June 14, 2026

A few years ago two scientists published a book called: The Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion. The authors were two university professors; biologist Randy Thornhill and anthropologist Craig T. Palmer. In the book they made the rather inflammatory claim that rape is not a pathology, biologically speaking. Instead, it is an evolutionary adaptation for maximizing reproductive success. The book calls rape “a natural, biological phenomenon that is a product of the human evolutionary heritage,” akin to “the leopard’s spots and the giraffe’s elongated neck.” Demonstrating how insulated many scientists are, the authors said they were genuinely surprised by all the controversy the book caused. After all, to a Darwinist it is simple logic that any behavior that survives today must have conferred some evolutionary advantage—otherwise it would have been weeded out by natural selection. When one of the authors, Randy Thornhill, appeared on National Public Radio, he found himself deluged by angry calls, until finally he insisted that the logic is inescapable: If evolution is true, then “every feature of every living thing, including human beings, has an underlying evolutionary background. That’s not a debatable matter.” 

I share this to serve as a stark reminder of the secular reality toward which our society is slowly sinking. Paul described how people who refuse to retain the knowledge of God will get progressively more and more perverted. Modern social mores have been a powerful example of Paul’s point. Today it is widely viewed as morally wrong to suggest that a person should not act out every one of their sexual desires. Isaiah pronounced “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

We should hear this warning and not be coerced into not speaking up for what is true and right. Further if we love our fellow man we should do all that we can to warn them of the damage they do to themselves and everyone around them when they fall for secular hedonistic relativism. We can suggest a different and better way also outlined by Paul:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

~ Kevin Cleary

June 7, 2026

Many modern institutions make a big deal out of what they call “diversity training” they take up DEI initiatives (DEI meaning diversity equity and inclusion). In this training they like to emphasis differences and how people may think and act differently based on various factors often related to race, and gender. There is a constant emphasis on how some people have been oppressed by others and how social justice requires some kind of reparation. These efforts while often well intended by those who implement them while trying to help are in fact deeply flawed. They are flawed because they overlook the primary characteristic of humans their humanness. The reality is life is hard it’s been historically hard for most people for most of history. Furthermore, there is no part of the world, no nation that has not been guilty of mistreatment of others. There is also no part of the world that can claim moral purity or superiority over another. Paul described the human condition well when he said, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The reality is we are all human descended from Adam and Eve we all need God’s truth which is applicable to all humans regardless of what social category they may or may not fall into. 

We may come from different backgrounds but God calls us to unity:

Unity in purpose: As Christians our goals are not our own but are Christ’s. So we are one in our pursuit of Christ’s purposes which are also God’s purposes. Jesus in John 10-12 says that he and the father are one and offers the evidence that what he says and does is perfectly consistent with what the father would say and do. In John 17 Jesus prays that Christians would be one as he and the father are one. Christians then need to be united in their purpose or goals. We should want to achieve the same things because we want to achieve Christ’s purposes. He came to seek and save the lost, he has tasked us with the same goal Matt 28:19-20; Mrk 16:15-16. 

Unity of belief: Faith in Christ is the central theme of scripture. Our allegiance to Jesus is earned by his salvific work on the cross. We respond to what he has done but trusting him not only to save us but in all things. The means that we adopt Him and His teaching as truth Jn 17:17. Jude speaks of the revealed body of Jesus teaching as “The Faith” Jude 3. This is a body of Christian truth which informs and guides Christians. Paul expresses this idea when he calls on Christians to be of the same mind and the same judgement I Cor 1:10-17. This can seem like a difficult subject especially 

While we live on earth humans will always hurt betray and take advantage of one another. God calls us to return to him. As his people we understand that we are one, and anticipate the perfect unity of Heaven

~ Kevin Cleary

May 31, 2026

In our Sunday morning class we have been studying Paul letter to the Philippians. We briefly discussed the concept of Joy which is a term Paul uses repeatedly in the book (1:4; 1:25; 2:2; 2:29; 4:1). Paul famously calls the Philippians to Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil 4:4.

It is easy to look at the world around us—or even just our own chaotic to-do lists and unexpected hardships—and feel like joy is a luxury we can’t afford right now. We often treat joy like a reaction: something that happens only when everything goes exactly right. The Book of Philippians completely flips that idea on its head.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, he wasn’t relaxing on a sunny beach or celebrating a massive victory. He was sitting in a dark, cramped Roman prison cell, chained to a guard, facing a potential death sentence. Yet, in a letter only four chapters long, he uses the words joy and rejoice more than sixteen times.

Philippians shows us two beautiful truths about real, lasting joy: Joy is a focus, not a feeling: Paul didn’t ignore his chains; he just chose to look at something bigger. In chapter one, he focuses on how his imprisonment is actually helping to spread the Gospel. Joy comes when we intentionally look past our immediate frustration to see how God might be working behind the scenes. Joy is anchored in a Person, Paul doesn’t say, “Rejoice in your perfect circumstances.” He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” Circumstances change, but Christ’s love, presence, and promises are completely unshakeable. Because He doesn’t change, your ultimate source of joy doesn’t have to change either.

Regardless of the challenges you may be facing the problems you may be anticipating you can have the Joy of the Lord. True biblical joy is simply a quiet, confident assurance that God is still on the throne, He is still good, and He is right there in the mess with you.

~ Kevin Cleary

May 24, 2026

Being only 35 miles NW of Jerusalem, and the only natural harbour between Egypt and Ptolemais, Joppa functioned as the seaport of Jerusalem. This city is mentioned only a few times in scripture and often does not play a very central role. However there are two occasions when a servant of God leaves from this city. One is Jonah the other is Peter.

     We are quite familiar with the events recorded in the book of Jonah how he was asked to go to Nineveh and preach to the Assyrian capital. Jonah did not like God’s plan and instead tries to take a boat from Joppa to Tarshish. The very opposite direction from Nineveh, Jonah leaves Joppa going away from what God has planned for his life.

     We are probably not quite  familiar with Peter’s time in Joppa but it is quite significant. Peter had traveled to Joppa to evangelize. While there he healed Dorcas and had a successful campaign. He was still in Joppa staying with Simon the tanner when God called him to go and preach to Cornelius and his household. These would become the first gentile converts to Christianity. Peter being a good Jew would have strong reservations about this, but because of God’s preparing him he went to Caesarea.

     It seems to me that we are all leaving Joppa, we all face the choice to go where God wants to send us or go in the opposite direction. All of us are called by God to do things in his service that are often less than comfortable for us. We have to decide will we follow the example of Jonah or Peter as we leave Joppa.

Reworked from the post “Leaving Joppa” idevotions Steve Higginbotham

~ Kevin Cleary

May 17, 2026

  In one episode of the Simpsons Homer calls the police to report that he has seen an alien. Chief Wiggum replies “your story is very compelling, let me just type that up on my invisible typewriter”. It sounds as if the police Chief is mocking Homer because of the incredulity of his claim. Then the Chief receives another call; this time, A man says he has been starting house fires and is about to start another one. Chief Wiggum again replies “let me just type this up on my invisible typewriter”. The chief clearly does not take anything seriously.

     This humorous scene reveals something about how we think about reality. If we feel something is reasonable then we take it seriously. If however we don’t feel something is reasonable then we laugh it off. Like Chief Wiggum you would probably doubt me if I said I had witnessed an alien landing in my back yard. If however I told you I had a problem with a skunk you would believe me and begin suggesting solutions.

     It is both wise and normal to filter what we hear through our own reason and assess the credibility of information we are exposed to. After all, we want to respond in the most appropriate way to the world around us. 

     One of the primary criticisms levelled at Christians is that we fail to do this in regards to our faith in both God and Jesus. It is said that belief in some supernatural being makes no sense. Nor does it make sense to think that a man was born without the help of a father, that he grew up and was able to perform miracles, and was eventually put to death by the political leaders of the time only to raise again.

     Yet this among other things is exactly what we believe. And we believe it because it is true. It’s not a fable that we have adopted because we like the moral of the story. It’s not a tool we have made up to make us feel better. What we believe is historical fact. What’s more it must be historical fact or we are foolish to take it seriously. Paul makes this point very powerfully in 1Cor 15:12-19.

     There is not time here to elaborate on the various evidences that exist which demonstrate that Christian faith is not misplaced. However I would encourage each Christian to look into that evidence. Recently Stephen Meyers recent work has been made into a movie called “The Story of Everything” based off of his book “Return of the God Hypothesis.” Other good sources are www.apologeticspress.org or a book called Convicted by Dr. Brad Harrub which can be ordered from Focus Press. The “Case For…” books by Lee Stroble, or New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowel are good as well. The point is we need to be ready to give an answer that will prompt a greater response than “Your story is very compelling just let me type that up on my invisible typewriter”.

~ Kevin Cleary