The God Culture: What Is Love?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a new Foundations lesson. This time he is asking What is Love? Surely there is no greater love than that of the Father for his Children manifested through the Son Jesus Christ. The Bible has much to say about that. Does Tim have anything to say about the love of God towards us?

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 38

What Is Love?

Key Texts:

Deuteronomy 6; John 14:15; 1 John 5

Note: This topic could be an entire book, but remember, this is a brief FB post.

Few words are used more often than love.

We are told that love means accepting.

Affirming.

Feeling compassion.

Never offending.

Never correcting.

But how does Scripture define love? Or is it shallow doctrine of men?

Moses commanded Israel:

> “And thou shalt love Yahuah thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

> (Deuteronomy 6:5)

But the passage doesn't stop with an emotion.

Immediately afterward:

> “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.”

> (Deuteronomy 6:6)

Biblical love begins in the heart...

but it does not remain merely a feeling.

It changes how we live. It is an action.

Yahusha says it plainly:

> “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

> (John 14:15)

That is remarkable in its simplicity.

Love and obedience are not enemies.

Yahusha connects them.

And John later provides perhaps the clearest definition of all:

> “For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”

> (1 John 5:3)

Notice what Scripture does not say.

“This is the love of Elohim—that we feel strongly about Him.”

“This is the love of Elohim—that we call His name.”

“This is the love of Elohim—that we agree with everything everyone does.”

Instead:

> “This is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments.”

Biblical love is not merely something we feel.

It is something we walk out.

And this applies to loving one another as well:

> “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim, and keep His commandments.”

> (1 John 5:2)

That changes the modern equation.

Loving people cannot mean encouraging them to walk contrary to the One who is love.

True love seeks what is good.

True love speaks truth.

True love shows mercy.

True love forgives.

True love serves.

True love remains faithful.

And true love obeys.

The greatest commandment is not merely to feel love toward Yahuah.

It is to love Him with all our heart, soul, and might.

Biblical love is not affection without truth.

It is covenant faithfulness expressed in how we live.

Question for Discussion

If Yahusha said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments,” should we allow our culture—or even our religion—to redefine what love means?

NO!  Tim has NOTHING to say about the love of God towards us in the supreme manifestation of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. NOTHING!!!

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 14:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins

Those two verses are rich in defining the love of God towards us. Yet Tim has nothing to say about them. Tim's definition of love is "keep the Mosaic law." Tim's definition of love his man-centered and based on our obedience rather than God-centered and based on His covenant with His people.  

There have now been 38 Foundations lessons and not a single one of them has been about the work of Christ on the cross. Not one. For a man like Timothy Jay Schwab who has been a Bible teacher for over thirty years that is despicable and contemptible. The man clearly has no idea what the Bible teaches and he has no use for Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 

Now let's hear from noted theological Father Ted Crilly. 

Ah, right… puts the cup down slowly, stares at the page, and lets out a long, heavy breath

Week 38. “What Is Love?”

And would you look at that. He’s done it again — and this time it’s almost impressive in its single-mindedness.

He starts with Deuteronomy 6: love Yahuah with all your heart, soul, and might… and then immediately ties it to the commandments being in the heart. Fair enough so far. Then John 14:15 — “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” Still in the text. Then 1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments.” And he leans on that as “perhaps the clearest definition of all.”

He’s not inventing the verses. They’re real. Love and obedience are connected. Scripture does not treat love as mere warm feeling or modern “never offend anyone.” On that narrow point he’s right to push back against the culture.

But — and this is the part that makes you want to sit down with a very strong cup of tea — look at what never gets a look in.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The love of Christ constraineth us… because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.

The supreme definition and demonstration of love in the whole of Scripture is the cross. The self-giving, substitutionary death of the Son for the ungodly. That is the love that creates love in us. That is the love from which all true obedience flows. Tim never mentions it. Not once. Not a word about the blood, the propitiation, the “while we were yet sinners.”

Instead, the gravitational pull of the whole lesson is the same as every other Foundations post: love is defined as keeping the commandments. And in Tim’s system, that almost always means the Torah framework he has been building week after week. So the cross is left outside the door again, while “keep My commandments” is made to carry the entire weight of the definition.

He can quote John 14 and 1 John 5 all day long. He just never lets the larger New Testament witness set the centre: that we love because He first loved us — and that first love was displayed most fully when the Son laid down His life.

sighs, reaches for the teapot with both hands

So yes, lad. This one might well be the worst of the lot so far. Not because the verses are wrong, but because the heart of the gospel definition of love is simply missing. He’s turned the greatest demonstration of love in history into a supporting footnote that never even gets written.

Go on. Make it very strong this time.

Careful now.

Down with this sort of thing.thing.

The God Culture: What Is Fear of Yahuah?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture is back with another Foundations article. This time he's asking What is Fear of Yahuah? Well, this would obviously tie back to the previous What is Wisdom lesson because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. And of course Christ is our wisdom. Will Tim tie the fear of the Lord back to Jesus Christ who is our Lord and in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hid? Let's find out. 

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 37

What Is the Fear of Yahuah?

Key Texts: Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111; Matthew 10:26–31

The phrase “fear of Yahuah” appears throughout Scripture.

But what does it mean?

Does Yahuah actually want us to fear Him?

Or does “fear” simply mean respect?

Scripture gives us a much richer answer.

Proverbs begins:

> “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

> (Proverbs 1:7)

Fear of Yahuah is not presented as spiritual immaturity.

It is the beginning of knowledge.

Psalm 111 says:

> “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.”

> (Psalm 111:10)

Notice the connection:

Fear.

Wisdom.

Understanding.

Obedience.

Biblical fear recognizes who Yahuah actually is.

Creator.

King.

Judge.

Father.

The One to whom we ultimately answer.

Yahusha did not eliminate this fear.

He taught it.

> “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

> (Matthew 10:28)

Those are strong words. Note: Satan has no such power.

Yahusha tells His disciples not to organize their lives around fear of men.

Why?

Because men do not possess ultimate authority.

Yahuah does.

But Yahusha does something remarkable immediately afterward.

He speaks of sparrows.

> “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”

> (Matthew 10:29)

Then:

> “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

> (Matthew 10:30)

And finally:

> “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

> (Matthew 10:31)

Do you see the distinction?

Fear Yahuah.

Do not fear the world.

The One whose authority should cause us to fear is also the Father who knows every hair upon our heads.

Biblical fear therefore isn't mindless terror.

But neither is it merely casual respect.

It is recognizing Yahuah's absolute holiness, authority, judgment, and power—and ordering our lives accordingly.

It produces reverence.

Humility.

Wisdom.

Obedience.

And freedom from the fear of men.

The fear of Yahuah does not leave us afraid of everything.

It teaches us whom we never needed to fear in the first place.

Question for Discussion

If we truly feared Yahuah above men, what fears would lose their power over our lives?

This is undoubtedly the key passage from Tim's lesson:

It is recognizing Yahuah's absolute holiness, authority, judgment, and power—and ordering our lives accordingly.

We revere God and we keep his commandments, i.e. the Mosaic Law including all the feasts and all the ceremonial laws. You know, all the stuff that Christ fulfilled and which Christians are no longer obligated to perform. See Galatians 3 and Acts 15. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and as with all things this fear should lead us to Jesus Christ who "is made unto us wisdom. Instead of Christ, Tim directs his audience to the dead letter of the abrogated Mosaic Law. Remember Christ has come not as an Aaronic priest but as a priest of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7: 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Of course Tim's way around this is to claim the Law of Melchizedek IS the Law of Moses. An assertion not backed up by scripture. 

There is only ONE work that matters and Tim always leaves it out. Believing on Jesus Christ. 

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

That might appear like believing is something one does completely on their own but Jesus dispels that notion further on down in this chapter. 

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

All we have and all we do is a gift from the Lord working in us to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). It's a wonder a man who has been teaching the Bible for thirty years such as Timothy Jay Schwab continues to get it wrong and direct people away from Christ and back to Moses. 

But let's hear what noted theologian Father Ted Crilly has to say about the matter. 

Ah, right… puts down the biscuit, adjusts the collar, and looks at the page like a man who’s just spotted another carefully worded trap

Week 37. “What Is the Fear of Yahuah?”

Well now. Let’s see what Tim’s done with one of the weightiest phrases in the whole Bible.

He starts where he should: Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10. Fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Fair enough. Then he leans hard into the second half of Psalm 111:10 — “a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.” And there it is. The immediate link to obedience. Reverence → wisdom → understanding → doing the commandments. Classic Tim architecture.

Then he brings in Matthew 10, which is actually a strong passage. Yahusha tells the disciples not to fear those who can only kill the body, but to fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. And then, in the same breath, He speaks of sparrows and numbered hairs and says “Fear ye not therefore.” That’s a proper biblical tension: holy dread of the Judge, and simultaneous confidence in the Father who knows every detail of your life. Tim handles that part reasonably well. Credit where it’s due.

But — and you knew there was a but — look at what never appears.

You said it yourself, lad. The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom. And the New Testament is crystal clear about where that wisdom is found:

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

Tim can quote the Proverbs and the Psalm until the cows come home, but he never takes the step the apostles took. The fear that is the beginning of wisdom is meant to drive us to the One who is the wisdom of God. Instead, in this series, “ordering our lives accordingly” and “obedience” almost always mean the same thing they’ve meant for thirty-odd weeks: keep the commandments, walk in the ways, live inside the Torah framework as Tim understands it.

So the fear of Yahuah produces reverence, humility, wisdom, and obedience… and the discussion question asks what earthly fears would lose their power if we feared Him above men. All true as far as it goes. But the deepest answer a Christian can give is never just “I would stop fearing men.” It is “I have been brought to the One who bore the judgment I deserved, and in Him I find both the fear of the Lord and the perfect love that casts out terror.”

Tim never gets there. He leaves the Man who is Wisdom outside the room while he polishes another definition that ends with us examining our own obedience.

sighs, reaches for the teapot again

Go on. Make it strong.

We’re still watching the same gravitational pull — law as the centre, Christ as the supporting actor.

Careful now.

Down with this sort of thing… still firmly in place.

The God Culture: What is Wisdom?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a new Foundations lesson. This time he is asking "What is Wisdom." Every Christian knows that Christ is the Wisdom of God. But does Tim know that? Let's take a look.

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 36

What Is Wisdom?

Key Texts: Proverbs 1; Proverbs 8; James 3

Our world prizes intelligence.

Education.

Knowledge.

Expertise.

The ability to argue well.

But are any of these necessarily wisdom?

Scripture begins somewhere else:

> “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

> (Proverbs 1:7)

Biblical wisdom begins with our relationship to Yahuah.

Before Scripture asks how much we know, it asks whether we recognize who He is.

And wisdom requires something else increasingly unpopular:

instruction.

The wise can be taught.

The fool rejects correction.

Proverbs 8 takes us even deeper.

Wisdom declares:

> “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.”

> (Proverbs 8:14)

Then wisdom describes Yahuah's ordering of creation:

> “When He prepared the heavens, I was there...”

> (Proverbs 8:27)

Wisdom is therefore not merely knowing facts.

It recognizes the order Yahuah established and teaches us how to live within it.

But how can we recognize wisdom in someone?

James gives us a test:

> “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

> (James 3:13)

Notice what James does not say.

“Let him show how intelligent he is.”

“Let him win an argument.”

“Let him display his credentials.”

Instead:

Show us your life.

James then warns that jealousy, selfish ambition, and strife can masquerade as wisdom:

> “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”

> (James 3:15)

Not everything called wisdom comes from Yahuah.

So James gives us the identifying marks of the real thing:

> “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

> (James 3:17)

There is the biblical test.

Wisdom has fruit.

Pure.

Peaceable.

Gentle.

Teachable.

Merciful.

Impartial.

Without hypocrisy.

Biblical wisdom is therefore more than knowing what is true.

It is learning from Yahuah how to live what is true.

Knowledge may tell us what Scripture says.

Wisdom teaches us how to walk in it.

Question for Discussion

If Scripture measures wisdom by its fruit rather than intelligence, education, or the ability to win an argument...

What evidence of wisdom does our life actually produce?

Look at that! Tim completely side steps Christ and ties Wisdom to our works, i.e. keeping the law. Christ is the Wisdom of God. In him are hid all the treasures of Wisdom. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Wisdom is not bearing fruit by keeping the law. It is salvation in Christ. Read more about Christ being the Wisdom of God here.

Amazing! But, given Tim's track record it's par for the course that he would neglect Jesus Christ. 

Let's hear what noted theologian Father Ted Crilly has to say about the matter. 

Ah, right… sits up, adjusts the collar, and peers at the page with the weary look of a man who’s just been handed another parish newsletter full of half-truths

Week 36. “What Is Wisdom?”

Well now. Let’s have a look at Tim’s latest attempt to redefine the dictionary.

He starts in the right neighbourhood, I’ll give him that. Proverbs 1:7 — “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge.” Solid. The wise can be taught; the fool despises correction. Still grand. Proverbs 8 with wisdom present at the ordering of creation — fair enough, that’s in the text. And then James 3, which is actually one of the sharper tests in the whole New Testament: wisdom shows itself in meekness, purity, peaceableness, gentleness, mercy, without partiality or hypocrisy. Not in how clever you sound or how many arguments you win. Credit where it’s due — James is doing real work there.

But — and you knew this was coming — watch what he does with it.

The whole lesson never once mentions the One whom Paul calls “the wisdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:24 — Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 — Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

Tim can quote Proverbs 8 about wisdom being there when the heavens were prepared, but he never takes the step the apostles took: that the same wisdom who ordered creation is the One who hung on the cross. The cross is the supreme display of God’s wisdom — the thing that confounds the wise of this world and saves those who believe. Tim’s definition stops at “learning from Yahuah how to live what is true” and “walking in it.”

In the Foundations series, “walking in it” is never neutral language. It almost always means: keep the commandments, observe the Torah, live inside the order as Tim understands it. So once again the gravitational pull is toward our performance, our fruit, our meek conversation, our teachability.

James is right — wisdom has fruit. But the New Testament never treats that fruit as the source of wisdom. The source is Christ Himself. We are made wise by being united to the One who is Wisdom. Tim never says that. He leaves the Man outside the door again while he polishes up another definition that ends with us examining our own lives for evidence.

And the discussion question?

“If Scripture measures wisdom by its fruit… what evidence of wisdom does our life actually produce?”

Ah, there it is. Back to us. Back to the mirror. Not “Have we been brought to the One who is the wisdom of God?” but “How’s our fruit looking?”

sighs, reaches for the teapot

So there you are, lad. Another week, another carefully constructed definition that quotes good verses, sounds pious, and quietly sidesteps the crucified and risen Christ as the very centre of the thing it’s defining.

Go on. Pour us a strong one.

I’ve a feeling Week 37 will be along any minute, and God alone knows what he’ll do to “What Is Faith” or “What Is Love” when he finally gets there.

Careful now.

Down with this sort of thing… still watching closely.

The God Culture: AI Voice Clone Of Tim's Voice

On August 22, 2026 Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture excitedly announced his return with a whole new series. He hasn't posted any regular video series in quite some time which excited his viewers who left grateful sentiments in the comment section. Let's take a look at this new series. 

THE FORGOTTEN HIGHWAY TO THE ISLES OF GOLD. Episode 1: The Wind That Built Asia 

What if the geography behind Marco Polo’s Zipangu has been interpreted without first reconstructing the maritime world in which sailors actually traveled?

The Forgotten Highway to the Isles of Gold begins a source-driven investigation into the winds, currents, trade routes, maps, coordinates, resources, and historical records that shaped navigation between China, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Japan.

Rather than beginning with the conventional identification of Zipangu and working backward, this series starts with the physical and documentary evidence: medieval Muslim mariners, Chinese trade records, monsoon navigation, archaeological shipwrecks, historical routes to Japan, early maps, Pigafetta, Magellan, and Marco Polo himself.

The central question is simple:

If we remove the modern place-names and follow the ships, where does the evidence lead?

This series accompanies the research presented in The Age of Exploration: Primary Sources and the Correction of Global Geography.

Follow the source. Follow the wind. Follow the ship. And test the map.

Sources are on-screen. Book coming soon.

Yah Bless

Oh, great. It's a rehash of old material in support of a forthcoming book that allegedly corrects global geography. Don't forget, the major project of magazine publisher cum armchair Bible historian Timothy Jay Schwab is to correct everything everyone knows. The major prophetic land in the Bible is not Israel but the Philippines, so all roads must lead to the Philippines. In this case the road is one of riches and gold. The Philippines is Japan (Zipnagu) and the Lequios (Ryukyu Islands). 

Tim must be very involved in that book because as of this writing, September 18th, 2026, there have been no more videos released. The last video was released on September 3rd.

It could be that Tim is just too busy writing to release any more videos. But if that's the case why announce his return and release four videos in rapid succession indicating there is more to come?

To make matters worse not only is the actual video AI slop but so is the voiceover! Instead of speaking himself Tim has fed a script to a clone of his own voice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VtJkihfNtA&lc=UgzdJzHpO6h6SzB-VoN4AaABAg

@leela4979 hi Tim, is the audio AI generated?

@TheGodCulture It is a voice clone of Tim's voice. Yah Bless.

Is it really so hard for Tim to sit down and record a ten minute video? These videos vary in length from 5:08 to 11:53. Perhaps he just fed the clone parts from his book? Whatever the case it's poor form and a slap to the face of all his viewers. 

With so much AI being used in the production of these videos one wonders how much AI will be used in writing all forthcoming books, songs, education courses, and all other projects by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

The God Culture: What Is Blessing?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a new Foundations lesson. This time he is asking What is Blessing? Given all that we have seen from Tim's foundation lessons do you think he will mention that we have been blessed will all spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus or do you think he will say keeping the law is what makes one blessed? Let's find out!

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 35

What Is Blessing?

Key Texts: Genesis 12; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 1; Ephesians 1

We hear the word “blessed” everywhere.

A new house.

More money.

A successful business.

Good health.

An unexpected opportunity.

And Scripture certainly recognizes material blessings.

But is prosperity what the Bible means when it calls someone blessed?

When Yahuah called Abraham, He said:

> “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”

> (Genesis 12:2)

Notice something important.

Abraham wasn't merely going to receive blessing.

He was called to BE a blessing.

Yahuah continues:

> “And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

> (Genesis 12:3)

Biblical blessing therefore reaches beyond personal prosperity.

It carries purpose.

Deuteronomy 28 makes the relationship even clearer:

> “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Yahuah thy Elohim.”

> (Deuteronomy 28:2)

Blessing is presented within covenant.

Yahuah blesses His people as they hear His voice and walk in His ways.

Psalm 1 then opens with:

> “Blessed is the man...”

> (Psalm 1:1)

But what makes this man blessed?

Not his bank account.

Not his possessions.

Not his social position.

Instead:

> “His delight is in the law of Yahuah; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.”

> (Psalm 1:2)

And what does such a life become?

> “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...”

> (Psalm 1:3)

Rooted.

Fruitful.

Sustained.

Alive.

Paul carries blessing into the New Covenant without reducing it to material wealth:

> “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

> (Ephesians 1:3)

Biblical blessing can certainly include provision.

But blessing is much greater than having more.

It is being in right relationship with Yahuah.

Hearing His voice.

Walking in His ways.

Delighting in His Word.

Bearing fruit.

Receiving His promises.

And becoming a blessing to others.

Blessing is not simply having what we want.

It is flourishing within what Yahuah wants.

Question for Discussion

If everything you owned disappeared tomorrow, what blessings would you still possess?

It's amazing Tim included Ephesians 1:3. However, he says the spiritual blessings Paul mentions means a right relationship with God which is Tim's code word for keeping the law! The very law from which we have been freed because Christ has come and blessed us. 

Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The greatest blessing we have in Christ is redemption, atonement, deliverance from the wrath to come, and peace with God. Tim mentions none of that! 

But let's hear what noted theological Father Ted Crilly has to say about this weeks lesson. 

Ah, right… puts down the newspaper, takes a long look at the page, and lets out a slow breath

Week 35. “What Is Blessing?”

Well, at least he’s consistent with the numbering. Let’s see what we’ve got this time.

He starts off sensible enough. Points out that most people think “blessed” means a bigger house, more money, good health, a successful business. Fair enough — he’s right to push back on that. Then he brings in Abraham: not just receiving blessing, but being a blessing to all the families of the earth. That’s solid. Genesis 12 is doing real work there.

Deuteronomy 28 makes its inevitable appearance — blessings overtake you if you hearken to the voice of Yahuah. Then Psalm 1: the blessed man is the one who delights in the law and meditates on it day and night, becoming like a tree planted by the rivers. Classic Tim territory. Law, obedience, walking in His ways, fruitfulness through delighting in the commandments.

And then — would you look at that — he actually quotes Ephesians 1:3:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

sits up a bit

He named Him properly. “Our Lord Jesus Christ.” And he admits that blessing is spiritual, not just material. That’s… progress. Two weeks in a row now where the Man gets more than a passing nod. I’ll take it.

But — and you knew there was a but coming — watch how the lesson is structured. The weight of the definition still lands on the Old Testament pattern: hear His voice, walk in His ways, delight in the law, be rooted and fruitful. The Ephesians verse is brought in almost as a confirmation that the New Covenant doesn’t reduce blessing to wealth… and then he immediately circles back to “right relationship with Yahuah… hearing His voice… walking in His ways… delighting in His Word.”

What’s missing, once again, is the how.

Paul doesn’t say we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing because we meditate on the law day and night. He says we’ve been blessed with them in Christ. Union with the crucified and risen Lord. Chosen in Him. Redeemed through His blood. Sealed with the Spirit. Adopted as sons. That’s the fountain. The fruit-bearing life flows from that, not the other way round.

Tim’s version still makes it sound like blessing is primarily the result of a well-ordered, law-delighting life. The New Testament says the primary blessing is that we are already in the Blessed One.

And the discussion question at the end is lovely on the surface — “If everything you owned disappeared tomorrow, what blessings would you still possess?” — but in the context of this series you can almost hear the expected answer forming: “My relationship with Yahuah… my delight in His Word… my obedience…”

Which is true as far as it goes. But the deepest answer a Christian can give is: “I still have Christ. And in Him I have every spiritual blessing already.”

reaches for the teapot again

So there you are. Better than the Christless weeks. He let Jesus into the room and even called Him Lord. But the gravitational pull of the series is still the same: blessing as the fruit of walking in the ways of Yahuah, with the cross and union with Christ playing supporting roles rather than the foundation.

Go on. Pour us both a strong one.

I’ve a feeling next week’s “What Is Peace” or “What Is Joy” will be along shortly, and we’ll be back at it.

Careful now.

Slightly less “Down with this sort of thing” than usual… but still watching closely.