On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. We said "not one more."
On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis while trying to protect a woman who had been pushed to the ground. He was filming with his phone when he was pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot.
Since January 20, 2025, there have been at least 26 shootings by immigration agents, resulting in 6 deaths. Four of those killed were U.S. citizens.
This song is a call for unity, peace, and accountability. Not one more.
Friday, January 30, 2026
"Minnesota" - Marsh Family adaptation of "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear...
We hope it serves its aim, which is to express solidarity with the courageous and valiant protesters in Minnesota (and beyond), and to memorialise Renée Good and Alex Pretti, and sing their names across the ocean: two innocent American citizens executed on the streets in appalling scenes that so obviously echo waypoints in the historical march of fascism. Taking on the guns, masks, fear, and falsehoods requires more than flowers and songs. But they are powerful nonetheless, especially if they remind folk of previous generations that navigated trauma, and that you are not alone, and others are being inspired your courage and actions in the face of the winter of our times.
Minnesota Anthem
The response to the Minnesota Anthem video has been incredibly meaningful — thank you. This project was created to inspire, empower, and reflect what many people in Minnesota are feeling. I'm glad to see that has been the impact thus far!
James 1:22-27 The pure Love of God requires action on our part.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
Matthew 25:34–36 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in…
We must stand for what is right and just. As believers the power of Holy Spirit empowers us. We ask for His divine guidance and protection in these troubling times we live in.
James 1:22-27 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
God help America. Carla
Believers who hear the Word of God (verse 19) must receive it with a teachable spirit (verse 21), applying it to their daily lives. To hear and not obey is to be deceived.
The perfect law of liberty is the law of love. Loving God and loving one’s neighbor sums up the Law (Matthew 26:36–40). But it is Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:17–19) which frees us from our sins to truly love others (John 8:36–38; Galatians 5:13).
Orphans and widows were among the most unprotected and needy classes in ancient societies (Ezekiel 22:7). Pure religion does not merely give material goods for the relief of the distressed, it also oversees their care (Acts 6:1–7; 1 Tim. 5:3–16). The NKJV Study Bible
By looking in a mirror, one can gain an accurate self-appraisal and identify areas that need attention. James uses this analogy to illustrate that those who hear the message without acting on it are like those who, after observing themselves, leave and forget what they look like. Although James may be referring to the law of Moses (Psalm 19:7; 119:32, 45–46, 96), he more likely refers to the law of Moses as now perceived through Jesus’ interpretation and supplementation (Matthew 5:17). Here, “law” is equivalent to “the word” in James 1:18, 21, 22. Faithlife Study Bible
Romans 2:13 for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
Job 31:16–18
“If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it…
Matthew 25:34–36 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in…
James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty
Whenever I see violence in the news, it’s as if my heart, literally, stops. And I know that religious platitudes don’t work for me anymore.
And here’s my confession from earlier this week; If I give in to the mental exhaustion (of being overwhelmed), I begin to believe (and internalize) that empathy can be overwhelmed, compassion—and being a witness—can seem helpless, suffering can be too much to comprehend, and the level of public quarrel too much to absorb. Bottom line: I forget that the kiss still works. For every single one of us.
“Only on the surface do we experience differences. Beneath what seems to separate us as human beings are comparable hopes and numerous opportunities to enrich and encourage all. What a changed world it would be if the hum of humanity became loud enough to drown out the deafening roar of what separates and divides us.” Joyce Rupp, from her book on walking the Camino, “Walk in a Relaxed Manner”.
And shoutout to everyone who is still trying to be an openhearted, kind, compassionate person (yes, reclaiming areas of peace), even while having to process and carry a lot of heavy things.
As a wise person once said, “It’s not what you carry, it’s the way you carry them.” Onward together. Sabbath Moments
John 14:6 (ESV) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. '"
Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Like uncertainty sometimes fills our minds, it filled the disciples' too. In John 13:31-33, Jesus told them the time had come for Him to enter into glory, so He'd be with them on earth only a little longer. He said they could not yet come where He was going, which left them confused and troubled. Still, Jesus gave words of comfort: "You know the way ..." (John 14:4).
Even though Jesus had already predicted His death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 20:18-19; Luke 22:69), the disciples didn't grasp that Jesus would go back to His Father through the way of the cross. They seemed to think Jesus would simply show them the way to God or teach what was true about Him. But Jesus is the way. He is the truth. And He is the life.
This makes John 14:6 one of the most fundamental and important verses in the Bible. It's also one of the most controversial. It forces us to consider: Can we really know the way to God? The very idea of a "way to God" reminds us that we're actually lost on our own, separated from Him by some kind of distance, detour, or obstacle.
Scripture tells us that obstacle is sin (Isaiah 59:2). But through Jesus' death and resurrection, He alone offers forgiveness for our sins and provides access to God. In fact, Bible scholars point out that John 14:6 uses a definite article to describe Jesus as "the way, and thetruth, and the life" (emphases added). It's impossible to conclude that Jesus is just one way or a truth among many.
He's the way. Jesus is the only path to salvation, the "one mediator" between sinful humanity and a holy God (1 Timothy 2:5).
He's the truth. Jesus is the Word made flesh, "the only Son from the Father" (John 1:14), the full revelation of God.
He's the life. Jesus is the "one source" of eternal life for all who trust in Him (Hebrews 2:11).
Jesus alone can claim, "No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6). Because Jesus chose the way of the cross, we can trust that He is our way to God. What certainty is ours when we place our faith in the Savior! First5
Jack Smith ENDS "Biden Conspiracy" With One Word Under Oath
In a stunning exchange during the House Judiciary Committee hearing, Special Counsel Jack Smith completely dismantled the Republican "weaponization" narrative under questioning from Rep. Dan Goldman. When asked point-blank if he ever received orders from President Biden or the White House
regarding the investigation into Donald Trump, Smith delivered a definitive one-word answer that silenced the room and killed the GOP's primary conspiracy theory.
But that wasn't the only bombshell. Smith systematically laid out the "inner circle" of officials— including White House attorneys, senior campaign staff, and intelligence directors-who explicitly told Trump his election fraud claims were false, destroying his
"ignorance defense" on the record. Plus, watch as Rep. Goldman exposes the massive hypocrisy of the Republican party by reading Senator Marco Rubio's own words from 2021, where he demanded the exact criminal justice response the GOP is now attacking. This is the testimony that changes everything
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? | Lady Gaga Original
This Super Bowl 2026, we’re reimagining Mister Rogers' iconic song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” with the incomparable Lady Gaga.
Join us behind the scenes at Shangri-La Studios, to witness the creation of this modern classic and its vital message on the importance of kindness, compassion and community.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Nothing is impossible with God…nothing!
In Jeremiah 32:27 God says, “I am the Lord, the God of every person on the earth, nothing is impossible for me.”
We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it’s not over until he says so. We need to hear that life’s mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. Corrie ten Boom used to say, “When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.” Max Lucado
1 Samuel 2:2-5 The Lord is our rock in times of trouble.
What does God require of us? Micah 6:8. We are to be just, merciful and always, always walk humbly with Him. We know in part what He knows in its fullness. Jesus Christ rights all wrongs. He delivers peace to the earth that God created. Jesus gives us His peace to do His will…we can rest in Him!
Psalm 46:9
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
Justice and peace will reign in God’s Kingdom. God hates pride and arrogance. The problem is not with money. God provides for us and knows that we have needs but He always expects us to share with those who do have enough. He blesses us so that we can be a blessing. The love of money is at the root of all evil. Those who trust in it will be brought low and those who trust in the Lord He lifts up. Carla
1 Samuel 2:2-5
“No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God
“Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the Lord is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.
“The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5 “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.
That which is holy is marked off, separated, and withdrawn from ordinary use. Holy is the opposite of profane or common. The image of a rock when applied to God, speaks of His eternality, stability, and reliability (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:2, 3).
Hannah addressed all the proud, not only Peninnah, but all who boast. Since the God of knowledge knows all things, He will appraise our performance along with our words and our promises.
Hannah mentioned three examples—military power, wealth, and the birth of children—of how God reverses human circumstances, humbling the proud and exalting the lowly. Mary made the same point in her song (Luke 1:46–55). The NKJV Study Bible
The Hebrew word used here for His anointed one, mashiach, in 1 Samuel 2:10 often translated as messiah, refers to a king in this instance; Israelites anointed their kings with oil (10:1; 16:13; Psalm 2:2). Over time, this same Hebrew term would come to refer to a coming anointed one of God—called the Christ in Greek (Mark 1:1). Faithlife Study Bible
Exodus 15:11
“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Jeremiah 15:9
“She languishes who has borne seven;
She has breathed her last;
Her sun has gone down
While it was yet day;
She has been ashamed and confounded.
And the remnant of them I will deliver to the sword
Before their enemies,” says the LORD.
Psalm 37:15
Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
Psalm 113:9
He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
“The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.” (Thank you David W. Orr)
But here’s my confession. There are days when I want to give in to mental exhaustion. And I know from experience that if I do give in, I begin to believe (and internalize) that empathy can be overwhelmed, that compassion can seem helpless, that suffering can be too much to comprehend, and that the level of public quarrel is too much to absorb. Mercy.
And it doesn’t help that we look for comfort through orchestrating our world—wanting all ducks carefully and neatly in a row. And then... life happens.
"Life," Lucy tells Charlie Brown, “Is like a deck chair."
"Like a what?" asks Charlie Brown.
"Like a deck chair. Some people put their deck chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they are going. Some people put their deck chair at the rear of the ship so they can see where they've been. On the cruise ship of life, Charlie Brown, which way is your deck chair facing?"
"I haven't figured out how to get mine unfolded yet." says Charlie Brown.
Ahhhh. Wisdom. Bless you Charlie Brown.
Peacemakers always find a place at the table for anyone left out. Find a place for anyone on the outside. Find a place for anyone excluded.
Peacemakers know that every gesture of kindness and compassion makes a difference. Sabbath Moments
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Jesus invited those who are weary to come to Him for rest.
We all need rest. And sometimes it feels more like a battle than a vacation or a nap. Thankfully, Jesus provided rest for His disciples in Matthew 11:28-30, and He invites "all who labor and are heavy laden" today to that same deep soul rest.
In Matthew 10:5-8, Jesus had sent out His disciples in pairs to proclaim His Kingdom as they healed the sick and drove out demons. They met crowds clamoring for help. They sometimes encountered faith and other times rejection (Matthew 10:12-15). The miles traveled, endless needs, and blatant unbelief would have taken a toll on their emotions and bodies.
Then in Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invited His weary disciples to come to Him, promising He would give them rest... it was a deep, satisfied rest after accomplishing a necessary task. As the Topical Lexicon describes, "rest is not escapism but preparation for further obedience." In Matthew 12, more crowds would press in to be healed by Jesus. More work was coming. So right now, the disciples needed rest.
Jesus anchored His promise of rest in three truths about His identity:
1. Jesus was not like the religious leaders of His day who loaded people with spiritual burdens too heavy to carry (Matthew 23:4-7).His "burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).
2. Jesus is "gentle and lowly" (Matthew 11:29). He is not harsh, but neither is He weak. The word "lowly" speaks of humble reliance on the almighty God, and Jesus relied on the Father and was led by the Spirit.
3. Jesus' promise of rest is also connected to Jeremiah 6:16, a prophecy about how God's people could follow His "ancient paths" to "find rest for [their] souls." Jesus is that good path.
For all who are weary, these truths also call us to receive rest from Jesus in three ways:
1. First, we "come" to Him (Matthew 11:28). True rest will never happen outside of a relationship with Christ. But if we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
2. Secondly, we "take [his] yoke" (Matthew 11:29). Picture a wooden bar across your shoulders, balancing baskets on either side. In Christ, this "yoke" of our work or calling is well-fitting, and the burden that comes with it is manageable. Why? Because Christ bears it with us and for us.
3. Finally, Jesus invites us to "learn from" Him (Matthew 11:29). We are to experience life, engage in ministry, and do our work as He does.
When we come to Jesus and take His yoke, we learn how to become gentle and humble like Him. And we receive what our busy and rushed souls crave: true rest. First5
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