<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[S.A. Maynard]]></title><description><![CDATA[This website is dedicated to Christian philosophy, providing a professional platform for thoughtful writing on Scripture, discipleship, and living faithfully as a follower of Jesus. It features essays that promote deep engagement with faith, such as “When Cultural Identity Replaces Christ,” “Roots, Not Leaves,” and “The Gifts of the Spirit.” Additionally, the site offers a seven-day devotional journey through the Book of Jude, encouraging a careful and reflective approach to Scripture.]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:44:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.samaynard.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[When Cultural Identity Replaces Christ]]></title><description><![CDATA[I can’t help but ponder the times we live in. The division of allegiance is stark. This week has felt like a whirlwind of insanity. It once again reminds us of how dehumanizing and polarizing our current culture has become. Just last night was another display of division—two opposing halftime shows. Both functioned as political statement pieces, both rooted in defiance. This is not a new issue, though it certainly feels highly amplified throughout today’s media. It was presented in such a way...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/when-cultural-identity-replaces-christ</link><guid isPermaLink="false">0ce172f6-2dfd-4fe2-abcb-054178cc4d66</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:39:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_70b7f76e9c6f46ae907db945c916e895~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_944,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roots, Not Leaves.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Need for Spiritual Maturity in the Age of InfluenceI have been seeing a lot of news recently about Bethel Church and Shawn Bolz. Another scandal has broken out inside the church, with more people being hurt by very evil things. It seems that, more often than not, I am reading far more articles on another church failure, another minister’s failure, and another graphic situation swept under the rug for the sake of “momentum.” Because of this, I see far too often a voice that cries, “See,...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/roots-not-leaves</link><guid isPermaLink="false">03d13241-8f86-42dc-803b-f030ee257869</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:53:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_ff732bb3271f4fa2b333034a8fe2eba2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_944,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[He Is Worthy: Day 7]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” - Jude 1:24-25]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/day-7</link><guid isPermaLink="false">13adaeaf-5d46-4cc1-a124-9ba96073e040</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:09:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don’t Be Surprised: Day 6]]></title><description><![CDATA[“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22And have mercy on...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/day-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6236b62a-19eb-433d-8499-832165c9fc59</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:09:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Leads You?: Day 5]]></title><description><![CDATA[“But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion………...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/jude-day-5</link><guid isPermaLink="false">71ceca5e-0354-409d-821a-e885a9b69049</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:08:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reflection Checkpoint: Day 4]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read Jude 1:1-8]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/jude-day-4</link><guid isPermaLink="false">7f21fd0f-93f3-43f5-b865-3796542e990b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:08:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sin’s Severity: Day 3]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/jude-day-3</link><guid isPermaLink="false">da33a5cc-65ae-43fc-bf8c-1858229ce96d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:08:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Contend for the Faith: Day 2]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” - Jude 1:3-4]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/jude-day-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f4096e5-c8cd-40e1-8b75-7b7f31eea55d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:08:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kept for Jesus: Day 1]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” - Jude 1:1-2]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/jude-day-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">547950a0-3f7f-445e-b373-67c412772e42</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:50:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_fbae032228844ce6bc1fe2073b20d9df~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Knowing Truth: Day 20]]></title><description><![CDATA[“20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” - 1st John 5:20-21]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/p974q4464jdbfe2vklym34wumf5ai0</link><guid isPermaLink="false">ddc71d12-b7a2-491e-b734-273fa0a9905a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Asset of Gospel Community: Day 19]]></title><description><![CDATA[“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. 18We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19We know that we are from God, and...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/osl0uticoz3w9qdtmxerx4959lwi3h</link><guid isPermaLink="false">b59295ae-70d0-4a11-a18d-975aaa21d551</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Assurance Builds Confidence: Day 18]]></title><description><![CDATA[“13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” - 1st John 5:13-15]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/assurance-builds-confidence-1st-john-513-15</link><guid isPermaLink="false">f816bf96-502f-4ec7-b2e4-df7635e83c71</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Gospel Testimony: Day 17]]></title><description><![CDATA[“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/the-gospel-testimony-1-john-56-12</link><guid isPermaLink="false">9433600d-3135-4873-90e9-18e1c278c070</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Faith Overcomes: Day 16]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/faith-overcomes-1st-john-51-5</link><guid isPermaLink="false">04fdaf28-dcd8-43cb-bab3-59f16f270f39</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Gifts of The Spirit]]></title><description><![CDATA[The gifts of The Spirit bring about a certain persona with them. Either you lean charismatic and are considered flaky and weird or you lean cessationist and are considered lifeless. This is a topic that is often debated with great passion and emotion at times. Let’s dive into the deep end a little. There is a lot to talk about when it pertains to the gifts of The Spirit, they can be categorized in a few different categories. Overview of the Gifts of The Spirit. First, there are the fruits of...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/the-gifts-of-the-spirit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">c6457a62-33fb-4498-b821-08d6ad46560d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:57:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_610701ab75414caf8ddac83fdc6a257d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_944,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[God Loved, So We Love: Day 15]]></title><description><![CDATA[“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/god-loved-so-we-love-1st-john-413-21</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6b6c23c5-3aba-4079-8be7-25be04e49ab9</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[He Loved Us First: Day 13]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another....]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/he-loved-us-first-1st-john-47-12</link><guid isPermaLink="false">f9af3983-e09f-4df3-b798-27f0c963ae00</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:58:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Testing The Spirits: Day 12]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/testing-the-spirits-1st-john-41-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ffd9e2f-c957-46d6-98f5-eb4dca8ca9cc</guid><pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:21:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Confidence Before God: Day 11]]></title><description><![CDATA[“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24Whoever...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/confidence-before-god-1st-john-319-24</link><guid isPermaLink="false">ccfe8708-5686-4d2b-88e3-54c70f3782f3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:31:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Love Overflows: Day 10]]></title><description><![CDATA[“11For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,...]]></description><link>https://www.samaynard.com/post/love-overflows-1st-john-311-18</link><guid isPermaLink="false">d9fcef12-eeb8-421d-9968-8d6c826409ac</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fe28f0_1c03dfb887464ed187787166d6b3697b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S.A. Maynard</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>