#AmWriting || CHRISTIAN || Author of the Saurian Rangers. Good quotes about reading, writing, and just a little bit of humor. #HealthyFaithChat
Joined January 2009
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Book Overview
Commandments & Virtues combines elements of classical moral storytelling, with a strong emphasis in theology, both in understanding the importance of the Ten Commandments in history, and how they relate to us today. The focus in this short family book is on why we still follow them today, and who we follow them for. As always, our answer is Jesus. He affirmed the importance and relevance of the Decalogue to us during His earthly ministry. It is out of obedience unto, and love for Jesus that we are called to obey all that He proclaimed.
As I am utterly terrible at creating short and entertaining summaries, I had Grok read through the story and give a summary statement of what it thought of this book.
“The book blends gentle moral storytelling with deep theology, emphasizing that the Commandments reveal sin in the heart (not just actions) and point to dependence on Christ for transformation. The tone is warm, hopeful, and pastoral—never preachy in a harsh way. Mrs. Sally emerges as a wise, relatable mentor figure (passionate about Scripture, history, and kids' hearts). The children's struggles feel authentic (poverty/envy, reputation damage, impulsivity, fear of rejection, exhaustion from service), and resolutions emphasize humility, gratitude, and Christ-focus over legalism.”
James Fowler retweeted
Allegations that ICE took a third grader into custody to be placed in detention are FALSE, and any suggestion otherwise is a depraved attempt to smear our ICE law enforcement officers and undermine the work of President Trump and Secretary Mullin to protect children.
On November 5, a man claiming to be the child’s uncle took him to an ICE check in. Because the alleged uncle could not establish legal guardianship in accordance with Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) requirements, the minor was determined to be an unaccompanied alien child (UAC). To ensure the child’s safety, ICE placed him in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The child was initially illegally brought into the United States with a man who alleged to be his father, who was previously removed to Mexico by CBP and has never been in ICE custody.
Since you want to talk about immigrant children, let’s talk about the 450,000 unaccompanied children the Biden Administration lost or placed with unvetted sponsors. How much oxygen did you devote to these children before Biden was booted from office?
Secretary Mullin is leading efforts to rescue these children and stop their exploitation. Unlike the previous administration, President Trump and DHS take the responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with law enforcement to reunite children with their families.
James Fowler retweeted
“If Jesus was God, why did He cry?”
When I was Muslim, I used to smirk at the shortest verse in the Bible. A crying God? So weak bro.
Then I actually read WHERE He’s standing.
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35. Just two words. It should bring you to your knees.
At the tomb of His friend Lazarus, He’s about to raise him. In sixty seconds He’ll shout that dead man back to life. The victory is already loaded.
And yet, He weeps anyway.
He didn’t have to. The happy ending was already in His hand.
But He looked at the grief around Him, the sisters, the mourners, the sheer wreckage that death makes of everything, and He entered it.
He let it hit Him. God, with tears running down His face, at the graveside of someone He loved.
The God of Islam was too majestic to weep. I was proud of that. Until I met a God who was strong enough to.
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” Hebrews 4:15.
Whatever you’re burying right now, He’s not watching from a safe distance. He’s the God who weeps at gravesides.
And then empties them.
Now you and I get to rejoice forever with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yay! One of my top molars is crumbling to pieces. Another expense I cannot afford. Still, God is faithful and has always provided a way forward. So, I’m concerned, but not quite freaking out.
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A9 I have not tried to run away from God, only tried to shut Him out. Thankfully, He is patient, merciful, and full of grace. He was always there when I came to my senses. #HealthyFaithChat
#healthyfaithchat Q9: Jonah boarded a ship to Tarshish, which as you can see on the attached map, was in the opposite direction from Nineveh and, based upon the Genesis 11 table of nations, was the farthest point west of the then-known world.
Basically, he wanted to run to the “ends of the earth”.
Have you ever tried to metaphorically flee to the "ends of the earth" from what God was calling you to do?
If so, how did that work out for you?
James Fowler retweeted
#HealthyFaithChat
A8. Spiritual indifference quickly becomes spiritual apathy, at which point all the guardrails come down.
#healthyfaithchat Q8: Tim Keller in his book “The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy” wrote the following:
“Jonah’s deep sleep is not the sleep of a peaceful conscience, but the sleep of an anesthetized conscience. He has completely checked out. When you run from God, your heart becomes numb. You stop feeling the danger you are in, and worse, you stop feeling the danger you are putting others in."
Do you agree? Do you think spiritual indifference can put ourselves and others in danger?
A8 Yes, but in Jonah's case, I think he meant it literally. He slept the deep sleep of death. It's why his prayer to God begins with his groanings from the depths of Sheol, after describing how Leviathan dragged him to the depths of the sea. #HealthyFaithChat
#healthyfaithchat Q8: Tim Keller in his book “The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy” wrote the following:
“Jonah’s deep sleep is not the sleep of a peaceful conscience, but the sleep of an anesthetized conscience. He has completely checked out. When you run from God, your heart becomes numb. You stop feeling the danger you are in, and worse, you stop feeling the danger you are putting others in."
Do you agree? Do you think spiritual indifference can put ourselves and others in danger?
#HealthyFaithChat
A7 The ancient semitic peoples believe that Levaithan dwelled in the seas. It was the personification of watery chaos. The significance in what God does in the OT and the NT with the sea, is a demonstration that He has power, even power to command one of the two realms of chaos; the other being the wilderness. No god in the ANE had such power.
Q7: the sea plays a significant role in the Bible.
What did the sea represent to an ancient near east person?
What is it significant that Yahweh in the OT and Jesus in the gospels had the power to calm the sea?
#HealthyFaithChat
A6 Yes. We might assume the worst, but God is our strength and our refuge. If there is a great storm before us, then we know it's time to surrender all to God. Let Him steer the ship. #HealthyFaithChat
#healthyfaithchat Q6: "Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart" Jonah 1:4
God sent a storm to bring Jonah to his senses.
Do you think God today will sometimes send storms into people’s lives to snap them out of their apathy and/or as a response to their rebellion?
#HealthyFaithChat
A5 In a lot of ways, I believe it's a lack of clarity of purpose. Far too many "teachers" and "leaders" overemphasize human traditions and public spirituality, over genuine transformation. Often, it's hinged on the idea that by doing the first, the second will come naturally.
#healthyfaithchat Q5: “The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god” Jonah 1:5
Those on the boat with Jonah cried out to their false gods while Jonah did not. They had zeal (admittedly driven in this case by fear) for their false gods while Jonah had none.
When you look around today, you see members of false faiths - like the Mormons, the Jehovah’s witnesses and others - zealously training and proselytizing (knock knock) while many in Christian churches seem indifferent and do not have the same zeal for the true God.
Why do you think that is?
A4 Jonah slept, because he thought he could escape the Lord. He was wrong. Jesus slept, because He is through whom the Father made the world. The world obeyed Him, and would not drown Him, but the disciples did not understand this. Their faith was still unripe. #HealthyFaithChat
Q4: the Bible tells us of another man who slept on a boat while a storm raged (Mark 4:35-41).
Contrast the reason why Jonah slept to why Jesus slept.
#HealthyFaithChat
#HealthyFaithChat
A3 It's hard to properly articulate, but surrendering your depression unto God is like mental chains being removed from your mind. It takes patience, a willingness to humble one's heart, and faith that surrendering it all unto God will release you. That has been my experience.
#healthyfaithchat Q3: the church father Jerome commented on Jonah’s indifference (this is a paraphrase):
Jonah’s sleep was a physical manifestation of his profound emotional resignation and spiritual detachment. He had stolen himself away from God's presence and reached a state of dark indifference where he was entirely unconcerned with his own survival or the survival of the sailors around him.
This sounds like depression to me.
Later on in Jonah, he famously said "And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live" Jonah 4:3
What is the Christian response to depression?
#HealthyFaithChat
A2 Yep! Especially, during times of great mental distress. These days, times of great mental distress feel more like untimely rain showers, than world-ending events. Then, there were times where I felt moved by compassion, but didn't act. I'd often argue my way out of it, committing the very act of disobedience that James warned against.
Q2: now that we've defined it, let me ask: have you ever gone through a season of "spiritual indifference"?
#HealthyFaithChat
A1 You experience a clear, conscious drawing by the Spirit, and deliberately turn away. In Jonah's case, he personally talked with God, yet dared to disobey Him. #HealthyFaithChat
Q1: Jonah’s indifference to what God commanded and to what was going on in the boat is remarkable. It has been a subject of discussion going as far back as Tertullian and other church fathers.
How would you define "spiritual indifference"?
#HealthyFaithChat
I'm James, from Nebraska. My family usually begins putting decorations up December 1st. #HealthyFaithChat
Welcome to tonight's #healthyfaithchat on Jonah 1:4-6!
As you join us, tell us where you're joining us from and, since I saw pictures of Christmas trees on X today, tell us when you break out your Christmas decorations.
Please remember to include the # in all your responses.
