On Wednesday, Leo XIV received a white horse as a gift. Proton, a purebred Arabian, was given to the Pope by Andrzej Michalski, owner and founder of the Michalski Stud Farm, in Kołobrzeg-Budzistowo, Poland.

"PROTON" = The Greek word "πρῶτον" (prōton), from which the English term "proton" is derived (though in modern physics it refers to a subatomic particle, unrelated to biblical usage), is an adverb in ancient Greek. It originates as the neuter form of the adjective "πρῶτος" (prōtos), meaning "first" or "foremost." In the original Greek text of the New Testament, "prōton" appears 58 times and consistently emphasizes priority, whether in terms of time (e.g., sequence of events), order (e.g., rank or succession), or importance (e.g., what is chief or primary).
This aligns with classical Greek usage but is applied in biblical contexts to highlight divine priorities, moral imperatives, or eschatological sequences.Core Meanings in the New TestamentBased on lexical analyses from sources like Strong's Concordance and the NAS Exhaustive Concordance:Primary, first, or chief: It denotes what holds the highest rank or importance. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul describes the gospel message (Christ's death, burial, and resurrection) as being "of first importance" (prōton), underscoring its foundational role in Christian doctrine.
At the beginning or before: It indicates an initial step, precedence, or temporal priority. Examples include instructions to act "first" in a process, such as self-examination before judging others (Matthew 7:5: "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye") or familial duties (1 Timothy 5:4: family members should "first" learn to show piety at home).
In order or sequence: It marks priority in lists, events, or hierarchies, like mission strategy (Romans 1:16: the gospel is "first" to the Jew, then to the Greek) or church roles (1 Corinthians 12:28: God has appointed "first" apostles, then prophets).
These meanings are not rigid but overlap depending on context, always stressing what should come before other things to maintain divine order.

Key Biblical ExamplesYour query highlights several accurate usages, which are confirmed in the Greek text:Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first (prōton) the kingdom of God, and his righteousness..." – Here, it emphasizes prioritizing spiritual pursuits over material worries.
1 Thessalonians 4:16: "...and the dead in Christ shall rise first (prōton)" – This describes the sequence in the resurrection at Christ's return, with the deceased believers preceding the living.
1 Corinthians 15:3: As noted, "prōton" conveys "first importance," framing the core events of Christ's work as paramount.

Additional prominent examples from the New Testament include:Mark 7:27: Jesus tells the Syrophoenician woman, "Let the children first (prōton) be filled," indicating Israel's temporary priority in his ministry before extending to Gentiles.
Acts 3:26: Peter says God raised Jesus to bless Israel "first (prōton)," again showing missional order.
James 3:17: Wisdom from above is "first (prōton) pure, then peaceable," listing moral qualities in order of priority.
Distribution Across the New Testament"Prōton" is most frequent in the Gospels (e.g., 9 times in Matthew, 7 in Mark, 8 in Luke) and Paul's letters (e.g., 6 in Romans, 4 in 1 Corinthians).
It appears less in other books like Acts (5 times), Hebrews (1 time), and 2 Peter (1 time).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ilNDw0Y47Q "Being a Broken Man, doesn't mean your finished ... It means you're FINALLY USABLE"

There are so many who have NOT been broken yet. There is NO way to even build up the muscles until they are torn down in order to start building them back. I have so much empathy and actually feel pain for so many that I care about to find them going back to their old ways, saying one thing and doing another when it comes to service. I feel for those who have to be broken in order for God to use them. They think they are doing such a fine job & some may be, just hate to see what I see knowing they haven't been broken yet, which has to happen. This is also a major hurdle for most Christians to comprehend. It will happen to everyone, know one gets a pass, not one can escape what is about to happen. Keep on doing what you are doing, and not be willing to change. It will hurt so, so bad that you will NOT be able to help anyone & fully give your heart to service for the least in the Kingdom until this occurs...That's why it will be a NDE Near Death Experience for everyone on Planet Earth. Don't believe me, READ the Scriptures. It's like everyone should kinda think of the FAFO & stop worrying about what language has offended you & listen to the urgency of the times. Jesus warned us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6989ixr8IlA&list=RD6989ixr8IlA&start_radio=1 "THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU". 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
Luke 22:14-30
"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." The cup holds the BLOOD; it is the COVANANT PROMISE IN THE NEW TESTIMATE. There is NO other PROMISE in the New Covanant made by our Savio more paramount than His ressuraction, eternal life & his promise to return to take HIS Bride (The Body of Christ - Church Members) as promised for Salvation & enternal life & his return to take us to the NEW Kingdom The Father has prepared for us! This is the 1K year reign prior to the Great White Throne Judgement! Where God in Heaven reigns when the NEW JERUSALEM is unfolded unto the KINGDOM for all eternity!

Sunday Essay: Charlie Kirk and the Cognitive Dissonance of Christian Elites: Most evangelical institutions prefer inoffensive academics and polite pastors over powerful prophets. That's not going to cut it.
by Michael Clary
October 19, 2025
When I think about many of the Christian leaders I once looked up to, I wonder how many of them are experiencing some serious cognitive dissonance right now as they survey the cultural and political landscape in America.
One month after the assassination of Christian martyr Charlie Kirk and his gospel-saturated memorial service that God used to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to over 100 million viewers worldwide, I can only imagine that they are. Everything they thought and taught about “effective ministry methods” in a “postmodern” world has been turned upside down by the life, death, and testimony of a young man who never went to college and never coddled the Left.
The Failures of an “Inoffensive Gospel” Ministry Model
In my seminary and early church planting days, I was taught a model of cultural engagement that emphasized “non-offensiveness” as a ministry non-negotiable. Of course, my teachers acknowledged the offense of the cross, but students were told to keep political discussions and condemnation of cultural sins to a minimum. Those were considered stumbling blocks to the gospel.
As these ideas took shape, the label “gospel centered” stuck. The premier exemplar of this sort of preaching was Tim Keller. The chief textbook for this method was Bryan Chappell’s book, Christ-Centered Preaching. An army of proponents of this model coalesced into organizations like The Gospel Coalition and training institutions like Westminster Theological Seminary, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I was first trained in this gospel centered teaching method in 2005, while I was on staff with CRU.
In theory, I found these methods compelling. Who could argue that we should avoid giving unnecessary offense? Preach the gospel. Preach the cross. Yes and amen.
In practice, however, I found it stifling. I planted an inner city church near the University of Cincinnati in 2010, and found this methodology wholly inadequate for the challenges of real ministry. I felt that my preaching lacked real power. My messages had no teeth. Sure, I was preaching gospel grace and the forgiveness of sins, but I felt constrained from explicitly naming and denouncing those very same sins.
I felt handcuffed. I could thunder about God’s love and the lavish grace of Christ, but whenever I called out abortion, homosexuality, or wokeness, I’d be accused of not “preaching the gospel.”
So I made a deliberate choice to reject that approach. It took me a couple of years to fully deprogram my ministry instincts and retrain myself to be bolder and more outspoken. I suspect a number of my seminary peers are constrained in similar ways — and still are.
How Charlie Kirk Broke the Mold
Then I think of men like Charlie Kirk. He didn’t go to college or seminary. He didn’t build a platform by adopting the tactics of the credentialed experts. He built his platform with guts and grit. Kirk spoke with a powerful combination of grace towards those who were receptive, but did not shrink from prophetically denouncing with crystal clarity the fashionable moral evils of our day.
If Kirk had gone to a typical evangelical seminary, he likely would have lost his edge. He would have learned to be more careful. He would have learned to be more measured. There’s a good chance he would have had his prophetic voice “educated” right out of him. He may have ended up as just another celebrated academic, publishing white papers at ETS, and speaking on the lecture circuit.
I’m not against those things. I thank God for theologians and academics.
My point is that our theological institutions are far more adept at producing academics when the need of the hour is more prophets.

We need men of courage and conviction these days, but the evangelical leadership that shaped the last generation of pastors trained men to bury their courage. Given the state of the church today, one can only wonder how many men go to seminary and graduate more on fire for Christ?
That’s why, in light of Kirk’s death and the incredible gospel testimony evident in his memorial service, I suspect many of those older Christian leaders are feeling cognitive dissonance right now.
Why? Because the man who arguably had the most significant gospel impact in a generation did not go through their credentialing process. He didn’t wait for the gatekeepers to stamp his preaching passport.
In fact, he did the opposite of what they would have trained him to do.
How do you make sense of that? If, as we were told, Christians should avoid political or hot-button cultural issues to maximize gospel impact, how do we make sense of the once-in-a-generation response to his assassination? It’s too soon to say it’s a genuine revival of God, but it’s undeniable that we’re seeing a resurgent interest in the intersection of biblical Christianity and conservative politics. Could it be that downplaying the cultural implications of the gospel has actually neutered our Christian witness?
And then, I’m disturbed by more questions. How many young men have had their wings clipped by the “credentialed class,” who told them that to be effective in ministry, they must be inoffensive? How many young men with hearts on fire for God sought ministry training only to have the leaders they respected train the zeal right out of them?
The Cultural Impact of Kirk’s Assassination
Charlie Kirk’s death has awakened the consciences of a generation of young men. They admire his courage, boldness, clarity, and zeal. In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, many of these young men are looking for leaders who can sharpen them and direct their zeal.
So the question before us now is this: who do they have to look to? Who will train them? Who will affirm their zeal and teach them to sharpen and wield their blades, not dull them in the dirt of non-offensiveness?
Kirk’s bold voice, testimony to the gospel, massive appeal, and effective platform are a rebuke to the credential class who would have advised him to “tone it down” and play the “long game” so that he could have a “nice career.”
Don’t get me wrong, there are still some very courageous voices out there, but many of them are speaking from outside the system because their bold voices threaten the status quo. All the incentives of the academy punish courage expressed in a conservative direction while rewarding courage expressed in a progressive direction. The academy favors innovation and breaking new ground for liberalism. It does not favor taking brave stands for time-tested orthodoxy and defending our political and theological heritage.
Students show up at seminary with hearts ablaze for the glory of God, expecting their teachers to show them how to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. What they often find, however, is the tired, old corpse that refuses to die of 19th-century German liberalism, or the morally vacuous, theologically repackaged political socialism of 19th-century Karl Marx and 20th-century Critical Theory.
It’s a tale as old as time. The devil hates bold, outspoken, prophetically gifted men. And those are the kinds of men we need in our day. Lots more.
One thing is clear: Going forward, the status quo is not going to cut it. Everyone senses it. The way forward for the church is more voices in the mold of Charlie Kirk, not less.
Unfortunately, the roster of men who not only could, but would, train the next generation of Charlie Kirks is pretty thin. Most evangelical churches these days seem more likely to excommunicate the next Charlie Kirk, rather than embrace him.