Author: Rick Tryon

A Simple Non-Denominational Faith

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A reminder on this second day of 2025 that the Bible Rebel Project, which includes the biblerebel.com blog, is non-denominational. We are ‘Nons’, believing a simple creed:

Creed of the Fellowship of the Nons

Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will.
Our hope and eternal salvation relies entirely on the work of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

A huge part of the purpose and reason for the Bible Rebel blog is stated in our mission:

“To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.”

This isn’t a church and there is no membership requirement or set of rules. All are welcome to be a part of this fellowship, this ‘curious fearless faith’, and this ongoing project of seeking and glorifying God and God only.

Watchdog Alert: Jabbar The Killer

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Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a monster. He intentionally plowed a truck into a bunch of innocent folks in New Orleans celebrating the New Year, killing at least 14 and injuring at least 37.

It is being reported that the killer was shot and killed by police at the scene and that the pickup truck he used to slaughter his victims had a black ISIS flag inside.

The name ‘Jabbar’ has special meaning in Arabic. According to the website myislam.org, “…there are several accepted meanings to this name. The most often quoted is The Compeller. He implements His decree without any opposition. There is no one that prevails over Him. The other interpretation is the repairer. He restores all of creation. He heals the broken-hearted, binds their wounds, and brings comfort to the weak. He compels each and everything to His divine will but is never Himself compelled.”

Right.

A more apt description for Shamsud-Din Jabbar and his hideous crime can be found in 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (KJV)

What a horrible and tragic way to start 2025. My heart breaks for the victims of this evil madness and their families.

Be sober. Be vigilant. Remember, we are watchdogs.

Practical Wisdom Tidbits For 2025

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As we roll into 2025 I want to pass along 14 common sense pieces of simple wisdom and practical advice I’ve received and tried to live over the years.

  1. Seek God.
  2. Do hard things, lift heavy things.
  3. Take long walks as often as possible.
  4. Nobody gives a shit. Work harder.
  5. Control your appetites.
  6. Go to war with evil.
  7. Make your bed in the morning.
  8. People will let you down and life isn’t fair. Get over it.
  9. Learn to focus. One thing at a time.
  10. Know when to bend – but never break.
  11. Don’t fear change, fear complacency.
  12. Cherish your family daily.
  13. Stir the pot, ruffle the feathers.
  14. Get a good night’s sleep.

Happy New Year.

Farewell To Jimmy Carter

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Air Tragedies

There were two airplane disasters within days of each other during Christmas week.

A Jeju Air passenger jet crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea early Sunday morning – 179 fatalities out of 181 people on board. Two crew members survived.

Also there was a Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which resulted in 38 fatalities.

If there’s a God why does he allow this kind of death and suffering to happen? I heard a thought provoking reply to that question recently that went something like this – If there is no God then why are death and suffering considered bad?

I don’t necessarily think that’s a convincing or satisfying answer but it does deserve some thoughtful consideration, in my opinion. As an ongoing exercise on this blog we’ll be diving into the issue of why God allows evil , so stay tuned.

Former President Jimmy Carter passes away

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died at the age of 100 on Sunday. Carter was the longest-living former president in U.S. history.

Carter called himself a born again Christian and he certainly walked the talk during his long life. Regardless of what one thinks about his liberal politics, he was a great example of what service to country and community looks like.

A good man who will be missed by many. Rest In Peace, Jimmy.

Which Country Is The Smallest And Has A Lot Of Gossip?

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Photo via Julius Silvers, pexels.com

The smallest country in the world is…drumroll please…and the answer is – Vatican City, covering only 0.27 square miles.

Did you know that? I didn’t. But now we do.

Speaking of Vatican City, Pope Francis gave his annual Christmas address on Saturday at the Vatican, and as reported by the National Catholic Register, talked about a bit about Vatican City:
In a separate address to Vatican employees and their families, the Pope compared Vatican City to “a large beehive” bustling with activity in its streets, courtyards, corridors and offices. He thanked those working and unable to attend the gathering but made it possible.

The Pope also addressed gossip amongst Vatican employees and officials:

The Pope warned that gossip “damages social bonds, poisons hearts, and leads nowhere,” as he addressed cardinals and senior Vatican officials. He urged them to practice self-accusation rather than accusation of others, drawing on the teachings of early Christian spiritual masters.

The Apostle Paul agrees. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Paul admonishes the Corinthian believers: “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults”.

Sounds a bit like what goes on behind closed doors in the Biden White House or a recent meeting of the Democratic National Committee. I kid – kind of.

Is OpenAI A Liberal?

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I saw an interesting comment on ‘X’ recently referring back to a 2023 article in Forbes citing research showing that ChatGPT has a left leaning bias.

I use ChatGPT sometimes but never really paid much attention to its political/ideological tilt, but I think the following personal example of how AI can be skewed to one side or the other is interesting.

Here’s a post I put on my personal Facebook page on Monday, Christmas Eve Eve.

There were several comments from friends and followers on this post, but the one that stood out for me was the one below, which is an obvious analysis and summary by an AI robot cut and pasted by a FB friend and inserted in the comments.

I can’t say for sure which AI platform did this but it looks like an OpenAI ChatGPT summary. You can judge for yourself whether or not there’s an ideological bias in there.

“This passage is a humorous commentary on the trend of using more inclusive and politically correct language during the holiday season. The author pokes fun at the idea of trying to be overly sensitive and environmentally conscious in holiday greetings.

# Key Points
1. *Humor*: The passage uses humor to highlight the complexity of modern holiday greetings.

2. *Inclusivity vs. Tradition*: The author balances the desire for inclusivity with the tradition and warmth of familiar holiday greetings.

3. *Tone*: The tone is lighthearted and playful, with a touch of satire.

# Reflection
This passage encourages readers to reflect on their own holiday traditions and greetings. It invites us to consider the importance of inclusivity, while also acknowledging the value of familiar and heartwarming expressions.

# Holiday Cheer
Ultimately, the passage concludes with a warm and traditional holiday greeting, emphasizing the importance of kindness, compassion, and connection during the holiday season.“

Anyway, tis the season to be jolly…Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah.

Watchdog Alert: Do We Call Evil Good?

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There have been numerous news reports recently about Luigi Mangione, the 26 year old man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood on a New York City street.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this case is that many people actually consider Mangione a hero rather than a villain for allegedly shooting a father of two young girls in the back, then viscously finishing him off execution style.

In fact, according to an article on ABC News website folks are not only swooning over and lionizing the accused killer but also raising lots of money for his defense fund:
The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from thousands of anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves “A frustrated citizen” and thanked Mangione for “sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation.”

This morning Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges.

A court will decide his guilt or innocence in this matter, but what does it say about our society when we glorify an accused assassin because his victim represented the healthcare insurance industry.

Isaiah 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! KJV

Death Row Letters: 1st Letter

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Dear Everyone,

We’re all on death row.

The rich CEO in the modern high-rise. The homeless man huddled in a filthy blanket on the street. The young housewife in suburbia. The children on the school playground.

We’re all on death row.

I’m not saying this to be ghoulish or overly dramatic – it’s just the truth. The Grim Reaper comes for us all (with some exceptions, which I’ll explore at some point in future letters). It may not be by firing squad or Old Sparky the electric chair or lethal injection in some prison basement somewhere, but the result is the same for each of us (again, some exceptions).

The difference between the the vast majority of us and actual death row inmates is that we get to walk around as we please waiting for The Day, while they are sitting in their cells waiting for The Day. That’s a very big difference, isn’t it? Maybe, maybe not.

Because whether you’re on the ‘outside’ death row or the ‘inside’ death row the questions are the same: What are you doing with your remaining time and what is your state of mind during the wait?

We can waste our time wallowing in despair and self-pity, or we can face our circumstance with courage and hope. We can lead an empty, purposeless existence waiting for annihilation and nothingness, or we can believe in and find something more than the empty darkness we imagine.

There is something more frightening than death, and that is living a life without purpose or hope.

So, until my next letter comes your way, don’t be afraid, we’re all on death row together and there’s more to this than meets the eye.

Sincerely,
Your fellow death row occupant