. Its origins trace back to the tragic events of Genesis 19. The Psalms describe Moab as God's "washpot" (Psalm 60:8; Psalm 108:9), a picture of a place of uncleanness and humiliation. Yet when famine came, Elimelech believed Moab offered a better future than Bethlehem.

How often people do the same today. When difficulties arise, they may leave the House of Bread and seek satisfaction elsewhere. Careers, entertainment, sports, possessions, and worldly pursuits can quietly take the place that belongs to God.

What Elimelech's family found in Moab was not the life they expected. First Elimelech died. Then both sons died.

The family that had left Bethlehem full returned empty. Naomi's dreams were shattered. Her husband was gone. Her sons were gone. The future she had imagined was gone.

When word reached her that God had once again provided bread in Bethlehem, Naomi decided to return home. She urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab. Orpah, whose name may suggest a gazelle, tearfully stayed behind. Ruth would not leave at first.

In one of the most beautiful declarations of loyalty in all of Scripture, Ruth made a covenant commitment to Naomi:
"Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

This was more than affection. It was faith. Ruth was leaving her homeland, her culture, and her former life to follow the God of Israel.

When Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem, the people hardly recognized her. The joyful woman who had left years before had become a grieving widow. She said, "Call me not Naomi," which means "pleasant" or "delight." "Call me Mara," meaning "bitter," "for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me."

Naomi believed she had gone out full and returned empty. Yet she could not see what God was already doing. Standing beside her was Ruth.

The woman Naomi viewed as another burden would become God's instrument of blessing. Through Ruth's faithfulness, God would provide a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz. Through Boaz would come restoration, hope, and a future.

Even more remarkably, Ruth would become part of the lineage of King David and, generations later, the earthly family line of Jesus Christ. That is the great message of Ruth.

The story begins with famine but ends with abundance. It begins with funerals but ends with a wedding. It begins with bitterness but ends with joy. It begins in darkness but ends in redemption.

Ruth is a reminder that when life appears empty, God is still working. When we cannot see His hand, He is preparing His plan. Naomi saw only loss, but God saw redemption. She saw an ending, but God was writing a beginning.

The Book of Ruth points beyond Boaz to a greater Redeemer—Jesus Christ. Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi, Jesus came to redeem sinners who could not save themselves. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, He brought hope where there was despair, life where there was death, and grace where there was only emptiness.

The story of Ruth is ultimately the story of God's faithfulness. Even in the darkest seasons, there is a glimmer of hope, because God is always at work bringing redemption to His people.

06/03/2026

Something meaningful is taking shape behind the gates of Apollo’s Academy.

I’m pleased to share that the manuscript for Apollo’s Academy: The School of Brave Little Paws has officially been submitted to the publisher and is now in production.

What began as a simple tale from Barkington has grown into a world of lantern-lit halls, faithful companions, hidden mysteries, and the quiet belief that every life carries a noble purpose.

Through courage, kindness, loyalty, service, and faithful companionship, the students of Apollo’s Academy discover that even the smallest paws can leave lasting footprints upon the world.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged and supported these stories along the way.

The gates of Apollo’s Academy will open soon. Small paws. Brave hearts. Noble deeds.

— Jo Allen

05/25/2026

The Bitter Water and the Cross

There is a sin that grows quietly, not always announcing itself with violence or scandal, but sitting in the heart like a stone. It remembers every wound, keeps every receipt, rehearses every insult, and calls itself justice, while slowly becoming bitterness.

Unforgiveness is not a small matter in Scripture. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Then He makes it even clearer: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:14–15

That is a hard word, but it is also a merciful warning. The unpardonable sin is not the cry of a person who struggles, grieves, wrestles, or asks God for help. It is the hardening of the heart until we no longer want mercy, no longer seek repentance, and no longer recognize the Spirit of God calling us back.

Matthew Henry wrote that “in all matters of strife and contention, those that revenge are the conquered, and those that forgive are the conquerors.” A hardened heart cannot receive what it refuses. Matthew Henry wrote, “Those who revenge are conquered,” and that is the tragedy of unforgiveness. We think we are holding someone else captive, but we are the ones chained to the wound.

Bitterness is expensive because it costs peace, joy, tenderness, humility, and the ability to see clearly. It can even cost forgiveness, not because God is unwilling to forgive, but because a heart that refuses mercy for others becomes less able to receive mercy for itself.

Ephesians tells us, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you… And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

Notice what bitterness produces: wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. It stirs up trouble, makes a person loud inside, turns pain into accusation, and can eventually turn accusation into identity.

C.S. Lewis once observed that everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until there is actually something to forgive. That is where faith becomes real, because forgiveness is no longer a theory, a sentiment, or a pleasant religious word. It becomes an act of obedience before God.

Corrie Ten Boom knew this. She and her sister Betsie suffered in a N**i concentration camp, and Betsie did not survive. After the war, Corrie came face to face with one of the former guards, and when he reached out his hand and asked for forgiveness, everything human in her recoiled.

But she understood something deeper than emotion. Forgiveness is not pretending evil did not happen, approving abuse, excusing cruelty, denying betrayal, denying unfaithfulness, remaining silent when truth must be spoken, or trusting the untrustworthy. Jesus Himself said, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” — Matthew 10:16

Forgiveness is not foolishness, and it does not erase wisdom, boundaries, justice, or truth. Forgiveness means we release vengeance into the hands of God, because Scripture says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19

That is not weakness. That is faith. It is the soul saying, “Lord, I will not become what wounded me. I will not carry poison in my spirit. I will not make bitterness my inheritance. I will tell the truth, but I will not worship the wound. I will let You be Judge.”

There is a difference between victimhood and sainthood. Victimhood can become a throne built out of pain, saying, “Because I was hurt, I am justified in bitterness,” while sainthood kneels at the Cross and says, “Because I was forgiven, I must ask for the grace to forgive.”

This does not minimize suffering. It magnifies grace, because we are all sinners, all fallible, and all in need of mercy we did not deserve.

Hebrews warns us not to allow a “root of bitterness” to spring up and defile many. Bitterness rarely stays private; it spreads into words, judgments, anger, cynicism, suspicion, and coldness. It can make an older person hard instead of holy, and it can make a younger person angry before life has even fully begun.

But Scripture gives us a picture of healing. In Exodus 15, the children of Israel came to Marah, where the waters were bitter and they could not drink. The word Marah means bitter in Hebrew, and when the Lord showed Moses a tree, Moses cast it into the waters, and the bitter waters were made sweet.

The tree points us to the Cross, where bitterness meets mercy, justice and forgiveness, and the poison of sin is answered by the love of God. “But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

This Memorial Day weekend, we pause before the memory of men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation. Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never cheap, and that some debts can never be repaid by monuments, ceremonies, or words alone. We honor them best when we remember with humility, live with gratitude, and refuse to let hatred become the inheritance of the living.

We look at graves marked by crosses and stones. We remember sacrifice, names carved into monuments, and the cost of freedom. Stone remembers, but baptism tells us something even greater.

The stone can mark a grave, but it cannot hold back resurrection. The stone was rolled away, the old life is buried, and the new life rises. In baptism, we are reminded that what goes down into the water does not have to come back the same.

The bitter can be made sweet, the hard heart can become tender, the burden can be released, and the wound can be placed into the hands of God.

So let the stone bear witness, let the Cross speak louder, and let the waters remind us that grace is not only something we receive, but something we are called to extend.

Lord, forgive us our trespasses, and give us the courage, humility, and holy strength to forgive those who trespass against us—not because the wrong was small, but because the Cross is greater.

05/18/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/P9dGtndnFiA?si=JPO4OW66ODHfJoHX

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, cabinet officials, and faith leaders speak at "Rededicate 250: A National Day of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksg...

04/24/2026

No Gray Area: Drawing the Line Against Antisemitism
— — —
Antisemitism is not a gray area.
It is wrong—every time, everywhere, no exceptions.
— — —
Rhetoric that dehumanizes Jews, distorts their identity, or excuses violence against them is not “debate.”
It is hate.
— — —
And when public figures choose to stand alongside voices that promote that kind of rhetoric, it matters.
It sends a signal about what is acceptable.
— — —
This is not about politics.
It is about moral clarity.
— — —
There is a line—and it is not hard to see.
You do not legitimize hate by sharing a stage with it.
You do not normalize it by giving it a platform.
And you do not excuse it when it is convenient.
— — —
Leadership requires the courage to say:
“This is wrong. I will not stand with it.”
Anything less is a failure of responsibility.
— — —
Antisemitism has no place in our country, our communities, or our public life.
Not softened.
Not explained away.
Not tolerated.

04/24/2026

The Rot Within and the Blessing Above
— — —
There are moments in history when a nation’s confusion is not merely political. It is spiritual. In Acts 19, Paul enters Ephesus, a city dominated by the worship of Artemis, also known as Diana. Her temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world, and her worship was deeply tied to the city’s wealth, identity, and pride. When Paul preached Christ, he did not merely challenge private belief. He threatened an entire system.
— — —
Demetrius the silversmith understood this immediately. His concern was not only religion. It was profit.
“Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.”
That is the moment the mask came off.
The riot in Ephesus was not simply about a goddess.
It was about an economy built around false worship.
That sounds familiar.
— — —
When truth exposes a corrupt system, the system does not repent quietly.
It shouts.
It accuses.
It gathers crowds.
It creates confusion.
In Acts 19, many rushed into the theater without even knowing why they had come together.
That is what confusion does.
It turns people into a crowd before they become thinkers.
— — —
Today, we see division, criticism, and competing narratives—even on the world stage.
Debate is part of a republic.
But there is a difference between honest disagreement…
and weakening one’s own nation before the world.
We are also seeing institutions questioned institutions that claim moral authority.
If corruption is proven, it reveals something deeper:
Public virtue.
Private profit.
Loud slogans.
Hidden corruption.
— — —
That was Ephesus.
But Paul did not answer Ephesus with panic.
He answered it with Christ.
— — —
In Ephesians 1, Paul tells believers that their blessings are not first material, political, or worldly. They are spiritual.
Chosen.
Adopted.
Redeemed.
Forgiven.
Sealed.
Accepted.
That matters now.
— — —
At the same time, I understand why messages about blessing and prosperity resonate with people.
They remind us to have faith.
To trust God.
To believe that He is present and at work in our lives.
There is something hopeful in that.
But Scripture also gently brings us back to something deeper.
— — —
Paul speaks of a different kind of blessing—
one that isn’t measured by circumstances, success, or outcomes.
Because he wrote those words… from prison.
His chains did not cancel his calling.
His suffering did not mean God had abandoned him.
— — —
So, the question is not about personalities.
It is this:
Does the message align with Scripture?
Because grace was never something we earn or unlock.
It is something we receive… through faith.
And that kind of grace doesn’t come and go.
It stays.
— — —
Ephesians also answers the identity confusion of our age.
Ancient Ephesus was full of religious, moral, and cultural confusion.
But Paul did not build identity on the body, the culture, or desire.
He taught that identity is found in Christ alone.
And that identity is stronger than politics, confusion, wealth, or fear.
— — —
So perhaps the question is not merely,
“What is happening to America?”
The deeper question is:
What happens when a people forget where blessing comes from?
When blessing becomes money → corruption
When identity becomes desire → confusion
When politics becomes religion → rage
When institutions hide truth → deception
— — —
But when Christ is preached…
Even Ephesus can be shaken.
Paul did not need the temple of Diana to fall in one day.
He preached the Word—and the grip of idols began to loosen.
— — —
That is still the answer.
Not panic.
Not despair.
Not blind trust in men.
Christ alone.
— — —
Because the believer’s inheritance is not decided by elections, courts, mobs, or governments.
It is sealed by the Holy Spirit.
And what God seals… no earthly power can steal.

04/21/2026

🌟 New Release for Dog Lovers of All Ages!
🐾 Tag a friend who believes dogs have secret lives!
Follow Apollo the Shih Tzu and his friends through cobblestone alleys, biscuit bakeries, and moonlit parks as they unravel the curious cases of Barkington — richly illustrated tales of mystery, courage, and canine charm. Once Upon a Paw: Tales from Barkington is now available in hardcover, softcover, eBook, and audiobook formats!
📚 A Storybook for Dog Lovers Everywhere
🦴 What would your pup do in Barkington?
📱 Scan the QR code or visit OnceUponAPawBook.com to order now.

04/15/2026

A Time for Clarity, Not Confusion
I’m going to say this as simply as I can.
We are living in a very confusing time. It feels like everywhere we turn—news, politics, world events—there is more noise than truth.
Let’s start here: Donald Trump is not a perfect man.
None of our leaders are.
But he has shown something that matters right now—strength, courage, and a willingness to act when others hesitate.
And that is exactly why he is constantly attacked.
What troubles me most is not just disagreement—
it’s how quickly stories are twisted.
One image, one comment, and suddenly an entire narrative is created that doesn’t reflect reality.
That is not honest.
That is not helpful.
At the same time, I am deeply concerned about what we are seeing from global leaders.
When voices from the Vatican speak strongly on political matters…
When leaders like Giorgia Meloni take positions that seem to oppose decisive action…
…it raises real questions.
Where is the unity among allies?
Where is the urgency when real threats exist?
Why does it feel like some are quicker to criticize than to stand together?
These are not small issues.
These are serious matters that affect real lives.
───────────────
This Is Bigger Than Politics
At its core, this isn’t just about governments or leaders.
It’s about right and wrong.
It’s about truth versus confusion.
And honestly, it feels like many people have stopped asking hard questions.
They accept what they hear without stepping back to think it through.
There is an old line often attributed to Joseph Addison:
“There is a line… the boundary between God’s mercy and His wrath.”
That line applies to all of us—individuals, leaders, and nations.
And when that line is ignored long enough, things begin to break down.
───────────────
A Simple Question
Are we seeking truth…
or just reacting to what we’re told?
Are we willing to look deeper…
or are we letting others think for us?
───────────────
Stand Firm
You can support a leader and still know they are human.
You can question what you hear and still care about the truth.
But what we cannot do is stay silent or confused.
I support Donald Trump.
I support strength and decisive leadership.
And I believe now more than ever, we need clarity, courage, and truth. Because without those, everything else begins to fall apart.

04/13/2026

“Identity. Authority. Stability. — What Happened to Our World?”
Has anyone else noticed how deeply our world is struggling right now? There seems to be a breakdown in three critical areas: Identity. Authority. Stability. In Ephesians, Paul speaks of a mystery—a divine plan that was hidden but is now revealed in Christ. And yet, everywhere we look today, there is confusion about who we are, who leads, and what can truly be trusted. We are surrounded by noise—politics, the news, economic uncertainty, and constant stress. It creates a kind of anxiety overload. It makes you wonder… what does it really mean to gather, to be grounded, to live with purpose? But Scripture reminds us of what is unchanging:
📖 In Romans 5:8 — We are deeply loved.
📖 In Romans 8:28 — God is working all things for good.
📖 In Colossians 1:16 — We were created with purpose and intention.
📖 In Luke 19:11–26 — We have been entrusted with an assignment.
📖 In Isaiah 26:3 — Perfect peace is available to those whose minds are fixed on Him.
So, the question becomes: What are we doing with what we’ve been given? In a world driven by fear, speculation, and the “sky is falling” narrative, we are called to something higher.
✨ We know the end of the story.
✨ We know our purpose.
✨ We know the peace we are meant to walk in.
And perhaps most comforting of all:
God does not accuse us.
He calls us by name.
Those who are His—He knows.