I have a lot to process about the events of the last week or so. At some point in the near future, I’m going to write this down as part of my own processing, and maybe it will help you along the way as well. But, for today, I want to share some thoughts about burnout.

Stressful Year

You don’t need me to tell you that the last few months have been some of the most stressful months in recent years — maybe some of the most stressful ever for some people.

We’ve faced so many unprecedented things that we’ve grown to despise the very word “unprecedented”. I, for one, would really like to get back to some more “precedented” things in the coming weeks and months. …

Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one’s opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Chapter 4

Friends, let’s do better on social media this year.

Be willing to listen to opposing views. Try to understand where people are coming from. I’m not saying we need to give every point of view equal validity. Let’s face it, some views are just wrong. So, yeah, that white supremacist dude from high school that spends most of his time “doing his research” on Parler and quoting QAnon, shut him down quick, but your Republican aunt who is genuinely concerned because she listens to a lot of stuff about the “radical left” that scares her, maybe show her some grace. …

2020: The Year of Stupid Protests (and I’m Not Talking About the Ones You’re Thinking Of)

On April 30, 2020, a group of armed protestors entered the capital building in Michigan to protest the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This group was expressing the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and were protesting the fact that they couldn’t get their hair done… or something like that.

There are so many things wrong with what happened that day that it’s hard to really nail down a single point. Perhaps we could talk about the hypocrisy of these people who undoubtedly lose their minds when NFL players decide to kneel during the national anthem as a form of protest to the racial injustice that has been plaguing this country, but think it’s perfectly okay to intimidate elected officials in session by yelling at them while holding rifles. …

How crawling in a hole can help you regain perspective.

The (Brief) Story of Elijah the Prophet

The prophet Elijah is one of the foremost figures in the Hebrew Bible (or, what Christians call the Old Testament). He is introduced in 1 Kings 17, and we get absolutely no backstory on him… other than being called “the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead” (1 Kings 17:1).

He bursts onto the scene to tell King Ahab that there’s going to be a massive drought in the land. He relays the message, and heads out east of the Jordan where there is a brook and God says that the ravens are going to bring him food. This is how his ministry begins, and it’s one heck of a… whirlwind. Okay, that’s really funny if you know the rest of his story… if you don’t, read 2 Kings 2. …

I may have ripped that headline from a novel/movie, but the truth is, I know nothing about that novel/movie… just as I know nothing about leading a church in a time of a worldwide pandemic.

I have a confession to make: I have no idea what I’m doing.

To be fair, neither do most of my colleagues, even if we pretend that we do. …

Where the Church has been; where the Church is going next

If you were to take a broad strokes look at the history of Christianity and major movements that have shaped and changed it, you would notice that about every 500 years or so, there is a seismic shift that takes place. If this trend were to continue… well… we’re due.

Jesus, the Original Reformer

It all started with Jesus.

The fact of the matter is that no Christians would exist today if it weren’t for Jesus. …

What if you could do whatever you wanted and get away with it? What would you do?

The Ring of Gyges

In Plato’s Republic there is a story referred to by Glaucon, the brother of Plato. It’s a myth about a man who finds a golden ring (called the ring of Gyges), which gave him the ability to become invisible. In the myth, the character uses the ring to seduce the queen, kill the king and name himself king.

The question that Glaucon raises is whether or not a person could have enough virtue to resist the temptation to commit immoral actions if there was absolutely no chance of it being discovered. Does our personal morality keep us in line? Or is it the fear of being caught and having to suffer the consequences? Is morality merely a social construct? …

Have you ever really reflected on the story of the Good Samaritan? It’s one of Jesus’ more well-known parables and can be found in Luke 10:25–37. We’re familiar with the concept. There are hospitals named after the story. There are even “Good Samaritan” laws that are intended to protect those who help others in times of need.

When we reflect on this parable, there are a lot of directions we could go.

Different Directions

We could talk about the question “who is my neighbor?” That’s a key question in the passage from Luke 10:25–37. …