jesus

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.

Rabbit Trails.

/ jerrythinks / Leave a comment

I was just messaging my Dad, and he was asking what I was doing today. He knows it’s my day off, so on Fridays, it’s anyone’s guess as to what I might find myself doing; at least in the morning before my wife gets off work at noon and all my attention moves to her.

I said, “I’m headed to grab some coffee and do some writing.” I followed that quickly with, “but I’ve currently got too many rabbit trails in my head.”

It’s true. While driving my son to work earlier this morning, I was daydreaming about enjoying some hot coffee at a local coffee shop and opening up my laptop in order to pound out a long-overdue (as if there’s a schedule to this thing. You know better than that) blog post.

But the plight is one you might be well familiar with. It seems that lately every cage in the zoo of my mind has been unlatched, and every thought has been permitted to run rampant. I’m mentally wrestling with a slippery eel in one hand and a wily ostrich neck in the other. Zeroing in on a focused thought seems like organizing meerkats.

So in an effort to bring some semblance of order here, I’d like to–one by one–wrangle up some thoughts, updates, queries, and ideas. You, my reader, are the lucky one who gets to ride shotgun on this safari jeep I’m driving.

I’ll start with the most glorious, wonderful, bliss-filled news of all. On January 20, 2026, my wife and I were catapulted into grandparenthood with the arrival of Bailey, our first grandchild! The long-awaited arrival of this new human did not disappoint–as we got to hold her at just hours old, we began to have a sense of some new kind of love we haven’t had the opportunity to have. It’s a love that amplifies the love we already had for our daughter, because now we share parenthood in common with her, and we also are recipients of a wonderful opportunity to have a place in our granddaughter’s life. It isn’t that we begin parenting again–no, no. We’ve done that. It’s that we are now in an incredible and enviable position of standing by and absorbing the joy of watching our child parent their child.

Next up on our corraling mission is something that might seem a little on the esoteric side. I’ll do my best to broaden this enough for anyone to grab hold of it, but there are pieces of this I’m sharing from a pastoral point of view. File this under “behind the veil”, perhaps. I’m not one to shy away from sharing even thoughts that are unformed or perhaps even eventually embarrassing. It’s the road I’ve chosen when writing on this blog. You’re going to get authenticity, if nothing else.

The best way to share from this pastor’s heart is to share a case study of sorts from my night last night. I was lying in bed enjoying some much-needed sleep when at 3:07 a.m. I woke up. I remember the time distinctly because I grew up at 307 Townbank Road in North Cape May, NJ. I was awake at that point briefly before dozing back to sleep. Then at 4:20 a.m. I woke again; this time for much longer. (No, I do not have the relationship some people do with 4:20.) As I lay there, I was ping-ponged by about 6 or 7 different situations in my life. My mind was thrashing around about a variety of to-dos, what-ifs, and did-I-forget-to’s. In the midst of it all, I entertained thoughts of ministry validation, emotional investments, relational missteps, and a gamut of not-entirely-helpful ponderings. It was bedlam in my brain.

I decided, as I sometimes do, to evolve my worrying and wondering into worshiping. Before you get impressed, let me finish. I turned my attention to Jesus and what I imagine Him to look like. He’s my best friend, my Savior, and my professed Lord. I started in on a chat with Him about how I was feeling, what I’ve been doing (as if He doesn’t know it better than I do), and the thoughts that had occupied my mind and heart. I’ll confess to you that at first I didn’t do too well on the listening part of prayer. I just kind of brain-dumped on Him. Before I even got to the listening part, my brain then wandered off, back into the thoughts that had swirled and bounced around on the inside of my cranium, like the numbered balls in the Powerball lottery machine.

Catching myself, I snapped back to attention on Jesus and had another go at a conversation with Him. “Lord, I love you. Teach me how to love you better. I know I’ve got lots of room to grow in that area…”

Then my mind again trailed off into some concern for the young people I’ve invested in over recent months and years. I often concern myself about their well-being; mentally, emotionally, socially, and mostly spiritually. I began to think about how it seems like other pastors have it together, but I don’t. Like others seem to know what to do and how, and when. I began to fall into the wasteful train of thought that others have what I don’t, and even if I could know what they know, I wouldn’t be able to execute like they do. In a word, it was sheer insecurity. Stupid, wasteful, untrue insecurity. I’m embarrassed that I fell for it.

Do you ever think like that? Another lie (that I know is a lie) is that I’m the only one who thinks like I do. The enemy tries to convince me of that so that I’ll feel disconnected from any sense of commisseration with others. Make no mistake: I know that the enemy’s #1 weapon in any battle is isolation. If he can get me feeling isolated, or lonely, or unrelatable, or exiled in any way then most of the battle is won. Do you ever fall into the trap of thinking that you’re alone in the struggles you have, whether they’re mental, social, emotional, relational, physical, financial, or spiritual?

Then, as I snapped back once again to Jesus’ face, I was instantly reminded of the peace-filled companionship and compassion He has on an ongoing basis for my benefit. No matter how many times my frail mind trails off down whatever rabbit trail, He is patient with me, welcoming me back again and again and again and again. Oh, the depth of love He has for me and for you, despite our distractedness, our flimsy affections, and our propensity for nonsense.

Another rabbit trail was/is our younger daughter, who lives much further away than our oldest daughter (the mom to our new granddaughter). She is pregnant with our second grandchild and our first grandson, due in May! So naturally, I’m often thinking of her, her wonderful firefighter hubby*, and how that little unborn guy is doing. (*Btw, that house on fire over there held our son-in-law as he helped extinguish that raging inferno a couple of days ago.)

I’m envious of families who all live near one another so that grandparents have frequent interaction with grandchildren. I was reading an article recently about the mental and physical health benefits that grandparents enjoy from having interaction with their grandchildren, and even the benefits on a child’s development when their grandparents are in their life. It’s a classic case of a “win-win” situation. I like to daydream about being the kind of grandpa that is always within arm’s reach, always ready to hang out, always ready to grab an ice cream cone, always ready with a listening ear, always ready to buy up the opportunities that I may have missed the first go-around.

Yet another rabbit trail is an upcoming event I’m overseeing at our church. It’s a marriage and relationship-focused event called “Through Thick & Thin,” and we’re welcoming Lamorris & Megan Crawford, who co-host the Covenant Culture Podcast. They’ll be with us in a couple of weeks, and I’m spearheading all the details of that weekend. So naturally, my mind continually spins about all that needs to be done to make that a memorable, productive, and quality experience for all involved.

Another rabbit trail I’m chasing is the complete overhaul and reshaping of the disciplemaking culture of our local church. As Director of Discipleship, I’ve been entrenched for months now in every granular detail of anything and everything we as a local church are doing (or should be doing) to make disciples, which is the one thing Jesus gave us to do. The journey has been equal parts terrifying and gratifying. It is not grandiose or machismo to say that through these efforts, following God’s lead, we are literally shifting the complexion of what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, WHY we do it.

When you are seeking to shift culture–any culture–there’s bound to be a sense of gravitas that comes along with that. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t personally feel like that is on my shoulders alone. I’d be a fool to think that were even possible. But I do feel a deep sense of responsibility to carefully steward the role I’ve been given and the tasks that come along with it, all while maintaining a lockstep with God’s Holy Spirit. I continually have as my personal mantra: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

There then in my bed, with all these thoughts (and more) making their rounds in my skull like motorbikes in the “Sphere of Death,” I again turned my heart and attention to Jesus.

“Lord, you see all that I’m thinking. You know all that I need. Where I see question marks, you see exclamation points. You are so far above these situations, and yet intimately involved in every detail of all of it. And I know you care about me and my family far more than I care about any of these details. Thank you for being with me, and thank you for being trustworthy. Amen.”

And with that, I surrendered all the rabbit trails, all their outcomes, all the unanswered questions, all the “what-ifs”, and all the thoughts that would continue to keep me awake.

When I awoke again, it was time to get up and start the day. And more notably, it was from the deep kind of sleep that comes from resting completely in the goodness of God. No matter what rabbit trails you’re chasing today, or what thoughts are uncaged in your heart and mind today, I hope for you the peace that goes beyond all understanding–the kind that can only be found in the loving gaze of Jesus Himself.

Here’s Where The Story Ends

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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

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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.

On Angels & Demons

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Happy Halloween, y’all. I love Halloween. It’s so fun to see all the creativity, all the costumes, to–if just for a day–see a few more smiles out there as strangers laugh with each other and offer candy to children they’ll likely ignore every other day of the year. They say that it’s on Halloween that the veil between the physical and spiritual realm is thinnest, but it seems to me that it’s more like the veil of busyness, self-centeredness, and preoccupation is thinnest. And we see each other a little bit more.

I was just asked by a stranger a few minutes ago, “Happy Halloween! Do you celebrate?” My stumbly, fumbly response was something along the lines of the fact that I really enjoy seeing people have fun, and that I’m looking forward to our church’s Trunk or Treat event where I’m in charge of parking. I think I said, “I’m not a big costume guy.” So if it’s possible to enjoy the fun people have while not going crazy with costuming, that’s me and Halloween in a nutshell.

(Okay, let me clarify something. I think the above statement “I love Halloween” isn’t entirely true. Sorry.
I love it insomuch that after it’s over, we can focus more on Thanksgiving and Christmas. So no, I don’t truly love Halloween. I think a better way to say it is I tolerate it more than celebrate it.
But the rest of the above paragraph is true.)

A football player decked out in all the pads from the waist up just walked into the coffee shop I’m in. See what I mean? That’s not normal, but it’s fun. (My idea of a costume is when I found an old mechanic’s shirt from the Goodwill, with the classic oval name patch “Justin” sewn on. Boom. I was Justin Beiber in 20 years.)

Halloween is also a time when some people think a bit more or even question a bit more about spiritual things. After all, we can’t really get away from the spiritual elements of the holiday. It’s a reason many Christians I’ve interacted with have a disdain for Halloween, which I’ve never really understood. If anything, Halloween draws me closer to God and the fact that, as C.S. Lewis put it, “You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”

So as a follower of Jesus, I’m not put off at all by Halloween, by macabre decor, by talk of spirits, or demons, or darkness. Nah. I’m comfy and cozy with all that. Personally, I think some Christians need to lighten up and just give that kid the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (still the #1 desired candy for trick-or-treaters) they came for. Not only am I not put off by it, I’m actually drawn to it. If you’ve ever visited my office at the church building I serve at, you may have noticed that I’ve got a little skull collection, including one of my favorite paintings done by my favorite artist. Why do I like skulls? Because they remind me that that’ll be me one day soon, that life is indeed brief, and that all I think, speak, and do, should point others to Jesus, eternal things, and the opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says we should go to more funerals than festivals because we’re all going to die and the living should take that to heart.

But what about demons and demonic activity? I recently had someone ask me my opinion on demon possession, and specfically if I think that Christians can be possessed by demons. Great question.

My short answer was no. No, I don’t think someone filled with the Spirit of God can be filled with a demon. Why? Because that space is filled. There’s no room for demonic oppression in the life of someone sold out to Jesus and filled with His Spirit.

The instances of demon possession we read about in the scriptures give no indication that the person was a disciple of Jesus. The tricky part comes in when we consider Judas. Luke 22:3 tells us that “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” What?!? How can someone who was following Jesus be a victim of not just a demon possession, but being possessed by the Chief of Demons, Satan himself? Does that bother anyone else?

You might be tempted to be freaked out just a bit, especially if you’re a follower of Jesus. I mean, if one of Jesus’ literal 12 disciples can succumb to demonic possession, what hope do we have? We’re sitting ducks, right? Hang on. Not so fast.

Here’s the most straightforward way to put it (in case you’re running late and don’t have time to read to the end): Satan only comes where there is an opening and invitation. Judas had established long before “Satan entered” him that Judas was willing to be bought and controled by demonic activity. John 12:6 shows us that Judas regularly stole from the money bag he was in charge of. Matthew 26:14 shows us that it was Judas who inititated the negotiations with the religious leaders to betray Jesus and turn Jesus over to them for crucifixion.

We must be careful here with our beliefs (and even theology) about demon possession. Satan didn’t control Judas like a puppeteer pulls strings on a marionette. Satan simply found a willing heart in Judas. Again, demon possession is a result of Satan finding a willing heart and an open door.

I may have told you this story before, but years ago when I had hair I would go and get my hair cut. One time, I sat down in the chair and the woman asked me what I do for a living. (I typically don’t like that question.) I told her I’m a pastor and she blurted out, “I knew it! I just knew it! I knew there was something about you when you came in.” She then launched into her inquiries about my thoughts on horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc. (Anyone remember Miss Cleo?) I told her that I believe that God is God of all, and He has all power (He’s omnipotent), but that I also believe that Satan has been granted some power for a time, but that his power is lesser and it’s temporary. However, I believe that Satan has the power to grant power to people, all in an effort to pull people away from God. That’s always Satan’s endgame, by the way: To pull humanity further and further from their Creator for the purpose of destroying them. She accepted my response and finished cutting my hair.

But there is never ever demon possession without permission. That’s why its important for those who claim to love and follow Jesus not to stray from Him, and to remain in His Spirit. Be fully surrendered to the filling of God’s Spirit in your life, acknowledge His Lordship continually, and seek to live out His gospel in all ways. We are sons and daughters of God and there is no snatching us from His hands.

Years ago I was asked to come into a room where a woman was battling demon possession. It was not a large room, but as soon as I walked in that woman seemed to try to climb the walls to get away from me. Please hear me–this has nothing to do with Jerry. It has everything to do with two spiritual forces coming in close proximity to each other. Jesus called Himself “The light of the world” (John 8:12), and then later tells His disciples (including today’s followers) that “You are the light of the world.” So what happened in that small room was light overtaking darkness. Have you ever noticed that no matter how small a light, it can always disspell darkness? Next time you’re in a completely dark room, light a match. The same is true spiritually. Darkness–no matter how strong–cannot ever win over light. It’s why we’re instructed not to cover the light, but to put it on a lampstand so it illuminates the whole house (Matthew 5:15 paraphrased).

What are demons, anyway? Demons are fallen angels. Demons are finite in number, as far as I can tell. We’re told in scripture that when Lucifer fell, he had persuaded a third of all the angels of heaven and therefore a third of the angels of heaven became condemned demons. That’s a fraction, therefore a finite number. This may be a moot point since we aren’t told anywhere in scripture the literal number of angels that exist. But I think the logic here still stands.

Daniel 7:10 gives us the phrase “ten thousand times ten thousands stood before Him…” which equals a million, but in Hebrew language, this phrase meant “countless” more than a literal number.

We see the same in Rev. 5:11 and in Hebrews 12:22. But “countless” or “innumerable” doesn’t necessarily mean infinite. So again, I think the logic here stands. A fraction of the number (whatever it may be) still leaves us with a finite amount.

What is the role of angels? Simply put, to carry out the will of God and the message of God. We see angels all throughout scripture doing one of those two things. We’re also told more explicitly that angels and demons are in opposition, in an ongoing battle over humanity. While we know clearly that Jesus is the ultimate Victor by His triumphant resurrection over the grave and sin, and will ultimately reign forever with all evil, Satan, and his demons vanquished and extinguished, there remains a battle. On a much smaller scale, I played basketball for one semester for Pinebrook Junior College. (Yes, THAT Pinebrook Junior College), I can tell you that I knew before every game that we were certainly going to lose. But I still played (mostly warmed the bench, but you get it). Simliarly, though much more signficantly, Satan and his demons continue to battle though they know their fate is sure.

Do angels watch over you? Yes, I believe they do. I see that scripture bears that out in many places. Is there a specific angel assigned to you? Hmmm. Not sure about that one. Hollywood would have us believe we’ve all got our own “Clarence” who’s trying to earn his wings but scripture doesn’t back that idea up.

We can say confidently that angels do exist, and they exist to carry out the will of God and the message of God to the world. You’ve likely interacted with an angel without even knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) The Bible identifies four different types of angels: Seraphim (Isaiah 6), Cherabim (Genesis 3, Ezekiel 10), Archangels (1 Thess. 4:16, Jude 9), and ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). Each type has a role, and a hierarchy. If you’ve never dug into a study on angels and/or demons, I’d suggest it. There’s so much to learn.

This isn’t all just about Halloween, but I do think Halloween is a good chance to pause and think about the fact that so much of reality is spiritual (some argue all of it is spiritual); far, far more than just the physical reality we see and build our lives on. Let me put it another way:

With the exception of fellow humans, all that you see is what’s physical/temporary, and therefore ultimately unimportant. What you don’t see is spiritual/eternal, and therefore of supreme importance. Make decisions based on the spiritual realm far more than you do the physical realm.

That’s hilarious.

/ jerrythinks / Leave a comment

One of the things that those who follow Jesus (including yours truly) haven’t done well, in my opinion, is to exemplify the radically hilarious freedom that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection affords us and all of humanity that choose to follow Him and call Him Savior, Lord, and Friend.

I wonder, by this point in the day, if you’ve given thought to a situation that needs attention, or a problem that needs fixing, or a difficulty you’re facing–big or small. I’d bet that you have. Our minds can sometimes drift (or take the bullet train) toward what is amiss, what is in need, what is lacking, and what is broken in our daily lives. Not so fast there, tiger.

In Christ, His children are set free from everything that hinders and binds. We are set free in every way a person can be set free. There is a hilarity to the grace that God offers us every day. So much so that we are actually living right now completely disconnected from the cares of the temporal. What is happening now (including all those frustrating needs and problems) has a very, VERY short shelf life. Soon, much sooner than you suspect, all of these problems will be not even a memory. But even before that happens, anyone who names Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Lord has the luxurious freedom of claiming freedom from all of them. Right now. This instant.

I can’t help but feel a childlike grin resting on my face as I type these reminders. It’s coming right back to me now, that in Him I possess every single thing I could ever need forever. (Eph. 1:3) There is no illness that can overcome me, there is no conflict that is irresolvable, there is no obstacle I can face that He isn’t greater than, there isn’t a place I can set my foot that His sovereign grace has not gone before me. (Romans 8:31-39) In Jesus, I am dislodged from having to care about anything in a way that buries me in stress, in anxiety, or in any weight at all. Why? Because in Christ I have responded to His invitation given in 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Any weight of any amount that is currently on your shoulders should be on His. Period.

That’s just the beginning. Look at Galatians 5:1. “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.” So hang on, why did Christ set me, you, us free? This is not a trick question. Answer it out loud. Why did He set us free? Read it again: “It is for __________…”

Paul even goes on to challenge his readers that because of that freedom we have been gifted by Christ’s atonement on the cross and through His empty tomb, we should “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Contextually, Paul is referring to the law that preceded Christ; the law that Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled and put to rest. Instead of striving under the law, now faith ushers in this rested grace. Instead of condemnation, we’re handed compassion. (Romans 8) Instead of being fearful, we’re now family. (2 Cor. 6:18, 1 John 2:28-3:1)

Let me introduce what might seem like a paradox. But stick with me. We know that Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Geez, Jesus. Way to kill the vibe.

“But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

He has overcome the what? Again, not a trick question. Say it out loud with me…

“I have overcome the __________.”

Gee, I wonder what the world includes. I wonder if it includes that pesky problem you’re plagued with right now. I wonder if it includes that situation with your kid that just won’t seem to go away. I wonder if it includes that diagnosis you’re trying to get your head around. I wonder if it includes that exam you’ve got coming up. I wonder if it includes that stack of bills sitting on your kitchen table. I wonder if it includes your job situation. I wonder if it includes the uncertainty, the anxiety, the stress, or any of that relational gunk you’ve been feeling? I wonder if “world” includes perhaps every…single…thing…you…can…ever…face…in…this…life? By now, I hope you’re picking up what Jesus is putting down here.

The word “heart” (or “courage” depending on your translation) is the Greek word “tharseō” and its an imperative verb. Got that? It’s not a noun. It’s not an object. It’s an action. And the fact that it’s imperative means that Jesus is actually expecting you, imploring you, pleading with you to simply step obediently in the direction of hilarity as you walk with Him.

So, dear friend, it’s your move. Will you live hilariously free because of the lavish love and grace afforded you by the very blood of God? Will you embrace a lighter life and lighter step because of the burdenless existence God Almighty has granted? Will you say out loud (and VERY LOUDLY) with the psalmist?…

“He has brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me because He cares for me.”
Psalm 18:19