AnotherJohn.Com

  Psalm 37:7-17 Listen to today's devotional Somehow we keep allowing injustice to be called “politics.” I wonder if that's so we don’t have to call it sin. But sin doesn’t hide behind political jargon or even ballot boxes. Our overly personalized view of sin numbs us to the reality of how it impacts real lives. Epstein files. Broken and biased systems. Greed at the top. Children left behind. God help us not forget that when we shrug and say, “That’s just politics,” someone else is paying the price. A cartoon brought tears to my eyes this week. The cartoon has a group of children holding signs that say, “Pleez Stop herting us!” and “Violence against children not nice.” The children have bandages over their heads, arms and legs. One child doesn't have legs. There looks to be an explosion behind them and a group of adults beside them. The adults have this to say: "Poor kids just don't understand politics." How we would like to think that is only a cartoon. Our c...

  Ruth 2:1-7 Listen to today's devotional I have to wonder how many times I've prayed for God to move, and then miss it when God shows up. I was looking for some grand, heavenly appearance. A voice from the clouds, perhaps. But God was really trying to get my attention through someone else's kindness. In Ruth's story, she and her mother-in-law, Naomi, return to Bethlehem to figure out how to survive. As it happened, it was the beginning of the barley season. After they arrive, Ruth thinks she should go to the field and glean. She steps into the field in great need. At this point, hers is a survival plan. Just before this, we learn of Boaz. He is a kinsman to Naomi's late husband. And before Boaz ever speaks, grace is already at work through him. His field is a place where a vulnerable person like Ruth can go. Sometimes, we want a miracle in the sky. But how many times does God answer with a person on the ground? A farmer who leaves extra behind. A good boss who work...

Something dawned on me while I was preaching yesterday. It was the final week of our worship series based on the General Rules for Methodists. We reflected on "Stay in love with God." It felt like an appropriate time to share how I came to faith. I share that story every so often. This week, I told the church I do it so they know that faith in Jesus is something I have experienced--that was an important theme of the message. When I was telling the story, I mentioned having a lot of anger and pain as a teenager as I wrestled with a heavy question: Why was I still around in the world? As I said those words, a thought came to me.  This AI stuff is wild :) Maybe that's a reason I've always been drawn to youth ministry. I remember that struggle and horrible feeling like you didn't need to be around. That's something I don't want anyone to worry about.  And haven't we seen that more and more over the last decade or so? More young people battle with suicidal ...

  Hebrews 2:14-18 Listen to today's devotional My wife loves watching this TV show where people who were adopted are reunited with their biological families. I'm pretty sure that every episode, without fail, when siblings or parents finally meet face-to-face, she smiles and says, “Awww, they look like each other.” And every time I tease her. “Why are you surprised? They’re related!” After watching an entire episode, what she’s seeing isn’t just matching noses or familiar mannerisms. She sees their shared humanity, family story, and blood. A connection that, for most people, time and distance couldn’t erase. Hebrews 2 tells us something just as beautiful about Jesus. “Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things.” God did not redeem us from a distance. God put on skin. The Message Bible says that Jesus "became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." He didn’t shout salvation from heaven. He walked it out on...

I had breakfast with the men's group this morning. It was a great reflection and conversation on servanthood. The tacos were great, too, as always! Before we ended, I asked if anyone wanted to stay behind to hear me talk about something I will do to try to touch base with our younger men. Several of them stayed behind. When we lived in Bandera, I remember there was a local bar that invited people to a bring-your-own-meat kind of dinner night. They cooked whatever meat you brought. People loved it. I've always wanted to apply that concept to a ministry. That's what I asked the men's group about. They said they would help. They even said they'd pay for everyone's first dinner. Free steaks? It's going to be a prime time! I appreciate it when people trust each other to try new things. Who knows if this will last? But we'll give it a shot and see what happens. It shouldn't be rare to trust each other. Stay blessed...john

  1 Timothy 5:17-24 Listen to today's devotional 1 Timothy 5 says that church leaders who serve well are worthy of double honor. And I think it's helpful to distinguish what that means versus what our culture often turns into celebrity. Just last week, a video went viral poking fun at some megachurch pastors. What was interesting to me wasn't the satire, but how quickly many rushed to defend what I'll call the antics of some, not all. In the rush to protect personalities, we often miss deeper questions. For example, are we honoring faithful leadership, or have we baptized celebrity culture? Honor was never meant to be hype. We should be cautious about creating an environment where pastors become brands and our sermons become content. Instead, honor says, "Thank you for faithful care." Celebrity says, "Make me feel inspired." Now, I'm far from a celebrity pastor, but my sense also is that honor helps sustain the ministry and work of the church. It...