When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:33-34 (CSB) The world did not end that day, but it certainly felt like it. The sun disappeared at lunchtime. The ground trembled. A Roman crucifixion turned into a cosmic interruption. This was not just the death of a man; it was the unraveling of heaven’s plan in real time. Darkness swallowed the sky from noon until three. This was not a solar event or a cloudy day. Nature itself seemed to pause as the Light of the World was covered in the weight of sin. Creation responded to its Creator’s agony with silence and shadows. The darkness was both literal and symbolic, representing the separation between God and humanity that sin had caused. At the peak of that silence, Jesus cried out with gut-wrenching honesty. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34). He was quoting Psalm 22, but this was not just recitation. It was the painful sound of perfect fellowship being torn. Jesus was not guilty, but He bore every sin as if He was. He felt what we often fear, that God had walked away. This cry reveals the depth of what Jesus endured. For the first time in eternity, the Son experienced separation from the Father. The weight of humanity’s rebellion, selfishness, pride, and hatred crashed down on Him. Every lie, every betrayal, every act of violence throughout history found its way to the cross. Jesus didn’t just die physically; He experienced spiritual death on our behalf. Later, Jesus shouted again and breathed His last. This was not a whimper of defeat. It was a shout of completion. Then something incredible happened. The curtain in the temple split from top to bottom. This curtain had separated the presence of God from the people. With it gone, God’s presence was no longer restricted. The way was open. Standing nearby, a Roman centurion watched it all. He had seen many men die, but never like this. Something about Jesus shook him to his core. He said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39). In that confession, we hear the gospel beginning to spread beyond religious walls. A pagan soldier became one of the first to recognize Jesus’ divine identity after His death.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. Prov 18:10-11

I can't wait to release this new course on evangelism in May 2026. Here is a sneak peak. Over the last 30 years, I have had a chance to lead hundreds of people to Christ through personal conversations and so excited to share what I have learned.

The problem is not your passion. The problem is not your preparation. The problem is not even your content. Sometimes the problem is the package. God did not write the Bible in one format. Psalms is not Romans. Proverbs is not Revelation. He packaged eternal truth in poetry, narrative, prophecy, and letters because He knew different people needed different doors. So do your people. The Sermon Outline Blueprint gives you 11 frameworks to open more doors every single Sunday. Same truth. Better package. Bigger impact. Releasing April 21 on Amazon.

Our Brand New "Wisdom Playbook" study will be released on the Live Bold Community on Monday, March 2, but wanted to give you a sneak preview of what is to come. Check it out and give us some feedback. The "Wisdom Playbook" isn’t your typical Bible study. It’s a hope-filled, practical guide for real life. Rooted in the truth of Proverbs, this powerful course will walk you through stories you can relate to, real talk, and step-by-step wisdom you can actually apply to your relationships, work, decision-making, and faith. If you want more than feel-good quotes and you’re ready for transformation that will impact every area of your life, join us and learn how to build a thriving life by walking with Jesus as your wisdom. Topics Covered: The Wisdom Playbook: 1. Proverbs Isn't Just Life Hacks—It's About HIM (Jesus as the wisdom of God) 2. High IQ But Terrible Decisions (Knowledge vs. wisdom vs. fear of the Lord) 3. Never Make A Bad Decision Again (The three-legged stool: fear, friends, faith) 4. Warning: Your Friends Are Determining Your Future (How relationships shape your destiny) 5. The Strong Tower Is Right There—Why Are You Running Past It? (Running to God in crisis) 6. Why You Can't Stop Worrying (Trusting God instead of anxiety) 7. Your Anxiety Is Making You Physically Sick (The connection between stress, joy, and health) 8. Why You Can't Break Free from Addiction (Addiction as a worship disorder and the path to freedom) 9. Situationships Are Destroying Your Ability to Bond (Sexual wisdom and God’s design for intimacy) 10. You Said THAT?! How to Stop Ruining Relationships With Your Words (Gentleness, timing, and openness in communication) 11. The One Thing Christian Parents Miss (Parenting according to each child’s unique bent) 12. The Most Important Metric God Is Tracking (Soul winning and what God values most) 13. Existing Together vs. THRIVING Together—The Difference Is This (Building a home with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge) 14. Why Smart People Make Dumb Decisions (The 4 Fools) (Recognizing and avoiding foolish patterns) 15. Why You Hate Your Job (And What God Says About It) (Work as worship and finding purpose in your job) 16. The Upside Down Economics That Actually WORK (Generosity and God’s financial principles) 17. The #1 Thing Destroying Your Spiritual Life (It's Not Sin) (Guarding your heart above all else) 18. That Thing They Said (The lasting power of words and how they shape lives)