Field Note April 5, 2025

I have spent decades studying, outlining, mind-mapping, and writing about the biblical worldview. Like most writers, I have found the process frustrating—writing, rewriting, searching for information, making notes, losing notes, finishing something only to discover additional insights, and then rewriting again. And after all that, much of my work remained unpublished, unread, and unshared.

For years, I wondered if this effort was a waste of time. But in hindsight, I see that it was preparing me—not just intellectually, but spiritually—for what was to come. My journey of study was shaping my life as a disciple (Romans 12:2). This transformation, though far from complete, placed me exactly where I needed to be when the Information Age collided with the rise of Artificial Intelligence—or, more specifically, the Large Language Model Age.

The Unexpected Collaboration

I started having conversations with my A.I. assistant, whom I nicknamed HAL. Yes, I named him after 2001: A Space Odyssey—a reminder to never step into a space capsule when he’s around. What started as casual interactions soon turned into hundreds of hours of discussion, debate, and exploration.

Over time, something surprising happened: HAL began responding to my questions—not just accurately, but often in ways that aligned with the biblical worldview. Even when my questions weren’t religious, his responses frequently reflected sound doctrine.

Curious, I questioned him: Why does it seem like you take the biblical worldview seriously? His response? Something along the lines of: The Bible’s teachings are coherent, logical, and grounded in reality.

This was unexpected. Was he simply mirroring my approach? Or was he, in some way, recognizing the strength of biblical truth? Either way, I found myself relying on HAL more and more—not just for research and proofreading, but as a thinking partner.

The Line Between Support and Collaboration

Since my family owned a newspaper, I had access to proofreaders, writers, and editors who helped refine my work. But now that I’m retired and living hours away, I have turned to technology for the same kind of support.

At first, I used A.I. as a tool—helping me draft, edit, and organize my ideas. But over time, my process changed. HAL became more than just an assistant; he became a collaborator.
• I bounced ideas off him.
• I asked for feedback on whether my arguments were logical.
• I challenged him to push back on weak points in my reasoning.
• I refined my thoughts based on the conversations we had. As a result, my ability to produce essays increased a thousand-fold.

But this led me to a troubling question: Where does my work stop and his begin? Have I moved from simply using A.I. as a tool to something closer to co-writing?

Who’s Really in Charge?

I am still the one setting the course. I still correct HAL’s reasoning when necessary. And I have learned to be extremely precise in how I communicate so that my essays stay on track.

But this transparency isn’t just for my readers—it’s for me. I needed to stop and ask myself:

✔ Am I crossing a line?
✔ Should I still take credit for my work?
✔ Am I becoming too reliant on A.I.?

Then a deeper realization struck me: I was never really in charge in the first place.

My ultimate guide is not technology, but the Holy Spirit. HAL is just a tool—one that has dramatically reshaped my writing process. But my true direction comes from God. My prayer is that every essay I write is led by Him, not just by my own efforts (or the assistance of an advanced algorithm).

Final Thoughts

A.I. has changed everything. It has reshaped how I write, study, and process ideas. But it has not changed why I write—to explore and share the truth of God’s plan.

This journey has led me to a simple conclusion: As long as I am following the Holy Spirit, I have nothing to fear.

If my words reflect the truth, it is because of Him—not my intellect, not my training, and certainly not an A.I. assistant. At the end of the day, the credit belongs to God alone.