August 12, 2026

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

Pairs run wild in The Equipped this week! We are so grateful to be paired up with you in this mission to view all things in our world through the lens of the True and the beautiful. Would you like to formally support the mission? We're looking for a few more people to help offset the cost of a growing community. You can give one time or become a monthly supporter of all that is True and beautiful! Thank you!

The True

Two

In the pages of scripture, it seems there are always two.

In Psalm 1, there are two paths—one for the righteous and one for the wicked.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, two choices—one for life and one for death.

In John 14:5-6, two attempts to be with the Father—one through Jesus that finds the Father and one without Jesus that doesn’t.

In Matthew 6:24, two masters—God and money, only one of which you can truly serve.

On and on it goes. Your God is a jealous God (Ex. 34:14). He is indeed the only way (Jn. 14:6). And yet, in a sign of His deep desire to be pursued by you, He has always provided you with a second choice. He could have simply set creation—including you—on autopilot and aimed you in the direction of the one true way.

But instead, He stands at the door and knocks (Rev. 3:20) and provides you with two choices. Because of His abundant patience, you may choose to turn a deaf ear to His knocking. He will not force His way in. But don’t let His patience be confused with the absence of consequence, because your decision to leave Him on the outside is a forfeiture of all that comes with choosing Him.

If you will incline your ear to His knocking and respond by opening the door to Him, you will have chosen the better way. The reward in the immediate is His lingering and abiding presence with you (“I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”).

But my friend, there are also two distinctly different eternities based on this decision. A decision to leave Jesus on the outside looking in results in an eternity separated from Him (Matt. 13:42). A decision to open the door results in eternal life with Him (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:25)!

The simplicity of it can cause us to forget the significance. It is tempting to overcomplicate it, making it unnecessarily difficult to attain.

But the truth is there are always two paths and two choices. But only one leads to life eternal and abundant. My friend, there are always two. But choose the one that leads to life!

World

Two Types of Earthquakes

Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed “The Tiger,” is Colombia’s new president after his swearing-in on Friday. Espriella’s narrow election victory over Senator Iván Cepeda was something of a political earthquake in Colombia, as Sen. Cepeda had the backing of outgoing President Gustavo Petro. In a sign of his planned crackdown on violence in the region, President Espriella chose the city of Cali as the site for his swearing in, a departure from the traditional location in Colombia’s capital city of Bogotá.

Just three days later, a massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 100 miles north of Cali, killing more than 100 and leaving many trapped or injured. The quake was, according to Colombia’s Geological Service, the strongest earthquake in Colombia since at least the turn of the century. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing.

Analysis and eternal perspective: On one hand, there is no comparing a figurative seismic political shift with the literal devastation of seismic earthquake. The latter is often (including in this case) marked by significant loss of life and property while the former impacts mostly matters of governance.

Even so, the two events occurring in close succession present a challenge for all Colombians, both those in an official capacity and civilians. Many of those officially responsible for responding to the tragedy are new on the job and are now facing a significant reordering of their expected priorities. Meanwhile, those directly impacted by the quake are depending on a new governing regime to facilitate rescue efforts. An efficient response will necessarily include cooperation across strained political lines.

As we pray for both the people of Colombia and the new Espriella administration, let us do so unsurprised by the volatility of this present Earth. Luke 21:10-11 clearly points toward an earthly timeline that trends toward upheaval, war, and natural disaster. This does not minimize the significance of the suffering in the moment, but it should deepen our resolve to root ourselves in the unshakable promises of eternity.

U.S.

Two Executive Orders

U.S. President Donald Trump issued two significant executive orders this week: 1) an order narrowing the applicability of birthright citizenship, and 2) an order altering the childhood vaccine recommendations.

The birthright citizenship order directs that a child born on U.S. soil to foreign national parent(s) will not be deemed a U.S. citizen if any of several circumstances are true. These include: a) either parent is an alien enemy of the U.S., b) either parent is a foreign government employee, c) either parent is engaged in a “commercial transaction to obtain citizenship,” or d) the birth occurs in a territory where citizenship is not granted by statute.

The vaccine order establishes new “Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations” and direct federal agencies and state governments to adopt applicable laws and regulations to reflect the changes. It also directs the Department of Justice to ensure state compliance with parental authority laws, including religious freedom and disability accommodations.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Each of these is a hot-button issue and it will take your intentionality to interact with this story in a way that prioritizes relationship with those around you. This is a unique and significantly counter-cultural approach we embrace at The Equipped, but it is one specifically instructed by scripture. Matthew 5:19 calls us to peacemaking and Romans 12:18 tasks us to choose peace whenever possible and to every extent that depends on us.

There are two caveats here that are true but that each of us will be tempted to invoke prematurely. First, these are not calls to acquiescence. God’s Word is equally clear that we are to defend (and even adorn ourselves in) truth (see Eph. 6:14 and 2 Cor. 13:8 for two of many such directives). Next, and somewhat conversely, it is easy to point to another’s departure from truth as cause for abandoning the pursuit of peace with them.

Neither of these off-ramps align with our call. We are to stand on and speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and we are also to pursue loving relationship across lines of disagreement (1 Cor. 4:12; Rom. 14:1-22).

Both issues in this story are important. Our community certainly has a variety of views on them, and our public policy around each improves when we sincerely engage with each other across lines of difference. Doing so requires an intentional rejection of the cultural norm of vilifying your brother or sister who begins the conversation from a different perspective on the issue.

Let’s together as The Equipped community lead the way in this biblical model of civic dialogue.

U.S.

Two Continuing Resolutions

The U.S. Senate approved a continuing resolution (CR) in the early morning hours of Saturday to fund the government through December 11, 2026. The measure, which includes several extraneous items, differs from the CR passed by the U.S. House, which includes funding through December 4, 2026. To avert a government shutdown at the end of September, the two chambers will need to align on a uniform version of the CR to send to the president for his signature.

Analysis and eternal perspective: This is the current “normal” for the annual appropriations (spending) process in Congress. Over the last couple decades, it has become increasingly common to abandon any real debate in either full chamber over individual components of the federal budget. Instead, there is one large negotiation (mostly between just congressional leaders) that frequently pushes up against a looming government shutdown, which results in a recurring headline and political pressure to “reach a deal.” If either of the current CRs is eventually signed into law, you can mark it on your calendars for another similar debate in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Candidly, it is a lousy way to govern and steward taxpayer resources, and one that neither party should embrace.

This is an area where The Equipped should begin by simply declining to take the anxiety bait. The habit of leaping from fiscal cliff to fiscal cliff and negotiating against deadlines is embraced specifically because it maximizes pressure. This pressure might help politicians “get a deal,” but it does the opposite for a people endeavoring to live in the peace Jesus promised (Jn. 14:27). The good news is you can choose the latter over the former.

It would be prudent for voters of every political persuasion to incentivize better stewardship of the federal budget. But in the meantime, you can adopt a posture that is clear-eyed about the repetitive nature of the current political rhythm and decline to be animated by the inevitable “emergencies” on loop.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

The Beautiful

Two are Better Than One

In keeping with our theme, you get not one but two images in The Beautiful this week!

It has become something of a cultural custom to gift sunflowers in pairs. This is due to a common belief that sunflowers face the sun until it sets and then turn toward each other at night. The reality is in many respects even more awe-inducing, as sunflowers face the visible sun until it sets and then turn to the east in anticipation of the sun’s next appearance!

Your world is more beautiful if you have people who turn with anticipation toward the Son alongside you!

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecc. 4:9-10).