Fall Down 7, Get Up 8: A SOAP Bible Study on Proverbs 24

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025Leave a comment

Scripture: Proverbs 24:16 – “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”

Prelude: Recently, I was reminded of a late 2000s NBA commercial in which Dwyane Wade collapses to the parquet multiple times over the course of his career. After a montage of tumbles, a new series unfolds in which he rises from each fall before the screen goes to black…

Coincidently, this connects to a separate memory last decade. Remember the 2017 NAACP Image Awards when Denzel Washington delivered one of his most iconic speeches?

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

…still gives me chills to this day.

Understandably, many cite this line as a Japanese proverb with a credit to celebrity enlightenment; however, in reality, its true source is the Word of God; hence, this SOAP Bible study in which we will dissect the contrast in greater detail.

As always, let’s dive in…

Observations: In a vacuum, this verse compares the resilience of the righteous to the cowardice of the wicked. Both sides face setbacks and challenges, but only one perseveres through them. While some assume this verse suggests adversity comes to the unwise, the reality is that calamity finds all of us at one point or another. The key is how we respond and endure the way God intended.

As mentioned in a recent post, even good people fail sometimes, especially as they face new challenges and situations beyond their ability to handle. Humility applied, we must understand these circumstances are not the product of poor character, but a part of God’s plan to develop it. In what we say and do, are we willing to rely on God’s guidance in the fullness of faith and integrity? If not, we will inevitably succumb to stubbornness and disbelief as the trials undo us.

Symbolically, the number seven is used here to emphasize completion and perfection, as God’s grace empowers the righteous to suffer through their failures. Granted, man, in his finiteness, may be ‘one and done’ on certain matters; however, since God sees the entire picture, we can trust that in HIs faithfulness, He will give us multiple opportunities to clear our hurdles. How sweet it is knowing we can live from victory as we wrestle with and for God!

Following v. 16, we find a subsequent call in v. 17-18:

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”

As people redeemed by faith through the Cross, this charge cannot be understated. While our flesh may snicker at karma and the kind of justice that enhances our ego, we must never rejoice when others fall and can’t get up. If anything, we should intercede and consider our options to help. Even if we can’t directly intervene, we can pray for a person whose peace is in peril and build a broken brother up from a place of boundary.

Applications: Although chaos and conflict are unavoidable in this life, God is the one true constant through it all. When tough times come, we can rest knowing there’s a vertical response with our name on it. To those feeling God is leading you through a desert or wilderness right now, remember how God used Joseph in the Old Testament (Genesis 39) and Paul in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 1:8-10). You may feel lost in the hole or bind you’re currently in, but this could be part of a grander setup in which God is equipping your heart to reach a promise and purpose He has ordained for you.

Bottom line: God never fails and has the power to restore our confidence and redeem our failures. Although setbacks will come, as long as we fix our eyes on Jesus and follow His lead one step at a time, God will not only forgive us but also bring us to completion according to His Word (Philippians 1:6). Why not let Him be the fall back you crave when all hope seems lost?

Prayer:

“God, we turn and align to you in this moment. We thank you for being a merciful, faithful God in whom we can trust. Father, as I write this, I think about those in dry valleys, surrounded by bones, needing a spark. As men and women fallen in sin, we confess our need for a Savior, who through His strength and sovereignty, provides the tools and opportunities necessary to rise above the obstacles of life. For those wresting in guilt and shame, for those who feel defeated for not having passed a specific test, we speak peace, grace, truth, and love to their hearts and minds today. May they find you in the wake of their desperation, for others, in the midst of their course-correcting. In our frailty, we admit our limited perspective, our tendency to get way ahead or woefully behind you. Though the ways to faith derailment are many, we choose to lean on your understanding, to follow the prompting of your Holy Spirit, and to press into you with all that is within us. Bless your holy name. Come alive within us. Help us not to give up and give in but as Psalm 57:1 says, lead us from failure’s shadow in and under the shadow of your wings. Amen.“

Cover graphic creds: Redbubble

Beauty in Chaos: The Joy of Faith in Crisis

January 18, 2025March 2, 2025Leave a comment

A fresh cut from Juju’s book…

We’re a people designed to hope, for hope. Take hope away and what are you left with? Depression, anxiety, disorder, death? How about complacency within our anguish yielding a life without a pulse, left to its own devices? Sounds bleak, right?

Sometimes, I wonder why people can’t comprehend the source of their innate capabilities and wirings. Even in my best attempts to exude compassion, I occasionally scratch my head, curious as to how man thinks he can find inspiration without looking up and humbly breaking. As chaos compels, the initial beauty in crisis is the prioritization and focus it compels our attention to what truly matters. But there has to be more than such wholistic reconfiguration, specifically an alignment between what fuels and drives us.

During my time in the NICU, I experienced firsthand how God is faithful in meeting us in our darkest places. Amidst the despair around me, I learned to a higher degree how God doesn’t wait aimlessly from the sidelines to engage but eagerly pursues us. The intentionality behind this mode of love as received in suffering has transcendent repercussions. For one thing…

Relying on God not only strengthens our sensitivity to His nearness but also stirs us to scale our suffering to the point we feel empowered to help others keep going.
Tweet

Oftentimes, in pressure-cooker situations, life moves fast and we miss God and divine opportunities on account of our surviving. Understandably, many surf the wave of sorrow simply trying to ride it without crashing and burning. Yet, if we want to feel like we’re doing more than just keeping our head above the water, we must embrace our response to setbacks as a central way to witness the heart of the Gospel.

The truth is, my dream for anyone, regardless of faith, philosophy, and orientation, is to embrace God’s love, especially in the context of vertical reliance. Yes, community and self-care are vital as part of the endurance equation. Lord knows there are enough TikToks and Shorts concerning the topics. But by itself, all the content in the world cannot produce the perseverance that leads to character that leads to hope. A key testament to our flesh is the desire we have for lookaheads, which can be innocent enough; however, if we value change and breakthrough, we must perceive look-ups as their pre-requisite. After all, if what we long for is not something we can depend on for life, goodness, or the reproduction of anything worthwhile, then it must be contained within boundaries and moderation. Frankly, I don’t want my trust to be based on what is conditional and fleeting; granted, I’ve exhausted the alternatives enough to know the reason I live is the core of anything I could ever need or want.

But to those who haven’t checked down accordingly, the believer is most like Jesus when grace is contagious as much as it is evident. As Juju helped me realize, I’m not fully salted if I’m not putting myself in a position to be regularly seasoned. Why did Lys and I encounter a faith boost during the 2021-22 campaign? In a few words, because our trips to the faucet were far more frequent! So even as we struggled, our thirst was quenched more regularly than ever before. Consequently, we recognized the importance of overflow and how powerful it is when we’re looking up along the way.

Whether or not you can relate directly is secondary to the same God who will surely empower, equip, and encourage you to receive from Him as you experience Him during life’s greatest challenges. For “He knows the way that [you should] take; when He has tested [you], [you] shall come out like gold. [Your] foot held fast to his steps [because you did not turn] aside.” ~ Job 23:10-11 (ESV)

Selah.

Cover photo creds: LinkedIn

Year in Review: A Look Back at 2024

December 27, 2024January 3, 2025Leave a comment

Remember Charles Dicken’s epic opening in “A Tale of Two Cities”?

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Back in the day, I used to read these clauses as ‘either/or’, as if you could only be on one side of the ledger.

But lately, my interpretation has evolved to something more in line with Shannon Alder:

“Sometimes the best and worst times of your life can coincide. It is a talent of the soul to discover the joy in pain—-thinking of moments you long for, and knowing you’ll never have them again. The beautiful ghosts of our past haunt us, and yet we still can’t decide if the pain they caused us outweighs the tender moments when they touched our soul. This is the irony of love.”

Indeed, 2024, like any year, has featured its share of ups and downs, the rollercoaster largely attributable to family dynamics and the neurodivergences we daily troubleshoot.

Yet, unlike last year, I’ve rediscovered my smile again, and as a vintage Mastercard commercial will tell you, you can’t put a price tag on that. As my prior Year in Review update attests, 2023 was one of the worst years I experienced, not only for me but for Lys and the rest of the family. Stuck in post-Juju grief, financial hardship, desperate for new work, there were many discouraging narratives outside our control. But twelve months later, I’m happy to say the landscape has changed dramatically, and with it, our perspective and outlook.

Of note, my first year at Mercy Multiplied was a major highlight. Heading into the year, I didn’t know how I would adjust to an Accounting Manager role after a four-year stint as a Client Support Manager; however, as I would soon find, the environment, training, and teaming would provide plenty of stability and balance. While much more could be said, the skinny is the faithfulness of God. By His grace, He has not only fused the best from past pitstops, but has also networked a foundation from which I’ve been able to apply lessons learned from those eras. Even in a high transition/turnover year, I’ve felt more anchored during the 9-5 as new skills, connections, and opportunities have accrued. Consequently, I head into 2025 with more occupational momentum and excitement than anticipated.

On the home front, the most notable occurrence took place on February 13, 2024, on which my son, Milo, survived a brutal attack from our neighbor’s dog. Emotionally and physically shredded, Milo recovered quickly during the spring, though we continue to devote many hours to his healing. In light of Milo’s autistic diagnosis following the incident, his progress has included weekly occupational, feeding, and trauma therapies. As we navigate legal hurdles, we’ve also been investing in life wellness activities for Caeden and Everly as they advance in their own grief journeys. Needless to say, much of life this year has centered on restoration, though we rejoice in God’s sovereignty and knowing Satan’s intent to destroy our family has backfired tremendously.

In terms of memorable moments, our family trip to California in mid-May proved to be a horizon-broadening experience for the kids. Honoring the late Reverend Dennis Shuey in our travels, we soaked up the sun from Monterey to San Jose during our 8-day voyage. While the inspiration behind the trek was dampening, our time in the Golden State allowed for some much-needed family bonding and quality time.

Weather-wise, there were two instances worthy of mention:

Winter Storm Heather (January 14-15, 2024) – This event not only shattered expectations but was verified as a top three snow event dating back to the 1995-96 winter. Stuck at home for over a week, the eight consecutive 1+” snow depth streak at BNA was the longest since January 1978. The refreezing of melted snow kept sledding conditions ideal during much of this time. I’ll let the time lapses and highlights below take it from there…

2. Columbia Tornado (May 8, 2024) – While snow has a special place in my heart, the top meteorological moment of the year was my Columbia storm chase on May 8, during which I confronted the mesocyclone that produced a killer tornado just a mile from my location. Tracking on a whim, the tornado was the second I successfully intercepted. Unfortunately, 67 year-old, Cheryl Lovett lost her life when the tornado struck her home on Bear Creek Pike.

Spiritually speaking, 2024 came full circle for Caeden, who expressed a desire to be baptized in January before taking the plunge on September 29, 2024.

Church-wise, we continue to attend and serve at The Gate Church. As Communication Directors, Lys and I are eager to see what the new year brings with new pastoral care initiatives in motion.

Regarding our While We’re Waiting small group, Lys and I continue to ‘grassroot’ a local cohort. Since June, we’ve partnered with two on-air ministries, Christian Missionary Radio and 104.9 The Gospel, in sharing our heart behind the community. With a rejuvenated passion to reach bereaved parents, we hope to facilitate greater healing within our group so onsite and virtual ministry can coincide. No question, planting this tribe of God’s presence has been a breath of fresh air.

In other news, Fry Freelance has expanded its wings again with new podcasting projects and two new books under construction. Even as AI invades more digital and entrepreneurial space, we hope to keep up with the times while staying true to our brand. Don’t be surprised if the His Girl Fryday website and name go under construction in 2025 after a 10,000 hit-year. As these endeavors fill in the lines, Lys and I are also hoping to mature our homeschooling rhythm in tandem with the wonderful people and curriculum of Arrows Academy. Since our January enrollment, they have provided a safe learning space for Caeden, Everly, and Milo. The three even got to be in their first school production when they were cast as spiders in Charlotte’s Web!

As for smiley Aili, well, she continues to amaze us with her growth and cunning. The epitome of rainbow baby, she’s been a mellow glue binding the family since her arrival last July. We celebrate not only her health and development but also her upbeat and centralizing energy.

Overall, while there were setbacks in 2024, they pale compared to the rebounding narratives we find ourselves in. After the third worst year of the century last year, 2024 wraps up as the best since 2016 and one of the best start-to-finish years since graduating college. Whether next year features another two steps forward, we know having been through the wringer in recent years how God works out all things for His glory and good. So it is with our prayers for you and your family that you endure and press forward in His name with hope and expectancy fully attached.

To you and yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~ Cameron, Lyssah, Caeden, Every, Milo, Jubilee, and Aili Fry

Cover photo creds: NWS-Nashville

Awaiting Advent: The Joy of Perpetual Hope

December 13, 2024December 18, 2024Leave a comment

Well, folks, it finally happened. 

Last week, as I was sipping on some hot brew on a chilly pre-winter morning, my oldest son, Caeden, walked up to me and asked, “Is Santa Claus real?“

At first, my inner Michael Scott started to blare.

But after realizing I’d appraised a response years prior, I knew what I needed to do. Citing some Vintage Richard Attenborough from Miracle on 34th Street, I facetiously replied:

“Santa is more than a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. He’s a symbol. He’s a symbol of the human ability to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can’t believe, if you can’t accept anything on faith, then you’re doomed for a life dominated by doubt.”

After a few seconds of awkward silence, I could tell by Caeden’s deadpan demeanor, he needed more clarity. Thus, I restructured my answer. 

“No, son. Santa is not real based on how he’s portrayed today, but like many of our favorite movies and books, he’s inspired by real people and events.”

Satisfied, Caeden dropped the inquiry knowing the intel he obtained days before aligned with my wording. But for me, the moment was far from over. Rewatching the movie, I realized how profound the scene is specifically when one substitutes ‘truth’ for symbol and ‘Jesus’ for Santa. With mental wheels grinding, I started to wonder: Throughout the world, how many have Jesus in their hearts but with the truth suppressed? To those who follow Christ, are we wearing our faith to buzz our spirits or are we letting joy and goodwill organically overflow from being present with people? 

Weighing the contrast, I considered another cinematic sequence in Home Alone during which Kevin’s mom attempts to secure a flight from Scranton to Chicago.

Desperate to see her son, she reminds the airline agent that Christmas is a season for perpetual hope and threatens to hitchhike, even sell her soul to the devil to be reunited. In this case, her franticness drives her anticipation, her hope nothing more than a means to an end, a bartering tool for it to be realized. Unfortunately, this can be a popular posture for those facing adversity in December; hence, why we should heed what the Word says about perpetual hope:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”1 Peter 1:3 NIV
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13 NIV
“Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 AMP
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 NIV
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV
“…we ourselves, …wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope, we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:23-25 NIV
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my hope.” Psalms 130:5 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
“It is for this that we labor and strive because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in him, recognize him as the Son of God, and accept him as Savior and Lord].” 1 Timothy 4:10 AMP

Taking a systematic approach, we find this version of hope to not only be a glorious fusion between Advent and Immanuel, but a testament to why faith and freedom can co-exist. As Christ’s first coming reminds us, patience carries virtue to the extent it anticipates with, you guessed it, perpetual hope. Not wishful thinking, not warm musing, but a steadfast belief in our Savior who conquered death and is alive today. Knowing He will come again, we engage Christmas by celebrating the incarnation and the eternal relationship we have with Jesus. 

Yet, as we wait and hope in full, we must receive Christ into our brokenness as we reflect his nature to the world. Often, we undermine or overextend the call we have to emulate Christ to those who need him most during the holidays. Like Kevin’s mom, we see a need for life, a wake-up call if you will, and want to pull hope down from the heavens, put a bow on it, and say ‘Merry Christmas’ as we casually go about our way. If only serving as conduits of hope was that easy. 

Passive as it may seem, particularly to Elf enthusiasts, the best way to extend Christmas cheer is not singing loud for all to hear, but making bold the name of Jesus, the hope of the world, so those who don’t know him have a chance to see, at the very least, hear. That’s, in part, the beauty of Matthew 12:21. At some point, those who don’t yet believe will find and have a chance to receive hope, even if the sole prompt is the sound of his name. While our goodwill may be genuine in the short term, for it to be effective in the long term, it must be vertically aligned so that our hope may reflect what it personifies, the God of all comfort.

Of course, I’m not suggesting I’m as consistent as I need to be with this. I just know the authority I have in Jesus to speak his name while receiving the season as a cue for holy declaration, even during seasons of chaos and crisis. Take it from one who knows what it’s like to hold his child as she takes her last breath, I get how Christmas can trigger the blues at a swifter rate than the reds and greens. 🦋🦋🦋

But Christ in me, I know the emotional amplification is a testament to why we commemorate this season. In the same way saints of old yearned for a Messiah, we long for him to come again and in the meantime, make straight his ways, to complete the work He’s started in us. Cheesy as it sounds, Christmas truly is a ‘present’ to the believer given it stitches our past to our future. Knowing what God has done before, we can remain active in our hope as divine construction in our hearts and worlds occurs. We can smile as we groan, laugh as we cry, and believe when it doesn’t make sense. We can be present with people even when we feel alone. We can even share the little we [think we] have to offer with another who regards it as plenty.

Quite simply, the paradox of Christmas is its lasting legacy. While the light of Christmas is the gift of Jesus, the current in which it flows is its unceasing element compelling us to seek him, to make our hope perpetual, and lay down our doubt, pride, and offenses for heart-healing alternatives.

One day we will get there. Until then, the charge is simple: Don’t force the hope this Christmas; reflect it. Don’t burden yourself trying to fix problems outside your control. Rather, refocus on rediscovering and realigning with the One who makes all things new. As for those struggling with grief this Christmas, remember God sent his begotten Son to earth so our literal and spiritual deaths could be reconciled. As timely hymns attest, there’s profound peace to be found when we consider Mary carrying Jesus, a son who was born to die so our loved ones, in some cases, our babies, could live.

No matter what season or situation you’re in, may what you believe be a transparent means for those on the outside to know there is a God who is love who is there for them. Take joy in your part, but more importantly, your King, who makes a way even when there is no way.

Cover photo creds: Chicago Magazine

A ❤️ of Thanksgiving: Why Gratitude is Best Expressed in Full

November 28, 2024Leave a comment

This Thanksgiving, don’t just express gratitude over what you have but also what you don’t have. Often, we celebrate the providence and faithfulness of God during this time of year; however, are we acknowledging what God has saved us from and/or what He may be withholding to mature us in season?

Some thoughts to consider…

Supporting Bible verses:

Philippians 4:1
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Jonah 2:9
“But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

Psalm 103:2-5
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

2 Corinthians 9:10
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

Isaiah 9:3
“You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as soldiers rejoice when dividing the plunder.“