February 11, 2026

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

Strategic Withdraw

Withdraw. Retreat. Take a step back.

If you are anything like me, the advice above feels like an admission of defeat. You feel as though any break in your pace, any giving of ground, any time released will result in reduced productivity that can never be recovered.

So you press on. You advance. You take not one but two steps forward!

The striving described above is a nearly universal impulse for humans. It materializes differently across divergent personalities (the prototypical Type A is described above), but we are all inclined to look inward in our pursuit of outward productivity. If you aren’t advancing, you are retreating, and that can’t be what you are called to—or at least that is what you tell yourself. It is where we get the phrase, “the way forward.”

After all, nobody is looking for the way backward. Nobody is looking to retreat or withdraw.

But then you read, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

Jesus had just launched His public ministry and the crowds were flocking to Him. This was the time to keep the momentum going. Truly, it was. Jesus knew His mandate would eventually lead to a sacrificial death, but this was a moment of building. He was spreading His Father’s news, and telling the eternity-altering story that He was the embodiment of God! This was no time to retreat. Time was short and there was a job to do!

And yet, Jesus withdrew. He not only withdrew, but He did so often.

As you and I grow in our fervency to live like Jesus, we are foolish to disregard this habit of Jesus simply because it conflicts with cultural norms. You need to withdraw regularly. This is not just taking vacations (though I took one recently and was reminded that rest from routine is an important form of withdraw, as well). Withdrawing is a regular practice of separating yourself from the absolute din of noise and chaos that is your earthly home in order to clearly hear the intimate whispered voice of your loving heavenly Father!

Jesus would withdraw, pray, listen to His Father, and return to His Father’s work with renewed clarity.

You should withdraw, pray, listen to your Father, and return to your Father’s work with renewed clarity.

What feels like surrendering progress is actually essential to staying over the target of your Father’s work. It is also the way you prepare in advance for the situations God will put you in to specifically advance His will. You will be composed and confident in those moments not because you orchestrated them, but because you withdrew often to convene with your God, and He used those times to prepare you in advance for the work He was preparing for you (Eph. 2:10).

So do you want to take on and conquer the world ahead of you for God?

If so, the key is not in the road ahead nearly so much as it is in the regular retreat.

Do as Jesus did. Withdraw often. Pray and be with the Father. That is the place in which the road ahead is charted and the territory won.

Sports

Super Bowl LX

The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions after defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. The game itself was a defensive struggle for the first three quarters, as neither team scored a touchdown until the final quarter. The Most Valuable Player was awarded to Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for 135 yards and added another 26 yards in receiving.

Outside of the game, the halftime show received a disproportionate amount of attention and controversy. The official halftime show was performed by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, while an alternative show headlined by Kid Rock was streamed online. A number of public officials—including President Donald Trump—and millions on social media chimed in to express a preference for one performance or the other, and to opine about the perceived political messages within the performances.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Sports are certainly not the most important thing in life (I say that as a big sports fan), but they often provide a very intriguing window into broader culture and the state of society. For example, given the game is regularly the most-viewed television event of the year in the United States, advertisers flock—and pay heavily—to secure a 30 or 60-second slot to market their product or brand. Because of this, if you watch the game in a group, when the game goes to a commercial, you can see the football fans turn away to refill their plate or stretch their legs while the interest of non-football fans piques in order to catch the latest creative commercial.

The halftime show—along with nearly everything else—has also become increasingly controversial in recent years. This year, however, added a layer to that controversy as a prominent “alternative” show was planned to compete with official show. There are at least a few related items worthy of our consideration:

1) We should be mindful and conscientious about everything we watch (Pr. 119:37 warns us to refrain from taking in that which is harmful and Philip. 4:8 encourages us to focus on things that are praiseworthy). This careful analysis should be applied to every Super Bowl, halftime show, or any other programming.

2) It is unhealthy for a nation, a community, or a culture to be so reflexively divided (Matt. 12:22-28 says that a kingdom or a city divided against itself will not stand). As Jesus followers, we are instructed to seek out as much peace with our neighbors as is possible (Rom. 12:18). While this passage clearly acknowledges it won’t always be possible, it is hard to argue the current knee-jerk preference for controversy is meeting the mandate to make every effort to live at peace.

3) When it is necessary to chart an alternate way (and it most certainly will be at times), we have a sober responsibility for that path to reflect the character of the loving God. This can feel like a lonely path, as it looks quite different than popular culture (1 Pet. 2:9 calls it “peculiar”).

Let’s land back on Philippians 4:8. When was the last time you left an entertainment event feeling lighter? I can almost guarantee it was because the content of that event was some combination of true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy!

Sports

Olympic Glory

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milano Cortina, Italy. As the nations of the world compete for the medal count lead, a number of subplots always emerge. Among the early headline stories this year, 41-year-old American skier Lindsey Vonn attempted to race on an injured ACL but crashed early in the race and had to be airlifted off the mountain after sustaining a complex fracture to her tibia. Teammate Breezy Johnson took the gold medal in the event.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The Olympics form one of my earliest memories, and it is always fun to watch the best in the world compete at both familiar and unfamiliar sports. Side note: Have you ever watched the sport of skeleton outside of the Olympics? No, me either, but it is fun now! There is something about combining athletic endeavors with representing your home country that is extra special!

A crash like Lindsey Vonn’s, however, reminds us how thin the line is between champion and injured, healthy and hurting, and even life and death. Alpine skiing is inherently risky even when in peak physical condition. But the truth is none of us knows the hour or the day of our physical demise (Matt. 24:36). Every day, physical death catches up with unsuspecting people of all ages. It is something we must all be prepared for even if our plan is to live well into the future.

Because more important than the fact that physical death comes for us all is the reality that an eternal existence is for everyone, as well! Jesus Christ came to Earth to offer you eternal life and said, “No one will snatch [you] out of my hand” (Jn. 10:28).

On the other hand, eternal life is an invitation not a coercion. Your God will never force Himself on you, but rejecting Him destines you for an eternity separated from Him (Matt. 25:46).

The distance from gold to devastated is exceedingly thin (Vonn said it was five inches in her race this week). The gulf between your sin nature and God’s holiness is vast and impassable save the cross. The amazing news of amazing grace is that the cross made the way plain—you must only believe in and surrender to the One who died on it.

U.S.

Partial Shutdown

A portion of the U.S. federal government—this time the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—is facing the prospect of a shutdown yet again. The current deadline of February 13 was established when most of the government was funded for the remainder of the fiscal year (through the end of September), but funding for the DHS was only granted a short-term extension. Most of the difficulty in funding the DHS stems from the political dispute over the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is housed at DHS and has been at the center of several controversial moments—most notably the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at protests in Minneapolis, MN.

Analysis and eternal perspective: How many times is this now? None of us should be surprised, as this is now standard operating procedure for funding (or not funding) the government.

In this current situation, if a funding deal is not reached in time, DHS would technically shutdown, but in reality most of its visible operations would continue but those serving would not be paid until the funding dispute is resolved.

We as The Equipped community will restrain ourselves to two observations—one policy focused and the other internally focused.

First, on policy, it should be crystal clear by now to voters of every imaginable political stripe that the current course is not doing anyone any favors. Shutdown politics works in the favor of exactly one segment of society, and that is the political class. It harms both conservative and progressive voters, and it renders programs you both support and oppose less effective. There is a far better way, and it is the way every business that survives operates—according to a budget.

Next, let’s take a personal temperature check. The situation in Minnesota and the broader issue of ICE deployment hangs rather palpably over all of American society and culture. Views and feelings are strong and passionately held. In many ways, that is consistent with how a democratic republic like America’s is supposed to work—free, passionate, and sometimes messy debate and disagreement.

But how are you doing in the midst of it? Regardless of where you land on the merits of the debate, do you feel loved by your neighbor who sees it differently? Do you feel love for your neighbor who sees it differently?

God’s precious Word is so very clear on this point. It is both good for us to sharpen each other on the issues of the day (Pr. 27:17) and required that we love one another even in the midst of disagreements that seem to make use enemies (Matt. 5:44).

So how are you? What does an honest look in the mirror of your heart reveal? This is anything but an exercise of condemnation. In fact, it is permission to throw off the shackles of division that mark our time! Yes, Truth is, always has been, and always will be, at odds with evil. Yes, you are called to stand for Truth. But what a beautiful and liberating reality that your unity with God and Truth does the opposite of make you enemies with your neighbor. In fact, your almighty God instructs that your love for Him be walked out through love for your neighbor (Matt. 22:34-40)!

These are divided times! But you, my friend, can be free of the division!

The Beautiful

Promised Rhythm

Do the rhythms and seasons of your life feel overwhelming? They are actually a blessing from God! When God destroyed the Earth with a flood but promised Noah He would never do so again, He made you this promise:

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Gen. 8:22).

The ebb and the flow of life is a beautiful gift. Embrace them both in due season!