christianity

Maybe a Mighty Move (of God)

/ jerrythinks / 2 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between two things: the will of God and the want of man. For decades now, I’ve witnessed and been involved in this tension that lives between what God has clearly stated that He desires from and for humanity, and what humanity is willing to engage with, participate in, and surrender to.

These two are often not the same thing.

I suppose that’s part of the reason why I’m often so reticent to call something a “revival” when others seem rather quick to sound the alarm of God’s Spirit clearly bringing us revival. It’s glorious, it’s wonderful, it’s magnetic, it’s inspirational, and it’s powerful, but is it revival in the truest sense? I pray it is. I don’t stand opposed to the thought. I’m just careful to watch, pray, and fan the ember with hopeful anticipation that it becomes a flame.

What’s got me thinking these thoughts even more lately is an idea that God had laid on my heart, and the heart of several others, to see a deep unity among followers of Jesus in our area.

Side note: In our county as of this writing, there are 234 churches, with about 170 of them being evangelical. Believe it or not, there are 17 churches on the same street our church is on, with only 2 of them with beliefs that would not align with orthodox Christianity. That’s a lot of people in our county gathered under the name of Christ. But what I see and grieve is not nearly enough unity among these churches. Yes, I know about denominational distinctives. Yes, I know about doctrine/theology differences. Yes, I know about church structures, philosophies, and well…preferences and how all those play into the understandable reasons why we have so many churches. Yes, I also know that multiplication is baked into the Great Commission, so I should be celebrating that 234 churches exist in my immediate area. I get all that.

But what I don’t understand is how any local church could choose to turn away from the unity that Jesus Himself prayed for on behalf of His followers. In His well-known prayer for His disciples, Jesus prayed to His Father: “May they be one, just as You and I are one.” (John 17:21) Jesus’ desire for His followers is that we be unified in our love for Him, in our decision to take up our cross to follow Him, in our loving of one another, and in our serving of the lost and least.

As I said, a couple of years ago, we began to talk and dream about a gathering of local churches for the singular purpose of lifting up Jesus in worship, through testimony, and through fellowship. We envisioned a tangible, visible reminder to all involved that the Family of God is far larger than any of us see on a daily basis. We had a vision for new friendships, stronger partnerships, and mutual encouragement among not only followers of Jesus, and soon-to-be followers of Jesus, but also among pastors and ministry leaders. We also have strived to have the venue change for each gathering; we did not want this to be perceived as “belonging” to any one local church.

The result was what we call RVA NOW. That’s shorthand for Richmond, VA Night of Worship. I’d love it if you’d go to Instagram and follow @rvanightofworship. There, you can find photos and video of previous gatherings, as well as stay informed about our next RVA NOW.

At our most recent RVA NOW, we counted over 300 young people gathered together for the sake of spiritual community and unity. We honestly welcome all ages, and you too are free to join in. We have simply chosen to go after the attention and energy of the young generation. We desire God to form within them a heart for unity among believers before things like routine, tradition, and claiming ground based on personal preferences set in. I should also say that our first RVA NOW (we’ve done 6 to date) had 78 people gathered.

Not only did 300 young people show up, but God kept His promise fully that “when 2 or 3 are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20). I think you’d be hard-pressed to talk to anyone who’s been to RVA NOW who hasn’t sensed the presence of God to one degree or another. At our most recent RVA NOW, we also had an open baptism invitation for anyone who desired to follow Jesus and take that next step of obedience. And that night, we baptized 10 individuals who stood up to declare Jesus as Lord of their lives. As the one doing the baptizing, my heart got bigger and bigger as more and more young people came forward.

(I’ll add here that I also fully recognize that a gathered people are not necessarily and immediately a unified people. So, I do not contend that unity is ONLY gained by physically gathering. But I do think that it can help us move in the direction of unity like few other things can.)

The music was led humbly and powerfully, the testimonies were upheld boldly and unashamedly, and the gospel was preached clearly. God spoke; people responded. Revival? Maybe.

So, why would I not call this a move of God? Why would I be hesitant to label it revival?

Revival isn’t when we can get 300 (or 30,000) people together in one place. Any number of attractions can do that, and it happens all the time everywhere. Revival isn’t when “worship goes long”. Any number of quality worship leaders can massage a set list to invoke a willingness in the crowd to linger and sing. Revival isn’t when tears flow. Emotionalism and sensationalism–whether intentional or not–are things that can be mistaken for spirituality. Revival isn’t when things get loud and energetic. I love loud music and love getting lost in the sound of hundreds (I’ve experienced 10,000-plus voices lifted together) of people singing at the tops of their lungs. A gifted sound team can create a perfect audio blend that wraps us up in frequencies, even triggering goosebumps through the right sounds.

Revival? Dear God, I hope so. Let it be, and let it be here. Let it be a powerful move of God’s Spirit calling people to repentance, to holiness, to surrender, and to disciple-making. Let it be a fresh wind of passion that ignites God’s people to serve ALL people, regardless of their beliefs, convictions, past, preferences, skin color, neighborhood, or reciprocation. Let it be revival that results in saved souls and sanctified servants. Because I truly believe that THAT’S revival.

Discerning a Call

/ jerrythinks / 1 Comment

It’s a regular occurrence. It seems to happen in close proximity to spiritually dynamic milestones in someone’s life: A question that erupts from under the surface of normalcy, complacency, and routine.

The question is something like: Is there more (or something radically different) that God is calling me to?

While the answer is almost always “Yes”, the resulting changes are where most people get stuck. And when people get stuck and aren’t sure exactly what to do, the normal default setting is to do nothing.

I want to open up this conversation by using the term “call” or “calling,” but I want to put some disclaimers on that.

Those in the flow of church life and spirituality can sometimes over-mystify the concept of calling. Many people think it’s a higher level of living out one’s purpose, and further that some are “called” while others are not. This is not my understanding of calling.

So, as we get into this discerning, know that there is no exemption I have found from what I understand in scripture. Certainly, there are callings placed on certain people for specific tasks, but that does not mean others are less than or uncalled altogether.

So when considering one’s “calling”, what should be remembered, considered, and what should weigh in most heavily? These are not questions only for pastors, ministry leaders, or missionaries. These are questions for every person of faith who has decided to follow Jesus.

The very fact that Jesus called disciples in the first century (called the first century because of His birth, and therefore preeminent in centrality in terms of His place in history) should indicate to us that faith in Jesus always includes following Jesus. You cannot have one without the other. Simply put: If you say you have faith in Jesus, you better be in motion following Jesus.

Go back to the gospels and Jesus calling His first disciples (student followers). The plain invitation was “Follow Me.” Not “Believe me”, or “Agree with my claims”, or “Watch me save the world”, or “Stand there and I’ll change you”, but “Follow Me.” That is connotative of placing yourself behind Jesus and, by nature, leaving where you are to move in the direction that Jesus is moving.

Okay, having that well established, how do we discern the direction that Jesus is moving us in? Or more to the point: In what direction is Jesus moving in YOUR life? Is there a way to detangle experiences, emotions, passions, logic, giftedness, opportunity, and desires so that we can see clearly what God would have us do right now at this point in the story? I say yes.

I’ll throw in right here the statement I have made to countless (mostly young) people over my 32 years of pastoral ministry: God will show you what you need to know, but only when you need to know it. I believe this is His way of fortifying your faith-filled intimacy with Him. He wants you close, and giving you the journey one step at a time will ensure your reliance on His ever-present help. So the question isn’t “What should I do in this situation?” as much as it is “What single step should I take NEXT on this journey?”

Don’t confuse Jesus’ invitation to “Follow Me” with “Know everything before moving an inch.”

Discerning the call of God regarding your step-by-step journey is meant to be exhilarating, not exhausting. The very fact that you care to ask discerning questions is an indication of God’s Spirit working in your life. So, take that as a victory regardless of the outcome.

Questions to ask in discerning calling:

  • What are the things that God is passionate about? What are the things that I am passionate about? Where do those intersect?
  • What giftedness can I identify in my life, and do I confess that they have been given to me by God?
  • What are (and where are) the most obvious opportunities right now to leverage my passions and giftedness for Kingdom work?
  • What step might be a next step to move in that direction?
  • While I might be content with where I am now, have I become complacent about where I am now?
  • What open doors are in front of me? How might those open doors be verified as God’s leading? Is it possible that this “good” thing might not qualify as a “God” thing?

Addressing these questions can help to start to crystallize some sense of discernment of God’s leading. But there’s an important aspect of God’s character that should be highlighted at this point. If you feel/think differently than I do about this, I’d love to hear that.

I believe you can be squarely within God’s will whether you are pastoring a local church or stocking shelves at the local Home Depot. I believe God can use a surrendered life as easily in the public school classroom as well as the corporate boardroom. I believe the life of a missionary is no more useful than the life of a plumber in the hands of God.

In other words, there is no scale in terms of God’s will. You’re either surrendered to it and actively following Him, or you aren’t. The details like location and vocation are incidental and secondary to that surrendered condition.

Now, if I have seen verification that I am gifted by God in some area (for me, it is preaching/teaching, writing, and encouraging discipleship among those who follow Jesus primarily in the context of the local church), and yet I am not seeking the place of greatest usefulness according to those gifts, then I do think changes need to be made.

As this is an ongoing batting around of thoughts in my mind and heart, I’ll stop here. I’d welcome any/all of your thoughts about how you define “calling” and what you think are good, helpful questions to ask when seeking to discern God’s calling on your life.

An invitation to dinner

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I’ve been invited into a conversation with a couple of men considerably younger than I am, and from what has been shared with me (we haven’t met together yet), they’d like to talk about the “minimally viable church”. It seems this is an expression that describes the conversation we’ll have, about what is truly necessary to make church “work”, (and no more) or what are the bare minimum components that need to be present for us to consider a church not merely in existence, but faithfully and functionally fruitful.

(If I’m reading between the lines, perhaps there is a discontentment or even disillusionment on their part with what the modern Church is or how the Church operates at this time in history. If so, they have certainly found a sympathetic ear in me.)

I was instantly intrigued at this invitation. Unbeknownst to the inviter, I had already been allowing my mind to think thoughts right along these lines. Unless he reads this blog post, he still doesn’t know I’m well on my way to being locked and loaded for our conversation over dinner. So I thought it might be good for me to pound out my own thoughts as a primer to this conversation.

I think a fundamental question that must be addressed is the simple, “Why church at all?” Certainly many people who perhaps once held church participation/attendance/activity as important (or even central) in their lives have since moved away from such convictions; some for understandable reasons and maybe even logical reasons, but none for legitimate reasons. And I do mean none.

Here’s my answer to the “Why church?” question.

It starts with the very nature of God. God exists eternally in community with Himself. I’m not going to delve into the doctrine of the trinity here, but I am going to suffice it to say that I believe in the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the trinity is arguably the most perplexing doctrine in all of the Christian faith, but this doesn’t preclude me from embracing it. In fact, it is because of its perplexity that I am drawn to it, and thus drawn to God.

Because God exists in community, and because God in community created us in His image (Read Genesis 1-2), we are hardwired for community. Simply put, we are healthiest when we have connective, redemptive community engrained into our daily lives, regardless of the complexion that community takes. More on that in a bit.

Right in line with understanding the communal nature of God, we must also recognize the literal definition of the term “church”. Many think “church” is a building that is used once, maybe twice a week. We may equate it with a “service” we attend wherein we sit down, stand up, sit down, then stand up at specific times. But these are actually not the church at all.

The word used in scripture for “church” is the Greek word “ἐκκλησία” (ekklesia) and it literally means “gathering” or “assembly” It’s a two part Greek word made up of “out of” and “to call”, so it can be rightly translated as “the called out ones”. No matter which way you slice it, the truth is the church can never just be you or even the popular “I’ve got Jesus, so I don’t need the church.” The Church is literally defined as US; those who are “called out” and “assembled.”

Next, as we look all throughout scripture, we see that God deals both with humans on an individual level AND on a communal level. But notice that God dealing with an individual ALWAYS impacts the community. Look at nearly any example in either the old or new testaments and you’ll see that God speaks and deals with us as a people, even while extending His love and grace to each individual. Again, we see the emphasis placed on community, connectedness, fellowship, and all the other qualities that flow in and through the Church as God desires.

Next, look at the writings of the Apostle Paul all throughout his 13 letters to the churches in the first century. You’ll find a minimum of 18 different and distinct “one another” commands in his writings. I’ll include them below.

  • Love one another (Rom 12:10; 13:8; Gal 5:13)
  • Be devoted to one another (Rom 12:10)
  • Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10)
  • Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16)
  • Stop passing judgment on one another (Rom 14:13)
  • Accept one another (Rom 15:7)
  • Bear with one another (Eph 4:2; Col 3:13)
  • Forgive one another (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13)
  • Instruct/admonish one another (Rom 15:14; Col 3:16)
  • Greet one another (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; etc.)
  • Agree with one another (1 Cor 1:10)
  • Serve one another (Gal 5:13)
  • Carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
  • Be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32)
  • Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, songs (Eph 5:19)
  • Submit to one another (Eph 5:21)
  • Encourage one another (1 Thess 4:18; 5:11)
  • Build up one another (1 Thess 5:11)

If we should not care for other believers, or gather to encourage them, or live in spiritual community with them, what would be the point of such an extensive list of instructions regarding how to live in community?

Let me bring it down to a more personal level. Let me tell you why I choose to be a part of a family of followers of Jesus. Quite simply, it’s because of the love I have for Jesus Himself that gives me a love for people, and a desire to connect with those who love and follow Jesus, for the purpose of mutual encouragement, edification, fellowship, accountability, and learning from others as I grow in my faith walk with Jesus. These are just a few of the reasons I choose to be a part of a family of followers of Jesus.

As John Ortberg wrote, “To follow Jesus IS to follow Him into community.” There can be no other way. Think of Jesus calling His disciples and the three years He taught them, prayed with them, ate with them, and lived with them. He created community among those men and women.

The Church has certainly evolved over the millennia. Yet there are just four parts in terms of components for “church” that I can see from a biblical standpoint. If you look at the birth of the Church in Acts chapter 2 at and following Pentecost, you’ll see that followers of Jesus devoted themselves to four things: teaching, fellowship, eating, and prayer. And they did this in just two ways: In the temple courts, and in their homes. The “home church” movement eschews the larger gathering (to its detriment), and those who do not gather in homes are also missing a critical aspect of what it means to live in community (to their detriment).

Could it be that what we see in Acts 2 is the recipe for the “minimal viable church”? I understand that culturally speaking, we are far from 1st century Jerusalem, and that life as we now live it seems such a far cry from the simplicity of those days of the early church. But this is why, I think, the question is being asked by these two young men inviting me into a conversation about what–at minimum–is needed to build and enjoy a thriving spiritual community to the glory of God and the building up of His bride, the Church.

As I often do, I’ll stop here, mid-stream and ask: What are your thoughts on this? What if you were being invited to dinner to discuss the “minimally viable church”? What would your input to the conversation look like? Share them in the comments. I’d love to hear them.

For What It’s Worth…Is It Worth It?

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As you likely know, and if you don’t know I’m telling you now, I’m a guy who’s seeking to follow Jesus. That means that every day my mind, thoughts, mental health, priorities, decisions, views on problems, communication, relationships, and anything else you can think of are what I endeavor to surrender to His Lordship. To “follow” Jesus means that where He’s going I’m going. I don’t direct. I don’t even decide direction. He moves. I move. He stops. I stop. It’s love received and expressed through life in lockstep with the Divine.

As a follower of Jesus, there’s sometimes a blurry line that seems to exist when it comes to what I should tolerate and not tolerate as I dole out love, grace, energy, etc. It’s a tension I live in. On the one hand, I’m called to model Christ in every interaction, conversation, and decision. On the other hand, there are instances where it feels like the energy being spent isn’t being spent wisely. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus warned His followers against “casting pearls before swine (pigs)” and that’s what my mind is grappling with today.

Spoiler Alert: There isn’t a tidy resolution to this at this moment. Maybe I might inch closer to something that looks like a helpful blog post as I process through this while typing, but at this moment (and in this crowded O’Hare Airport I’m currently in), there may not be much headway made. But you’re welcome to join me as I “cerebrally meander” through my current thoughts and my emerging thoughts. But again…no guarantees.

I’m going to start wide. Really wide. I chose to follow Jesus in my teens. Just before my senior year of high school. Shout out to all my fellow alum of Lower Cape May Regional High School. Go Caper Tigers.

When I chose to make that decision to follow Jesus, it came with a wholesale surrender to wherever He’s leading, whatever He’s saying, whoever He’s serving, and whatever He’s doing. I pushed the pile of poo that was life-done-my-way across the table and said to Jesus, “Here. Good luck.” At that moment, I became an investor. Not the Wall Street kind. The eternal kind. God helping me, I’ve been an investor in people ever since. And when I say “people,” I mean whoever. Wherever. Whenever. However. I literally don’t care who you are, what you’ve done, what you look like, what you believe, or any other details of your life. My agreement to follow Jesus WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY an agreement to serve you and everyone.

By the way, fellow follower of Jesus, whether you know it or not, you agreed to the same thing. The apostle Paul calls it our “spiritual act of worship” and essentially tells us it’s the very least we can do. (Read Romans chapter 12 for more.)

So what do you do when you’re investing in something and don’t see the ROI you anticipated? This might seem to some to be an offensive question in the context of Christian living. But let me dig in here and see where it leads. *Remember my non-guarantee.*

I’ve already mentioned Jesus’ words about the pearls and the pigs. So there’s that. Seems clear that He was warning against wasting time and energy; at some point it just becomes counterproductive.

I think we can also point to several instances when Jesus kind of reached a point where He was unwilling to continue to do something, or became exasperated (seemingly), or otherwise continued on His journey having left behind work undone. As a human, Jesus was subject to the same 24 hours in a day that you and I are subject to. Imagine that for a second. The One who created light and dark, day and night being willing to be confined by time and space.

Jesus clearly operated on mission. And living on mission by definition is to live a focused life. So when people or situations arose that hindered that mission, Jesus identified it and moved on. (Remember when Peter would say stuff that would hinder Jesus’ mission and Jesus called him “Satan”?) Yep, it’s clear that Jesus stayed on mission and didn’t let anyone pull Him off course.

I wonder what leeway we have as His followers to do the same? Can we rightly be justified in looking at a relationship or situation and making the calculated decision that any more time and energy spent there is going to be time wasted? That’s hard to type, and difficult to think because it feels awfully close to (or exactly like) the sentiment that there may be some people who simply become “not worth it” in regards to our time and energy. And that feels unloving.

Besides, who are we to assume God’s timing? The same Paul I mentioned earlier also said that “…one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase.” (1 Cor. 3:6) So maybe the ROI isn’t any of my business as an investor. Maybe I just keep investing and leave the rest up to the CIO. (By the way did you know that in an investment firm, the Account Manager is sometimes called a “Relationship Manager”? Man, there’s some good stuff to pull from that! Better save that for another blog post.)

I can tell you without flinching that I have absolutely experienced times in my life when it truly felt like the time and energy being spent simply wasn’t worth it. I don’t mean that the person I was seeking to invest in wasn’t worth it. It just became clear that I was not going to be the one to make headway in any meaningful way. So I decided to simply move on. No malice, nothing but love; I just realized that I was spinning my wheels and it simply felt…well…wasteful.

So the tension I live in is between wanting to never ever stop, never give up as I seek to invest in people…and the very real truth that there’ll always be instances and examples of that feeling that for whatever reason, it just isn’t happening.

As I walk this road following Jesus, I’m promised His own Spirit living within me. And it is by His Spirit that I may discern when its time to go, stop, speak, and shut up. I’m so thankful for that.

Okay, so what are your thoughts on any of this? Comment below and add to the conversation. I’d love to know what you think, even if your thoughts collide with mine. Like I said, this is an ongoing grappling that I’m involved in.

The Truth About Trolls

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Ever since the Garden of Eden, “trolls” have existed. I’d contend that the serpent was the first troll. He came along throwing shade, disparaging what had been posted, and questioning established truth. Yup, the first troll ever was Satan himself, and I’m convinced he still lives in the comment section.

There was recently posted an event on our church’s Facebook page. It was a promo for an upcoming marriage/relationship weekend event called “Through Thick & Thin.” Not propaganda. Not political. Not even religious. Just an event for people to come to in order to have some good fellowship, interact with others about healthy relationships, and have a great time.

Not long after posting it, this comment appeared…

(I’ve removed their name and avatar. It’s inconsequential.)

Like anyone would, I raised my eyebrows and first thought, “Hmmm. Okay.” Clearly this person has an opinion about religion.

My second thought was, “I don’t 100% disagree with this comment, albeit a bit crass.” After all, religion itself hasn’t ever been the answer to the world’s ills. And those who say religions have caused a terrible amount of pain rightfully point to things like 9/11. Or the Crusades. These and other historical events are atrocities done in the name of “religion.” So while I don’t think the comment is intelligent, articulate, or appropriate, I can understand the viewpoint.

My third thought was “I bet this person isn’t even a person. It’s likely some bot that just trolls anywhere and everywhere. Easily dismissed.”

My fourth thought was, “If this person does in fact exist, I’m sorry they felt the need to comment the way they did. And I’m sorry for whatever has happened in their life that brought them to have such vitriol. I think I’ll pray for them.” And I did.

As for my fifth thought, I’ll confess to you that I gave in to temptation to actually go and visit their Facebook page. There, I found this person, based on their photos, to be an Al Roker doppleganger (if Al Roker were hooked on meth), who mostly re-posts unoriginal videos having either to do with political views or anti-Christian sentiments. In fairness, I didn’t scroll very far on their page. I kind of got the jist of their angst and got outta there. In summation and based on what I did see, I would say that they are the type of atheist I’d categorize as an “angry atheist.” I know atheists who are benign, passive, and quiet; simply living their non-believing life with no ax to grind. I got nothing but respect for anyone’s choice to believe whatever they feel the evidence and their convictions drive them to.

But angry atheists come from a different type of background, I’ve found. They’re usually jaded because of some past hurt perpetrated on them (whether real or imagined) by someone who either claimed to believe in God and/or follow Jesus and yet hurt or let them down in some way, usually catastrophically. Abuse (actual or alleged) isn’t uncommon as a part of the angry atheist’s history. I certainly know that’s not true of all atheists, or all angry atheists for that matter. But it’s too common to ignore, in my opinion.

Here’s my nutshell take on atheism: It’s far more societal, social, and relationally based than it is intellectually, logically, and evidence based. Anyone who views the known physical universe and comes to the conclusion that there is no design or intentionality to it is, in my opinion, choosing to ignore facts that glaringly point out obvious patterns, symmetry, and intelligent design. This is not at all a religous statement. I’m saying nothing about the God of the Bible. I’m simply saying that what we see all around us on this earth and in our own little corner of the galaxy drips with the evidence of a creator being behind and the cause of the creation.

Let’s tackle the issue of religion, then. As stated, while I do not fully agree with the commenter’s unclassy comment, I can see how someone who’s been hurt would hold all relgious expression in contempt. I’m sorry for it, but I get it.

What I really desire(d) to say to the commenter, which I’m sure would be like trying to hug a brick wall was, “If you’d come sit with me, have some lunch, talk about your story, listen to mine, and even be willing to meet some other followers of Jesus that I know, I’m sure you’d have your perspective tweaked at least a little bit, if not outright dismantled.”

You see, none of us who claim to be followers of Jesus would dare say that we are perfected or that we are better than or above anyone else. Further, I have yet to meet the follower of Jesus who labels themselves as “religious” or even a lover of religion. Quite the contrary. It is the love of God shown to humanity through Jesus’ birth, life, teachings, healings, truth-telling, death, and resurrection that drive His followers to stoop down and wash feet. Both proverbially, socially, and literally. When we fail to take up our cross, we fail to reflect Jesus as He truly is. And when we do not reflect the real Jesus, the world simply labels us as religious and we are tossed onto the dung heap of all other religiosity, with all of its baggage.

So, Mr. (or Mrs.) Commenter/Troll, I wish that I could have the chance to wash your troll-y feet. After all, I know it’s what Jesus and those who know, love, and follow Him would take the time to do. In the meantime, know that we too have a side-eye for “religion.” We simply choose to apply our energies not to pushing others down, but pointing everyone to Jesus.

Here’s Where The Story Ends

/ jerrythinks / 1 Comment

It’s incredible how a sound can release a flood of memories in your brain isn’t it? The same goes for smells. One whiff of cornbread, and I’m instantly back at Belfast Elementary School in Goldsboro, NC in that small yet somehow cavernous cafeteria, surrounded by all those children in a flurry of noise of shuffling sneakers and southern cooking smells. A twinge of anxiety begins to well up when I think about the conveyer belt that every child’s lunch tray was on, in order to keep the line moving. I was always afraid that somehow my tray would get away from me and I’d be lunchless, and worse yet–miss out on that cornbread, who’s smell triggered this memory in the first place.

The sounds I heard this morning were none other than The Sunday’s “Here’s Where The Story Ends”. Released in 1990, I’d admit–at least as I recal it–the song didn’t really hit my radar until I was in college the next year. I bet you’ve heard it. If not, give it a listen.

The song is reflective of a life that hasn’t quite turned out as expected. It’s a bittersweet song about disappointment, disillusionment, and the sense of feeling stuck. But it’s not a song that feels like a dead end, either. It strangely translates to a song of hope, as a chapter (albeit dim) is closed so that a new chapter might begin. And therein lies the thing I want to chat about with you this time.

The song resonated with that early 90’s crowd of young people much like it might today because the human experience is universal in that way. It’s relatable anytime there’s a sense (or need) of 1) letting go, 2) transition, 3) feeling a bit lost in young adulthood, 4) relational struggles, or 5) coming to grips with plans that didn’t materialize how we had hoped.

In case I haven’t said it clearly in the past, I’m a pastor. Specifically, I’m a pastor to young adults. The 18-30 year old age range is my daily existence. I’m striving continually to be a 50+ year old who lives a life of love, support, encouragement, empowerment, coaching, and doling of sherpa-like direction and wisdom to the younger generation. So yeah, that’s me. Hi. Nice to meet you.

As I was driving along on this morning’s commute, the radio DJs were discussing the top 3 topics to avoid at Thanksgiving this year. In first place was the one probably easiest to guess, given our current cultural climate: politics. Politics are the #1 thing to NOT talk about with family and friends this Thanksgiving season. Wanna guess #2? Go ahead. Guess.

It’s money. Don’t talk money and who’s making what this Thanksgiving. When I heard that, I was like “Who does that?” But if you show up to the parent’s house in that new car, or the spread is extravagant, or cousin Craig comes struts in ensconced in cashmere, or geez…I don’t know…what would trigger someone to talk about money in a way that’s offensive or troublemaking? Anyway, don’t do it. Money’s #2.

The third topic on the list of what not to talk about this Thanksgiving? You’ll never guess. It’s weight. What in the world? Who conducted this research? Who’s talking about weight on a day where we’re all trading forks for shovels? It’s national Elastic Waistband Day, for crying out loud. I can’t imagine a universe where a family sits down to collective swallow a metric ton of bird, sauces, and sugar when someone pipes up with, “Hey Laura, you lookin’ like you carrying a little extra this year. What’s up with that?”

So to recap the three things NOT to talk about this Thanksgiving…3rd: Weight, 2nd: Money, and 1st: Politics. Everybody clear on that? Okay good. Go forth and enjoy this special holiday, free from drama and trauma from bringing up those restricted topics.

But you wanna know what is missing from the top 3 things to not talk about? It’s something that’s historically been well established as something to not talk about. If you’re 40 or older, I bet you know what it is. You ready for the reveal? It’s “religion.”

Why is it signficant that it didn’t make the top 3 this year? Well because quite honestly, through other research, we know that our culture today is far more open to discuss spiritual matters than perhaps it ever has been. It’s one of the reasons I am, perhaps now more than ever, committed to engaging with and encouraging this young generation in conversations of faith. I’ve said it approximately a million-bazillion times over the years: who you are spiritually is who you are period. So when we get to the level of spiritual conversation, we’re getting as real as humans can get.

So I offer to you some questions that might stoke some good, quality, deeper, helpful, healthy conversations; not so much about “religion”, but moreso about faith, life, purpose, who God actually is, and what He’s actually like.

  • What’s something from this past year that has made you quietly grateful?
  • When you think back on your life, who helped shape your faith the most?
  • What’s a tradition—faith-related or not—that you still love and why?
  • What’s a truth or verse that’s encouraged you this season?
  • Where have you seen God at work in someone else’s life this year?
  • What’s something you’ve learned about yourself or about God recently?
  • What’s one thing you’re grateful for that you didn’t expect at the start of the year?


Who knows? Maybe through some good conversation around that stuffed bird this November, we might start a whole new story in our families and among our friends? Maybe in the years to come, the smell of cornbread and stuffing might trigger that one Thanksgiving where talking about faith and a more redemptive way became the new norm for us.

Death Becomes Us

/ jerrythinks / Leave a comment

I was just driving along with my youngest son down a winding road lined with woods on either side, and said, “I’m so glad we live in a place where we get to see the colors of changing leaves during the fall season.” It’s nature doing what nature does. I really do love the transformation that death brings us. It’s inescapable: death is beautiful. Each leaf you see falling to the ground is a seconds-long funeral service you’re witnessing as it passes from one reality to another.

The varied and vibrant colors of the leaves are brought about by the decrease and eventual shut-off of chlorophyll, the thing that makes leaves green through photosynthesis (the feeding process of trees and plants). As temperatures drop, the tree is actually cutting off water and nutrients to its leaves in preparation for going into the non-food-producing season. That’s when the other chemicals present in the leaf, like carotenoids, anthocyanins, and tannins, get to show their colors–the yellows, the shades of orange, the purples, the reds, and all the variations of those colors, albeit for a brief but brilliant display.

At the base of each leaf, the tree actually seals itself shut, and the leaf eventually browns, oranges, purples, and yellows…and falls away. That’s when we get to see the cascading leaves making their final journey to the ground below.

It’s all breathtakingly beautiful. As we revel in it with our pumpkin spiced whatevers, and our chunky sweaters, and our wool socks, and our folksy acoustic music playlists that create just the right vibe, it’s actually death that we’re revelling in.

I was reading in the scriptures this morning, and I was reminded of the beauty of death in Paul’s words to the church in Galatia in the first century: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

In other words, Paul has declared his own death. His own cutting off of that system that would feed his flesh and usher in the transformation into beautiful and vibrant color for the remainder of this brief period of time called life. In a very real sense, as we watch those leaves falling around us, we are watching a wonderful symbolism of a life born into Christ, the accompanying death to self that must happen, and the transformation from death to glory that losing ourselves in Christ brings about.

May we join those leaves in their vibrant death. May we consider ourselves as dead to ourselves and alive only to Christ, finding our beauty, purpose, and life in Christ alone. May our lives be a brilliant display of grace as we make the slow, wind-swept journey homeward.