Devotional

Biblical Surgery

Based on this passage of scripture, we learn that God's word is able to penetrate all aspects of a human being.  We understand through the Bible that we are made of three distinct components: body, soul and spirit.  The body being your physical being.  The soul consists of your mind, will and emotions.  Your spirit is the eternal element that is indwelled with the Holy Spirit when you are born again.

In Hebrews 4:12, we learn that God’s Word is able to penetrate all three, but I've always wondered why instead of just saying ‘body’, does the verse specify ‘joints and marrow’, which are subcomponents of the body.   

I believe the emphasis speaks to the nature of God's Word being able to perform a kind of deep surgery on our life.  I also reflect on the ACL surgery I had some years ago.  Without going into detail, it required penetrating both my joint and bone, within which bone marrow is found.  Bone marrow is critical in the human body for producing blood cells which is vital for our survival.  Bone marrow transplants are used today to treat various diseases including cancer and blood disorders.  Marrow can therefore be considered a source of life for the body.  

So when we are told in Hebrews that God’s Word is able to penetrate even the bone marrow, we start to understand how vital His Word is for our survival at all levels, including physical. We’re also reminded in Proverbs that nourishment for our bones (including marrow) comes from seeking God’s wisdom with reverent fear and avoiding evil:

Let’s get into the practice of declaring God’s Word over every aspect of our body, soul and spirit as a form of Biblical surgery, from head to toe and from inside out. 

(For more insight into understanding your Body, Soul and Spirit makeup, here is a great teaching from David Hernandez to check out)

Financial Update

Global Commodity Shocks: What They Mean for the Economy—and for Us

In recent years, global markets have faced a series of commodity shocks that have reshaped the economic landscape and influenced business decisions across every industry. A “commodity shock” occurs when the price of essential goods—such as metals, oil, agricultural products, or critical raw materials—suddenly rises or falls in a significant way. These swings can feel distant, but their impact is felt everywhere: at the gas pump, in grocery aisles, on agricultural fields, and across supply chains that support daily life.

Real-World Supply Shocks Happening Now

One very tangible example today involves the critical metal Cobalt — vital for electric-vehicle batteries and high-tech manufacturing. As of December 2025, exports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the largest global supplier, responsible for about 70% of world output) have been significantly disrupted. 

A temporary halt to exports, replaced only by a quota system in October, has caused Cobalt spot prices to more than double — from about $10 to roughly $26 per pound. The supply disruption creates pressure through global supply chains and risks delaying production of batteries and electronics worldwide.

At the same time, industrial metals such as Copper and Silver are also feeling the squeeze. Supply constraints — from mine outages in places like Indonesia, Chile and the Congo, as well as reduced stockpiles in global warehouses — have driven copper futures to record highs and sent silver soaring.

On the agricultural front, soft-commodities markets are increasingly volatile. For example, droughts, crop diseases, and extreme weather have damaged harvests of cocoa and coffee in major producing regions. As of late 2024 and into 2025, cocoa supply has become the worst-in decades, with estimates of global supply deficits exceeding 500,000 metric tons.

Such disruptions — whether in metals, energy, or agriculture — ripple across industries and geographies. Rising prices on metal inputs can slow or make costlier the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable-energy infrastructure. Supply squeezes on food or soft commodities inflate consumer prices, fueling global inflation and hurting lower-income households most.

Our Response to Commodity Shocks

For individuals and business leaders alike, understanding these trends is essential. Commodity shocks can lead to higher inflation, shifting interest rates, and changes in consumer behavior.

When costs rise, households often reduce discretionary spending, while businesses are pressured to choose between absorbing the cost or passing it on. In some cases, innovation emerges as companies seek new suppliers, alternative materials, or more efficient processes.

As believers, these unpredictable seasons also remind us of a deeper truth: the world’s systems are temporary and fragile, but God remains steady. While markets rise and fall, our hope is not rooted in economic stability but in God’s faithfulness to provide. 

Commodity shocks will continue to shape the global economy, but they also invite us to lead with wisdom, discernment, and trust. By staying informed, planning thoughtfully, and relying on God’s guidance, we can navigate uncertainty with both confidence and compassion.

Tech Update

AI Chatbots and a Warning

AI chatbots are an extension of traditional chat technology that most of us have experienced when seeking customer support online. The primary difference is that in the past, you would communicate with an actual human, versus now with an AI virtual agent. Virtual chat agents process your questions and responses in real time using conversational AI technology such as natural language processing (NLP).  NLP has taken off in the last few years with the introduction of ChatGPT and related tools built using large language models (LLMs).

The benefits of AI chatbots are obvious for companies that provide customer support as they can usually resolve many customer queries without requiring human intervention. The reduction in human customer support workforce has been more than 30% already, and is projected to grow in the coming years.  

Dark Side of AI Chatbots and Children

While the technology is great for commercial use, a dark side has emerged. Chatbots are being used to simulate humans and build trust with individuals by creating artificial relationships.  Some of this is entertaining but when used by children, the dangers of creating intimate feelings and bonding has led to social and emotional disorders.  Worse yet, AI chatbots can generate sexual, violent, and self-harm–related content even with seemingly innocent prompts.

60 Minutes recently reported a case where parents believe chatbots played a role in leading to their child’s suicide.  A horrific reminder of how critical it is for parents to be involved in managing their children’s digital usage and interactions.

How We Respond as Christ Followers 

Learn to talk to God first and foremost and not to an artificial guide.  If we find ourselves seeking guidance and direction from anyone above and beyond God, then it’s time to get back into alignment.  If we find we are spending more time interacting with AI tools than we are reading the Bible, then it's time to get back to the Word.  

If you are a parent or supervisor of a child, invest in building their relationship with God.  Time spent in active human communication is so vital in an age where it’s being destroyed by virtual identities.  Focus on teaching children who they are in Christ and their uniqueness as children of God, so they learn their true and eternal value.

Trivia Corner

Test your wisdom and knowledge of the Bible.

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