Essays
Tough Love vs. Tender Mercy - Which Way Did Jesus Go?
There’s an old joke that’s told in a variety of ways. A man goes to heaven and is getting a tour by St. Peter. Peter is pointing out the various places in heaven that might be of interest and introduces him to various people as they wander the streets. The man looks down a street and sees a doorway, but it is gated and well out of the way, leading into a building. The man asks, “Peter, what is that?” Peter replies, “Oh, that’s for the Presbyterians. They think they’re the only ones up here.”
Building on the Rock - Practicing Faith for Life's Storms
What do you do when life gets tough? Do you retreat to bed, declaring it a “no good, very bad day,” hoping tomorrow will be better? If so, we might never leave our beds. Daily, we encounter trouble, hardship, heartache, and suffering, even amidst blessings. The news constantly reminds us of the world’s unending problems.
How do we respond? We cannot perpetually hide, waiting for an easy life. The storms inevitably come, and we often live with a sense of impending trouble, even when things are good.
Trampolines and Broken Bricks - Reimagining Faith Beyond 'Should Have Known'
“You should have known better.”
Have you ever heard that before? Man, I feel like I have heard it a ton. Perhaps it is the result of being the oldest of three brothers. Or maybe it’s because I present myself as someone who knows all the things and is pretty confident. Whatever the reason, “You should have known better.” is a phrase that I have heard often.
New note by Daniel Rose
@solusspider@polymaths.social my guy @ozzy runs an instance. He can make the sales pitch!
Shattered Idols - Micah's Vision of Reckoning
We look around at a world rife with hardship, a world that often feels chaotic and unfair. And then, we look at our own lives. Maybe they're comfortable, maybe even good. A nagging question arises: what do we do with this dissonance? Do we turn a blind eye, dismissing the suffering as "not my problem"? Or does something stir within us, a sense that we should, perhaps even must, do something?
This internal struggle, this tension between comfort and conscience, is not unique to our time. The prophet Micah, speaking during the prosperous reign of King Uzziah in Judah, confronted a similar reality. Judah was booming. Wealth was abundant. But beneath the surface, a rot was festering.
Micah's message, like a jarring alarm, cuts through the complacency. He doesn't sugarcoat. He doesn't offer easy answers. He delivers a stark warning: doom and hope, doom and hope. This is the rhythm of his prophecy, a constant oscillation between judgment and redemption.
The Problem of Prosperity
Micah exposes the dark side of Judah's prosperity. Unprecedented wealth had led to unchecked greed. The powerful exploited the vulnerable, seizing land and disregarding God's laws of justice and compassion. The year of Jubilee, designed to restore equity, was ignored.
Sound familiar?
We too live in a world where the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. Where the powerful often prioritize their own interests over the well-being of others.
The Plague of False Worship
But Micah doesn't just address economic injustice. He goes deeper, diagnosing the root cause: idolatry. The people of Judah, despite having the temple in Jerusalem, had turned it into a "high place," a center of false worship. They had replaced the true God with idols of their own making.
This indictment hits hard. What are our idols? What are we worshipping in our daily lives? Is it power, wealth, comfort, entertainment, or even our own opinions? Are we truly worshipping God in spirit and truth, or have we crafted a god in our own image?
Micah doesn't shy away from confronting the religious leaders either. He condemns the false prophets who offered soothing words of prosperity and ignored the cries of the oppressed. They prioritized comfort over truth, echoing a pattern we see in our own time.
The Call to Repentance and Hope
Micah's message is uncomfortable, even painful. He challenges our "sacred cows," forcing us to confront our own complacency and idolatry. But amidst the doom, there is a glimmer of hope.
Micah proclaims that God will gather a remnant, a faithful people who will return to Him. He paints a vivid picture of joy and liberation, like sheep bursting into a wide-open pasture. This hope is not based on human merit but on God's faithfulness to His covenant.
A Challenge for Today
Micah's words resonate with our contemporary issues. We, too, must confront the dissonance between our comfort and the suffering around us. We must ask ourselves:
- What are we worshipping?
- Are we living justly and compassionately?
- Are we listening to the true voice of God, or the soothing whispers of false prophets?
Micah's message is not meant to make us comfortable. It is meant to heal our souls. It is a call to repentance, a call to return to the true God, and a call to be part of the remnant that will experience the joy of His redemption.
Let us heed Micah's warning and embrace his hope. Let us examine our hearts, confront our idols, and strive to live as a people who truly worship God in spirit and truth.
New note by Daniel Rose
@solusspider@polymaths.social it appears the follow worked, yes? I requested to follow you as well.
New note by Daniel Rose
@ozzy it looks like gotosocial accounts can’t follow Sharkey. Which is weird.
New note by Daniel Rose
Lazy sunny Saturdays are something else.
The String Cheese Incident - Sunny Skies
https://music.apple.com/us/song/790975392
Jesus in Conversation - The Sales People
When was the last time you walked into a space and thought, “This is not at all what I was expecting”? I grew up going to a historic Presbyterian church in Pontiac, MI. It is one of the oldest churches in the state. The building is magnificent. It is a gothic style church with a massive pipe organ and gorgeous stained glass at the corner of the two main roads in the downtown of the city. Any time I walk into First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac I am left with a sense of wonder and reverence.
It was a magical place to grow up in my faith.
New note by Daniel Rose
Checking out this little app for iOS that could be a nice client for fedi.social.
Jesus in Conversation - His Mom
Moms and sons have a special kind of dynamic. I know that my mom and I can communicate with a look. We have inside jokes and so much shared history that sometimes we don’t even need to say anything.
As I watch my own son and my wife, the same dynamic exists. They have an uncanny ability to simply understand one another. It’s almost like they can read one another’s minds at times.
Of course, there’s also the reality that sons are male and we often fail miserably at reading our mom’s minds. But, just like that special #girldad bond there is a #boymom bond that is unique too.
Jesus in Conversation - Philip and Nathanael
People of a certain age all have some shared television experiences. First, when we were sick and home from school we would watch The Price is Right. Second, when we stayed up late watching something on TV we would inevitably see something called an “infomercial.”
These long form commercials somehow would suck you in and you just couldn’t turn it off. The salesperson would be doing their pitch and then they would say, “But wait! There’s more!” Then they would sweeten the deal.
A whole generation was trained by television to wait for something more. Perhaps this is why my generation is typically unimpressed by many things and always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because, it turns out that, “wait, there’s more,” isn’t only for good stuff.
As I was reading through this next conversation with Jesus that is recorded in John’s Gospel, I couldn’t help but think that there might have been a narrator in the background saying, “but wait, there’s more…”
Practice in Community
We're wrapping up our series on spiritual practices, and today we're diving into the essential practice of community. While many of us here understand its importance, it's worth exploring why it's so crucial.
The Myth of Lone Ranger Christianity
American Christianity often emphasizes individualism—"me and Jesus." But this "Lone Ranger" approach isn't biblical. It stems, in part, from the Second Great Awakening and figures like Charles Finney, who promoted an individualistic gospel.
Historically, joining the church was a communal process, a deep commitment to the body of Christ. However, the modern focus on individual decisions has led to a disconnect from the importance of community.
Scriptural Foundation: Acts 2:42-47
Let's look at Acts 2:42-47: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Devotion: A Daily Choice
Notice the word "devoted." It signifies an active, ongoing choice. Just like love in marriage, devotion to community is a daily decision.
They devoted themselves to:
- Apostles' teaching: Growing in God's Word.
- Fellowship (Koinonia): Deep, meaningful relationships.
- Breaking of bread: Practicing the Lord's Supper.
- Prayer: Communing with God.
True Fellowship: Beyond Surface Interactions
Fellowship isn't just attending church or social events. It's doing life together, sharing burdens, and celebrating joys.
The early church shared everything, ensuring no one was in need. While we may not replicate that exactly, the principle remains: we should leverage our gifts and resources to support each other.
The Challenge: Vulnerability and Invitation
Many of us struggle to ask for help, fearing we'll burden others. But the church exists to support us.
- Are we inviting others into our lives?
- Are we willing to be vulnerable?
We often prefer others to need us, but we hesitate to reveal our own needs. This one way street breaks down community.
Living Life Together: Beyond Sunday Mornings
The early church met daily, sharing meals and spending time together. In our modern, isolated world, we must be intentional about connecting beyond formal church events.
Our culture promotes isolation: attached garages, air conditioning, and busy schedules. We must push back against this trend.
Preparing for Storms: The Purpose of Community
Spiritual practices prepare us for life's storms. By practicing community when life is good, we'll be more likely to lean on each other when times are tough.
Jesus warned his followers of persecution. They needed community to endure. We need it too.
Your Challenge This Week:
- Are you devoting yourself to fellowship?
- Are you both giving and receiving in your relationships?
- When life gets hard, do you invite others in?
Don't rob your brothers and sisters of the joy of serving you. Let them share in your joys and sorrows.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us be a people devoted to fellowship. Open our lives to one another, and help us bear each other's burdens. In Jesus' name, Amen
Jesus in Conversation - Simon Peter
Over the years I have given out a lot of nicknames. Why? I don’t know. Nicknames for me are a term of endearment. When I give you a nickname it’s because I like you and you mean something to me.
When two people are in love they often give one another pet names. You know, things like “honey,” “sweetie,” “darling,” and the list goes on. When they get mad at one another they use their “real” names.
Speaking of getting mad, growing up I knew that I was in trouble when my mom used my full name. If your mom drops all three names, that’s when you try to find a place to hide, because it is not about to go well for you.
Practice in Serving
Life throws storms our way, and we need to be prepared. We've been exploring spiritual practices to build a strong foundation, like Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Last week, we talked about fasting, a practice of abstinence. This week, we're shifting to a practice of engagement: serving.
The Warning: Don't Display Your Righteousness
In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus says, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Jesus warns against displaying our righteousness. Why? Because true righteousness isn't about showing off; it's about genuine service.
The Problem: Hypocrisy
Jesus uses the word "hypocrite," which means "actor." Are we play-acting at righteousness? Are we putting on a show, or is our service genuine?
Our righteousness comes from Christ. It's a gift of grace. If we're just pretending, we don't truly have His righteousness. That's a sobering thought.
The Call: Quiet, Faithful Service
Jesus calls us to serve quietly and intentionally. He uses the metaphor of not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing. It's about being intentional in our service, doing it without seeking recognition.
We are made righteous by Christ, and our service should flow from that. As James says, "Pure and undefiled religion is caring for the widows and orphans."
The Example: "A Few Good Men"
Think of the movie "A Few Good Men." The characters are challenged to protect those who can't protect themselves. That's what Jesus is calling us to do.
He doesn't qualify who deserves our help. He simply says, "When you give to the needy." We are to serve because it's who we are, not because someone is worthy.
The Benefit: Joy and Acceptance
Serving others brings joy, and it also allows us to receive help when we need it. When we serve, we understand the joy of receiving help, and we can accept it when it's offered to us.
Your Challenge:
- Are you serving? Are you intentionally caring for those in need?
- Are you serving in secret? Or are you seeking recognition?
"Needy" isn't just about financial need. It can be relational, emotional, or social. It's about those on the fringes, those who can't help themselves.
Practical Ways to Serve:
- Have coffee with someone lonely.
- Invite a neighbor to dinner.
- Offer a listening ear.
Serving isn't always about grand gestures. It's about loving well.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us serve out of the righteousness you've given us. Keep us from hypocrisy, and help us serve quietly and faithfully. May we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' name, Amen.
Jesus in Conversation - Introduction
“Where are you from?”
This is a question that we often ask people when we first meet them. It’s a very normal inclination that we have to want to know where people are from. It provides us with a shorthand that allows us to make assumptions about them.
For instance, if someone says, “I am from Boston,” we are are able to identiyf things we know about Boston and it gives us a frame of reference for this new person. We will likely assume that they like the Red Sox or perhaps clam chowder. Or, if someone tells us they are from Canada we will make assumptions about them and their love of poutine and hockey. Of course, these are surface things. Knowing where someone is from also provides us with a frame of reference for how they might act. Different places have different cultures. Knowing where someone is from helps us have a context about them.
Jesus in Conversation: A Preface
For a while I have been wrestling with what to write about. I have been wondering if I should just focus on keeping up with the brief daily devotionals or perhaps offering commentary on the news of the day from a pastor’s perspective. As I wandered around the internet, there’s a lot of that going on already. Sure, my “unique” voice would be different, but in so many ways, it feels like I would just be adding to the noise.