Immoral political ads are a sin - This shouldn't be unclear to you.

This week saw an example well beyond even the sadly normal low bar of political ads that ought to remind us that such speech is NOT exempt from the judgment of God respecting sin.

Ramaswamy takes responsibility for ad with Amy Acton’s mother and will spend millions to promote it

{Here is the opinion of the National Review, a conservative site, about the evidence that the ad contained known lies: Amy Acton’s Mom Claims Candidate Lied About Childhood in Attack Ad — Despite Extensive Record of Abuse Update: Since the article was published, the Ramaswamy campaign admitted to making the ad}

 That ad was in Ohio where the Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy admitted to having created an ad featuring the estranged mother of his opponent.  That fact alone would constitute normal politics, estranged family members have been used before, but this one is both spectacularly gross and exceedingly vile: Why was Amy Acton (his opponent) estranged from her mother since the 1970's?  The answer is simple, her mother remained married to the man charged with repeatedly raping her as a minor child (he fled justice and was never tried) until the day he died.  The state of Ohio removed both Amy and her brother from their mother's care after her stepfather was arrested.  If we cannot, as people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, agree that child sexual abuse is out-of-bounds even in political contests, God help us.

This is perhaps the worst political attack ad in this cycle, if not several cycles, but it is far from an isolated example.  This year's contests have also been flooded with AI generated fake videos featuring opponents saying and doing things that they most certainly did not in reality.  These ads are lies, period.  AI generated lies still count as lies.  They will fool some people into thinking that they are true in spite of the uncanny video and audio, but effectiveness or lack thereof is not the point, is it?  The ads are lies.  Doesn't that matter to us as Christians?  Shouldn't we be LESS likely to vote for the candidate who would use such ads in order to try to gain power?  Shouldn't these ads have the opposite of their intended effect upon us, upon people who a trying to walk by the Fruit of the Spirit?

The harsh reality is that many self-professed followers of Jesus are willing to suspend the ethics they themselves seek to live by when it comes to politics.  I would not do such a thing, the thinking goes, but it is ok for the team I root for to do it because winning matters too much.  To put it bluntly, this is a lie from Satan.  There are no exceptions to the conduct that is required of those who would claim to be disciples of Jesus, no exceptions for the pursuit of money, no exceptions to satisfy lust, and no exceptions to gain power in this world.  

Our witness, our ability to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is harmed each and every time we make a deal with the devil for the sake of this world.  Shame on us who go along with the flow, shame on us who make excuses, and even more shame on us who cheer this sin on because it benefits "us" and hurts "them".  Chose this day whom you will serve.

Galatians 5:19-25 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Sermon Video: Joseph: A tearful reunion with his brothers - Genesis 45:1-24

As Joseph's story reaches its climax, we have an emotion-filled Joseph startling (and scaring) his brothers by revealing his true identity to them.  The brothers expect vengeance for what they did to him twenty plus years ago, but instead Joseph offers them a warm embrace.  How? Why?

Joseph came to terms with his enslavement in imprisonment years ago after he realized that the hand of God had been guiding his steps from the day his brothers conspired against him until this very day.  His brothers made a selfish evil choice, but God worked to put Joseph in a place of great responsibility in spirt of it.  With hindsight Joseph could see God's providential care over his life, so he had let go of whatever anger toward his brothers he once knew.

“The Missing Piece in Your Faith Journey” by Damian Eisner, Torah Club Director at Malchut Conference 2026: A Rebuttal by Pastor Powell

In this extraordinary speech at the 2026 Malchut Conference, First Fruits of Zion's Torah Club Director, Damian Eisner, says the quiet part out loud: (1) FFOZ expects you to lose friends, family, and your church when you embrace the path they are selling.  It isn't a bug, it is by design, it isn't a warning sign at all, but a necessary sacrifice to be celebrated. (2) Neither Christianity, Judaism, nor Messianic Judaism has what is "missing," only FFOZ has the answers.  

This speech is deeply cultic, embracing the tactics they use to tell the "chosen few" that it is ok that their commitment to the organization has cost them so much, that nobody else has the answers, and that if you keep trusting the wise leaders of the group it'll all be ok in the end.

Sermon Video: Joseph's brothers pass the test - Genesis 43:15-44:34

 

The multi-part test of his brothers by Joseph reaches its climax as they are forced to choose between their own freedom and solidarity with Benjamin. We know that the younger versions of these formerly violent men would have failed the test, that's how Joseph ended-up in slavery. That the older versions of them, led by Judah, choose to stand together with Benjamin, and even volunteer to take his place, is a testament to the transformative power of God at work in their lives. They had not yet completed the process of repentance, but they were certainly men changed by God for the better.

We livestream executions now?? Lord, have mercy on us.

"The public will be able to watch the execution of a former US Army major by firing squad, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.

A Defence Department official told the BBC the execution of Nidal Hasan, who fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at the Fort Hood military base in 2009, would be livestreamed.

It is believed it would be the first public execution in the US in almost a century." - BBC news article, "Firing squad execution to be livestreamed, Pentagon says" 10/9/26

In 2025, only two nations carried out public executions: Iran and Afghanistan, now America is set to join that list at the express direction of the Defense Secretary, and very outspoken 'Christian' Nationalist, Pete Hegseth.

This will  not be the first time that I've warned about the 'Christian' Nationalism that Hegseth represents {See: Militant 'Christian' Nationalism in the halls of Congress: An affront to the true Gospel}, nor the first time that I've warned about the pastor whose militancy influenced Hegseth and who is heroic to many within that anti-Gospel movement, Doug Wilson {See: The deplorable shame of using Potiphar's Wife to discount sex abuse victims: A refutation of Pastor Doug Wilson or The folly of the "Sin of Empathy" - A self-inflicted wound to Christian Fundamentalism}.  In fact, I'm been working my way through a 62-part series detailing individual passages of scripture that each in their own way discredit and refute the very idea of 'Christian' Nationalism. {I've made it to 40, this one is the latest: Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #40 1 Corinthians 5:11-13}

Which brings us to yesterday's news that the Pentagon plans to livestream the execution by firing squad of an Islamic militant, and member of the U.S. military at the time, who murdered 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.  If you oppose the death penalty on the grounds of religious principles, this execution will be doubly troubling, but for those who support the death penalty for heinous crimes, this still ought to be a Bridge Too Far.  

Why livestream the execution to the public?  What is the purpose in doing this, and what will the consequences be?

Beyond the cynical, and sadly often true, political answers to these questions, we also have the profound moral truth about America that this points toward: We are NOT a Christian nation.  On the one hand, we can't be because there is no such thing, a deeply profound book by Pastor Gregory Boyd lays out the case from the scriptures that there never has been, nor can ever be, a Christian Nation. {See: The Myth of a Christian Nation - by Gregory Boyd: a summary and response}.  The kingdom established by Jesus in this era has no borders, boundaries, cultural or ethnic barriers.  It supersedes them all, and has different goals, and different methods to achieve them.  No nation, no matter how moral, can be a Christian Nation.  Many have laid claim to the title, including the historical disaster that was the Papal States, but all have brought ill repute to the name of Jesus Christ by elevating realpolitik (to borrow Rochau's term) above the timeless character of Christ-likeness demanded by our discipleship.

We could start with the moral reasons why this public execution is indeed immoral, but in this Culture War-infused generation many will simply ignore them as they've already committed themselves to a "might makes right" and "win at all cost" lack of ethics.  When you decide that morality is a luxury you cannot afford, nor really need, because politics is a fight to the death against "evil" fellow Americans (many of whom are also self-professing Christians), an appeal to what is moral will ring hollow.

Given that political stance against morality, the wisdom from this article will stand as my moral argument against repaying evil with evil: We ignore "repay evil with blessing" at our peril: the Culture War, politics, and 9/11

In practical terms, then, the execution will both (1) make a martyr out of a murderer, the video will be endlessly played in the dark corners of the internet to recruit new would-be terrorists, and (2) serve as a corrupting influence within our own culture and politics in a nation that already deeply devalues human life and dignity whenever it is convenient for the Red side or the Blue side.

In the end, because of our toxic politics, those who warn against both the immorality of this decision, and those who warn against the harmful practical outcomes that will likely result, will not be heard by a large part of our nation because the idea of a public livestreamed execution is coming from "our team" and must therefore be supported lest "they" {That is, the political enemy, fellow Americans} should ever win, even a little.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christian Radio station K-LOVE interviews Mustard Seed Missions

I was recently blessed to be able to give an interview, along with our Household Goods coordinator Mike Cable, to the Christian radio station K-LOVE for a weekly segment they do taking a closer look at Christian charities.

To listen to the interview: Mustard Seed Missions radio interview

Sermon Video: Joseph tests his brothers - Genesis 42:1-43:14

As the providence of God moves forward, Joseph finds himself as an Egyptian official with his brothers whom he has not seen in 20+ years bowing before him as they seek to buy grain.

In this moment Joseph decides to test his brothers, it seems with the hope of determining if they've changed or not since they betrayed him.  His brothers reveal that they believe this test has come upon them as justice from God for what they did to Joseph, so they recognize that their actions were wrong, but that's only one step in the process of repentance.  The full answer will await their return along with Benjamin to Joseph.

Lastly, the episode also illustrates how broken emotionally Jacob (Israel) is all these years after the death of Joseph.  It is this emotional scar that the jealousy of Joseph's brothers caused, something else for which they are responsible.

Sermon Video: Joseph: In Charge of the Whole Land of Egypt

In a fairly rare biblical narrative in which each person does the right thing {The baker confesses his mistake and tries to make amends, Pharaoh listens to God's warning and acts accordingly, and Joseph once more acts by faith to become the man his journey has prepared him to be}, the chapter tells of the intersection of a regional crisis of epic proportions with the personal vindication of one man after long suffering.

In the end, Joseph's elevation to leadership in Egypt reminds us that we all need to be ready, willing, and able when an opportunity to serve is shown to us.

Sermon Video: Joseph: Faithful in the Small Things - Genesis 40

This portion of Joseph's life is a familiar one when we consider the Hero's Journey.  Joseph is in the process of becoming the man whom God was able to use to save his people from famine.  He learns not only faithfulness in his difficult situation as someone unjustly imprisoned, but also to trust God to do something he's never done before: interpret dreams. 

The key for Joseph: When he recognized God's hand at work in the dreams of the cupbearer and baker, he chose to act by faith.

Sermon Video: Joseph: A Faithful Slave - Genesis 39

Genesis 39 conveys the story of the first ten years (appx.) that Joseph spent in Egypt as a slave.  While far from the life he had been living, or could have wanted, Joseph was faithful in the little things nonetheless.  The LORD was with Joseph, blessing him in his circumstances, although not removing him from them.

One such circumstance was the unwanted advances of Potiphar's wife.  To these, Joseph responded with maturity by refusing to betray Potiphar's trust and refusing to sin against God.

In the end, Joseph's integrity cost him as Potiphar's wife used her power over him to punish his refusal with a false accusation.  Yet, the LORD was with Joseph, even in prison where he remained faithful.

NOTE: The story of Potiphar's wife has bee used egregiously by some commentors as a cudgel against those who make an accusation of sexual abuse.  This is NOT what the text is teaching because Joseph was not a man with power over a women who has been accused of abusing it, he was the powerless one.  The story is about abuse of power, not gender.

Sermon Video: Judah and Tamar: "She is more righteous than I" - Genesis 38

As the text of Genesis often reveals, family drama is at the heart of the moral choices of Abraham and his descendants.  In this episode, Jacob's 4th son Judah chooses to marry a Canaanite woman with whom he has 3 sons.  Nothing seems amiss until the eldest boy is full-grown and himself married to a woman named Tamar.  At this point, three men in succession treat Tamar woefully: Er, her husband whom the LORD puts to death due to his wickedness, Onan, whose greed prompts him to sexually assault Tamar, and Judah, the father-in-law who more/less abandons her for years on end.

Ultimately, out of desperation, Tamar acts in a way that reveals Judah's own hypocrisy and culpability, something he only sees at the last minute before further injustice occurs.  The story of Judah and Tamar thus ends with a warning against self-righteousness and hypocrisy, a reminder that our actions have consequences.

Sermon Video: Joseph: An inflated ego and jealous brothers - Genesis 37, by Pastor Randy Powell

The last section of Genesis focuses on the family of Jacob, primarily the interactions between his favorite son, Joseph, and Joseph's 10 jealous brothers.

In chapter 37 we see the seeds sown of what is coming through Jacob's clear favoritism, Joseph's "tattling" on his brothers to their father, and finally Joseph's foolish decision to tell his brothers about not one but two dreams in which they bowed down to him.

With anger at Jacob's favoritism, and jealousy stoked by Joseph's apparent arrogance (or at best cluelessness), the brothers' desire to do something about it simmers until opportunity arrives.  That opportunity is the arrival of Joseph, alone, to visit them.

The hearts of Joseph's brothers were set to murder, but providential grace gave them an opportunity to choose a lesser evil by selling him into slavery.

Sermon Video: The End of an Era - Genesis 35-36 by Pastor Randy Powell

* The message begins with a tribute to one of 1st Baptist's lifelong members, Nancy Klingensmith, whose battle with cancer ended this week as she was promoted to her heavenly reward.*

The text of Genesis 35-36 serves a transitional role between the generation of Isaac & Jacob / Esau and the generation of Jacob & his 12 sons, primarily Joseph.

It reminds us of God's faithfulness and kindness to Abraham's offspring, even those who were outside of the chosen line of Jacob.

The Gospel is NOT about the Cross, justification or the afterlife??? - responding to FFOZ's heretical claim

 

"Why do you not do what I say" is an essay by D. Lancaster recently published in a promotional effort for the upcoming The Narrow Path Torah Club series that is scheduled to premier in October 2026.

The Gospel is NOT about the Cross, Justification, or the Afterlife??  That's the explosive claim in this honest essay from D. Lancaster of FFOZ revealing what will be contained in the upcoming Narrow Path Torah Club series.

Instead of salvation by grace through faith in the person and work of Christ, Lancaster offers salvation by works through following (his version of) the teachings of Jesus.  It couldn't be any clearer or any more heretical.

To read this rejection of the Gospel for yourself: https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/why-do-you-not-do-what-i-say

To read the underlying and even more frightening essay, "How the Gospels Should Have Ended": https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/how-the-gospels-should-have-ended

For my two-part response to that essay: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUMxme9ElkxOrTt6-kbiM3B3tOzkDvJIF

Sermon Video: When Jacob's sons repaid evil for evil - Genesis 34

 

The book of Genesis is an encouraging story about the faithfulness and grace of God. It is also an honest story about the failings and follies of the people whom God has chosen to work with, and humanity as a whole. In Genesis 34 Jacob's daughter Dinah is raped by one of the leading men of a neighboring tribe. Rather than seeking justice openly, Jacob's sons scheme like their father resulting in wholesale murder of all of the male relatives of the perpetrator living in the same town, the stealing of all of their property, and the enslavement of the now widows and orphans. Jacob's sons responded to evil with a much greater amount of evil. There are no excuses, no "what about..." deflections. They knew better, and they should have done much better than any of that. As a Church, Jesus Christ calls us to reject this human tendency toward vengeance in all its forms.

The Narrow Path (FFOZ, Torah Club) lesson #1 - Billy Graham was wrong about John 3:16??

In lesson #1 of the new Torah Club series that begins in October 2026, D. Lancaster and FFOZ present a different gospel, one opposed to that preached by Billy Graham and exemplified by John 3:16.

Instead of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus as our assurance of eternal life {as the Bible proclaims}, FFOZ is selling salvation by obedience (works) to the teachings of Jesus (Torah observance).

Let lesson #1 be a warning to anyone who is invited to join a Torah Club, let it serve as a danger sign to any pastor or church that would allow this material into their congregation. 

This false gospel offered by FFOZ is built upon the foundation of the deeply heretical, "How the Gospels Should Have Ended."  To view my two-part response to this insane rejection of God's plan to share the Good News with the whole world:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUMxme9ElkxOrTt6-kbiM3B3tOzkDvJIF

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #40 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Like an iceburg the true cost of pursuing "Christian" Nationalism may not be readily apparent, but it lies beneath the surface, doing its damage whether we see it or not.

What does the myth of a "Christian" Nation cost the Church?  {See my: The Myth of a Christian Nation - by Gregory Boyd: a summary and response}  Among its many steep costs is this: The Church becomes known for what (who) it is against, not what (who) it is for.  As Gregory Boyd rightly said, "The brutal fact is that we Christians are not generally known for our love - for the simple reason that we, like the pharisees of old, generally judge more than we love." (The Myth of a Christian Nation, Boyd, p. 133-134).  A Church focused on obtaining power over its political enemies will inevitably devolve into an us vs. them mentality.  How can we share the Gospel with them, how we can be servants, when we're busy trying to destroy them?  

In a "Christian" Nation, moral authority is reduced to a tactic, we can't (or hesitate to) criticize our 'team' for immorality, but at the same time we are incentivized to criticize "them" whether warranted or not.

But that's not at all what the Apostle Paul tells the followers of Jesus Christ to do.  We are told that judgement begins, and ends, with us.  God will deal with the rest of the world, our task is to make sure that immorality has not home within our community.

Thus "Christian" Nationalism pushes the Church in the opposite direction from what scriture commands.  Instead of cleaning our own house, we throw stones at "them", instead of having zero tolerance for sin within our community, we make room (even celebrate) unrepentant sinners who happen to be good at the political power game.

The cost of "Christian" Nationalism is far to high for the Church, the Gospel, and each one of us.

Sermon Video: What is Goof for Everyone - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-12

As he begins wrapping up his letter with a variety of instruction for the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul weaves his insight around the theme of, "what is good for each other and for everyone else."  In shorter form: What is good for everyone.  As a local church, this is always going to be a significant challenge.  We have to come to agreement on what is good in various situation, decide how to pursue it, and peaceably work together to try to achieve it, for everyone.  Difficult, but not impossible for a people called and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Video: Awake and Sober - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11

In light of our foreknowledge that Jesus will return to gather his followers, both the dead in Christ and the currently living, the Apostle Paul encourages us to live our lives in a way that is awake and sober?  What does this mean?  Metaphorically, it means we have an important job to do in sharing the Gospel and making disciples, and we need to be properly focused upon it.

How do we do this?  By embracing faith, love, and hope.

Lastly, Paul ends the discussion of the impact of the return of Christ by reminding us to use this wisdom of what will one day happen to encourage and build each other up.

A 3 minute video is all it takes to see that FFOZ denies the Gospel!

I've written a lot about the dangers of the First Fruits of Zion in the last 3+ years, and I've created long detailed videos refuting their false teachings.  I think there is value in taking the time to dig deep and examine things closely.  However, if you have a friend or family members who is participating in a Torah Club, or you know of a church that allows its building to be used for a Torah Club, show them this 3 minute video looking briefly at one of the most outrageous quotes I've seen thus far.

In the quote, asserts that some who have put their faith in Jesus will be rejected on Judgement Day because that day's decisions will be "based on deeds."  This directly contradicts dozens of passages of scripture, including John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, and 1 John 1:9.

Christianity affirms that faith must be genuine in order to save, that it has to result in a changed heart and mind and produce fruit.  However, we reject as heresy the idea that works can save anyone (even Torah keeping won't help), our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

If this short video prompts questions, I'm happy to have a conversation with anyone with regard to First Fruits of Zion or the larger Hebrew Roots Movement of which they are a key part.