Category: Different Scriptures

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

a humbling season

Posted on by Wick

With new “political seasons” starting pretty much weekly at this point, it’s always a good reminder for us to take a deep, slow breath. Unplug from the barrage of posts telling us what we should think about who. Locally, our church has been reminded recently that disciples of Jesus (especially in our political contexts) should be regularly growing in both hope and humility. As Paul left Ephesus in Acts 18:21, he obviously had hope in God using Priscilla & Aquila for the ministry there, but also had humility enough to know it didn’t depend on him staying to sustain the work.

Yes, we want to be those who engage the world with hope. Yes, we want to participate in justice coming, love transforming, and healing wounds both personal and systemic. But we are limited beings. At the end of our abilities, the moments where we have to leave, turn off the lights, or go to bed – we purposefully lay it at the feet of God – who has it all in His hands already. Some of us, without realizing it, believe that we cannot do what we see Paul doing here. News feeds tell us we have to stay plugged in for updates at any moment. Our push notifications draw us constantly out of being physically present with others in order to discover new details about something not in the room with us. We feel like unplugging from all these things might convey that we don’t care enough. We’ve been told to turn away from anything we care about, even for rest, is a betrayal. We feel like – if we don’t make a public statement, or send an email about every topic we care about – the important thing that should happen or be known might not happen or be known.

Here’s an important thing to tell yourself: I am not God. (say that with me)
You know what that means? We can unplug, and probably should often. We don’t have to comment on everything, to show others we know it all. You know what knowing it all is called? “Omniscient.” You know who is omniscient? God. We don’t have to have a presence on all the different apps – you know what that’s called? Omnipresence. You know who is omnipresent? God. You are not God. (say it again if needed) The more we feel like we need to know all things and be in all places, the more we are trying to be God.

Now this doesn’t mean we don’t care. We’re not stoics, who believe all things are predetermined and so we just do the best we can. We’re also not hippies that sing “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, it’ll be.” (Sorry not sorry, Bebe.) Just like Paul, we dedicate ourselves to the task. We vote and get involved however we’re able to live out the prayers we offer. We sacrificially offer the resources available to us. We empower and trust others to do their part of the work that is much bigger than us.

Paul does end up coming back to Ephesus, by the way. You know how he gets there? It’s not by a magical tornado labeled “Will of God”. He chooses to travel there, and as we can read (Acts 19), he stays quite a while. Because he actually desires to be there. He leaves Ephesus in Acts 18:21 not saying “whatever happens, happens”. Saying “if God wills it” confesses that even in his deepest desires, he is still a limited being. Saying “if God wills it” does not abdicate our response-ability, but humbly confesses our limited nature. We do what we can, but we daily lay all things in the hands of our God who is working to accomplish His will.

There is peace found in this practice, worth incorporating such “laying things down” into our daily lives. But we may have to stop consuming new things long enough to do so…

ps. If you’re willing, make plans to join us & and entire Free Methodist Church USA as we pursue a month of Prayer and Fasting throughout September 2024. Check out their website to learn more!

Posted in Different Moments, Different Scriptures

taking a walk…

Posted on by Wick

Last week I was able to spend a good portion of a work day in quiet prayer and contemplation. I spoke with God, and He shared from His heart for me. It was a refreshing time in His creation, and my thoughts were slowed/simplified in His presence.

I remember learning about the “sacred pathways” highlighted by Gary Thomas many years ago. (Pause to take the survey now if you’ve never done so – it’s worth it!) It was a freeing experience to recognize that not every person or even season of an individuals’ life invites them to connect with God in the exact same way. It’s true that “Prayer” is something that should be continually present in everyone’s life, but prayer itself may look completely different depending on the family, cultural elements, and personal abilities/interests of an individual. I’ve worked with pastors who could enter a small office for a time of prayer, and emerge 5 hours later feeling refreshed. While I might be able to stretch myself in that direction, I’m much more naturally inclined to spend that time slowly walking with God on a quiet wooded path, offering those hours to both speaking and listening to His heart.

I also understand that a religion based solely on personal preferences invites us to shape God in our image, which is something we should be careful to avoid. It’s important to submit our personal preferences regularly in spiritual practices, in order to learn and grow from spiritual formation in contexts of diverse community but also in order to test and remain curious about the infinite ways God desires to meet with us in our finite experiences. I recognize among my readers, I may have those who need to hear both sides of the coin.

Take a moment to examine: Where in your past week have you experienced a spiritual practice that felt safe, but unnatural? Maybe it was more formal, where you prefer informal. Perhaps it was with others, when you might prefer solitude. In the other direction, where in the past week have you pursued a time with or responding to God that felt easily connected to your heart? Can you name at least one in both categories? Is it difficult to even recall moments you purposefully sought significant time in connection with God? Take a moment right now – allowing God to speak to your heart, and inviting you to consider how you might make a deliberate choice with your schedule or resources this next week.

In Matthew 7, Jesus shares words that have become famous, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” These words can often be misunderstood as asking for anything, leading us to disappointment, disillusionment, or questioning if our faith is “strong enough” if we don’t see God immediately responding. But the context of Matthew 7 is within the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus is describing the ways of His Kingdom which is now arriving. He had already told them to store up “treasures” in the things/ways of God, instead of treasuring things that are temporary and unsatisfying – for where our treasure is, our heart is also.

With this understanding, what are the greatest things we could ever desire/seek? Answer: The eternal things of God and His presence.

Knowing this, Jesus shares the good news: whoever asks for these things – receives them. Whoever seeks His ways, finds them. Whoever knocks on His door, wondering if He has time/love for them – discovers the door of abiding in His presence is always opened to them. We know this, but so often we fill our silent moments with noise and distraction. We fill our slow pace with hurry to accomplish what feels important.

Kinda makes you want to take a walk with God, eh? He’s ready when we are…

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

Ash Wednesday/Lent 2024

Posted on by Wick

(The following “daily devotional” is part of a collaborative effort between several churches in the Wabash Conference of the Free Methodist Church to create a 40-day “Lent” Devotional that highlights traditional Spiritual Disciplines. Download the entire booklet here!)

I still remember the first time I prepared the ashes for “Ash Wednesday” as a pastor in 2010. I’d been in ministry about 7 years, and finally felt confident enough to invite the people I loved to participate in such a moment. I’d heard of “Ash Wednesday”, but it had always been something “those churches” do. Yet the more I studied, and regarded the benefits of such a practice, the more I recognized this was something all followers of Jesus could be blessed by.

So I saved the palm branches from Palm Sunday, and waited as they dried until the following February. I wanted to document the moment, so I set up my camera to record. I had a small metal coffee can and a handheld lighter. I collapsed the
dried palm branches into the can, and slowly lowered the flame into the can. It didn’t take long for the fire to start, and flames easily climbed over the edge of the can. In the video, you can see me looking up. Not looking into the sky, and not in a moment of inspired prayer. I was panicking, because I’d started this moment indoors, completely forgetting I wasn’t lighting candles on cake – I was starting a small bonfire.
I quickly moved my procedure outside where it was safe (and wouldn’t make the church smell like marijuana). It was a humbling moment, and I was reminded of the fragile nature of all things flammable. I was also reminded of my own short-
sightedness, even when my heart is in the right place.

All of this became a great reminder for Ash Wednesday itself. As a practice, it didn’t officially begin until the 11th century or so. But God’s people throughout scripture have associated repentance with ashes. It brings a tangible expression to our
confession of helplessness. We are unable to save ourselves. We are unable to even earn the salvation available. We come to Jesus, fully depending on His Love, His Lordship over death itself, and His Grace. As Lent is a season of preparation to fully
celebrate His resurrection, it makes sense to begin it all by marking ourselves with a reminder: We are dust, and to dust we shall return. Or as some also declare: Repent, and believe the good news of Jesus.

Our world offers us a never-ending buffet of things to be proud of. We digitally curate our daily experiences for others to observe. We collect followers, titles, bank accounts or accomplishments. Yet as Christians, we hear the response of Paul in Philippians 3:8, “More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I
regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Today we remember prayerfully – all these things (including us) are passing away. Only what is in Jesus remains.

Questions for Reflection:
1. What title or accomplishment are you most tempted to be proud of in an unhealthy way?
2. If you died tonight, what of you would remain tomorrow?


Lord, I turn away from attempting to be my own source. I confess I am nothing, not even living, without you. Bring me Your Life of the New Creation today. In the resurrected Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Click here to read/listen to a “spoken word” I wrote on Ash Wednesday years ago…