Happy to announce that I’ve been accepted into the Ph.D. program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO!!! Starting this coming Fall semester!!! Dr. Flame has a ring to it, lol! Or, Dr. Gray! Which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comment section! @concordiasem
Flame, where do we start if we want to learn more about the early Church and the Church Fathers, you ask? Look no further!!! Summer 2025!!! @concordiapub
Mr. & Mrs. Marcus Tyrone and Suelen Gray!!!
All praise to our Triune God!!! I am enthralled by the privilege of living out my days in love, in sacrifice, and in joyful service to my dearest and most beloved, Suelen. I stand in my fullness now that we are one—one with one another and one in Christ Jesus. My love, I live for you. I am joyfully consumed with loving you. I am forever taken by loving you. I love you, forever.
📸 @yaheemmurph
Today is Ascension Day!!
Forty days after His resurrection, our dear Lord Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven before the eyes of His disciples. Make no mistake: the Ascension is not Jesus abandoning His Church, but His enthronement. The crucified and risen Christ now reigns at the right hand of the Father over every ruler, nation, power, and principality. Hallelujah!
As the angels declared in Acts 1:10–11, this same Jesus who ascended will return again visibly and displaying much glory. The Ascension reminds us that Christ’s humanity has been exalted, heaven is open to His people, and history is moving toward His promised return. Come quickly, Lord. Amen.
Ascension Day also proclaims that Jesus reigns for the good of His Church. From His throne, He sends the Holy Spirit, comforts His people through His Word and Sacraments, intercedes for believers, and commissions His Church to proclaim repentance (brokenness over sin & faith) and forgiveness in His name to the nations. This “forgotten festival” is a declaration that Jesus is Lord, now and forever. Christ has ascended. Christ Jesus reigns. Christ our King will come again!!
Acts 1:9
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
‼️NEW Episode‼️ “Denying Jesus’ Deity, Distorting the Trinity in Plain Sight: Mike Todd & Jonny Chang”
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New episode available now on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Jude 1:4.
Lord, help us.
I get concerned when the sentiment of many prioritizes one good while neglecting its companion truth. I hear a large amount of talk about obedience, faithfulness, evangelism, and living out your faith morally. Amen. Yet, when that sentiment is coupled with these types of comments someone left me, it’s disheartening:
‘Hey Flame!!! I was baptized in Jesus’ name by believers who believe that Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are one… They baptized according to Acts 2:38… I agree with the brother. I love my brother who was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and I love my family who were baptized in Jesus’ name. We are one body. Bump the trivial differences.’
The new “sexy” is to be neutral, hodgepodge, and only play offense, avoiding defense at all costs. Born from this unfaithful position, again, concerning the true nature of God and baptism, this person says, ‘bump the trivial differences.’
Wow, tragic. Lord, help us.
1 Timothy 4:16
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Wow, my redhead gave it all she had—and then some. Most of all, she instilled in me that God is real and that He demonstrated His love for us, for me, in His Son, Christ Jesus, by the power of His Holy Spirit. Until we meet again, I miss you, Red. I love you dearly. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!! 🎉
The 2026 Multiethnic Symposium @concordiasem was excellent!! Thank you all for having me! Truly. I was beyond honored to contribute and to speak on our need for “Candy-Coated Catechism: Musical Formation and Discipling of a Generation.” Fellowshipping with friends and meeting new people is always a joy, as well. I’m happy to see Concordia Seminary leading the way!!
Rare Rainbow Cloud!
People draw so much comfort and assurance that Christianity is real from modern phenomena. Yet, when we point them to the biblical phenomena that Jesus Himself established, and to which He attaches a promise—a tangible, earthly element joined to His Word of forgiveness and assurance of salvation, like Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—they reject it. They reject where God actually promises to be for a “rare rainbow cloud.” A beautiful display of His handiwork (if it’s not AI deceiving us all, ha), but not a phenomenon to which He has attached a salvific Word of forgiveness. Lord, help our unbelief. Amen.
Matthew 16:4
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign… So He left them and departed.”
“Baptism is the desired means of God to deliver us from our sin problem.” - FLAME
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4
Happy birthday to my love!! Bae, I’m so blessed to have you as my wife. I thank our Triune God for giving you another year to be beautiful, wise, and a blessing to so many. I love you forever, my sweet Suelen! 😍 Help me wish my baby the happiest birthday! 🎂🎉
By faith alone, apart from works; by God’s work alone, all of life for the Christian is lived in our baptism: daily dying to sin and daily living in Christ to serve others. By baptism, God gives us Christ, His Holy Spirit, death and resurrection. By it He will one day fully unburden us from sin on the Last Day. Yes, the baptized are blessed!
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
—Romans 6:3–4
