Pastors, I obviously can’t tell you what to say on any given Sunday. And I think the cries of “If your church doesn’t mention X this Sunday, walk out!” are overblown.
But, for Christ’s sake, preach like you would have wanted German pastors to have preached in 1930s and 1940s, when the Gestapo was terrorizing and disappearing Jews.
You cannot and should not chase every news story in the pulpit. But have you spoken of God’s heart for the poor and powerless, especially immigrants!, recently? Have you clarified how God’s power, freedom, and justice are oh so different from what’s on display these days? How the way of the Lamb is different from the way of the Dragon? How the Kingdom of God runs counter to racism and nationalism?
Shame, shame on those pastors who have capitulated to Christian nationalism and preach MAGA sermons each week! But also shame on those pastors who “both-sides” their way into lukewarm platitudes when what’s called for is gospel clarity. Even if that clarity sounds, yes, “political.”
COURAGE! Like my namesake, I tell you: “Be strong and courageous!” And “Choose you this day whom you will serve!” Speak up for those who are being dragged away and discarded. Like God Himself, defend the widow, orphan, and immigrant!
For all followers of Jesus Christ who have ever wondered what they would have done if they had found themselves in 1930s Germany, this is our hour. May our shepherds and teachers not fail us.
My Friday evening plans? Wife’s out with some other moms, so I’m gonna party hard. And by “party hard,” I mean “watch Practical Engineering videos about bridges on YouTube, and then maybe some Ken Burns American Revolution documentary, before going to bed at 9:30.”
Any fun Friday plans?
Ever get done with your Morning Pages, journal, etc. and think “Welp, that got dark!”?
If you’re a notebook person, what’s your daily driver notebook? I do a combo of Bullet Journaling and Morning Pages. Usually use a Leuchtturm 1917 A5 dotted hardcover. About done with a Midori MD A5 Lined in a Systemic Cover and looking for my next notebook. 📓 ✍️
New Year weight loss goals not going great. I’m tracking everything I eat, and working out regularly. But I weighed 211 on Jan 1, 209.6 on Jan 2, and 217 today. 😡 Steadily up about a pound each morn for the past few days.
Asking the internet to weigh-in (because why not?): Is resigning from ministry the same as renouncing Holy Orders? See here for info/context: joshuapsteele.com/an-eccles…
I’ll do whatever I can to make sure that working for ICE is remembered the same way as working for the SS or the Gestapo.
Abolish ICE.
This made me pause while reading Kingsnorth, “Against the Machine” (p239): “… because Christian tradition has long taught that the emergence of one global religion […] will be the prelude to the coming of the figure known as Antichrist.” I don’t think that “long taught” is true?
The January 6, 2021 insurrection should have been the end of the MAGA movement. Trump lost the 2020 election, and the concerted attempt to overturn the results of that election (which he has never conceded) was an assault on the foundational principles of the United States of America. Trump pardoning the violent insurrectionists made a mockery of the American justice system. Furthermore, the insurrectionists' use of Christian symbols and language was an embarrassment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and a revelation of the true nature of Christian nationalism. Just an utterly shameful chapter in American history, and it’s only gotten worse. The gospel itself, of course, will be just fine. I can’t say the same for the nation or its churches. USA Christians have largely forsaken the Kingdom of God by confusing it with political power and cultural domination in the USA. In doing so, they have helped put some of the very worst leaders this country has ever known in power, at the expense of the poor and powerless. We have sown the wind, and we will continue to reap the whirlwind.
Getting into Madeira wine these days🍷. Any other Madeira fans out there having a not-so-dry January?
2026 off to an amazing start. Not a positive amazing, mind you. But still.
What 3-5 biblical concepts or themes do you think USA Christians need to re-learn and study? I’d say:
- Power (+ Authority and Freedom),
- Justice/Righteousness,
- Money/Wealth/Mammon (+ Poor/Poverty),
- Widow/Orphan/Immigrant,
- Faith/Faithfulness.
Biggest regret of 2025 is that I didn’t make more progress on my physical health. I didn’t hit my goal of getting my weight back down to 200lbs, and my stamina and energy levels aren’t where I’d like them to be. Zepbound and more exercise (yay for rec soccer!) helped me lose a decent amount of weight and get in better shape. But the slight GLP-1 nausea all the time is wearing me down and has made it hard to want to eat healthy foods and track what I eat. Having a few handfuls of crackers and nuts throughout the day is “good” for a calorie deficit but not good for much else! I’m entering 2026 at 211lbs and committing to TRACKING everything I eat and all my workouts. Also gonna track my expenses/purchases. So I’m thinking “Health” is my theme word for 2026 and I’m bouncing between “Give a damn” and “Write that shit down” for my mantras!
I’ve got 3 credits on Audible. What audiobooks should I listen to?
Anyone out there used one of the Wera Kraftform Kompakt RA-R ratcheting screwdrivers with the in-handle bit storage? I love their new ratcheting mechanism. But I’m hesitant to pay over $70 for a screwdriver! 🪛
No reason to prolong 2025. In bed by 10pm, like God intended!
Ending 2025 with an Edmund Fitzgerald porter, because it’s been bittersweet and it feels like we’re on a sinking ship (at least here in the USA)! 😅 Happy New Year! 🚢🫡
Socio-politically, at least here in the USA, 2025 ended up being even worse than I feared. What say you?