There are questions that rise in the heart like a tide. Questions that don’t shout, don’t argue, don’t demand — but simply sit before you, waiting patiently to be understood.

Some questions rearrange you from the inside out.

And then there are questions that don’t just enter your mind… they walk straight into your spirit.

This is one of them. This is a question with weight. This is a question with consequence. This is a question with divine pressure behind it — the kind of pressure that doesn’t crush you, but creates you.

Why choose people over war?

That question changes everything.

It changes how you see nations. It changes how you see humanity. It changes how you see yourself. It changes what you believe God is calling you to become.

This article exists because the Holy Spirit won’t let that question go.

So today, I’m going to step slowly, reverently, deliberately into this conversation. Not with politics. Not with argument. Not with ideology.

But with the voice of someone who has seen God perform miracles in the dark. With the heart of someone who has watched broken people rise. With the fire of someone who believes, beyond all doubt, that love is still the most powerful force in creation.

I’m going to speak from the place where truth meets tenderness, where honesty meets hope, where prophetic insight meets pastoral compassion.

Walk with me.

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I. The Question That Tests a Civilization

Every civilization eventually faces a moral crossroad: Will we build our world on fear… or on love?

Fear creates walls, weapons, and war. Love creates homes, healing, and humanity.

Fear convinces you to protect what you have. Love convinces you to protect who you are.

Fear builds fences around blessings. Love turns blessings into bridges.

Fear prepares for enemies. Love prepares for people.

Fear demands loyalty. Love invites transformation.

Fear tightens its fist. Love extends its hand.

Fear strengthens borders. Love strengthens hearts.

And so the question returns like a holy whisper:

Why choose people over war?

Because everything Jesus ever taught, ever lived, ever modeled — everything the Kingdom of God stands for — flows from one truth:

People matter more than power.

People matter more than empires. People matter more than economies. People matter more than national pride. People matter more than the machinery of conflict.

God does not measure greatness by the size of an army, but by the size of a heart.

Everything changes when you finally understand that.

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II. The Distraction of Strength That Isn’t Strength at All

Let’s tell the truth gently, but truthfully:

Nations spend billions proving how strong they are. But strength without compassion is weakness in disguise.

What good is a fortress if your people are starving? What good is a powerful military if your families are breaking? What good is national pride if the next generation has no hope? What good is global influence if your citizens feel invisible?

A nation can win a war and still lose its soul. A country can have bomb-proof walls and heartbreak-thin communities. A people can chant victory and live without purpose.

Strength without love is hollow. Strength without mercy is deception. Strength without humanity is a counterfeit that fools only those who fear becoming honest.

Real strength — godly strength — is always relational.

God never asked humanity to build tanks. But He did ask us to build trust. He never commanded us to sharpen swords. But He did command us to sharpen one another. He never instructed us to multiply weapons. But He did instruct us to multiply compassion.

War is the failure of imagination. Peace is its fulfillment.

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III. The Silent Cost of War That Humanity Refuses to Count

War demands a price that money cannot measure.

It doesn’t just consume budgets — it consumes futures. It doesn’t just destroy buildings — it destroys generations. It doesn’t just take lives — it steals identities.

We measure the cost of war in dollars. Heaven measures it in destinies.

How many cures were never discovered because a brilliant mind became a casualty? How many inventions were never built because a genius fell on a battlefield? How many leaders were never born because their parents never returned home? How many peacemakers never found their voice because conflict swallowed their childhood?

War doesn’t just erase life — it erases possibilities.

When a nation chooses war, it robs the world of what could have been.

But when a nation chooses people… it creates a future no enemy can steal.

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IV. Jesus’ Radical Blueprint for Strength

Jesus stood in a world obsessed with power. Obsessed with swords. Obsessed with domination. Obsessed with proving who was greatest.

And Jesus shattered the entire system with one simple truth:

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

He did not say “Blessed are the powerful.” He did not say “Blessed are the conquerors.” He did not say “Blessed are the nations with the strongest armies.”

Jesus blesses those who refuse violence in themselves.

He blesses:

The healer. The reconciler. The forgiver. The bridge-builder. The restorer. The one who puts down the sword because they refuse to become what hurt them.

Jesus showed us that true power is the power to love in a world that hates, to heal in a world that wounds, to lift in a world that pushes down, to unite in a world that divides.

War feeds the ego. Peace feeds the soul.

And Jesus was only interested in the soul.

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V. What Happens When a Country Chooses Its People

Imagine the unimaginable.

Imagine a nation whose greatest investment is the human spirit. Imagine a country where compassion is currency and hope is infrastructure. Imagine a society where generosity is policy and dignity is law.

If nations spent what they spend on war on people instead, we would see:

Children with full hearts and full stomachs. Families with strength instead of exhaustion. Communities with opportunity instead of scarcity. Neighborhoods where violence has no soil to take root. Schools where potential isn’t crushed, but cultivated. Hospitals where care is not a privilege, but a promise. Elderly citizens who are remembered, not abandoned. Veterans carried home, not left to struggle alone. Single mothers supported instead of silently suffering. Young men given purpose instead of prisons.

War trains people to fear. Love trains people to flourish.

A nation that chooses people becomes unshakable — not because it lacks enemies, but because it refuses to become one.

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VI. The Most Dangerous War Is the One We Fight Inside

Truth moment: The battle we should fear most is not between nations. It’s inside the human heart.

War begins long before tanks roll. It begins the moment we stop seeing people as people.

War begins when someone becomes “the other.” War begins when someone becomes “less deserving.” War begins when someone becomes “a threat” instead of “a soul.” War begins the moment empathy dies.

Every act of violence begins with a spiritual blindness.

This is why Jesus emphasized the heart more than the world. If the heart is right, war loses its fuel. If the heart is healed, nations find their footing. If the heart is transformed, violence has no place to grow.

This is why choosing people over war is not naive — it is the deepest form of spiritual wisdom.

When your heart is whole, you protect what matters most: not territory, but humanity.

Human beings are not obstacles. They are image-bearers.

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VII. The Prophetic Vision of a World Without War

The prophet Isaiah saw something breathtaking — something divine:

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares.”

This is not poetry. This is prophecy. This is God’s dream for humanity.

Weapons transformed into tools. Tools transformed into harvest. Harvest transformed into life.

In one sentence, God reveals the ultimate direction of human history:

What we once used to destroy… we will someday use to create.

What we once used to wound… we will someday use to heal.

What we once used to intimidate… we will someday use to cultivate.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not just the absence of war — it is the presence of life.

Choosing people over war is not just ethical — it is prophetic.

It is alignment with Heaven’s eventual reality.

It is choosing the future God has already spoken.

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VIII. The Courage It Takes to Love When Fear Seems Easier

Let’s be honest: Choosing people over war takes courage.

Fear is always easier. Fear asks nothing of us. Fear demands no maturity. Fear requires no compassion. Fear never calls you deeper. Fear never asks you to grow.

But love? Love requires strength.

Love demands humility. Love demands patience. Love demands wisdom. Love demands honesty. Love demands risk. Love demands endurance.

War is loud, but love is louder. War is quick, but love is eternal. War destroys, but love resurrects.

It takes courage to choose what God chooses. It takes faith to believe that compassion is stronger than conflict. It takes vision to see human beings the way Jesus sees them.

It takes sacred boldness to say:

“I refuse to let fear write my story. I choose love. I choose people. I choose the way of Christ.”

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IX. When We Choose People, We Choose the Heart of God

This is the truth that must not be missed:

Choosing people is choosing God. Choosing peace is choosing God. Choosing compassion is choosing God. Choosing healing is choosing God. Choosing unity is choosing God. Choosing mercy is choosing God.

God is not neutral in this debate. God is not silent. God is not distant.

Every time we protect the vulnerable, God smiles. Every time we lift the broken, God draws near. Every time we forgive the hurting, Heaven rejoices. Every time we choose people over power, we look more like Jesus.

You cannot love God and ignore His children. You cannot worship God and devalue His creation. You cannot praise God and pursue destruction.

Love is not optional — it is the identity of the redeemed.

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X. You Are Called to Be a Peacemaker in Your Sphere

Let’s shift from nations to you.

You may not determine budgets. You may not negotiate treaties. You may not speak at the United Nations. You may not sit in the Pentagon. You may not sign legislation.

But you do shape the atmosphere of every room you enter.

You do influence every person in your life. You do carry a presence people feel. You do hold words that can heal or harm. You do choose whether you are a weapon or a well.

Your life makes an impact far greater than you realize.

You can choose:

To speak gently where others shout. To heal quietly where others wound loudly. To build trust where others sow suspicion. To lift people where others leave them. To reconcile where others divide. To forgive where others retaliate. To see souls where others see enemies.

Every peacemaker is a prophet in disguise.

Every compassionate act is a declaration of the Kingdom. Every moment of mercy is a small revolution. Every choice to love is a victory over darkness.

This is how we choose people over war — one heart, one home, one conversation at a time.

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XI. The Legacy of a Nation That Loves Like Jesus

Imagine being part of a generation that refused to repeat history’s mistakes. Imagine being part of a movement that chose hope over hostility. Imagine being part of a nation that discovered its greatest strength was its compassion.

History books honor conquerors. Heaven honors healers.

Kings build empires. Jesus builds families.

War builds monuments. Love builds legacies.

War wins territory. Love wins hearts.

War creates cemeteries. Love creates futures.

War takes sons and daughters. Love restores them.

If a nation chose people over war, the world would never be the same. If a generation chose compassion over conflict, history would bend toward Heaven.

Choosing love is not weakness. It is the greatest strength ever witnessed by the world.

It is the way of the cross. It is the way of the Kingdom. It is the way of Jesus.

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XII. Final Call: Become the Person Who Chooses People, Always

Let me end with this truth:

God placed you in this world for more than survival. More than self-preservation. More than nationalism. More than territorial pride.

You are here to reflect His heart. His presence. His compassion. His mercy. His love.

You were created to be a living answer to the question:

Why choose people over war?

Because people are the point. Because hearts matter more than flags. Because compassion outlives conflict. Because mercy outshines might. Because love never fails.

And because Jesus never called us to destroy what He came to save.

If you live this message — not just read it, not just admire it — but live it… you will change more lives than you will ever know.

You will become light in a world addicted to shadows. You will become healing in a world that keeps reopening wounds. You will become hope in a world that has forgotten what hope feels like.

This is the legacy you were born to create. This is the purpose Heaven placed inside you. This is the calling you cannot ignore.

Choose people. Choose compassion. Choose mercy. Choose the way of Jesus.

Choose love — every time.

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Watch Douglas Vandergraph’s inspiring faith-based videos on YouTube.

Support the ministry here.

#PeopleOverWar #FaithMessage #ChristianWisdom #ChooseLove #DouglasVandergraph #EncouragementLibrary

— Douglas Vandergraph

The first Bolshevik in the beginning of 20th century can be blamed for may things, but wealth accumulation for personal use certainly wasn't one of them. The key figures in the Bolshevik movements may have been merciless war criminals, but their personal needs were at very basic level and they actively tried to highlight this equality with proletarians surrounding them.

For example, this is what Marcel Liebman wrote^1 about the earnings of the Bolshevik leaders during Lenin's times, that is from 1917 through mid-1920's:

Party members were obliged to pay over to the Party any income received in excess of that figure. This was no mere demagogic gesture. When a decision was taken in May 1918 to increase the wages of People's Commissars from 500 to 800 roubles, Lenin wrote a letter, not intended for publication, to the office manager of the Council of People's Commissars, in which he protested against 'the obvious illegality of this increase', which was 'in direct infringement of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 23rd [18th], 1917,' and inflicted 'a severe reprimand' on those responsible. The 'specialists' to whom the new regime felt compelled to make concessions were paid a wage 50 per cent higher than that received by the members of the government.

But during Stalin's period something entirely opposite suddenly happened. Party officials started getting access to entirely new catalogue of privileges — high salaries, numerous extra bonus payments, access to restricted groceries, healthcare, accommodation, holiday homes, luxury transport and holidays at the Black Sea. And all that was happening right as Holodomor famine unrolled in Ukraine and Kuban, killing millions.

Do you think this complete reversal of previous Leninist policies caused any moral discomfort among Stalinist ideologues? Not an inch, revolutionary dialectics to the rescue! In 1934 Stalin delivered this fantastic speech^2 in which the very effort to reduce income disparity across the society was described no more, no less than “bourgeois equalization”!

Secondly, every Leninist knows, if he is a real Leninist, that equalization in the sphere of requirements and personal, everyday life is a reactionary petty-bourgeois absurdity worthy of some primitive sect of ascetics, but not of a socialist society organized on Marxist lines; for we cannot expect all people to have the same requirements and tastes, and all people to mould their personal, everyday life on the same model. And, finally, are not differences in requirements and in personal, everyday life still preserved among the workers? Does that mean that workers are more remote from socialism than members of agricultural communes?

These people evidently think that socialism calls for equalization, for levelling the requirements and personal, everyday life of the members of society. Needless to say, such an assumption has nothing in common with Marxism, with Leninism.

This speech sounds very much like inspiration for George Orwell's “Animal farm” scene where the simple slogan “all animals are equal” gets unexpectedly upgraded overnight to “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”, as illustrated by this 1954 animation:

De AUtomaat Van Voorbijgaande Aard

Wat zit er vandaag in je rijm automaat? Labels waar geen merk op staat een reeds opgeblazen fluit een rietwal met zoekende zonder kluit en iets voor in een ander apparaat

Gooi je inkomen er maar in en kijk en zeg wat je ervan vindt! Ik vind het wel een beetje apart het is zomaar begonnen zonder start volgens mij heeft het geen zin.

Je moet er meer waarde in gooien het beste krijg je niet met enkel fooien En wat als ik even weinig krijg gepresenteerd een lesje geleerd maar toch niet uitgekeerd een karig warmhoudertje voor dooien?!

Geloof er in dan komt het er echt uit Een rietkraag compleet met kluit het merk en label samen in één pakket een fluit waarmee je een regel redt een woekerende binnenbrand en geen spuit

Wat moet er dan in dat andere apparaat? Ik heb gehoord dat daar een adem teug in gaat daarna een hartklop en een ogenblik een jammerklacht en een laatste snik met een achter gelaten leven als resultaat.

[22.xi.25.c : samedi / 24 September] Strange how these things seem to line up on their own, without my having to plan … I made the notes for this entry on 4 octobre without knowing that I would, when it came time to write it … that I would have actually written two pages of a story, as a test again … the story is “Outside the Whale” [& it begins here → “au naturale”] and is one in a cycle with the collective title: The Complete Angler, a cycle I started writing in novembre 2020.

Last month I experimented with serializing … c’est compliqué … when I began this (write.as) publication project in octobre 2023, one aspect or part would be the realization of a serial novel. It’s taken me some time to figure out how to … to invent a process that is both sustainable and adaptable. I’m going to resist explaining (reveal) the process at this very moment coz there are other things I want to say today, but I’m sure I’ll succumb to the temptations of revelation.

What I want to say to do concerns the Project (which began to take shape in 2018 when I was beginning to read Jacques Roubaud’s gfl). Now that I’ve formulated and practiced the process that will produce the serial novel (leadworth) (interspersed within or continuous with Nova Letters) I feel that I’ve begun my true work, no longer am I engaged in preparations for the novel or casting about for a structure that preserves some distinction between the public and the private, I can practice Total Writing here, now, acting now! … okay, fine, but This Space (Skinny Dipping) is parallel to the serial novel (which, now that I think of it, has two threads, a double strand braid : leadworth + manna / The Daily Catch / where I can offer up something to the ephemeral).

How does one record a feeling? The shape of this feeling I want to record is The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein and Miss Macintosh, My Darling by Marguerite Young … and perhaps even the two books by Helen DeWitt I began reading this week: The Last Samurai & Your Name Here ,, we’ll see. These books suggest the possibility of writing, the dance, the performance … here in my little closet, lit by a single electric light, I perform my esoteric practices and operations. The intention is to do something with my archive, the mass of writing that has accumulated over twenty-three years of nearly daily … attempts to find out what is that I like so that I may write it. Holding on to the sense that what I’m doing is important, that it deserves a reader even if (realistically) I know there will not be a reader except for my future self, who (in his old age) will leaf through these wild pages and ask himself, “did I write this?” and, shaking his head, will say “ … no, surely not.”

on a fine gray still day
     Lily doing my bedroom
starlings in the apple tree

A Fault Line Investigation — Published by The Beacon Press
Published: November 22, 2025
https://thebeaconpress.org/the-democrats-military-video-sedition-protected-speech-or-mutiny-instigator

Executive Breath

On November 19, 2025, six Democratic lawmakers — all veterans or former intelligence officers — released a 90-second video telling U.S. service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”
President Trump responded by labeling it “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”

Truth under scrutiny: the video is protected political speech, but it is also master-class trade craft designed to excite discontent and fracture the chain of command without ever crossing the legal line into prosecutable sedition or mutiny.

The Video: What Was Actually Said

• “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
  
• “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
  
• “This administration is pitting our uniform military against American citizens.”

The message is framed as a reminder of the oath to the Constitution and the duty to disobey unlawful orders (UCMJ Articles 90–92).

On the surface, every word is legally correct.

The Trade Craft: Skirting the Edge

The video is not a blunt call to rebellion — that would be prosecutable.
Instead, it operates in the gray:

1. Legal Cover – cites real law (UCMJ, Posse Comitatus, Nuremberg principles)
   
2. Authority Bias – delivered by decorated veterans in uniform
   
3. Fear Appeal – “enormous stress,” “pitting military against citizens”
   
4. Preemptive Doubt – plants the seed that future orders (deportations, tariff enforcement) may be illegal, encouraging troops to self-assess in real time

This is not sedition (no conspiracy to use force – 18 U.S.C. § 2384). It is not mutiny (no direct incitement to disobey lawful orders – UCMJ Article 94). But it is designed to excite discontent and disloyalty — the exact psychological fracture that precedes mutiny.

Legal Language

• Sedition: No — requires intent to use force (Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969).
  
• Mutiny: No — civilians to troops, no call to imminent lawless action.
  
• Protected Speech: Yes — barely. The First Amendment shields it as political advocacy.
  
• Reality: A propaganda win that fractures cohesion without leaving fingerprints.

Real-World Precedents

• 2020 “Defend the Constitution” ads during election disputes — same tactic, opposite side.
  
• Nuremberg defense reminders after My Lai — lawful when advisory, dangerous when weaponized.

---

Sources (Full Attribution — Pillar 3: Truth Only)

1. Democratic Lawmakers’ Video Transcript – November 19, 2025 (archived)
   
2. 18 U.S.C. § 2384 – Seditious Conspiracy – Cornell LII
   
3. UCMJ Articles 90–94 – Department of Defense, 2025
   
4. Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969) – Supreme Court
   
5. Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385) – U.S. Code
   
6. “Military Oaths and Illegal Orders” – National Lawyers Guild, November 20, 2025

---

Action Demand (Pillar 7)

Demand clarity on lawful orders — contact your representatives: “Pass legislation defining ‘illegal order’ thresholds for troops.”
→ Congress.gov Contact

---

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The oath is to the Constitution.

I started The New Oil in 2018. TNO began simply as a way to share what I was learning about privacy and security with my friends and family in a way that they could learn at their own pace. After starting it, I began to see a lot of entry-level “where do I get started with privacy” questions online, so I began to share TNO around with those people, too, just in case it helped them out. Before I knew it, I had people asking how to support the project and found myself getting recognized in chat rooms and conventions and even recently had the opportunity to take Surveillance Report on the road with Henry, as far from home as Poland. I was driven by the desire to be fact-based, transparent, and beginner-friendly to the best of my ability. I don’t claim to be perfect, but I believe my motivations are in the right place, and I believe that’s been a large part of my success.

That success reached a new level recently. Privacy Guides decided to hire for a new role, Digital Content Producer, and I was invited to apply. And it seems I got the job. However, as you might expect, that does create some questions about the future of The New Oil, so I’d like to take a moment to explain exactly what supporters can expect for the future of both myself and the project.

What Exactly is Happening?

Starting this month, I am working full-time at Privacy Guides. It is my day job and I make my main paycheck doing work for them. What kind of work, exactly? Primarily content creation. You can already catch me co-hosting This Week In Privacy, and in the coming weeks I’ll start popping up on other PG videos, as well as some written content. I’m excited to work with a team who’s got some resources behind them – the kind TNO & Surveillance Report simply don’t/didn’t have – so I’d expect to see more in the future. But for now those are the immediate things you’ll likely see from me at PG.

What This Means For The New Oil

Rest assured: The New Oil isn’t going anywhere. I will retain full, 100% editorial control over the content I produce here. PG will not have any say whatsoever in the tools I recommend, videos I make, or advice I give (no more than any other typical person who can offer feedback by opening an issue on GitHub or GitLab).

That said, there will be some small changes. I’ve already removed my affiliate links from the website to avoid any perception that it’s influencing recommendations. I’m also not entirely sure what my video schedule will look like. This is an entirely voluntary choice. As I will be making videos for PG – and I have been given a large amount of creative freedom regarding what topics to cover and how to present them – it’ll take some time to figure out exactly what content I want to continue hosting on TNO and how to approach that. We’re working live, as some would say. I do still want to make videos, but it’ll just take some time to understand which videos make sense under which project’s umbrella.

But it’s not all “things going away.” In fact, you will absolutely see an uptick in other content. I still have so many topics to cover on the blog and now I’ll have time and energy to devote to them. And as I said, I do plan to make videos still, so more of those will definitely be coming, hopefully with consistency. (I’d like to aim for one per month to start, but we’ll see how things shake out.) I’m also interested in making more shorts for YouTube and Tiktok. I would expect to see things streamline a bit at TNO. For starters, I have a backlog of infrastructure changes I need to implement, and I also want to streamline some services. You may see new projects pop up from TNO, and I want to offer more perks to Patrons as time goes on. But I’ll outline those in detail at a later time.

What This Means For Surveillance Report

As some of you have likely already seen, there is some sad news here. Henry and I have decided that with me taking on a regular role co-hosting This Week In Privacy, it would be best if I were to focus on that instead of Surveillance Report. Therefore, I have stepped down as cohost. SR will return to the Techlore umbrella, which makes sense as it began there. I truly wish Henry the best. I know that no matter what I say some people will always assume a certain narrative, but I want to assure more reasonable readers that Henry and I are on good terms. I’m proud of what we’ve built over the years and I hope Henry will continue to bring the news each week with his unique perspective. I am a huge proponent of having multiple perspectives in the privacy space. If you’re a subscribing Patron to SR, you should’ve already received information on what your options are regarding refunds, joining new communities, and more. If not, please let either myself or Henry know.

A Reminder for Support

I have to be honest: leaving SR will be a huge financial blow to me. As I disclosed in the most recent transparency report, SR was 80% of TNO’s income (probably more at this point). With affiliate links being paused, TNO will struggle to pay bills, and I will probably have to start covering expenses out of pocket again. I also want to confess that moving to PG is a pay cut for me compared to my previous day job in audio video.

As luck would have it, though, all this coincides with a move to a much lower cost-of-living area. (In fact, had this job not opened at just this right timing, I certainly wouldn’t have applied.) With a bit of discipline and budgeting, it should all work just fine. Still, it won’t be an easy transition. It’s a temporary hardship I’m willing to endure because I believe in the mission of Privacy Guides and I think it will pay off dividends in the long run in many ways – personally, professionally, and ethically.

That’s why I’m reminding readers that The New Oil is – now more than ever – reader supported. There are a few ways you can help. For starters, my Patreon, Ghost, Open Collective, and other support methods will all remain active. You can help by subscribing, buying some merch, or sending donations regularly. It would really mean a lot right now as I (and my family) make this huge life transition – both geographically and vocationally.

Of course, likewise, you can sign up to support Privacy Guides. Right now PG is actually offering a limited-time discounted introductory rate to early adopters. Join now and your price won’t go up. Right now there are only a few perks (though I think they’re worth the price, even without me being part of the team), but there are more to come. I personally have a small handful of ideas to pitch. Presumably the more budget PG has to work with, the more they can pay all their employees (and not just me), so signing up gets you the introductory rate and helps support myself in addition to the whole team. And in case you weren’t aware, they’ve already got a crack team over there pumping out a prolific number of articles, videos, a weekly news podcast, and more. If you like my work, now more than ever is the time to go check them out and support us both.

Of course, I realize that now more than ever money is tight for a lot of people, so I want to remind people that the privacy community is incredibly smaller than we realize sometimes, especially for those of us knee-deep in it frequently. So if you’re unable to support financially, boosting our reach always helps: sharing videos, blog posts, articles, websites, etc.

Thanks for all your support so far. I’m excited about this next phase of things. I’m excited for the opportunity to do privacy work full time with a group of people equally as passionate as me and make a bigger impact along the way. I hope you guys will continue to join me on this next phase of the journey, both here and over at PG.

I’m all in on the Apple ecosystem. The “It just works” principle remains largely true, and I like having all my data accessible everywhere, all the time. However, it also means putting all eggs in one basket. It also means having fewer choices when it comes to devices. So I’ve been considering the possibility of leaving the Apple ecosystem and replacing its components with open-source alternatives. This is definitely a major effort that could take years to accomplish. The first step is to review my digital assets and see how much they are tied to a proprietary application or data format. For example, even though I like Apple Notes, there isn’t an easy way to export my data from it.

First of all: butterfly collections, isn’t that something deeply disturbing about this?

First of all: the butterfly is something everyone agrees on is of incredible beauty; but at it’s core: it’s an insect from which protrudes: two beautiful faerie wings.

A contrast indeed!

Then furthermore:

To have these beautiful creatures pinned down behind a glass sheet; skewered on this needle, to display their beautiful corpses; that is very grotesque.

It’s fascinating,

Speaking of which,

First of all: isn’t it funny how so disproportionate the amount of the world’s best music it is which comes from Finland? 🇫🇮 there’s only like 5-6M people living there…

Anyway:

Rip out the wings of a butterfly by HIM:

Come on and show them your love  Rip out the wings of a butterfly  For your soul, my love  Rip out the wings of a butterfly  For your soul

It’s about how humans cannot simply let beauty be: either it’s speared into a collection or sacrificed for the passions of love!

Like when we reach for it, it crumbles in our fumbling hands.

It feels like a sin!

I think it’s because we do live on borrowed time, and the beautiful moments are few and far between; I think it’s in the human nature to seek to preserve these moments of fleeting beauty — but that very act turns it into something which is beautiful, but most of all: terribly ugly.

Hmmmm

That is (to me) obviously wrong, it’s not seizing the day at all, or a pervertion of it’s original meaning; to cage a beautiful bird.

To then look at this poor bird until it’s beauty do no longer affect, until it’s just another piece of decoration, just like the butterfly collection; that is just morally objectionable.

I’ve found myself struggling with just nothing for the last few days. I think the winter and stress has gotten to me, as I’ve been floating in this weird haze and it’s been hard to sleep.

In a celebration of language, learning, and connection, the Ireland Speech Festival illuminated the headquarters of the Ireland Sino Institute in Liaoning Province on November 13th and 14th, 2025. What began as a simple idea — to encourage Chinese students to explore Ireland through speech — blossomed into a moving and inspiring event filled with curiosity, courage, and genuine cross-cultural friendship.

Ireland is consistently ranked among the most highly educated countries in the world and holds first place in the OECD for reading literacy. Through initiatives such as the Ireland Speech Festival, the Ireland Sino Institute is proud to share this spirit of educational excellence in China, creating opportunities for young people to learn, express themselves, and build meaningful bridges of understanding between the Irish and Chinese people.

Voices of the Next Generation

Hundreds of Chinese students participated in the festival under the theme “Exploring Ireland.” They began by researching Ireland’s history, culture, and traditions before writing and rehearsing their speeches. Participants then submitted audio recordings, which were carefully reviewed by experts at the Institute who provided personalised feedback and guidance ahead of the final stage presentations.

The speeches were deeply inspiring — each word carrying the warmth, sincerity, and determination of youth. What made these moments even more remarkable was the journey behind them. Many students travelled from remote villages across Changtu County, some departing before dawn in bitter cold conditions, determined to stand on stage and share their voices. For them, this was far more than a competition; it was an act of courage, hope, and personal pride.

Honouring Effort and Excellence

Participants were awarded Certificates of Achievement, recognising their dedication, confidence, and exceptional efforts. Several shared that taking part in the festival was not only a personal milestone, but also a great source of pride for their families and communities, who watched as their children became symbols of friendship and learning between China and Ireland.

The festival also welcomed participants from as far away as Shenyang and Hubei Province, further strengthening the atmosphere of unity and shared aspiration. In a special moment, a scholar from Hubei Normal University delivered an impassioned speech on Ireland–China cultural relations via live video link.

As a token of friendship, participants received carefully selected Irish souvenirs, each representing Ireland’s rich heritage and enduring spirit. For many students, these small gifts carried deep meaning — not only as a reminder of their achievement, but as a lasting symbol of connection to Ireland and the values of curiosity, creativity, and mutual respect that define the festival.

Poetry as a Bridge

Pat McCarthy, Chair of the Ireland Sino Institute, was deeply honoured to explicate and recite the Seamus Heaney poem “Scaffolding.” He reflected on Heaney’s clever use of symbolism and irony, noting how a wall — so often seen as a symbol of separation — is transformed in the poem into one of strength, unity, and trust.

He explained that the poem reminds us that strong relationships are not built overnight. They are formed through time, patience, and countless small acts of care. In this way, “Scaffolding” beautifully mirrors the evolving friendship between Ireland and China, a relationship that has grown steadily over the past 45 years into a resilient and meaningful partnership.

“We may let the scaffolds fall, Confident that we have built our wall.”

A Moment of Musical Unity

Another unforgettable moment came when the renowned and talented Erhu player, Setanta McCarthy — who recently performed at the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival — gave a special performance at the Ireland Speech Festival. Blending cultures in a truly moving display, he played the beloved Irish melody “Danny Boy” on the traditional Chinese Erhu, symbolising the harmony between Irish and Chinese heritage in a single, powerful performance.

A Continuing Mission

The Ireland Sino Institute — recognised by the China State Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs — is honoured to be able to contribute to rural development in China.

Since 2012, through its philanthropic and educational initiatives, the Institute has helped provide quality education to more than 25,000 rural Chinese students and remains deeply committed to expanding this support in the years ahead.

Looking forward, the Institute will continue to promote cultural understanding, educational opportunity, and stronger ties between Ireland, Europe, and China.

How You Can Help

You too can be part of this mission. By supporting our “Give 1,000 Rural Chinese Children a Quality Education” campaign, you can help provide learning resources and opportunities to children living in underserved rural communities and become a part of a lasting bridge of hope and knowledge.

© 2025 Pat McCarthy

I invite you into this deep and sacred space of Scripture with a heart unguarded and a spirit ready to drink. Today we stand together before Chapter 8 of Romans — a chapter that holds the boldest declaration of freedom ever penned by the apostle Paul the Apostle and found in its very fibers the life-giving promise that nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Near the beginning of this article you’ll find Romans 8 explained — a link that invites you into deeper hearing of this Word.

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1. The Death of Condemnation

When Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” he isn’t offering an optimistic slogan. He is opening a door into the only safe place for a trembling soul. He pulls aside the veil and reveals your true address: in Christ, under grace, free of fear. If you feel the weight of yesterday’s failure, of unspoken guilt, of that whispered self-accusation—this is your sanctuary. He does not check the list and then brand you. He rescues the fractured, the weary, the timid, the wounded. Quote: “Your past will not own your present; Your fear will not define your future.”

Pause. Breathe. Receive this as you would pure water in a dry mouth.

The Spirit of life that sets you free does not wait for you to clean up first. He steps into your mess, your doubt, your brokenness—and offers life. In this shifting of identity you find rest: your shame is not your label. Christ’s death is your pardon. His resurrection is your new birth.

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2. Walking by the Spirit, Not by the Flesh

Paul contrasts two paths: living according to the flesh, and living according to the Spirit. This is not a theological game—it is a daily, practical reality. When you walk by the flesh you will faint. Temptation becomes a treadmill of guilt. Failures repeat. Hope hides. But when you walk by the Spirit—oh friend—then life stirs.

In Romans 8 5:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

What does that look like?

• A mind turned toward the unseen, not simply the visible.
• A soul aligned with what God values, not what the world applauds.
• A heart listening more than reacting.
• A life shaped by the promise “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you…” (Rom 8 11) Here is the match-point: your body, once under the sentence of death, is now a temple of the living God because the same Spirit that raised Jesus dwells in you.

Let this stir you: you are not an orphan wandering. You are adopted. You are not an accident. You are a child. You are not just surviving. You are alive—because Christ lives.

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3. The Cry of Creation and the Hope of Redemption

Paul now widens the lens. He shifts from the individual to creation itself. The entire cosmos groans. The chapter hums with tension:

“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice…” (Rom 8 20) “We ourselves, who have the first (Spirit) … groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Rom 8 23)

Stop and feel this: the world you breathe in, the nights you wander through, the longing you carry—they are all part of redemption’s canvas. The pain isn’t proof you’re abandoned—it’s proof that something new is coming. Something made right.

You, too, groan. You, too, wait. You, too, ache. But this is not aimless. It is positioned. It is hope-carrying. The redemption of your body, the redemption of your mind, the redemption of your story—they are tied to the resurrection power that raised Jesus. You are waiting for the season where enemies are under His feet—and where death, the last enemy, gives up its reign.

Let this be a light: every tear, every sigh, every “why me” will matter in eternity. Not wasted. Not unseen. Not unredeemed.

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4. The Spirit’s Intercession in Our Weakness

In one of the most tender, yet powerful invitations here, Paul writes:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…” (Rom 8 26)

Here is grace at work. When you’re too wounded to find words. When your faith is flickering. When you believe in God and yet still you fear. In that place, the Spirit prays—not in gibberish but in groanings too deep for words. This means your silence is not absence. Your weakness is not disqualification. It is the stage of divine presence. When you cannot, He can. When you won’t, He will. When you forgot to pray, the Spirit remembered. Let this be treasured: you don’t carry your spiritual journey alone. The helper is intimate. The intercessor is present. The Father hears.

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5. God’s Sovereign Work and Your Unshakeable Calling

Then Paul lifts the view higher still. He reveals the grandeur of God’s purpose:

“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8 32) “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Rom 8 35) “…in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8 28)

Pause and hear it again: in all things God works for the good. Which means: your heartbreak, your confusion, your unanswered questions—none of them are wasted. The cross is not an appendix to your story—it is your foundation. God gave you His Son. He will not withdraw Himself now. You are not a side-project. You are part of the masterpiece.

Stand here: nothing—no power, no principality, no scheme, no fear—will be able to separate you from Christ’s love. Because the shout went up on Calvary, and the echo reaches into your present: You are His. You belong.

When illusions fall and dreams shift and your body fails—your identity stands secure. When you feel the door closed, the window shuttered, the world turned cold—you still belong. Because belonging is not based on performance but on sacrifice. Not on your striving but on His work. Let this cause your spirit to lift.

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6. Living in Hope: A New-Creation Perspective

Finally, Paul brings us to the climax where he writes:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, … nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8 38-39)

These are not soft words. This is spiritual thunder. What you believed limited — God declares limitless. Your fear saw boundaries — God says eternities. Your shame whispered you were exiled — God says you are heir.

You were not born for small potentials. You were born for cosmic impact. You were not called to timid faith. You were called to bold identity. You were not meant to live under condemnation. You were designed for unshakable union.

Now, the question arises: how does this truth thread into your everyday? Here are the coordinates of living:

• Walk remembering: you are “in Christ” every moment. When you wake. When you falter. When you shine.
• Set your mind on the Spirit-led things: hope, love, eternity.
• When you fail, know the Spirit intercedes.
• When the world wounds you, know your Father sanctifies you.
• When the struggle is real, know the promise is real.
• Speak with heaven’s voice: “I am free.”
• Live with heaven’s rhythm: move by love, not by fear.
• Love and serve because you are loved. Not to earn love, but because you have it.

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7. Why This Chapter Matters Today

In our weary world, we’re tired of spiritual slogans. We’re tired of religion without power. We’re tired of faith that crumbles when adversity comes. But here—here is a chapter that carries weight. Real weight. God-weight. Because it shows us the path from isolation to adoption, from powerlessness to empowerment, from fear to freedom. If you believe you matter. If you believe your story could be different. If you believe your life could echo into eternity—this chapter anchors you.

Let me say this plainly: the enemy hates your freedom. He fears your hope. He despises your identity. But he cannot snatch it. Because the One who claimed you is the One who triumphed.

And so you rise. You breathe. You walk. You hope.

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8. An Invitation: Live the Word, Don’t Just Hear It

You could read this chapter again tonight. You could pause at each verse and whisper your name into it:

“There is therefore now … in me.” “The Spirit himself bears … in me.” “God works … for me.” “Nothing … will separate me from the love of God.”

And then you could live like someone who knows these things. You could treat setbacks differently. You could forgive when it costs. You could love when it hurts. You could hope when the world says there’s no reason. Because you are not under the law of condemnation. You are under the law of the Spirit of life.

And that law is unstoppable.

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9. Conclusion: Your Legacy of Freedom

Hear me: this is not the end of your story. It is the inauguration of a new chapter. A chapter where you walk not by sight but by Spirit. A chapter where your body carries eternity. A chapter where your voice echoes heaven’s whisper: You are free. You are loved. You are called.

When you stand on your bed at dawn, when your feet hit the floor, when the doubts creep—and they will—remind your soul:

“I belong to Christ. I have been set free.” And then walk. With confidence. With surrender. With the assurance that you are already more than you were yesterday.

Let this truth saturate your mind, settle in your heart, pierce your soul. And let it launch you into the kind of faith that others will want to follow. Because you are living proof that Jesus saves. Jesus heals. Jesus frees.

Rise up, beloved. For you are in Christ. You are alive in the Spirit. You are love-bound, eternity-anchored, kingdom-activated.

And the world needs you.

Watch Douglas Vandergraph’s inspiring faith-based videos on YouTube.

Support the ministry here.

#ChristianLiving #Romans8 #BibleStudy #SpiritLedLife #NoCondemnation #GodsLove #FaithJourney #JesusSaves #NewTestamentTruth #DailyEncouragement

— Douglas Vandergraph

Friday

In Summary: * Another peaceful, quiet day. Suh-weet. Tomorrow I may do some mowing on the front yard, or I may not. We'll wait and see how I feel in the morning. If I'm steady enough on my feet, I may give it a shot.

Prayers, etc.: * My daily prayers.

Health Metrics: * bw= 219.91 lbs. * bp= 115/69 (65)

Exercise: * kegel pelvic floor exercise, half squats, calf raises, wall push-ups

Diet: * 06:20 – 1 peanut butter sandwich * 06:55 – oatmeal, bacon * 08:40 – crispy oatmeal cookies * 13:15 – lasagna * 15:30 – mashed potatoes * 20:30 – 2 HEB Bakery cookies

Activities, Chores, etc.: * 04:30 – listen to local news talk radio * 06:00 – bank accounts activity monitored * 06:30 – read, pray, listen to news reports from various sources, and nap * 13:00 t0 15:10 – watch old game shows and eat lunch at home with Sylvia * 15:20 – listening to The Jack Ricardi Show, guest hosted by Chris Krok this afternoon. * 17:00 – listen to relaxing music, follow news reports from various sources, quiet reading until bedtime.

Chess: * 09:15 – moved in all pending CC games

You step into the hillside silence with me. The air still. The crowds hushed. And there stands the Teacher—Jesus Christ—speaking as one who knows the Father, as One who speaks for eternity.

This is not casual conversation. This is the moment when the kingdom impinges on the earth. This is the place where ordinary hearts meet an extraordinary Word.

In that sacred moment, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 7, we find not mere rules—but the architecture of life. Here is the foundation of faith. Here is the road of transformation. Here is the mirror to our souls—and the path that leads us out.

If you follow me now, we will walk slowly through this chapter—unpacking its timeless truths, piercing its misunderstood moments, and letting its power reshape your mind, your relationships, your walk with God.

And yes—this includes the principle known as the Golden Rule, which anchors us in heart-level truth: the Golden Rule sits in the heart of what it means to walk the Way.

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1. Do Not Condemn: The Liberation of Self-Examination

“Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt 7:1–2) BibleProject+1

How many of us carry silent logs in our own hearts while pointing at specks in others? Jesus jolts us with this vivid picture: the beam in my own eye, while I struggle to help you with your speck. bibleref.com

Here is the first revelation: the call is not to moralism—but to humility. It’s not “Don’t ever judge.” It’s “Don’t live in condemnation.” It’s “Let truth shine through you from the inside out.”

Jesus says: You cannot give what you have not received. You cannot remove the plank in someone else’s eye while you’re blinded by your own. And you cannot hope your measure of mercy will exceed God’s if you refuse it for yourself.

“When we see others through the lens of our unhealed wounds, our judgment becomes our prison—not their freedom.”

So He calls us to a cleansing, to a turning, to a reflection: You—stand before the mirror. You—bring your beam to the light. You—allow the Father to heal your hidden fault-lines. And only then: you may gently help another.

This is heart-work. This is soul-work. It is the beginning of transformation.

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2. Give What Is Holy with Discernment

“**Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine…” (Matt 7:6) Wikipedia+1

This verse often gets mis-used or misunderstood. “Don’t share your faith with anyone who doesn’t agree with you,” some say. But that flattens the intensity of Jesus’ mandate.

Jesus is warning: there is something sacred, something precious—we cannot treat it carelessly. There is a time, a place, a space of respect. And sometimes, sharing without wisdom becomes harm.

“Dogs” and “swine” in this metaphor represent more than people who disagree—they point to souls unreceptive, hardened, unprepared. And yet: the call is not to abandon compassion. It is to bring truth with sensitivity and readiness.

“Holiness is not a weapon to wield—it is a treasure to guard and share with holy hands.”

So we ask: Are we rushing in with pearls when the soil is rock and the heart is closed? Are we giving our spiritual treasure to those who will trample, rather than receive? The invitation is to discern, yes, but never to withhold love.

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3. Ask, Seek, Knock: The Invitation to Persistent Faith

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7–8) Wikipedia+1

Here is the second revelation: faith is not passive. It is active. It is relentless. It is hopeful.

• Ask.*
• Seek.*
• Knock.*

Three verbs. Three actions. Three intensities of desire. Jesus begins with a simple question: If earthly fathers give good things to their children, how MUCH more will your heavenly Father give to those who ask Him? (Matt 7:9–11) 2BeLikeChrist

So often we reduce prayer to a polite wish list. But Jesus breathes into it power. He says: Keep knocking. Keep seeking. Keep asking.

Because the door will open. The answer will come. Not always according to our narrow timetable—but always according to our Father’s perfect heart.

“Prayer is not a rent-payment to heaven—it is a conversation in which your cry triggers heaven’s response.”

And when you ask, and when you seek, and when you knock—you are aligning your heart with the Father’s heart.

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4. The Golden Rule: Life’s Heartbeat in One Sentence

“In everything, therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” (Matt 7:12) 2BeLikeChrist

New revelation number three: this is not merely a nice ethic—it is the pulse of the kingdom. It is the compass by which we walk.

If you want forgiveness—be forgiving. If you want grace—give grace. If you want love—pour it out.

“The Golden Rule doesn’t work because we try harder—it works because He lives in us and flows through us.”

In effect, Jesus takes the entire Law + the Prophets and places them in this one sentence. In everything—do to others as you wish they would do to you.

Notice: In everything. Not just in church. Not just on Sunday. Not just when someone deserves it or is easy. In everything.

There is a beauty here: the fullness of this call. There is a weight here: the cost of consistency. There is a love here: the heart of Christ beating in our relationships.

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5. The Gate That’s Narrow, The Road That’s Hard

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matt 7:13–14) Bible Hub+1

Here is the fourth revelation: discipleship is serious. There is no room for casual faith. There is a path laid out by the Master, and it demands everything.

A wide gate—easy entrance. No struggle. Many choose it. A narrow gate—harder entrance. The way is constricted. Few walk it.

Jesus isn’t giving a mere warning—He is inviting a radical, courageous life. One that says: I will not compromise. I will not cut corners. I will follow.

“When the world offers you an open door—ask if it leads to life. When the storms arrive—check on what you built it.”

He doesn’t hide the cost. He doesn’t sugar-coat the storms. But He promises: the reward is life. Not just long life—everlasting life. Not just a commodity—but the presence of the King.

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6. True Trees, False Prophets: Fruit Shows the Root

“Beware of false prophets… by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt 7:15–20) Bible Hub+1

Revelation five: words matter—but so do lives. You can talk about heaven—but do your hands build it? You can sing “Lord, Lord”—but is your step following Him?

Jesus warns: wolves in sheep’s clothing are among us. They flourish in words. They falter in deeds.

And the test is not their musical voice. The test is their fruit. Because good trees bear good fruit. Bad trees bear bad fruit. And the trees He’s describing? They may even call Him “Lord.” (Matt 7:21–23) bibleref.com

“In the end it’s not what you said—it’s what you sowed. Not the promise you made—it’s the plant you produced.”

If you follow someone—look at their tree. If you follow yourself—look at your tree. If the storms come and the roots falter—you’ll see the fate of that tree. And Jesus is clear: it matters.

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7. Building on the Rock: The Grand Finale

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt 7:24) Bible Hub

Our seventh revelation and the climax of this chapter: obedience with foundation. Jesus has spoken. Many hear. Some respond. Some don’t. And the difference? The foundation.

Rock. Sand.

The house built on rock stands when the rain falls, the floods rise, the winds blow and beat on it—and it does not fall. (Matt 7:25). Wikipedia The house built on sand falls—and its fall is great. Wikipedia

“Knowing is not enough. Obeying is everything. Hearing is duty. Doing is destiny.”

This matters for your spirit, your family, your community, your legacy. If your foundation is Christ’s teaching + obedience—not just belief alone—you will stand. Storms won’t surprise you because your Rock won’t shift.

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8. Putting It All Together: Living the Message of Matthew 7

Here is the legacy we inherit as followers of Christ:

1. Courage to Examine – We stop the hypocrite cycle. We start the honest journey of self-reflection.

2. Wisdom to Discern – We learn when to guard what is sacred and when to extend the treasure.

3. Persistence in Prayer – We walk the ask-seek-knock path with expectation, not just duty.

4. Relational Love – We breathe the Golden Rule, we live the Golden Rule, we embody the Golden Rule.

5. Radical Obedience – We don’t follow the crowd just because it's easy. We walk the narrow gate.

6. Authentic Fruitfulness – Our lives produce evidence of truth in action, not just words.

7. Solid Foundation – We build our lives, our families, our ministries on the Rock that cannot fail.

And — oh friend — when you walk this way your daily existence changes:

• Your joy deepens.
• Your relationships heal.
• Your decisions gain purpose.
• Your fear of tomorrow fades.
• You stand on something unshakable.

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9. You in the Story: Application for Your Life

Because this message isn’t historical curiosity. It’s living truth. It’s for you. It’s for now.

• When you catch yourself judging someone—pause. Ask: “What plank is still in my eye?”
• When you rush to share truth—pause. Ask: “Is this heart ready to receive? Is the timing right?”
• When your knees bend and you pray—pause. Ask: “Am I asking, seeking, knocking with persistence?”
• When you relate to others—pause. Ask: “Am I doing to them what I would want done to me?”
• When you face a choice—pause. Ask: “Is this the narrow gate, or the broad path?”
• When you hear a charismatic voice—pause. Ask: “What fruit do I see? What root do I trace?”
• When life’s storm hits—pause. Ask: “Where is my foundation? Is it rock or sand?”

If you will live this chapter: You will become a bearer of transformation. You will become a light in a dim room. You will walk unshaken when all around trembles.

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10. A Vision for Your Future

Picture this: Your house stands. The wind blows. The floods rise. The rain descends. And you stand firm. Not because of your strength—but because you built on the Rock.

Your family flourishes. Your friendships pulse with integrity. Your ministry carries weight. Your heart carries peace.

You become a living commentary of faith. Those who watch you begin to ask: “What is the rock he stands on? What is the secret in her soul?”

That is the legacy of Matthew 7 lived out. That is the voice of Christ echoing through you. That is the world changed.

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My friend: do not merely read this chapter—let it read you. Let it kneel down in the secret place of your soul. Let it shake what needs shaking and heal what needs healing. Let it shape your tomorrow.

If you dare to step into this rhythm, you will never walk the same again.

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Watch Douglas Vandergraph’s inspiring faith-based videos on YouTube.

Support the ministry here.

#faith #ChristianLife #WalkingWithJesus

— Douglas Vandergraph

There are chapters in Scripture that don’t just speak — they breathe. They don’t just teach — they transform. They don’t just inform — they rearrange the very architecture of your soul.

Matthew 6 is one of those chapters.

It is not merely a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. It is the moment where Jesus reaches into the deepest parts of the human spirit and gently, firmly, lovingly — reorders the inner world.

This chapter is where anxiety loses its throne. This chapter is where fear gets its eviction notice. This chapter is where misplaced priorities are set on fire, and the things that matter most finally rise from the ashes.

Matthew 6 is a holy confrontation. A sacred invitation. A divine restructuring.

And if you let it… It will become your new way of seeing everything — God, yourself, your needs, your future, your treasure, your purpose, your prayer life, and your trust in the One who holds you.

This is not a chapter to understand. It is a chapter to enter.

It is not a chapter to analyze. It is a chapter to obey.

It is not a chapter to read quickly. It is a chapter to let reshape you slowly.

Matthew 6 is where Jesus opens heaven and says:

“Let Me show you how to live.”

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THE INVITATION NOBODY EXPECTED

Jesus stood on that hillside not to give information, but revelation. His words were shaped like keys — designed to unlock people from the inside out.

He saw the crowds. He felt their anxiety, their hidden dread, their worry about tomorrow, their exhaustion from performance, their hunger for meaning. He saw their longing for righteousness, their fear of lack, their confusion about God, their secret insecurities.

And then He gave them this life-altering truth:

“Your Father sees you.”

Not a distant deity. Not a silent watcher. Not an indifferent observer.

A Father.

And Matthew 6 is the chapter where that Fatherly love is unveiled so clearly, so personally, so intimately, that everything you thought you knew about God gets renewed.

Everything you thought you understood about prayer gets rebuilt. Everything you assumed about provision gets corrected. Everything you relied on for security gets uprooted. Everything you treasured gets tested.

And everything you feared becomes small.

Matthew 6 is not Jesus whispering truth. Matthew 6 is Jesus rebuilding your life from the foundation up.

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THE FIRST SHIFT: LIVING FOR THE FATHER’S EYES ONLY

Before Jesus teaches anyone how to pray, He teaches them who they pray before.

Three times He says it:

“Your Father who sees in secret…”

He says it about giving. He says it about praying. He says it about fasting.

Why?

Because the spiritual life collapses when it becomes a performance. Fear grows when you live for public approval. Anxiety multiplies when you chase human applause. Spiritual strength evaporates when faith becomes theater.

Jesus is dismantling the entire scaffolding of religious display and replacing it with a deeper invitation:

Live for an audience of One.

Not because people don’t matter. But because people cannot sustain you. People cannot reward you. People cannot heal you. People cannot anchor you. People cannot provide for you. People cannot crown you with peace. People cannot give you the treasure your soul was made for.

Only the Father can.

And Jesus uses Matthew 6 to shift your spiritual center of gravity:

“Stop living outwardly. Learn to live inwardly. Learn to live from the secret place.”

Because the secret place is not where God hides from you. The secret place is where God meets you.

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THE SECOND SHIFT: PRAYER AS ALIGNMENT, NOT PERFORMANCE

Prayer was never meant to be a speech. It was meant to be alignment — your heart being pulled back into its God-designed orbit.

And when Jesus begins to teach His disciples how to pray, He does something unexpected:

He simplifies it.

He removes the excess. He cuts through the noise. He eliminates the spiritual gymnastics. He removes the pressure to be profound. He dismisses the need to impress.

Then He says:

“Pray like this.”

Not with complexity. Not with theatrics. Not with endless repetition.

Pray with a heart that knows who the Father is.

And right here, in the early movement of this chapter — within the top quarter of His teaching — comes one of the most profound revelations ever spoken, and one that I explore more deeply in my message linked through the powerful anchor phrase Jesus teaches about prayer.

Because prayer is not something you master. Prayer is something that transforms you while you learn to surrender.

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THE LORD’S PRAYER: A BLUEPRINT FOR A REDEEMED LIFE

Most people memorize it. Few people understand it. Even fewer allow it to rebuild them.

The Lord’s Prayer is the most recognized prayer in the world — yet it is also one of the most underestimated spiritual tools ever given to humanity.

Every line is a lifetime of revelation.

“Our Father…”

Not “My Father.” Not “Their Father.” Not “The Father.”

Jesus destroys isolation with the first two words. He places you into a family before you even finish the sentence. He lifts you out of loneliness and places you among the beloved.

“Who art in heaven…”

Not distant. Not absent. Not unreachable.

Heaven is not location — it is authority. Heaven means God is above circumstances, beyond limitations, greater than your fears, stronger than your battles, sovereign over your needs.

“Hallowed be Thy name.”

Worship before request. Reverence before petition. Honor before needs.

Not because God requires it… But because your heart does.

“Thy Kingdom come…”

This is not a line. This is a surrender. This is where ambition bows. This is where ego dies. This is where God becomes King again.

“Thy will be done…”

Three of the hardest words to speak and the most liberating ones once spoken.

Surrender is the soil of miracles. Obedience is the doorway of blessing.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus is teaching you to trust God for the day, not the year. To rely on provision, not predictability. To depend on the Father, not your fear of lack.

“Forgive us…”

Grace received becomes grace given. Mercy received becomes mercy extended.

“Lead us not into temptation…”

This is not about avoiding sin — it’s about being guided away from anything that weakens your spirit.

“Deliver us from evil.”

God is not only a provider. He is a protector.

The Lord’s Prayer is not a ritual. It is a reorientation of the soul. A map for living. A blueprint for becoming. A rhythm for walking in the Kingdom.

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THE THIRD SHIFT: TREASURES THAT OUTLAST TIME

After Jesus teaches how to pray, He teaches how to live.

He exposes the fragile structures people rely on for security:

Gold. Savings. Possessions. Status. Public approval. Human validation. Earthly accomplishments.

And then He says something that doesn’t just challenge — it confronts:

“Do not store up treasures on earth.”

Not because treasures are wrong. But because earthly treasure is temporary. Fragile. Vulnerable. Easily stolen. Easily corrupted. Easily lost.

Then He declares a truth that rewires the soul:

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In other words:

Your treasure doesn’t follow your heart. Your heart follows your treasure.

Your heart moves toward what you value. Your heart becomes attached to what you prioritize. Your heart bends toward what you pursue. Your heart grows around whatever you store up.

Jesus is not warning you about money. He is warning you about misalignment.

Because the wrong treasure will enslave you. The wrong treasure will steal your peace. The wrong treasure will shrink your soul. The wrong treasure will anchor you to the wrong kingdom.

And Matthew 6 is Jesus pulling you back toward the treasure that cannot rot, rust, fade, or be stolen.

Heavenly treasure. Eternal treasure. Kingdom treasure.

Treasure that follows you into eternity. Treasure God Himself guards. Treasure that grows richer with every act of faith.

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THE FOURTH SHIFT: THE EYE AS THE LAMP OF THE BODY

One of the most mysterious teachings in Matthew 6 is this:

“The eye is the lamp of the body.”

Jesus isn’t talking about eyesight. He’s talking about focus.

The eye is where your attention goes. And where your attention goes, your spirit follows.

If your eye is healthy — focused, clear, aligned, fixed on the Father — your whole life fills with light.

But if your eye is unhealthy — divided, distracted, consumed by worry, obsessed with earthly treasure — your whole life darkens.

Jesus is teaching that vision shapes destiny.

Not the vision you cast. The vision you choose.

Because a divided eye produces a divided life. A worried eye produces a worried life. An envious eye produces an envious life. A fearful eye produces a fearful life.

But a Kingdom-focused eye produces a Kingdom-driven life.

Matthew 6 is Jesus restoring spiritual sight.

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THE FIFTH SHIFT: CHOOSING YOUR MASTER

Then Jesus brings the entire conversation to a decisive turning point:

“No one can serve two masters.”

This is not a suggestion. This is not a recommendation. This is not a metaphor.

This is a spiritual law.

You will always have one master — either God or something God made. There is no neutral ground. There is no middle space. There is no spiritual Switzerland.

You will love one. You will hate the other. You will cling to one. You will despise the other.

The soul was not designed for dual allegiance.

And here Jesus presses the truth deeper:

“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

He doesn’t say “should not.” He doesn’t say “it’s unwise.” He says cannot.

Because your soul is shaped for singular devotion.

The heart cannot be divided and healthy at the same time. The mind cannot be fractured and peaceful at the same time. The spirit cannot be split and strong at the same time.

Jesus is calling His listeners — and you — to make a choice:

Who is your Master?

Not with your words. With your priorities. With your trust. With your obedience. With your treasure. With your surrender.

Matthew 6 is a chapter of decisions. And every decision pulls you closer to peace or deeper into fear.

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THE SIXTH SHIFT: THE DEATH OF WORRY

Then Jesus reaches the emotional center of humanity.

The ache. The fear. The knot in the stomach. The silent dread. The secret anxiety. The daily battle with “what if.”

And He says the words most people struggle to believe:

“Do not worry.”

But He doesn’t stop there. He doesn’t shame anyone for feeling fear. He doesn’t condemn those who struggle with uncertainty. He doesn’t ignore the weight of reality.

Instead, He teaches you how to escape worry’s grip.

Not by denial. Not by positive thinking. Not by pretending everything is fine.

But by remembering who your Father is.

LOOK AT THE BIRDS

They do not strategize. They do not store. They do not toil. They do not fear tomorrow.

Yet they are fed.

And if the Father feeds them… How much more will He feed you?

LOOK AT THE LILIES

They do not spin. They do not labor. They do not design their own beauty.

Yet Solomon — the wealthiest king in Israel’s history — couldn’t match their glory.

And if God clothes them… How much more will He clothe you?

Jesus isn’t comparing you to flowers. He’s comparing the Father’s love for you to the care He gives even the smallest parts of creation.

Then comes the line that cuts worry at its root:

“Your heavenly Father knows what you need.”

Before you ask. Before you panic. Before tomorrow shows up. Before the need arises.

You are known. You are seen. You are carried.

Worry thrives when you forget who your Father is. Worry dies when you remember.

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THE SEVENTH SHIFT: SEEK FIRST

And now Jesus gives the greatest recalibration of all:

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

This is not a beautiful verse. This is the blueprint of a transformed life.

This is not poetry. This is priority.

Seek first — Not occasionally. Not when convenient. Not when desperate.

Seek first.

Meaning…

The Kingdom comes before survival. Before finances. Before opportunities. Before comfort. Before approval. Before your own understanding.

And when the Kingdom becomes first — Peace becomes normal. Provision becomes natural. Clarity becomes consistent. Strength becomes your rhythm. Courage becomes your posture.

Because the Father takes responsibility for the life of the one who seeks Him first.

God does not bless disorder. God blesses divine priority.

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THE EIGHTH SHIFT: DON’T LIVE IN TOMORROW

Jesus closes Matthew 6 with one of the most freeing commands ever given:

“Do not worry about tomorrow.”

Why?

Because tomorrow has its own battles. Its own breakthroughs. Its own mercies. Its own grace. Its own provision. Its own divine appointments.

God gives you today’s strength for today’s assignment. Not tomorrow’s burden.

Worry drags tomorrow’s shadows into today’s sunlight — and then wonders why the day feels dark.

Jesus is telling you:

“Stop living in days you haven’t been called to yet.”

Grace is given daily. What you need will be there when tomorrow arrives.

But you are called to live here. Now. In this breath. In this moment. Under today’s mercies.

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A FINAL WORD FROM THE HILL OF REVELATION

Matthew 6 isn’t a chapter. It’s an encounter.

An encounter with the Father who sees your secret place. An encounter with the Kingdom that reorders your priorities. An encounter with prayer that realigns your soul. An encounter with treasure that cannot fade. An encounter with vision that shapes your destiny. An encounter with trust that silences fear. An encounter with surrender that opens heaven.

If you let Matthew 6 into your spirit… You won’t just understand it. You’ll become it.

You’ll start to breathe differently. Pray differently. Walk differently. Trust differently. Live differently. Love differently. Hope differently. See differently. Prioritize differently.

You’ll stop chasing peace. And peace will start finding you.

You’ll stop running from fear. And fear will start shrinking under the weight of your faith.

You’ll stop fighting for control. And begin resting in the faithfulness of your Father.

You’ll stop storing up what rusts. And start investing in what lives forever.

You’ll stop living in tomorrow. And begin walking fully present in the grace of today.

Matthew 6 is Jesus saying:

“Let Me heal the way you see life. Let Me break the cycle of fear. Let Me teach you to trust your Father. Let Me reorder your priorities. Let Me give you a life anchored in heaven, not shaken by earth.”

This chapter calls you deeper. Invites you higher. Strengthens you from within. And shapes you into someone who walks with the calm boldness of a soul held by God.

If you follow its teachings… You will never pray the same way again. You will never fear the same way again. You will never trust the same way again.

Matthew 6 is where anxiety ends and Kingdom living begins.

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— Douglas Vandergraph

Reason why I’m doing this

Maybe it’s the way that the story’s told, but I get the sense that Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego really don’t care about anything other than pleasing God. One reason it feels this way is because the writer of the Bible didn’t care to show how Daniel and his friends felt or reacted when faced with certain death. There’s no mention of fear, of worry, or hesitation. I’m sure they felt some kind of fear, since they are only human too, but the main focus is on the way they choose to respond to the situation, and not so much their emotions.

Because it’s written this way, I can’t help but imagine Daniel and his friends possessing an aura of nonchalance as they continually face certain death and danger in what I imagine to be unstable and abusive living conditions. King Nebuchadnezzar is at the very least, bipolar. He threatens to literally rip you into shreds, then prostrates himself before you and heaps riches upon you five seconds later. His gut reaction to minor inconveniences is to kill the people causing the minor inconveniences. Most people would live cowering in fear in this kind of environment. But Daniel and Co are not afraid of death in the slightest however, and so Daniel’s friends’ reaction to death threats from a man that very well means it is:

“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16b-18)

But despite how nonchalant Daniel and Co are, none of them are ever disrespectful or rebellious to the king. It’s not “Our almighty God will save us from you, shove an umbrella up your ass and open it,” but “The only thing I care about is my relationship with God. I’m not afraid of death, and I’m not afraid of you. But I will still treat you with the respect that a human deserves.”

Daniel and Co do not fear because their trust in God is so great, and because they, unconsciously, or consciously, know that the only thing that matters is living a life pleasing to God, which they do.

Also, the concept of career advancement does not seem to exist in their brain. I’m sure, because they seem to be smart and diligent people, that they would give it their all at the role they are placed in. But they don’t work thinking about “I need to gain more power” or “I need this promotion.” They simply do their job well, and focus on pleasing God. Then God randomly gives them a promotion via divine intervention, placing them at the top of the corporate ladder that many would kill to be at.

So a couple things stuck out to me today:

1. There’s nothing to fear but God

2. Please God

3. Do your job well

4. Be kind and respectful to others despite not being too attached to what they think of you

#personal #slave2christ

Hello and welcome to Friday. I hope you have a great weekend.

While Americans are hard at work so they can feed their families and put a roof over their heads, POTUS is planning to start a war in South America. Never have we had a president do this to us without serious provocation first. We have never gone to war without first being attacked. Now POTUS is looking to begin a conflict just so he can demand a Nobel Peace Prize which he will never deserve.

Our heroic military is being used to massage his miserable ego like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. This country does not deserve this embarrass-ment and should not have to put up with him and the people who bow to his every whim. He should be relieved of duty and sent away as soon as possible. This POTUS is not worthy of the position he holds.

POTUS Roaster

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