All Things New with Jeff Ackenback

Most people have heard of "Armageddon" (the final Biblical battle, not the Bruce Willis movie...although it is also good), but few realize that it's over before it starts. In one line, John describes the battle lines being set, in the next, Jesus is standing victorious...because nothing can stand against Jesus. With that in mind, we should love each other, treat each other with respect, and show the truth of that victory each day.

For John, seeing Jesus again was beyond description...and then he immediately was also shown the perfection of heaven. Much of Revelation is confusing, but when you look at it in those terms...a man doing his best to describe things beyond description, it makes a little more sense.

John was the last of the original disciples. He'd seen everyone he knew and loved die around him, and as he sat alone in exile, he probably had many questions about his life. Jesus, though, showed him that his usefulness was never ending...that he still had a purpose, a chance to do good. He showed him what is to come, not to scare him or lead him to scare others, but to assure him that love is at the center, and as long as there is life, there is hope.

There are two ways to look at doing good: 1. No good deed goes unpunished...in which you feel like doing good is a chore or something that simply doesn't even work; 2. No good deed goes wasted...no matter how anyone accepts or rejects the good you do, a seed is planted, and there IS a change.

In the end, we either choose to do good or choose not to...to help or not to help. Obviously there are a lot of things that go into each decision, and it isn't possible to help everyone...but we should do our best to treat others as we would want to be treated, including helping anyone we are able to help.

Finding common ground with someone doesn't mean you suddenly believe/live/act like them. It doesn't even mean you think they're right. It just means that you understand they are a person, that how they feel matters, and that you are called to love them. Doing good can definitely be mission trips, giving to charity, etc...but sometimes it's as simple as just not being hateful.

Jesus called a tax collector to be a disciple, which can seem strange enough to us...but back then, tax collectors were considered scum, below human. In order to do good, you first must see people as more than a number, then recognize that, while they are no better than you, you are also no better than them. Know better, do good.

Everyone knows that it's better to "do good" in the world, but the problem comes to how we see each individual. If you see someone as just a number, an opponent, a problem....then problems arise. However, once you realize every person is more than that, you begin to realize that all of us have value, that all of us are and should be loved.

Fear of success doesn't sound like something "normal," but it really is. Because it's not the success itself that can be scary, but what comes next. "Will they always expect it?" "Will I have to do this all the time?" Yet, what other people think ultimately doesn't matter. That's easy to say, but it's still important to remember that you define you. Do your best, be your best, and love each other.

Everyone fears loss of some kind, but we often deny it...even run from it. It's hard to appear helpless...but the longer we deny that fear, the worse it gets as it goes from loss, to doubt, to even losing hope. Be willing to share, to talk, to help...and to accept help.

There will be times in our lives where it feels like the odds are stacked against us, like it's not worth it to even try. However, trying is succeeding, and as long as there is life there is hope.

Hardly anyone admits to hating someone else, but our actions and words often betray us. In order to truly know God, we must know His love, AND also show that love to everyone. Seriously. Literally everyone.

One of the most common fears is the fear of the unknown. We fear what might happen, what people might do....what's out there "in the dark." There is always a way through, though...a way to continue going forward...as we accept help, then help others to do the same.

The baseline for our faith should be to treat others as we want to be treated, but we live in a world where that doesn't happen as often as it should. As Christians, we should do our best to follow that, to treat others with kindness, with respect, with love...and the impact will amaze us.

I have no idea if people ever read these, but I want to take the time to finish the Beatrice anecdote. I missed her first birthday, BUT a couple of weeks later, I was able to see her first steps on zoom.

Often, we look for ways to "pass the buck" and avoid responsibility. However, as a great philosopher once said, "with great power, comes great responsibility." If we claim to follow Jesus, then we accept His power...giving us a huge responsibility to make a difference, not to pass the buck.

We live in a world where many people feel like the ends justify the means, even if it comes at the cost of other people. Sometimes, there are even negative consequences to doing the right thing, which makes it even harder to not just go with the "short term happiness" mindset. However, even when it's difficult, it's best to do what you can to help others, to be kind, to treat others as you'd want to be treated.

Everyone feels like the central character in their own story, because we all see things, literally, from a first person point of view. However, there's a huge difference between being the central character and being a hero. Our lives connect with others in many ways, and how we treat them can go a long way in how their own lives go, as well as how those lives connect with others, and on and on and on...

Unconditionally love everyone.

How you feel is how you feel, and what makes you sad makes you sad. Don't let anyone shame you for grieving or rush you, but always be willing to accept love, help, and doing what you can to take the time you need in moving forward. As hard as it is to lose someone or something you love, as long as there is life, there is hope.

We all have worries, stresses, things that seem to constantly eat away at our mind throughout the day. There's no way around having them, but it is possible to learn to handle them better, to seek help, to do your best to think of a "best case" for every "worst case" scenario running through your mind.

We all feel pressure from temptation, but sometimes even moreso from our peers. It's important to remember two things: 1. If/when you mess up or give in, that doesn't end your life. Learn from it and move forward, better than before. 2. Anyone pressuring you to be someone else or do something you're not comfortable doing...they're not you. They won't live your life or deal with what you deal with for consequences. Be you.

Often when we feel doubt, whether it's in our faith, ourselves, or something else entirely, we feel shame or even pull away from whatever it is "until we are better." But in doubt, we have a chance to seek answers, to find our way forward...to listen to and share with others, building something truly special and standing.

No matter what people say, no matter what obstacles you face, don't give up. Have hope and look for the way forward, accepting help along the way.

Everyone get's angry sometimes. The key, though, is understanding why, working on it, taking the time and effort to not bottle things up...and doing our best to move forward in peace with everyone we meet.

The road back is never without opposition or danger or problems...whether they're from our own making or not. When we are recovering from grief, starting a new life, or returning from an exile...the important part is not "being seen as right" or "having things how we want," but instead to love God and love others, to live that out in the way we act, the way we treat others, the way we live.

Often, we are told (or tell others) how, when, and how long to grieve...but it's something that is different for everyone and every situation. More than that, it's an important time to come to terms with yourself, with what you're grieving, and to learn from God.

As much as I wish I could say otherwise, you WILL face tragedies, defeats, failures, and heartache along the way. However, hitting "rock bottom" is not an end, but a chance at a new beginning. It may take time to deal with it, to mourn, to re-plan, but as long as there is life, there is hope.

Even after witnessing so many amazing miracles of God, the Israelites still turned from Him when it became too hard to wait. In our own lives, we often live in an "out of sight, out of mind" way, too...but even when God isn't in our sight, we are in His...completely and totally loved.

We each have a limited amount of time on this earth, but more than that we have a limited amount of time in other people's lives. Since we don't know when either of those "times" are up, we should all do our best to always seek to make a difference FOR GOOD.

We often feel like what others receive (or even have) diminishes what we already have...but that's not the case at all. Instead of focusing so much on the lives of others, focus on how you can be more like Jesus in your own life, helping others to see the way towards heaven.

Forgiveness is a difficult concept for most of us, because we tie it so closely to "forgive and forget" and "you have to earn it." Forgiveness, though, means that you are letting yourself off the hook of holding grudges...beginning the process of healing. It doesn't mean letting people run all over you, just that you are moving forward.

The thing most missing in the world, not just today but throughout time, is often the ability to put ourselves in other people's shoes. It's vital that we treat others as we'd want to be treated, to help those who need it, and to always stand for what's right, regardless of what it means politically.

God loves everyone, regardless of race, belief, sex, etc....everyone. And nothing can ever separate any of us from that love. For those of us who accept it, who believe and follow Jesus, it's vital to show that love to everyone, whether or not we agree with or like them. Love God. Love Othersr.

Simply put, be the change you want to see in the world. (Pretty sure I made that up...so...don't google it)

You will mess up at some point. This isn't an excuse so you can go do whatever you want, but a truth that none of us are perfect. So the question becomes...who are you after you mess up?

A glimpse behind the curtain of my life mixed with some big words and hopefully big ideas.

Being tempted by something does not make you weak or a failure, it makes you human. Learn what your temptations are, learn who you are, and do all you can to be better the next day than you were the day before. Grow, learn, keep trying your best. You are worth it.

The return to possible normalcy...on a slow, step by step basis. Plus, more about my life than you'd ever hoped to find out! Aka something!

The important part of the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den isn't the miracle of the lion's not eating him...it's the strength and courage that he showed in standing up for what he believed, regardless of the consequences. All of us will have moments in our lives where we have to choose to stand or sit, and it is in those times that we begin to learn who we are.

A bad week hopefully leads to a good outpouring of podcasting honesty and advice. You be the judge!

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath, but even in his victorious moment, David had several points when he could have chosen differently or even could have given up. We know the story, though, because he kept moving forward, kept believing, and didn't let those who didn't believe in him stop him. It's hard to do anything when it feels like no one believes in you, but with faith, with preparation, with hope, not even that can stop you.

From a discussion of my morning ritual with Stevie to a random Facebook stroll to the true meaning of negativity and why it's not all bad....these are the days of our lives.

We so often say "be like Jesus," without stopping to think about how to do it. Throughout his life on earth, he was forgiving, merciful, loving, and truthful....regardless of what was going on around him. We are called to do the same.

Getting hacked led me (and by extension you) down a path of money, the things we buy, and who we are.

Being human can be a gift and a curse, all at the same time. On the one hand, we are able to love, forgive, hope...but on the other, we often can give in to anger, greed, even hatred. Through his ministry, but especially in the final days, Jesus shows us the importance of never becoming what you're fighting against...of doing your best to be an example of the good in humanity.

From Stevie's bad week to the meaning of legacy, this week is about what you can do, regardless of how many people know you.

Even as he was suffering through horrible beatings, Jesus showed love for those around him. Even when he was dying on the cross, he showed forgiveness to those around him. Even when he was being verbally assaulted by the same people he was dying for, he showed grace to everyone. On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection, but the best way to celebrate is to live like he did in those moments every day.

Find out how some rambling about different alternate reality fictional works became a talk about having hope for your future...

When Jesus rose from the dead, he could have forced people to listen, to change, to see him. Instead, he met with those who needed to feel his presence and told them to go and teach, to go and be better, to go and love.