Thursday, May 29, 2025

Welcome to the Smart Edit! Less churchy fluff, more Kingdom stuff. You in?

This issue … Jesus brings the best wine, you’re not far from the Kingdom, “fart walking”(!), and more.

P.S. ⬇️ — Photos: Americans honor the fallen on Memorial Day

Signals & Shifts

Quick hits from around the world and under the radar—where faith, culture, and global currents intersect. Curated to help you see, pray, and act with Kingdom clarity.

🏋️‍♀️ Boost your memory and beat dementia with weight lifting. Exercise preserved brain regions that are most vulnerable to Alzheimer's.

😟 Gen Z (age about 13-28) reports more uncertainty, anxiety, and loneliness than older generations—but those rooted in deep Christian faith experience fewer emotional struggles.

🕵️ The FBI is now investigating Seattle after the mayor blamed Christians for violent rioters who targeted them.

👀 Watchword. “Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” —Jim Elliot, missionary martyred for his faith

🥼 Oncologist studied 5,000 NDE’s — near-death experiences. “My research has convinced me without a doubt that there's life after death.” (Business Insider)

🎙️ Christian apologist: Joe Rogan is reportedly attending church consistently.

_{THE BIG IDEA}

From water to the best wine: Jesus is always upgrading the story

Each week, we spotlight a Kingdom Dynamic: a key insight into how God’s Kingdom works in real life.

Ain’t no party like a Jesus party—because a Jesus party doesn’t run dry!

The wine ran out. Not exactly life-or-death. But a wedding celebration teetering on collapse. In first-century Jewish culture, it was a public failure.

Then Jesus steps in. See John 2.1-11. And what does he do? 🫗 He turns water into the best wine. He saves the moment.

🍷 He doesn’t just make more wine. He makes new wine. Richer. Better. The best. John wrote it was the first sign he performed to manifest his glory—an accurate understanding of who he really is.

But let’s not miss this. He’s signaling a shift …

It’s not just about drinks at a wedding. It’s a revelation. The old is ending. He’s introducing something radically better.

Jesus said, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.” (Luke 5.37-39 NLT)

It’s no longer about filling ceremonial stone jars—it’s about lives STRETCHED and SHAPED to carry something new from Jesus.

We’re in a similar moment now. The old wine is running out—outdated ways of thinking, worn-out religious habits, broken systems. And the reality is, new wine can’t go into old wineskins.

Here’s the big question … are we willing to become a new wineskin, or is the old wine ‘just fine’?

🍇 Jesus is still in the turning-water-into-the-best-wine-business. Lack into abundance. Plain ritual into reality.

Know that the upgrade won’t fit into yesterday’s mold. It demands Surrender. It asks for Stretching.

This is prophetic. He’s preparing his Bride. It’s his wedding. And he’s both Bridegroom and Headwaiter.

“Jesus, what does this mean for me—and for the people you’ve woven into my life? Show me how to live now like the Big Wedding is already on the calendar.”

SIgn up for the Smart Edit here.

_{“My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55.9}

Higher Thoughts

“You’re not far from the Kingdom,” Jesus told a man. The Kingdom draws near—always inviting. But proximity isn’t enough. To truly enter, we must respond with repentance and regenerating faith. It’s the step of being born again—a radical new beginning that moves us from nearness to full participation in God’s reign. The Kingdom is close, but it calls for a transforming commitment to follow Jesus. Mark 12.34, John 3.3–8

Missing the mark. The Greek word hamartia, often translated “sin,” literally means “to miss the mark.” Sin isn’t just breaking rules—it’s missing God’s Higher Design and what it truly means to be human. When we fall short of His glory, we miss the purpose and flourishing He intends. Seeing sin this way shifts us from guilt toward restoration. Romans 3.23)

Surrendered. Stretched.

“Fart walking”—Why walking after meals is more powerful than you think

It’s the latest viral health trend on TikTok—and while the name’s funny, the benefits are legit.

The idea? Just take a short walk after you eat. That’s it. This light movement helps move gas through your system, supports digestion, and can even help balance blood sugar.

Behind the playful name is real science: walking after meals engages large muscles, helping your body use glucose more efficiently. That means fewer blood sugar spikes and a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Bonus—some people report less bloating and heartburn too.

Experts suggest a gentle 10–30 minute walk within 90 minutes of eating. Simple. Free. Effective.

Your gut (and your blood sugar level) may thank you.

Adapted from Mercola.

Relax. Einstein called. He says time is relative. So… you’re good.

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Word of the week: Mollify — Calm the anger or anxiety of (someone). Reduce severity. Assuage. “A meeting was scheduled to mollify concerns about traffic near the new school.” Source: WordDaily

Trivia answer: D) “Say less” — A Gen Z slang phrase that means “I get it” or “No need to explain further.”

📩 SIgn up for the Smart Edit here.