Rapture Talk: Is the Rapture Happening Today or Tomorrow?

    This morning, I would like to discuss the rapture talk that I have been hearing over the past couple of months.  I first heard about it back in June when someone sent me a clip from a podcast. In the clip, a man calling himself Brother Joshua called in and shared dreams and visions he’s had of conversations with Jesus.

    He’s saying Jesus told him He’ll come back to rapture the church on September 23 or 24, 2025, but the Bible is clear that no one knows the day or the hour: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36; see also Acts 1:7.).  Since that podcast, Brother Joshua has been featured on different platforms giving in person interviews about his prediction.  

    Part of why a dramatic "prophecy" like this can grab people so fast is that we as humans are wired for stories. Research on narrative transportation shows that when people become absorbed into a vivid story, they are more likely to accept the story’s message and to change beliefs and attitudes (Green & Brock, 2000). In short, the more “transported” a listener is into a narrative, the less likely they are to notice inconsistencies and the more likely they are to adopt the story’s conclusions. (Green & Brock, 2000). 

    Neuroscience also helps explain this. Compelling narratives can trigger neurochemical responses that increase bonding and trust; studies show that emotionally powerful stories can raise oxytocin levels and influence generosity, empathy, and cooperative behavior (Zak, 2015). That is part of why a confident storyteller can make listeners feel and act as if the story is true (Zak, 2015). 

    Online platforms amplify all of this. False, novel, or emotionally charged claims spread farther and faster on social media than mundane truths. Research using large Twitter datasets found that false news diffuses more rapidly and broadly than true news, driven largely by human sharing of novel, surprising content (Vosoughi et. al. 2018). 

    When thousands of people begin to act in the same extreme way because of a single story, the pattern has a name in public health and sociology. Mass psychogenic illness, also called mass sociogenic illness, is the rapid spread of beliefs, symptoms, or behaviors through a group without an identifiable organic cause (CDC, 1983; Weir, 2005). The phenomenon is real, it has been investigated by public health authorities, and it is often driven by anxiety, close social ties, and strong social signals. 

    People get swept up because some speakers tell a story so convincingly that it bypasses reason and feels true. We’re reminded not to be deceived; people can be misled by persuasive words and by those who seek gain (Galatians 6:7; 2 Peter 2:3). Scripture even says “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14.)

    We need to be careful and not make any big decisions based on viral clips. There are people even giving away their cars, homes, and entire life savings on TikTok.  Let’s slow down, get wise counsel, “without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22), test the messages against Scripture, and protect our family and finances. Don’t act in fear. The Bible also tells us “do not be anxious about anything” and to bring our concerns to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6).

Full citations 

• Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C. (2000). The role of transportation in the persuasiveness of public narratives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(5), 701–721. PubMed

• Zak, P. J. (2015). Why inspiring stories make us react: The neuroscience of narrative. Available via PubMed Central. PubMed+1

• Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. Science, 359(6380), 1146–1151. PubMed+1

• Weir, E. (2005). Mass sociogenic illness. Canadian Medical Association Journal (review). PMC

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiologic notes and reports: epidemic psychogenic illness. MMWR. CDC

When I Learned that life on Earth isn't Permanent and how to deal with that fact

    I was recently watching a YouTube video about the planets and our solar system and felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I was surprised to hear that, in billions of years, Earth will become uninhabitable and the universe as we know it will look very different. Yes, “billions of years” is almost unimaginable, but I try to think generationally: what will life be like for my descendants during that time.  I grew up believing the universe was static, permanent and unchanging. But it isn’t. The universe is dynamic and ever-changing.  

    That realization forced a lot of other questions on me. How does God fit into all of this? Why would He create a universe that doesn’t last forever? I found myself going back to the Garden of Eden story: the teaching that sin entered the world because of Adam and Eve and that physical death is the result. If Earth itself will one day be uninhabitable, where does the idea of “no physical death in God's original Plan” come from?

    I think a big part of this is category confusion. The biblical writers were living and speaking in an ancient Near Eastern world; their books are saturated with poetry, metaphor, and moral truth, not modern astrophysics. Genesis is addressing questions of meaning, identity, and moral origins, not the chemical and stellar mechanics of the cosmos. Treating the Bible as if it is a science textbook is a mistake that has caused a lot of confusion.

    Another hard truth I keep coming back to is this: God is hidden by design. He could make Himself obvious every day of the week:  show up on demand, answer every question, leave zero doubt. But I think part of the point of creation is that God gives us space to choose. If God sat on a throne and glared down at us all the time, we’d behave like robots trying to impress Him. We would never develop morally or spiritually the way we do when we are given freedom and responsibility. 

    Viewing how Earth will one day be uninhabitable (though it is billions of years in the future) is hard to sit with, but there’s a beautiful consolation too: the fact that the universe changes doesn’t erase meaning, it intensifies it. Christianity speaks of resurrection and a “new heavens and a new earth,” but even before that hope is fully revealed our love, kindness, work, and stewardship matter deeply; they are the ways we participate in God’s renewing work. So instead of despair, I choose to name my grief, love the people around me fiercely, build things that outlast one lifetime, and steward the gifts I’ve been given. That feels like the truest answer I have, not an escape from finitude but a life lived in faith, service, and hope, and that is a beautiful, hopeful way to end the day.

Prayer & Declaration Against Mass Shootings in America

Opening Repentance

Heavenly Father,
We come before You in humility and repentance. We acknowledge the sins that stain this land. First, we confess that this nation was built on land taken unjustly from Native peoples. Their homes, cultures, and lives were stolen through violence, broken treaties, and greed. Lord, forgive us for the unrepented sin of stolen land and the bloodshed of Indigenous peoples, which still cries out from the earth.

We also confess that America has shed innocent blood through slavery, racial violence, lynchings, and unjust killings. The cries of those who suffered under oppression and injustice still echo in our nation. We acknowledge the wounds of racism that continue to shape generations, leaving scars of inequality, division, and brokenness. Lord, forgive us for failing to fully repent and repair the legacy of these sins.

We further confess the sin of idolatry, placing weapons and violence above the value of human life. Guns and instruments of death have been exalted as symbols of power, even at the expense of children’s safety and the sanctity of life itself. Lord, forgive us for worshiping violence and for allowing bloodshed to become normalized. Heal our land from the blood that cries out from the ground (Genesis 4:10).

Covering in the Blood of Jesus

Lord Jesus, we plead Your blood over our children, our schools, our churches, and our communities. Your blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). We apply Your sacrifice as a covering, breaking every claim of the enemy over this land.

Breaking Legal Grounds

In the name of Jesus Christ, we renounce and break every legal ground that has been given to the spirit of murder and violence in America. We cancel every agreement, every covenant with death, and every cycle of bloodshed. We declare that the power of the cross nullifies every legal right the enemy has claimed.

Declarations of Justice & Protection

We declare that no weapon formed against our children, families, or communities shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
We declare that justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).
We declare that America shall confront her racial wounds and pursue true repentance and reparations.
We declare that peace will replace chaos, and unity will replace division.

Binding & Loosing

Father, in the authority of Jesus Christ, we bind the spirits of death, murder, rage, hatred, and despair fueling mass shootings. We loose the Spirit of peace, protection, love, and community over our land (Matthew 18:18).

Blessing & Prophetic Vision

We bless our children with safety, hope, and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
We bless our schools to be sanctuaries of learning and not fear.
We bless our neighborhoods with strong families, restored dignity, and divine protection.
We bless America to be healed from her wounds, restored in righteousness, and renewed in justice.

Hope for America’s Future

Lord, we believe that America is not beyond Your reach. We believe that this nation, though wounded, can rise again in righteousness. Let America repent and return to You so that she may become a land of peace, a refuge of justice, and a beacon of hope to the nations. May America fulfill her original purpose—to be a place where liberty and truth shine, where families are strong, and where Your name is honored.

Closing

Lord, we will not be silent. We stand in the gap, interceding until this cycle of violence is broken. By Your Spirit, raise up a remnant of intercessors, leaders, and families who will pursue justice until peace covers this land.
In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.

Strengthening Families in the Black Community

Strengthening Families in the Black Community

Rhonda Nwosu

    

Families are the foundation of communities. When families are strong, communities are strong. I was fortunate to grow up in a two-parent household in central Virginia, surrounded by stable Black two-parent families. My community was not perfect, but it was inspiring. I remember spending much of my childhood outdoors, playing in the yard with friends while neighbors looked out for one another. You could depend on your neighbor to watch your children when you had to work late or to look after your house when you went on vacation. Growing up in such a household and community shaped my openness to God and gave me confidence as I became an adult.

    However, when I left for college, I discovered that not everyone had grown up like me. In fact, very few of my new friends shared that same experience of stability. Many of them carried deep issues stemming from broken households and family dysfunction. At the time, I did not have the vocabulary to pinpoint what it was.

    This led me to wonder: What would happen if every Black child grew up in a family rooted in love, stability, and faith? Our communities would be transformed; and, by extension, the entire world. We would be restored to an honorable place in society, and the reproach often cast on us through stereotypes in the media would lose its power.

Family Strength Matters

    Before we ever set foot inside a school, our first classroom is the home. Families are our first teachers. Family Systems Theory (Bowen, 1978) views the family as an emotional unit where each member’s behavior influences the whole system. For example, if a child grows up in a home with a high degree of conflict, they may either struggle with conflict or avoid it altogether as an adult. Similarly, Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) proposes that children learn by observing and imitating family members. Values, habits, coping strategies, and even one’s career path are often first modeled within the family.

    If our communities can promote and support stable households, we can help protect children from cycles of poverty, violence, and hopelessness. Historically, this was our strength. Directly after slavery, Black Americans had some of the highest marriage rates in the nation (Hymowitz, 2005). Today, however, those rates have declined, and single-parent households have become far more common (Raley, Sweeney, & Wondra, 2015). To succeed, we must once again establish and uplift marriage as a cornerstone of stability.

    We cannot afford to normalize “situationships” or casual parenting arrangements with no intention of permanence. Our community must encourage sexual discipline, avoid unplanned pregnancies, and prioritize raising children in households where both parents are present and committed. Research consistently shows that children without stability struggle more academically, emotionally, and even spiritually (Amato, 2005).

Challenges Facing Black Families Today

• High rates of single-parent households.
• Generational cycles of trauma, poverty, and broken relationships.
• Cultural narratives (especially in some streams of hip-hop) that devalue marriage and family unity (Pough, 2004).

Keys to Strengthening Black Families

• Promote Marriage & Commitment – Restore the value of lifelong marital relationships.
• Parent with Purpose – Teach values, discipline, and faith intentionally at home.
• Heal Generational Wounds – Break cycles of abuse, neglect, and fatherlessness.
• Extended Family Support – Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors should play a role.
• Faith as an Anchor – Keep God at the center of family life.

Reflect With Me

    What’s one thing you can do to strengthen your family today? For me, it’s visiting relatives more often and spending time fellowshipping with them. That simple step strengthens bonds and reinforces love across generations.

“When we strengthen our families, we are rebuilding the Black community one household at a time.”

References

1. Amato, P. R. (2005). The impact of family formation change on the cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of the next generation. The Future of Children, 15(2), 75–96.
2. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
3. Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.
4. Hymowitz, K. (2005). Marriage and caste in America: Separate and unequal families in a post-marital age. New York: Ivan R. Dee.
5. Pough, G. D. (2004). Check it while I wreck it: Black womanhood, hip-hop culture, and the public sphere. Northeastern University Press.
6. Raley, R. K., Sweeney, M. M., & Wondra, D. (2015). The growing racial and ethnic divide in U.S. marriage patterns. The Future of Children, 25(2), 89–109.

 

 

From Powerless to Empowered: Overcoming Learned Helplessness with Faith

    

    Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which individuals perceive their actions as powerless to influence outcomes. As a result, they may adopt passive behavior even in situations where change is possible. This phenomenon often develops after repeated exposure to uncontrollable or adverse experiences.

    I first encountered the term learned helplessness in a course about students with disabilities. The material explained that students with disabilities can sometimes develop this mindset, feeling that their condition limits their ability to succeed.

    Over time, I have realized that this pattern is not limited to students with disabilities, it shows up in people from all walks of life, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. Some individuals remain stuck in past hardships, using what has happened to them as a reason to believe they cannot change their present reality or improve their future.

Common causes of learned helplessness include:

1. Chronic Stress and Trauma: Repeated exposure to overwhelming stress or unresolved trauma can create the belief that nothing will ever improve, no matter what actions are taken.

2. Abusive Relationships: Victims of ongoing abuse may come to believe that escape or change is impossible, even when opportunities exist.

3. Childhood Neglect: Growing up with unmet emotional, physical, or psychological needs can create a deep-seated sense of powerlessness.

4. Overparenting: When parents are overly protective, making every decision and solving every problem, children may not develop confidence in their own abilities, leading to dependency and self-doubt.

5. Uncontrollable Environments: Living in settings where major factors such as poverty, systemic discrimination, or unstable conditions feel completely beyond one’s control can reinforce the idea that personal effort has no impact.

6. Negative Attributional Styles: People who consistently interpret setbacks as personal failings such as saying, “I am not good enough,” “I always fail,” or “Nothing ever works out for me,” are more likely to internalize helplessness and stop trying.

    However, God calls us to rise above these circumstances. He has promised us abundant life (John 10:10), not one defined by helplessness or despair. Through faith, resilience, and renewal of the mind (Romans 12:12), we can break free from limiting patterns and embrace the fullness of who He created us to be.

    The Bible reminds us in John 10:10 that Jesus came so we might have life and have it more abundantly. Philippians 4:13 encourages us with the truth that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Even when we feel powerless, God is able to restore hope and renew our strength.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that I am not powerless, for with You all things are possible. Deliver me from the grip of fear and helplessness; and teach me to see myself as You see me, strong, capable, and loved. Help me to rise above every circumstance and walk in the abundant life You promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Guarding My Mind in a Digital World, A Christian Reflection on Negative Media and Peace

    I want to share something that’s been quietly affecting my mindset. As someone who uses a computer daily, I try to be intentional about what I consume, especially at the start of the day. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

    For me, that means guarding not only my heart, but my mind, my atmosphere, and my screen.

    That’s why I recently had to reevaluate my experience with Microsoft Edge.

    By default, Edge opens to the MSN news homepage, and I’ve noticed that the stories presented there often focus on rare, negative, and emotionally charged headlines. These aren’t just news updates, they’re stories crafted to grab your attention through fear, outrage, or catastrophe. Without realizing it, I found myself being pulled into a negative mental space before my day even began.

    Over time, this constant exposure to heavy news took a toll. I wasn’t searching for these stories, but they would appear whenever I opened a new window or tab. Even after adjusting my settings to redirect Edge to a more neutral homepage, the content still found its way back.

    Scripture reminds us in Philippians 4:8:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

    That’s difficult to do when your first encounter of the day is a flood of disaster and despair.

    In contrast, when I use Google Chrome, the browser opens to a simple, blank search page. There are no headlines or hooks, just peace. That small difference has had a big impact on my mental clarity and emotional balance.

    This reflection isn’t meant to criticize, but to encourage greater awareness and intentionality, both in companies and individuals. If you work in tech or media, please consider how much your design choices influence people's well-being. And if you’re a Believer navigating this digital world, consider what you're allowing to enter your spirit first thing in the morning.

    Isaiah 26:3 says,

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

    We have a responsibility to steward that peace. In a time when mental health and spiritual discernment matter more than ever, content curation has spiritual consequences.

    I pray that more companies will consider offering peaceful, customizable homepages, and that we as believers will continue to guard our gates, our eyes, our ears, and our hearts, through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

    Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for your soul is simply to protect your peace.

Not Just a Quick Checkmate: Trusting God for Multiple Wins

Sometimes we receive a powerful revelation from God, a whisper of His favor, a dream, or a prophecy, and we immediately assume results are coming today. We expect an instant shift, a breakthrough, a yes. We imagine God's favor will operate like a quick checkmate in chess: swift, undeniable, game over. But what if God is not working toward just one quick move?

In chess, a checkmate ends the match. It is the singular move that brings everything to a close. Many players aim for it early, sacrificing pieces just to reach that one perfect moment. But God’s strategy is much more layered.

He is not only working toward one win. He is orchestrating multiple breakthroughs, timed victories, and favor that unfolds in waves. While we are praying for the next move, God is preparing the board for generational blessing, legacy, and divine multiplication.

What we thought would be one fast victory is actually the setup for a domino effect: career elevation, healing, reconciliation, financial release, answered prayers for loved ones, and divine timing, all aligning at once.

“In due season we will reap, if we do not faint.” (Galatians 6:9)

This verse is a divine reminder that favor is not always instant, but it is always certain. When we hold steady, we position ourselves not just for one blessing, but for many.