Someone told me this when I was 16: “All you have to do to be saved from hell is believe in Jesus and say this silent prayer.”

It sounded too good to be true, and I thought, “Surely, there must be more to a relationship with God.”

Now I can tell you that rescue from hell is possible only through an active, two-way relationship (covenant) with him that we need to foster… do our part… until we die or the world ends.

But this isn’t what many Protestants believe.

In Part One of this series, I defined salvation as both a rescue from God’s future wrath (will be saved) and the process of being made whole (being saved). I also noted that salvation involves two main parts: Entering a relationship with God and remaining in that relationship.

Here, I will expand on these points and explain their elements.

Covenant

Enter a relationship (covenant) with God. Some believe that everyone is on the fast track to hell unless God occasionally rescues someone. Others teach that everyone will be saved.

The truth: Anyone can choose salvation, but not everyone will … or stay if they do.

• Who: “God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

• Why: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2).

• How: Entry into the relationship, like a marriage, requires experience, decision and devotion: “He came as a witness, to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him” (John 1:7; 20:31) and, “Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved …” (Romans 10:9-10).

Stay

Stay in the relationship. Honor God, be charitable to people and abide (stay):

• Honor God with all you are and have (Matthew 22:34-40).

• Be charitable (love others through a fruitful faith). “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share …” (1 Timothy 6:18). Otherwise, “Faith, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:17).

• Persevere. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. … If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away … and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (Matthew 24:13, John 15:6).

Summary

Partner with God for transformation, rescue and eternal life by devoting yourself fully to him and remaining in the relationship.

What’s next? Many Christians view their connection to a heavenly father (which should be a covenant) as a onesided affair with a lovesick God. So we’ll work to better understand it. Meanwhile, honor God, be charitable, love justice and mercy, and focus on purity and spiritual growth.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

Railways bring opportunity and challenges

In 1876 the International-Great Northern Railroad steamed into Williamson County and established depots not far from Austin that would become the cities of Taylor and Hutto.

Now, 150 years later, both municipalities are commemorating the importance of the railroad in 2026 with sesquicentennial celebrations.

Yet at the same, the railroads that created an economic boon for east Wilco in the 19th century — while still vital — pose plenty of challenges for the fast-growing county in the 21st century as the population expands, roads are built to accommodate more autos and new industries locate to the region, officials said.

“We as citizens can complain about blocking the crossings or the long permitting and approval processes, but we also know that trying to get any changes made from (Union Pacific Railroad) is a battle … Don’t expect to win the fight,” said Scott Murrah, an engineer whose local projects have faced delays from Union Pacific.

Union Pacific officials declined to comment directly for the story, but did send this response: “Communities developing projects on or near Union Pacific right of way can start the process by reaching out to our public projects team on our website, where you can find detailed information on how the process works.”

The railroad provided this link: www.up.com/communities/ public-projects.

According to local historians, without the railroad Hutto, Taylor and many other Central Texas towns might not exist.

“We had several pioneer families around here and about all they could do was survive. But when the railroad came it meant you could be a farmer and you could grow something like cotton and get it to market,” said Don Doss, a member of the Williamson County Historic Commission.

Doss added, “That made it possible for a lot of people to make money and raise a family and build a house and that was very viable for a long time.”

The railroad connected Williamson County to the rest of the United States and the Port of Houston, igniting a boom in the cotton industry. In the early 1900s, Doss said, the county was the secondlargest producer of cotton in Texas and the state was the largest producer of cotton in the world.

Houston shipped more cotton than any other port on the planet.

“Without the railroads, Williamson County could have been like a lot of the counties you see now in East Texas where they only have small rural towns and no real industrial growth ... at least until Austin grew up,” Doss said.

A mixed blessing

In the 21st century, the tracks are now owned and operated by Union Pacific. BNSF Railway has trackage rights on the UP rails through the area. There is also an Amtrak stop in Taylor for passenger transport.

Cotton is no longer the economic driver for east Williamson County, but freight trains still run the rails through the cities that were once stations. While the towns when they formed relied on the railroad for survival, in 2026 the rails are a mixed blessing for the growing communities, according to some local leaders.

Some economic advantages

While railroads may cause issues with development, in other cases they give small cities special economic advantages, officials said.

The RCR Taylor Logistics Park at 79 and FM 3349 is a rail yard served by both UP and BNSR. It is situated with easy access to Samsung Austin Semiconductor and industrial sites in both Taylor and Hutto. It is also a main shipping hub for Tesla, which has leased a facility within the park for transporting its Model Y vehicles and Cybertrucks.

Officials with the Taylor Economic Development Corp. consider the facility to be a strategic asset.

“As the only rail-served port facility in Central Texas, Taylor is uniquely positioned to attract and support a diverse range of industries that rely on rail for the efficient movement of raw materials and finished goods,” said Ben White, CEO/President of the EDC. “This competitive advantage enhances our ability to recruit manufacturers, logistics providers and distribution operations that depend on reliable freight rail service— bringing quality jobs and (an) expanded tax base to our community.”

White says the Amtrak station in Taylor adds to the city’s options, allowing the town to leverage both freight- and passenger- rail assets for industry and community development.

Railroads and a traveling exhibit Taylor will celebrate its rail-based history during its sesquicentennial year with a visit from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit – “Spark! Places of Innovation.”

The traveling exhibit will be in town from Aug. 15 to Sept. 27.

Taylor is the only city in Williamson County to host the showcase this year.

The event was created to explore “the unique combination of places, people, and circumstances that sparks innovation in invention” in rural communities, according to organizers.

“Taylor’s addition to the exhibit will highlight the region’s close ties to the railroad, cotton and incoming tech industry – along with local art, stories and historic vehicles,” said Taylor Special Events Coordinator Ruby Fisher. “Our hope is that folks leave the exhibit with the story of Taylor.”

More details are pending.

“

For small cities like Granger, the (Union Pacific Railroad) is the 800pound gorilla that the city has to live with.”

— Scott Murrah

The facility on 1,200 acres at the edge of Taylor expects to have about 1,500 permanent employees there by the end of 2026, but has several hundred, many from the Austin campus, transitioning to the new fab site.

“Samsung’s project in Taylor plans to be operational by the end of year,” said Michele Glaze, a spokeswoman for Samsung Electronics, in a written statement.

Officials indicated this is good news for the city and the region after two delays.

The company initially planned for a late 2024 opening. In April 2025, Samsung officials told the Taylor Press the new target would be end of 2026.

In the interim, Taylor city staff and the City Council renegotiated terms of the tax abatements and incentives agreements with the new target in mind.

“A key step in our progress is transitioning employees responsible for fabrication engineering, infrastructure and support operations from our Austin campus into the Taylor Office Building starting in November of last year. By the end of the year, we anticipate our Taylor head count will be 1,500,” Glaze said.

Samsung established its original Austin facility in 1996.

The Taylor site is expected to eventually ramp up to at least 1,800 employees.

Depending on the outlook for advanced semiconductor sales in the future, the South Korean company could spend another $27 billion in the next 20 years to build additional fab units in Taylor and on 600 acres of available land.

The $17 billion Taylor project still stands as the largest single investment by a foreign company in Texas.

The market for semiconductors softened somewhat since construction began in 2022, but Austin-based Tesla struck a deal with the chipmaker last year to be a major client for a new generation of chips for Tesla electronic vehicles in a contract that goes into 2033. According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, that deal is worth at least $16.5 billion and he has vowed to participate in the process.

In addition to company investment and a reduction in property taxes from the city, Williamson County and the Taylor Independent School District, the Samsung project also received a federal CHIPS Act grant worth more than $4 billion and another $250 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund run by the Governor’s Office.

Suppliers of materials, components and services to the semiconductor industry are now flocking to Taylor, Hutto and neighboring cities and the companies are expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area.

“Are you saved, brother?” two guys asked me for several days about 40 years ago.

I initially replied, “Yep.”

Finally, I responded, “I was saved the first time you asked me, and I’m still saved.”

What does salvation mean, and how do we attain it? We’ll explore this in a two-part series.

Salvation defined In biblical Greek, salvation means to rescue, protect or restore. The specific meaning varies based on the context, and the Bible often describes salvation as a future rescue from God’s end-of-the-world wrath: “... For a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Meanwhile, we are “being” saved— being made whole (1 Corinthians 1:18). Salvation relies on choosing, engaging in and maintaining a healthy relationship with God. Therefore, rescue from God’s wrath requires free-will decision and action, as the Bible teaches and the earliest church affirmed.

The parts of salvation

Ancient church fathers (and the Bible) taught salvation has two parts: Entering a relationship with God and staying in that relationship.

Entry requires a decision and dedication (John 1:7 and 20:31; Romans 10:9-10). Staying requires obeying God’s commands to honor him and to love others charitably doing good works (James 2:1426; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; Hebrews 10:24; Revelation 20:13).

As a result, apostles and early church fathers emphasized that belief and action go hand in hand: “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:17 & 24).

Staying also requires perseverance: “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. … If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (Matthew 24:13; John 15:6). So, who is called by God to believe, devote and persevere?

Who

God wants everyone to have a relationship with him (1 Timothy 2:4). So, Jesus died to pay the penalty for humanity’s rebellion (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2). The reality is, though, that not everyone will follow the narrow path to salvation.

The path to salvation

Contrary to popular beliefs, faith alone, silent prayers or fruitless faith will not save you. Instead, the Bible teaches the way to eternal life follows this basic approach: Experience and decide, devote yourself to God, honor him, be charitable to people and stay in the relationship.

Dissecting and explaining these steps will be the focus of Part Two.

Summary

Salvation involves being rescued from God’s wrath and experiencing a present transformation. Building and maintaining a relationship with God is essential to navigating these life-changing events. Next time, I will discuss the elements of the pathway that lead to new life and rescue from God’s wrath.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

Many Christians live at a spiritual extreme that could hinder God’s partnership with those he seeks. Some believe Christians only need to accept Jesus as their savior and confess their sins. This dangerous mindset, common among many Western evangelical Christians, can lead to spiritual complacency and contradicts the commands of Father and Son to honor, grow, love and obey.

How did this occur?

It has developed over decades through misapplications of core principles such as salvation by grace, a lack of discipleship, poor teaching and selfishness.

Father and Son understand who they are and what they have done — they don’t need our approval but do want our partnership.

God seeks partners to reconcile his creation in this age and to rule in the next.

• “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation … Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

• “He who overcomes, and he who keeps my deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26; see also Revelation 3:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

The role of partnership involves training and transformation through discipleship, which should be each Christian’s top priority as both a disciple and a disciple-maker.

Everything else stems from it, including worship and spiritual growth. However, statistically, fewer than 20% of churchgoers regularly participate in discipleship activities such as small groups, Bible study, fellowship, prayer and accountability (https://www.barna. com/research/statechurch- 2016/).

Moreover, only 14% of today’s Western Christians seem to demonstrate the actions and attitudes that barna. com researchers associate with those of Jesus (https://www.barna. com/research/christiansmore- like-jesus-or-pharisees).

These numbers suggest that little discipleship is taking place, and imitating the one we call Savior is even more rare.

Nonetheless, no spiritually lazy people are welcome in God’s kingdom.

• “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away . . .

If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:2-16).

• “Then he will also say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me’” (Matthew 25:41- 43).

In summary

God doesn’t need our affirmation, nor will he tolerate Christian laziness. Repent and thrive or perish. In my next article, we’ll learn about the heavenly armor of God and why it’s a musthave.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

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Eligible families can receive up to $10,000 per child for private-school tuition and $2,000 per child for homeschooling expenses.

Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000.

“Gone are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government. The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that’s best for their child,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a prepared release.

Applications are submitted through the portal at educationfreedom. texas.gov/.

Parents need to provide digital copies of students’ birth certificates, proof of residency and household income.

Notification of funding will begin in early April with about 25% of funds distributed July 1, officials said.

If application requests exceed the $1 billion budget, priority will be given to low-income families and students with disabilities, state officials said.

Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, now known as the “school voucher bill,” into law May 2025. The Legislature also passed House Bill 2 in June which set a record $8 billion in public-school funding, according to lawmakers.

SB 2 established a $1 billion Education Savings Account, which is the largest in the nation and a first for Texas with funds becoming available for the 2026-27 school year. Detractors of the bill say taxpayer money will be used to pay for private-school tuition that most families could pay on their own and also hurt public school districts.

Proponents say it gives parents an opportunity to provide their children with a better education.

Deliberately Diverse represents the opinions of a group of Taylor friends who never completely agree about anything but enjoy diverse discussions.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is the period between Christ’s birth and the coming of the Magi, the wise men from the east searching for Jesus. It’s a period long enough to entangle two kings and the Magi.

One king is Herod — powerful, recognized by the Roman Empire as king of the Jews and despised by the Jews of Judea for his decadence and cruelty. The other is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah clothed in swaddling, worshipped by shepherds come in from the fields in their muddy, smelly glory, vulnerable as only a newborn is.

This sets the stage for an earthly king and the newborn who is the king of creation, bound together by the Magi.

The Magi, sometimes called the three Kings from the East, are a different sort: astrologers or magicians, traipsing across the desert on camels chasing a star.

Strangers. Three crazy Gentiles following a light in the sky.

So now we have two Jewish kings and three crazy Gentiles.

Herod was no servant king in the tradition of the Israelite kings. Jesus’ own followers struggled to figure out who and what he was.

Three Crazy Gentiles led by a star brought the news that this child, born in a barn, opened the kingdom of heaven to all comers. There’s a place in this parade for me, one might proclaim.

The Magi — three crazy magicians, or maybe one or maybe five. They didn’t look like shepherds or the innkeeper. Different skin color. Different clothing. Different accents and habits ... following a star to find a king lying in a manger, a king with no armies or protectors.

That king is Jesus, born with no mark to declare his kingdom but this star.

Here we are, then … shepherds and wise men, rich and poor, followers and each one a seeker of life, light and the glory of God. And Herod rose, disturbed.

He recognized that this baby vulnerable in a barn threatened his kingdom as it had never been threatened before.

When you see the star overhead, will you follow? When the angels in their fearful majesty plunk themselves down in your backyard, will you listen? When Jesus calls you to do something you never considered, something as crazy as following a star, will you listen before you say no?

I want to go with the Magi to find the baby Jesus. I want to follow that star across the desert that my life sometimes becomes. I want to settle down in the hay with the wise men and the shepherds. I want to celebrate this moment that was and is always — when God was born human so that I might be borne to God.

Will you go with me?

Pierce is vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor and can be reached by email at ministry@ stjamestaylor.org.

Many Christians say they’re “no longer under the Old Covenant Law.”

That’s mostly true.

However, the statement downplays the law’s importance and ignores the need to follow its moral teachings.

Here, we’ll examine both the Old and New Covenant laws.

First, why are laws necessary? Why do we have laws?

Boundaries are everywhere. Traffic laws help keep us safe on the road.

Others protect communities from harm. This is true even in the animal kingdom. For example, I saw an elephant herd temporarily expel a young male that was getting “frisky” with already spoken-for females.

Laws also helped Israelites honor God and love people.

Old Covenant Law

First, a better translation of “law” is “instruction.” The Old Covenant version consisted of 613 instructions, starting with the Ten Commandments. Second, there were three types of instructions: civil, religious and moral. Civil instructions addressed issues such as handling corpses, sexual immorality and other community safety measures. Religious instructions directed people to serve God, and an abundant life in ancient Israel depended on meditating on the law’s commandments and obeying them (Deuteronomy 30:8, Joshua 1:8).

Although New Covenant Christians are no longer bound by Old Covenant civil or religious laws (Romans 7:6, Galatians 5:18), moral guidance—such as most of the Ten Commandments—is still relevant. These principles continue to apply (in other words, you don’t have a green light to murder someone).

Old Covenant instructions served another purpose: to establish an impossible standard.

Breaking the rules became a sin that could cause physical or spiritual death, emphasizing the need for a remedy

(Romans 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Now, there is a New Covenant Law that fulfills the Old Covenant’s civil and religious instructions and offers the cure for sin.

New Covenant Law

The relationship with God, as outlined in the old and new covenants, is a continuum from the old to the new. The new doesn’t erase the old (Romans 3:31) and offers the solution for our inability to perfectly follow the old law of God: Jesus, through whom grace and truth are made known (John 1:17). Through him, those led by the Spirit by faith are justified before God.

This isn’t achieved by merely following the Old Covenant’s civil and religious rules (Romans 7:4-7, Galatians 2:16 and 5:18). But don’t be fooled: Belief and action go hand in hand (Romans 2:13, James 2:14-26).

A belief that produces no results is worthless to God and will lead to wrath at the end of the world (John 15, Matthew 25:31- 46).

Summary

Christians no longer follow the Old Covenant’s civil and religious rules, but they still need to adhere to many of its moral principles. And the New Covenant’s instructions to honor God and love others (relational terms and conditions) must be obeyed … or else.

What’s next? Let’s address the one Old Covenant Law that New Covenant pastors often drag kicking and screaming into the church: tithing.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a locally based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

I have a friend who had a vine planted on a trellis next to her house. The trellis was not attached to the house. The vines produced beautiful yellow flowers, something like what we call in Texas yellow bells.

The trellis fell recently. The startling thing is the falling trellis didn’t uproot the vine.

When my friend went to trim the vine, she discovered it was so entangled, and the branches were so much a part of the vine and intertwined, that it was hard to discover where one branch ended and another began.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, or NRSVue.

Diana Butler Bass, a favorite theologian, highlights the image of agricultural connection – “Jesus was the vine; they were branches. That’s so intimate, so entangled. Aren’t the ‘branches’ of a grapevine part of the vine? Aren’t they vines, too? Vines have branches that, in turn, themselves vine.”

Abide means to stay or remain; but it is also a derivation of the Greek word for dwelling place.

“Make your home in me as I make my home in you.” John 15:4 Even without its trellis, my friend’s vine was able to make its home in the soil.

The image of abiding is associated with the vineyard images – images from the Hebrew Bible where God’s people are God’s vineyard.

Because the Father has raised Jesus from the dead, this Word of God now become flesh among us has an abiding and lasting presence – now continues to dwell among us.

In the imagery of the vine that presence is underscored as abiding, lasting and permanent. The Word of God is the vine and we the branches. This is not a promise of some future presence, of a heavenly end. This is the promise of today – that God abides in us through the word, Jesus … and we are invited to abide in God.

If we love one another, God lives in us.

If we love one another, God dwells in us and we dwell in God.

Bass introduced me to another idea related to the vine. The word “terroir” is a French word that describes the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to wine by the environment in which it is grown.

The soil of a place produces a unique fruit which bears the taste of the ground itself.

If we dwell in God and God dwells in us, we will have within us the unique fragrance and flavor of God and we will impart that fragrance to the world.

Pierce is the vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor and can be reached by email at ministry@ stjamestaylor. org.

I’m a discipleship guy.

Why? Because, without it, there’s little to no Christian transformation and the beautiful things it brings. So, I’m all about change and spiritual growth — mine and yours.

But what is basic discipleship and how can we be fruitful as we do it?

And what do we do when it’s not working out?

First, discipleship is about imitation: presenting something worth imitating and mimicking what is seen and heard.

Jesus taught, modeled what he taught, tested, corrected and sent as he led his followers. He gave his disciples something good to imitate. Then, they did what Jesus did.

Here’s an example from nearly 2,000 years ago, written by the apostle Paul to the Church in Thessalonica: “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” (Thessalonians 1:6) Second, discipleship can be messy.

It occurs when we walk with someone at their rhythm of life; their and our discipleship and spiritual growth must never stop. The disciple-discipler relationship develops the trust needed to share struggles, woes and joys.

Importantly, authentic discipleship ensures that you observe a disciple’s behavior and are prepared to answer questions or offer correction.

This is where it can get messy. But discipleship doesn’t happen

without it. Third, discipleship isn’t for everyone, and most of these relationships will fail. Why?

Most likely due to a lack of devotion to God or the discipleship process, which can be tough.

So, what should you do if this happens as you engage in discipleship?

Setting clear expectations about mandatory devotion to God and the discipleship relationship is essential. Then, hold the disciple accountable.

But if they aren’t growing, showing up, studying, etc., it might be time to “cut bait.” Ditch the spiritual dead weight and move on.

“But Ron, the disciple is my friend. Are you saying I must end the friendship?” Absolutely not.

Keep that relationship but focus your discipleship efforts elsewhere.

Jesus addressed this in Mark 6:7-13: “And he summoned the 12 and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits ... And he said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that men should repent. …” To recap, discipleship is about your speech and example, as well as others imitating what they hear and see. So, be someone worth imitating. And don’t get stuck in a dead-end discipleship relationship. There’s plenty for you to do, so move forward.

Next week? You’ll finally meet two inspiring third-century martyrs worth imitating: Perpetua and Felicitas.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a locally based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

If we are forgiven for our sins when we respond to God’s call through devotion to him (making Jesus “Lord” as seen in Romans 10:8-10) and obedience to honor and love God and people, why do we need to keep seeking forgiveness?

Jesus hinted at the answer in John 13:5-10.

“Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. So he came to Simon Peter.”

“Lord, do you wash my feet?” Simon Peter asked. “Never shall you wash my feet.’” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”

Simon Peter said, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

This servant-leader taught that we need regenerative bathing in the New Covenant, as seen in 13:10, and regular washing (ongoing repentance) to inherit God’s kingdom.

Let me explain. There are two kinds of washings referenced in John 13. The first is washing a part of the body, such as the hand or foot (e.g., verses 5 and 6). It is referenced by the word Peter used in 13:6 when he said, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” The washing of the part of the body referenced here is the Greek word pronounced “nip-toe.”

This “washing” for forgiveness when we rebel against God’s standard is part of our repentance— turning away from sin as we exercise changed behavior because of a new heart.

The second washing is bathing the whole body, as in the Old Testament reference to what Bathsheba was doing when David saw her. This Greek word is pronounced “loo-oh,” and we see this in 13:10.

There’s a distinct difference between the two types of spiritual washing.

First, the atoning work of Christ bathes – “looohs” – us from the sin and disobedience we practiced before we knew better, repented and devoted ourselves to God through Christ.

Second, we continue to repent and experience a cleansing when we fall short of God’s desires after devotion to him. In verse 10, we learn the one who has been bathed (loo-oh’d) needs only to have regular washings (nip-toes) for forgiveness inrepentance. Finally, Jesus explained to Peter that he and the other disciples had been “bathed” (regenerated) except for Judas.

In summary, we are bathed (“loo-oh’d”) when we devote ourselves to God out of our belief in him, and we continue to be “nip-toed” in our repentance when we mess up. Next week, we’ll look at Jesus’ instruction for a disciple-maker to “wipe the dust off the feet” and move on instead of stagnating.

Blessings and peace.

Braley, a local minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

• Preschool Play Time ages 3-6 at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.

• Monthly Homeschool Meetup at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 2-3:30 p.m.,12 and younger.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Book Blind Date benefiting the Hutto Public Library at Hutto Wine Bar, 105 East St., Hutto, 5 p.m., adult and teen books for $5.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Burgers with the Band & Goodies with the Guard Fundraiser at Taylor High School football field, 355 FM 973, Taylor, 5:30-8 p.m., $14 Tickets: thetaylorduckpack@gmail.com.

Friday, Aug. 22

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Rec, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Baby/Toddler Play Time at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4 8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Space Ranchers Justin Live Music at Power Brewing Project, 3333 CR 119, Suite 130, Hutto, 7-9 p.m.

• Gabriel River Band at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, Aug. 23

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Movie: “Mamma Mia Sing-A-Long Brunch” by the Taylor Film Society, Dickey-Givens Community Center, 1015 MLK Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 11:30 a.m., $25. Tickets: GoodLifeTaylor.com.

• The Pearlsnaps at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door.

• The Wheel Workers, Jay Satellite, Le Gargoyle at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m., $10. Ages: 18 and up.,

Monday, Aug. 25

• Speed Friending for Families at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department,1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Wednesday, Aug. 27

• Preschool Play Time ages 3-6 at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, Aug. 28

• One Time Sessions at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 1-2:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m., $60. Registration: https:// artoffcenter.com/calendar/.

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, Aug. 29

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Baby/Toddler Play Time at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Glen Collins at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, Aug. 30

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $380. Registration: https:// artoffcenter.com/calendar/.

• Josh Ward and Gunnar Latham at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $23.50.

Tickets: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/ tickets/443378.

Sunday, Aug. 31

• Wheel & Handbuilding Basics Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $380. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.

Monday, Sept. 1 Labor Day Tuesday, Sept. 2

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Intermediate Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 4 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $285.

Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/ calendar/.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department,1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

• Adult Show & Tell at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m.

Ages: 18 and up.

Wednesday, Sept. 3

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• LinkedIn Learning Workshop using your library card for free access and training at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto. Ages: 13 and up.

• Neighborhood Coalition at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m. Ages: 18 and up.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, Sept. 4

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Daddy Daughter Hair Tutorials at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, Sept. 5

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Texas Neon Ramblers at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

• Meets the first and third Wednesday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

ROTARY CLUB

• Meets noon Thursday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

STITCHIN’ TIME AND HOOKS & NEEDLES

• Meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., and 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3505 N. Main St., Taylor. For more, call Dorothy at 512-914-1371.

LIONS CLUB

• Meets noon Friday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP Meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays each month in the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor.

Are we missing your civic organization? Submit your group’s info to news@taylorpress.net or by calling 512-352-8535.

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Yoga at the Gin, 420 U.S. 79, Hutto, 10-11 a.m., free.

• 4th Anniversary Party with Texas Critter Crusaders Cat Adoption Pop-Up at Curio Mrvosa Books and More, 114 N. Main St., Taylor, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Kenny Orts at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $17.50. Tickets: https://tickets. holdmyticket.com/tickets/439197. Ages: 21 and up.

• Hamell on Trial at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., $10. Ages: 18 and up.

MONDAY, AUG. 4

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Sketch Club at Atelier 95, 311 N. Main St., Taylor, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Donation: $15. Ages: 18 and up.

TUESDAY, AUG. 5

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department,1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

• Adult Show and Tell Storytelling Event at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., free. Ages: 18 and up.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

• Taylor Neighbors Coalition Meeting at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m., free.

THURSDAY, AUG. 7

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

FRIDAY, AUG. 8

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

• Trivia Night at Power Brewing Project, 3333 CR 119, Suite 130, Hutto, 7:30 p.m.

• Robert Lawhorn & Triple Threat at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

SATURDAY, AUG. 9

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• All Hat No Cadillac at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $17.50. Tickets: https:// tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/ 439322. Ages: 21 and up.

• Open Mic Night at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. 2nd St., Taylor, 7 p.m., Free, All ages.

MONDAY, AUG. 11

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

TUESDAY, AUG. 12

• First day for Hutto and Coupland independent school districts

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13

• First day for Taylor Independent School District

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

THURSDAY, AUG. 14

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

FRIDAY, AUG. 15

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Back To School Bash & Movie in the Park: “Transformers One” at Heritage Square Park, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 5:30-10 p.m., free.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

• Randall Tucek, Taylor

• Marlene Bryan, Taylor

• Janet Brinkmeyer, Taylor

• Loretta Patschke, Coupland

• Jeanette Pratz, Taylor

• Wilford Pruesse, Thorndale

• Michael Kasper, Taylor

• Christie Coronado, Taylor

• Sharla Schwartz, Burnet

• Janetta McCoy, Taylor

• Sandie Santos, Wallingford, CT

• Virginia Debus, Taylor

• Janell Moehnke, Little River-Academy

If you wish to subscribe to the Taylor Press print and digital editions, plus get great stories and features in the monthly East Wilco Insider and special publications, call 512-352-8535 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the Jewish high priests exclaimed to Pontius Pilate, who would send Jesus to be crucified. Conversely, we experienced a flurry of “No Kings” protests on June 14, in opposition to President Donald Trump’s authoritative measures. Have a king; don’t have a king … Which is it? Like it or not, the Creator of the universe is king and owns everything, whether people demand a human king or defy any kingly rule.

The Jewish people understood the Creator’s name to be represented by the four Hebrew consonants YHVH. We who have been adopted into his family pronounce it Yehovah or Yahweh, depending on how you consider the V.

The apostle Paul explained nearly 2,000 years ago that YHVH made everything and is king over all in his realm and our created world (Acts 17:24). So, the heavens and the Earth are his throne (Matthew 5:34).

YHVH owns everything and was recognized by the Jews as their king until about 1,000 BCE.

Selfishly, we generally want what others have. Such was the case with the 10th-century BCE Jews, who decided to be governed by a human monarch like other nations: “Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations … Give us a king to judge us.”

The Lord said to Samuel, “They have rejected me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:5-7) The Jewish people would eventually have a puppet king under the Roman leaders and then … none.

Yet, YHVH was, is and always will be king, whether humans recognize his sovereignty. Old Testament King David expressed this in Psalm 47:2 and 7: “For the Lord Most High is awesome; he is a great king over all the Earth” and “For God is the king of all the Earth … God reigns over the nations, God sits on his holy throne.”

Similarly, New Testament Paul wrote this about YHVH, the one true king, in 1 Timothy 6:15: “He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the king of kings and lord of lords.”

So, what about the future? YHVH will eventually tire of our nonsense and immoralities and redo everything. Then, his realm and ours will become one again as was the case in Eden, as we find in Revelation 22:3-5: “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it … And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

Summary

Like it or not, you have a king that is above all and rules over everything, including you and even Trump. Soon, I’ll contrast what that king loves against what he hates. What he loves, first. Meanwhile, choose your king well!

God’s blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021. Contact him at stuffaboutgod@ronbraley. com.

“Deliberately Diverse” represents the opinions of a group of Taylor friends who enjoy diverse discussions in our beloved community.

Grief came to Texas this July. In June I was delighted to see rain and cooler temperatures predicted for the first week of July –– just enough rain that I might not need to water my grass.

Little did we know what that rain prediction really meant.

On July 4 I was driving back from my sister’s funeral in Oklahoma when we encountered a fierce rainstorm just south of Hillsboro. Traffic slowed to a crawl and vehicles flashed their hazard lights. After an emotional funeral and hazardous driving for so many hours, back in Taylor I just wanted the quiet stillness of home. I was sure I would recover by morning.

Little could I imagine the tragedy happening in our treasured Hill Country.

The morning of July 5 brought horrific images of violent flooding and reports of missing children. As of this writing 132 people are reported dead and more than 100 remain unaccounted for.

Too many of them are young children from summer camps. The grief is palpable.

At the funeral on July 3, we celebrated a long life well lived. After a few weeks in hospice, at age 82 my sister’s body gave up. At the wake and at the funeral, old friends and family shared beautiful stories of her compassion and her generosity of spirit. She will be missed by her family and in her community.

Whether for child or elder, each of us grieve in our way. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross observed there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Denial

I knew my sister was dying when I went to see her in April but I had hoped she could recover.

For the little ones in Camp Mystic, I want to think that those sweet innocents are going to be found safe. Oh, please God.

Bargaining

I thought if I could just get my sister to eat something, she could recover.

She could be happy in assisted living. But, dear God, why the little ones? How unfair. So young.

No real warning system? Cabins built in a floodplain? Somebody has to be at fault. Who is guilty of allowing this devastation?

Depression

The enormity of losing a last sibling is overwhelming. The tragedy of knowing 200 innocents unexpectedly are lost to a raging river is incomprehensible. Such sadness coupled with helplessness may require going to bed for a few days, talking to friends or even engaging professional help.

Acceptance

They lived, we loved them, they will live vividly in our memories. We display keepsakes, make family albums and tell our children about those who should not be forgotten.

Grief allows us to confront the reality of the loss of ones we love.

Grief honors memories and shared experiences.

It is human to grieve. It is not a sign of weakness. It is an essential component of healing.

McCoy is a Taylor resident with a long history in design and academia.

Deliberately Diverse represents the opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but enjoy diverse discussions in our beloved community.

This column is the first in a multi-part series about the Ten Commandments.

Texas Senate Bill 10, effective Sept. 1, requires a specific form of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms.

Here are the first lines of the required poster:

The Ten Commandments

I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.

The text of what Christians call the Ten Commandments comes from two places in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament as some Christians name it): Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21.

Exodus recounts the story of Moses who led the Hebrew people out of Egypt where they were oppressed. Moses received the Ten Commandments from God and brought them down to the people. Exodus 20 reflects the words of Moses as he came down from the mountain. Forty years later, when they were finally able to enter the Promised Land or the Land of Canaan, Moses recounted the words to the generation that was about to enter Canaan, which are recorded in Deuteronomy.

In Jewish tradition, these are called the 10 words, the divine utterances of God. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek before Jesus was born, the Greek word used meant “10 words” and that is what became Decalogue in English.

The first question I encountered: Is “I am the Lord your God” one of the commandments or is it something else?

The Hebrew Bible holds the first statement to be “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

In Jewish tradition, God’s self-identification and reminder of the Exodus establishes God’s authority and the covenant relationship with the Hebrew people based on God’s saving acts.

This statement emphasizes that the entire set of commandments flows from this relationship of redemption and liberation, making it the essential foundation for all that follows.

The second commandment includes both the second and third statements above, because the prohibition against other gods and the prohibition against idolatry are two aspects of the same essential commandment about exclusive monotheistic worship.

The Catholic catechism combines the first three statements into one commandment: “I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall not have strange gods before me.”

In reformed theology, the phrase “I am the Lord your God” is considered the preface to the Ten Commandments. It states a truth which establishes God’s authority and because of this truth, there follow expectations, or commandments.

The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” and the second commandment prohibits misusing the name of God, which incorporates the third statements above.

Perhaps we can agree these three statements are foundational for human morality. More to come.

Pierce is the vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor.

I’ve heard visiting relatives are like dead fish: both stink by the third day.

Whether that’s true depends on the relatives, I suppose. But one thing’s for sure: Relationships are meant to be mutually beneficial and very little happens without them. Besides familial, friendship and commercial advantages, relationships become the backbone for things such as discipleship, charity, correction and conflict resolution.

DISCIPLESHIP

This only works when trusting, intimate relationships provide a conduit for learning and spiritual growth. Jesus utilized existing relationships and built upon them with friends such as James, John, Peter, Andrew and Philip. He also grew new, trusting discipleship-focused relationships through existing connections: Nathanael, by way of Philip, is a great example.

What else?

IMITATION

Discipleship demands relationship- enabled imitation. Jesus “did what he saw the father do, spoke what he heard the father speak.” Paul imitated Jesus, and the Thessalonians imitated Paul. Then others imitated those folks. Do the math: Disciples around Thessalonica, therefore, imitated the father.

Besides discipleship, relationships enable love and spiritual growth.

CHARITY AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION

God told Israel, and Jesus reiterated in Matthew 22:35-40, that we must honor God with everything and love people. King Solomon explained in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that “two are better than one” for prosperity, comfort and safety. Effective relationships permit spiritual encouragement and equipping as we exhibit patience (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Colossians 3:12-13).

Similarly, close relationships allow us to do this “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) When that doesn’t work, we must resolve relational conflicts and reconcile them.

SPIRITUAL CORRECTION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

The apostle Peter wrote that “love covers a multitude of sins” as we seek to restore relationships (1 Peter 4:8; Galatians 6:1-2). They can be reconciled and healed through tenderheartedness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).

We also use relationships to beat each other back into shape (spiritually speaking) as you’ll find in Proverbs 27:17. There’s a more sobering, and life-saving aspect to this, though.

Christians often say, “Who am I to judge?” but don’t buy into it. Jesus explained in Matthew 18:15-20 that our responsibility is lovingly calling out anti-godly behavior. His half-brother James doesn’t mix words when he wrote that we must try to turn our Christian brothers and sisters from the “way of death” (James 5:19-20). Need more?

Check out 1 Corinthians chapter five and 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 for examples of needing to judge (I like “assess” better) God-fearing, Christfollowers to stay on the Way of Life (sexual immorality and slackers, in these Corinthian and Thessalonian cases).

But, spiritual correction requires deep, authentic and trusting relationships to work.

SUMMARY

Deep, trusting relationships are necessary for things like discipleship, charity, correction and conflict resolution.

One way to put them to work is by presenting the good news of God’s Kingdom to the yet-tobe- churched; an airtight alibi is essential.

Let’s hang out there next.

God’s blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylor- based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

Contact him at stuffaboutgod@ronbraley.com.

• Meets the first and third Wednesday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

ROTARY CLUB

• Meets noon Thursday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

STITCHIN’ TIME AND HOOKS & NEEDLES

• Meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., and 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3505 N. Main St., Taylor. For more, call Dorothy at 512-914-1371.

LIONS CLUB

• Meets noon Friday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP Meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays each month in the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor.

Are we missing your civic organization? Submit your group’s info to news@taylorpress.net or by calling 512-352-8535.

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $375. More: https:// artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ pottery-wheel-class-saturday-5/?datetime=3056

• Juneteenth Celebration at Robinson Park, 1009 E. M.L.K. Jr.

Blvd., Taylor, 5-10 p.m.

• Bryan Maldonado Band at Wildflower Corks & Brews, 108 E.

Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m.

• Chris Kelley Memorial 5K at Brushy Creek Amphitheater, 1001 CR 137, Hutto. Start: 7:30 p.m. Register: https://runtheday. com/register/detail/10thannual- chris- kelley- memorial-5k-2025- gq5/

• Don’t Tell Comedy at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W.

Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m. $30.

Ages: 21 and up.

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

• Juneteenth Celebration at Adam Orgain Park, 1001 CR 137, Hutto, 1-5 p.m.

• Wheel and Handbuilding Basics Class 6 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $375. More: https://artoffcenter.com/ classregistration/wheel-andhand- building-basics-sunday-8/?datetime=3119

• Adult Volleyball at Taylor Middle School Gym, 304 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor, 5-8 p.m., $7.

Register: http://www.taylortx. gov/1172/Adult-Fitness-Classes

MONDAY, JUNE 23

• Water Play at Robinson Park Splashpad, 1009 E. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Sketch Club at Atelier 95, 311 N. Main St., Taylor, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Donation: $15. Ages: 18 and up.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Cheer & Gymnastics Pop-Up at Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9 a.m.

• Tennis Pop-Up at Murphy Park Tennis Courts, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 10 a.m., free.

• Clay Bootcamp for Kids Day 1 at Art Off Center, 116 W.

Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon, $175 for three-day session. Register: https://artoffcenter. com/classregistration/ summer-clay-bootcamp-for-kidsjune/? datetime=3202. Ages 5 to 12.

“Deliberately Diverse” represents the opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but enjoy diverse discussions in our beloved community.

I recently read a quote I liked that was attributed to Pope Leo XIV. The problem is that fact-checking indicates it didn’t come from Pope Leo at all and was an invention of the internet and social media.

The part I responded to was, “To be called ‘woke’ in a world that sleeps through suffering is no insult — it is Gospel.”

I suspect most people, of whatever political perspective, would agree that we don’t want to ignore suffering. Jesus calls us repeatedly to care for the poor and the suffering.

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes the final judgment and says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

He explains that whatever we do for “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,” we do for him.

And we see in the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus did not reserve care for those who were worthy. In fact, the Prodigal Son asked for his inheritance, insulting his father; then wasted it. When he finally returned home, he was lovingly received.

That word “woke” has become a way to polarize ourselves, to identify or to curse. The earliest recorded use of the word “woke” as used here appeared in a 1938 article by African American writer Marcus Garvey, who urged readers to “stay woke” about social conditions affecting Black communities.

The Old English word meant to keep a vigil or to be watchful. In Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples to “stay here and keep watch with me.” To be “woke” then is to pay attention, to be vigilant, to notice what is happening around us.

Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2012, has earned a reputation for being the most socially conscious generation yet, often referred to as the “woke generation.”

These young people are now in their teens to their late twenties, so we cannot know how age and time will change them. They have been shaped by a world of increasing social and political violence; by school shootings; by what they perceive as a failure of my generation to care for creation which will leave them with a planet that won’t support a future.

They derive hope from activism, from the perhaps idealistic notion that it is not too late to make the world a better place for all people and for all creation.

Sounds a bit like Jesus to me.

Pierce is the vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor.

• Creativity Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Day 3 at Every Time Institute, Old Taylor High, Room 203, 410 W. Seventh St., Taylor. Kids: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $180.

Teens: 3- 6 p.m. $240. Registration: everytimeinstitute. com

• Summer Program: BK Bones at Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., free.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, June 19

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Creativity Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Day 4 at Every Time Institute, Old Taylor High, Room 203, 410 W. Seventh St., Taylor. Kids: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $180.

Teens: 3-6 p.m., $240. Registration: everytimeinstitute. com

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Kenny Orts at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $15. Tickets: https:// tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/439196. Ages: 21 and up.

• Open Jam Session at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m. All ages.

Friday, June 20

• Water Play at Heritage Square Splashpad, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

• Backroads Band at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, June 21

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $375. More: https://artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ pottery-wheel-class-saturday-5/?datetime=3056

• Juneteenth Celebration at Robinson Park, 1009 E. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 5-10 p.m.

• Bryan Maldonado Band at Wildflower Corks & Brews, 108 E. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m.

• Chris Kelley Memorial 5K at Brushy Creek Amphitheater, 1001 CR 137, Hutto. Start: 7:30 p.m. Register: https://runtheday. com/register/detail/10th-annual-chriskelley- memorial-5k-2025-gq5/

• Don’t Tell Comedy at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m. $30. Ages: 21 and up.

Sunday, June 22

• Juneteenth Celebration at Adam Orgain Park, 1001 CR 137, Hutto, 1-5 p.m.

• Wheel and Handbuilding Basics Class 6 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $375.

More: https://artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ wheel-and-hand-building-basicssunday- 8/?datetime=3119

• Adult Volleyball at Taylor Middle School Gym, 304 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor, 5-8 p.m., $7. Register: http://www.taylortx. gov/1172/Adult-Fitness-Classes

Monday, June 23

• Water Play at Robinson Park Splashpad, 1009 E. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Sketch Club at Atelier 95, 311 N. Main St., Taylor, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Donation: $15.

Ages: 18 and up.

Tuesday, June 24

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Cheer & Gymnastics Pop-Up at Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9 a.m.

• Tennis Pop-Up at Murphy Park Tennis Courts, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 10 a.m., free.

• Clay Bootcamp for Kids Day 1 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon, $175 for three-day session. Register: https://artoffcenter. com/classregistration/summer-claybootcamp- for-kids-june/?datetime=3202.

Ages 5 to 12.

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Wednesday, June 25

• Clay Bootcamp for Kids Day 2 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon, $175 for three-day session. Register: https://artoffcenter. com/classregistration/summer-claybootcamp- for-kids-june/?datetime=3202.

Ages 5 to 12.

• Summer Kids Crafting Open Studio Hours at Cumberland Road Art Studio, 3333 CR 119, Suite 133, Hutto, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $10 per hour. Ages: 5 and up.

• Summer Program: “Wild Things Zoofari” at Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., free.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m. $5.

Thursday, June 26

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Cheer & Gymnastics Pop-Up at Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9 a.m.

• Clay Bootcamp for Kids Day 3 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon, $175 for three-day session. Register: https://artoffcenter. com/classregistration/summer-claybootcamp- for-kids-june/?datetime=3202.

Ages 5 to 12.

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Sake Tasting and Light Bites at Hutto Wine Bar, 105 East St., Hutto, 6-7:30 p.m., $25. Tickets: huttowinebar.com. Ages: 21 and up.

Friday, June 27

• Water Play at Heritage Square Splashpad, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Taylor Film Society: TBD at Dickey Givens Center, 1015 E. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., free.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

• Old Friends at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, June 28

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $375. More: https://artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ pottery-wheel-class-saturday-5/?datetime=3056

• Taylor PRIDE Music and Art Festival at Heritage Square Park, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 4-10 p.m., free.

• John Pranter at Wildflower Corks & Brews, 108 E. Second St, Taylor, 7 p.m.

• Pride Fest at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., free.

Ages: 18 and up.

Sunday, June 29

• Adult Volleyball at Taylor Middle School Gym, 304 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor, 5-8 p.m., $7. Register: http://www.taylortx. gov/1172/Adult-Fitness-Classes

Monday, June 30

• Water Play at Robinson Park Splashpad, 1009 E. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

JULY Tuesday, July 1

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department,1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

• Show & Tell at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m., free. Ages: 18 and up.

Wednesday, July 2

• Summer Program: Austin Reptile Show at Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., free.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

• Taylor Neighborhood Coalition Meet-Up at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W.

Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m., free.

Thursday, July 3

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, July 4 Fourth of July • American Rhapsody at Brushy Creek Amphitheater, 1001 CR 137, Hutto, 6-9:30 p.m., free.

• Taylor Annual 4th of July Fireworks at Murphy Park, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, dusk, free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

Saturday, July 5

• Texas Critter Crusaders Low-Cost Spay/ Neuter Clinic, 185 Ninety Four Lane, Suite 130, Taylor, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign-up: https://tinyurl.com/ydvn2mn4

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Yoga at the Gin, 420 U.S. 79, Hutto, 10-11 a.m., free.

• Barton & Petek: European Cafe Music at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m., $7. Tickets: https:// www.prekindle.com/event/64798barton-and-patek-european-cafe-musictaylor. All ages.

Sunday, July 6

• Adult Volleyball at Taylor Middle School Gym, 304 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor, 5-8 p.m., $7. Register: http://www.taylortx. gov/1172/Adult-Fitness-Classes

Monday, July 7

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Sketch Club at Atelier 95, 311 N. Main St., Taylor, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Donation: $15. Ages: 18 and up.

Tuesday, July 8

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Wednesday, July 9

• Summer Kids Crafting Open Studio Hours at Cumberland Road Art Studio, 3333 CR 119, Suite 133, Hutto, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $10 per hour. Ages: 5 and up.

• Summer Program: Mr. Will at Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., free.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

Thursday, July 10

• Taylor Press 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament deadline to sign up at 5 p.m.; tournament is July 12-13 at Taylor High School. $50 per team with up to four players; prizes and rings. Men and women age groups: 11-14, 15-17, 18 and older. For more, call Jason at 512-269-9735 or email taylorpress3on3@gmail.com

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, July 11

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Teen Night at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland.

Doors open at 7 p.m., $10 at the door. Ages: 13 to 18.

• The Other Band at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

• Hamptons Summer Bash and White Party at Hutto Wine Bar, 105 East St., Hutto, 5-9 p.m., $30. Tickets: huttowinebar. com. Ages: 21 and up.

Saturday, July 12

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Open Mic Night at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., free. All ages.

Sunday, July 13

• Adult Volleyball at Taylor Middle School Gym, 304 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor, 5-8 p.m., $7. Register: http://www.taylortx.gov/1172/Adult-Fitness-Classes

Monday, July 14

• Zumba by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Tuesday, July 15

• Senior Fit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Jesus encouraged us by saying that faith can move mountains. Fine. But what is faith, and how do we get and keep it? You’ll find it is the outcome of experience turned into action.

Let’s explore this by first defining faith.

Faith defined

Faith, confidence, belief and assurance are synonymous and provide the foundation and motivation for all else in a Christian’s journey: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith’s sources

Faith in all things related to God is born and nurtured, never meant to be blind. Even Jesus fostered great confidence about God’s Kingdom and power through spirit-fueled miracles and fulfilling ancient promises. Our faith comes through learning about these things: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

A primary source is the Scriptures that “were inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Faith also develops by witnessing God’s work in people’s lives through testimonies and our own experiences as we activate what we’ve learned. Of course, the common experiential source is God’s spirit working through us on God’s behalf, illuminating his words and ways, and nudging us to stay on the Way of Life (e.g., John 16:13).

The vehicle for all of this is discipleship.

Discipleship

Creating a foundation through discipleship is of utmost importance in developing (and keeping) faith. Besides charity, it is supposed to be the church’s focus. Every function within it must support discipleship, or the church becomes just a collection of nickels and noses fueling religious business: a whitewashed tomb. Discipleship demands walking with people in their daily rhythms of life as Jesus did. And, as he also did, it involves training, observing, correcting and sending.

Discipleship is the soil that produces good spiritual fruit (Matthew 13:3-8 and 18-23). It’s the stuff of obedience, imitation and replication that ensures faith is, and faith does.

Faith is as faith does We love claiming we are “saved by faith alone” as if actionless belief in Jesus alone magically keeps us from God’s judgment. As Paul Harvey often quipped, “Now for the rest of the story.” Faith in God through Jesus must lead to charity (Godly love): “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. …” (James 1:22-25). “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:17-20)

Summary

Faith is confidence in what God has done and is doing. It is built through experiences born of discipleship and the spirit, and it must produce. Relationships are the backbone of discipleship, so let’s go there next time. Meanwhile, believe, grow spiritually and get to work.

God’s blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

• Meets noon Wednesday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

Rotary Club

• Meets noon Thursday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

Lions Club

• Meets noon Friday at Sirloin Stockade, 3607 N. Main St., Taylor.

Stitchin’ Time and Hooks & Needles 

• Meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., and 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3505 N. Main St., Taylor. For more, call Dorothy at 512-914-1371.

Grief Support Group

• Meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays each month in the Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor.

Are we missing your civic organization? Submit your group’s info to news@taylorpress.net or by calling 512-352-8535.

Deliberately Diverse represents the thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but enjoy diverse discussions in our beloved community.

I am often asked what it means and why St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor call ourselves an affirming church.

Affirming means we explicitly welcome LGBTQ+ members not just as attendees, but as full participants in every aspect of church life and ministry. We interpret Scripture and Jesus’ message to call for inclusion of all people.

Biblical texts are often cited as prohibiting LBGTQ+ relationships; however, when read in their historical context, these texts are prohibiting gang rape, ritual prostitution, pagan worship, exploitive relationships and nonconsensual or promiscuous behavior.

These behaviors we would all agree are not healthy for anyone, and don’t lead anyone into healthy relationships with other people or with God. The truth is these behaviors are present among both heterosexuals and homosexuals.

Jesus was asked, “‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus responded, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40) Jesus consistently preached radical inclusion and breaking down social barriers. We are neighbors all. That means we are called to ensure the safety, health and well-being of everyone in our community, just as the Good Samaritan did for the stranger on the road.

Calling ourselves affirming means that we embrace LGBTQ+ people as part of God’s diverse and divine creation.

In 1976, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognized LGBTQ+ people as children of God with an equal claim to the pastoral care of the church and equal protection under the law.

In 1994, the General Convention amended the church’s canons to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, providing equal access to the rites and worship of the church, including ordination.

In 2015, the General Convention voted to amend the canons that regulate marriage, permitting any couple to have the rite of holy matrimony.

St. James’ affirms our belief that a community whose lives are centered in Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial and redemptive love is called to commit ourselves to the journey to make those promises a reality, in our church and in our community. With the LGBTQ+ community in Taylor, we remember the struggles, celebrate the joy, and give thanks for love and lives that refuse to be erased.

• We believe that God creates us in an amazing diversity of personalities, identities, orientations.

• We believe that God loves us all — no exceptions.

• We hope you will join us as we celebrate Taylor Pride.

The free Taylor PRIDE Music and Art Festival at Heritage Square Park, 400 N. Main St., is 4-10 p.m. June 28.

Pierce is the vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church.

The gentle will be blessed with inheriting the Earth; the merciful receive mercy; the peacemaker is called a son of God (Matthew 5:5-9).

These states of being require humility — lowering one’s selfimportance to a place where they disappear and the ultimate good of others and obedience to God become dominant.

This is desirable because God loves the humble and opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

Our cancerous self-centeredness and citizenship in the “most individualistic nation in the world” make humility nearly impossible, and we don’t see the behavior modeled often. So, I thought I’d help. After all, who wants to be opposed by God?

What is humility? What isn’t?

False humility

To respond after condemnation with, “I mess up too …” without stating any sins (certainly not the BIG ones) is one example. It can come as “humble bragging” or self-righteous prayers. Sometimes, false humility downplays abilities in the shadow of an underlying superior attitude. Humility is, and does, none of these prideful things, though.

Humble is as humble does. Solomon, purportedly the wisest human ever, wrote in Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.”

So, wisdom and humility can go hand in hand.

The humble walk by God’s spirit and are gentle, self-controlled and kind in their childlike unconditional love and lack of self-inflation. Their reward? They will be exalted and elevated to significant positions in God’s kingdom (Matthew 18:4; Luke 18:14).

And this is what humility does. The humble turn the other cheek and understand that just because something could be said doesn’t mean it should. They don’t brag, and their concern, prayers and humility are sincere.

Here are a few biblical examples of humility:

• Jesus, although fretting about the incredible pain and suffering about to take place, and after asking God to take it from him, obediently accepted his fate (Luke 22:42).

• Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8-9). His reward? Exaltation and promotion.

• “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

• We place the well-being and ultimate good of others above our own: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

• We patiently bear with others in the pursuit of peace, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

• Finally, the prophet Micah teaches us God requires us to “do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with him” (Micah 6:8).

Summary

God loves the humble and peacemaker while opposing the proud, arrogant, fake, violent or unloving. Which are you? Next time, we’ll step out in faith. Meanwhile, love justice and mercy, and walk humbly with God authentically.

God’s blessings and peace.

Braley, a Taylor-based minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, May 22

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• DrumFIT by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, May 23

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Wine Your Way Out at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 6:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. Food is $35 per person, ages 18 and up; wine and food is $60, ages 21 and up.

• Gabriel River Band at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, May 24

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• Pottery Wheel Class 2 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $375. More: https:// artoffcenter.com/classregistration/potterywheel- class-saturday-5/?datetime=3056

• Wine Your Way Out at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 6:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. Food is $35 per person, ages 18 and up; wine and food is $60, ages 21 and up.

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Adam Knight at Wildflower Corks & Brews, 108 E. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m.

• “Metropolis: The Original Score” at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m. More: https://www.facebook. com/events/690471883410455

• Aaron Watson and Tristan Roberson at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $25.

Tickets: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/ tickets/446735

Sunday, May 25

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• Wheel and Handbuilding Basics Class 2 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $375. More: https://artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ wheel-and-hand-building-basics-sunday-8/?datetime=3119 Monday, May 26 Memorial Day

• Sunflower & Unicorns Festival at Sweet Eats Farm, 14400 E. Texas 29, Georgetown, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission starts at $17.21.

• Heroes Memorial Day Parade starting at Hutto Middle School down Exchange Boulevard to City Hall on Live Oak Street, 1005 Exchange Blvd., Hutto, 10 a.m.

• Sunset Block Party Bash at The Hutto Co-op Town Green, Co-Op Boulevard, Hutto, 7-9 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.

• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department,1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Wednesday, May 28

• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.

Thursday, May 29

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• DrumFIT by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.

Friday, May 30

• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.

• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.

• Summer Kickoff Party & Movie in the Park: “Wild Robot” at Heritage Square Park, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 5:30-10 p.m., free.

• Dan Whitaker at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.

Saturday, May 31

• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N.

Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.

• Pottery Wheel Class 3 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon-2:30 p.m., $375. More: https:// artoffcenter.com/classregistration/potterywheel- class-saturday-5/?datetime=3056

• John Prather at Wildflower Corks & Brews, 108 E. Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m.

• All Hat No Cadillac at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland.

Doors open at 7 p.m., $15. Tickets: https:// tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/444077

• Wayne Sutton & Bill Palmer at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., $8. Tickets: https://www. prekindle.com/event/18839-bill-palmerand- wayne-sutton-taylor. All ages.

Sunday, June 1

• Wheel and Handbuilding Basics Class 3 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $375. More: https://artoffcenter.com/classregistration/ wheel-and-hand-building-basics-sunday-8/?datetime=3119

Monday, June 2

• Water Play at Robinson Park Splashpad, 1009 E. MLK Jr. Blvd, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

Tuesday, June 3

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Tennis Pop-Up at Murphy Park Tennis Courts, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 10 a.m., free.

• Cheer & Gymnastics Pop-Up at Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9 a.m.

Wednesday, June 4

• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.

Thursday, June 5

• Kids Playdays at the Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9-11 a.m., free.

• Cheer & Gymnastics Pop-Up at Murphy Park Pavilion, 1600 Veterans Drive, Taylor, 9 a.m.

• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.