Vetrix (Vetrix Series Book 1)

Posted on April 6, 2017 by billbushauthor

Two alien species. One threat to Earth.
But who is the real threat and who can be trusted?

Twelve-year-old Flipper didn’t believe in aliens – until he was kidnapped by one.

When he wakes up one morning on the planet Vetrix he is trapped in the midst of an inter-planetary war. As Flipper struggles to survive and find a way back to Earth he discovers he may be a descendant of one of the warring species and that his intervening in the war may be his destiny, if destiny is decided by a computer program.

On Earth, Allison begins having dreams that turn out to be real experiences. When she watches a purple man disappear with her cousin, Flipper, no one believes her. Allison’s best friend Josh agrees to help and together the two sixth-graders begin their own investigation that leads them to the truth behind the Roswell Incident of 1947 and current alien activity on Earth.

As they try to figure out how to expose the secret colony of aliens and their plans to destroy the human race, Allison attempts to use her dreams to locate and rescue Flipper.

Purchase an autographed copy of Vetrix:

Watch the Book Trailer
Read the First Chapter

Book 2: Earth
Book 3: Zentron
Book 4: Sevitan

The original cover from 2017:

Vetrix (Flipper Book 1) by [Bush, Bill, Bush, Blake]

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Our Co-Mission

Posted on June 29, 2025 by billbushauthor

What’s the mission of the church?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (full)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20 (partial)

The world is not our responsibility but God’s. Ours is merely to be available to go where God needs us to go and to be who we already are, influencing those whom we already have a relationship with. That’s the implication of the Greek word for “go.” It could literally be rendered, “as you are going.” In other words, “As you go about your business, remember to make Jesus famous.”

The Great Commission is simple: walk with people as you walk with Jesus. Before long, they’ll meet each other. The Great Commission isn’t complicated but it is a big deal. In fact, all four Evangelists have their own version of the commission, as does the apostle Paul (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47-48; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

Our prime directive is to make disciples by mentoring others to loyalty to Jesus.

A disciple is a learner. The particular type of learning in Jewish culture had less to do with information and more to do with transformation. It was more about behavior than about books. A learner would observe and imitate the practices a mentor would model. That’s the core of the commission, and it’s the obligation of every Christ follower.

Though all of us are at different levels of maturity, all of us have someone who looks up to us. We can each leverage those relationships to help someone else walk a bit closer to Christ.

From the moment we drip dry in the baptistery until we cross the threshold of eternity, our commission—our partnership with God—is to make Jesus famous.

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The Supernatural

Posted on June 22, 2025 by billbushauthor

Is there really a spiritual world active around me?

“He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” – Matthew 25:41

Heaven and hell are real places described in the Bible with the best metaphors available.

The robust description of heaven in Revelation 21-22 includes resurrected bodies, a resplendent city fourteen hundred miles square, gigantic gates of single pearls, pavement of pure gold—and, of course, the tangible presence of God, harking back to the beauty of Eden.

In addition to music, there appears to be food, pleasure, rest, learning, celebration, and creativity. The real shock for most people is that our true eternal destination is actually the new earth, where we’ll live eternally in physical bodies, unstained by sin.

According to Scripture, hell is a real place of torment, described with the metaphors of flames, sulfur, worms, darkness, and gnashing of teeth (Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 22:13; 25:41, 46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 14:11; 20:10). Because these passages describe future and spiritual realities, it’s difficult to know how literally to take those details.

The Bible’s description of hell emphasizes justice and righteousness. For all our cultural discourse about social justice, how could we ignore eternal justice? How could a God remotely ignore the pain and evil of this world?

A person’s damnation is not God’s desire but that person’s own decision. Technically, God doesn’t throw people into hell. Individuals reject God’s presence.

While demons wield considerable influence (Mark 8:33), they’ll ultimately be destroyed (Revelation 20:1-10). Though they can perform some miracles (Revelation 16:14), their power is limited by God (Romans 8:38-39; Revelation 9:20). Demons tend to get a foothold in a human soul through four conduits: cultic activities, sex, drugs, and any music that honors the dark spiritual world.

There are multiple levels or gradations of demonic influence: temptation, oppression, influence, and possession. For the vast majority of us, there are three quick steps to minimize demonic influence: Scripture (reading or quoting aloud), worship music, and praying aloud in Jesus’s name.

The New Testament has more than 170 mentions of angels, 67 of those in Revelation. They have three primary functions.

First and foremost, angels are messengers. The Greek word used is Aggelos, which means messenger.

Second, angels minister to Jesus (Mark 1:13) and to his people (Psalm 91:11-12).

Third, angels validate God’s men by mere association (Acts 7:35; 10:3-4). Being in company with an angel marks a person as God’s. Thus, angels rejoice in heaven whenever a sinner repents (Luke 15:10).

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Election and Predestination

Posted on June 15, 2025 by billbushauthor

For what did God choose me?

“Many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14

Matthew 22:14 follows Jesus’s parable of a king who throws a banquet but is stood up by those he invites (22:2-13). He then instructs his servants to invite everyone they find, and they filled the wedding hall.

Many prominent people were invited but refused to come. They were not elected. Others never deserved an invitation but received one and came gladly. They were elected.

According to the parable, election includes God’s invitation and our acceptance. God determines the time, place, and parameters of the party. We choose whether to accept the invitation.

While this topic especially is too complex to cover in one minute, some truths can quickly be gleamed.

Everyone is invited. See John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, and Ezekiel 18:32.

Not everyone gets the same invitation. God is all inclusive, but he is not egalitarian. In the parable, the king started with guests then opened his invitation to everyone. In the Bible, God starts with Abraham, Jesus focused on the Jews, then sent the disciples to the ends of the earth.

You must respond to the invitation. Clearly the chief weight of responsibility is God’s. But his invitation is not complete without our response (Luke 13:24; Hebrews 10:22, 4:16, 7:25, 11:6; Joshua 24:15).

God knows who will respond. Foreknowledge means “knowing beforehand.” Predestine means “to determine beforehand,” or “to set boundaries.” God determines the boundaries of salvation. He sees who will respond and who will not. His call is to all; his election is for those he sees will step into his predetermined boundaries of salvation (Romans 8:29-30).

God ordains individuals to a task, not a destiny. Not everyone gets the same invitation, but all are invited. Not everyone gets the same call, but all are called. God has a practical purpose for your life.

There’s something right here, right now that only you can do for God’s honor. Discover that, and you’ll find your voice, your passion, and your purpose.

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The Cross

Posted on June 8, 2025 by billbushauthor

Who do you say Jesus is?

Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:24-25

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, and Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (16:13-20).

Then, Jesus predicted his suffering and death and Peter pulled him aside and rebuked him. Jesus fired back, “Get behind me, Satan.” (16:21-13).

The Jews expected the Messiah to be a king who would conquer their enemies. Instead, Jesus came as a Savior who would die for their sins.

Jesus followed the rebuke by commanding his followers to take up their own crosses (16:24-25).

The cross has become a pleasing symbol and a thing of beauty in my contemporary decorations, but in reality, it was a gruesome practice.

Psalm 22, which Jesus quoted from the cross (Matthew 27:46) was composed a thousand years before Jesus’s execution and five hundred years prior to the Persians inventing the practice, contains the graphic details including piercing of the hands and feet, heart melting like wax, and bones pulling out of joint.

What’s the purpose of our crosses?

It’s not simply self-denial to build self-control and better versions of ourselves. Like Jesus’s death, our suffering and sacrifice have saving power, not for the individual soul but for society as a whole.

For example, as we sacrifice ourselves, the church has the capacity to eliminate the foster care system, malaria, racism, or any other effect of sin in society, families, and communities.

Beginning with the first-century church, the greatest social strides in culture, art, medicine, compassion, education, poverty relief, and the protection of women, children, and the marginalized have come primarily from those who follow Jesus with crosses strapped to their backs.

If we confess him as Lord, we’re obligated to follow his example. We cannot celebrate a Lord we won’t imitate.

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The Golden Rule

Posted on June 1, 2025 by billbushauthor

What is true religion?

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

Many assume that going to church, reading the Bible, and praying will lead to a life that honors God. Too often those practices lead only to arrogance, isolationism, and judgment. The Bible’s clear: serving others is the most effective mechanism for self-improvement.

When personal morality is our motivation, we tend to be isolationists. But the purpose of religion is not merely to keep oneself unstained by the world. The purpose of pure religion is to serve the community, particularly its most vulnerable members (James 1:27).

When service is our motivation and our mechanism for expressing our love for God, avoidance gives way to engagement. We purposely enter the places and relationships where God’s love is most needed. The truly religious become God’s ambassadors (1 Corinthians 5:20).

This motivates us to live to a higher moral standard because other people are spiritually dependent on us. Responsibility breeds more personal growth than self-control does.

In Matthew 23, Jesus criticizes the pharisees for neglecting justice (23:23), echoing the Old Testament (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Proverbs 21:3;

The silver rule states “Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.” State in the negative, a person can do nothing and satisfy its calling.

The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), on the other hand, demands relentless action. Such is the difference between the rules of religion and Jesus’s call to sacrificial service.

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Money

Posted on May 25, 2025 by billbushauthor

Is money spiritual?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (full)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (partial)

A full 10% of verses in the Gospels are about money and 16 of Jesus’s 38 parables address money and possessions.

God wants our hearts, not our money. Your spouse, children, home, and occupation are all his resources. Your credit card, bank account, and stocks are in the same category as the Milky Way, nuclear energy, and the Amazon—all his (Psalm 24:1).

There are over 2,300 verses in the Bible on money but only 500 on prayer and fewer on faith.

Whether we recognize it or not, how we manage money affects our spiritual progress. If money is your master, God cannot be (Matthew 6:24).

From God’s perspective, our money is an eternal resource. Today’s verse says to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. As the saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.” But you can send it ahead. We can use money to store up treasures in heaven. The key is generosity.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). God provides us resources to manage, not consume, not only because others need assistance, but because giving and generosity are what’s best for us. We miss so many blessings because we value money more.

The Bible talks about the tithe as the first 10% and offerings are above the tithe. Yes, giving, whether it’s tithing, offerings, or other generous acts, is often an act of sacrifice. But the truth is, we can’t outgive God (Proverbs 3:9-10; Luke 6:38).

Consider Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The context is whether Paul had adequate or inadequate financial support, he successfully fulfilled God’s calling.

God has called us to be generous and content, and He’s promised to bless us for doing so.

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Prayer

Posted on May 18, 2025 by billbushauthor

How should I pray?

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Matthew 6:9-13

God created each of us with an instinct to pray.

If we want to have a meaningful relationship with God, we need to learn how to talk to him. Thankfully, with minimal coaching and practice, anyone can become proficient in prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’s example of how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, gives us five insights for mastering the practice of prayer.

  1. “Father”: Leverage Your Connection.  When we recognize that God in heaven is our loving Father, it transforms our conversation.

The Lord’s Prayer begins with praise (hallowed be your name) and so should ours. It changes our view of God from genie to the father whose best interests will shape our conversations.

  • “Kingdom”: Embrace God’s Agenda.  The power of prayer is not primarily in asking God for what you want but in aligning your life with His agenda. When we know God’s purpose, we can pray for things, and God will say yes.

There are a number of requests to which God promises a yes, if we just ask, including wisdom (James 1:5), the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), escape from temptation (Luke 22:40; 1 Corinthians 10:13), and the ability to promote Jesus (Matthew 9:37-38).

Only when we get these first two areas of prayer right can we begin to ask God for what we need.

  • “Give”: Acquire Resources.  When deciding what requests to make, we must simply answer the question, “What do I need to do my job?” When we align ourselves with God’s purpose in life, Jesus promised that he would give us everything we need to accomplish everything God wants us to do (see also James 4:2-3).

Some answers are postponed because it’s not yet time or we’re not yet ready. But many of our prayers are postponed because we’ve imposed barriers on God’s approval. The last two items of the Lord’s Prayer reveal the most common barriers that postpone a yes.

  • “Forgive”: Remove Barriers.  Sometimes our prayers are hindered because we haven’t forgiven someone who has hurt us. Anger, resentment, and bitterness are barriers between God and us as much as between others and us.

Forgiving others frees us to have an open relationship with God. When we forgive others as God forgave us, our prayers will flow more freely and be answered more readily.

  • “Deliver”: Follow a Guide.  Sin is another barrier to answered prayers. When we’re purposefully participating in behaviors that dishonor God and degrade our human dignity, it’s hard for us to have open communication with God.

God will forgive our sins if we simply confess them to Him (1 John 1:9). Jesus’s death on the cross saved you. But if you don’t confess, sin will weigh you down.

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Deeper Morality

Posted on May 11, 2025 by billbushauthor

What does it take to be a “good” person?

“I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom off heaven.” – Matthew 5:20

Can we live a life that God considers “righteous”?

Yes, not because we can do more personal improvement, but because we can improve our personal motives. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus was asking not for a broader righteousness but for one that’s deeper.

He’s calling us to righteous motives because true righteousness grows out of motives. If I keep the law by not killing, I’m still liable for destroying a life by gossip. If I love my neighbors, it’s likely good for me, but if I love my enemies, it’s likely because I’m good. The law can only manage behavior, but Jesus wants to transform our character.

Thus, Jesus told us not only to not murder, but to deal with our anger. Far more families are destroyed by gossip than homicide. Far more businesses fail through slander than manslaughter.

Jesus said that instead of focusing on not committing adultery, we should not lust; to the point he suggests we amputate our offending limbs. Obviously, this is hyperbole and not to be taken literally. Yet that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly, particularly with pornography in everyone’s pocket.

Jesus punctuates his call to righteousness in Matthew 5 by telling us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (vs 48).

The word perfect indicates mature or holistic. Jesus was saying we should love holistically, maturely, and openly as God does if we want to carry out his agenda in our culture.

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Son of Man

Posted on April 27, 2025 by billbushauthor

Is Jesus really fully human and fully divine?

“Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man.” – Daniel 7:13

Son of Man is found 107 times in the Old Testament, 93 of those in the book of Ezekiel. The term can be friendly, but it’s never flattering.

Its use is consistent throughout the entire O.T. with the exception of Daniel 7:13, where Daniel saw a divine figure brought into God’s presence in a stunning power move, as we see in the next verse (Daniel 7:14): “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Son of Man shows up 85 times in the New Testament, mostly in the Gospels and mostly Jesus using the term for himself.

How can Jesus be the exalted Son of Man who humbles himself on the human plane? That is precisely the point of the Incarnation (Jesus coming to earth in human form). It’s the promise of the Old Testament that God would come to his people and change their destiny.

When we humble ourselves, God exalts us. It’s a hard and fast rule in Scripture. Jesus modeled this spiritual law throughout his life. Son of Man is therefore the perfect title for Jesus. Identifying himself with frail and fragile humans gives space for God alone to exalt him.

That’s why Daniel 7:13 is the only sufficient source for Jesus’s self-designation as Son of Man. It’s a title of humility, to be sure. Yet it’s also the rightful recognition of his role at God’s right hand.

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New Covenant

Posted on April 20, 2025 by billbushauthor

What advantages do Christians have under the new covenant?

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” – Jeremiah 31:33-34 (full)

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33-34 (partial)

Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, was beaten, mocked, arrested, and threatened for proclaiming God’s words. In Jeremiah 38:6, the king’s officials lowered Jeremiah into a muddy cistern.

Many Bible scholars have noted the similarities between Jeremiah and Jesus. People compared Jesus to Jeremiah (Matthew 16:14), they both wept over Jerusalem (Jeremiah 13:17; Matthew 23:37-39), and Jesus cited Jeremiah’s words on the very spot they were first uttered (Matthew 21:13; Jeremiah 7:11).

In today’s verse, Jeremiah predicts a new and better covenant; a new hope echoed by other Old Testament prophets including Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and Joel (Joel 2:28,32).

The new covenant is different and better from the old covenant (the law) in three ways, according to Mark Moore in Core 52:

  1. Everyone would know God personally without a mediator (Hebrews 4:16; Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 26:12).
  2. Our sins are forgiven through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22).
  3. The internalization of God’s law through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-21).

The entire book of Hebrews is an exposition of the superiority of the new covenant. That book can be confusing because it’s written from a Jewish perspective to Jewish converts. Nonetheless, the topic was so substantial (and shocking) that it deserved an entire book of the New Testament to answer our question, “What advantages do Christians have under the new covenant?”

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