One evening in 2025, I was driving down a road in town that had recently gone through work expanding the road and adding a median. At one point there is a place for northbound cars to make a u-turn.
I was approaching this section of road heading south, and up ahead I saw someone get into the u-turn lane. He then proceeded north on my side of the road.
Needless to say, I stopped and flashed my lights, and he realized the problem and quickly turned around (in an awkward 4-point maneuver.)
False U-turns
It got me thinking about the Church, and it was controversy over the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show and it’s alternative from TPUSA as well as Jelly Roll’s Grammy acceptance speech that brought back to mind. Some question Jelly Roll’s and Kid Rock’s repentance and Christian faith.
Kid Rock’s alternative Super Bowl halftime show news.com.au
We often teach how repentance is like a u-turn in our life, and there is good reason.
Acts 3:19, HCSB Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
Proverbs 28:13, HCSB The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
How many people make a false u-turn?
How many fall into the “easy believism” of saying a simple prayer and never changing the way they live?
I don’t know what is going on in the hearts and souls of Kid Rock and Jelly Roll, and this is not really about them.
I am also not saying anything about anyone in particular. This a call for each of us to make sure that we have not made a false u-turn, that we said we believe in Jesus but never changed anything about the way we think or act.
2 Corinthians 13:5, HCSB Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.
It would be like that car that used the u-turn lane but was then heading toward oncoming traffic, only we would get to the end of our life or see Christ return only to hear Him say He never knew us and we miss eternal life.
Matthew 25:44-46, HCSB “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You? ’ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
So, don’t complain about what people claiming Christ may or may not be doing.
Examine yourself to know you are in the faith.
You might be with those going the right way, but you might be going the wrong way and endangering others.
The gospel is that Christ can save anyone, the worst of sinners, the strictest legalist religionist, and the person who thinks they can earn their way to heaven. Nothing is impossible with God.
A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Isaiah 40:3, CSB
The gospel includes hearing the truth of God and shifting life for His truth, hearing the voice calling us to repentance and then becoming the voice calling others to repentance.
and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14, CSB
God loves us and calls us to repentance and to love Him. May we humbly accept our need for God and seek Him, praying for others out of love for God and their souls.
Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, but we must admit we need His life and forgiveness, that we have no real control over our lives and need Him. He offers new life and relationship through Jesus and empowers us by the Holy Spirit to grow in faith and love others.
Firstly, we need to keep Tait and the Newsboys band members in our prayers, as well as his victims and all of their families and friends.
Secondly, let us remember that “but for the grace of God, there go I.” In other words, let’s not cast major judgment and say so many “holier-than-thou” statements like “I always thought/knew …” or “this just goes to show …” This is an example of someone falling into temptation. There are several prominent Christians (in entertainment or otherwise) who remain faithful and humble. There are many fakes out there.
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Romans 14:8-10, CSB
Instead of the I-knew-it’s and This-goes-to-show’s, let’s focus on proclaiming truth and loving the lost and hurting. To do otherwise is to engage in gossip and judgmentalism. If someone gets rid of all of their Newsboys stuff, that’s up to them. If they only listen to or keep pre-Tait Newsboys stuff, that’s up to them. If they choose to continue listening to all Newsboys stuff, that’s … also up to them.
Live for Christ and proclaim truth. Deal with this issue in a godly manner with those who ask, and then leave it at that.
Immigration Protests/Riots & Trump
This last week we saw several cities dealing with anti-ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) protests. People have been upset with how the Trump administration has been handling illegal immigration, and the protests began in major cities, resulting in Trump sending in the National Guard and Marines to LA. To no one’s surprise, this has caused controversy.
My Take
I do believe President Trump and his administration have been mishandling immigration. (I think every administration of the past 40 years at least have been mishandling immigration.) I do believe there is good reason for protests against how immigration is handled.
At the same time, damaging property, throwing molotov cocktails and stones/bricks, and attacking people is wrong. The mayor and governor not even trying to stop them is wrong. Complaining about the president stepping in when the city has become a war zone due to inaction is wrong.
Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
Jeremiah 29:7-9, CSB
Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
Romans 13:1-4, CSB
To be fair to immigrants, the US system is severely messed up, and the current administration is not helping matters. However, violence is not the answer, especially when people who had nothing to do with the issue get hurt either physically or financially. That is terrorism, not protest.
This is a very complex issue, and both sides are currently over-simplifying and villifying. As Christians, we should not do either.
If all immigrants are the problem, you are a bigot.
If the president does nothing good, you are hateful.
If you see violence as a “mostly peaceful protest,” or you think the current administration is doing nothing wrong, you are deceived.
We are called to obey laws AND fight against injustice. Both sides have injustice at this time.
Humans are not illegal, true, but only humans can do illegal things. Let us be careful how we handle our fellow humans and stop villifying our fellow image bearers.
Talk about these matters, but be civil, be Christlike, and be willing to actually listen to each other.
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. — Romans 12:18, CSB
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
Romans 12:1, CSB
God has come to us, sacrificing Himself for our forgiveness, so we ought to give our lives to serve Him and share this good news.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38, CSB
Salvation from sin and God’s wrath is in Christ alone, and all it requires is faithful in the work done on His cross and a willingness to change (repentance).
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4, ESV
We are called to wisdom, and wisdom shows us our sinfulness and need for God. May we mourn our sin and seek the Savior from God’s wrath and Comforter of our souls and hearts.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:9, NLT
People may know we are Christians, but they may not understand repentance and grace. May we demonstrate the humility of penitence, seeking forgiveness from God and showing grace to others.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 