Brave books don't talk about God

Why I’m Not supporting Brave Books

At first, I was excited about Brave Books. It claimed to stand for truth, morality, and values that align with conservative and family-friendly living. But after reading more closely, I’ve made the decision not to support the series—and here’s why.

Wizards Portrayed as Good

In one of the books, there’s a place called Wizard’s Way, and a wizard is introduced as a good character—possibly even connected to the power or wisdom of Freedom Island. That’s a problem.

As a Christian, I believe God clearly warns against all forms of witchcraft and sorcery. Wizards and magic are not fun or harmless themes—they’re spiritually dangerous, and Scripture never paints them as good.

“There shall not be found among you… a wizard.” — Deuteronomy 18:10–11, KJB

When children read stories where wizards are heroes, it subtly blurs the lines between right and wrong, between God’s truth and spiritual deception.

🙏 No Mention of God

The other concern is that for all its talk of values, Brave Books never points to God. There’s no Gospel, no mention of Jesus, no true foundation for righteousness. It might promote good morals, but morality without Christ is powerless to save.

Final Thought

We don’t need a magically world... We need truth. We need the Gospel. I’d rather give my children books that clearly teach what’s good according to God’s Word, and show where true power comes from—Jesus Christ, not wizards or imaginary forces.

So no, I won’t be buying Brave Books. Not because I’m legalistic, but because I care about what shapes the hearts and minds of the next generation.

Brave Books Has Wizards in It — and That’s Not Okay

I was recently watching Iggy and Mr. Kirk, a series I’ve really enjoyed. In one episode, Mr. Kirk reads from the Brave Books series. While watching, I noticed something troubling: there’s a place on Freedom Island called Wizard’s Way, and by the end of the book, a wizard appears in the story.

Some people might say, “It’s just an imaginary world.” But for me, having a wizard—or a witch—portrayed as a good character goes against my Christian beliefs.

I don’t watch many Disney movies because magic is often portrayed as something good. In stories like Harry Potter, children are shown learning witchcraft. I don’t believe any Christian should have those books or movies in their homes.

This whole situation makes me so sad. I genuinely love Iggy and Mr. Kirk. But I don’t want to support anything that promotes evil as good.

If the wizard in Brave Books had been shown as a villain, I would have understood. That could help teach children to recognize good versus evil. But instead, he’s shown as a good guy—possibly even connected to the power of Freedom Island.

That’s not okay.

Wizards Don’t Belong in Christian Stories

I know some people might say, “It’s just fantasy—it’s an imaginative world meant for fun.” But to me, and to many Bible-believing Christians, it’s harmful when wizards or witches are portrayed as heroes.

The Bible is clear about how God feels about sorcery and those who practice it:

“There shall not be found among you any one… that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard…”

— Deuteronomy 18:10–11, KJB

These are not just neutral fantasy figures. In Scripture, they are connected to real spiritual darkness and are strictly forbidden. 🚫 

Some may say I’m being too strict—but if standing firm helps keep even one soul out of hell, then I’ll gladly keep being “strict.”

🔥 Why Jesus Praying to the Father Refutes Oneness Theology

One of the clearest demonstrations that Oneness theology is in error comes from the simple, undeniable truth that Jesus prayed to His Father. If Jesus is the Father—as Oneness Pentecostalism claims—then His prayers would be meaningless, contradictory, and deceptive. But the Bible speaks plainly, and it shows us something beautiful and profound: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, prays to the Father who sent Him. This is not a division of deity, but a revealed distinction of Persons within the one true God.

Let’s walk through the truth of Scripture and see how it completely disarms the Oneness claim.

📖 Jesus Prayed to Someone Other Than Himself

🔹 John 17:1 (KJV)

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

In John 17, Jesus pours out His heart in what is often called the High Priestly Prayer. He speaks to the Father in love, reverence, and unity. He does not say, “I glorify Myself,” but instead, He seeks glory from the Father.

How can Jesus pray to Himself if He is the Father?

Answer: He cannot. He is not the same Person as the Father. He is the Son, and He prays to the Father.

⸻

🔹 Jesus’ Will Was Distinct from the Father’s

🔹 Luke 22:42 (KJV)

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus expresses a desire—“let this cup pass from me”—but submits to another will: “not my will, but thine.”

Two distinct wills are revealed here:

• The will of the Son (fully human, fully divine)

• The will of the Father

If Jesus were the Father, this prayer would be nothing more than a performance, a divine monologue disguised as dialogue. But Scripture shows it is a real exchange between two Persons.

⸻

🔹 Jesus Was Sent by the Father

🔹 John 6:38 (KJV)

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

Oneness theology claims that Jesus is simply a manifestation of the Father, not a distinct Person. But Jesus speaks of the Father as someone other than Himself—one who sent Him, one whose will He obeys.

⸻

🔹 Baptism Reveals the Trinity, Not Oneness

🔹 Matthew 3:16–17 (KJV)

“And Jesus, when he was baptized… the Spirit of God descending like a dove… and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

At Christ’s baptism:

• The Son is in the water.

• The Spirit descends.

• The Father speaks from heaven.

Three distinct Persons, united as one God. This is not modalism. This is not one Person switching roles. This is the Trinity revealed.

⸻

🛑 What’s Wrong With Oneness Theology?

Oneness theology denies the Trinity and claims:

• God is one Person who appears in different modes (Father, Son, Holy Ghost).

• Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

• The Father became the Son.

This view:

• Contradicts Scripture, especially Jesus’ prayers and submission to the Father.

• Denies the eternal Sonship of Christ.

• Undermines the gospel, because if there is no real distinction, there is no true intercession, no true sending, and no true love between Persons.

⸻

✅ The Biblical Teaching: One God, Three Persons

The Bible reveals one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). These three are:

• Co-equal

• Co-eternal

• Distinct in Person

• United in essence

This is not philosophy. This is Bible truth.

⸻

🙌 Final Word

When Jesus prayed to His Father, He wasn’t pretending. He wasn’t talking to Himself. He was expressing the eternal fellowship between the Son and the Father—a fellowship that has always existed and will never end.

If you believe in the Bible, you must believe in the Trinity, not in the man-made distortions of Oneness theology. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father…”

— John 5:23 (KJV)

Let Your Yea Be Yea, and Your Nay Nay: Why We Shouldn’t Make Promises

Growing up, my mom had a quiet but profound way of teaching life lessons. One that stuck with me over the years is something she repeated often: “Don’t make promises.” I can still hear her voice saying, “Maybe we can do that,” or, “I’ll try to do that.” At the time, those words felt uncertain—like a soft maybe when I wanted a firm yes—but as I’ve gotten older, I realize she was modeling something deeply Biblical and wise.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He gave this direct instruction:

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

— Matthew 5:37 KJV

And again, James—Jesus’ brother—echoes it:

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

— James 5:12 KJV

In both passages, the message is clear: speak simply, honestly, and without the need for oaths or grand promises. Our integrity should be so consistent that people can trust us without the added weight of “I swear” or “I promise.”

My mom didn’t quote Bible verses every time she said, “I’ll try,” but she lived by the principle. She understood that life is unpredictable. You can have every intention of keeping a promise, but what happens when the car breaks down, someone gets sick, or your circumstances change? That’s why she chose her words carefully. Not because she was afraid of commitment—but because she respected the uncertainty of life and the importance of being truthful.

Her restraint wasn’t evasive—it was humble.

Scripture gives us a powerful reminder of just how uncertain life can be:

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

— James 4:15 KJV

Too often, we speak with certainty about things far outside our control. We say, “I’ll be there,” or "I’ll do that,” But none of us knows what a single day may bring. The humble response, as James teaches, is to say: “If the Lord wills.” That’s not just a spiritual tagline—it’s a confession that God is sovereign and we are not.

This doesn’t mean we become flaky or noncommittal. On the contrary, it means we commit to being honest and realistic, not driven by emotion or pressured to say what others want to hear. It means our yes carries weight because we only say it when we mean it—and our no is respected because it’s given with clarity and care.

It’s okay to say:

• “I hope to do that, Lord willing.”

• “I can’t promise, but I’ll make every effort.”

Let your words be true, even if they’re few.

Conclusion

In a world full of broken promises and hollow vows, simple honesty stands out. Jesus wasn’t just giving a rule—He was showing us the path of righteousness. My mom lived that out in the way she spoke to us: with caution, honesty, and faith. And now, those words have become part of my own vocabulary.

So today, let’s embrace this principle: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. And when it's something out of your control, say... "We might go and do that," and "If it's God's will." Speak with humility, and trust God with the rest.

Jump5 vs. PureNRG: A Personal Look at Fun, Faith, and Growing Up with Christian Pop

When I think back to the early 2000s, some of my happiest memories include dancing around my room to Jump5. Their high-energy songs and upbeat sound brought so much joy to my childhood. They were fun, wholesome, and full of life—and there’s something really special about that. Jump5 absolutely had a place in my growing-up years, and I look back on those moments with a smile.

But as I grew older, I naturally began to look for music that spoke more directly to my faith—songs that helped me think, pray, and reflect on Jesus in a deeper way.

That’s when PureNRG entered my life. I first discovered them around age 11, and their music immediately stood out to me. Their songs spoke openly and directly about Jesus, and that resonated with where I was spiritually at the time. Their lyrics felt bold, sincere, and rooted in faith, and they helped me think more intentionally about my relationship with God.

PureNRG’s music stayed with me through different seasons of life. Even now, I’ll occasionally revisit their songs—not just for nostalgia, but because the messages still mean something to me. Tracks like “Sweet Jesus” and “Savior” weren’t just enjoyable; they encouraged me to lean on the Lord and reflect on my faith in a deeper way.

Looking back, I see how music marked different chapters of my life. Jump5 represents joy, movement, and carefree childhood moments. PureNRG represents growth, reflection, and spiritual discovery. Both played a role, just in different ways.
If you’re interested, I’ve made two videos where I talk more in-depth about each group. Feel free to check them out—and I’d love to hear which songs from your childhood still stick with you today.

Disclaimer: I still listen to Jump5 sometimes, too. Especially their Christmas albums around Christmas time. It's just not music I find myself wanting to worship to.