Dirty Diapers

A Series on Spiritual Turning Points
Moments in Time: Epochal
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mark 1:1-15 

[God is always at work in our life – drawing us to him, helping us to become the person he created us to be and leading us to opportunities to serve him. In this series we will look at spiritual turning points in the lives of real people and the moments in time that it happened. Applying this to our own life, sometimes this happens suddenly, sometimes gradually, but always with purpose.]

 

Children… change… your… life! That’s a fact. When you start a family, nothing is the same. Your life is not your own. You’re rudely awakened at all hours of the night. You clean, or change, poopy diapers at the most inconvenient times.

 

As a new dad, I remember coming home from work one day really needing to use the only bathroom that we had in our house. But when I ran upstairs and lifted the toilet lid, to my dismay, there was a dirty diaper in it. So first, I had to clean the diaper which meant picking it up out of the “water”.

 

Having a baby is epochal. It’s the beginning of a new era of life. The Gospel of Mark is also epochal. The first verse of the first chapter makes a bold proclamation!

 

¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.       NIV

 

Jesus was, and is, the King of Kings. His kingdom is not a physical one, but one of the Spirit. It can’t be seen. And John the Baptist, as prophesied in Isaiah and quoted by Mark in his Gospel, announced that the king would soon be arriving to claim his kingdom. 

 

^2b “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    and he will prepare your way.
³ He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!’”           NLT

 

In order to “prepare the way for the Lord”, John called people to repent of their sins and be baptized. In fact, Jesus himself was baptized by John. And when he did, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love.” This wasn’t just a baptism. It was the anointing of the king.

 

Following this, the Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus was being prepared to begin his kingdom under the crucible of severe temptation. And when he returned, he began by making a profound statement – a declaration really – worthy of a king.

 

¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”     NIV

 

Jesus’ declaration that “the kingdom of God has come”, was an epochal shift. From that time forward, redemption changed from the daily animal sacrifices of the Law of Moses to the human sacrifice of the Son of God – once and for all.

 

The Lord’s prayer that we still pray 2000 years after Jesus walked this earth, recognizes and embraces his kingdom.

 

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

 

That kingdom is ours to continue. Let us do so purposefully as we pray his prayer and do his will to share the good news.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Staying in Touch

A Series on Spiritual Turning Points
Moments in Time: Catalytic
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Acts 1:1-14; Acts 8:1-4 

[God is always at work in our life – drawing us to him, helping us to become the person he created us to be and leading us to opportunities to serve him. In this series we will look at spiritual turning points in the lives of real people and the moments in time that it happened. Applying this to our own life, sometimes this happens suddenly, sometimes gradually, but always with purpose.]

During the summer before my freshman year of college, my parents helped me to get ready. They gave me two hard shell Samsonite suitcases. My mom taught me how to iron my shirts and gave me an iron. Dad set up a checking account for me. But the last instructions that he gave me were to write them a letter every week.

 

Just before Jesus was taken up into heaven, he gave the apostles these instructions.

 

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”         NLT      Acts 1

 

Now, one might think that the apostles would have returned to Jerusalem and begun to strategize how to accomplish the mission that Jesus had given them. They could have worked on a mission and vision statement; or brainstormed goals and objectives. Instead, they returned to the upper room where all they did was pray.

 

However, God must have had a plan in mind because he brought the world to them. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, Jerusalem was jammed with devout Jews from all over the world celebrating Pentecost. Most of them would not have spoken either Hebrew or Aramaic.

 

At the same time, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in different languages – languages that the visiting Jews would have understood. Also, fire appeared over the apostle’s heads. A crowd came to see what was happening. So, Peter stood and spoke to them about Jesus.

 

That day about 3000 people believed and were baptized. Following this, the apostles spoke in the Temple every day, and even went house to house, sharing that “Jesus is the Messiah”. The result was that “the number of believers greatly increased”.

 

About this time, there were some men from a synagogue who created trouble for the disciple Stephen. False accusations were made. Because of this, Stephen was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin – the leading religious and political Jews. He concluded his defense by accusing them of killing Jesus, the Messiah.

 

With blind rage, they dragged Stephen outside the city limits, as the law required, where they brutally stoned him to death. This opened the floodgates of persecution for those who already hated the church. But it also led to the spread of the Gospel.

 

¹ A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ⁴ But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.       NLT      Acts 8

 

When I went to college, there were no cell phones, no texting, no emails. Even long-distance phone calls were rare. So, what was the main method of communication? It was writing a letter. Staying in touch with my parents was important.

 

Two catalytic moments – the apostles being filled with the Holy Spirit and Stephen’s stoning – directly led to the fulfillment of Jesus’ previous instructions to spread the word. But before that… the apostles had prayed. Staying in touch with their Father was important.

 

^12a Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem… ^13a When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.     NIV     Acts 1

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

The Portal

A Series on Spiritual Turning Points
Moments in Time: Watershed
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Acts 1:1-11 and Acts 2:1-13 

[God is always at work in our life – drawing us to him, helping us to become the person he created us to be and leading us to opportunities to serve him. In this series we will look at spiritual turning points in the lives of real people and the moments in time that it happened. Applying this to our own life, sometimes this happens suddenly, sometimes gradually, but always with purpose.]

 

Since 2018, the NCAA transfer portal has transformed college sports into the wild west where almost anything goes. In fact, it’s not unusual for an athlete to have played for 4 or 5 different schools. In my opinion, it’s ruining the college game!

 

However, from a player’s perspective, it gives them a new opportunity to make more money, gain more playing time or to just have more control over their career. In some cases, it has changed their lives dramatically!

 

For instance, in 2025 Fernando Mendoza transferred to Indiana University. As their starting quarterback, he led them to winning the 2026 national championship. In addition, he won the Heisman Trophy Award and was the first pick in the NFL draft. His decision to enter the portal was a watershed moment.

 

The disciples also experienced a watershed moment. For three years they had faithfully followed Jesus throughout Galilee as he ministered to thousands of people. It was a very public ministry, and they participated in it without fear.

 

But, when Jesus was arrested, all but John deserted him. And Peter, his most vocal follower, disowned him three times. Even after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead, the disciples still feared the religious leaders as they hid behind locked doors.

 

But then on the day of Pentecost, when they were all together, something phenomenal happened that changed their lives forever.

 

² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  NIV    Acts 2

 

Because of the pilgrimage for Pentecost, there was a huge number of devout Jews in Jerusalem from all over the world. When they heard the sound, a crowd gathered to see what was happening. They were amazed because each of them heard their own language being spoken despite all the disciples being from Galilee.

 

Then Peter and the disciples stood, and Peter spoke boldly to the crowd. He clearly explained that the crowd was responsible for the death of Jesus. This is the same Peter who had deserted and disowned Jesus and hidden behind locked doors.

 

On that day, 3000 people believed and were baptized. What made the difference in the disciples? It was the following promise that Jesus had previously made to them.

 

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”            NIV    Acts 1

 

Jesus’ promise to receive the Holy Spirit is still true for us today. All we need to do is enter the portal. Thankfully, the portal is defined in the Gospel of John. Jesus spoke about it in the context of being the good shepherd.

 

⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.                                                     ESV    John 10

 

This is our watershed moment.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

Who Has your Back?

A Series on the letter of 1 John
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 John 2:1-27 

[The author of this letter is John. Prior to being a disciple of Jesus, he was a fisherman with a reputation for his bad temper. In fact, he and his brother were called the “Sons of Thunder”. But he was also known as “the one whom Jesus loved”. In this letter, John shares that same love with us.]

 

In October 2020, my wife had a stroke! 

Following my 911 call, the ambulance arrived very quickly. It was all very surreal and very scary. At one point, there must have been six or seven EMT’s in our home, putting her on a gurney and loading her into the squad to be transported to the hospital. The EMT’s had her back.

 

We all face times in our life when we need help. There was a faction in the first century church known as Gnosticism. It was perhaps the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. 

 

Gnostics believed that the human spirit was good and that the body was evil. They also believed that salvation came through a special knowledge, not through faith in Christ. And, that Jesus came not in human form, but in spirit.

 

This heresy was causing problems for the believers. Some had left the church. Some were living in a licentious lifestyle. Many were going down a path that would eventually lead to darkness and spiritual death. John wrote about the ramifications of their misdirected beliefs.

 

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.             NIV

^15-16 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.       MSG

²² So who is lying here? It’s the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that’s who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son.    MSG

 

The good news is that those believers who remained faithful, were not alone. God had their back.

 

¹ My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.                       NLT

 

The Greek word for “advocate” is parakletos. This word became a title for the Holy Spirit, whose role included/includes “encouraging, strengthening and supporting God’s people”.

 

²⁶ I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. ²⁷ But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.                       NLT

 

This is a promise made to you by the Living God, the creator of the universe. As a believer in Christ, you have an advocate, and that advocate is the Holy Spirit. You have received him, and he lives within you to guide you into truth, to encourage and strengthen you. And, like the EMT’s who came to our home, he has your back.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

You’re Not You When You’re Hungry

A Series on Living in the Wilderness: Part 2
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 4:1-13 

[This is Part 2 in a series of looking at people who lived in the wilderness. Not necessarily the wilderness of nature, but the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful. That He loves you and is always with you.]

  

In 2010, Snickers started an ad campaign called, “You’re not you when you’re hungry”.

The premise of this long running campaign was that, as a result of being hungry, a person turned into a different person, normally a celebrity. Then, once they took a bite of a Snickers bar, they returned to their normal self.

 

Along the same lines, a research study was recently completed and published regarding the term “hanger”. This is a word used to describe anger resulting from hunger. The article confirmed, “Results indicated that greater levels of self-reported hunger were associated with greater feelings of anger”.

 

Twelve step programs use the acronym of HALT - which stands for hungry, angry, lonely and tired - as a potential trigger for acting out. They didn’t need a funny commercial or an expensive research study to know that hunger can result in anger which can lead a person to rationalize most any behavior.

 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.    NIV

 

Duh! If anyone could use hunger as an excuse for acting out, or giving into temptation, it was Jesus. You can imagine that he might have been angry at the whole world. So, why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness of Judea?

 

Like Israel wandering in the wilderness for forty years, Jesus living in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, was a testing and preparation experience for what he was going to face during his ministry.

 

But even beyond this reason, there is another. By enduring the trials and temptations of living in the wilderness, Jesus is able to relate to you and to me on a purely personal and human level.

 

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”       Hebrews 2:18

 

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.                       Hebrews 4:15-16

 

So, the next time you’re feeling like, “You’re not you when you’re hungry”, ask yourself this question: is the Lord preparing you for something? Also, keep in mind that he knows what it means to suffer and won’t judge you, but will accept you to “receive mercy and find grace”.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

An Adrenaline Rush

A Series on the “I Am” statements of Jesus
“I Am the true vine”
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
John 14:15-15:17

[Moses encountered God at the burning bush where the Lord gave His name as “I Am”. Jesus used that same name for himself, thus claiming to BE God. In this series, we’re looking at the “I Am” statements of Jesus to learn about him and about God.]

 

Some people love to take risks; even risks that feel dangerous. Extreme sports fall into this category. Things like skate boarding, sky diving or bungee jumping. Before taking the plunge, the participant experiences an adrenaline rush… so I’m told.

 

You might compare an adrenaline rush to the Spirit of God.

 

In the Old Testament, the Spirit was present in “a specific person, at a specific time, for a specific task”. Think of Gideon when he was about to battle the Midianites; or Samson bringing down the temple on the Philistines; or Elijah facing off against the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel.

 

In John 14, Jesus is just finishing in the upper room with his disciples. He knows what his future holds and is preparing them for it. It’s here that he promises them the Holy Spirit. Not for a specific time and specific task, but as an in-dwelling, continuous advocate.

 

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.         NIV

 

Then in John 15, Jesus makes this statement.

 

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.            NIV

 

This is a metaphor that helps us to understand how the Holy Spirit works; how we stay connected with Jesus and each other; and how we bear fruit for the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and God the Father, is the gardener.

 

Jesus promised the disciples the Holy Spirit. That promise holds true today. He is called the Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, Encourager, Intercessor and Helper. He is always with you and me to keep us connected to the true vine, to each other and to bear fruit.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

Why God?

John 14:22-27

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014%3A22-27&version=NIV;AMP

 

Have you ever asked this question? I know I have. Twice that sticks in my mind. Once when my fiancé dumped me during my sophomore year of college. After about six months I was able to give an answer to the question. God used her rejection to bring me to the point of turning my life over to Him; to draw me closer to Him.

 

The next time wasn’t as easy to figure out. My wife was pregnant with our first child when something went terribly wrong. We went to the hospital at about eight months, and were told that the baby would be still born. Looking back on it, even now after over forty years, I still can’t answer the question, “Why God”.

 

¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.           John 14:18-19 NIV



 

²² Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”      AMP

 

Even the disciples asked the question, “Why God”. Maybe not in those exact words, but essentially that’s what they were asking. The disciples were expecting Jesus to become the political leader of Israel; to overthrow the Romans and anyone else in power.

 

Sometimes we just don’t get it do we. The Israelites certainly didn’t get it while wandering in the wilderness. The disciples didn’t get it as Jesus was giving them his last minute instructions before being crucified. And we don’t get it when we’re in the middle of struggling with life.

 

But God has a plan and you are a part of it. You may not understand it right now. You may not understand it in forty years. But God has a plan and He is working it. The question to ask is not “Why God”, but “What is your plan God, and how can I be a part of it”. Then trust the Spirit to lead you.

 

²⁶ But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.  AMP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powerball

Mark 16:15-20

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016%3A15-20&version=NIV;ESV

 

What would you do if you won $550,000,000? That’s how much the Powerball jackpot was scheduled to be at the time of this writing. Would you buy a new luxury home or

car? Or would you set aside a trust to pay for your grand children’s college? Or would you donate 10% to your church or a ministry or charity?

 

If you are a believer and follower of Christ, in a way, you’ve already won the lottery because you know that eternal winnings are available now, and waiting for you in Heaven. The things of this world will perish, but Heaven is for eternity. It’s priceless. So what will you do with your priceless gift?

 

When Jesus was crucified, the disciples had lost all hope. They were sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, “mourning and weeping”. Even after Mary Magdalene and two other followers had seen the resurrected Christ, the disciples refused to believe; refused to act. They preferred to mope and do nothing. Then this happened.

 

¹⁴ Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.        ESV

 

Jesus called them to action. He called them to “proclaim the gospel”. Basically, he gave them a swift kick in the pants with the following result.

 

²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.          ESV

 

Jesus is still calling his disciples across the millennia to action. He’s calling you and me to be his hands and his feet. He’s calling us to touch the lepers of this world. He’s calling us to bring a message of hope to the hopeless; to the addicted; to the imprisoned. He’s calling us to share his love, grace and forgiveness with people at work, at school, in our neighborhood and in our family.

 

We’ve already won a bigger jackpot than Powerball. Let’s share it with those that God brings into our life. Let’s get up off the couch and do something. We don’t have to go around the world… just next door.