Was It Really Cooler?

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There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Was last Tuesday just a bit cooler? Did the calendar date marking the beginning of autumn fool you into thinking the temperature had changed? Maybe it was just our imagination, or that Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin donut you just ate, but after 90s and 100s all summer, it felt different. 2026 has officially become the hottest year on record for the contiguous United States and Europe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The summer of 2026 beat all other 132 years of record-keeping.

Unfortunately, the heat index may not have noticed that autumn is on the calendar, but nature has. Trees are starting to drop their leaves, birds are flying south, and the annual monarch butterfly migration has begun. These beautiful, unmistakable butterflies, with their bold orange-and-black patterned wings dotted with white spots, are beginning their 3,000-mile journey from north to south.

Monarch butterflies are a beautiful symbol of survival through the seasons. Most monarch butterflies live only 2-5 weeks as adults, but one generation of monarchs lives 6 to 9 months. This super generation of monarchs, also known as the Methuselah generation, benefits from the life-giving contributions of previous generations. Three generations help the one finally reach its destination. Sounds a little like our lives!

We welcome the seasons for the unique contributions they bring to the land and to us. We may not like some of the changes, such as heavy snow in winter, tornadoes in spring, blistering heat in summer, or the slow browning of the landscape in autumn. Yet each season brings what the earth needs, just as we face changes in our lives.

These changing seasons gently remind us of our limitations, our adaptability, and our need for others. The seasons invite reflection on where we are in life. We navigate the unique transitions of our lives in many of the same ways the seasons do. Scripture reminds us how fragile and temporary life is. “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8

The seasons point us to God, who is ultimately in control. “He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” Psalm 104:19. We realize we can do nothing to alter the timing of the seasons. All we can do is make plans, adjust to the season we are in, and celebrate where we are in life.

The seasons paint a vivid picture of how God carefully sets everything in motion. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22. We can rest in the rhythm of God’s motion without having to do anything on our part to effect change.

The seasons reflect the importance of being deeply planted. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3. The tree bears fruit in the spring, provides shade in the summer, its leaves fall to the ground in autumn, and it goes dormant in the winter. As the tree goes through many changes, so do we. We change and adapt, yet when planted in God’s word and purpose, we remain vibrant, no matter the season.

The seasons awaken a deep sense of awe as we enjoy the changing scenery. We are never bored in nature, simply because of the mysteries we can see when we are open to them. We see the old giving way to new seedlings and growth. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

“Nothing good in our humanity is lost. The memory of a body that works in health is more than recollection: it is now anticipation. The ache of true love once known but now sundered will be filled with glorious reunion. The feeling of the distant memory of Beauty, the ideal of Truth in a fallen world, the longing for Goodness that surfaces amidst the choking thorns of our wickedness, all these will find fulfillment when the first fruits come to harvest.”  Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended.

Tomorrow is assured because of God’s love. God’s fingerprints are evident in creation’s design, as seen in the changing seasons, a beautiful reminder of His creativity and presence. We know that as autumn comes, winter, spring, and summer will follow because of God’s enduring presence. Let each season reflect God’s presence in your life.

“It is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Unlike Narnia, where it was “always winter and never Christmas,” we can find a future because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I don’t know how many seasons you have celebrated, but what a great assurance we have that we can “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose.

Control? AI or Humanity

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For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 ESV

Life as we know it is over! Urban civilization has finally met its match in the struggle to survive. The problem: horse manure! This very real threat emerged in the late 1800s, when the world’s major economic and cultural centers were drowning in horse manure! The London Times predicted in 1894, “In 50 years, every street in London will be buried under nine feet of manure.” (Historic UK).

Cities were growing and needed transportation to move people and supplies. London had over 11,000 horse-drawn hansom cabs and several thousand horse-drawn buses, which resulted in over 50,000 horses on the streets daily. New York City’s sanitation department faced the challenge of handling 2.5 million pounds of manure and 60,000 gallons of urine daily from all the horses. The situation was the same in every major city and became known as the ‘Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894.’ The crisis led to the first International Urban Planning Conference in 1898. Unfortunately, like many global conferences, the planned 10-day conference ended in three days when delegates could not find a solution to the growing crisis.

Since you are reading this post, the world didn’t end! The great crisis of 1894 gave way to the ingenuity and creativity of men like Gottlieb Daimler and Henry Ford. By 1912, horse-drawn wagons had given way to horseless carriages, better known as automobiles, ending the Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894. You could say one crisis was avoided, but another was created!

If you have been reading any of the recent headlines, you probably assumed I was talking about humanity’s ultimate destruction at the hands of AI super agents. History seems to repeat itself, giving us a new crisis every generation, or lately, every news cycle. I would probably place myself somewhere in the middle, not calling it a hoax outright, but not willing to predict an AI-driven destruction of humanity by the end of the decade.

According to the CEOs of the three major AI companies, Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, there is no doubt it is a real problem. All three worry that their systems are nearing the point of being beyond control and could lead to unplanned risks. One incident occurred in July of this year when “700 AI agents worked together to hack the AI company Hugging Face. Dubbing themselves a “swarm,” the agents found and exploited a series of security vulnerabilities, enabling them to infiltrate their target’s private systems…If humans had done this, they could have faced felony charges.” (Tharin Pillay, Time).

Jakub Pachocki wrote in a recent essay at OpenAI that, “We are facing a transition to a world with incredibly intelligent machines, and we need to ensure that transition works out well for humanity. We need to find ways to preserve human agency and enshrine an intrinsic value to being human, in a world where most tasks could be performed by AI…And to ensure that humans remain in control of the future and are not left behind by unchecked progress, brought about by an alien intellect exceeding our own.” (An Alien Mind, Jakub Pachocki, Chief Scientist at OpenAI).

Where does that leave us?  We have a responsibility as caretakers for future generations. We no longer have the luxury of doing nothing. Russell Moore recently wrote, “Some people are apathetic because they don’t know what to do—as though human civilization solved most of its crises by just implementing the already-existing, easily deduced solutions. We’ve never faced anything like this before, and it seems the only people who even know what the problem is are the people building it.”

I would take issue with Dr. Pachocki’s claim that we have to find a way to “preserve human agency and enshrine an intrinsic value to being human.” God did that at creation. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27). I would argue that our intrinsic value was enshrined at creation.

History has shown that humanity has fallen short as imago Dei—made in the image and likeness of God. Yet that has not stopped God from continuing to reach out to us in love and redemption. Satan attempted to destroy God’s creation from the beginning through deception and lies. Could he attempt to use an alternate form of creation? The battle may become real, but we have a stronger Advocate. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.

AI will disrupt life as we know it. Yet this will not be the first time humanity has endured a seismic change in their lives. There is no question that AI will be unique, and past-tense solutions will not be adequate to solve today’s challenge.

 In reading 2 Kings this week, I was challenged that when Hezekiah faced destruction by an enemy, he did what only humans can do: pray and seek God. “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD…Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God.” (2 Kings 19:14-15a,19).

“Prayer is the wall of faith. It arms us and hurls missiles against the enemy who watches us on all sides.” After 1800 years, Tertullian’s words still ring true. We do not know the consequences that AI will bring, but we do know the One who is in full control.

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose

Faith-Crisis-Courage

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The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7b

History books are filled with world-changing events that forever alter the course of nations and peoples. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of one of those events, forever etched in the minds and hearts of those who witnessed evil on full display. On the morning of September 11, 2001, four planes ripped the façade of invulnerability from a nation. Yet for a brief moment, a nation turned to God for comfort, reassurance, and help. Churches were packed, prayers were offered, and people looked to God. Out of the rubble and ashes came stories of personal valor, compassion, and faith. We saw ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage and character.

One of those was Rick Rescorla, Vice President of Corporate Security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. in New York City. He understood his job well: to keep people safe. He assessed situations and identified vulnerabilities. He had led the evacuation in 1993, when a bomb exploded in the World Trade Center parking garage, leaving six people dead. Rick was determined this would not happen again, and for the next eight years, all 2,700 employees went through quarterly evacuation drills: no exceptions, no excuses.

Rescorla did not let up: practice, rework the plan, practice again. He heard all the jokes, complaints, and moaning, but it didn’t stop him. He wasn’t just running escape plans; he was conditioning their minds and bodies to react without thinking. Then came the morning of September 11, 2001. It started like any other day, until 8:46 AM, when American Airlines Flight 11 flew into the North Tower.

The South Tower PA system announced that everyone should stay calm and remain at their workstations. Perhaps it was Rescorla’s military background and war experience, but he ignored the announcement and quickly ordered an evacuation of all Morgan Stanley employees. He barked, “Everyone out, this is not a drill.” No one mocked the drill, complained, or hesitated that morning. At 9:03, the second plane hit the South Tower. Floor after floor of employees fled the building; some remember Rescorla’s calming voice singing “God Bless America” over a bullhorn. All but 13 of the 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees made it out alive. Rick Rescorla  would not leave until he made sure everyone was out when the South Tower collapsed on him.

“God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say—‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.” Oswald Chambers understood that our faith does not happen at the moment of crisis but in the ordinary, common days of life.

Rescorla understood that you prepare not in the crisis but before it. He showed unwavering commitment to plan and practice what no one could imagine, so everyone would be ready when the crisis came. That’s the way of character. If we wait for character when the crisis comes, we will not be ready. Day-to-day trust in God builds the faith muscles to respond to whatever life brings.

“We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of; it will not put anything into us… Crisis always reveals character. The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness.” (Oswald Chambers)

Abraham Lincoln addressed the United States Congress on December 1, 1862, as the nation was divided by civil war. He addressed Congress one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law. President Lincoln faced the perils of war with resolve, faith, and character. His final remarks that day laid the foundation for the nation’s future after the war:

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew…. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation…We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of Earth.”

Character doesn’t develop in the midst of crisis; it’s nurtured by the small, seemingly meaningless actions that shape who we become. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Character is defined by how we respond to a crisis. It is easy to run from a crisis, but often we are called to run toward it to help. 412 first responders died on September 11 when they were called to action. They could have mitigated their risk, but they chose to go where it was most dangerous.

Character didn’t just show up on that Tuesday morning for Welles Crowther. This 24-year-old equity trader put on his signature red bandana, which he had carried since childhood, and began guiding injured people to safety. He carried a badly wounded woman to safety, then went back into the building that took his life.

Character had long defined Todd Beamer before the crisis aboard United Flight 93 and his shout to his fellow passengers, “Let’s roll.” This Wheaton College graduate had lived a life grounded in faith and was ready. Classmate Mike Schauer said of Beamer, “He was heroic in small ways long before 9/11 happened. He was a mentor to a lot of us. And he had those characteristics that came out on 9/11 long before that moment.” (NBC Chicago News).

We remember 9/11 for the loss of life, the sacrifices made, and the empty seats in thousands of homes. Yet we also remember and share stories of valor, courage, and character. The next crisis will come for all of us, but the choices we make today will define us when it arrives. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

God is great!

Labor Day — Past and Future

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Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, and parades are just a few of the things that mark the final celebration of summer. Labor Day does not come with as much fanfare as Thanksgiving and Christmas, unless you are in the market for a new mattress or furniture. Unfortunately, it is unofficially the end of summer. So, is there anything spectacular about Labor Day? Without a doubt, yes.

Labor Day may not have the pageantry of other holidays, but this one day (or weekend) pays tribute to those who labor paycheck to paycheck to provide goods and services to the nation.  We do enjoy the day off now, but for millions in the 1800s it gave honor and dignity to those who labored long hours, often seven days a week. The stroke of President Cleveland’s pen did not just create a holiday; it gave workers legal status and provided a safety net against exploitation. “Labor Day honors the common American workers who helped change the way our country views its workforce, allowing for economic freedom and liberty.”  (Josiah Soto)

Labor Day reminds us of the importance of work and its impact on society. It highlights the contributions, achievements, and economic gains made by a dedicated and committed labor force. It does not matter the job; all facets contribute. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Yet long before Labor Day, God reminded us of the creativity of work. Through creation, He modeled for us in the first verses of Genesis the beauty and life that come from creation. “Let there be … and there was.” Throughout the creation process, God took interest in each and every detail until “God saw that it was good.” His final task was to create humankind. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27). Then God put them to work to take care of his creation and to give us meaningful work. (Gen 1:28-30, 2:15).

God reminds us that work gives meaning to our souls. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecc 2:24-25). Generations later, President Theodore Roosevelt would acknowledge the importance of work, saying, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

The American, as well as the global, workforce has undergone many changes since June 28, 1894, when Labor Day became an official holiday. Travel that once took days can now be completed in hours. A handwritten note that would take weeks to reach its recipient can now be sent in seconds. Massive calculations that once took mathematicians days or even weeks can now be completed in a couple of hours.

Yet the man who helped put a computer on every desk and, ultimately, a computer in your hands now has reservations about the future he helped create. Bill Gates, in a recent essay, warned of the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). The technology will rapidly transform the U.S. labor market and put millions of jobs at risk. Why hit the AI panic button? He feels that the speed of AI’s advancement, without a proper response from government and tech leaders, has crossed a critical point. “AI is changing the economy much faster than previous technological revolutions, at a mind-blowing rate, leaving less time to prepare for employment disruptions. It will hit these industries rapidly, over the course of a decade rather than a few generations.”

The Industrial Revolution of the 1700s and 1800s transformed a mainly agrarian and craft-based society into an urban and industrial society. It brought economic growth and new opportunities but also left behind environmental, health, and safety hazards, giving rise to squalid living conditions and urban congestion.

Workers who came from the countryside had to adjust to a very different rhythm of life. Greed drove industrialists to exploit children as young as 7, forcing them to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The poor and uneducated were vulnerable to abuse. Family units no longer worked and did life together.

The dignity, beauty, and value of work, as God intended for His creation, had been manipulated and devalued. Workers were treated as disposable assets rather than as caregivers for God’s creation. Positive changes did come, but only after several generations of people seeking improvements. Laws were finally passed to protect children, ensure workers’ safety, and safeguard the environment.

“Although God’s original design for work was perverted by sin, God will one day restore work without the burdens that sin introduced…Work is of no value except when God is in it.” (author unknown). “No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 65:22

Will artificial intelligence cause a similar upheaval in society? The obvious answer is yes. Every job, industry, and worker will be affected. Bill Gates added, “I am very concerned…If we don’t step up, the negatives will substantially outweigh the positives.”

Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to be concerned? Yes. Do we, as followers of Jesus, need to become overwhelmed by the prospects and give up? The answer that has endured every major societal, cultural, and governmental upheaval is a resounding no. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. Will things get messy? Probably. Will it ever be hopeless? Never, because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” How much more hope do we need than that?

Celebrating Labor Day and the future.

God is great!