Beautifully written defense of the faith. My heart weeps at the stories you told, “by faith, by faith, by faith…of whom the world was not worthy…. Therefore let us also run with patience the race that is set before us.” God bless you Karen.
Warrior guided by Christ's teaching are the most likely group to stop word dominion by Satanists pretending to be government. That is why they created the Noahide Laws to make Christianity a death sentence. They are already in the books in the West, just not acted upon yet. Wake up.
Karen, this is profound and original and cuts to the core of truth: “The very fact that our greatest obsession since the beginning of recorded time is to become gods, to somehow overcome death and live forever, is proof in itself that there is a God that created us, and we are trying to take his place. And yet, in our hearts we yearn for our Creator. We feel empty inside without him, and we do all we can to fill that void with distractions.”.
Karen, POWERFUL TRUTH! 🙏🙌💕Thank you for being God’s willing vessel and using the unique and wonderful talents (and secular forum here on Substack) He has given you to widely share the truth and strength of the Gospel. Many will read here of formerly unheard truth…that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the ONLY WAY to relationship with God the Father, and that His Spirit is at work in this world and is the only way we can fight the evil that surrounds and envelops us all. ✝️
Your ability to so clearly illustrate, explain, and support TRUTH is certainly “God-breathed” and revealed…He is using you mightily, I (and many others here) believe. JESUS IS THE ANSWER. 🙌
Thank you for being FAITHFUL, fellow sister in Christ. We pray many more will become true Followers of Christ…before it’s too late. 🙏
P. S. I can’t help but think that God must be saying to your dear father (and mother if she has passed on as well), “Look what your faithfulness to me has brought about in your daughter, Karen.” Such joy that would bring to their hearts…and to the heart of Father God, the GREAT I AM. 🙌
Your essay really touched my heart and my soul. I have struggled for many years to find faith and understand faith. I have read many parts of the Bible, mostly in the New Testament, although through Sunday school and readings of biblical stories I am more familiar with the stories of the Old Testament than most people I know. Your simplicity in saying that being a Christian is really simply by following Jesus Christ may finally ease my struggle. As I studied Christianity's evolution and compared to the teachings of Christ, I always did find it to be so very hypocritical that while Jesus lived a simple life Christian religions seemed to have really lost that message. Jesus even derided the Jewish pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin for their focus on ritual, pomp and ceremony rather than simply faith in God. Jesus reaction to the market where they are selling animals and such for ritual sacrifice is very powerful in that the message is clear, rituals like this do not sincerely embody faith and love in God, but are a facade. And I think it is that sort of thing about most churches and the Catholic church in particular, with all its riches, rules and rituals. And you're so very right about the Popes and the false claims around being the Vicars of Christ. The claim that this makes them infallible. Which is strange, because if they are emulating Peter -- the rock upon which Jesus founded his church -- if you read the New Testament we know that Peter was far from perfect --- because he was a man -- not God. I am rambling, but suffice it to say that your simple message that being a Christian has little to do with being a member of a religion or church, but rather by following and loving Christ -- and building that personal relationship with him. That is something I have always felt to be the truth. I still struggle, but I am moving closer to understanding how to become such a follower.
This really touches my heart. I was busy writing another essay so I couldn't respond earlier. I pray God leads you in your spiritual journey. Many blessings.
Aug 31·edited Aug 31Liked by Karen Hunt aka KH Mezek
Wow great article from your heart quite obviously.....the reason men find it so easy to have faith in The Big Bang Theory for example is that you don't have to admit you're a sinner to be saved by that belief system.... on the other hand we need to come to the Lord on His terms and that includes admitting that we're sinners in need of a savior, saved by grace through faith in His ultimate sacrifice and the shedding of His innocent Blood on the cross of calvary...only until then can you be born again and saved from eternal separation from a good and loving God who gave His son to die for us so that we may live forever....John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4....maranatha!!
Your passion for moral goodness is undeniable and I too am swayed deeply by the atrocities individuals carve out in the name of God. It's why I invested time delving into Sam Harris' work.
His ethos supports a moral landscape, the same moral landscape that Jesus preached. Disheartened over the gross inadequacy of moral law in religious doctrines, Harris' activism is designed to raise awareness toward the abolition of rituals, dogma, and barbaric dictates influencing social governance. An imperative I whole heartedly support when the fundamental agenda within organised religion is to war against another for ultimate control with no remorse for casualties.
You might be surprised to learn that Harris has to contend frequently with death threats. He fearlessly supports individuals that have escaped orthodox religion to bring truth to the matter. For example, Yasmine Mohammed, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Film-maker Theo van Gogh was murdered for directing Ali's film, Submission.
Scientists that are genuinely invested in a moral landscape have a lot in common with faith believers. Desiring goodwill for humanity above all else, they have faith in the human spirit. Their methods for finding supportive formulas are different - studying human consciousness and heart-centred intuitions that touch the divine - but not necessarily at odds.
We may differ on approaches, but the underlying motive is compatible. And that's important when unity, not division in the fight for moral goodness, is at stake.
I have the greatest respect for Sam Harris. I'm on the same page when it comes to Islamic extremism. Sadly, death threats come with the territory. I also have great respect for Ayaan Hirsi Ali, loved her book, also Yasmine Mohammed. I will be on Yasmine's podcast November 1st and will remind my readers about it then. God bless.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (CSB) 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world -- what is viewed as nothing -- to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.
I dunno much 'bout Sam Harris 'cept I recall that when the stats came out that more folks were harmed by the jabs than the unjabbed he had a public "you were right" angry rant / hissy fit at all us unjabbed ta say we were "right" but just by "luck" (sour grapes!)--ignorin' that it wuz not luck--ruther many've us KNEW by readin' research, lookin' at past "studies" an' more.
So my impression wuz that this wuz a guy with a mega ego who wuz bitter ta admit he wuz wrong an'....I kinda didn't have time fer that kinda "pun-dit".... BUT....
If even usin' his wrong-headed an' somewhat snide arguments as a springboard, yer words shine an' so somethin' good came from his piece in spite of "himself!"
The chewish faith (mine) differs in various ways from the Christian one (upon which the latter wuz founded tho' today many disagree....it's important fer 'em all ta say no joos exist...sure, ok).... but if we "pretend" we joos are "real" (like in Peter Pan where ya have ta believe in Tinkerbelle lol!) then I'll dare ta write that some highlights of yer own writin' stand out as bein' very consistent with my own faith an' jewish learnin' from the git-go an' I think they are worth repeatin'! --
1.first, so true that ya don't need a mouthpiece ta speak ta yer creator--no Popes in gold (hope I don't offend either), no "priests" with a special pipeline... judaism sez the same--rabbis are just leaders but they are only human an' it's each of US--each DIVINELY created human "bean" that kin speak directly ta God--no special credentials needed! no fawncy outfits--just US... (not even a temple tho I think many find comfort ta worship in a group)
2. we are loved by God even WITH our imperfections--that's our humanity--but "the big 10" are there as essential guides--the bible (fer us the Torah) too--so those that dismiss the foundational documents as only fairy tales (cuz even those that question or don't believe would do well ta read these "documents") -- are missin' out on beautiful an' important life-lessons--an' tales of humans who stumbled an' then learned an' achieved an' atoned fer their "sins" or wrongs an'--as only we humans can do!--improved ourselfs an' our lot...MADE things RIGHT--what a POWER that is!
3. that there is ORDER--I always found The Big Bang theory a hoot! Right, like that makes any sense?! I don't have the answers--I don't know what's allegory an' what really happened (not that it matters that much anyway!)--but what I do know is that our world was set out in order, logically, in perfection--look at any leaf, any creature, this was never random so how kin even atheists believe that? (I've always canted unconventional in HOW I believed but I always knew what made sense an' what didn't no matter who it came from!)
I'm so grateful ta know about Richard Wumrbrand (had no idear he started out chewish either)--to have met great men--an' to have had such an extraordinary father as ya did--is worth its weight in gold--the kinda gold money cain't buy! Wisdom has no price an' the examples set by others--stickin' ta their values--also priceless.
This is a beautiful life lesson an' one about faith that's sorely needed now--no matter how formally or informally faithful one is--I'm grateful!
One last thing tho--Newton was not "for sure" the man he seemed ta be--he may've plagiarized theories an' been an agent of some less than stellar forces of the Crown-- Matthew Ehret gives some interestin' history to it--I take it all in--just sharin' fwiw as it's fascinatin' stuff!
Beautifully said! About Isaac Newton, I thought of debunking him a bit but it seemed it would detract from everything else, so I left it alone, but thanks for pointing that out. He also had some very strange ideas about Christianity.
(shucks/ thanks!) so much we're learnin' these days--the "experts" are not what they seemed, ditto fer our "heroes" an' leaders-- didn't know that Newton even spoke 'bout faith--in school we left him with the Apple fallin' on his Head! Some even say Newton over-emphasized gravity per instructions; it's really electric forces far more than gravity (as we are the bodies electric!) an' it's said that the gravity agenda minimizes our own divine light & power (which is interestin' too as I heard a lecture online from a fella that believes that how God appears to us is as pure light an' pure electric energy which is why some feel things or they cannot "see"...an' yet it also feels like this presence.) I'm totally fascinated with the concept! (which also replaces the big bang malarkey quite easily--as both light an' electricity have very specific patterns includin' that of life itself!) all cool stuff!
I agree that Sam Harris got it mostly wrong when it comes to spirituality. I agree that most Christians got it wrong when they sign up to religious doctrine and rituals. Only Jesus is worth following and listening to.
The Bible itself is a problematic book for me, however, because I dont think it is always a true and accurate collection of what Jesus taught. Too many authors that never met Jesus meddled with it. Hence the immense contradictions. Anyway, I don't want to quibble about it. The most important quote for me in the Bible is: "The kingdom of heaven is within you.". I would be interested if and what that means to you. What is the kingdom of heaven but an expression of the union with God? Do you agree?
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
I won't get into the whole chapter but I believe this part is talking about how we shouldn't be waiting for some future kingdom or some future event. Jesus lives within us, is with us now, if we invite him to be, of course.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.
Beautifully written defense of the faith. My heart weeps at the stories you told, “by faith, by faith, by faith…of whom the world was not worthy…. Therefore let us also run with patience the race that is set before us.” God bless you Karen.
Amen.
Warrior guided by Christ's teaching are the most likely group to stop word dominion by Satanists pretending to be government. That is why they created the Noahide Laws to make Christianity a death sentence. They are already in the books in the West, just not acted upon yet. Wake up.
Karen, this is profound and original and cuts to the core of truth: “The very fact that our greatest obsession since the beginning of recorded time is to become gods, to somehow overcome death and live forever, is proof in itself that there is a God that created us, and we are trying to take his place. And yet, in our hearts we yearn for our Creator. We feel empty inside without him, and we do all we can to fill that void with distractions.”.
Thank you so much. And thank you always for your encouragement. God bless you.
I am very touched by this column, and I am sharing it.
🙏
I wish modern “scientists” were as open-minded as Sir Isaac Newton!
There are some. But yes, it is a problem.
Karen, POWERFUL TRUTH! 🙏🙌💕Thank you for being God’s willing vessel and using the unique and wonderful talents (and secular forum here on Substack) He has given you to widely share the truth and strength of the Gospel. Many will read here of formerly unheard truth…that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the ONLY WAY to relationship with God the Father, and that His Spirit is at work in this world and is the only way we can fight the evil that surrounds and envelops us all. ✝️
Your ability to so clearly illustrate, explain, and support TRUTH is certainly “God-breathed” and revealed…He is using you mightily, I (and many others here) believe. JESUS IS THE ANSWER. 🙌
Thank you for being FAITHFUL, fellow sister in Christ. We pray many more will become true Followers of Christ…before it’s too late. 🙏
P. S. I can’t help but think that God must be saying to your dear father (and mother if she has passed on as well), “Look what your faithfulness to me has brought about in your daughter, Karen.” Such joy that would bring to their hearts…and to the heart of Father God, the GREAT I AM. 🙌
That brought tears to my eyes.thabk you.
My mom passed away about 6 months after my dad. So they are both looking down on me! ❤️
Thank you so much, Karen. To read it first thing this morning fed my soul! God bless you! 🙌🏻
🌷
Bravo!!! “It requires far more faith to think that this world came into existence by chance than to believe it was made by design.”
Your essay really touched my heart and my soul. I have struggled for many years to find faith and understand faith. I have read many parts of the Bible, mostly in the New Testament, although through Sunday school and readings of biblical stories I am more familiar with the stories of the Old Testament than most people I know. Your simplicity in saying that being a Christian is really simply by following Jesus Christ may finally ease my struggle. As I studied Christianity's evolution and compared to the teachings of Christ, I always did find it to be so very hypocritical that while Jesus lived a simple life Christian religions seemed to have really lost that message. Jesus even derided the Jewish pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin for their focus on ritual, pomp and ceremony rather than simply faith in God. Jesus reaction to the market where they are selling animals and such for ritual sacrifice is very powerful in that the message is clear, rituals like this do not sincerely embody faith and love in God, but are a facade. And I think it is that sort of thing about most churches and the Catholic church in particular, with all its riches, rules and rituals. And you're so very right about the Popes and the false claims around being the Vicars of Christ. The claim that this makes them infallible. Which is strange, because if they are emulating Peter -- the rock upon which Jesus founded his church -- if you read the New Testament we know that Peter was far from perfect --- because he was a man -- not God. I am rambling, but suffice it to say that your simple message that being a Christian has little to do with being a member of a religion or church, but rather by following and loving Christ -- and building that personal relationship with him. That is something I have always felt to be the truth. I still struggle, but I am moving closer to understanding how to become such a follower.
This really touches my heart. I was busy writing another essay so I couldn't respond earlier. I pray God leads you in your spiritual journey. Many blessings.
I must say in my old age, the hearing and singing of a hymn, long heard and long sung, through the years since my tender youth, renders me to tears.
Me, too.
Even Hamlet in his despair has self-awareness to acknowledge his current inability to appreciate all of God’s creations - Earth, Firmament, and Man
“… I have of late--but
Wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
Custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
With my disposition that this goodly frame, the
Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
Excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
O'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
With golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
Me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
How infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
Express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
In apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
World! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
What is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
Me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
You seem to say so.” Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2
Wonderful quote!
Wow great article from your heart quite obviously.....the reason men find it so easy to have faith in The Big Bang Theory for example is that you don't have to admit you're a sinner to be saved by that belief system.... on the other hand we need to come to the Lord on His terms and that includes admitting that we're sinners in need of a savior, saved by grace through faith in His ultimate sacrifice and the shedding of His innocent Blood on the cross of calvary...only until then can you be born again and saved from eternal separation from a good and loving God who gave His son to die for us so that we may live forever....John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4....maranatha!!
Maranatha my friend!
Your passion for moral goodness is undeniable and I too am swayed deeply by the atrocities individuals carve out in the name of God. It's why I invested time delving into Sam Harris' work.
His ethos supports a moral landscape, the same moral landscape that Jesus preached. Disheartened over the gross inadequacy of moral law in religious doctrines, Harris' activism is designed to raise awareness toward the abolition of rituals, dogma, and barbaric dictates influencing social governance. An imperative I whole heartedly support when the fundamental agenda within organised religion is to war against another for ultimate control with no remorse for casualties.
You might be surprised to learn that Harris has to contend frequently with death threats. He fearlessly supports individuals that have escaped orthodox religion to bring truth to the matter. For example, Yasmine Mohammed, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Film-maker Theo van Gogh was murdered for directing Ali's film, Submission.
Scientists that are genuinely invested in a moral landscape have a lot in common with faith believers. Desiring goodwill for humanity above all else, they have faith in the human spirit. Their methods for finding supportive formulas are different - studying human consciousness and heart-centred intuitions that touch the divine - but not necessarily at odds.
We may differ on approaches, but the underlying motive is compatible. And that's important when unity, not division in the fight for moral goodness, is at stake.
I have the greatest respect for Sam Harris. I'm on the same page when it comes to Islamic extremism. Sadly, death threats come with the territory. I also have great respect for Ayaan Hirsi Ali, loved her book, also Yasmine Mohammed. I will be on Yasmine's podcast November 1st and will remind my readers about it then. God bless.
Wonderful. I'll look forward to it. Thank you.
Thorough is an understatement. Karen, you are a powerful writer and apologist.
Thank you so much. God bless.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (CSB) 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world -- what is viewed as nothing -- to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.
I dunno much 'bout Sam Harris 'cept I recall that when the stats came out that more folks were harmed by the jabs than the unjabbed he had a public "you were right" angry rant / hissy fit at all us unjabbed ta say we were "right" but just by "luck" (sour grapes!)--ignorin' that it wuz not luck--ruther many've us KNEW by readin' research, lookin' at past "studies" an' more.
So my impression wuz that this wuz a guy with a mega ego who wuz bitter ta admit he wuz wrong an'....I kinda didn't have time fer that kinda "pun-dit".... BUT....
If even usin' his wrong-headed an' somewhat snide arguments as a springboard, yer words shine an' so somethin' good came from his piece in spite of "himself!"
The chewish faith (mine) differs in various ways from the Christian one (upon which the latter wuz founded tho' today many disagree....it's important fer 'em all ta say no joos exist...sure, ok).... but if we "pretend" we joos are "real" (like in Peter Pan where ya have ta believe in Tinkerbelle lol!) then I'll dare ta write that some highlights of yer own writin' stand out as bein' very consistent with my own faith an' jewish learnin' from the git-go an' I think they are worth repeatin'! --
1.first, so true that ya don't need a mouthpiece ta speak ta yer creator--no Popes in gold (hope I don't offend either), no "priests" with a special pipeline... judaism sez the same--rabbis are just leaders but they are only human an' it's each of US--each DIVINELY created human "bean" that kin speak directly ta God--no special credentials needed! no fawncy outfits--just US... (not even a temple tho I think many find comfort ta worship in a group)
2. we are loved by God even WITH our imperfections--that's our humanity--but "the big 10" are there as essential guides--the bible (fer us the Torah) too--so those that dismiss the foundational documents as only fairy tales (cuz even those that question or don't believe would do well ta read these "documents") -- are missin' out on beautiful an' important life-lessons--an' tales of humans who stumbled an' then learned an' achieved an' atoned fer their "sins" or wrongs an'--as only we humans can do!--improved ourselfs an' our lot...MADE things RIGHT--what a POWER that is!
3. that there is ORDER--I always found The Big Bang theory a hoot! Right, like that makes any sense?! I don't have the answers--I don't know what's allegory an' what really happened (not that it matters that much anyway!)--but what I do know is that our world was set out in order, logically, in perfection--look at any leaf, any creature, this was never random so how kin even atheists believe that? (I've always canted unconventional in HOW I believed but I always knew what made sense an' what didn't no matter who it came from!)
I'm so grateful ta know about Richard Wumrbrand (had no idear he started out chewish either)--to have met great men--an' to have had such an extraordinary father as ya did--is worth its weight in gold--the kinda gold money cain't buy! Wisdom has no price an' the examples set by others--stickin' ta their values--also priceless.
This is a beautiful life lesson an' one about faith that's sorely needed now--no matter how formally or informally faithful one is--I'm grateful!
One last thing tho--Newton was not "for sure" the man he seemed ta be--he may've plagiarized theories an' been an agent of some less than stellar forces of the Crown-- Matthew Ehret gives some interestin' history to it--I take it all in--just sharin' fwiw as it's fascinatin' stuff!
https://matthewehret.substack.com/p/does-life-or-death-govern-the-universe-188?
https://matthewehret.substack.com/p/the-occult-nikola-tesla-part-1
blessin's yer way Karen--a beautiful piece!
Beautifully said! About Isaac Newton, I thought of debunking him a bit but it seemed it would detract from everything else, so I left it alone, but thanks for pointing that out. He also had some very strange ideas about Christianity.
(shucks/ thanks!) so much we're learnin' these days--the "experts" are not what they seemed, ditto fer our "heroes" an' leaders-- didn't know that Newton even spoke 'bout faith--in school we left him with the Apple fallin' on his Head! Some even say Newton over-emphasized gravity per instructions; it's really electric forces far more than gravity (as we are the bodies electric!) an' it's said that the gravity agenda minimizes our own divine light & power (which is interestin' too as I heard a lecture online from a fella that believes that how God appears to us is as pure light an' pure electric energy which is why some feel things or they cannot "see"...an' yet it also feels like this presence.) I'm totally fascinated with the concept! (which also replaces the big bang malarkey quite easily--as both light an' electricity have very specific patterns includin' that of life itself!) all cool stuff!
I agree that Sam Harris got it mostly wrong when it comes to spirituality. I agree that most Christians got it wrong when they sign up to religious doctrine and rituals. Only Jesus is worth following and listening to.
The Bible itself is a problematic book for me, however, because I dont think it is always a true and accurate collection of what Jesus taught. Too many authors that never met Jesus meddled with it. Hence the immense contradictions. Anyway, I don't want to quibble about it. The most important quote for me in the Bible is: "The kingdom of heaven is within you.". I would be interested if and what that means to you. What is the kingdom of heaven but an expression of the union with God? Do you agree?
I believe you must be talking about Luke 17:21:
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
I won't get into the whole chapter but I believe this part is talking about how we shouldn't be waiting for some future kingdom or some future event. Jesus lives within us, is with us now, if we invite him to be, of course.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.