Post-Mortem

November 10, 2026Valerie Cullers Leave a comment

We all know what the literal definition of post-mortem is…i.e., an autopsy, but did you know that it is used in the cultural arena as a way to evaluate a loss or defeat? The figurative meaning is, according to Google AI, “An analytical discussion, review, or debriefing that takes place after an event, project, campaign, or game has ended or failed. The purpose is to evaluate what went wrong, what went right, and how to improve future outcomes.”

We have seen this take place recently after the last election. The losing party has been doing its own post-mortem on the election loss. Many times the results are obvious, but other times, it requires a certain amount of reflection and analysis to determine what went wrong.

We can all see the value of a post-mortem in the above situations, but have you ever thought that it can be positive to analyze our own losses, mistakes, motivations, and intentions when we have negative outcomes? The purpose is not to point fingers, assign guilt, or relieve ourselves of personal responsibility, but to take an honest look at the situation we find ourselves in.

Sometimes when we take an honest look at a problem or situation that has turned out negative, it is because we have actually done more than use bad judgment; we have actually committed one kind of a sin or another.

Sin is definitely a negative word, and it has bad connotations, but did you know that the actual definition from the Greek word hamartia is “missing the mark”? Yes, it means that when we are shooting at a target, we have missed the bullseye or the target.

So, in truth, sin can be something really bad and intentional, or it can be just a mistake in judgment that hurts or offends someone or ourselves. Large or small, it is important to take a good look at our behavior and evaluate it.

Some of you (those living in glass houses) may think, “Don’t you dare mention sin to me…I am not a sinner.” But that is not at all how the Lord sees us. In His word, it says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 The word goes on to explain that it is a universal condition: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Yep, take it or leave it, none of us are perfect, and can never measure up to the perfect, sinless character of the Almighty. Fortunately for all of us, He has made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Because of that, He can offer a full and free cleansing of our sin. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Long story short: the year is coming to a close. It’s a perfect time to look back and do a thorough post-mortem before we begin anew. I’m in need of a good cleansing; how about you?

Photo by Fabio Luciano Sorg. Courtesy of Pixabay

Dual Citizenship

November 3, 2026Valerie Cullers 3 Comments

I don’t know about you, but there are a lot of things in the Bible that I don’t understand…concepts, phrases, and allusions, to name a few. I have been a believer for decades and have read through the Scriptures many times, but I still don’t comprehend a lot of it.

One of those phrases is in Ephesians 2:6, where it says we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. I have thought about it, drawn it out, but it still hasn’t really registered with me. I was thinking about it, and one idea I read recently said that we are dual citizens with Christ and that we have all the benefits of being citizens of heaven.

Now that is one thought I could comprehend. Several years ago, my brothers and I thought about becoming dual citizens of another country. Our mother was born there, and we qualified to become dual citizens. It was appealing to us that if we went there for any length of time, we would be able to enjoy the benefits of citizenship. The thought of free health care was especially appealing.

Back to the concept of being citizens of heaven with Christ, I thought about all the benefits available to us. I was going to compose a list for this post, but then the Twenty-third Psalm kept coming to my mind. As I thought about each verse, I could see some of the benefits outlined, so here goes.

1. “The Lord is my shepherd” – Someone in authority who is looking out for my welfare. “I shall not want” – Provision

2. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” – Rest; “He leads me beside still waters” – Refreshment

3. “He restores my soul” – Emotional Healing; “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” – Spiritual Guidance

4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” – Protection; “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” – Guidance, Direction, and Correction

5. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” – Victory over spiritual and physical forces of darkness. “You anoint my head with oil: – Spiritual Strength and Power; “My cup runs over” Abundant Provision

6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” – Physical and Spiritual Blessings; “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” – The Blessed Hope of Eternal Life with the Lord.

This is just a short list of some of the benefits of having dual citizenship in heaven. There are many more, and I would encourage you to investigate them for yourself. No country on this Earth can offer you what the Lord himself can offer you should you choose to follow Christ and become a dual citizen of heaven.

Photo by Jacqueline Macou. Courtesy of Pixabay

Groaning

October 12, 2026Valerie Cullers 11 Comments

Have you wondered what is going on with the Earth? Last week alone, there were 1,090 earthquakes 1.5 or greater. There are 40 to 50 active volcanoes, with 20 erupting on any given day. There are hurricanes and typhoons pummeling the Pacific and Atlantic, and if that isn’t enough, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current is slowing down. There’s no doubt about it; our Earth is groaning.

Why in the world would the Earth be groaning? Because long ago, in the mists of time, something terrible happened. The Earth was created perfect, and then sin entered the world, and the creation was changed in an instant. Originally, there was no death. Man and animals coexisted in peace. Man was a vegetarian, and the animals also ate grass and plants.

When sin and death entered the world, it all changed. Think about all the earth has endured. We’ll skip the pollution and ecological disasters we have witnessed, but if nothing else, think about all the wars that have happened on the earth. Think of all the blood that has been spilled on the earth over the millennia, all of the humans buried in the earth, all the animals that have died. Not a pretty picture. The earth has absorbed the results of the follies of man, and it is ready for a change.

I don’t completely understand how the Earth knows, but it knows that a change is coming. It knows it is going to be free from the bondage of sin that it has endured these millennia. It longs for a time when Christ will return and set things right on the Earth. Scripture says, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8: 19-22

There will be a time on the Earth when all will be made well. Christ will return, and then rule and reign on the Earth, and all will be as He made it to be before man corrupted it. Scripture also gives us a beautiful picture of what it will be like. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat. The calf and the young lion and the fatling together.; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11: 6-9

Some of you reading this may not believe any of this. But have you ever been to a funeral and watched them lower a casket into a grave? Instinctively, you know something is not right. You know it because we were never created to die. Death is an intruder and a destroyer, and there is no way that we can become comfortable with its effects.

A change is coming, and we must get ready for it. The Earth is groaning. It is letting us know that the time has almost come for it to be set free. Can you hear the groaning? I can. It’s telling us that it is time to get to know The Liberator, Jesus Christ, the one who will make all things new again.

Late

September 18, 2026Valerie Cullers 18 Comments

Have you been late to an important function? Perhaps you forgot to write it down on your calendar or were completely distracted that day. You arrive; the candles have been lit and blown out, the presents opened, and you feel totally cringe.

That is how I felt the other day when I read about the twins, Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who are sitting in a prison in Isfahan. They were participants in the protests last January in Iran. I was praying for the Iranian people at the time, but because of the war and various other events happening in the news, they moved off of my radar.

Most of us have been overwhelmed by the amount of tragedies that have happened in our world this past year. You just can’t get focused on all of them, or you would lose your mind. Sometimes, though, it is good to put names to some of the faces we see.

Taraneh and Romina, at 19, were dragged out of their beds and bags placed over their heads about a month after they joined anti-regime protests in Isfahan. Four months later, their mother finally found them in Dowlatabad Prison. She barely recognized her daughters. They had been beaten, tortured, and their feet had been broken. I could continue on about their injuries, but you get the picture.

After I read about them, I checked to see what could be done for them. Was there anyone we could write to in order to ask for mercy for them? No one, as far as I could gather; however, Human Rights Watch suggested we make their stories known. Gladly, but is that all we can do?

I personally believe in the power of prayer, and if nothing else, we can pray for these two young women who are being tortured for their desire to live a full and free life in their home country. They must have known about the danger of protesting, but I am sure at their age they had no idea what could really happen to them.

Will you join me in remembering these two young women in prayer? Who knows what will happen in the next few months between our two countries, but no matter what, let us not forget the hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters who are being held in their prisons.

Prayer changes things, and let us pray for their unconditional release, humane treatment, and, in the meantime, the formation of a government that will allow their citizens a chance to live a life of freedom and liberty.

Information from Sept.15th article by Efrat Lachter, Fox News. Photo by Gerd Altman, Pixabay.

Margarita’s Secret

September 8, 2026Valerie Cullers 2 Comments

It’s 314 A.D., and Constantine has been in power for two years. He has betrothed Lady Margarita to Lucius Marius in marriage. Will this be a political alliance or is there the possibility of something more? Before she even has time to find out, she is made aware of a plot against the emperor himself. She must keep the secret close as she travels to tell the emperor in person. Her life is about to change as Constantine takes his revenge. She and Lucius are thrust into the political forefront and must navigate their new surroundings with discretion. All is going well until she comes down with a devastating illness. Will she survive? Join her on her journey as the Ravenna stories reach their conclusion, and Margarita carries her most important secret of all.

Available on Amazon in print, Kindle and Audiobook.

Piling On

August 20, 2026Valerie Cullers 8 Comments

A few weeks ago, a young black professor at Cambridge was accused of inflating his resume (which he had) and plagiarizing a portion of his thesis (which evidence suggests he had not). In the heated and very competitive atmosphere of academia, the university decided to look into the allegations. The professor resigned, but people continued to pile accusations upon him. He became, as it so often happens, the story of the week in newspapers and social media.

The man was autistic and had learned to read in his late teens. He was certainly unprepared for the negative attention he received and did not know how to cope with it. He told his friends he did not see a way forward and was found deceased in his bathroom the next day.

This story got my attention. I had read the original story and saw that it was still in my newsfeed a few days later. I saw that people were continuing to talk about it even after he resigned. When I read that he had taken his own life, I was saddened.

As so often happens to people, once the sharks in social media smell blood in the water, the feeding frenzy begins. We have seen this happen to presidents, politicians, sports figures, and actors by the dozens. Many people have the support system to survive the attacks, but others, especially those who are not accustomed to being in the limelight, do not. They feel like their lives are over, and they cannot go on. I cannot count the times it has happened.

This happens not only on the national scene, but we see it played out in everyday life. People fail in one area or another of their lives, and the feeding frenzy begins. Most of us have observed this scenario since childhood. I would ask, is there a better way to handle the situation? What can we do to help the person so that he or she does not end up in a slough of despair? We need look no further than to Jesus and the story of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery.

One day, the religious leaders were looking for a way to attack Jesus. They brought a woman to him who had been caught in the very act of adultery. (I picture her with only a sheet covering her.) They threw her at his feet and were waiting for him to condemn her. Jesus looked around at them and could see the trap they were trying to lay for him. He could also see the hardness of their hearts. He said nothing but began to write in the sand. Finally, he turned to the woman’s accusers and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Her accusers left. The older ones left first, then the others down to the youngest. Finally, there was no one left to throw a stone at her. Jesus looked at her and said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” He did not pile on, and he offered her the chance at a new life.

Most of us are not reporters, but we all have some level of influence. Some of us are even social media influencers. When we are in a position to help someone who has fallen, let us pick them up and help restore them. The more we see people trying to destroy them, the more we should offer them our support. There is a way back from sin, failure, and public shame. We need to be the people helping them find the way back, not one of the sharks circling in the water.

Photo by Tumisei. Courtesy of Pixabay

Time: A Construct

August 12, 2026Valerie Cullers 5 Comments

Have you ever thought about time much…especially earthly time? I was thinking about it a while back and how we have all become such slaves to it. Where did earthly time come from, and how did we get in such a chronological society?

For those of us who believe in creation, Genesis says that earthly time was created on the first day. To quote Genesis 1: 3-5: “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”

Pretty simple, huh? When man first showed up on the earth, his days were divided into light and darkness. The sun came up, day…the sun went down, night. Not a lot of stress and pressure in the beginning. Man led an agrarian life, and that division was enough.

Eventually, man moved into communities and cities, and the need for a little more structured time came into existence. Blame it on the Sumerians, the Babylonians or the Egyptians, but between 4000 and 3500 B.C., man decided to divide the day into 24 periods. He created sundials and obelisks to track the Earth’s shadow. Once the sun went down, the sundial was useless, and so water clocks were invented.

Those worked well but Hipparchus, a Greek astronomer, and his contemporary, Ptolemy, a Greek mathematician living in Egypt, divided the 24 hour day into smaller pieces, called minutes and seconds. Great thinking and excellent work, but at the time, society didn’t need to be so exact with its concept of time.

As the centuries moved on and clock makers strove to make more accurate timepieces, tower clocks, spring-driven clocks, and pendulum clocks were developed during the 14th and 17th centuries. Man kept getting more and more accurate in his desire to measure the hours in a day.

We then come to the 20th century, and we celebrated the inventions of the electric and quartz clocks. And if those weren’t accurate enough, atomic clocks were invented that can measure time to the millisecond.

So here we are, victims of our own making. We now have clocks everywhere. Every time we pick up our phones, the first thing we see is the time. Sure, we have to be on time for work, school, and medical appointments, but do we have to personally keep dividing our day down to the nanosecond? Can we just take a few steps back and begin to enjoy the days we are given?

I mean, let’s think about it. Do you want to be a slave to time, or do you want it to be your servant? Can you take a few extra minutes to enjoy your lunch or dinner instead of bolting down your food and then moving on to the next thing in your day planner? Modern man has surrendered his very existence to his timepieces and planners, and I don’t believe he is the happier for it.

I saw an article the other day talking about how the universe measures time. News flash: the universe doesn’t measure time. We do, on Earth. Time is an earthly construct. Once you get off Earth, there is just existence. The moon exists, the planets exist, but apparently no one is up there measuring time the way we do. And when we do use time as the fourth dimension, when we are measuring space, it is still related to earthly time.

Just saying, let’s enjoy the time we do have.

The Making of heroes, gods and villains

April 29, 2026May 1, 2026Valerie Cullers 11 Comments

Earlier this week, I looked at a Gallup Poll on Political Violence that was done at the end of 2025 and released in April 2026. Overall, it stated that “While most Americans say it is ‘never OK’ to use violence to achieve a political goal, 16% say it is sometimes OK.” Naturally, the 18 – 29 group surveyed had the highest percentage (30), while the 60 and older group had the lowest percentage (4) approving of political violence.

So, I would like to address the 16 % of Americans who think political violence is okay and share what I believe are practical insights. If you were taught that the end justifies the means, then please, let’s look at the end of political violence and see what really happens.

When someone is physically attacked, perhaps even killed, that person becomes, at a minimum, a hero, to many. Let’s look at Steve Scalise and Gabby Giffords, two politicians who were shot; they became instant heroes. The people who pulled the trigger became villains. One was killed instantly, and the other is serving seven consecutive life sentences in prison. Few people even remember their names.

The men who gave their lives in service for their country, JFK, Martin Luther King Jr, and Bobby Kennedy, became instant heroes, and a few were mythologized to an almost god-like level. Their deaths catapulted them into a place that few have attained. The names of the men who shot them will remain in infamy forever.

If you want to have your political enemies become heroes or become mythologized, then political violence is certainly the way to go. However, there is a better way. Leave them alone, and let them finish their terms and fade from the limelight.

The last thing I would say to the 16% is, do you approve of violence being inflicted on those of your political persuasion? If you don’t, then please don’t approve of it being done to those who don’t agree with you politically. Violence begets violence, and hatred begets hatred. This is certainly not the way to improve our society.

Let the real heroes of society emerge. Don’t propel people prematurely into that category, and for heaven’s sake, don’t propel politicians into a mythologized god-like category. You will not do society or yourself any kind of service.

Jesus ~ Who is He Really?

March 25, 2026Valerie Cullers 11 Comments

Many of the great religions of the world believe in Jesus. Some believe he was a good man, a saint, a great teacher, a prophet, or a reincarnation of a deity, but who was he really? Christians have an entirely different take on the subject; they believe He was the Son of God, i.e, co-equal with the Father.

Let’s look at what the Scriptures say:

“Yet I have set my King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” Psalm 2: 6-7

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Literally, God with us.) Isaiah 7:14

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Child is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with Us.” Matthew 1: 20 – 23

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16

Let’s look at who Jesus said He is:

“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8: 58 (“This is a profound declaration by Jesus claiming his eternal pre-existence and divinity.” Bible Gateway)

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14: 6

Who did his disciples say He was?

“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

“And after eight days His disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20: 26-28

As Holy Week approaches, and Christians prayerfully celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, I urge you to look at the claims of Jesus. Historically investigate who He really is. Don’t just take someone else’s opinion.

Several atheists have set out to disprove the claims of Jesus and their historical accuracy, and have become Christians after examining the facts. A few have written books about their experience. “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell and “Evidence Demands a Verdict” by Lee Strobel; are excellent references if you are interested.

When He returns, and He will return to judge the living and the dead, it will be imperative that you know exactly who He is.

Image by Roger Casco. Courtesy of Pixabay

No Appetite

March 13, 2026Valerie Cullers 12 Comments

As we head into another conflict, I want to say that I have no appetite for war. I remember watching excerpts from the Vietnam War on television while I was in high school. I knew people who lost their lives, their limbs, and their mental stability who served in that war.

I remember the Gulf War and seeing the final images of the road to Baghdad littered with burned-out jeeps, tanks, and military equipment. I will not forget that image. I remember the bombing of Torah Borah day after day as we looked for Osama Bin Laden. I remember the patriotism people felt when they sent their children off to Iraq and the resulting quagmire. Are Iraq or Afghanistan any better off after all of the American blood was spilled there?

And now, we are bombing various targets in Iran to smithereens. We are sending 5,000 Marines to the Straight of Hormuz. Is it any wonder I cannot get excited about it? Is all of it really necessary? Do we truly have a Cassus Belli that justifies this action? I don’t know. In 1918, Senator Hiram Johnson said, “The first casualty when war comes is truth.” It will take us several months, if not a year or so, to find out if we really were threatened by Iran with a potential nuclear strike in the near future. In the meantime, we will hear the inevitable phrases of war.