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Weekend Blues

As a father of two little kids, I’m getting my hobbies dialed during the week while taking a break from them on the weekend to be present with my children and helpful for my wife (because they’re wild chickens).

This entails weekdays waking up at 4am for the 4:30am Jiu Jitsu class (today), trying to surf during my lunch breaks, and going on runs with friends at any odd hour.

Many weekends, however, I’m contemplating the reality that my week was incredibly busy and I wasn’t able to do any of my beloved hobbies. Or some and while neglecting others. During that contemplation, I can get really bummed out. Which is revealing.. how much of a hold on my heart do these hobbies have?

Hobbies are great, and I don’t think it’s a sin to have fun. Don’t worry, i’m not making the case for every believer to be sitting in our rooms all day in prayer and scripture.

Being a desert father or pursuing a monastic life is a unique calling for select people, but I think most people are called to be in the world as salt and light. That includes doing stuff, like hobbies.

In fact, hobbies can be a beautiful avenue for communion with the Lord.

Praying while surfing, thanking God for the waves.

Praying while writing, asking the Holy Spirit for divine inspiration that we may bring glory to Him, the Holy Ghost writer.

Praying while running, mostly that we don’t fall over and collapse. Honestly feel like I’m fighting demons on some runs (demons: hills).

Praying while cooking, making music, lifting weights, playing video games, swimming, knitting, hiking, snorkeling, fishing. Even while getting submissions in Jiu Jitsu. Perchance.

Hobbies can also be an avenue of idolatry. Very easily. So much so, that going to do said hobby could metaphorically be like going to a temple; for worship, offerings, rituals, and the giving of your very heart.

The unfortunate thing is that no hobby will ever satisfy nor fit the Lord’s rightful place on the throne of our hearts. Good things becoming god things has never worked out for God’s people.

So how do we determine if our hobby has become our temple? Let’s go through the list.

Worship

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How easy is it to give ourselves away to something we’re passionate about; a significant other, a career path, a television series, and, of course, our hobbies?

One may think it a stretch to call this giving away of ourselves a type of worship (like bro, chill), but what is worship without devotion, and what is devotion without the giving of our attention?

“Attention is the beginning of devotion” - Mary Oliver

What we offer ourselves to as a ‘living sacrifice,’ the giving of our time and personhood - that’s our worship. Offering our devotion, our attention, is how we may do so. Where our attention goes, then, is of immense value.

“Those who make them [idols] will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When someone gets into a new hobby, it’s so easy for it to be all-consuming:

• watching videos on it

• till your algorithm becomes it

• dressing the part

• talking with the lingo

• gravitating to the like-minded

Many will quickly fall into making their hobby an idol, having it become both time and mind-consuming. From there, devotion to Jesus may become increasingly slim. Worship has shifted.

Offerings

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I have found it much easier to wake up insanely early if it’s for a Jiu Jitsu class or a long run with a group of friends. Less easy to do so for getting a long bible time in. Once that first early alarm goes off, the pull to do the hobbies seems to be stronger than the pull to be with the only One who can satisfy what those hobbies are attempting to satisfy.

There’s an idea found in the Word where the people of Israel were to give their first fruits to the Lord. Before cashing in their gain, the first fruits of their harvest were devoted to the Lord.

This can apply not only how we spend our money but how we spend our time.

Is Jesus getting our first fruits, our first and best, or our is our hobby? Are we giving the Lord our offering, or is our oil being poured out elsewhere?

Rituals

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭19‬ NIV

The ancient practice of communion gives space for remembrance and repentance, realigning our minds once again with the love of Christ. This ritual has been observed since the eve of the cross.

There are countless ritual and/or practices tied to the hobbies we do.

• Stretching

• Having proper nutrition

• Having our hobby laid out before us

• Setting a timer

• Waking up early or staying up late

Are we making the same efforts and allocating the same amount of time for communion with the Lord?

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬

The Eunuch, who was not able to worship at the temple because of his condition, was on his way back to Ethiopia. After having heard the portion of Isaiah explained to him, he points to the water beside the carriage and asks Phillip … “what can stand in the way.. of my being baptized.” He had already experienced a type of rejection and was looking to see if, somehow, things could be different for him.

To which Phillip essentially says “nothing can get in the way. not anymore.” No more gatekeeping.

There’s a type of gatekeeping that comes with our hobbies.

• Who’s in and who’s out

• How to become a local

• What’s classified as legitimate

• What’s corny and what’s core

Are our hobbies leading us to become loving like Christ? Without love, we’re also without witness. Without witness, our faith becomes self-serving instead of self-sacrificial, reducing Christ to a coach rather than our Lord.

Heart

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If we miss a week with our hobby, how’s our heart?

Is doing this hobby leading us to love others better? The outcome of loving the Lord with all our hearts is having the capacity to then love our neighbor as we love ourselves. How are we doing with that?

When we love the Lord with all our hearts, we are operating from abundance. We no longer have a scarcity mindset. Everything good, now that we have allowed the Lord the throne of our hearts, becomes a pleasant delight rather than the essential oxygen to breathe that some may see their hobbies as.

You Are a Temple

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So.. don’t have any hobbies?

Be a recluse and stay in your room all day reading and praying till the next available church gathering?

Not quite.

That would be wildly hypocritical of me to hint at anything close to that.. since, again, I have like 10 hobbies I’m juggling (juggling not one of them. yet.)

I’m simply extending an invitation to join me in putting our hobbies in their proper place: avenues to bring God glory. Opportunities for partnership and relationship with God.

As we consider them, we must evaluate:

• Is this leading me closer to God or further from God?

• Is there a breach in my integrity from doing this hobby?

• Am I led to love others better because of my practice of this activity?

• As I do this hobby consistently, what kind of person am I becoming?

May They Bow Before God

“After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold” 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Now, this whole temple metaphor that i’ve shared might have felt like a stretch to you - but here’s the thing i don’t want anyone to miss, whether you’ve agreed with me thus far or not:

Just like the idol of Dagon fell on its face before the presence of the Lord, so must all of our hobbies. No idol can remain exalted in the presence of God.

The Lord alone can be Lord. That’s kind of what it means for Him to be Lord. He alone gets that title. Everything else, all hobbies, bow down before Him in His temples, in us.

My Eyes on You, Christ

“Our part in thus practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him” - Dallas Willard

May our hobbies be an avenue for communion with our loving Lord, rather than serve as a blockade from relationship with Him. God is so gracious to give us a world with so many fun, life-giving things to do. May we respond to the gift of this life with giving God our attention, our hearts and minds, as we do our hobbies.

Allow me to pray

Lord Jesus

may you alone be our Lord

having all else in our lives bow down

before your throne

before your glory

you are so kind and patient with us

may we grow in obedience

and in giving you our devotion

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

Thanks for taking the time to read my work. Being a father of two little kids who works full-time, I tend to write and queue up my posts between the hours of 10pm-2am. Because of that, ya boy’s having several cups of coffee everyday. If you’re a fan of what I do, keep the dream alive (and me alive) and buy me a coffee to support me in my writing.

Spiritual Dad Bods

The year is 2024. The boys are texting in the running chat about working off the dad bod by sending some miles, to which Kaleb replies, “we don’t call it dad bods anymore, it’s our father figure.”

That ended up being a great way to justify the added pounds we carried.

Though Kaleb meant the same thing with two different names in this scenario, I believe there can be a great distinction between someone who is considered to be a father figure, in the traditional sense, and to be one who has a spiritual dad bod.

Spiritual dad bods come with the following qualities:

• Selfishness

• Carelessness

• Discouragement

• Neglectfulness

• & Absence

If you have experienced any of these things with your own father, I am so incredibly sorry. These qualities leave lingering effects which is why many people grow up with lingering “father wounds.”

The created intent for the role of parents, aside from procreating to fulfill the call in Genesis, is to demonstrate the qualities of God as a loving parent to His children. For that inherent reason, when fathers fall short of that design it leaves a child with pain to work through.

And this kind of pain certainly is important to work through.

Seeing a therapist might be essential in some cases to work through severe trauma. We cannot belittle the power in sharing our story in a safe place. For others, they may just live with a slight discomfort from their childhood and have a lingering thought: how could my dad have done better??

It’s 3:34am and I’m rocking my son, who will be a year old on Friday, back to sleep. As I look down at his sweet face, I want to give him the world. How I can do that is by looking toward those in my life who have demonstrated being a father figure really well. They may at some point have had a spiritual dad bod, as we are all a work in progress, but they have helped trail-blaze the path for new fathers to walk down. I have two little boys, a 3.5 year old and a nearly 1 year old, which means I have a long road of fatherhood ahead of me. With that, I’m eager to learn.

Allow me to share those who I’ve seen have the antithesis of a dad bod, those who have modeled the father figure really well as they have looked toward their Heavenly Father.

Les: “sacrificial love”

Les grew up in a home with a rough father figure. Honestly, his father held every quality I shared above about having a spiritual dad bod. His dad wasn’t around much, and when he was it was like a tornado going through the house that inflicted pain upon the family that was unbearable at times.

Les’ father did not teach his children the way forward in life as a trailblazer but acted instead as an emotional bulldozer in relationships. At the end of his days, Les’ father wrote a letter of apology to his family and shared about his new faith in Jesus. Though hearing a story of repentance is what believers find incredible joy in, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Les to disregard the letter and try his best to move on ignoring what he had to endure.

But he forgave his father.

Because of that, I have a memory of his father holding me as a one and a half year old on my childhood driveway. My grandpa, holding me. You might think there ain’t no way I can have a memory from so young.. honestly my next memory I have is from preschool years later. I believe the Lord has allowed me to hold that memory as part of a redemption story. A brand new man and a man, my father Les, who learned to forgive.

Growing up, my dad, Les, was the most sacrificially loving father I could have asked for. Reason being, he didn’t grow up with that. I had heard him say countless times, “I just don’t want to be like my father.” To which I would often tell him, you’re absolutely not. You’re a great dad. He’d tear up at that. He cries a lot just like how I’ve begun to. I think having kids makes you soft. It doesn’t matter even if you skateboard - kids make you soft.

Les would offer the shirt off his back (or his vintage jackets from his closet), drive loved ones to the airport early in the morning at a short notice, and send text messages of encouragement just because.

Les has always been optimistic to a fault, which I don’t think is a bad thing. It’s often just funny when things are crumbling and he’s seeing the bright side

With that, Les has always looked for ways to love even in the thick of hardship. How can he give his kids the best experience, vacation, gifts, and love in the midst of any type of scarcity? Les would find a way.

My dad would, and continues to, model as a father figure with his sacrificial love. I love you dad.

Danny: “intentionality”

Danny is one of a kind. Surfer and follower of Jesus his whole life, he has always exuded youthfulness. So much so, that he began Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 50 and is nearing his black belt as he’s about to turn 60. His nickname at the gym is T-1000 because he is an absolute robot who just keeps on going. People half his age are totally gassed from half the activity that Danny will do in a single day.

Danny has 4 kids, one of whom is my beloved bride, and has always been highly intentional with them. Birthday breakfast with each of them individually each year, day-long excursions with them individually as children, and continued relationship with them into adulthood as they have each become parents. I’m grateful for his parenting, not only because he raised an incredible woman for me, but because of the best friends I have now from his other kids and their spouses. Specifically Dakota, my brother-in-law. We call each other built-in-best-friends.

Along with Dakota, through marrying Danny’s daughter, I have two other brother-in-laws that I get to be close with, Brad and Jakeh. Both incredible men of God who have honorable qualities. What’s incredible is that Danny has chosen to not only be intentional with his daughters and with his son Jakeh, but with his sons-in-law as well.

Danny is always inviting the boys to surf, to do jiu jitsu, or even to grab food. Danny is highly relational and, thanks be to God, really awesome too which makes it an easy yes to hanging out. A big part of that is him being genuinely himself rather than trying to be anything he’s not.

That experience can be rough..

Danny has paved the path well with what it means to be intentional as a father figure, teaming up with Les in being grandfather figures together.

Grant: “encouragement”

In 2006 my family began to attend a new church after having gone to the same church since back when I was born in the late 1900’s, as I describe myself to my youth students, in 1994. My first day at their middle school ministry, I met an older gentleman named Grant who was really tall. I believe he’s just around 6’3, but when you’re in middle school that’s a skyscraper. My initial thoughts on Grant were, aside from being tall, that he was radiant in love. Specifically, with encouragement. We were just moments into having met and he already told me that he loved the way I interacted with adults. I believe I was probably way less painfully awkward around adults than I was around peers. I definitely preferred talking on Runescape than in person in 6th grade

20 years later, Grant is still encouraging me today. Every time we hangout he does this annoying thing where he never talks about himself but instead gets me to talk the whole time and encourages the heck out of me. He takes after Jesus really well with answering my questions with a question, leading me into deeper introspection, to which he follows up with more encouragement. Barnabas would honestly be a great nickname for him, “son of encouragement,” but with the name Grant Godfrey you really shouldn’t deviate. GG, Grant Godfrey.

Grant has seen me through all major seasons; awkward middle schooler, stoner high schooler, sold out for Jesus junior year, began a para-church organization at 18, youth pastor at 23, attended my college graduation and wedding both at 25 (love seeing him in the wedding photos amongst family and friends), and having my two children. Through all seasons, Grant has taken me out to lunch frequently to encourage, affirm, and direct me to the open arms of the Lord.

Grant taught me how to love Scriptures, how to prophesy over brothers and sisters, how to preach the Word of God (MAN was he gracious with my first few rounds lol) and how to be an encouragement just as he has always been.

It’s important that I mention that Grant is a Pauline-like figure. Unmarried, living with his schedule fully surrendered to the ministry. He has an adopted now-adult son named Jeremy, but has probably a thousand spiritual sons, one of whom is yours truly. Having been in youth ministry since the 1980’s, Grant has been a spiritual father figure to many.

If I can grow up to be ANYTHING like GG, I’d say that was a job well done on my part. I’m forever grateful for his immense encouragement as a father figure.

Andrew: “priority kids”

Pastors kids get a bad wrap. I say that, but I also fully understand why. It’s been a big caution sign in my mind. I have heard too many stories of kids who have rebelled from the faith because their father, who was a pastor, was not present in the home. Instead of growing up to love Jesus, they grew up to see Jesus as the hinderance of having a father who considered them worth their time.

(I nearly died when I saw this photo after searching for images of “Rebellious Pastor’s Kids.” This looks like a girl who is going to use her longboard to skate from one side of Grand Canyon University’s campus to the other side to order her chai at the coffee shop)

(This stock photo will have to do)

I once got coffee with a close friend, Ryan, with whom I shared my concerns, lightheartedly, about the potential of having a rebellious PK, or Pastor’s Kid. When sharing my safeguards of wanting to be present, humble with admitting mistakes, and gracious, Ryan said “It sounds like you want your PK to be your Priority Kid.”

That has stuck with me ever since.

It seems that when pastor’s kids aren’t priority kids they tend to fall into rebellion.

Let me now introduce you to my friend Andrew.

Andrew is the father of six kids. Three times the amount that I have. It sounds like madness, and at times, he admits, it is. However, these 6 kids feel incredibly loved by their dad. Reason being, they are priority kids. They get first dibs on dad.

Andrew is the pastor of teaching and vision at the church I pastor the youth in. With Andrew’s role, he is pulled in every direction. Every ministry at our church requires his attention to a degree. All of our big questions go his way, whether by phone or by email. He is an incredibly busy dude.

And yet, whenever his wife calls he answers.

Whenever his children Facetime him, he answers (on his laptop, he has a Light phone since he’s a hipster millennial).

On days off, he is truly off and is with his children. Andrew’s family has an RV and will frequently send a 1-2 day trip with the 8 of them to be together. Andrew’s family loves to be together and is incredibly close, and I would say a big reason for that is the way how Andrew prioritizes his wife and kids over all other things.

He gets his job done, and does it well, and does not often compromise when it comes to family time. If he does, like if a time-sensitive meeting pops up on a day off, he is sure to make up for it with a sincere apology and extended family time at the backend.

I’m able to say all this with confidence because two of his children are now in the youth ministry I shepherd. When they talk about their dad, they light up! They smile ear to ear. Andrew’s daughter has a sparkle in her eye when he is mentioned. Andrew’s son has a warm smile when his dad is brought up in conversation. The fruit of Andrew prioritizing his children is, first, them loving him deeply and, most importantly, them loving the Lord with all their hearts.

Through Andrew treating his PK’s as priority kids, he has been a great father figure and is leading his kids into the open arms of their Heavenly Father.

Troy: “presence”

There’s certainly a park culture of dads. Mostly on their phones. Their kids are playing on the jungle gym, potentially shoving other kids over, while the dads are scrolling on their phones, completely absent from their children.

Then there’s Troy.

Troy is a father of 4. Three boys and one baby girl. Troy will pull up to the local park and I will not see him on his phone once. Instead he’s playing soccer, riding with them on his E-bike, throwing a football, playing tag, or having them fetch his ZipChip like a puppy (which is essentially the energy you find in little kids)

Troy has proven to be an incredibly present father. At the park with his kids nearly every day, or at least every single time I go to the local park with my kids, and he is laughing alongside his giggling boys. There’s a radiance to their smiles when they look at their dad. That, and a mischievous look. Usually before they try and tackle him, which he often evades with swagger. I think he was previously a soccer player, so he’s got the moves.

I haven’t done research on this statistic, but I imagine that a large percentage of being a good father is just being present. Being attentive. Playing with your kids. If you are consistently present with your kids, perhaps you’re ahead of many.

Something I have gathered while in the field (literally, the field next to the park) is that the ways that Troy’s kids interact with him are far more ecstatic and joyous than what I see with kids whose dad’s be scrolling on their iPhones. Maybe there’s really something to them being called “i-Phones” that makes a person caught up in themselves rather than present with those around them. I don’t know, maybe I’m mistaking depth for a kiddy pool.

Troy has modeled being a father figure well by his continual presence with his kids. And what a gift that is for their childhood.

Dads, Find A Mentor

Perhaps you’re reading all this and don’t have someone in your life that emulates these qualities. My biggest recommendation for dads is to find an older dad who has done it well. One that has kids who grew up to love their dad and, even more importantly, their Heavenly Father. I attempted to not give my personal advice in this piece, being a new dad, and instead pointed out what I’ve seen as helpful in the father figures I have in my life. I have a long way to go and so much to learn, and so I’m incredibly grateful for these men in my life.

The best place to find a man of God like those described above is in a local church context. If you’re a father and follower of Jesus and are not a part of a local church, I lovingly encourage you to get plugged in somewhere. Having role models in the church context has been immensely helpful for my own journey in being a father to little kids.

If you’re a father and not a follower of Jesus, I would still recommend the same thing. In the church you’ll find many broken people trying to figure life out while seeking and serving the perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. Following Jesus begins with admittance that we don’t have everything put together. We need a helper. We need grace. So we put our faith in the one who has everything together. From there, we get to live out God’s grace everyday, walking in faith and welcoming Him into all that we do. When we fall short, grace abounds. When we need to apologize, grace abounds. We’re all in dire need of grace: especially those who are raising tiny humans. Ask a Christian you know where they go to church and if you can join them next Sunday. Be open, and watch what the perfect Father has in store for you.

Heavenly Father Figure

Ultimately, we have our perfect Father in heaven to look to. He’s a good good Father and loves us more than we could ever know. May we receive all we need from Him so we can best love His children, just as He loves us.

Allow me to pray:

Heavenly Father

you are so good to us

thank you for your grace for when we fall short

and for your Holy Spirit to guide us to love more like you

may we humble ourselves before you

walking in integrity and vulnerability

that your goodness might shine brightly

bless our children as we commit them to you

in Jesus’ mighty name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

Thanks for taking the time to read my work. Being a father of two little kids who works full-time, I tend to write and queue up my posts between the hours of 10pm-2am. Because of that, ya boy’s having several cups of coffee everyday. If you’re a fan of what I do, keep the dream alive (and me alive) and buy me a coffee to support me in my writing.

“i’m just being brutally honest”

A good friend of mine was having a heart to heart with his mentor a few years back. As the conversation progressed, my friend said what’s been said by many people, many times before, “i’m just being brutally honest.”

To which his mentor replied, “try being brutally loving.”

What a line!

We’re living in a day and age where people prefer “being honest” to being loving, especially in the name of Jesus (???)

This seems to contradict Jesus’ instructions to His disciples on Disciple2Jesus 101

“By this everyone will know you are my disciple, if you love one another” John 13:35

Love is central to the mission of Jesus.

So where have we gone wrong?

Followers of Jesus, filled with His Holy Spirit, are to walk in the Spirit. In doing so, the fruit of the Spirit is grown:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23

As we read through the list it becomes increasingly clear - being a jerk is not a fruit of the Spirit. So what’s up with all the angst in the name of Jesus?

Pride Hurts

Undoubtedly, it’s rooted in pride. Pride is the doozy that corrupts everything good. It’s just easier to assume rightness rather than lay down pride to pursue being righteous.

There’s a story about Dallas Willard teaching a class at USC, where he was a professor, and a student making a snarky comment at him in front of the whole class. As the bell rang after the student’s comment, Dallas simply dismissed the class. When a student asked him after class why Dallas hadn’t defended himself, he replied “I am practicing the discipline of not having to have the last word.” Pride was dismissed from the classroom.

There’s an even more popular story about a Jewish Rabbi who claimed to be the Messiah, who was hung on a roman torture device and cried out the psalmists words “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Rather than cursing those who beat Him to a pulp and hung Him on a cross to suffocate to death, Jesus interceded for His accusers. Pride had no hold on King Jesus.

Pride is mold on Spiritual fruit. There may have been fruit in the believers’ life, but when pride begins to grow it’s no longer enjoyable. The fruit no longer nourishes fellow believers.

Being a jerk is not a fruit of the Spirit, but I’ll tell you what is.

Love

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16

God is love, and the basis of His relationship to us is unconditional, sacrificial love. Love that came and died so that in Him we might have resurrection life.

God so loved the world because.. He so loved the world. There was nothing people (you & me) did to earn that love. God loves us because He loves us.

Going back to the verse I quoted earlier,

“By this everyone will know you are my disciple, if you love one another” John 13:35

How we are revealed to be Christ’s disciples is by our love for one another.

Not by “winning” arguments

Not by being keyboard warriors 4 Christ

By our love.

Joy

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2

Jesus is the most joyful person to ever live. He created joy and radiates with joy.

Jesus would end His 3 years of ministry with the disciples following the path that would lead to His greatest joy, extending the invitation to all people His love and grace. Through faith, because of the cross, we may be saved by the grace of God.

Jesus was sacrificially joyful. He would lay down His life, going to the cross, for the joy of welcoming His kids into the family of God.

At what lengths are we as a church going to be sacrificially joyful? Laying down our pride and preferences for the sake of extending grace freely as we have freely been extended grace?

It would be wild to be a jerk in light of this.

Peace

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7

Jesus has been described as a “non-anxious presence.” He is peace embodied. Peace perfected. He’s the creator, sustainer and perfecter of peace. In Him, we get peace that goes beyond everything that makes sense.

Christ welcomes us to live as those who bring in the peace of Christ.

There will be those who are in conflict or harsh disagreements with us, just as Jesus encountered. That’s where we are to be peace makers, working toward peace, not peace keepers, compromising beliefs for the sake of peace. There will be times where we will need to address things that are wrong, especially in fellow believers. Or there will be times when there’s conflict simply from two people’s interests butting heads. When there, we seek to make peace. Welcome the peace of God in while bringing the correction or reconciliation.

But Austenn, Jesus came to bring a sword, not peace! (Matthew 10:34-36)

Yes, His Gospel message is going to divide. His Gospel message is going to stir the pot. However, Jesus remains God and therefore remains Yahweh Shalom, ‘The Lord is Peace.’ We are welcomed into the peace of Christ while not compromising on the message of the Gospel.

Patience

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9

Patience is deeply rooted in the character of God. ‘Slow to anger’ in Exodus 34:6 is translated from ‘Long Nostrilled.’ Anyone who has a toddler knows what it’s like to take in a deep breath through their nose in efforts to not lose their minds.

God is so incredibly patient with us. With who we are becoming. With our questionable decisions that we make. With His kids who don’t yet know Him. God is patient with His people.

Patience needs a comeback in the church. Less explosive behavior in the comment section, more patience. More questions laced with love than with arrogance.

Kindness

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

If it’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance, why would we operate in anything less than kindness to the non-believer (or fellow brother and sister) in regard to salvific issues and beyond.

We are saved by God’s loving-kindness and are to live in light of it.

Goodness

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” Psalm 34:8

May our character be reflective of the goodness of God rather than the faultiness of man.

Where we spend the bulk of our time is going to shape us. The coffee shop I’m at as I type this article definitely makes me want to put more intentionality into how I dress. I’m inspired here in how much heart they put into making coffee, always seeking to make the perfect cup. I’m shaped by my time spent here.

Likewise, when we spend ample time in the Lord as our refuge, we will be shaped by His presence. Once we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, when we have been met by His goodness we will be blessed.

And blessed, as defined by Tim Mackie from the Bible Project, doesn’t simply mean ‘lucky,’ or ‘fortunate.’ Rather, blessed means ‘happy.’ Happy is the one who takes refuge in Him. We are operating from happiness.

And I know that happiness gets a bad wrap from Christians who say that we should just seek joy. But isn’t happiness a byproduct of joy? Can someone be joyful but unhappy? Regardless, happy is the one who takes refuge in Him.

The goodness of God is to be what we most crave and what we are most eager to share.

Faithfulness

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” 2 Timothy 2:13

Thanks be to God for His never-ending faithfulness to us. Even when we’re spiritually slacking, God’s persistent in pursuing His bride.

How can we grow in faithfulness not only to Him but to one another? How can we see the church, fellow believers, as the bride of Christ that Jesus adores, rather than those who we are to blow up on over differing opinions.

Consider this next time you feel tempted to call out a believer on their actions:

Would you talk this way to your pastor’s wife?

How much more should we be aware of how we speak to the one who is a part of the bride of Christ, His church.

Lord Jesus, help us grow in your faithfulness.

Gentleness

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30

I love to imagine this as Jesus’ social media bio. ‘Gentle and humble in heart.’ This is the Jesus we pray to. This is the Jesus we are welcomed into relationship with. He is gentle toward His people. He is humble in heart; incredibly approachable. And with that, His presence offers rest. There is rest for us, finally, when we are with our Jesus.

Gentle and humble. These are such beautiful attributes that should be in the IRL bio of every believer.

Self-Control

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” James 4:17

My professor Bill Dogterom, who was mentored by Dallas Willard, once said, “There was a day when I realized that I don’t have to say everything that’s on my mind.”

May that be a word for us all today.

There are times when saying something is the good we ought to do.

There are other times when not saying something is the good we ought to do.

Self-control, guided by the love and power of the Holy Spirit, is how we live in alignment with the love of God and in right relationship with others. We need to recognize that everyone’s a work in progress, just like we are, and that we don’t need to say every mean thing that comes to mind. Even if it feels incredibly warranted.

May we have self-control with our speech and with our actions. All to the glory of God.

Help Us, Lord

Whether we’re naturally kind or not as followers of Jesus, we’re all in dire need of His grace. In the words of Nacho “Every. Day.”

The Lord is so patient for us to finally lock in. Thanks be to God that “He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Whether or not believers heed the call to humility and love or not, I do believe we’ll all receive a fresh dose of humility, paired with the notes of awe and wonder, as we “now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). When we’re facing the King after our final breath on this side of eternity, we will be, rightfully, put in our place. We are a servant of the King. Thanks be to our Lord Jesus that by His blood we have made it into His family. Nothing but the blood of Jesus could have accomplished that.

May we live in light of the cross as we live out our faiths, walking in the fruit of the Spirit.

Allow me to pray:

King Jesus

we are your humble servants

serving your people, your bride

may we walk in the fruit of the spirit

lovingly ministering to those you have placed before us

may your heart dictate the ways we live and move

and humble us when we feel the desire for rightness

rather than being righteous

we love you, Lord Jesus. amen.

God bless you, brothers and sisters.

Thanks for taking the time to read my work. Being a father of two little kids who works full-time, I tend to write and queue up my posts between the hours of 10pm-2am. Because of that, ya boy’s having several cups of coffee everyday. If you’re a fan of what I do, keep the dream alive (and me alive) and buy me a coffee to support me in my writing.

And We Back

If you haven’t already, read my first article addressing several things that christians say that aren’t in the bible.

To begin, I’d like to bring up the fact that the enemy doesn’t create. Not only that, he can’t create. All the enemy can do is distort. He manages to do this with lies, specifically the twisting of words. At first glance, the phrases down below sound good. They might even sound like a bible verse..

Everything happens for a reason !

God won’t give you anything you can’t handle !!

Preach the Gospel, and use words if necessary !!!

(All three of which I touched on in my previous article)

There are a lot of phrases like these thrown around in christian culture not because of ill intent but because of being misinformed by other believers. And being misinformed only leads christians to become spiritually malformed.

My heart is that every believer wouldn’t take the things they hear and read at face value (my articles included), but would test them with the Word of God.

Asking the question: Does the bible really say that? Only one way to find out. Open up the bible and take in the Word of life.

I’m going to tackle three more sayings I hear in Christian culture and make the case that “the bible doesn’t say that.”

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1 “God helps those who help themselves”

I believe this phrase has become a cop-out for helping other people. When believers see someone on the streets, they could use this phrase as a way to justify passing them on by.

But that’s not the Way of Jesus.

Jesus once told a story about a good person. Not only a good person, but a good Samaritan. The Jewish people despised Samaritans, so to speak of Samaritans in a positive light, as Jesus did, would be preposterous.

Here’s the deets:

“In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭30‬-‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this analogy, could the man who was beaten and left for dead help himself? It appears not.

God seeks the helpless.

In another account, Jesus is addressing who will be in the Kingdom and who will not be. He shares jarring words with His disciples of those who are in, and those who are out.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Not only does our Lord see neglecting the “least of these” as wrong, but He sees it as a personal affront. Jesus directly ties our relationship with those on the margins to our relationship with Him. What’s done, or not done to them, is our action, or inaction, to the King.

Through His people, God helps the helpless.

So then, does God help those who help themselves? Certainly it’s wise to be a good steward of your time and resources, but according to Scripture it appears that God is not exclusive to helping those who help themselves. Rather, God is drawn to the helpless.

2 “God just wanted another angel in heaven”

This is a weird one. Weird, because people will say it as a way to comfort people when they lose a loved one.

Here’s 2 reasons why it’s weird:

1 It makes it seem like God desires for people to die

2 We literally do not turn into angels

First off, this proves to be a poor theological viewpoint on suffering. It’s a coping mechanism for dealing with death.. “maybe God just wanted another angel, and that’s why your loved one passed away.” The reality is, God grieves alongside us as loved ones pass away. Reason being, death was never God’s intent for humanity on earth. That’s shown in Christ’s response to Lazarus having died, Christ crying out in deep sorrow even though He knew well that Laz would rise again (John 11:35). God doesn’t have hidden motives to take people away from earth, but rather has clear motives to restore them while still in their earthly bodies in preparation for the resurrection that’s to come (Romans 12:2). Where they will become not angels, but renewed humans as Christ revealed to His disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:36-43).

Along with that, both of those reasons above are high key offensive to those who bear the image of God.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Humans bear the image of God. That’s the highest tier we can achieve. There’s no leveling up. That’s peak. We don’t become angels when we die, but are rather brought to completion in our sanctification as we are finally brought face to face with our Lord Jesus (Philippians 1:6) and know God fully as we are fully known by Him (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Not only that, but angels marvel at an experience Christians have that they do not: God dying on the cross for them so that they might receive salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love how Eugene Peterson paraphrases the last portion in the Message:

“Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!” 1 Peter 1:12 MSG

Humans have a unique experience that angels do not have.

“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thanks be to God. Jesus came down in the likeness of our sinful flesh that we may have the opportunity to receive His righteousness.

We don’t become angels when we die. Rather, we become fully human just as God intended. Mirroring Christ, the perfect Man and our savior.

3 “Man make plans and God laughs”

I have always cringed at this one. This phrase, though not always used in this manner, can really make God seem condescending.

“I’m going to go to Harvard!”

“I want to be a parent!”

“I want to be an artist!”

Then God be like:

“Muahah puny human. Nice plan! But how about this instead…”

But we don’t have a condescending God. Rather, we have a God who seeks lifelong partnership with us as we depend on Him.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this proverb, the sovereign hand of God is shown. We have our ideas about what we would like to do, but it is God who establishes our steps. Everything we do happens through His sovereignty.

I don’t imagine God laughs when we make plans, but rather holds our hands as we, knowingly or not, walk through His plans.

Certainly it’s good to make plans that honor the Lord. That’s where we see the divine partnership thrive.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Notice it doesn’t say “though he may stumble, God laughs and then upholds him with his hand.” That’s not the case. This verse suggests, as I said above, God is lovingly leading His kids as He holds Christians hands through their decisions. Contextually with this verse, as we delight in Him, we won’t fall when we stumble, but will be upheld by Him. From adoring attentiveness to the Father, we are upheld even when we fumble in life.

I imagine it’s like when i’m holding my toddlers hand and he trips and for a second is floating mid-air as i’m holding him up in efforts to not have him fall on the floor. Because of my son’s connection with me, though he stumbles, he is upheld. Same with us as we delight in the Lord!

So is God laughing at our plans? Perhaps a chuckle here and there as God is beaming with joy and probably thinks we can be silly at times. But our God is not condescending in the least. When we make plans, God establishes our steps and seeks partnership with us that we may be led deeper into His goodness.

The Bible Says This

Here’s the reality for us all, brothers and sisters

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

May you know this great God’s great love for you as you find yourself immersed in His word. As you do, you’ll become increasingly more aware of what sayings are biblical, and what are not. As disciples of Jesus, we are all students to Jesus. So let’s keep learning together, eager to grow as we submit ourselves to the word of God.

Allow me to pray for us:

Heavenly Father

we love your word

thank you that you are the God who spoke

and who continues to speak today

may we be students of your word

planted in it and nourished by it

day and night, like a tree by a stream

fill us and sustain us

that we may be those who exalt you

we love you Jesus, our Lord and King

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

Interruptions

It’s 4:48am. I’m up early so I can spend some slow, quality time with my Lord. My coffee’s made, bible and jesus-books are stacked on the living room couch, and I lie down with a blanket. Before I can even open my Bible, my baby begins to cry in my bedroom. Moments later, he’s already asleep in my arms as we gently sway.

It’s 1:37pm. It’s Sabbath and i’ve been out with the family all morning and have returned home for quiet time for my toddler and nap time for my baby. I have my coffee made and, once again, my bible and jesus-books stacked on the couch. I missed my morning bible time since I slept in, but it’s Shabbat Shalom, baby. My wife has successfully gotten our baby to sleep while my toddler has come out of his room 5 times now asking for another snack. The 6th exodus from his room, my toddler is insistent that we play legos together. I grab my coffee and, moments later, am building a lego castle alongside my little prince.

It’s 10:05pm. A practice I love to do is the Prayer of Examen. Seeing where God was moving in my day, and if I was aware of both His presence and working power in those moments. My tea is freshly poured at 186 degrees, specific number for no specific reason, and I sit at my kitchen counter with my journal laid out and my bible open in the book of Psalm. As I begin to take my first sip, my baby begins to cry in my room, where my wife is (or was) sound asleep. I run in, leaving behind my hot tea, and, once again, rock my baby in my arms.

You know, looking back, I have no valid excuses for my lack of being with Jesus before having kids. Mostly, I can attribute my lack of presence with my Lord to staying up too late watching a show and needing to sleep in, or waking up early enough to go surf or to the gym but not early enough to be with my Jesus beforehand or after.

Before having kids, I feel like I had a lot of time. With kids, time is no longer my own. Or, rather, I have realized that time was never my own. It’s always been God’s, I’ve just been chosen to steward a portion. Whether I like it or not, I’m going to be judged based on how I stewarded my portion of time. I’m not saying I’m sent to hell in a handbag if I miss a morning devotional, but what did I do with my time that God allotted me while on earth? And am I practicing heaven today by practicing the presence of God?

Is it possible to be with Jesus everyday as a parent with little kids? Yes, but it may look different than how it did before having kids or than how it will look when kids are older.

Darren and Bill had a conversation on the Bible Study Podcast where they mentioned that the one of most difficult times for a person’s walk with Jesus is when they have little kids. Not gunna lie, I loved getting that validation as I’ve been drowning.

My hope is to make a case on how we as parents, or future parents, can come away for a while with our Lord in the midst of caring for our children.

Interruptions as Invitations

There eventually had to be mentality shift for me, turning all the interruptions into invitations toward deeper spiritual growth. Sure, I’m not always getting the proper bible study i’m hoping for, but I have these few years with my kids being little and God intends to uniquely minister to me as I love them well. Interruptions can always be turned into invitations for heaven to break in.

We see that in the life of Jesus. Most of Jesus’ miracles are the result of Him being interrupted well. As Jesus was journeying on the way to someplace, He would often get interrupted and that would be an invitation for heaven to break in. Jesus didn’t see the interruption as a burden, but as an opportunity to love.

Lord Jesus, help me get there with my kids in my most tired, desperate moments.

Years into parenting, and getting constantly interrupted when i’m trying to have rich solo time with the Lord, i’m beginning to consider this question:

How might our interruptions actually lead us deeper into the love of God?

• rocking baby to sleep at 11:27pm (currently)

• playing with my toddler when he should be napping

• going for run with the double jogger early in the morning since they both decided to get up far too soon

• making food (again) since they didn’t eat their dinner (once again) when they should already be asleep

Each of these moments, Jesus is beside me waiting for me to direct His attention on Him. God hardwired us in a unique way: when we give our full attention to His presence in our midst we’re able to pay better, more loving attention to those around us. So as I’m attending to my kids in these annoying moments, Christ is waiting for me to attend to Him, that I may receive His grace to carry me through these moments, not just surviving but spiritually thriving. These ordinary moments become holy when I welcome my Jesus in, turning interruptions into invitations to deeper spiritual growth.

Lord, help me love my children better.

Common Tasks, Heavenly Touch

As a parent, i’ve learned to give myself grace as I find Jesus is always giving me grace. He knows my capacity, He knows where i’m at, He knows i tried really hard to get up early or stay up late to be alone with Him but I got interrupted by my (sweet) children and now that time is botched.

So… no sweet communion now? Nope. It just might look different than it used to before having had kids.

Now i’m finding myself do common tasks with a touch of heaven:

• Washing dishes while praying over others or talking to Jesus about my day. Learned this from Brother Lawrence.

• Brushing my teeth is something I do twice a day and can pray through Psalm 23 or the Lord’s Prayer as I do. Same prompt applies to when I make coffee, which necessitates the brushing of teeth so this can be in the same bullet point.

• Showering at night when my kids are asleep makes for an amazing space to do the prayer of Examen, walking through my day in prayer with Jesus and seeing where He was working and considering whether or not I was participating in His work.

• Driving during work hours is a great time for me but not as much for my sweet wife who basically always has our kids when she drives. On my own, driving is wonderful for prayer, listening to Scripture, or listening to Through The Word audio bible commentary. If i happen to drive with my kids while my wife’s working or with friends, the move is playing worship music or the Tiny Theologians podcast. My boys eat that up and it’s actually so legit.

Common, ordinary tasks with a touch of heaven.

I’m learning Jesus isn’t as worried as i am about my attention being aesthetically curated to a bible time over coffee with a candle before the sun rises. He just wants me.

Discipleship Begins at Birth

The sweet reality is that discipling my children begins at birth. Upon their entry to the world, I’m to turn my two boys into resilient disciples of Jesus. A big part of my parenting, then, is consistently welcoming in the presence of God, the word of God, and the exaltation of God.

Here’s a day in the life for this 32 year old dad of 2 little boys:

• Reading scripture to my boys with my toddler’s picture bible, NLT version that’s both engaging for them and actually Scripture. Not gunna lie, some of the other kid bibles have weird twists on scriptures lol

• Playing worship music while making breakfast or playing with my kids. As I sing the songs to the Lord and over my children, I’m bringing a sweet aroma of praise into the home.

• As I said above, playing the kids podcast Tiny Theologians for my children has been theologically rich and not annoying whatsoever. Praise God for that, because some kids content can really kill the soul.

• Something I’ll do if my toddler wakes up early when i’m about to read scripture is allow him to watch a few videos by Go Chatter Studios. This studio does lego stop-motion videos of bible stories (by hand, not with AI) and is incredibly well done and biblically sound. Plus, the narrator is from the UK so it’s very pleasant in the background. My son knows all about Lazarus and Jonah from watching those videos on repeat.

Before I’m called to disciple my youth students, I’m called to disciple my children. Naturally, i’m spending time with the Lord as I do that. Sure, it doesn’t look like how it used to, but for now this is not only good - it’s better. I’m seeing young boys become men of faith.

Night Night iPhone

Here’s something very practical. Whether or not you’re a parent, your phone is likely the biggest barrier you have toward spiritual growth. It’s always vying for your attention, especially when you’re exhausted after a day of parenting (or work and then parenting).

A recommendation, that i myself need to follow more, is putting the phone to sleep shortly after your kids go to sleep. Once the child or children are asleep, put the phone on airplane mode and in another room. Time to lock in with the Lord in His word, in a Jesus-book (what i like to call theology books), or in simple prayer.

Truth be told, text messages can often be treated as emails… you can respond tomorrow. We often don’t need to respond to all our texts after the kids go to sleep only to have that fill up all the free time we had.

Along with that, Ive never done a joyous exhale and said “that was phenomenal” after doom scrolling at night. Not only that, i don’t even remember 98% of the content I just consumed.

Amongst countless reasons, put that phone to sleep. Even better, let it sleep in too. Utilize the maybe four minutes you have before your kids wakes up for prayer and scripture. It’s better than checking your email or looking at someone’s instagram story of their dinner last night.

Wrapping Things Up

Parenting small kids can be a rich time of spiritual formation. We just need to welcome Jesus in. Honestly, we desperately need Him if we want to do parenting well anyway. Maybe that’s why the interruptions are truly invitations to spiritual growth. When we’re interrupted and are revealed to be easily frustrated, having a short fuse and or agitated at our little humans, we get reminded that we are in desperate need of the grace of God. Let’s go to His throne room of grace again and again, committing the parenting journey of little kids to Him.

Let me pray for the tired parents (and future parents)

Heavenly Father

you are so good to us

thank you for parenting us well

so we may learn from your loving ways

show us sweet communion

in the midst of much commotion

welcoming you into the ordinary

so you may mark it and make it holy

shape us so we can shape our kids

by your grace we live and move

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

[pc]

New Season Perhaps?

I gave my life to Jesus when I was 16 years old. Upon conversion, I started attending 3 different youth groups and a house church. I loved being in Spiritually-rich communities. After graduation, I began to jump from church to church across 4 years until I finally landed at the church I currently pastor at. The reasons for the hopping were never the same, it was a variety of reasons that applied to my preferences at the time. Though I’m not upset at my decision to switch churches a few times as it led to me becoming employed at my current church for the past 8 years, I do see how church hopping 4 times in 4 years can become problematic for a believer:

Lack of roots going deep with others

Lack of accountability with others

Lack of serving the church for a long period of time amongst others

I certainly lacked all those things from my decisions. I’m just glad God in His sovereignty made a way for my current role despite my flakiness.

Over the last 10 years there’s become an even greater rise in celebrity pastors and big name churches than ever before. Social media has made a way for the Gospel to spread far and wide, and that’s a beautiful thing.

However, with the rise of these pastors and churches on social media, it is creating a discontentment in the hearts of people who have been previously committed to a local church. Their pastor just isn’t trendy, isn’t lining up with the hype of those they are seeing on social media… and believe it or not, that seems to be a big enough reason to leave.

Below are three fictional accounts that illustrate this:

Michigan John

John, from Michigan, attends church this morning. Parking in the lot, he’s greeted by friends from high school and the elderly woman who lives on his street. Walking up the stairs to the church, John is greeted by the hospitality team and grabs a donut and cup of coffee. With his bible tucked under his arm, he continues walking, simultaneously taking a bite of his donut and a sip of his coffee. He walks into the sanctuary and is greeted by his pastor, Peter. Peter is a humble man in his late 40’s. He’s chosen to be off social media so he can be more present for his family. He’s well known in his community for good works, but beyond his city no one knows who Peter is.

Now John participates in worship, the reading of God’s word, and communion with his brothers and sisters in this humble church community of around 150 congregants. After the gathering finishes, John goes out to lunch with some of his friends from the fellowship. As they are waiting for their food to arrive, John hops on instagram and begins to scroll through reels:

Influential pastor’s dropping a new book (his 3rd in 4 years)

Another influential pastor’s releasing a new video series with incredible guests

An up and coming pastor flying around the world preaching, clearly anointed

John begins to feel unsettled. It’s not that he’s upset about the moves God is making for the Kingdom. Rather, John’s beginning to wonder if he should be a part of a congregation with a pastor like what he’s seeing on social media instead of Peter.

Washington Charles

Charles, from Washington, finished bible college and is now pursuing ministry. His dad, Dave, runs a church just two blocks from home. Dave’s church is thriving; new believers every week, baptisms every month, and a good name worth more than silver and gold for the good works the church is doing in the city. Dave is on instagram, but only has 238 followers, and 47 of those are random spam accounts that had followed him after he posted a reel to invite people to Easter gathering last year. Charles is looking at his dad’s instagram, thinking metrics should be much better. Charles follows a handful of influential pastors on social media, all of whom seem to understand how to work the algorithm. Because of that, it appears their churches are getting a lot of traction. He began to think to himself, “If only I can improve my dad’s instagram and the church’s instagram, then I’m sure we can begin to see more excitement around our church” (but remember what was said earlier: new believers every week, baptisms every month, a good name worth more than silver and gold). Charles brings up the social media rebranding ideas to his father Dave, but is met with pushback. Dave didn’t see any harm with using social media as a tool like that, he just felt called to do things more simply.

Charles, frustrated, begins to look for the closest church that meets his ideals. He intends to now commute 45 minutes every Sunday morning to be a part of a church fellowship.

Nevada Jane

Jane, from Nevada, grew up going to her neighbor’s house church. With around 30 people in the living room, Jane is doing life together with them in a beautiful way. After church each Sunday, a group from the house church go and serve the houseless community, bringing bagged lunches and the gospel. After that, they go to a local café to debrief the day of ministry. As Jane is nearing the age of 18, a mega church is planting a campus just 5 minutes away from her home. According to social media, there’s a lot of hype around this lead pastor. Scrolling through the church’s reels for around 20 minutes, Jane imagines herself amongst the large crowd full of excitement and expectation. Jane begins to consider how different her house church pastor is compared to this more influential pastor, and determines that maybe it’s time for a change.

Maybe God’s calling her to a new thing? Apparently, a lot of Jane’s friends were thinking the same thing.

Trending Pastors

With these fictional accounts, I was not trying, in any way, to bash famous pastors or mega churches. I believe they have their place and are making big moves for the Kingdom of God, led by the Spirit of God.

A story often told is that Billy Graham was ridiculed for using the airwaves for preaching since “the devil owned the airwaves.” To which he argued that the devil stole them from God and he was taking them back with his preaching! People have seen social media in the same light! That it’s the devil’s playground, but pastors are taking back the enemy’s territory with their online presence and are leading many to the open arms of Jesus by their obedience online.

What I am trying to say is that, as amazing of an impact these pastors are making, there is importance with remaining rooted in humble, local church communities.

Family Style

All churches will claim that they are families, as the Church is the family of God and the body of Christ, but there will certainly be churches that feel more like family than others. For those who find themselves today in small, humble, Jesus-honoring churches, that certainly feels like a family. You’re known. You’re seen. You’re called out on your garbage. You’re lifted up in light of your God-given talents. If you miss a week, it’s known. If you miss two weeks, you’re getting a call.

My heart is that people will remain rooted in their local church during the rise of the celebrity pastors and big church names. Though large communities are used powerfully for the Kingdom, humble communities must never be discredited as they are incredibly rich ways to practice the Way of Jesus together. Along with that, I want to encourage believers to remain rooted in one place rather than jump from one hype congregation to the next, never putting roots down and never truly growing. Church isn’t a service you receive, it’s a family you belong to. That you contribute to. That meets you when you’re in a hard spot and where you do the same for others.

Unless there’s a moral failing on a church’s behalf, it’s unhelpful for a person’s spiritual formation to join a new church community every 2-3 years, as many people often do. People will do it because they feel that God is doing a new thing, but perhaps He’s just calling the believer into deeper obedience where they are at:

Maybe there’s some tension with another congregant that the Lord wants to sanctify the believer through confrontation and reconciliation with, but that would just be a missed opportunity if the believer just jumped ship instead.

Maybe there’s some frustration with a lack of specific practices in the community that the believer uniquely brings and the Lord wants them to lead the congregation into them, but that would just be a missed opportunity if the believer jumped ship instead.

There can be any number of needs or wants that could be accomplished by the unsatisfied believer. God’s just looking for those who are available to invest in His Church.

Abundance of Content

Something amazing about 2026 is the ability and accessibility to glean from other church’s sermons as well as the plethora of Christian content creators. With podcasts, youtube, instagram and tiktok, believers from across the world are able to grow in their faith in more curated ways that may feel lacking from their local church.

Maybe your church is very missional but lacks discipleship skills, youtube a pastor that is geared that way.

Maybe your church is all about the gifts of the Spirit but lacks preferred depth in Scripture, podcast a pastor that is geared that way.

Maybe your church… you get the point.

If there’s a lack in an area but you feel incredibly rooted in the local church body, I have found it to be best to stick it out while taking in content to meet those desires from online resources. While doing so, the believer gets the opportunity to contribute that unique flavor to the church body, taking what they are passionate in, and growing in through online content, and sharing it with the local church.

But Here’s the Thing…

Let me bring in a some solid caveats.

1 Maybe your pastor just isn’t ministering to you at all. It’s like they are preaching in another language or to a whole different context than what you are in. Allow me to say there are totally reasons why you could want to attend another church that aren’t simply about the pastor’s social status and/or lack of swagger.

2 Of course, moral failings. Totally valid reason as well. Teachers (like myself) are held to a higher standard:

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1)

If your pastor isn’t living with integrity into their role as a shepherd for the Good Shepherd, that’s a valid reason to bounce.

3 You’re moving! Even if it’s just an extra 20-30min added to your commute to church. There’s a lot of beauty in living local to the church you attend for the sake of the family you belong to by being a church congregant there. If your job is taking you or you and your family to a whole other city, it could be awesome for you to invest in that new city you live in.

God’s on the Move

In the larger congregations, God’s on the move. In the smaller congregations, God’s on the move. My heart is that Christians commit to a church, big or small, and remain rooted in the church. Even if their pastor’s not trending. Even if a new mega church plants by home. Even if there’s some disagreements with fellow congregants.

Church is a family you belong to and stick with.

Allow me to pray:

Lord Jesus

you love your bride

may we love your church well

showing commitment and honor

to all that she is and all she is doing

may we chase holiness over hype

and your glory over another’s big story

it’s all about you, jesus

refine us and lead us in deeper to your love

in jesus’ name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

Similar topics I’ve touched on:

Consumerism Corrupting Christian Communities

Christians, quit being so stoic, happy, quiet and ecstatic in church!!

The Viral Pastor

[pc]

Brink of Burnout

The year is 2018. I’m recently dating the woman who will become my wife at the end of next year. I’m going to Vanguard university in Costa Mesa, California to get a degree in biblical studies. I recently got hired at a church to be the part-time assistant youth pastor. I’m also working at a health food restaurant 3 days a week. And walking a dog 4 days a week. Oh, and running a para-church organization called Shack Ministries that hosted 2 events a week. I’m trying to maintain my mental health by staying close to Jesus while surfing and skating a few days a week, but i’m on the brink of burnout. Instead of burning for Jesus i’m burning out for Jesus. I’m doing too much.

“We have exactly enough time to accomplish everything God calls us to do” - Dallas Willard

Help.. I need Somebody.. Not just Anybody.. You know i need Some-Garden-City

Alongside many others, I was inspired by John Mark Comer’s book Garden City which talks about work, life, and rest in light of the in-breaking Kingdom of God. In that book, JMC demystifies the idea of taking a sabbath rest, making it appear relevant to my needs and accessible to my abilities.

Not gunna lie, I wasn’t sure what to think about the Sabbath before reading that book. I thought it was a day of rules that constrained. Turns out it was a day of practices that brings freedom. I thought Jesus was too punk rock for the Sabbath. Turns out He is Lord of the Sabbath and was just showing the pharisees God’s intentions for the day.

Reading about the Sabbath from Garden City and, later, Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann, I decided I needed to make a change.

I needed to take a weekly Sabbath.

“That’s why Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he’s good. We are his creation. This is his world. We live under his roof, drink his water, eat his food, breathe his oxygen. So on the Sabbath, we don’t just take a day off from work; we take a day off from toil. We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry. We let go. We stop ruling and subduing, and we just be. We “remember” our place in the universe. So that we never forget . . . There is a God, and I’m not him” - John Mark Comer, Garden City

Phase 01 - Make a day “holy”

I’m used to making things holy, or set apart. Reason being, I’ve been a skater for years and have had some shoes for skating and others set apart to not skate in. They were holy so they wouldn’t become holey. The moment i skate in canvas shoes is the moment i have destroyed them from my grip tape.

To make something holy is to set said thing apart from all other things. As i would set certain shoes apart from skateboarding so would i begin to set a day apart from my working, producing, toilsome days. I would set one day apart for a purpose, to rest in God’s goodness. To sabbath.

That wasn’t easy at first. Like i said above, i was into doing a lot of things with my daily and weekly portion of time. But with the encroaching burnout in the horizon, i knew i needed to make a change.

So i, along with my future wife, settled on a day. Friday it is. To this day, 8 years later, my Sabbath remains on a Friday. It doesn’t have to be that way for everyone, but i’m glad that’s how it has worked for the Akers.

Phase 02 - Practice the Sabbath

So… what do you do on a day you’re not supposed.. to do things? Well that’s not quite what sabbath is. On Sabbath, as i’ve come to understand, you are to rest, delight, worship Jesus, and show hospitality.

How i began practicing sabbaths was by doing things i loved with people i loved; Jesus, my future wife, and close friends.

Here’s an idea of how my sabbaths went as an unmarried, no-kids-having, young adult:

Thursday 5pm - Friday 5pm

Thursday night , I would sign out of instagram as my first discipline. Social media, for me, has to be the least restful thing ever. Social media leads me to compare, envy, and also rot my brain from reels. Later ig.

Chara and i would have dinner together after i would get off work and watch a show or movie over popcorn and chocolate chip cookies. I would head home and read till i fell asleep.

Friday morning, i would wake up early (though many prefer to sleep in on sabbath), to read my bible over coffee and go for a surf at a local beach. After that, Chara would meet at my parent’s house and we would carpool to trader joe’s to grab snacks and lunch and head to a less local, less crowded beach. We would go on to spend the next 3-5 hours laying out, reading books, and talking about our future together as well as our present moment with Jesus and what He’s doing in our hearts.

After the beach we would swing by a coffee shop to grab some more coffee and read some more (grateful i married an avid reader) and end our sabbath day at her parent’s home making dinner and watching New Girl, probably. On my drive home, i would thank my Lord for the sweetness of the sabbath day while either listening to worship or The Strokes. I love The Strokes.

Phase 03 - Practice the Sabbath… But Now You Have Two Kids

8 years into practicing the sabbath on a weekly basis, my life looks incredibly different. I’ve been married now for almost 7 years, have a 3 and a half year old son and a 10 month old son. Dynamics have shifted in the Akers family (for the better!) and that means that sabbath would have to change accordingly.

Here’s the new flow:

Thursday 5pm - Friday 5pm

Thursday night, i come home from work greet my family, and then we begin our sabbath dinner. Sometimes we host friends or my youth group students, other times it’s just the 4 Akers.

I light a candle to signify the beginning of the sabbath, read Psalm 100, take communion as a family (other than my baby haha) and thank Jesus for another week of His grace as we enter into the rest that flows from His grace in sabbath.

After dinner, we put my baby to sleep and allow my toddler to stay up late (Till 9pm instead of 7:30.. he loves it so much). We make popcorn and chocolate chip cookies, because why would we ever stop doing that, and watch a movie together. This past week was Fantastic Mr. Fox. I gotta start my son on Wes Anderson films early! I put my toddler to sleep and then my wife and I talk about the past week and discuss our hopes for the sabbath day. Then, of course, i read till i fall asleep.

Friday morning, i wake up early to either go to jiu jitsu or the gym and, afterwards, spend time in God’s word over a coffee. Once my kids wake up, my lovely wife makes pancakes. Pancakes are a sabbath staple.

After breakfast and clean up, we drive to the beach or bike to a local park depending on the weather. Spending a few hours outside, we delight in all God has done the past week as we watch our boys play in the sun.

Returning home, we make coffee or matcha and read while our boys have their quiet time and gently close out our sabbath practice till it nears dinner time.

Till next Sabbath :)

“Sabbath becomes a decisive, concrete, visible way of opting for and aligning with the God of rest” - Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance

Phase 04: Remember the Sabbath

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Sabbath sounds easy in theory but can be hard in practice. It’s a day to relax, but why did that make me feel so guilty at first? I required a rewiring of my brain. As some youth pastor probably said, “you’re a human being, not a human doing.” I needed to remember that for the sabbath day.

I still do, honestly.

The urge to work, create, do chores to get ahead on the weekend.. those desires still creep up each sabbath.

So i have to lay them to rest.

I must remember the sabbath. Keep it holy. Live into the rest that God created me to require. I need a sabbath, and it shows.

I don’t want to enter into another season, like 2018, where i’m on the brink of burnout. I want to find myself in the rest of my Good Shepherd, who makes me lie down in green pastures. I want to remember the sabbath.

Laying this Post to Rest

This is less a theology lesson and more a testimony of a theology lesson learned: i was created to require and thrive off taking a weekly sabbath. When i don’t sabbath, it shows that i’m clearly missing something!

My invitation to you, brothers and sisters, is to study up on what the sabbath is and decide how you can best practice the sabbath at your age and stage of life.

Having said all this, the sabbath may still seem wild and unattainable to where you’re at in your life. Maybe because of finances you need to work 7 days a week in order to barely break even with bills. Maybe you work full time while you’re in school full time. You’re reading all this thinking… yea right!

Be where you’re at.. and welcome God there.

There’s a word in the book of Psalm called “Selah,” often defined as a “divine pause” in the psalm’s chapter. Selah is a practice one can do at various points in their days. Taking that selah, that divine pause, to be with the Lord can serve as a micro sabbath. This is both helpful for those unable to sabbath as well as for those hungry for their next sabbath. How you do this is by following the invitation Lectio 365 gives: Pause, be still, and recenter your scattered senses upon the presence of God. Take this divine pause a few times a day as a grace.

Truly, God is so gracious to us, and a clear way He expresses that grace is through gracing us with the sabbath rest. Sabbath is not something that we earn, nor could we ever earn it anyway, but something we are graced. The sabbath isn’t something we receive as a “job well done,” but as a given rest from the Lord that we get to both live for and live from. Receive that gift.

Allow me to pray

Heavenly Lord

thank you for your grace

thank you for reminding us to slow down

that we may see your glorious face

may we resist the cultural flow

and instead get caught up in your rest

teach us how to delight in simplicity

rather than living to earn and achieve

thank you for loving us, our Good Shepherd

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

Resources for further study:

Garden City by John Mark Comer

Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann

Practicing the Way podcast: Sabbath

Bible Project: Sabbath

6 Seconds of glory

Y’all remember vine?

2013-2017 there was an app that allowed one to scroll endlessly through 6 second videos that made them belly laugh till they were blue in the face.

The videos posted on Vine created a whole new lingo for that generation of youths, and perhaps adults too. Vine references began to surpass movie references. Not everyone can see every movie, but certainly anyone can watch a handful of 6 second videos.

With so many references, you can piece them together to tell any story you’d like. So why not tell the greatest story one can personally live out: the life of a follower of Jesus, according to Vine.

Woken up by the love of God

When we give our lives to Christ, we become truly alive. We transfer from death to life. Essentially, we wake up to reality. It’s just like getting a water bottle poured over your face while you’re sleeping. But it’s even better. You’re splashed, and filled, with Living Water. Then you get to say hello to true life today.

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The harvest is plentiful

Now that you’re walking with Jesus, you’re given a new commission. The Great Commission. The Christian walk is not a solo endeavor but a Kingdom mission of bringing heaven to earth and God’s lost children home. You’re to be a disciple who makes disciples. The harvest is plentiful, look at all those.. people, but the laborers are few. We must, therefore, both participate and pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.

“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NASB

Learning how to read the Word

The bible is essential for your walk with Christ. Even though it’s really confusing at first. Reason being, the bible was written for us but it wasn’t written to us. The bible was written for us as the inspired Word of the Lord to lead us into His will and His way, but the books in the bible were written to different groups of people, who lived in different places in the world, who lived at different times in history, and received words that pertained to their personal context. That being said, context matters. We need to have proper context when reading biblical passages. Once we are reading it rightly, we are able to experience all the beauty God has in store for us with His holy word.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Following Jesus in tumultuous times

Jesus warns his disciples that in this world, they will have trouble. But thanks be to God that Jesus has overcome the world. As our lives become more difficult, we must not fret about getting lost nor off track. We can always depend on Jesus who is the Way in which we live and move and have our being. From there, we are able to see things through the lens of Jesus as the Truth, giving us discernment and wisdom in the thick of any trial. And lastly, with the accumulation of the two, we experience the Life through following Jesus, life as it was intended to be! Full of His sweet grace and mercy.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Holding on to the bread of life

Even in the midst of spiritual jump scares, we must never drop nor let go of Jesus, the bread of life. Clinging to anything else, equally in seasons of pain as in seasons of delight, will lead to spiritual hunger and spiritual malnourishment. Christ alone, the bread of life, will satisfy our soul’s deep needs.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Spiritual warfare pinning believers against each other

There are exterior forces at play in the Christian walk that seek to both lead us away from Christ as well as pin us against each other. Whether it’s a lie whispered into our ear by the enemy or a car window taking our hat while it appears it’s our sibling in the back seat, there are forces that go against the unity of believers. Step one to countering this issue is recognizing where our fight is, not with one another but with the forces of evil in the heavenly places. We, therefore, need to be equipped with the full armor of God so we can stand against the evil one, being fully covered by Christ’s strength and grace.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Pulling up to a coffee shop and seeing others with their bibles and JMC books

Yeah. This will happen often.

“And all the believers were together and had all things in common” Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭44‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Going off to bible college with hopes for courting

Often times people find their significant others when they go off to bible college. This is every Christian mom’s prayer that their little boy or girl finds the one at bible college so their kid can have a healthy Christian marriage and so said mom can get grandbabies asap. The hope is not for the student to find someone who simply claims to know Jesus but who deeply knows Jesus. Two ox’s being yoked together that are going in separate directions is incredibly unhelpful for the labor. They end up working against each other. When going the same direction, however, they make a powerful impact. How much more when two believers, in a loving relationship, are equally yoked in pursuing Christ? The first step in finding that is not simply choosing anyone at bible college, especially since chapels are mandatory so everyone has to go, but meeting someone who’s a church girl / guy who goes to church and reads their bible, pursuing Christ not only in speech but in action.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV

Rooted deep in Christ, against all odds

Remain rooted in Jesus against all odds. A great worry for many parents and youth pastors is that their youths will fall away from the faith when they go off to college and into adulthood. There could be some valid concerns, especially if the said college is particularly wild, however there are ways to prepare them, or yourselves, for what’s to come.

Bill Dogterom once said “God doesn’t have grandkids, He just has kids. We cannot have our parents’ faith”

Deep rootedness in Christ begins with making faith our own. We cannot ride the coattails of parents / guardians faith forever as we might have done in adolescence. There comes a time, a defining moment, when we must make our faith our own. Learn how to be with Jesus. Grow in loving His presence. Discover the rich fruit of abiding in His Holy Spirit. If we keep His commands, being deeply rooted in Him, we will remain in His love. Let me tell you, there’s no better place to be.

“If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB

The Christian Walk According to THE Vine

vine boom sound

God bless you, brothers and sisters

[pc: ]

But it sounds like it could be biblical

I pastor a youth group in Southern California and decided in 2023 to have a series titled “The Bible Doesn’t Say That,” after hearing so many “Christian” sayings thrown around in the church that are not actually found.. in the bible. Years later, i’m still hearing these same sayings thrown around left and right. I believe it’s time, yet again, for me to revisit this issue.

Now, how does this happen? How do Christians end up popularizing phrases that are not actually found in the bible, nor are biblical at all? Sometimes Christian-sounding things are completely off from just a slight twisting of God’s word. This has been an issue since the garden of Eden.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1, emphasis mine)

It appears that with a slight twisting of words, Satan was aiming to make God appear militant, domineering over Adam and Eve to the point where they were surrounded with food they could not eat. But that wasn’t true, and Eve knew that.. but then even she twisted God’s words a bit.

The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3:2, emphasis mine)

Eve was able to replay God’s words, that God shared with Adam who would later share with Eve, about enjoying all trees but one, but she then added an additional rule to the law God has instated: “or touch it.” Maybe it was smart to add that to make extra sure they didn’t break the law (didn’t work tho), but the bottom line was that Eve went on to alter God’s words as well.

The consequence of Eve’s slightly edited account of God command was that Satan used her addition to absolutely crush and challenge her logic, with the seductive tie of temptation when she touched the fruit, Satan’s affirmations of “You will not surely die.” became truth to her. The twisting of God’s word is dangerous territory. Truly, it’s Satan’s territory.

This problem has continued to be thematic throughout Christian culture today. Saying things that sound like they have come from the mouth of God, when in reality they are likely scripture that has been twisted, altered, or even compromised. My hope with this article is for us to test everything “Christian” we hear with the Word of God.

1 “everything happens for a reason”

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28)

This is often said from a good heart. Other times, it’s said from a superior place of “You might not realize this… but that really horrible thing that happened to you happened for a reason.. just wait and see!” Ugh. This is very unhelpful if we’re trying to love people well.

Before correcting this, I want to suggest that when someone is sharing their deep pain and sorrow, we should begin with saying “I’m so sorry that happened.” We don’t need to give them advice, we don’t even need to give them theology up front, we just need to meet them there in that place of pain and show them we are with them through it.

Now, does everything happen for a reason? I don’t believe so. There are a lot of horrendous things that happen in the world that are a result of the brokenness of mankind.

I don’t believe everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that God can bring reason to everything that happens.

According to Romans 8:28, in all things, good and horrible, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Regardless of the situation, if the situation is committed to God, God works for the good in and through it. Even in the darkest of times, God shines His light. Truly, as the darkness increases, His light becomes all the more powerful. It’s by His sovereign hand that He is able to make beauty from ashes, joy from morning. From there, we’ll be able to praise Him for heaviness, as it’s for His glory. And, thankfully, our good.

2 “God won’t give you anything you can’t handle”

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, emphasis mine)

Man, this is a misstep. I imagine many have gone through things they couldn’t handle and, therefore, concluded there must be no God!

I believe there are a lot of things that happen in our lives that we cannot handle. The death of a child. Parents getting a divorce. A close friend taking up a harmful addiction. These types of situations feel beyond.. handling.

Why then is this expression used so often in church culture? I imagine it’s a misuse of the verse above. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul is writing to the church of Corinth comforting words in regards to sin. There aren’t any sins before you that haven’t been temptations to others in the past. God is faithful to you through all things. Because of that, He’s not going to let you be tempted to sin beyond what you are able to bear. How? Whenever there’s a temptation, God will provide an escape plan. God will provide a way out, so we can endure it.

So, will God give you anything you can’t handle? Or, better phrased, will He allow things to happen in your life that you can’t handle? Yes.

However, I don’t think He’ll give you anything you can’t handle with Him.

We’re going to go through high highs and low lows in life. Some seasons will be wonderful, others will be crippling. How we endure them all, with peace that goes beyond all understanding, is by finding ourselves in the love of God. Will the trials still be hard? Yes. Will we still be crushed, disappointed, and feel utterly devastated? Definitely. But we’ll be able to handle them by the grace and presence of God.

3 “preach the gospel and use words if necessary”

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14, emphasis mine)

I understand the sentiment of this phrase, urging people to live in such a way that’s declarative of the goodness of God.. but that really can only happen.. if God’s mentioned. Otherwise, the person’s just seen as a really great guy or gal. Being super nice, then, ends with the person’s niceness. I know a ton of non-believers who are incredibly nice. According to this phrase, are they preaching the Gospel then?

Nope.

They’re mirroring their Father’s kindness, whether they know it or not, but Gospel proclamation stems from.. proclaiming the Gospel. Big brain moment. Ya gotta use words.

This phrase has conveniently enabled people to not have to share their faith in places where others would be hostile to the name of Jesus. Turned off by the teachings of the Scriptures. Call them a weirdo for holding biblical views.

But “when Christ calls a man,” writes Bonhoeffer, “He bids him to come and die.” We die to being ashamed of the name of Jesus and we boldly proclaim His goodness so that our lost brothers and sisters may be brought into the open arms of the Father.

We must still do works of faith, as faith without works is dead (James 2:26) and others will know that we are Christ’s disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). However, without the proclamation of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, what good are our works? What do they point to?

So yes, brothers and sisters, words are necessary for preaching the Gospel.

wrapping things up

Read your bible. But not only that, read it in its proper context. Much of the misinterpretations of scripture come from taking things out of context.

A few suggestions for reading the bible contextually:

How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth by Gordon Fee

Through the Word app

Here’s the bottom line: Immerse yourself in the Scriptures. Don’t just hear others quote it (or misquote it). Learn your Father’s voice so you can discern what’s from Him and what is not.

My heart is for a biblically literate church, where we know what the bible says and can live into the fullness of what God has for us and for others through us. By Your grace, Lord Jesus.

Allow me to pray

come, Holy Spirit

anoint your church with your truth

your discernment and your wisdom

that we may walk in your will and way

may we find ourselves enlivened

as we immerse ourselves in your word

having it wash over us

again and again

may we seek your face

as your gaze is always upon us

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

If you’re interested in watching my latest spoken word piece, go here :)

[pc]

Recipe Guy

Something i’ve noticed is that Substack articles, at least in my algorithm, are think pieces, theology takes, motivational talks, or recipes. I’ve enjoyed many different styles on the Stack but have yet to dabble into much more than think pieces and theology takes. I’m going to broaden my horizons, stretching my frame of mind with writing, and dive into a sect of Substack I have yet to contribute to.

Recipes.

And I’m going to share recipes you definitely won’t find on any other article.

But while I do, I’m going to talk about spiritual recipes for a fiery faith in Jesus.

Recipe #1 “The Feast Called Sabbath”

God calls us to keep the sabbath holy, set apart from the rest of the week. I’d recommend that all people do that and also keep sabbath awesome. Here’s my sabbath recipe as a husband and dad:

Time: 5pm Thursday to 5pm Friday. (Choose whatever works best for your schedule. This works best for my family)

Begin Thursday:

Light a candle

Read Psalm 100

Take communion

Sabbath Dinner (always a feast)

Share stories about God’s faithfulness

Watch movie (last wk was Bee Movie)

Eat Popcorn & Cookies

Friday:

Pancakes (always)

Beach or Park with the kids

Coffee shop - order flat white

Home for kids’ naps. Reading time.

End sabbath with food & gratitude

[Note: Sabbath is best served with family and/or friends]

Recipe #2 “Greatest PB&J Ever”

You think all PB&J’s are created equal? Wrong. Here’s the greatest PB&J ever.

Time: 2 minute

Ingredients:

Sourdough bread

Costco Peanut butter

Strawberry or Grape Jelly

Flaky salt

Instructions:

1 Place both pieces of bread on the same side of the toaster. The same side.

2 Toast bread to desired level of toasted.

3 Spread peanut butter and jelly on the toasted sides. Add flaky salt.

4 Put the bread slices together, having the soft side on the outside and the warm toasted side on the inside

5 Enjoy a soft bite, followed by a warm crunch with the flavors of peanut butter and jelly. Elite.

Recipe #3 “Chewing on Scripture”

“Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(emphasis mine)

The Hebrew word used here for meditate is “Hagah” which means to murmur, to speak quietly. An image that’s associated with this word is a cow chewing its cud; a continual chewing so that it may digest it well. That is how we are to be with Scripture, as it’s often referred to by Tim Mackie of the Bible Project as “Meditation Literature.” We are to meditate on it, chew on it day and night so that we may digest it well.

Here’s my current favorite recipe for Scripture:

Morning Time: ~30min

Ingredients:

Bible

Journal

Pen

Coffee

Couch

Instructions:

1 Take a small passage from a Gospel account and read it over and over and over again for 15min while writing down up to 15 observations from the text.

2 Read a chapter from the OT or NT and write a few notes.

3 Spend time listening to God & praying over a list of prayer requests.

Evening Time: ~15min

Ingredients:

Bible

Journal

Pen

Tea

Chair (not couch, i’m too tired)

Instructions:

1 Talk to Jesus about the day.

2 Read a Psalm and write down anything you’d like.

3 Prayer of Examen: What was God up to in your day and did you participate in His work or passively let it go by? Write down examples for both if necessary.

4 Pray to end the day.

Recipe #4 “Sorry Ms. Jackson, Ooo, I am for (Ce)Real”

Cereal? A cereal recipe on Substack? Only because it’s necessary.

Time: 30 seconds

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Strauss Milk

Instructions:

1 Wait till after 9pm (most important detail)

2 Pour cereal & milk into bowl and eat.

Recipe #4 “Marinating in God’s Presence”

“That we should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries” - Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God

Time spent with God is time best spent. Prayer is direct access to God and is far too often overlooked. In reality, prayer is the heartbeat in the Christian walk. As Michael Miller from UpperRoom describes prayer, “Prayer is relationship.” We can’t have relationship with God without prayer.

Therefore, it’s good to have a good prayer recipe:

Time: As long as possible

Ingredients:

Time, which is His

Heart, which is His when we offer it to Him

Instructions:

1 Wherever, whenever, set your attention on God and practice His presence

2 Delight

3 Adore

4 Intercede

5 Listen

6 Listen some more

Recipe #5 “Hot Dates”

Here’s a recipe that probably actually is found on Substack but it’s an Akers family favorite.

Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

Dates

Peanut butter or solid Coconut Oil

Hu Chocolate

Flaky Salt

Instructions:

1 Open date and remove pit if not already unpitted (like me when I frequently dodge barrels when i’m surfing.. i’m unpitted)

2 Put peanut butter or coconut oil in the center of the opened date

3 Place Hu chocolate piece on the butter/oil

4 Sprinkle flaky salt on top

5 Do 1-4 repeatedly as you’ll want several.

Recipe #6 “Table Fellowship”

“In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal” - Tim Chester, A Meal with Jesus

Isn’t that amazing? The Son of Man came eating and drinking (Matthew 11:9), at feasts, weddings, dinners, you name it. The Son of Man has no where to lay His head (Matthew 8:20), which would include not having His own table to dine at, so Jesus would frequently eat at others homes for dinner. On one occasion, He invited Himself over to someone’s house for dinner, the chief tax collector at that (Luke 19:5). Table fellowship, eating meals was important to Jesus. So much so, that Christ’s invitation to us in Revelation 3:20 is “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (emphasis mine). Christ’s invitation into relationship with Him is characterized by eating together. From His earthly life into eternity, Jesus has been able table fellowship.

Let’s be about it too! Here’s my last recipe:

Time: Several Hours

Ingredients:

Your place / Someone else’s / Public space

Your favorite meal / Potluck / Pick up food

Someone who would otherwise eat alone

The presence of Jesus

Instructions:

1 Welcome the King of glory in through prayer

2 Enjoy one another

3 Show hospitality (Jesus did that even when at someone else’s home!)

4 Praise the Lord together through fellowship

Clearing the Table

There you have it, my first (and perhaps last) recipe article for you Substackers. I will not gatekeep these recipes as they are all so incredibly life-giving. Continue feeding your faith while eating good food along the way. Jesus was all about good food.

Allow me to pray:

Heavenly Father,

you didn’t have to give us taste buds

but you did

and we are forever grateful

may we feast on the goodness of God

as we delight in your presence

on our own, and with one another

thank you that you reign above all things

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3

Peter Pan looked toward Wendy sternly and shouted, “Go on! Go back and grow up! But I’m warning you, once you’re grown up you can never come back.”

And once you grow up it’s nearly impossible to find your way back to Neverland. Adult life can bring a lot of change to our once child-like POV. More often than not the busyness of life and the anthems culture convince us to swap wonder filled mindsets to empty pursuits.

The greater danger being once we arrive into that emptiness we get stuck there. Because compared to our younger selves, we adults become skeptical. More calloused. Hardened. Put nicer, we become so sure of ourselves—logical, concrete— that we abandon wonder and discovery.

One of the ways this can be see is an adults tendency to struggle with fun—or in other words “wasting time”.

Relaxation? More like a guilt trip. Playtime with the kids is ONLY for the weekends, but not before chores are finished. Rest is for vacations, but vacation only makes more sense when the kids are older than 12. And before you know it, life has become mechanical, ran by regularly scheduled programming because its always grind time.

For many adults, it’s hard to be imaginative. To have wonder. Hunger for adventure. What is it about life that stomps out our desire to discover and wonder? I think there are several factors that can lead us to let go of wonder. One of the primary ways is by constantly pursuing material things, a strong desire to accumulate a bunch of stuff. A new home, nicer car, better wardrobe, latest gadgets, and all things that shine. People with wonder and imagination can have said things; however, the mind set on the material rarely has time to ponder the immaterial. That which lasts for eternity. Beauty, goodness, and truth. Throughout history we see these valuable virtues displayed in stories of adventure, love, heroism, glory, and humble servitude.

Story after story, from saving the princess to beating the final boss. A journey with friends to defeat evil forces cursing the kingdom. Stumbling into greatness after humble beginnings, or rising to the top to serve the lowly rather than stomp upon them.

Man, what wonderful stories have been told. Through books, yes, but for me personally also through video games.

I know, I know—video games? Seriously??

Yes. Seriously.

Often I hear many friends wanting to replay their favorite childhood video games. To revel in the glory days, a time of absolute discovery. Imagine buying an old Nintendo, Gameboy, Playstation, or Xbox, and spending hours on your childhood gaming console.

It made me begin to wonder if there is a connection between the desire to replay childhood video games and the way God has programmed our hearts to thrive from having a child-like faith? To become like the children. Able to change. Quick to receive. Less stressed about time. Full of imagination and wonder.

Allow me to make my case, and also talk about my top 3 video games as a child.

Open World, Open Heart

Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town was a young boy, 10 years old, set on the adventure of a lifetime, to become the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer. To catch all the Pokémon. To defeat his rival, Gary, to challenge and crush the Elite Four, and to go on to be the man. Leaving his home and his single mother, sorry mom, he gets his first Pokémon from Professor Oak and is set off on his journey.

I would say I was incredibly formed by Ash’s courage, determination, and grit as a child. I was convinced that I could become anything I wanted to be, just like Ash went from a literal child who left home, which is wild, to becoming the Pokémon champion. He would make new friends, defeat gym leaders who were far older and wiser than he, and he would travel the Kanto region by foot and bike which was incredible for his cardio.

In the Kingdom of God, walking in obedience to Him, the opportunities for adventure are endless. Obedience is an adventure. Through obedience, we are changed more into the likeness of Christ and then are sent on mission to do the wonderful works of Christ. It begins with a change of heart, repentance, and then a heart set on Jesus, obedience. We have the ability to become completely new. As Paul puts it, we become new creations in Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17). But not only that, we are always in the process of becoming, as Paul writes to the church of Philippi “Being confident in this, that He who began a good work will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). So not only are we changed in Christ but are being constantly changed in Christ. This requires humble obedience and submission. This requires Child-like faith.

Like Ash, we have the adventure of a lifetime ahead of us. We just have to step out in faith. The adventure will shape us, we just have to walk in obedience to what we’ve been called into. For Ash, to catch ‘em all. For us, the Great Commission. Making disciples of all nations.

Guiltless Relaxation

We begin on Tutorial Island. You will learn how to mine. Cut down a tree. Catch a fish. Try and cook a fish. You burned it. You catch another fish and try again. Well done, you didn’t burn it. Learn some spells. Fight some rats. Say some prayers. Then you’re ready to play the game. Runescape. Now begins the most grindy game ever. You will do some cool quests. They will be awesome. However, you will also cut down 6,000 trees to boost your stats. And slay some cows. And fish a whole lot. Then more quests. You don’t want to go to The Wilderness if you’re a low level. You will get smoked by some high level player wearing Dragon armor. Then you lost all your gear you had on you and you spawn to the starting area. Way to go, noob. For whatever reason, despite the bad decisions with the bad repercussions, you keep playing. Because it’s Runescape and as a 12 year old in 2006 this is peak entertainment.

All that to say, I wasn’t mindful of the time I spent on this video game. I would play right after I got home from school and was lost in the beauty of this open world. I learned to keep going even when things seemed monotonous. To try hard to excel even when everyone around me seemed like they already arrived at the finish line. I would lean back in my parent’s computer chair, drink a Capri-Sun, and relax in the vast world of Runescape.

In the Kingdom of God, rest is a core value. God instituted a day of rest to the newly freed slaves from Egypt (Exodus 16:23) and then commanded that they remember the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8), probably because they had a habit of not observing it properly. Seems like they forgot. Shown in the person of Jesus, rest is a core value in the New Testament as well. Jesus slept on the boat during a storm (Mark 4:38), He was often in a solitude place to rest in the Father’s presence (Mark 1:35), and He tells His disciples that this is what He desires for them by His presence, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest shouldn’t cause guilt, it should be the place where we are refreshed by God’s presence.

Sometimes rest feels like you’re not doing anything of substance. Like the grindiness of Runescape. But rest reminds us that we’re human. Children have no issue kicking up their feet and relaxing. Children had no problem with running into the arms of Jesus. They probably instinctively knew that’s where rest would be found. And joy. So much joy. The grind of life can be shelved for a moment in order to get our much needed rest. We need to learn that from the kids.

May We Never Lose our Wonder

You wake up in a bed in a cabin and walk outside into the pouring rain. The princess is missing. You mob to the castle. Dad’s dead. Things are weird. You get set on an adventure and discover there’s another realm. You need a mirror to get there. Things are the same, but very different. It’s kind of like Stranger Things’ ‘upside down.’ Welcome to Legends of Zelda, Link to the Past. You’re going to go to this upside-down, inverted world and save the princess from an evil wizard who’s not actually a wizard but Ganondorf cosplaying a mage. You’re going to get the master sword and other cool items and do quests along the way. The music is fire and the gameplay is insane. Enjoy getting lost for hours in the beauty of this marvelous game.

Link taught me that there was so much more to the world around me than I could even comprehend. Even things beyond what the natural eye can see. I discovered wonder with this game. Awe, imagination grew. Adventure’s on the other side of risk. Leaving the comfort of the cabin to go into the tumultuous weather and trials that lie ahead. There’s always so much more out there, just waiting to be discovered. Just waiting to be enjoyed. With awe, with wonder.

In the Kingdom of God, wonder is an entryway to worship. Wonder inclines the heart toward praise. When we’re in awe of God’s creation, His character, His vastness, it turns our heart’s attention toward exalting Him. When we lose our wonder, our appetite for worship lessens and, therefore, our joy and contentment fail to reach great heights as we were created to worship the King.

In the monotony of life, it’s easy to just go through the motions; wake, eat, work, scroll, maybe gym or some hobby, sleep, repeat. Days fly by and life goes unobserved and, truly, unenjoyed. I believe wonder is the antidote for that. Wonder that comes from being in awe of God, what He’s created, and what He’s done. Playing Link to the Past set my heart on track to pursue that which inspires awe and wonder, and I’m forever grateful. That’s probably a good reason why I really enjoy listening to Legends of Zelda playlists on Youtube while I work on sermons, whether i’ve thought deeply about that connection or not.

Interview with Licensed Therapist & Gamer, Brian Dirks

austenn: do you believe there’s a connection between some adults wanting to replay their childhood video games and all humans intrinsic need to become “like the children,” as Jesus calls us to?

brian: I think there is this longing to feel once again a sense of peace and simple existence we once had as children. Growing up I played because I didn’t have anything to really worry about except for the homework I had to do. Once work was done I would game and just enjoy the story I was playing. Getting wrapped up in the action, story, strategy of whatever I was playing. I can begin to feel like I was tapping into a potential I always knew I had. To be what I know can be in the game that I was in. It’s funny if you think about it, we as children were taught to work hard so we can “have a life to live” and “not waste it playing games,” while today we are “living the life” while all along not truly living the life. So thus we are drawn to play those games again. To feel alive like the way children do. Existing in the moment. Trusting that we are being cared for in all the things that matter. While still being responsible for the work that is before us.

austenn: in what ways have you been shaped by playing video games as a child that, if you were to return to those core values, it would benefit you in your walk with Jesus?

brian: I have no shame in saying that games have shaped a lot of who I am today and how I walk with Jesus. Games of the 90s were brutal. I’ve learned how to flow with what’s before me and trust the process. Some games had really difficult puzzles or baddies to fight and all you had to work with is what was given you. Much like what Jesus has trusted me with. Reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I can work with what Jesus has given me and make something of it. What’s great about that in games is once you pass the difficult part you’re sometimes awarded with more abilities. Sometimes you’re not. Sometimes you have to figure out that you really are lacking something and have to find a piece to help you. Which tells me that I would have to go find Jesus and ask Him for more. When you find that in games it empowers you to crush the level. As in my life today, I can crush anything with Jesus because He has or will supply all I need to do so.

austenn: what would be valuable attributes that are missing in many adults today that are gained through playing video games as a child?

brian: One of the greatest attributes video games can teach is how to fail. Failure today is something we try to avoid. Games in the 90s required you to fail to show you that you can get better and grow. I used this point with a client the other day. Brought up that he can make the calls and pursue his endeavors in the face of failure because he can keep trying. Though the failure may set place you back to square one, YOU as a person are not at square one. You have more information, more skill, an attempt at something difficult under your belt. These games taught patience, planning and frustration tolerance. One of the greatest games of all time that taught how to grind and how to persevere is Pokémon. I’ve learned that if I can grind at Pokemon I can grind anywhere.

austenn: incredible. ok, bonus question. what’s the most goated video game from your childhood?

brian: Immediately Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the N64 comes to mind. When it was released in ‘98, all my friends had a copy and it’s all we talked about. It was the first game of its kind that was “open world”. I could ride my horse through Hyrule saving princess Zelda while stopping anywhere to fight baddies. I was free to explore and live the dream of being the hero of Hyrule.

A close second would be Chrono Trigger for SNES. Classic JRPG with turn based combat. A beautiful story about time travel and how each characters’ unique story links together to form companionship and transformation. The soundtrack also slaps. Check it out.

austenn: perfect. love you, brother!

Wrapping Things Up

Let’s end where we started, with the words of Jesus.

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3

For the most part, people desire to be a part of a grand story. To be a part of something bigger than themselves. To play a significant role. I think this might be why people, especially kids, gravitate toward playing video games. You enter into a world where you play (literally) a great part in saving, changing, fixing, rebuilding, or regathering things. It’s exciting. Exhilarating. It keeps the gamer invested.

If only everyone knew that we get to engage in the greatest story of all time, the Gospel. If only everyone knew that we get to play a significant role in this story, being Christians, nickname for “little Christs” or those who act like Jesus, who welcome others into the grace they have found in Jesus and partner with God in bringing His Kingdom to earth. We enter the story with humility, receiving the free gift of grace. We continue the story with obedience and dependence, holding the Lord’s hand the whole way through. Like a child with their Father. With child-like faith.

I don’t think you need to play video games in order for this to be accomplished. Today, I don’t play any, though I wish I had time to. However, I believe there’s a connection between wanting to replay childhood video games and our creative design to thrive off of Child-like faith. There’s a lot that’s learned in playing video games, as I’ve said, and I believe adults can all benefit from a rewiring of how we view life, as we are forever children in God’s eyes. Children, who thrive off of Child-like faith. Whether you game or not, may we become like the children, for the Kingdom of God is theirs.

Allow me to pray:

Heavenly Father,

thank you for being our perfect dad

may we grow in child-like faith

increasingly more dependent on you

may the passing years only mature us

and that maturity lead us into humility

to receive from your nurturing hand

and cling to you every single day

we praise you, King Jesus

in your name, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters

[Photo from Pinterest]

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

i’ve taken the scenic route

through pain, through doubt

no detours, no distractions

finding myself right there

in the middle of the action

forming, molding, refining

⚓︎

in the scenic route

the way of Jesus

every single season

abiding, despite all reason

i’m still abiding

⚓︎

in the scenic route

guiding me home

forming me into who i will be

ten thousand years from now

in my Father’s presence

where all will be revealed

and His glory shown

⚓︎

through all the twists and turns

He brings meaning to them all

as i take the scenic route

my ears tuned for the Father’s call

⚓︎

i’m coming, Lord Jesus

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

Gossip is More Than We Think

Jess Phoenix, who was formerly a witch in the occult and is now a follower of Jesus, said this in an interview about gossip:

“The biggest form of witchcraft I have ever seen is gossip. And it’s something that we all do, something that we all fall into. And the spirit behind gossip is one that begins gang stalking. A lot of people have lost their lives because of gossiping. Let’s be honest. And so this spirit is all about changing and manipulating the way others see a person. So when you basically make an accusation against somebody, or you gossip about somebody and only talk about their bad bits, you are trying to manipulate the way somebody else sees a person for your own gain, that is witchcraft. And the Christians, I have to be honest, the real ones don’t gossip. I have Christian friends now. We don’t talk about anybody ever”

Put simply, gossip is having a conversation behind someone’s back that entails secrets, rumors, or is outright slander to their character. It’s stuff you wouldn’t say to their face. It’s stuff that’s destructive. It changes, for the worse, the way others view that person.

Imagine the health of a community that never gossiped. Never once spoke ill of another person. Sounds a lot like heaven. So why are we postponing the feeling of heaven by continuing in gossip? Perhaps because we have convinced ourselves that it’s not a big deal. It’s not that bad. It’s hardly a sin, depending on how you spin it, right? People will often gossip because they believe it is justifiable. But according to Jess Phoenix, it’s much heavier than we tend to think. Gossip can be a type of witchcraft. Manipulating how people see others by sharing words that tear down.

Whether or not you’d go so far as to say that gossip is witchcraft is up to you. Regardless, if you agree or not, gossip is sin. Therefore, it’s harmful. Double therefore, we should not participate in it.

But don’t just take my word for it.

According To Scripture

Our words hold power:

God spoke the world into existence and we were made in His image.. our words hold power.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” Genesis 1:3”

Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness…” Genesis 1:26

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” Proverbs 18:21

God instructs us on how to use that power:

Our words can be used to build up, or destroy. We should therefore be aware of how we speak.

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29

That power may come back to crush you:

Have you ever had the thought after saying something you probably shouldn’t have said, “man, I hope this doesn’t get back to the person”?

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say” Ecclesiastes 10:20

Gossip is Anti-Gospel:

When we use words that tear down, we are going directly against what we were made for. This should not be.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water” James 3:9-12

According to the Scriptures, we need to be aware of how we use our words.

But I Just Have to Get it Off My Chest…

I understand the temptation to gossip. Like all sin, satan works to make it alluring. It feels like a lesser-than sin. Especially if you coattail it, “so if you could pray for them…” Yuck. Let’s call that what it is. It’s gossip. It’s not our business to talk about.

However, it still tends to leave our mouths in seemingly innocent ways:

“I just have to get this off my chest”

“Hey keep this between us”

“I didn’t want to say it, but..”

Typically not the introduction to hearing about something great about someone.

So does this mean you need to bottle up your emotions about issues? Yes and no. You shouldn’t gossip about the troubling matters whenever the opportunity arises in conversations, but you can seek counsel on them. There is a clear difference.

Gossip is with a peer. Counsel is with a mentor. Gossip is with a mutual friend to the one being accused. Counsel is with a therapist. Gossip is with anyone who will have their thoughts changed on the person. Counsel is with a person entirely removed from the community, even better when they live in another state.

Returning to my working definition of gossip, it is having a conversation behind someone’s back that entails secrets, rumors, or is outright slander to their character. It’s stuff you wouldn’t say to their face. It’s stuff that’s destructive. It changes, for the worse, the way others view that person.

This is typically what’s followed by “I just have to get this off my chest.” Slander central. This must not be the way Christians go about processing issues.

Seeking counsel, seeking wisdom, is the right path. Going to a mentor, pastor, or therapist to discuss the troubling matters is both a safe and constructive space to work through issues. Going to a friend of the person who’s causing issues, or that you have issues with, is only going to be destructive.

So What Do I Do With This?

It is possible to pray for this person on your own. You simply don’t need to invite others into the fact that this person was a jerk to you. You don’t need to loop others into how a person is relapsing on their addiction. It doesn’t need to be told from the rooftop that a person has been caught up in a sexual sin.

The knowledge of the issue has, by God’s sovereignty, been brought to your attention, by good means or bad, for the sake of you bringing it to the Father in prayer. If someone is struggling, caught up in sin, or even just a menace in your life, pray for them! There is so much power in prayer.

But say you have a personal issue with someone. They have acted out in a way that is clearly sin. Clearly destructive. Can you rope others into it then?

Well.. what does Jesus say?

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17, emphasis mine).

At first, it’s between you and the person. If they don’t listen, you get to bring one to two people along with you. If they still don’t listen, bring members of the church into it.

That said, problems should be dealt with. That’s what a healthy church must do, work through problems. However, these problems shouldn’t be gossiped about. Gossip is only destructive. Confrontation with love, rather, is constructive. It builds up. It replenishes. It does the Lord’s work.

New Reality Through Sanctification

As a follower of Jesus, who is being refined and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, a person is brought into a new reality. A new reality where gossip has no home. Not only that, gossip seems foreign to believers. Gossip might have been music to their ears at one point, but now it’s as if someone is speaking another language. It feels off. Gossip no longer resonates. Gossip is not their Father’s language, and, after sanctification, it’s no longer theirs either. Gossip can become not only unfavorable but repulsive, but this comes from the “renewing of your mind” once you’re no longer “conform(ing) to the patterns of this world,” i.e. not doing an act such as gossip (Romans 12:2). Christians are brought into a new reality through sanctification.

Through the Holy Spirit’s work, gossip is exposed as a joy placebo. It seems, at first, that it will make you feel rather good about yourself when you tear others down. However, your torn-down brother or sister end up being a poor foundation to build your identity upon. There’s no joy in that! True joy can only be built upon Christ, the rock, who is weather-proof, opinion-proof, and the most sure foundation.

That true joy is tapped into when a believer participates in anti-gossip. I don’t just mean the lack thereof, but the opposite of gossip. That being, talking well of others behind their backs. Encouraging them, but to others. Two things happen here. One is that ego begins to die. As you grow in the capacity to celebrate others you cramp the room pride and ego once filled. And it’s a beautiful death. Painful, but beautiful. Secondly, you take back territory from the enemy. While satan encourages image bearers to speak poorly of others behind their backs, you begin to flip the script. When someone hears they have been gossiped about, it’s devastating. When someone hears they have been spoken well of behind their back, it’s life giving. Encouragement brings life. Good words bring life. Just as was seen in Genesis 1. Power in our words just as there is power in the Word who made us. Let’s do more of that.

Wrapping Things Up

Our words hold power. Power to build up or power to destroy. Brothers and sisters, let’s recognize how destructive gossip is and throw it out of our lives. It has no placement in a believer. Eviction notice received. Get the heck out. As followers of Jesus, let’s speak words of life. Just as our Lord did at the beginning of the age.

Allow me to pray

Heavenly Father,

may we speak your language

that of love, not of hate

purify our hearts and minds

and allow us to see others as you do

may our lips share what builds

and our hearts break for what destroys

have us be innocent to what is evil

and rejoice in all that is good

we praise your holy name

in Christ’s name we pray, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters.

Doom & Gloom

When people hear “AI,” their emotional response is rarely neutral. Some get excited because they think it’s heaven-sent. Others get angry because they think it’s the anti-christ, sent from hell.

I think it’s a tool.

And like any tool, it can be used to build or to destroy.

Hammers are good, but they’re also dangerous.

Chainsaws are excellent, but they’re also used in horror films.

Some may see AI’s progression similar to that of a horror film. Except instead of a chainsaw, it’s a chain of predictions and calculations. Personally, I see AI as a tool that can be used for great things as well as for getting in the way of great things. Primarily, our walk with the Lord.

I believe AI can stunt our spiritual maturity.

Allow me to make my case alongside comic strips of evil robots. I just wanted to make things dramatic, that’s all.

No longer contemplating till creating

We were created to be creative. Specifically, creative in God’s presence. We are invited into the creating He’s been doing since the beginning and we glorify Him through it.

There’s a lot of beauty in starring out a window while trying to come up with a new idea or complete an idea in the making. And once you finally get the idea, or connect the dots, man, it feels amazing. Your mind backflips with joy. It’s not just that you arrived at the idea but that you found joy on the journey.

“It’s about the journey, not the destination,” my friend Cheyne told me as we were driving 9 hours south into Mexico to the beach break we would camp at and surf at for the next week. During that 9 hour drive, we popped 2 tires, leaving us with only one spare tire left. Because of that, we drove 10mph for hours on the rocky road in efforts to keep the remaining tires safe. Though difficult, that made for quite a journey and incredible conversations. It’s about the journey, not the destination.

Another journey example could be watching my son figure out how to use a new “learning toy,” that’s supposed to grow his brain, or something like that. I could easily show him exactly how to do it, since I’m 32 years old, or I can allow him to discover on his own how to do it. Through the journey of discovery, you actually end up getting more satisfaction than you would upon arriving at the destination.

But imagine you could skip that step of the journey of contemplation (most do). A quick search on an AI bot will get you a bulleted list of ideas to work with. And notes on each of those. Analogies? Yup, those too. If you mention you’re a Christian at any point, ChatGPT will also say it’s praying for you and throw out the prayer hands emoji.

Sure, we’re still creating even in this sense. Yes, God will sovereignly work through what we create even if it was mostly taken from artificial intelligence. However, I would argue that AI can get in the way of the beauty of contemplation which is where God loves to meet His kids. When we make room for God in our hearts and minds, He gladly fills that space. And then He grows us, that He may fill us even more.

Here’s the heart of what I mean, written devotionally in poetry:

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

my pen trails the gaze of my eye

this was not written with AI

⚓︎

efficiency and excellence at hand

but it wouldn’t be made by my own

⚓︎

starting three steps ahead

no contemplation

no ideation

a plated bulleted list instead

⚓︎

pen no longer taps the page

when thoughts are thought for you

maybe even better too?

⚓︎

but its heart does not beat

if cut, it won’t bleed

it’s mind won’t go blank

making a canvas for God to intercede

the beauty of our own mind

working in tandem with His

the creative process in His presence

where heaven and earth kiss

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

I think it’s really beautiful to get lost in contemplation as you’re ideating for a new project, article, poem, song, painting, whatever it is you like to create. In the creative process, God loves to inspire. He loves to challenge us, to grow us. If we make room for Him. I fear many have begun to drown out His voice with the lifeless voice of AI.

No longer waiting on the Lord for direction

We were created to be led by God’s hand as His beloved children. Calling out to Him, crying out to Him when we’re in need.

However, a simple search on an AI bot can give you a thorough, personalized and even brilliant roadmap on how to go about your unique scenario. So why pray?

AI can displace us from the space where we grow in godly discernment, in God’s presence. Waiting on the Lord, being led by the Lord’s hand, that is the training grounds for growing in that spiritual maturity.

No longer growing in wisdom

Your mind is getting flooded with new information. Fast. You’re getting the transfer of information, but are you getting transformation? That, being Godly wisdom, comes into fruition in God’s presence, not in AI generated results.

Might I be so bold to say (imma say it anyway) that through AI we may find ourselves skipping over the relationship God extends toward us in order for us to gain more knowledge, and, in doing so, miss out on growing in Godly wisdom. We may also miss out on growing in the patience to see something through and begin to hardwire our minds to require instant results, instant gratification, by any means. But, unfortunately, wisdom is the long game.

Wisdom is not something that can be generated artificially, it is found in the person of Jesus. We will grow in it as we follow Jesus in a long obedience in the same direction, to quote Genie P (Eugene Peterson).

No longer need to inquire

New Recipe? Ask AI

How to fix your car? AI

Advice on dating? AI

Calling a friend who’s especially skilled in an area that you need help in is no longer needed when you can ask AI what you need to do.

But this gets in the way of the beauty of community. Where everyone comes to the table to offer their unique insights, their unique gifts.

My mom makes a great carrot soufflé, but I could ask an AI bot for a recipe and get a response quicker than a text.. but then I miss out on a sweet long chat with my mom!

My friend Brennan is an expert when it comes to fixing cars, knowing the names of all the gears and bolts (while i’m clueless). I could ask AI about what I need to do to about a light that came on my dashboard, but then I wouldn’t get the opportunity to joyfully waste 45 minutes talking to Brennan about skateboarding, fashion, music and the weird experiences he has with people on the daily. He honestly has the greatest stories ever.

I loved talking to my friend Brian as I began dating my now wife. He would give advice on how to pursue her in a godly manner. How I can making dating exciting and continuously feel fresh and fun. AI probably could have done a better job. No offense, Brian. However, I wouldn’t have the relationship I do with my friend where I get to look back with him on my almost 7 years of marriage with my wife and see how far I’ve come.

God created us to function with one another as the body of Christ. We learn more about Jesus as we see His beauty reflected in those made in His image. We grow in our faith as we walk alongside those seeking to grow theirs. We were made for one another. AI can throw a wrench in that beautiful design.

[This portion was inspired by Please Use AI, a brilliant article]

So, Trash It?

Just because a tool can be used in harmful ways doesn’t make it inherently bad. It just means you have to be careful how you use it.

AI serves as a good accelerant but a poor replacement. It’s a greater google search, but it’s a lesser ‘friend.’ It’ll give you results, but only God’s presence can bring spiritual maturity.

There are probably a million things that AI has been great for and many people are ecstatic about it. I’m not looking to talk down on that experience whatsoever. Again, it’s a great tool.

My suggestion, that i’ll kindly offer as you have read this far, is that we use it, if we use it, with caution. Just like with a hammer, be mindful when you use it.

For followers of Jesus, don’t let it get in the way of being with Jesus.

Before you go to AI:

Contemplate with Him till you create.

Wait on Him, even for years, for guidance.

Discover wisdom through His Presence.

And remember the gift of godly community.

Wrap This Up

If you were to use AI to summarize this article, hopefully it would say to remember to practice the presence of God before you go to AI. That’s the hope, at least. You were created for connection with God and those made in His image. That’s where spiritual maturity is produced. May we never allow tools, which aren’t inherently bad, to get in the way of what’s best for us. Him.

Allow me to pray

Lord Jesus,

thank you for the gift of grace

and the many ways you express it

through your presence, peace

through my family and friends

your grace is so evident

may i seek you before any other source

reveling in your presence

only that which can satisfy

my needs, questions and desires

we look to you, Jesus

in your name, amen

God bless you, friends!

Have No Idols Before Me

Following Jesus means you’re no longer following any other lord. Naturally, you need to kick something off the throne of your heart to make room for Him. I don’t believe anyone has ever had an empty throne on their heart with so many dominant idols in our day; finances, relationships, possessions, achievements, traveling, sex, social status, and, of course, fitness.

Has this always been an issue, or is this more relatable today with the rise of social media? Are we as humanity becoming more and more vain as the years go on? Perchance.

For God, For Me (satire)

As Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day, Adam’s gaze begins to drift from the face of God and beauty of the creation around him to look at his watch and see just how far this walk had been and to monitor the pace they were going at. If they were to up their game they could potentially PR this activity.

Noah had been working ceaselessly on the ark for years now. The mockery from his opposers has become increasingly dim as he continues to hammer in the nails on the wooden boards. Noah notices his biceps, despite his old age, looking immaculate as he hammers in the nails. Noah considered posting a progress photo to his instagram story that night. Not of the ark but of the arms making the progress.

What goes up must go down. This was good news for Moses’ calves after hiking up Mount Sinai. From shepherding calves to strengthening his own calves, Mo has become quite the fitness inspiration. Covering around 2,900 feet of elevation gain on the mountain, Moses considered how he would be able to quicken his pace as he descended the mountain to bring the commandments to the people of Israel. After his descent, he considered signing up for an ultra marathon. From the exodus from Egypt to the elevation gains, Moses was already on track to compete in the Moab 240.

The Sneakiest Idol

Though I don’t believe as a whole society the ancients idolized fitness as much as we do today, I do believe fitness has always been an idol for God’s people.

Personally, as long as I’ve been following Jesus I’ve also been very into fitness.

Some examples being:

Century rides (100mi) on a fixed gear road bike 2011, 2013, 2014

Marathon 2024, time - 4:02:07 | I’m frequently running with my sons

Hiking in & out of the Grand Canyon 2009, 2011, 2012

Jiu Jitsu 2024-Present, blue belt

Plus surfing, skateboarding, lifting, and ping pong. Don’t discount that last one.

I give my credentials to say that I have had to actively work against the temptation of making fitness an idol in my life. I have been bad at this and am looking to get better, so here I am working through my shortcomings on the Stack™️

Fitness can make for a great hobby and a beautiful point of communion with the Lord. However, it makes for a horrible lord itself.

My Body’s A Temple

It is true that we are to be wise in what we do with our bodies, not only in regard to sin but in regard to health. Our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell within, so we should take care of our bodies!

Sleeping well, eating well and exercising are critical for the health of the body. I believe that God values those things for us as his children just as any parent does for their own kids. But like any good thing, Satan likes to twist it into becoming the main thing. Whenever a good thing becomes a god thing, that’s when it becomes an issue.

Yes, our body is a temple. Yes, we should take care of ourselves and value our health.

But it is incredibly dangerous for our soul to have fitness become our god.

Christ-Based Fitness

Christian run clubs

Christian Surfers

Jesus & Jiu Jitsu

CrossFit / HIT workouts for Christ

The Ping Pong Priests (c’mon somebody)

All good things. All things I have been a part of in some way. Not critiquing these institutions. Trust me, I think we need more of them!

What I have fallen into is not keeping the main thing the main thing.

Jesus as Lord.

Doing fitness activities but missing out on communion with the Lord either because I didn’t do a fine job at welcoming the King in or I busied up my day with the fitness so I never had my time in the secret place that day.

I have gone many days without time in the secret place because I woke up late and went straight to Jiu Jitsu. I rolled with brothers in Christ, which was wonderful, but I skipped out on rich time with Him on the spiritual mat.

I have missed out on time with my Lord because, after my run with my friends, I was hyper-fixated on my run’s stats on Strava. How was my pace? Distance? Elevation? Who else ran this morning? Oop, time to head to work!

Though I’ll always pray before I paddle out to surf with students and friends, that doesn’t mean I won’t get frustrated when I don’t catch the waves I wanted or that I fell down the falls (the peak of the wave) upon taking off. As chill as a sport surfing can be, one’s ego sure can be a killer.

As a believer, we are to do all things for the glory of God. That doesn’t mean we won’t get frustrated. That doesn’t mean we should do things half-heartedly so that we purposefully lose for the sake of giving others the W. That doesn’t mean we should recite the Lord’s prayer the entire time we’re doing fitness (though it might be helpful while i’m getting destroyed in Jiu Jitsu).

What it does mean is that we mustn’t let any idols come before Him.

We mustn’t allow good things, like fitness, to become god things.

But What If It’s Gone?

Something that’s rarely considered is what happens when you’re no longer able to do your favorite workout. I’m on my way out with skateboarding as it hurts 10x more to fall in my 30’s. Running will probably be done for me in my 40’s. Jiu Jitsu and surfing.. hopefully in my 60’s or 70’s. God willing.

Realistically, I won’t be able to do all of my favorite workouts forever. Then what? Is my life over? Has all joy been depleted?

When I first gave my life to Jesus, a youth leader asked me “Would you give up surfing if the Lord asked you to?” I was 17 and new to the faith, and really really loved surfing, so that was a troubling question for me. I of course said yes because I didn’t want to look lame, but was that true? Would I have given it up? And would I be ok?

I guess that’s the marker of the hold an idol, or even just a good thing, has on your life - if you lost it today, how would you be?

If all you had was Christ, would you be content?

I don’t think it’s wrong for us to be sad when a season is over. Mourning and grieving are healthy, God-given processes for working through emotions and difficult times of loss.

But would we be content?

I want to say I would be. I’m working toward that would-be.

By God’s grace I’ll get there. We’ll get there. We just might need a redeemed vision.

Redeemed Vision for Fitness

We’re saved by grace, live by grace and then rest in His grace for all eternity. It’s all grace, baby.

So first off, let’s have grace for ourselves because God doesn’t withhold His grace from us. Why should we for ourselves?

Next, let’s allow that grace to transform us. Renew us. Given us proper vision, an accurate lens to see all things through. Including fitness.

Here’s what fitness is:

• A gift from God that leads us to feel good and have more energy. Let’s welcome Him in!

• A common ground for community with others, whether they’re followers of Jesus now or not yet (skatepark ministry is my favorite). Welcome the Lord in.

• A terrible god. Fitness will never satisfy the God-shaped hole in our hearts. We mustn’t allow it to take the place only Christ deserves, as our Lord and Savior.

“for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

There’s nothing more important than our relationship with God and how it overflows into leading others into relationship with Him (great commission). If fitness is an avenue to make that happen, praise the Lord!

More prayer time on the mat.

More ministry in the water or at the skatepark.

More Gospel conversations in-between sets at the gym.

People are already conversational on the pickleball court, bring the goodness of Christ in.

Bonus Note: My good friend told me the concept of someone getting “hooked” for a Gospel conversation. Growing up, his dad told him that, just as a fish needs its mouth open to get hooked, he will utilize times when someone is yapping to him to hook them for the Gospel. The conversation had already started, why not bring the Gospel in?

This is something Peter and I both practice at the skateparks we go to, he in Michigan and myself in California. If we’re already talking to someone at the park, and it’s clear they’re very open to have a conversation, we begin to introduce Jesus into the conversation, whether it’s by talking about our faith or asking if they themselves have faith in Christ. Times where I get to share the Gospel at the skatepark will always serve as the most memorable skateboarding experiences.

Tying a Bow

Fitness is perhaps the sneakiest idol. So, like all things, give it to the Lord. Ask for a redeemed vision for fitness. Skip out on hobbies to prefer the Secret Place with Him. In whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Allow me to pray

Holy Lord,

thank you that you bless your kids with good things

may we never allow good things to become god things

but instead cherish You above all else

may we commit our hobbies to your throne of grace

seeking communion with you through them

that we may see your glorious face

we praise your name

In Jesus’ name, amen

God bless you, my friends

Personalities Collide!

The church is a body, and that means that different parts will serve different functions. With that, there will be unique qualities from person to person, not copy and pasting one person over and over again. That would be an incredibly weird sight if we were to do that with a physical body, as seen below:

You only need two thumbs.. not five.

That’s a lot of hands, man

Many will go into church gatherings with the pressure to be a certain kind of person in order to “belong” in the congregation:

Because of the pressure others have placed on fellow congregants, it can dampen the mood for certain people when they see others acting outside of their determined parameters. That makes for some pharisaical behavior. Judging the worship of others is dangerous territory. Not only that, we can often be proven wrong in our judgement about what’s truly going on in the person’s heart.

“he rips but doesn’t give a rip”

I had a student who was the epitome of the cool kid at youth group. Sponsored skateboarder, style for miles, too charming for his own good. He was also a Grade-A Yapper during sermons. When he wasn’t yapping, he was texting on his phone. Week after week, month after month, it seemed like nothing was resonating for this kid.

Then, one night, we’re having community group at a home and I asked a discussion question to my group of high school boys. This same student answers the question with a reference to a sermon I had preached several years prior. And it wasn’t just a sermon point, but an internalized biblical concept that went beyond just a fact but a fact and an application.

I’m sorry, what?

I was blown away and decided from then on to never judge a student’s receptivity to my messages based on outward appearances. My bad!

“starring me down”

I have a friend who’s a worship pastor, and he had a vulnerable moment with me a few month’s back.

There was a gentleman who would always be in the first few rows who would just stand and stare at the worship team during the time of praise. Standing stoically. Not singing, not showing any sign of emotion other than ‘bleh.’

One Sunday, he approached my friend with tears in his eyes, saying “I just want you to know how much your worship leading means to me. I am always so moved by it and my time with God.”

Oh!

From then on, my friend decided he would never judge a person’s worship based on outward appearances.

God Shines Uniquely Through Us

During worship, many of my friends like to raise their hands and jump around. Others like to go on their knees and sway side to side. Some like to pace the room, walking up and down the rows.

All of that is beautiful unto the Lord with a pure and humble heart.

Back to my stoic and quiet friends, they may be standing silently during worship and are getting beautifully encountered by the Lord. One of my best friend draws portraits during worship and sermons and feels more in tune with the Spirit then than otherwise. I’m sure if someone peeked over his shoulder saw him drawing they’d think “wow, how irreverent!”

But all of that is beautiful unto the Lord with a pure and humble heart.

We cannot judge based on the outside what God is doing on the inside. God has given us our personalities that we may uniquely glorify Him. As we grow in Him, we will worship Him all the more intentionally through the lens of our personhood.

Giving our Offering

There’s a story found across the Gospel accounts of Mary pouring precious oil on the feet of Jesus and using her hair to rub it in. The oil was very costly, and once the alabaster jar was opened to use the oil it no longer held the same value. Mary used what was most costly to her to declare Jesus as most costly. With this very intimate scene, she expressed Jesus’ worth to her by pouring out her oil.

And what does it mean to worship something but to declare its / their worth?

Then there’s Judas. Judas saw what she was doing and judged her immediately. How could she do something like that?? That’s worth sooo much money. She could have sold that and given the money to the poor.. the money that was leftover after me taking some of myself, that is.

Judas saw Mary’s worship and judged Mary’s worship. I think that’s a very dangerous place to find yourself in.

God’s ultimate desire is for communion with His people. Worship is one of the sweetest points of communion. If we’re judging how people are pouring out their oil for the King, whether it’s ecstatic or stoic, we’re on rocky territory.

We mustn’t judge how others offer their oil to the Lord based on outward appearances. God knows where their hearts are at, we don’t.

Dear Pastors & Worship leaders,

Let’s not get too worked up by outward appearances when they look bleak nor feel overly enthusiastic when they look invested. We just need to be content knowing God is ministering to their hearts uniquely based on their personalities.

Maybe big moves are happening or maybe this sermon or worship set is like breakfast a few weeks ago; they won’t remember what they ate exactly but that served as a meal that got them to where they are today. Well done feeding them.

The goal mustn’t be everyone looking the same in church gatherings, whether you prefer the congregants vibrant or mellow, but for the Lord to be doing a renovation of the heart as they come before Him with reverence, humility, and joy.

Tying a Bow

Not all worship and communion with the Lord will look the same, and that’s beautiful. So raise your hands, bend your knees, dance around, stand in awe, sit and journal or doodle - and while you do, praise the sweet name of Jesus. Choose intimacy with our Lord who has come close and remains close.

Allow me to pray

Holy Lord,

we set our hearts on you

that which only you can see

may we give you our devotion

purely and wholeheartedly

giving you our own oil

not the appearance of someone else’s

judging not the hearts of other’s

but rejoicing that they’re with you

all glory to you, my King

in Jesus’ name, amen

God bless you, friends

On to the Next Church

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community” - Bonhoeffer

Church hopping has been an epidemic for as long as i’ve been in the church, 15 years now, and i’ve unfortunately been a part of the problem for a third of that time.

For the first 5 years in my faith, I jumped around from church to church. I did so for a number of reasons; teaching style, more charismatic worship, good looking people, aesthetic people, better coffee, better hours, fun community events, intentional mid-week gatherings, nicer spaces.

I was all over the place. Because of that, my roots never went deep for those first 5 years in the faith.

Then i’d hear things like

“Austenn, where have you been?”

“Austenn, we miss you here!”

Ummm

“I, uhh, am going here now.. but i’ll stop by sometime soon!” lol, yea right

Bonhoeffer, with the quote above, stated that loving your dream of community will destroy community. If you love your ideals more than you love the people in front of you, you will begin to love them half-heartedly. With that, you’ll be giving others less than what they deserve as image bearers. The end result often being leaving them entirely.

Replace the word community with ‘best friend.’

The person who loves their dream of their best friend will destroy their best friend.

Oof.

In that scenario, you’re likely putting unrealistic expectations on that best friend, rather than loving them as the image bearer that they are.

Communities have been effected by consumeristic Christianity for years now. I’m not sure if that’ll ever end, especially in this spiritual economy, but I have some reasons why it should.

Church is family

A big reason why people church hop (and shop) is because they see church as a service they receive rather than a family they belong to.

Jesus came to not make a religious institution but a family. By His Way we learn how to live, yes, but that Way is for relationship with Him and one another, not just for the sake of holiness.

If church is family, we need to be dedicated to church. Show up. Contribute. Be there even when it’s hard. Even when there’s disagreements. Work through the conflict, just like a (healthy) family does!

For the great seasons and the bad, having a local church that you call home is crucial. Sharing in the joy, sharing in the sorrow, that is what the church is for.

Jesus came to make us family. Being rooted and committed to a local church is a big way of how we live into that.

In his book The Narrow Path, writes this

“… From the beginning of the bible to the end, we see that God is not interested in simply recruiting individuals; rather, He is forming a new community. A new family. A new humanity. The gospel is not just good news for our personal lives; it’s the power of God to establish a new way of belonging to one another.“

Belonging to one another. That’s the church, baby. Not walking in to receive and experience but to belong to a family that is formed by the power of God.

Comfortability Cripples Growth

Comfortability shouldn’t be on the top of the list of hopes in a local church, leaning how to die daily should be.

“When Christ calls a man He bids him to come and die” - Bonhoeffer (again)

We aren’t following Jesus for comfortability, we’re following Jesus to become more like Jesus. Comfortability cripples growth, while Jesus makes the once spiritually crippled grow.

We’re all a huge work in progress, and Jesus uses hard things and hard people to lead us into who He’s creating us to be. We can’t just dip out when the going gets tough (love that Growlers’ song) but need to lean into Jesus through the tough so He can bring about that good Kingdom stuff.

You’re Part of the Body, Bro

If you’re going into churches only wondering how it’ll meet your needs you’re forgetting you are a part of the body.

This consumeristic mentality, which applies to not only spending money but spending time, enables people to believe that they are there to receive rather than share in what God is doing.

Contrary to popular belief, serving is not only for the elite Christians. Being a part of the church necessitates serving. Serving is how we share in the good work God is doing in the church body, rather than just attending to receive and then dip out the moment the church gathering ends.

Check, please

If something’s not lining up with what you’d like to see, what are you doing about it? Leaving?

Many will attend a church for years and begin to see lack in an area and decide it’s time to find another church. Sometimes the issue will be addressed but many times I have heard the Christian will slide out in silence to attend another body of believers.

That’s fine to do at a restaurant you were once a regular at in order to become a regular at a better option, but not what you do with family. Not what you do with church.

Consider, is there a conversation I could have? Is there a group of people in the fellowship I can meet with who align more with my views and desires? Is there something that I could start where I feel like there’s lack? These kinds of questions help remind ourselves that church is not a service we receive but a family we belong to.

Common Unity in Christ, Not Just Preferences

It’s a scary thing when a body of believers are indistinguishable from one another.

It’s good for a church to be multi-generational. Different ethnicities. Different political views. Different aesthetics. Different tax brackets. Some people drink coffee, others drink white Monster.

The common unity of the community should be in Christ, not everyone believing the exact same things. We are to celebrate differences while we hold true to the nonnegotiable:

We can only get to the Father through the Son (John 14:6)

We are saved by grace through faith in Him. Not by our own works, there’s nothing we could do on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We’re saved for freedom in Christ, not to continue pursuing lives of sin (Romans 6:1)

And there’s nothing we can do to separate ourselves from God’s love as we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39)

Everything else serves as a way to broaden your views and refine your walk.

You will rarely get refined by people who agree with you on everything, differences make a difference. You won’t often be challenged by people in the exact same camps as you, you need to take a hike and see how another camp makes a fire. Same God, different fashions of seeking community. The common unity is in Christ our Lord while our distinctions showcase the beauty of the vast body of Christ.

Of Course There’s Exceptions

• You’ve been there for years and have not been challenged in your faith (while you’re also putting the work in on your own time)

• Corrupt leadership - Get out of there.

• Emotional abuse - call it out and please seek therapy. I’m so incredibly sorry.

• You’re moving to another city - Logistically, it just doesn’t make sense to stay.

• You genuinely feel led by the Lord - I will never put the work of God in a box. He may be leading you elsewhere and you’ve been treating the church you’ve been a part of as family. Be faithful to where he is now calling you!

Of course there’s exceptions, but for the most part we should fight to be faithful to our local home church.

Consumerism leaking into the church will be a great feat for the enemy in our day, so we must both be aware of its effect and be on guard that it doesn’t seep into our mentality on the church body.

We must pursue faithfulness to the church and Christ has pursued us with His faithfulness.

Important Note

There are different expressions of the Christian church which will reach and feed different groups of people. I’m not just talking denominations but all the details that go into what each church family is like.

Different strokes for different folks.

Not everyone has to go to one church or the other in a city. There’s not (often) the “right” church to go to. You just go to what feels right for you (and hopefully has sound doctrine and does the Jesus stuff).

As a local pastor, I’m going to celebrate wherever people go while encouraging them to have their roots grow deep; start serving, join a home group, get discipled and make disciples. Be family, not a shopper.

Tying a Bow

Jesus loves His church, despite her flaws and weird preferences. As the church, we must be alert to the enemy’s schemes of infiltrating worldly ideals into the way church is both ran as well as viewed. Church is a family, not a service we receive.

Help us, Lord Jesus.

Allow me to pray:

Holy Lord,

hallowed be your name

you view your church as beautiful

may we see it as just the same

pursuing unity and faithfulness

despite the often chaos and outright mess

as you love me despite my flaws too

may i walk dedicated to the body

cherishing her, as you called me to

by your love and grace have your way

in Jesus’ beautiful name, amen

God bless you, friends

[Photo: Graham Holtshausen]

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

A spoken word, then came the world and stars

Rays pierce the ceiling of the galaxies

⚓︎

Into the abyss, there comes a light

The pallet for the artist

Expressing deep joy and delight

⚓︎

His Spirit hovering over the waters

So above, yet so within

Crashing into the lifeless

By His core, life begins

⚓︎

As He speaks, flashes of light wave and bow

Colors run rampant, yet intricately somehow

Illumination breaking into the dark

A pile of rubble is set ablaze by a simple spark

⚓︎

Creatures and critters and bugs introduced

The birth of life, by mere words produced

⚓︎

A spoken word by the almighty God

His breath forming atoms, cells, mitochondria

In the depths we find the artist’s signature

His imprint found in humanity, his holy nature

⚓︎

Created to know him

And be known so well

He desires relationship

Showcased by himself

⚓︎

As God is trinity

A Community in one

He welcomes us into His dance

His embrace warm as the sun

⚓︎

The Creator and His creation

He looks upon them with glee

Walking with His kids in the garden

Clothing them with His grace and majesty

⚓︎

A spoken word.. then came the world and the stars

⚓︎

Creativity flowing like a river

Dripping like honey

Sweet to the lips

Marking us to be creative

Impacting our circles

As when a stone across water skips

⚓︎

From a spoken word came all that we see

Now I continue in His way

That He may shine forth through me

⚓︎⚓︎⚓︎

Pastor Gone Viral

I recently attended a conference, and something one of the speaking pastors, Darren Rouanzoin, said struck me:

“Visibility is a liability for the Kingdom of God.”

The more eyes that are on a pastor, the harder the fall after a moral compromise gets exposed, the greater the fallout for the Kingdom of God.

Picture this, there's a pastor who recently planted a church in the neighborhood, their church has 15 congregants (4 of which are the pastors own family), really just the humble beginnings of the church's life, versus, a pastor of a mega church that has tens of thousands of congregants, they livestream to thousands more, the pastor is a successful author, and the church has millions of dollars in the bank.

Who do you think has more blind sides? Who do you think has larger liabilities to manage? Satan's looking to lead both pastors into pride, certainly, but who will fall harder if exposed on a moral failure?

Unfortunately, I’ve been seeing pastors’ downfalls broadcasted for years now. How does this happen? Does it solely come from a platform? No… it comes from small compromises that become easier and driven by the pride of success. Notice how God told kings to not acquire three things; horses, money, & women. Reason being, those things will inflate the king's pride. Pride comes like the flick of a switch when you're successful and pride leaves you blind. Today's success is viewership. In the words of Tupac, "All Eyez on Me."

What does this pride from success lead to? Scandal after scandal. This pastor did this. This pastor did that. Why on earth were they given a platform??

Well remember the picture we painted at the start, what were they all like before the got their platform?

Did we see this coming? Or did this form over time like a sickness? Like a virus?

The pastor that had a moral failure might have had humble beginnings. Might have been incredibly solid. 10/10 human. But then.. fame. But then.. followers. Going viral.. like a disease eating up the body. Except instead of body.. it’s the soul.

What I've noticed is that fame makes people feel larger than life. Yes, their social media following, and perhaps bank account, is larger than most people's, which is notable, but they begin to feel as if the moral standards for humanity no longer apply to them. Unfortunately, this can happen with pastors as well.

One moral compromise after another, unchecked sin followed by some more, and this larger than life public figure (why do some pastors go by that??) has been found out and is removed from their ministry position. And then they are shamed to smitherines.

Now i will say that shame is straight up from the enemy and that God’s grace abounds, but pastors are to be above reproach and teachers are held to a higher standard, so being removed from their position is a valid repercussion to their falling out. Restoration may come with time, but an 'infection' must be addressed, brought before the Good Physician, and be extracted before the pastor can operate as they are called to.

Let’s return to the quote from the beginning

“Visibility is a liability for the Kingdom of God”

So does that mean that pastors should never utilize platforms for expanding the Kingdom of God? No. But they must absolutely be careful when they do.

Safeguards

As a pastor, every day is to be intentionally committed to the Lord, in humility and integrity. How do we resist the dark side of fame? The side that pushes or opens us to compromise? I believe that safeguards are essential for remaining steadfast in the faith.

My hope is to explore safeguard options together.

1 Secret Place. Daily.

Pastors, remember why you (hopefully) got into ministry in the first place - because you love Jesus! You have experienced His lovingkindness and return to Him everyday in prayer and scripture, because you love Him!

Going to the secret place daily, where you are alone with God, is crucial for your walk and your attentiveness to the Holy Spirit’s voice. The Holy Spirit will bring you conviction to alert you when boundaries may be crossed (or are about to be crossed) in regard to sin.

By going to the secret place daily, we’ll grow in obedience and reliance to the Holy Spirit, enabling us to remain on the narrow path.

2 Spill the Beans (to a mentor)

Having a mentor that you can confess your sin to, big or small, is insanely helpful. Call out the junk in your heart before your heart becomes a junkyard. When we get in the habit of confessing the “little” sins we will be better prepared to stand tall over the “bigger” sins. (Quotations made to hint that all sin is a big deal to God, however we as humans will indeed scale out our sins as small or big)

3 Accountability Group

Pastors need a group that they can be held accountable by. Those that they check in with on a weekly basis. How’s your heart? Your marriage? Your screen time? Your sleep? Health? Any idolatry? All the things. Anywhere the devil can get a foothold, address those areas to a group of friends for edification and sanctification. We’re in this together.

4 Phone on the kitchen counter

Whether the pastor lives with their spouse, roommates, or family - leave the phone on the kitchen counter and have your password be made known. Hide nothing. Nothing. It is the most freeing life to have nothing to hide and it makes it so bigger failures are out of the question.

5 Frequently remind yourself why you post online

It’s for Jesus. Don’t make it about you. Pastors are to seek to be “nameless and faceless” while they elevate the Name above all names.

6 Remember: You are not Him

When you begin to feel larger than life, remember the One who gave you life. You are not Him. Just be His child and make His beautiful love known.

Restoration

But what happens when a pastor does fall? When it’s been revealed that they, in fact, are not perfect?

I’m not here to dismiss a misuse of the pastoral role, but I would like to pushback on the cultural phenomenon of canceling people. Reason being, God isn’t about that.

David wasn’t cancelled for his scandal

Thomas wasn’t cancelled for his doubts

Peter wasn’t cancelled for his denying

Peter wasn’t cancelled (again) for racism with table fellowship (Galatians 2)

Judas wasn’t even cancelled.. he took himself out of the game

Jesus doesn’t cancel us because of our fallouts. However, by His grace He indeed does humble us. Sometimes that humbling can be a simple reminder:

You’re not a pastor to be a celebrity, you’re a pastor to be a servant.

Restoration shouldn’t necessarily mean you get the platform back, especially if the fallout made big waves. What it should mean is you’re reminded you’re a servant, and with time, counseling, and accountability you can be restored to a servant’s position. If that sounds harsh, welcome to the upside down Kingdom of God. It doesn’t look like the big time, big shots because it’s not that! Maybe the fallout was the great revelation that pastoral leadership is not meant to lead Christians into becoming celebrities?

Does restoration mean they should start a podcast or write a book after their fallout? Probably not. That’s still going for the spotlight. Restoration, rather, should look like humbling themselves to the floor, as every pastor already should posture themselves before the Lord Jesus as His servant.

Restoration is a delicate process and it needs to be handled well, with wise counsel and in solid, biblical community. It cannot and should not be rushed.

Shame (which says you are bad) is from the gates of hell. Conviction (which says what you did was bad), however, is from the Holy Spirit. If the pastor who has fallen takes the conviction of the Holy Spirit and commits the sin to Jesus in humility and repents, grace is abundant.

No one’s counted out from God’s grace, even if people think they are the scum of the earth. It’s going to be quite funny who we see in heaven who will surprise us like nothing else that they’re there. Perhaps they’ll think the same about us! That is the grace of God.

Closing Thoughts

I’d love to see less pastors making a fool of themselves on the headlines on social media. Less scandals. Less clout chasing too. More humility, more love, more grace.

The enemy’s on the prowl like a lion, seeking to devour.

Satan will take a good thing, a platform for the Kingdom, and twist it into something harmful, inflating the ego of the pastor. That’s just what Satan does, twisting what is good. Pastors need to understand that and be prepared. Have safeguards. And have the God of peace crush Satan under your feet.

Let’s grow together in humbling ourselves before the Lord, so that He may exalt us. Not exalting ourselves with our platforms.

Allow me to pray

Holy Lord,

may all that we do for you be done for you

and never for our own ego

may we never seek the spotlight

but only your light shone upon us

that others may see and experience your glory

rather than a counterfeit

rid us of our pride and fill us with your Spirit

we desperately need you, our Good Shepherd

in Jesus' name, amen

God bless you, my friends.

Prologue

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight" C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters

Though I believe Lewis' work to be perfectly sufficient for today as it was when originally published, I do believe a micro spin-off can be made to give clarity for the times. Take this poetically, written with creative license as well as with truths interwoven into a fictional conversation between a senior demon writing to his nephew, an aspiring tempter.

Chapter One

My dearest Sloshrag,

Your patient has taken keen interest in using social media for his witness. Don’t fret, this is ground we have worked with before! Yes, of course, we will have to worry about those who see the posts, but your main concern is this patient - don’t take your eyes off him for a second! Certainly He never does!

Be sure to make him feel extra chipper when your patient’s posts meet the algorithm's fancy. Encourage him to look at the analytics and feel pretty great about himself. Pride is our greatest asset, and it sure does a fine job at poisoning our patients’ religious purity. It’s a horrible thing for a human to talk about His Kingdom, but it’s a great thing when it becomes more about the patients’ own empire within their minds instead!

Another tactic, if I may, is to have your patient feel awfully pitiful about themselves if their posts don’t do well. “But wouldn’t God want this to be seen!” Yes, that’s what we want your patient to think. Have them feel embarrassed that they ever posted, and have them become oblivious to the fact that another human may reach “salvation” after seeing their post, as poorly as it did. The more you can have them focus on themselves, the better.

Your affectionate uncle, Slugwash

Chapter Two

My dearest Sloshrag,

I see your patient has begun carrying a charger in their pocket wherever they go because their excessive screen time is draining their battery. Wonderful. You must allow him to be distracted into oblivion.

Of course, you can bring about scandalous content, but that’s not even my main concern. You don’t necessarily need your patient to sin; you just need him to be busy! Busyness will keep the mind free of any of the work He would do for your client.

The moment your patient wakes, lure him to doom scroll. The moment he gets home from work and parks in his driveway, lure him once again. Any free moment lead him to the dopamine hits of short-form videos. The more he scrolls, the less time he has for prayer.

Do not forget the agony prayer has caused us for thousands of years, my dear nephew. When these puny rats cry out to Him, He actually listens. Not only that, He is moved by their prayers. I know, our father below is baffled too. Do not allow your patient the brain space to discover this. Distraction. All the way into oblivion.

Your affectionate uncle, Slugwash

P.S. Less videos of dogs. That’s making your patient too happy for my liking.

Chapter Three

My dearest Sloshrag,

It’s finally paying off that He takes too long with answers. Desiring to grow these vermin, He will allow them time to wait on Him so that He may grow them in the process. Having your patient scroll excessively requires his brain to not only want but also require instant results and instant gratification.

AI has brought exactly that.

Your patient no longer needs to ask Him for direction and wisdom; your patient can now ask AI what they ought to do for their future. Sure, AI may give results that your patient finds fruitful, but it will never inhabit His Holy Spir— oh I don’t even want to begin to talk about it!!

In His absence, AI is our valuable pacifier for these rodents’ concerns and needs. Keep your patient away from prayer, for prayer is the very basis of a relationship with Him. Encourage your patient that a quick search with AI will bear quicker, more favorable results. Less conviction, more affirmation of whatever your patient is feeling.

Your affectionate uncle, Slugwash

P.S. I’m considering having AI write all my content for me. Our father below loves it when people lie in that manner.

Chapter Four

My dear Sloshrag,

Your patient is becoming quite political, that’s excellent! Make sure he feels very right and sees those who oppose him as very wrong. The algorithm online does that anyway, given the echo chambers these vermin find themselves in, but make sure you stoke that flame of pride once he sees a video of his political party bashing the other side.

I see his content is beginning to sway away from purely Christian to a more political Christian view. Excellent. Adding anything to His “truth” does a marvelous job at diluting it. The more you can make Christianity a bumper sticker on your patient’s religious views, the better.

I see the holiday season is approaching. Perfect. Have your patient bring up their political views to their family members in the most condescending way possible. Inflate your patient's ego and fuel his zeal for rightness so he'll stray further from being righteous.

Your affectionate uncle, Slugwash

Epilogue

Dearest Nephew,

You have failed miserably. With your aim to show your patient how meaningless his pursuits are without You-Know-Who, you have shown your patient just how meaningless his pursuits are! Having your patient hit rock bottom, your patient discovered Him to be right there beside him. How could you be so naive?? It seems that I need to move on to a more competent tempter like your older cousin Bugglesting. He is absolutely repulsive and manipulative, just like his mother. My wife.

No need to write back.

Your affectionate uncle, Slugwash