***EDIT*** UPDATE: Supposedly, there may be a deal, but the information is confusing at this moment as this goes out. Zerohedge reports some new concessions made by the McCarthy camp to those holding out. As this story changes and morphs, we'll do our best to keep up. The changes: A one-member “motion to vacate”: The GOP leader appears to have finally acquiesced to a demand to lower the threshold needed to force a vote ousting a speaker to just one member. While McCarthy originally indicated that restoring the one-member “motion to vacate” was a red line, his allies now argue that there’s not a huge practical difference between this and his previous offer of requiring five members to trigger the vote. Rules Committee seats for the Freedom Caucus: McCarthy is … read more

Happy New Years! We're all gearing up for the New Year and making our plans to celebrate. Every year, people gather together, pop champagne, eat snacks, go to parties, watch the ball drop on television, and finally: make New Years resolutions. The New Years resolution is an interesting practice, and has been the fodder for a lot of jokes and criticisms over the years. I'm sure, at this point, that the resolution is now considered fat-phobic, racist, sexist, and any other -ist it needs to be in order to stop hurting people's feelings. For a long time, people have used the brand new year to tell themselves they're going to change something about themselves, and make the resolution to change up bad habits or a lifestyle they know is not healthy or productive for them. And… read more

How do you keep going? Honestly, this article isn't written from the mountain top, looking down with the wise vision of 20/20. I'm writing from within the trenches. There are times where the feelings can begin to overwhelm, pushing you to wonder why it matters, what it's worth, or why keep going. Points exist on the journey within which you sit in the mud on the side of the road, wondering whether to bother standing back up. The emotions boil through you, the reminders come to the surface, and that voice you thought went away comes roaring back, gloating, “I told you so. You can't make it. This will never get better.” Times exist in life which will test your perseverance and your strength, courage and faith. Those times can be major, or they can be the soft little cuts that… read more

You may notice that unlike most articles posted on Self-Evident's website, this article is a direct result of a Podcast episode. I thought writing this would be useful for people who may want to look back on the topic, do some research, and spend a little more time with the information. We pray that this Discipline Series that we're doing on the Podcast would benefit you greatly. Our goal is to help disciple you in every area of your life, be it government, social, or faith. If there is another area of discipline that you'd like us to cover, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at: selfevidentministriespodcast@gmail.com (yes. Seriously. It was the best I could do with what wasn't taken.) We hope this article blesses you! Fasting A deeply misunderstood discipline… read more

A rush of consecration seems to be making its way through the church realm, and I find it a breath of fresh air. I've recognized in many people, within my own circle, the deep desire to consecrate themselves for the Lord. That word, “consecration” tends to get a bad wrap. Images of monks tearing their backs apart with flogs, and people fasting for 40 days and nights bounce around our heads at the mere mention of the word. Our hearts recoil at the thought. We tell ourselves, “Well now, I don't want to be that dramatic...” What if that word didn't mean what you thought it meant? I'm disgruntled in having to give you the definition (because I find such a writing technique boring and trite,) but it's in the definition and application of the word that this whole essay hinges. We… read more