Get Smart

Cut through the Fog

Seize the battle for clarity, momentum, and decision-making in a world drowning in complexity.

No fluff. No endless planning for someday.

The Core Truths Simplified and Clarified:

1. Picture the Future, Change the Now: When you see where you’re headed, your mind and actions shift immediately. Vision isn’t fantasy—it’s fuel.

2. Set Goals, Shift Reality: Goals aren’t just targets; they reprogram how you engage the present. When you aim high, you act differently—today.

3. Goals Shape Perception: The goals you choose define the lens you see life through. Set them wisely, because they control the narrative in your head.

4. Keep It Real: Unrealistic goals kill momentum. Achievable targets? They build unstoppable energy.

5. Simplicity Wins: Complexity multiplies failure. Simple strategies? They cut through the noise and deliver results.

6. Flexibility is Power: Over-planning suffocates creativity. Stay adaptable. Rigidity is the enemy of progress.

7. Linearity is a Lie: Progress isn’t a straight line. Life doesn’t wait for perfect steps—move now with what you have.

8. Principle Over Process: Core truths scale—whether you’re leading a team, building a life, or facing a crisis. Master the fundamentals and they work everywhere.

This is More Than a System—It’s a Mindset Shift:

This isn’t just theory—it’s a total recalibration of how you make decisions. Refine your clarity when under pressure. Reject micromanagement and fear-driven control. Be faith in action:

• Faith Over Control: Trust the process. Control is an illusion. Faith-driven action has been the blueprint for victory since the beginning.

• Wisdom That Scales: The truth works. Principles aren’t bound by context—they thrive in every setting. That’s what makes Scripture timeless.

• Now, Not Someday: The power is in the present. Stop worrying about tomorrow. Do what you can now. Jesus said it best: “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)

Bottom Line:

Truth is about clarity when others panic.

Power is the capacity to move when others freeze.

Simple, focused action rides the waves, even when the world is spinning out of control.

And, Hello to the rest of you…

No StarFall2029 this week again as I compel myself to a solid week of “down time,” meaning, “just” being a parish pastor “kind of” on vacation during the (usually) slowest two weeks of the year.

But I’ll be back with the weekly show next week, as we count down to the passing of Apophis. (See below for a full spec on the game plan as it stands.)

Today, I’m plunking hard away at setting up some new habits for workflow that I intend to hold as firm rudders in the digital wastelands of the Information Age. With the advent of Jonathan AI as the tool by which I accomplish much of what you see, my life of permanent 6x4 nirvana has come to a blazing, screeching, whirl-winding halt, replete with the sudden need to manage an increasingly profound paper file system.

It’s not unlike my 19-year-old squealed after a particular gift was unwrapped, “Annotation tools!”

I maintain, in this early, barely wild westWest age of GPTs, you can learn anything. The only limit is your own imagination and curiosity.

Meanwhile, I want to also thank all of you who have for so many years supported me and mine with your prayers and other gifts. I look back at it, I see my blooming children around my meager home. We are rich, I say! And yet, with a third teen wanting car insurance, and a family active in martial arts, horse-riding and air-soft, the tension of choosing the single-income (LCMS pastor!), large-family, trust-God plan, has show its call. I repeat, without you all, I don’t know where we would be.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And eternally, thank you.

You are the reasons I have written those books.

You are the reasons I made endless videos.

You are the reasons I still am not done yet.

Jesus is alive, and He did it for you.

What am I? Your friend and brother, a fellow-sojourner in the tribulation, a son of man called Son of God and Beloved by the only one who would know.

I’ll be back at it soon. This is the season to build.

StarFall2029 Game Summary:

StarFall2029 is an immersive, multi-layered radio show and live-action role-playing game (LARP) that merges biblical literacy, apocalyptic themes, cultural critique, and deep personal reflection. Set against the countdown to April 13, 2029 (the passing of the asteroid Apophis), it positions players in a dynamic narrative where they engage in spiritual warfare, uncover mysteries, and build spiritual resilience.

Key Features:

1. Triple Game Boards:

• Temporal Stage: Real-world events and cultural distractions (e.g., societal trends, politics).

• Battlefield of the Soul: Personal struggles against sin, doubt, and spiritual growth.

• Cosmic Stage: God’s overarching plan and eternal sovereignty.

2. Roles and Archetypes:

• Watchers: Analyze world events for spiritual insights.

• Builders: Establish and fortify “arks”—spiritual safe havens.

• Warriors: Engage in spiritual combat through prayer and Scripture.

• Sons of Solomon: Emphasize wisdom, discipline, and preparation.

3. Immersive Mechanics:

• Bible Clue System: Players interpret verses for subtle guidance in challenges.

• Dynamic Lore: Quests inspired by scripture, spiritual dilemmas, and biblical archetypes.

• Survival Systems: Environmental and spiritual challenges align to test resilience.

4. Cultural Parody with Depth:

• Combines HG Wellian futurism and Orwellian critique to parody modern absurdities while calling listeners to theological clarity.

5. Victory Conditions:

• Mastery of biblical wisdom.

• Building generational legacies and spiritual communities.

• Cultural resistance and alignment with God’s will.

Introductory Tutorial for New Players:

Welcome to StarFall2029: Where the Cosmic Countdown Begins!

Step 1: Understand the Journey:

You’re entering a story where the stakes are eternal. Your mission: Prepare for the day when Apophis passes, symbolizing divine reckoning. Along the way, you’ll:

• Navigate the chaos of the world (Temporal Stage).

• Confront your inner struggles (Battlefield of the Soul).

• Anchor yourself in God’s eternal victory (Cosmic Stage).

Step 2: Choose Your Role:

1. Watcher: Decode current events for their spiritual significance.

• Tools: Observational guides and cultural analysis.

2. Builder: Construct spiritual “arks” to protect and guide others.

• Tools: Community-building strategies and biblical insights.

3. Warrior: Stand firm in spiritual battles.

• Tools: Psalms for combat, prayers for fortification.

4. Son of Solomon: Pursue wisdom, discipline, and scriptural mastery.

• Tools: Proverbs for strategy, deep reflection on God’s Word.

Step 3: Light Your Lamp:

• Begin with a simple task: Pray Psalm 1 every morning and read one Proverb each night.

• Reflect on how these scriptures guide your daily actions.

Step 4: Learn the Triple Game Boards:

1. First Board (Temporal Stage):

• Observe current events and identify their spiritual implications.

• Example: A news story about AI could reflect idolatry or humanity’s search for purpose.

2. Second Board (Battlefield of the Soul):

• Identify your personal struggles (e.g., fear, anger, doubt).

• Use Psalms as tools to combat these challenges.

• Example: Pray Psalm 23 for comfort and strength in the face of fear.

3. Third Board (Cosmic Stage):

• Contemplate how God’s sovereignty ties all things together.

• Meditate on Colossians 1:15-20 as a reminder of Christ’s preeminence.

Step 5: Begin the Adventure:

• Participate in weekly missions, such as memorizing scripture, interpreting a cultural event, or engaging in acts of kindness.

• Share your progress with fellow players to build community and encouragement.

Final Note:

The journey is both a game and a call to action. As you play, you’ll grow in wisdom, faith, and readiness for the ultimate unveiling of God’s plan. Light your lamp, build your ark, and burn bright in the chaos.