Watts' Words

As I began today, one of my devotional readings included a thought from "Margaret McDonald Bottome" about STEALING FROM GOD. Most Christ followers quote the Malachi 3 and leave it at that, but MS Bottome takes it to a level of thought and truth that few see. Her words spoke to me.  Most of us think of theft as taking something that belongs to another person. But there is a deeper, more subtle form of larceny that happens in the quiet of our daily lives: stealing from God. This isn't about breaking into a church; it’s about mismanaging assets that were never ours to begin with. The Misuse of Entrusted Assets We often view our  time, talents, and money  as personal property—resources we earned or lucked into. However, from a biblical perspective, these are "entrusted funds." When we funnel these resources exclusively into our own comfort, egos, or entertainment, we are essentially embezzling. If God is the source of our breath (time), our abilities (talents), and ...

The recent Supreme Court decision  in Chiles v. Salazar has once again placed before the American public a critical question: who ultimately controls speech in this country—the citizen or the state?  In this case, eight members of the Court concluded that Colorado violated the First Amendment when it attempted to prohibit a Christian counselor from engaging in conversations with clients who voluntarily sought guidance consistent with their faith and convictions. Standing alone in dissent was Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her dissent argued that the state has broad authority to regulate licensed professionals and therefore may restrict certain forms of speech when they occur within the context of counseling. But this reasoning opens a troubling door. If the government can regulate speech simply because it occurs between a counselor and a client, then what remains of the First Amendment’s protection for free expression? Once the state claims authority over what may be said in private c...

America at the Brink: From Order to Anarchy If I offer an opinion about the USA over the past 5 or 6 years, one word comes to mind, Anarchy . Anarchy is more than chaos—it is the absence of governing authority, a state where laws lose meaning and society spirals into disorder. For centuries, America stood as the antithesis of anarchy: a constitutional republic built on the rule of law. Our founders understood that liberty without law is not freedom—it is an invitation to tyranny and chaos. For over 200 years, this principle anchored our national identity. But today, as headlines scream of shootings near the White House, political assassinations, and rampant lawlessness, we must ask: Have we crossed the threshold into anarchy?   A Nation Built on Laws From the ratification of the Constitution in 1789 , America embraced a radical idea: that laws—not monarchs, mobs, or military juntas—would govern the land. This framework gave rise to the most prosperous and stable society ...

    It’s been a month, but because I’m the only editor, when life sends bends in the road, you take them and get back to the journey when you can.   Since the last mailout, I had multiple funerals and IT difficulties to take care of. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I pray that you discover something helpful in the Faith or the Tech part of this mailout.   Don’t forget, if you have tech that you use in ministry that might assist someone, let me know and I’ll do my best to include it.   Godspeed.  

  Scripture Focus: Romans 6:13-23 These verses offer an opportunity to review or evaluate where a person is in regard to his relationship to God through Christ. Consider the power of this verse; "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God... You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." —Romans 6:13, 18 (NIV) Paul’s words in these verses serve as a clarion call to identity and allegiance. He doesn’t mince words: we are either instruments of sin or instruments of righteousness. There’s no neutral ground. Most of the message found is scripture has a 'binary' response. Jesus said, "There are only 2 gates, 2 roads, 2 paths, and 2 ways." We make the choice and are on one way or the other.  The beauty of this passage is not just in the warning—it’s in the invitation. Before Christ, we were enslaved to sin. Not just occasionally tempted, but bound—our thoughts, desires,...

  For nearly four decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving the Lord through pastoral ministry, preaching the Word, walking with families through joy and sorrow, and watching the Church evolve in both form and function. I’ve seen flannel boards give way to PowerPoint, cassette tapes replaced by podcasts, and handwritten sermon notes transformed into searchable digital archives. Through it all, one truth has remained: we serve a great God, and He is worthy of our best. That conviction is what led me to launch Faith and Tech — a space where biblical depth meets practical tools, where encouragement and challenge walk hand in hand, and where ministry leaders can find resources that speak both to the soul and to the systems we use to serve. Thanks for reading Faith and Tech: Tools for Purposeful Living and Ministry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. A Ministry of Encouragement and Challenge My heart for this blog is simple: to encourage, uplift, and challenge...