your purpose

Saturday Watchdog Alert: The Soul of America Is Still Searching

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America is weird right now.

One headline says more Americans are becoming “spiritual” again. Another says traditional faith keeps declining while younger generations experiment with everything from astrology to paganism to “manifesting the universe.” Translation? People are starving for meaning but trying to fill the God-shaped hole with crystals, TikTok gurus, and “energy cleansing.” That’s like trying to fix a flat tire with whipped cream.

Meanwhile, Pew data shows religious “nones” remain historically high, even while some Gen Z young adults are suddenly curious about faith again after years of nihilism and anxiety. Turns out endless scrolling, hookup culture, and worshiping yourself doesn’t actually heal the human soul. Shocking. – FAITHWIRE

The Bible already explained this thousands of years ago:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…” — Romans 1:25

When a culture removes God, something else always rushes in to take His place. Politics. Pleasure. Identity. Occult spirituality. Rage. Self-worship. But none of them can carry the weight of eternity.

Here’s the good news: people searching for meaning are closer to the truth than people pretending life has no meaning at all. The hunger itself points to God.

Take 20 minutes and read from the Book of Matthew today. Look specifically for what it says about God’s mission statement for His people and His Creation.

I dare you.

Saturday Watchdog Alert: When You Are Your Own God

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The modern world promised freedom without God.
How’s that working out?

A recent report from the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture says America continues to wrestle with the rise of the “nones” — people with no religious affiliation — even while many are desperately searching for spirituality again. Meanwhile, a Washington Post report on “nihilistic violent extremism” described a growing trend of young people embracing meaninglessness, rage, and destruction as identity itself.

That’s the problem with a culture that worships self.
When “you are your own god” becomes the national religion, eventually people realize their god is anxious, lonely, angry, addicted, and scrolling TikTok at 2:00 a.m.

So people drift into New Age spirituality, aesthetic Satanism, crystals, chaos, online occultism, or just plain numbness — because the human soul was built to worship something.

The Bible already diagnosed this centuries ago:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” — Romans 1:25

Here’s the good news: Jesus didn’t come to make you more religious. He came to rescue you from emptiness.

Turn off the noise for 15 minutes. No phone. No music. No doomscrolling. Think about your purpose in life and ask this:
“Are You really there?”

Your Life And What Comes After (53): Conclusion

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So, what have we discovered from our look at Your Life and What Comes After: Plugging Into God’s Forever Plan Now?

God has a grand plan and purpose for His creation and you have an important part to play in it. You get to choose how you will live in light of God’s forever plan; it hasn’t been decided for you.

The road you walk in this world, in this life, comes to an end, but there’s an eternity of glorious life waiting for each of us, and all of us together. Each new day is important not only for this life but also for what comes next because the way you live now will echo into forever.

Jesus Said It Best

In the Book of Matthew, when Jesus taught His followers how to pray, He said this:

Matthew 6:9-10
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Remember that heaven isn’t in outer space or in the clouds somewhere, it’s the realm where God lives, invisible to our eyeballs now. His will is being done in heaven perfectly and His grand plan is working in us, through us, and around us so that one day it will be done perfectly on earth as well.

Until then we can also pray:

Thy will be done in my home, as it is in heaven.

Thy will be done in my heart, as it is in heaven.

Thy will be done at work and at school, as it is in heaven.

Thy will be done in my words, as it is in heaven.

Thy will be done in my relationships, as it is in heaven.

Thy will be done in my daily life, here and now, as it is in heaven.

That is how we plug into God’s forever plan now. When we walk with eternity in mind and keep our minds focused on God’s purposes, He will guide us into a life that is meaningful—though not always easy. A life that is fulfilling because we give and love as God gives and loves.

A life that will have challenges, victories, disappointments, and wonder—but that will always lead us to our Heavenly Father and the incredible and awesome things He has in store for us, now and forever.

Matthew 6:13b
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Your Life And What Comes After (52): A Few Tips From Bacca Ricky

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My grandkids call me Bacca Ricky. It’s a title and name that is very, very special to me because I hold my children and grandchildren as exceedingly precious and as miracles.

So here’s a few things I want to pass along to them that l hope they will find useful in their journey through life.

A Bit About Prayer

I am an imperfect follower of Christ. I cuss occasionally and stumble often in this walk through the world. I try not to get preachy too often but just the other day I heard someone say, “Prayer doesn’t work”.

He’s right. If you think prayer is an app on your phone or some magic words that you say to make stuff appear, then no it doesn’t work. But that’s not what prayer is. God isn’t Amazon and Jesus isn’t your UPS driver delivering orders to your door, 3 day delivery guaranteed.

Prayer is a wrestling match with the Almighty, not a friend request on Facebook. It’s not about getting something, it’s about being something. Prayer is a hard admission made to your Maker about the desperately wicked condition of your heart and asking Him to help correct that situation daily.

It’s not a wish list thrown up into space. It’s not a lunch order off a menu given to your waiter, Jesus, expecting him to ask, “Would you like fries or cottage cheese with that?”

Prayer is asking God to turn you inside out and upside down. It’s opening the door to your heart and allowing your Heavenly Father to illuminate the dark corners in there and fill the empty spaces with substance.

Prayer is having the honesty to ask the Creator of the universe for a resurrected heart and a majestic character, not for a pile of money, a new car, a better job, or a cuter girlfriend/boyfriend.

Prayer is earnestly asking for the wisdom to know what’s right and the courage and strength to carry it out. Prayer is seeking to do God’s will, not whining for Him to do yours.

It is praise and thanksgiving.

Pray with the tongues of men and of angels. Pray for others.

Those kinds of prayers work.

Bacca Ricky’s Little Tips

Seek God daily, first thing in the morning.
Take long walks as often as possible.
Nobody gives a shit. Work harder.
Control your appetites.
Go to war with evil.
Make your bed in the morning.
Life isn’t fair. Get over it.
Know when to bend – but never break.
Don’t fear change, fear the same old same old.
Cherish your family daily.
Stir some pots and ruffle some feathers from time to time.
Grow something.
Be loyal.
Wash the dishes after dinner.
Get a good night’s sleep.

Finally, when you are ready—but not until you are ready—find a like‑minded partner, get married, have children, and build a home and life together. This is happiness and success. This is a perfect reflection of God’s love and His desire to create and have a family.

Next, we’ll conclude our quest into Your Life and What Comes After.