West Side Church of Christ

Our Sunday Morning Bible Classes Are Canceled

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The West Side Church of Christ Story

West Side Church of Christ

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Read the Proverbs through in a month,
one chapter per day.
Read the Psalms through in a month,
five Psalms per day.

See today's reading schedule & excerpts from the Psalms & Proverbs at the bottom of this page

A Non-denominational Church

Our congregation is dedicated to worshipping God in spirit and in truth as closely as we can ascertain from the New Testament. We search the scriptures for guidance and authority on how we ought to live our lives in order to be pleasing to God.

To learn more about us, or to get in touch with us — stop by in person or send us an email at:

wscoc@wschurchofchrist.org .
Or Call (216) 671-1759.

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Sunday AM Sermon


Title: Life's Not Fair

Sermon from Mar 30, 2025
Speaker: Tom Freed



Sunday PM Sermon


Title: Where Will It Grow?

Sermon from Mar 30, 2025
Speaker: Mike Mathis



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Sunday Morning Article
West Side Church of Christ, Cleveland, Ohio

Genesis 1:1-5, Beginnings, Day One

Imagine the moment everything began—not just the earth, but two realms, spiritual and physical, crafted by a God beyond time. Welcome to Beginnings, where we’re exploring Genesis 1, starting with day one. Let’s dive into what happened when God spoke the universe into being—and why it matters to us.

Before creation, there’s God—eternal, self-existent. He tells Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14)—YHWH, “I exist.” No beginning, no end, just pure being. Then, in Genesis 1:1, “God created the heavens and the earth.” The Trinity shines here: the Father wills it, Jesus speaks it, the Spirit hovers. On day one, they form the physical cosmos—earth, space—and the spiritual “heaven of heavens,” home to angels.

Picture it: “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). A formless, water-covered earth, cloaked in darkness. The Spirit moves, and God says, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Not the sun—that’s day four—but divine light, splitting darkness into day and night as the earth spins. Day one also births space, the earth’s core, and the angelic realm, where “sons of God” sing (Job 38:7). It’s a cosmic launch, vast and purposeful.

Here’s the twist: God creates darkness (Isaiah 45:7). Before the physical universe, only His light existed in the spiritual realm. Darkness comes with the cosmos, a space where we walk by faith, not sight. Angels see God directly; we trust through His Word and creation. That faith unlocks salvation—a gift unique to us.

So, day one’s creations? The spiritual realm with its angels, the dark expanse of space, the formless earth with water, and God’s light piercing through. He’s the source—“God is light” (1 John 1:5)—a preview of eternity when He’ll shine forever (Revelation 22:5).

Why care? Day one reveals a God of power and purpose, crafting a world where faith thrives. The darkness and light, the angels’ song—they point to a reality beyond, a Creator who calls it “good” and invites us to trust Him. Reflect: what stirs you most about this beginning? Lean into the One who started it all—He’s still writing your story.


West Side CoC, Cleveland, Ohio — 2025





Genesis 1-11: A True History of Beginnings

Genesis 1-11 is a historical record of God’s creation and humanity’s early story, not mere myth. For those who take it literally, these chapters document real events: the universe’s origin, the first humans, sin’s entry, and God’s judgment and mercy. Let’s explore this as factual history.

Genesis 1-2: Creation in Six Days
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Over six literal days, marked by “evening and morning,” God forms light, sky, land, plants, sun, moon, animals, and mankind. Adam is shaped from dust, Eve from his rib—specific acts, not evolution. Eden, with rivers like the Tigris, is a real place. This sets the world’s start at 6,000–10,000 years ago, per later genealogies.

Genesis 3: The Fall Happened
In Genesis 3, a real serpent tempts Eve to eat forbidden fruit, and Adam follows. Their disobedience brings death, pain, and exile—historical consequences, not symbols. This Fall explains suffering, as Paul notes: “Sin entered through one man” (Romans 5:12). God’s promise of a Savior (Genesis 3:15) roots redemption in history.

Genesis 4-5: Early Lives Recorded
Cain kills Abel, a real crime, and is banished to Nod. His descendants, like Lamech, are named with details of their innovations. Genesis 5 lists Adam’s line to Noah, with precise lifespans—Methuselah’s 969 years fit a pre-Flood world. This reads like a family chronicle.

Genesis 6-9: A Global Flood
God floods the earth due to human evil, sparing Noah in a precisely built ark. Waters cover “all the high hills” (Genesis 7:19), a global event. Noah’s family repopulates post-Flood, a fact Jesus affirms (Matthew 24:38).

Genesis 10-11: Nations and Babel
Genesis 10 traces Noah’s sons to nations like Cush. In Genesis 11, unified humanity builds Babel’s tower; God scatters them with new languages. This explains linguistic diversity historically.

Why It Matters
A literal Genesis upholds Scripture’s truth. If these events aren’t real, why trust the Bible? They reveal God as Creator and Judge, humanity as fallen yet redeemable, and Christ’s work as historical necessity. Genesis 1-11 is our origin story—true, foundational, and pointing to God’s plan.


West Side CoC, Cleveland, Ohio — 2025





No One Came to Our Party

After a few days of hard work, all the preparations had been made and it was time for the party. The tables were ready, filled with stacks of paper plates, plastic flatware, and cups. Cold drinks were iced and ready while the grill belched out smoke with the smell of cooking steaks. There was sliced fresh watermelon, homemade ice cream and apple pie. Hanging decorations moved gently in the breeze while tunes played from the Bluetooth speaker. It was time for the party!

As the time for the gathering came and went none of the invited guest arrived. Perhaps the traffic was bad or other distractions were holding up the party goers. But as an hour passed, it soon became evident that no one was coming. The time, effort, and expense that had gone into getting ready for the party was all for nothing. The host felt disappointed and embarrassed. “No one came to our party.”

Jesus told two similar stories, one about a wedding, the other about a great supper. (Matt. 22:2-14; Luke 14:16-24) Both had been prepared but some guests made excuses as to why they could not come while others “made light of it and went their ways…” (Matt. 22:5).

Each week, the preparation for worship to God has been made for all of us. We may believe that our lack of attendance doesn’t affect anyone but ourselves. However, by my absence I may be discouraging those who have worked diligently in preparation for me to experience the blessing of worship. Just as in our previous example, the bible class teacher may sit in an empty classroom and say, “No one has come.” Let us all give appreciative consideration to those that work so hard to make it possible for us to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





Put Your Sword Away

(Matt. 26:50-55; Mark 14:46-49; Luke 22:49-53; John 18:3-11) It was a peaceful place. The Garden of Gethsemane had been chosen by Jesus as the place where he would go to pray to the Father concerning His impending suffering. In the midst of the garden’s solitude came the sound of the multitude bearing swords and clubs. Jesus had been betrayed. The scene must have been chaotic, and with His disciples near, the mob laid hands on Jesus and placed Him under arrest. In an act of presumptuous bravery, Simon Peter draws his sword and swings it toward the captors, cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus. At a moment when the fight was sure to ensue, Jesus stopped it dead by saying “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Not only did He stop the violence but reached out and restored the injured man’s right ear.

In our defense of the Gospel, we sometimes act like Peter. We quickly draw our swords of rebuttal with sharp and angry responses. In our brave and noble attempts to protect the truth, we may very well disobey it. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matt. 5:9) While Paul told Timothy, “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all and in humility correcting those who are in opposition.” (2 Tim. 2:24). Yes, we are to be ready to give an answer and defense to those who oppose God’s word, but we must do so with meekness and respect. (1 Pet. 3:15) Jesus said if it had been God’s will, twelve legions of angels would have come to rescue Him. God’s word doesn’t need saving, it needs sharing and even though there may be naysayers and scripture twisters, we have the wonderful promise that “the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Pet. 1:25)


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





An Important Mission

You may have wondered and asked, “Why do we send support to missionaries? Shouldn’t we be concentrating on sharing the gospel here at home instead of paying someone to travel the world?” Some may think these questions to be immature while on the other hand there may be those who think this is a legitimate inquiry.

The truth of the matter and short answer is, “Because it’s biblical.” The words “mission” and “missionary” do not appear in our English bibles, however, the work of missionaries is clearly exemplified in the New Testament scriptures. In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go and make disciples in ALL nations”, and “Go into ALL the world.” (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15). So in order to comply to the commands of the Lord, someone must leave the normalcy of life and travel the world.

So what about financial support of missionaries? What does the bible say about that? The Apostle Paul, along with his companions took three missionary journeys as recorded in the book of Acts. During those trips, there were times that he worked to support himself and others when he was fully supported by the church. (1 Cor. 4:12; 9:14; Phil. 4:16) It is true that some choose pleasant vacation destinations and call them mission fields but one day those who use the gospel for personal gain and selfish pleasure will answer the Lord.

For those who risk life and limb, sacrifice creature comforts, and face the difficulties of living and preaching in a foreign land, we owe our gratitude and support.


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





Praying for Wisdom

We all want to be wise. We want to be that person that others will come to and ask for advice. The video feeds we watch are full of people offering words of wisdom on almost any subject. Wisdom defined is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. We all want to be wise.

In the first chapter of the letter of James, we find a wonderful promise from God, the gift of wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) However, there are conditions to be met while petitioning the Lord concerning wisdom. We must ask in faith, without doubting (v. 6). If we are “wishy-washy” in our asking, then we ought not to expect to be any wiser. (v. 7) The value of wisdom is known even in secular circles. Many of the great thinkers throughout history have commented on the merit of being wise. Of course, the best source for guidance concerning wisdom is found in the bible.

Proverbs 4:5–7
  • Get wisdom! Get understanding!
  • Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
  • Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
  • Love her, and she will keep you.
  • Wisdom is the principal thing;
  • Therefore get wisdom.
  • And in all your getting, get understanding.

The gift of spiritual wisdom comes from knowledge of God’s word. Practical wisdom comes from life’s experiences, including hardships, mistakes, and difficulties. When we combine the two, along with the prayer for wisdom, God will surely bless us to be wise people.


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





The Forgotten Fruit

Of the nine attributes known as the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatian 5:22-23, the fruit of gentleness seems to have been lost among well-meaning Christians, especially those who do our teaching or preaching. With raised voices and condescending tones, they shake the bible at us with ultimatums of “turn or burn”! But as experience has shown us, the fire and brimstone approach of the past will only convict a limited few. Could the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey” be applicable to sharing the gospel and its principles?

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ” (Matt. 5:5) Did Jesus mean that those who share the good news with a spirit of gentleness would be more successful? In His invitation for all to come to Him in Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “I am gentle. ” We can see the gentleness of Jesus when He told the adulterous woman of Mark 8 to “go and sin no more. ” Even though the church at Corinth had serious sin issues, Paul asked, “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Cor. 4:21) In his 2nd letter to the church, Paul pleaded with them by the “meekness and gentleness of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:1) The trait of gentleness is to be included in the elder’s and the minister’s character (1 Tim. 3:3; 6:11) including their approach to teaching. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient… ” (2 Tim. 2:24)

Christians are reminded to “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ” (Titus 3:2) As we share the Good News of Jesus, let us seek the “wisdom that is from above which is first pure, then peaceable and gentle.” (James 3:17)


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





Bearing Fruit

In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus tells the “Parable of the Fig Tree.” A certain man had a fig tree in his vineyard and one day went to get some of the sweet fruit but found none. He then told the gardener to cut down the tree because it had been barren for three years and was just using up good space in his vineyard. The gardener must have been fond of the tree, and he asked if it could stay one more year while he gave it special care. If the tree bore figs, then good, if not, then he would cut it down. The story abruptly ends, and we don’t know the fate of the fig tree, but the message of the story is very clear. God wants those in His vineyard to bear fruit!

Bearing fruit is mentioned at least 50 times in the New Testament. So, we might ask, “What exactly does bearing fruit mean?” Bearing fruit means going out and making disciples and baptizing them. (Matt. 28:19-20). Bearing fruit means continually and regularly offering worship to God in spirit and truth. (John 4:24; Heb. 13:15). Bearing fruit means feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, taking in the stranger, and caring for the widows and orphans (Matt. 25:34-40; James 1:27). Bearing fruit means loving, encouraging, and edifying your church family (John 13:34-35; Col. 2:2; 1 Thess. 5:11). Bearing fruit means I will do my part so that the church will grow as God gives the increase. (Eph. 4:16; 1 Cor. 3:7).

However, the barren, fruitless branches of John 15:2,6 are taken away, cast out, and thrown in the fire. Like the fig tree of the parable, there is no room in the Lord’s kingdom for the fruitless Christian. God wants His people to bear much fruit, so let us all be busy in fruit production!


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





Caring for the Fatherless

James 1:27 states, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 NKJV) Although most bible versions use the word “orphans” in this verse, the word “fatherless” carries much more significance when compared to the teaching of the Old Testament. As part of Jewish benevolence, the fatherless, along with widows and strangers were to be cared for by the adherents of the law. (Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 16:11; 24:19-21; 26:12) The law commanded, “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.” Those that would do so, kindled the wrath of God, and were to be killed by the sword. (Exodus 22:22-24) Because God does not change, nor is there any variation with Him (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). There is no doubt that His concern for the fatherless remains the same as it did during the ancient days of the Law of Moses.

Data from the US Census Bureau shows nearly 18.5 million children are fatherless, leading to the US being the world leader in fatherlessness. It has been said that fatherless kids are more likely to have behavioral problems, go to prison, commit a crime, are 279% more likely to carry guns and deal drugs, two times more likely to drop out of school, and the list goes on.

God’s design for the family, with the father as the leader, is clearly described in the Scriptures. Our culture’s disregard for God’s design has given us unprecedented numbers of fatherless children. Even though our society is at fault, we must do our best to practice “pure religion”, reaching out to the fatherless with our hearts and our hands.


From Jay Launius, 2024, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





Putting Jesus Back in the Box

The Christmas holiday has come and gone. Time to take down those decorations, Christmas trees, blow-up yard ornaments, and lights, including those religious scenes and figurines. Along with the tinsel and multicolored lights, the little statues of the baby Jesus will be placed in boxes and storage bins and stored away till next December. Folks will stop posting memes that say “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and “Put Christ Back in Christmas” on social media. The time of year in which so much attention is given to Jesus Christ has past. Sadly, many people will not attend church, pray, or even mention Jesus until the traditional Easter holiday. They will return to their busy lifestyles full of work and play. It would seem that they have put Jesus in a box, only to let Him out on a couple of religious holidays during the year.

It has been said that we should be thankful that so many think about Christ, even if it’s for a short time. However, such traditions practiced only occasionally do not find favor with the Lord. Jesus said if any person desires to follow Him, they must deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Him every day. (Luke 9:23) What a worthy goal it is to have Christ in the forefront of our daily activities, including bible reading, prayer, evangelism, benevolence and regular worship.


From Jay Launius, 2023, Maud coC, Maud, Texas





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Another Article
Jay Launius, Maud church of Christ, Maud, TX

History: Whose Story? Part 2
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

The Truth Project, Tour 6.2 Reflections

History isn’t just a dusty collection of dates and events—it’s a story that shapes who we are and why we’re here. In Tour 6 of "The Truth Project," titled "History: Whose Story?" Dr. Del Tackett dives deep into this idea, and around the 29-minute mark of the session, he hits a powerful stride. With insights from Theodore Dalrymple and Os Guinness, a couple of piercing Bible passages, and a sharp look at today’s cultural trends, Tackett challenges us to see history as more than random chaos—it’s God’s story, and we’re part of it.

The Weight of Remembering
The discussion kicks off with interviews that set the stage. Theodore Dalrymple, a British physician and writer who’s seen the underbelly of societal breakdown, and Os Guinness, a Christian author and social critic who’s spent decades wrestling with faith and culture, both point to the same truth: history matters. Forget it, and we lose our bearings. Dalrymple’s nodding to the mess we make when we ignore the past, while Guinness frames history as the backbone of meaning—a story bigger than ourselves. It’s a sobering start.

Tackett takes us to Deuteronomy 8:10-20, where God speaks to the Israelites after they’ve settled into the Promised Land. “When you’ve eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you,” the text says. Sounds simple, right? But then comes the warning: don’t think your wealth or success is all your doing. “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18). The Israelites were prone to amnesia, and so are we. Forgetting God’s role in our story isn’t just careless—it’s dangerous.

A Famine of the Soul
Then comes Amos 8:11, a verse that feels like it was written for 2025: The days are coming… when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Tackett lingers here, and you can see why. We’re not starving for bread today; we’re starving for truth. When we ditch the past and God’s voice in it, we’re left hungry, groping for something to make sense of life. This isn’t just poetic—it’s a diagnosis of our world right now.

Tackett ties this to God’s sovereign rule. History isn’t a roll of the dice; it’s His design. From Genesis to the end, He’s the author, declaring “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). That’s a comfort if you trust the Writer, but it’s a jolt if you don’t.

Postmodernism’s Dead End
Here’s where it gets gritty. Tackett turns to postmodernism—the cultural mood that says big stories (or “metanarratives”) are suspect. Thinkers like Jean-François Lyotard called it “incredulity toward metanarratives,” and it’s everywhere now. The idea? No single narrative—like the Bible’s account of creation, fall, and redemption—can claim the truth. It’s all just power plays or personal opinions. The result? We’re a society of fragments, with no glue to hold us together. Meaning gets lost in the shuffle, and that famine Amos warned about starts to feel real.

God’s Big Story
But Tackett doesn’t leave us there. Against this backdrop, he lifts up God’s metanarrative—the one story that ties it all together. From the Garden to the Cross to the Kingdom, it’s a plotline of purpose: God creates, humanity rebels, and He redeems. It’s not oppressive or subjective—it’s hope. It’s the answer to a culture that’s rejected big stories and ended up with nothing to say.

So, Whose Story Are We Living?
By the end of this stretch, Tackett’s point is clear: history isn’t neutral. It’s God’s domain, and we’re in it whether we like it or not. Postmodernism might scoff, but the hunger in our souls suggests we need more than skepticism. Deuteronomy calls us to remember. Amos warns us what happens when we don’t. And God’s story invites us in—to find our place, our meaning, in His.

So here’s the question: Whose story are you living? The world’s fragmented script, or the one that’s been unfolding since the beginning? Tackett’s chosen the latter—as have we.


This post was inspired by a conversation with Grok, an AI assistant from xAI




History: Whose Story?
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

The Truth Project, Tour 6 Reflections

What if history isn’t just a dusty collection of dates and events, but a living story—one with a purpose, a plot, and a divine Author? That’s the question Dr. Del Tackett poses in Tour 6 of The Truth Project, titled “History: Whose Story?” As we watched this session, we couldn’t help but feel a shift in how we see the past—not as a random scramble of human triumphs and failures, but as “His story,” God’s unfolding narrative where every chapter shapes who we are today.

Tackett starts with a word that stuck with us: remember. It’s a command woven through Scripture—like in Joshua 4, where God tells the Israelites to stack twelve stones after crossing the Jordan, a tangible reminder of His deliverance. Or Deuteronomy 8, where forgetting God’s provision is a one-way ticket to spiritual ruin. “Remember” isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a call to anchor ourselves in truth. But here’s the kicker: what happens when that anchor gets yanked away?

History as God’s Stage—and Our Compass
Tackett frames history as the fourth pillar in his “Temple of Truth,” connecting philosophy, ethics, science, and now history under a biblical worldview. He leans on verses like Isaiah 46:9-11, where God declares “the end from the beginning,” and Galatians 4:4-5, where Christ arrives “in the fullness of time.” History isn’t chaos—it’s choreography, directed by God. But Tackett takes it further with a principle that hit us like a ton of bricks: “What you believe in the present is determined by the past.” In other words, the story we accept about yesterday shapes how we see everything today—our values, our identity, our reality.

The Pilgrims signing the Mayflower Compact in 1620 didn’t just stumble into America; they came “for the Glory of God and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” That’s their own words. Knowing that changes how we view their legacy—not as mere settlers, but as people on a mission rooted in faith. History, Tackett says, is our compass. Lose it, and we’re adrift.

The Revisionist Trap
This is where Tackett drops another bombshell: “If I can change your historical context, I can change the way you view the present.” It's called revisionism, and it’s a game-changer. He traces it back to Genesis 3, where the serpent’s “Did God actually say?” sows doubt, and Matthew 28, where priests bribe soldiers to lie about Jesus’ resurrection. These aren’t just old stories—they’re warnings. Control the past, and you control the mind.

Take the Mayflower Compact again. Modern retellings often cast it as a proto-democracy moment, sidelining its God-centered purpose. Or consider the resurrection—witnessed by hundreds, yet dismissed as myth by skeptics spinning their own tale. When we rewrite history, Tackett argues, we don’t just lose facts; we lose meaning. If I convince you the Pilgrims were just chasing freedom, not God, I’ve shifted your lens on faith in America today. If I erase the resurrection, I’ve undercut the hope you carry now. It’s subtle, but it’s power.

Why It Matters in 2025
So, why should this hit home in 2025? Because we’re swimming in a culture that’s allergic to memory. Social media thrives on the now—yesterday’s irrelevant. But Tackett insists history isn’t a buffet we pick from; it’s a map showing where God’s been and where He’s taking us. What we believe about the past—whether it’s God’s hand or human chance—decides what we trust today. And when revisionists tweak that map, they’re not just messing with facts; they’re steering our whole worldview.

We walked away from Tour 6 asking: What past am I believing? Am I swallowing revised versions of my own story, my nation’s story, or God’s story? Tackett doesn’t just lecture; he hands you a lens to see history as a gift—one that reveals God’s character, roots your present, and calls you to trust Him with the future.

History is a battleground of truth, and what we remember—or let others rewrite—shapes everything.


This post was inspired by a conversation with Grok, an AI assistant from xAI




Science - What is True?
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

Digging into the Fossil Record

On March 12, 2025, we watched Tour 5b (Part 2) of The Truth Project. Dr. Del Tackett isn’t afraid to tackle the big questions. In Tour 5b of Lesson 5, “Science: What is True?”, he dives headfirst into one of the hottest topics in the science-faith debate: the fossil record. Buckle up, because this isn’t your typical Bible school lesson—it’s a bold challenge to everything you’ve been told about evolution’s “rock-solid” evidence. Let’s unpack what Tackett has to say and why it matters.

The Fossil Record: Evolution’s Smoking Gun or a Big Misunderstanding?
If you’ve ever flipped through a science textbook, you’ve probably seen those neat little diagrams showing fish turning into amphibians, reptiles into birds, and apes into humans—all thanks to the fossil record. It’s the crown jewel of evolutionary theory, right? Not so fast, says Tackett. In Tour 5b, he pulls back the curtain and asks: Where’s the real evidence?

Tackett’s main beef is with the so-called transitional fossils—the “missing links” that are supposed to show one kind of creature morphing into another over millions of years. He zeroes in on Archaeopteryx, the poster child for evolution’s dino-to-bird story. With its feathers, wings, and reptilian features, it’s often hailed as proof of gradual change. But Tackett isn’t buying it. He argues that Archaeopteryx isn’t a halfway house—it’s a fully formed creature, perfectly designed as is. Could it just be a unique species, not a stepping stone? He thinks so, and he’s got a point: if evolution’s true, shouldn’t we have way more of these in-betweeners littering the fossil record?

Gaps That Speak Louder Than Bones
Speaking of missing pieces, Tackett doubles down on the gaps. Evolutionists say fossilization is rare, so we shouldn’t expect a perfect lineup of every step. But Tackett flips that excuse on its head. He sees those gaps as evidence of something else entirely: life showing up suddenly, fully formed, with no slow crawl from one form to the next. Ever heard of the Cambrian Explosion? It’s this wild moment in the fossil record where a ton of animal groups pop up out of nowhere, no gradual build-up in sight. For Tackett, that’s not a glitch in evolution’s story—it’s a neon sign pointing to creation.

He’s not just throwing rocks at science for fun, though. Tackett’s driving at a deeper truth: the fossil record, as he sees it, fits a biblical narrative where God spoke, and life appeared—bam!—just like Genesis says. No millions of years of trial and error needed.

Worldviews in the Rocks
Here’s where Tackett gets really fired up. He argues that the way we read the fossil record isn’t just about bones—it’s about worldview. Evolution, he says, isn’t some neutral fact; it’s a story pushed by folks who’ve already decided God’s out of the picture. If you start with a naturalistic lens, you’ll twist the evidence to fit, even if it’s shaky. But if you start with a Creator, the fossils tell a different tale—one of purpose and design, not random chance.

Tackett’s not shy about the stakes here. He hints at how buying into evolution doesn’t just mess with your science—it messes with your soul. If life’s just an accident, where’s the meaning? He doesn’t fully unpack the history (think Darwinism gone wrong in society), but you can feel the weight of it coming.

Why This Matters to You and Me
Tour 5b isn’t about winning a debate club trophy—it’s about truth. Tackett wants us to question the narrative we’ve been spoon-fed and look at the evidence with fresh eyes. The fossil record, he says, isn’t a slam dunk for evolution; it’s a challenge to dig deeper. Are we seeing what’s really there, or what we’ve been trained to see?

Watching this part of The Truth Project was a wake-up call. It’s not just about rocks and bones—it’s about who we trust to tell us what’s true. Tackett’s critique might ruffle some feathers (pun intended), but it’s a bold invitation to rethink the story of life. What do you think—does the fossil record prove evolution, or is there more to the story?


This post was inspired by a conversation with Grok, an AI assistant from xAI




Science - What is True?
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

Exploring "Is Evolution a fact?"

On March 5, 2025, we watched Del Tackett’s Critique of Evolution in The Truth Project’s Tour 5b. Del Tackett doesn’t shy away from big questions. In Tour 5b (part 1) of this thought-provoking series, titled "Science: What is True?", he takes aim at one of the most famous claims in modern science:

Carl Sagan’s assertion that “evolution is a fact amply demonstrated by the fossil record and contemporary molecular biology.”

For Tackett, this isn’t just a scientific debate—it’s a clash of worldviews. And in this segment, he zeroes in on the molecular machinery of life to argue that evolution’s story doesn’t hold up. Let’s dive into how he makes his case, particularly through the lens of protein synthesis and the idea of irreducible complexity.

Sagan’s Claim Meets a Challenge
  • Carl Sagan, host of Cosmos, was confident that evolution was a done deal. He pointed to fossils and the emerging field of molecular biology as slam-dunk evidence. But Tackett isn’t buying it. In Tour 5b, he flips the script, suggesting that the very science Sagan celebrates—molecular biology—might actually point us in a different direction: toward design, not chance.

    Tackett starts by pulling us into the microscopic world of the cell. If you’ve seen The Truth Project, you’ve likely marveled at those stunning animations of cellular processes—DNA unwinding, RNA zipping along, ribosomes churning out proteins like a high-tech assembly line. It’s mesmerizing stuff. But for Tackett, it’s more than just cool visuals. It’s Exhibit A in his case against evolution.

The Protein Factory: Too Complex to Evolve?
  • At the heart of his argument is how cells make proteins—the building blocks of life—using instructions encoded in DNA. Here’s the gist: DNA holds the genetic blueprints, which get transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) by an enzyme called RNA polymerase. That mRNA then travels to the ribosome—a molecular machine—where it’s translated into a protein with help from transfer RNA (tRNA) and a host of other enzymes. Every step is precise, every part essential. Mess up one piece, and the whole system crashes.

    Tackett asks: How could something this intricate evolve step-by-step? This is where he brings in irreducible complexity, a concept championed by intelligent design advocate Michael Behe. Picture a mousetrap—springs, lever, base—all working together to catch that pesky rodent. Take away any one part, and it’s just a pile of junk. The cell’s protein-making machinery, Tackett argues, is like that mousetrap on steroids. DNA needs enzymes to read it, enzymes need DNA to exist, and ribosomes need both to do their job. It’s a chicken-and-egg puzzle that evolution, he says, can’t solve.

Darwin’s Own Test
  • To drive the point home, Tackett quotes Charles Darwin himself from On the Origin of Species: “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” For Tackett, the protein synthesis system is that dealbreaker. How do you evolve a system where every part depends on every other part? Half a ribosome doesn’t make half a protein—it makes nothing. Evolution, he suggests, hits a wall here.

More Than Just Molecules
  • This isn’t just a science lesson for Tackett—it’s a worldview showdown. Sagan’s claim assumes a universe where life bootstraps itself from chaos to complexity with no guiding hand. Tackett counters that the cell’s molecular ballet looks more like the work of a master engineer than a cosmic accident. He’s not subtle about where he’s pointing: if it’s designed, there’s a Designer.

What’s the Takeaway?
  • Tackett’s critique in Tour 5b is bold and compelling, especially if you’re open to questioning the evolutionary narrative. He’s saying: Look closer at the science—really look—and you might see something more than blind chance. The cell’s protein-making machinery, with its irreducible complexity, becomes his mic-drop moment against Sagan’s confidence.

What do you think? Does the cell’s complexity scream design, or can evolution still explain it? Tour 5b leaves you with that question—and a pretty unforgettable glimpse into the wonders of life at the molecular level.


This post was inspired by a conversation with Grok, an AI assistant from xAI




Science
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

What is True?

We began the fifth tour of Dell Tackett's The Truth Project, diving into the contentious intersection of science and faith exploring the challenges of modern science and Christianity.

Tackett argues that today’s scientific thought, fixated on the natural realm, fuels philosophies attacking Christian beliefs. Echoing the Apostle Peter, we are warned that scoffers deliberately forget God’s supernatural act of creation, a theme that resonated as we examined evolution’s rise as a naturalistic counter to divine origins. This materialistic lens—reducing us to mere molecules in motion—rejects the supernatural, a rejection Peter foresaw and Tackett sees mirrored in science’s current trajectory.

Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:18-20 bolstered our discussion: the heavens declare God’s glory, making His attributes plain. Yet, humanity twists this evidence into a godless philosophy of independence, a deliberate choice to avoid accountability. From stars to cells, the cosmos screams of an intelligent design, a truth revealed through both general (nature) and special (scripture) revelation. Sin, however, blinds us, turning science into a tool attempting to answer existential questions without God.

Evolution, central to this worldview, confines creation to the natural "stuff-in-the-box," excluding God by design. The intelligent design debate crystallized this conflict, with atheists like C. Richard Bozarth claiming evolution negates Jesus’ purpose.

Post-video, we tackled two godless possibilities: an eternal cosmos or one birthed from nothing. Carl Sagan’s eternal universe falls apart—science shows decay, so an eternal cosmos should’ve worn out long ago, like a car with an empty tank after infinite miles. The Big Bang alternative, starting from a mysterious speck, leans on disproven spontaneous generation, demanding more faith than belief in a creator.






Anthropology
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

Who is Man?

Who is man? Where did he come from? What is the meaning and purpose of his existence? There is a fundamental conflict between Christianity and the perspective of contemporary culture.

The Bible teaches that man consists of both body, soul and spirit and is created in the image of God; our culture assumes that he is purely material, the product of mindless, purposeless forces.

The Bible says that man has rebelled against God and fallen from his original state of innocence; contemporary thought maintains that he is “basically good.”

The Bible affirms man’s need for divine grace, redemption, and regeneration; popular thinking asserts that “self-actualization” is the key to happiness and fulfillment.

Christianity represents evil as the product of the Cosmic Battle that rages within man – the conflict between humanity as it was meant to be and what it has actually become as a result of sin. Godless philosophy and psychology, on the other hand, can suggest only one possible solution to the problem of evil in the world: man must throw off the restraints of superimposed social conventions and institutions (i.e., any kind of moral standard) and pursue “self-fulfillment” to the fullest possible extent. This is what Dr. Tackett calls “the pernicious lie.”

Matthew 10:39 (WEB)
  • He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.





Philosophy and Ethics
The Truth Project, Focus on the Family

Hollow and Deceptive Philosophy

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)
  • See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)
  • And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

How to guard against deceptive philosophies.

Be transformed by renewing your mind.
  • The Greek word: metamorphoo in the New Testament is translated: transformed, transfigured. The transformation is a metamorphosis, a change into something completely different.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
  • Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Mark 9:2 (NIV)
  • After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
  • And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.





Consider This


What Is Truth? -- Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRUTH, noun

  1. Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.

    My mouth shall speak truth Proverbs 8:7.

    Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth John 17:17.

  2. True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

  3. Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth

    Shall truth fail to keep her word?

  4. Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth





Consider This - Jacob's Ladder


Jacob's Vision, Genesis 28
Genesis 28:10-13

    Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring...”

Jesus identifies Himself as the ladder, John 1
John 1:47-51

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”


Consider This


John 4:24

    "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 8:32

    "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 14:6

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:15-17

    "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

John 16:13

    "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."


Consider This


Psalm 14:1

    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    there is none who does good.

Proverbs 1:22

    “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
    How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 21:24

    “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.

Proverbs 22:10

    Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
    and quarreling and abuse will cease.

Proverbs 29:8

    Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.


Consider This


1 Corinthians 1:18-21 (WEB)

    For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

    "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."

    20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 2:6-9 (WEB)

    We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written,

    "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, Which didn't enter into the heart of man, These God has prepared for those who love him."


Consider This


Galatians 5:22,23

    ...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Romans 4:15

    For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

Romans 5:13

    for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

Romans 7:1,4-6

    Or do you not know, brothers... that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?
    4 ...my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.


Consider This


How Can We Know What God Thinks?
Only if His Spirit tells us:


1 Corinthians 2:10-13
    For to us God revealed [His thoughts] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words





Consider This



Proverbs 17:26
... [T]o punish the righteous
is not good,
Nor to flog officials
for their integrity.

Proverbs 21:15
When justice is done,
it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.



Consider This



Proverbs 24:23-25
... Partiality in judging is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked,
"You are in the right,"
will be cursed by peoples,
abhorred by nations,
25 but those who rebuke the wicked
will have delight,
and a good blessing
will come upon them.



Consider This


Proverbs 8:1,6-8
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.



Consider This


Proverbs 3:25,26
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

Proverbs 14:32
When calamity comes,
the wicked are brought down,
but even in death
the righteous have a refuge.


Consider This


Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright
guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed
by their duplicity.

Proverbs 16:30
Whoever winks with their eye
is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips
is bent on evil.


Consider This


Proverbs 17:15
He who justifies the wicked,
and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike
are an abomination to Yahweh.

Proverbs 18:5
To be partial to the faces
of the wicked is not good,
Nor to deprive
the innocent of justice.


Consider This



Proverbs 15:8,9
The sacrifice made by the wicked
is an abomination to Yahweh,
But the prayer of the upright
is his delight.
9The way of the wicked
is an abomination to Yahweh,
But he loves him
who follows after righteousness.





Consider This



Proverbs 30:5,6
Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who
take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you
and you be found a liar.





Consider This


Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and joy may end in grief.

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 18:14
A man's spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?



Consider This


(Jesus praying to God, His Father)
The glory which You have given Me
I have given to them, that they may
be one, just as We are one;
23 I in them and You in Me, that
they may be perfected in unity, so
that the world may know that You
sent Me, and loved them, even as
You have loved Me.

John 17:22,23 (see also Ephesians 4:11-13)




Consider This


...and may your spirit and soul and body
be preserved complete, without blame
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

The Lord God formed man from the
dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life;
and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7 (see also Genesis 7:22)






Consider This


No one can be established
through wickedness,
but the righteous
cannot be uprooted.
Proverbs 12:3

The plans of the righteous
are just,
but the advice of the wicked
is deceitful.
Proverbs 12:5





Consider This


Don't be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what is the good,
well-pleasing, and perfect will of God
Romans 12:2

For you were once darkness, but
are now light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light,…​ 10 discerning
what is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8,10




Consider This


Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly,
I say to you, unless one is born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3


since you have been born again,
not of perishable seed but of imperishable,
through the living and abiding word of God;
1 Peter 1:23






Consider This


Anxiety in the heart of man
weighs it down,
But a kind word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

There should be no division in the body,
but that the members should have
the same care for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:25





Consider This


The eyes of YHWH are everywhere,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of YHWH watch over knowledge;
But he frustrates the words
of the unfaithful.
Proverbs 22:12






Consider This


Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean
on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:6






Consider This


A gracious woman obtains honor
But violent men obtain [only] riches.
Proverbs 11:16

A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
Proverbs 11:17







Consider This


Many men claim to be men
of unfailing love,
But who can find a faithful man?
Proverbs 20:6

Confidence in someone unfaithful
in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
Proverbs 25:19





Consider This


It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one's vows.
Proverbs 20:25

Do you see someone
who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool
than for them
Proverbs 29:20





Consider This


A [scripture] in the mouth of a fool,
Is like a thornbush
in the hand of a drunkard.
Proverbs 26:9

A [scripture] in the mouth of a fool,
Is like the legs of a lame man
that hang loose.

Proverbs 26:7





Consider This


One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor,
yet has great wealth.
Proverbs 13:7

The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this:
They will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:5





Consider This


Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1

Whoever ignores discipline
comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.

Proverbs 13:18







Consider This



Where there is no wise guidance,
the nation falls,
But with many counselors
there is victory.


Proverbs 11:14







Consider This


Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:31

The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

Proverbs 28:26









Consider This


Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 26:12

He who trusts in himself is a fool,
But he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

Proverbs 28:26









Consider This


The Lord works out everything
for His own ends -
Even the wicked
for a day of disaster.



Proverbs 16:4







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Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Excerpts from Proverbs 2 and Psalms 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Read the Proverbs through in a month,
one chapter per day.
Read the Psalms through in a month,
five Psalms per day.

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    Proverbs 2:1,5, 10-12, 16-19
    (World English Bible)

    • Benefits of Seeking Wisdom
      • continued
      • Proverbs 2:1 - 22
    • 1) My son, if you will receive my words,
      • And store up my commandments within you;
      •  ...
      •  
    • 5) Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
      • And find the knowledge of God.
      •  ...
      •  
    • 10) For wisdom will enter into your heart.
      • Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
    • 11) Discretion will watch over you.
      • Understanding will keep you,
    • 12) To deliver you from the way of evil,
      • From the men who speak perverse things;
      •  ...
      •  
    • 16) to deliver you from the adulteress,
      • from the sexually loose woman
        • who speaks flattering words;
    • 17) who leaves the husband from
      • her younger days,
    • and forgets her marriage covenant
      • made before God.
    • 18) For her house sinks down to death,
      • and her paths lead to the place
        • of the departed spirits.
    • 19) None who go in to her will return,
      • nor will they reach the paths of life.
    •  

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    Psalm 9:5-8
    Book 1 (Psalms 1-41)
    (World English Bible)

    • For the Chief Musician.
      • Set to "The Death of the Son."
        • A Psalm by David.
    • 5) You have rebuked the nations.
      • You have destroyed the wicked.
    • You have blotted out their name
      • forever and ever.
    • 6) The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin.
    • The very memory of the cities
      • which you have overthrown
        • has perished.
    • 7) But Yahweh reigns forever.
      • He has prepared his throne
        • for judgment.
    • 8) He will judge the world in righteousness.
      • He will administer judgment
        • to the peoples in uprightness.
    •  

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