Losing Jesus (Friday Devotional)

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand

- John 10:27-28

Over the last few years, my family has picked up a small assortment of miniature rubber Jesus figures, some given to us by friends and others picked up as giveaways. So last week, Andrew and Katherine decided it would be fun to hide four of them around the house and then send me and Lindsey on a scavenger hunt.

They hid them well—one on a light switch, another on the fireplace, still another on a wall decoration. But as we ransacked the house for the final Jesus figure, neither Lindsey nor I could find it anywhere. When we asked for a clue, Andrew said he didn’t know where it was either, that Katherine had hidden that one. And when we asked her, she couldn’t remember where she’d put it.

We kept searching, but to no avail. And no matter how hard she tried, Katherine couldn’t recall in what room she’d hidden it. As the minutes crawled by and Lindsey and I prepared to give up, Katherine grew more upset that she couldn’t remember where she’d put it. Finally, in tears, she exclaimed, “I lost Jesus!”

What a nightmare it would be if believers could really do that—not lose a rubber figurine, but lose their relationship with the Lord. Having placed your faith and your hope in Jesus to save you, what a terrifying thought that he might leave you if you step out of line.

After all, that happens sometimes with earthly relationships. Parents get divorced and only one sticks around to help raise the child. Spouses determine their differences are irreconcilable and call it quits. Friends drift apart. Some earthly relationships wind up having a shelf life far shorter than you ever anticipated they would.

But the Lord promises that he never leaves nor forsakes us, and that no one can snatch us out of his hand. Once you follow the call of the Good Shepherd, you are part of his flock—and he will never abandon you to the wolves.

You can lose possessions. You can lose friends. You can even lose family members. But praise God, you can never lose Jesus.

Prayers for Our Nation (Friday Devotional)

“...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

I’ve spent the past week at youth camp with 16 campers and 3 adult sponsors from our church, along with hundreds of other participants from around the state. Youth camp is one of my favorite weeks of the year, and something I’ve made a priority since my first year as a pastor—I love everything from the bad food and the silly games to the inspiring worship services and the infectious earnestness of teenagers captivated by their love for Jesus.

At Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment, where our church typically goes every summer, camp ends with the “Concert of Prayer,” a 2+ hour service that is routinely the most meaningful gathering of the week. No sermon is preached. The band leads in a few worship songs, but the vibe is considerably more muted than at the more raucous morning and evening worship services. Mostly it’s just a morning of guided prayer, huddle after huddle of teenagers bowing their heads and lifting their requests to God. It never ceases to move me.

Camp is over now, but I can’t shake the sight of hundreds of young believers repenting and confessing and thanking and petitioning their God. And on this weekend when we celebrate 250 years as a nation, I don’t want to forget it.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises his children that, by turning to him in a spirit of humility and repentance, they will receive his forgiveness and blessing. To be sure, America is not Israel, and a promise given to one group of ancient Israelites ought not necessarily be read as a universal guarantee for God’s people for all time.

Nevertheless, James 5:16 reminds us that the prayers of the righteous have great power. I saw it myself just yesterday in a crowded auditorium in Cedar Hill. When believers cry out to God—not triumphally, but humbly; not demanding power, but offering repentance; not wanting to see our will done, but God’s—we see change come.

If you’re wanting a spiritual awakening in America, don’t fix your eyes on the ballot box, but on Jesus. Don’t focus on the White House, but the church house. For it is to the humble, obedient, repentant prayers of his children that the Father responds.

June Reading Log

Happy 250th birthday, America! I read a seminal, prophetic work about you this month (along with an excellent memoir and a bunch of old Avengers comics). To see what I thought, keep reading!



ALL MY KNOTTED-UP LIFE by Beth Moore

Growing up, I knew Beth Moore as "that lady who writes women's Bible studies," which was both correct and extremely reductive. In fact, Moore was one of the most prominent people in Southern Baptist (and therefore, more broadly, American evangelical) life. She wrote books that were instant bestsellers, she filled megachurches and conference centers when she spoke, and, yes, she wrote Bible studies that Sunday School classes and life groups devoured.

Then in 2016, when the Access Hollywood tape hit the airwaves, she crossed Donald Trump and his followers by questioning how Christians could possibly excuse such behavior. When she refused to retreat from that conviction, she was abruptly cancelled by the SBC universe, in ways both social and official. Having given decades of her life to the church, specifically the Southern Baptist Convention of churches, she was now a pariah within it.

Moore has since bounced back—she does not have and probably will never again reach an audience the size she once did, but she maintains a following, particularly among that segment of the country that loves the Lord but is ambivalent about where evangelicalism finds itself in the age of Trump. In 2019, she was one of the guests at Truett Seminary's inaugural preaching conference and preached what I consider the finest sermon I've ever heard. She continues to write and speak, even as the opportunities are more limited than they once were.

So, especially in light of the news coming out of this year's Southern Baptist Convention meeting, I decided it was time to read her 2025 memoir, which traces the circuitous path her life has taken and offers thanks to the Lord for holding her through it all. This was my first Beth Moore book, but it won't be my last.

Those looking for a tell-all about her life post-2016 will be disappointed; this is not that kind of book. In typical Moore fashion, full of grace and wit, she tells her story from childhood through today, reflecting on the highs and lows and never flinching from uncomfortable moments.

Indeed, the newsworthy headline that came from this book's release was that Moore was sexually abused by her father as a young girl. Those wanting a cathartic confrontation will be disappointed; she maintained a relationship with him (as did her mother) until his death, even reminding him that she forgave him on his deathbed. Her childhood, as she narrates over nearly half the book, was chaotic and cruel at points, joyful and loving at others. You don't get clear-cut heroes and villains, just fallen people trying to get by.

That pattern is consistent throughout her life, whether she's talking about her parents; her husband Keith, whom she adores even as she is unafraid to point out his flaws and blind spots; or the Southern Baptist church which gave her so much only to cruelly rip it all away. Moore is both honest and gracious, sincere in both her love and her criticism.

Those willing to read about a faithful life where only one person is perfect will love this book, as I did. Having checked it out from the library, this is one where I'm going to have to hunt down a copy for my shelf. We need more Christians willing to tell the truth about their "knotted-up lives."

DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA by Alexis de Tocqueville

In 1831, the French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to America to observe what made our still-young country so special. His findings, presented in the two-volume Democracy in America, were a sociological study so insightful that we're still reading it today. So this month, in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I read the whole thing, all 880 pages of it.

Volume 1 examines the political structures of the United States, from the three branches of government to the rule of the majority to the preeminence of the Constitution. This volume takes you back to your high school social studies classroom, and is pretty easy reading for the nerds like me who eat that stuff up.

Volume 2 I found more challenging to read, riskier in its predictions, and, given where our country finds itself today, sadder. It deals with the more abstract nature of the country: our religiosity, our ambitiousness and industriousness, how we relate to one another, etc. Many of de Tocqueville's insights into the American character held strong for 150+ years, only to suddenly seem questionable in the last decade or so. For example, the arisocratic de Tocqueville writes often of the United States as a classless society, where the rich and the poor alike hold the same beliefs about what would one day be called "the American Dream." That used to feel true; it feels more tenuous today.

Democracy in America, given the dry subject matter and date of its writing, was more readable than I feared it would be, though only a completist or a hard-core nerd (I qualify on both counts) needs to read the whole thing; key passages will do just fine for most. It's always worth asking what outsiders think of what you're doing, and this Frenchmen hit the nail on the head more times than you might expect.

ESSENTIAL AVENGERS VOL. 1-2 by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Jack Kirby, Don Heck, et al.

This month I decided it was time to jump back into the Essentials, specifically the first two of nine volumes containing 200+ issues of The Avengers. Long before they were the faces of Hollywood, the Avengers were Marvel's answer to the Justice League, a team mixing the stars of its universe (Iron Man, Thor) with B-level characters popular enough to feature, but not capable of helming their own books (Giant Man, the Wasp). It would take 50 years and some blockbuster films for the team to surpass other Marvel properties like the Fantastic Four, but it all started here.

These initial Essential volumes, covering the first 46 issues and an oversized annual, are reflective of the early Silver Age, when Stan Lee was still developing his voice and was throwing way too many words at the page. Similarly, the art—first by Jack Kirby, then Don Heck—is serviceable but nothing special. Reading two issues per day of these books, my pace for most of the month, was a bit of a slog, taking me every bit of 45 minutes most mornings.

But there are some things worth highlighting. The first comes in issue #4, when Captain America—a Kirby creation from the Golden Age of comics—is revived from the icy waters of the Atlantic and joins the team. Another is a heavy-handed but well-intentioned story where the Avengers oppose the Sons of the Serpent, a xenophobic stand-in for the Ku Klux Klan. Lastly is one of the book's biggest swings, when the entire original lineup is replaced by "Cap's Kooky Quartet," i.e. Captain America joined by villains-turned-heroes Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye. That lineup would see the comraderie and competency of the original group replaced by a squad of bickering, jealous Avengers eager to prove themselves.

These early issues show a book finding its footing, but managing to consistently offer entertaining stories while doing so. In the next volume, things really start to take off. Tune in next month to see for yourself!

Freebies (Friday Devotional)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." 

- Matthew 10:8

There is a tradition at certain restaurants that, as an act of hospitality, certain food is given to you free of charge before you ever receive your entrée. At a fried fish joint, you can stuff yourself on saltines and butter crackers. At a steakhouse, they’ll bring out fresh bread. And most famously, at any reputable Tex-Mex restaurant you get limitless baskets of chips with salsa.

The funny thing about this tradition is how it affects your perception of the restaurant—you start to judge the place as much on the free food as what you’re paying for. Texas Roadhouse gets forgiven if your medium steak comes out well done, because you started the night with four dinner rolls slathered in cinnamon butter. Your enchiladas at Chuy’s are forgotten, but the creamy jalapeño dip that came with your chips lives on in your memory. The freebies matter more than you think.

The same is true in relationships. We place a lot of importance on big moments and events—birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, etc. By showing up in these moments, by buying the perfect gift, by checking all the boxes, you think you’re doing your part for your friends and family members.

But while those big moments certainly matter, there’s something to be said for the smaller moments: texting your friend that you’re thinking about her on a random Tuesday, buying your coworker lunch for no reason at all, hugging your child extra tight just because. It is the accumulation of these relational “freebies” that communicates consistent, sincere love most effectively.

Jesus did both throughout his ministry—he gave his life on the cross for us all, but he also gave his time to a Samaritan woman at a well. In ways that were sometimes small and sometimes cinematic, on the most extraordinary occasions and the most ordinary, Jesus gave himself fully to people. As his disciple, may you show that same kind of love: gracious, sacrificial, and free.

Unfiltered Joy (Friday Devotional)

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

- Psalm 118:24

Lately it seems like you can’t turn on the TV without seeing a team celebrating a championship victory. First it was the New York Knicks snapping a 53-year title drought in San Antonio. The next night it was the Carolina Hurricanes lifting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Las Vegas Golden Knights. And with those contests behind us, now Americans are joining the rest of the world in turning their eyes to the World Cup, where in a month one nation will win arguably the most envied title in all of sports.

Each time you see a team win a championship, whether it’s in the World Series or in Little League, the scene is the same: teammates dancing around, hugging each other tightly, whooping and hollering in ecstasy. Fans of the victorious team honk car horns and launch fireworks and revel spontaneously in the streets. And those are just the instantaneous celebrations, all before the official parade attended by hundreds of thousands of well-wishers.

We’re drawn to those scenes because they showcase something we so rarely see from adults: pure, unfettered joy. Athletes who have worked for such moments their entire lives no longer feel pressured to put on stoic faces or “act like they’ve been there before.” Fans who have endured season after season of heartbreak now replace their groans of frustration with cries of jubilation. Nobody is self-conscious and nobody is trying to impress. Caught up in what’s been accomplished, everyone just rejoices together.

It occurs to me that we rarely let ourselves celebrate that way. We smile, but not too widely. We laugh, but not too loudly. We shout for joy, but only if we’re sure it will be received well. We’re happy to be happy…but that happiness is muted by insecurity.

But if sports can inspire the kind of unfiltered joy we’d rarely show elsewhere, surely faith can too. The Bible tells us in so many places to rejoice in the Lord, to celebrate his mighty deeds, to praise him—and surely that joy isn’t meant to be restrained by the fear of what others might think. The God who creates, saves, and sanctifies his children is worthy of their full-throated worship.

This is the day that the Lord has made…rejoice in it like you’ve won the greatest victory imaginable. After all, in Christ you have.

Living for Jesus (Friday Devotional)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

- Colossians 3:17

For the past several days, Lindsey and I have been celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary in the Pacific Northwest, enjoying a respite from the heat and humidity of a Texas summer. By the time you read this, we’re likely browsing the shelves at Powell’s Books in Portland, where I’m mentally calculating how many paperbacks I can cram in my suitcase. And before long, we’ll be home—back to diaper changes and packing lunches and meetings at church.

Whenever we take trips like this, I always find myself imagining how “real life” could be more like vacation. I think about the things that cause stress back home, and see how a few days away makes those stressors seem unimportant. I relish how we’re spending our time, and wonder if normal days could be more like that. Vacation—even the way we do it, where the days are packed with activity—feels like a totally different world from day-to-day life.

In many ways, this is true. After all, on vacation there is no work to be done, no commitments to meet, no responsibilities you cannot shrug off or delegate. There’s a reason people take vacations, after all!

But in other ways, nothing has changed. You still need 3 square meals a day. You still have 24 hours to occupy. You still need to figure out how to get from here to there. It’s different, but not completely alien.

Add to that list the command of Colossians 3:17: “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” The “whatever you do” is your clue that the command to live for Christ is not situation-dependent; it is universal. In times of prosperity and times of poverty, the Christian’s calling is to devote their actions to Jesus. In times of stress and times of calm, when life is easy and when it’s hard, at work and on vacation, believers live for Jesus.

Tomorrow we’ll be back home, and we’ll get back to the grind. Right now, we enjoy a few more minutes of easy living. But in both cases, our calling is the same: do everything in Jesus’ name and for his glory. For that mission never changes.

Welcoming Children (Friday Devotional)

Then children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

- Matthew 19:13-14

Every night this week, I had two responsibilities at our church’s Vacation Bible School. First, during the opening and closing rallies, I put on a glow-in-the-dark costume and served as “The Illuminator,” a silly character whose jobs were to hype the kids up and to recap the Bible lessons from the week. In between those rallies, I led the recreation time for each class, facilitating everything from Capture the Flag to cup stacking to a hula hoop toss.

For a pastor, this was far from a typical week. Yet inevitably, it is always one of my favorite times of the year. Why is that? The answer, I believe, comes straight from the Bible.

In his ministry, Jesus was often confronted with a familiar complaint: he wasn’t falling in line. Sometimes that was because he was choosing compassion over law. Sometimes it was because he was looking more to the spirit of the law than to its letter. Sometimes it’s simply because he was paying too much attention to people that society said weren’t worthy of it.

One of those times was when a group of parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed. If you’ve ever been around a group of kids, you’ll know that they’re far from orderly—undoubtedly some of the kids were screaming, some were running around, and some were utterly unimpressed by the Messiah. As such, Jesus’ disciples were ready to send these children on their way so that the Savior could attend to more important matters. However, Jesus would have none of it. Speaking sternly to his disciples, he demanded that the little children be brought to him, “for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

Now as then, we are quick to dismiss children. They’re cute, but so loud. They’re innocent, but so unpredictable. They’re beautiful, but ultimately secondary to the important work of adult ministry.

Jesus saw things differently. He valued children in all their boisterousness. He didn’t see them as a nuisance, but as a blessing. Indeed, he said God’s kingdom belonged to them.

So today, we ought not regard children’s ministry as the minor leagues, but as crucial work. Dressing up in silly costumes is not an inconvenience, but an opportunity. Crafts and games are not trivialities, but tools for gospel ministry. Vacation Bible School is not an event to trudge through, it is a revival to be celebrated.

Jesus welcomes the little children, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Are you welcoming them too?