1. The Contenders, a semi-weekly newsletter. I started this almost two years ago now. I believe God desires for us to contend for His glory. My newsletter is focused on living a life of contending for the Lord.
2. New Harvest Church weekly devotional. This is the church where I am currently serving as the Senior Pastor. I write a devotional that goes out every Friday. Just click “Tyler’s Update” from the link above to sign up for this.

Thanks for supporting my work!

One other quick note: I started a newsletter this past year and have transitioned all my writing to that space. Sign up to read upcoming emails here. Thank you for taking the time to read! A writer without an audience shouts into an abyss. You make this endeavor worth the effort.

Best Albums

#1 Manchester Orchestra “The Million Masks of God”

I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for full-length albums that tell a story from beginning to end, and that’s exactly what Manchester Orchestra has done so stunningly here. What’s it about, you ask? I’ll let the band’s guitarist explain:

“As a teenager you want to ask, ‘Why? Why? Why?’ on everything. But as life goes on, you realize that certain things happen without any explanation or reason. So then you have to follow certain feelings internally – I ask why, but sometimes I don’t need to know the answer. I just need to take the breath and have faith. Nine out of 10 times, there’s peace in that.”

#2 The War on Drugs “I Don’t Live Here Anymore”

Essentially this is an album on change, inspired primarily by the band’s lead, Adam Granduciel, becoming a father. The War on Drugs is a band built around meticulous additions, with lyrics and sound in beautiful interplay. They don’t release bad music.

#3 Andy Squyres “Poet and Priest”

I’ve probably listened to this album more than any other. It’s incredible this is Andy’s second full-length release.

#4 Jon Foreman “Departures”

Much of this work developed with a variety of artists was due to Covid. Often lost in the surf-rock of Switchfoot is that Foreman is a great writer. Kudos to him for being two decades into releasing music and using Covid to find another level.

#5 Hiss Golden Messenger “Quietly Blowing It”

The level of musicianship on display through this album is top-notch. A new find for me in 2021. Great road trip album.

Apologies to: Lord Huron, JUDAH, The Killers, Taylor Leonhardt, The Weather Station, Needtobreathe, Leon Bridges, Antoine Bradford, Yaz Williams.

Listen to my playlist featuring all the best albums of 2021 HERE

Best Film (shows, movies)

Note: I’ve been to a movie theater once in the last two years, so I can’t give you a list of the top movies, so instead here is what I enjoyed of both shows and movies from this year.

#1 Maid (Netflix)

I must confess I was completely unaware of the difficulties faced by those who are in situations of domestic violence. This was eye-opening, heart-breaking, and liberating to watch.

#2 Mare of Easttown (HBO)

I find the complexity of Mare Sheehan to be quite relatable. On the surface, this is just another crime detective drama, but Kate Winslet turns this into something quite special.

#3 Scenes of a Marriage (HBO)

I’m not entirely sure I would recommend this, because it was mostly a hate-watch. We don’t need more shows or movies that display marriage as flippant. That said, Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac are incredible. It’s not often an episode can hold such tension for an hour, while having literally two scenes.

#4 The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

You’ll never hear a banjo the same again. We would do well to continue exploring what it means to be a man in society today.

#5 tick tick…BOOM (Netflix)

Honestly not my cup of tea as far as movie genres, but Andrew Garfield is the best actor in the world. What a performance.

#6 Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

The popularity of the show encourages me that people do want to see goodness in the world. I didn’t love some of the top storylines of season 2, but the overall drive of the show is spot on.

#7 Lupin (Netflix)

This is just good, fun television.

Best Songs

#1 “Sailboat” by Ben Rector

Ok, I’m kind of skirting the rules on this one because “Sailboat” was released almost a decade ago, but every time I hear this new 2021 released arrangement it stops me in my tracks. Just incredible musicianship and the lyrics are so timely to today.

#2 “Broken Harvest” by Madison Cunningham

Another song that lyrically makes sense in our pandemic—”all things fade away.” So fun to know that someday I’ll tell my kids that I’ve been a fan of Madison since they were young. What a gift she has.

#3 “Dead Horse” by Andy Squyres

The piano intro. The “either nothing is wasted or everything is” line. I included one of his songs on last year’s list, no reason to stop this year.

#4 “Pressure Machine” by The Killers

Hard to find something as true as how this song ends:

Life’ll grow you a big red rose

Then rip it from beneath your nose

And run it through the pressure machine

And spit you out a name tag memory

#5 “It’s OK” by Nightbirde

Nightbirde might have the most viral moment of 2021, so it makes sense to include the song behind the moment as one of the best songs. Try watching that performance without weeping. What a testimony.

You can listen to my “Best Songs of 2021” Playlist here, featuring 138 songs (and I’m still adding to it)!

Best Books

Note: If I gave my top 10 list of books, it would be an exhaustive list of everything I read. While I do love and value reading, I read a lot in my work so I tend to enjoy music and visual stories with my free time. I also often read books a year after release so that I can enjoy conversations with others who have also read them. So here is a list of my favorite books read this year, all recently released, not all released in 2021 though.

“How (Not) to Read the Bible” by Dan Kimball

Dan Kimball is an excellent teacher and has taken a tough subject that is part apologetics and part hermeneutics, and made something accessible to everyone. Highly recommended.

“The Wisdom Pyramid” by Brett McCracken

Want to know about the book? Read this interview with Brett that was one of my newsletters from earlier this year.

“Deep Discipleship” by JT English

This has inspired a shift in how I approach discipleship within my church. Great theologically, great ecclesiologically, great practically.

“Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortlund

If you read the book you would know why it has sold over a million copies.

“Our Secular Age” edited by Collin Hansen

Charles Taylor’s “A Secular Age” has been so helpful for me in navigating preaching and teaching for my church. But it’s also almost 1,000 pages long. Why not read from a group of writers who wrote about his book instead?

Ok friends, now it’s my turn to hear from you. What are your favorite things from 2021? I would love to hear from you.

Best Songs of 2020

1. exile by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)

2. Sunday Morning by Tyson Motsenbocker

3. Citizens by Jon Guerra

4. You Bring the Morning by Andy Squyres

5. Lightning by Pat Barrett and Harolddd

You can listen to my playlist of all the best songs 2020 on Spotify!

Best Books of 2020

For a variety of reasons my reading output has fallen off dramatically this year, so I’m not going to list off these books in order, but these three books stand above the rest of my favorite reads in 2020.

Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

Though I did read several books on race, faith, and America, McCaulley’s book was especially helpful in learning how to better consider how a black individual might approach the Bible. His insight on the Gospel of Luke, written by a Gentile, was especially helpful.

Handle with Care by Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Lore is first and foremost a wonderful writer. She could probably write on anything related to the Christian life and it would be worth reading.

The Care of Souls by Harold Senkbeil

Though this was released last year, I actually read it this year. Senkbeil wrote this primarily for faith leaders, but I think all followers of Jesus should consider how their lives are impacting others. This was not only nourishing for my soul, it also helped me reflect on how my life can positively shepherd others.

Best Shows of 2020

1. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)

I expected this to somehow fall off the rails, but it actually came across as truthful and fun, at the same time. A hard feat to accomplish in 2020.

2. The Crown (Netflix)

I thought season 3 had more standout episodes than season 4 (this year’s newly released season), and clearly season 4 was noticeably darker with its focus on Princess Diana, but I still find the show especially thoughtful and poignant.

3. Better Call Saul (AMC)

Vince Gilligan, the creator of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, has mastered the anti-hero genre. The “Bagman” episode was probably my favorite episode of the year.

Best Albums of 2020

Jon Guerra “Keeper of Days”

What a thrill to interview him for my podcast around this release. This is a special project.

Taylor Swift “Folklore”

I should probably include “Evermore” here as well and if the two albums were one we’d be talking about these for a long time. Incredible work.

Steffany Gretzinger “Forever Amen”

I have not seen enough people talking about this album. So wonderful.

Tyson Motsenbocker “Someday I’ll Make It All Up To You”

Song after song of great music. How are more people not listening to him? I don’t get it.

Fleet Foxes “Shore”

This has been on repeat since it’s release.

The War of Drugs “Live Drugs”

A live album from my favorite band? Say no more.

John Mark McMillan “Peopled With Dreams”

Easy to forget this was a 2020 release since it was pre-Covid. JMM is a wonderful artist.

Kinnship “Commensality”

Great vibe.

Quite often I include my favorite podcasts and movies, but to be honest 2020 wiped those nearly off my radar. Many of the routines I had that enabled podcast listening and movie watching were wiped out. So get in touch with me with a comment or hit me on Twitter/Instagram with what I missed out on!

A question I’ve been asking people in conversation recently is, “how are you getting through 2020?” It’s a practical question that everyone can relate to because 2020 has been unlike any year prior. It’s also an exposing question because it forces an answer around where hope is found.

Though somewhere around 87% of Americans “believe in God” what many put their hope in is something far more transient than the God of the Bible. Here’s Martin Luther in our functional idols made God:

“(That) which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.”

Luther “The Ten Commandments: The First Commandment”

The Bible makes defiant claims about Jesus as the one true God, full of glory, grace, and truth. And the thing is, you can’t have two gods in your life. You can certainly try to have multiple authorities in your life, but you’ll be constantly sacrificing one to serve another.

In his book Essentialism, Greg McKeown talks about how before the 20th century, priority was only ever used as a singular word, it could never be plural. There was no such thing as priorities.

Now today, of course, we talk about our priorities all the time. We have a lot of things we care about. But McKeown talks about how that’s impossible. You can’t have priorities. His thesis statement in the book is that “if you don’t prioritize your life someone or something else will.”

I feel that truth in 2020 more than ever. There is so much happening, I often feel like I can’t keep up, and that’s often because I’m trying to have priorities instead of focusing on living out my one and only one priority. Or maybe better said, I have allowed many masters to become authority figures.

Of course, this struggle is not new in 2020. Eugene Peterson says that our souls are idol factories. In his letter to the Romans, Paul says we are often drawn to worship creature instead of Creator (Romans 1:25).

Yet, none of these idols ever deliver on their promises, just like every politician falls short of their campaign stump speeches.

It is The Lord who is all-powerful, capable of accomplishing everything you need.

It is The Lord who is all-knowing, capable of understanding your deepest pains.

It is The Lord who is everywhere, a consistent companion through good and bad.

No idols can match Him.

Why Preach Through Whole Books of the Bible?

1. You need to hear from God’s Word more than you need to hear from a preacher.

Now obviously you’re going to hear someone preach, but at times pastors and churches can become susceptible to saying something God’s Word doesn’t teach by trying to focus on being relevant. You can end up hearing from a pastor but not really hearing from God. Going through whole books of the Bible forces us to at least start with God’s Word rather than human thought.

You could take this line of thought even further by recognizing that one of the things our culture says is that you truly find yourself by looking within yourself. In fact, this same perspective exists within the church. With this as a foundational view on life, everything must be practical. If a specific teaching or idea doesn’t obviously help right away we are quick to devalue it.

I believe God’s Word is incredibly practical and helpful and nothing is more important for us to focus on with our time and energy whether at church or home, but God’s Word isn’t always practical in that moment—it doesn’t always scratch our itch. So we have this tendency of shifting our lives and even our churches to try to be so practical that we lose out on the power of hearing from God through his Word.

2. It’s valuable to know the whole counsel of God’s Word.

It’s easy to preach on Jeremiah 29:11—’for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future.’ It’s more difficult to engage with a story or teaching of God’s judgment against sin. The Bible doesn’t say some of the words are more important than others. The Bible doesn’t say we should only care about the things Jesus says and ignore the rest.

Slowly working through a book of the Bible means you can’t skip the difficult or R-rated passages. All Scripture is given by God and is meant to be helpful to us (2 Tim. 3:16).

3. All of God’s Word points to our need for the saving work of Jesus.

In The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones says, “Every story whispers his name.” Jesus says as much on the road to Emmaus, revealing to two disciples how even the Old Testament Scriptures point to him.

To ignore the parts of Scripture we find difficult or troubling is to miss out on facets of Christ’s glory found in God’s Word. For me, preaching through books of the Bible helps me to see and point others to the glory of Christ in new and timely, providential ways.

Nearly two months ago, my family moved into a new (to us) home, only a few miles from our previous home in Salem, Oregon. Throughout the entire process, we were fortunate to have the guidance of experienced conveyancing solicitors just like these conveyancing solicitors in Essex, who ensured that every legal aspect of our move was handled smoothly and efficiently. The process of looking and finding full service movers near me happened so fast I’ve spent these past two months processing its significance.

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The obvious question you might have is: Why would I hire ThreeMovers just to move a few miles during a pandemic? Doesn’t my family have enough things going on between leading a church and doing distance learning with our children? (Of course we do). There are some particulars I could share, but my goal in this piece is to sketch out a bigger picture of why we have a new house to call home, which is great as it even have 2 floors and nice stairs and we also added some stair runner rugs to make it look even better.

In a variety of ways I believe American society is breaking down. Though I was not alive during The Civil War or the Vietnam protests or the Watts riots in Los Angeles, I see nothing but division in the lead up to this year’s Presidential election. David Brooks recently wrote a lengthy article on the breakdown of trust in America. 73% of adults under 30 believe that “most of the time, people just look out for themselves.” Or there’s a recent study stating that 15% of Republicans and 20% of Democrats thought the country would be better off if some of their political foes “just died.” It is not hyperbole to say that many aspects of society are falling apart.

While I could decry this reality, ultimately I want to do what I can, where I can. This doesn’t mean my actions will change the world, but they might change a life, which is a good place to start.

In the earliest years of churches being built in America, pastors would live in a parsonage located on the church property. Though this is far less common today, I have always seen my house as an extension of the church ministry. Some of my most significant moments of ministry over the last 6 years happened in our previous home. We have always wanted our home to be a gathering place where people can build relationships with God and with one another.

The book of Genesis begins with the creation account in chapters 1 and 2, highlighting God’s creation of literally everything. Within this is an important detail on how God created. The Genesis account of creation is broken up into two parts, one big picture creation (chapter 1), one localized (chapter 2). The first account is expanding and borderless, the second account is in a garden. We must take note of both creation accounts, not just the God who makes the heavens and the earth, but also the God who makes man and places him in a garden.

Why does this matter? It’s easy to see God as far beyond us, powerful enough to create everything, but not involved in the intimate details. For too many, God exists in the big picture but never enters their own local garden. God is a concept, not a tangible reality; He’s in the sky, not inside the fence.

Eugene Peterson describes localized spirituality in this way:

“Biblical spirituality/religion has a low tolerance for ‘great ideas’ or ‘sublime truths’ or ‘inspirational thoughts’ apart from the people and places in which they occur. God’s great love and purposes for us are all worked out in the messes in our kitchens and backyards.”

(Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, 75)

What our society often longs for is a utopian existence where we have all of our desires met, where we never have to interact with those unlike ourselves. In making this our goal we divorce ourselves from the reality of the places God has rooted us right now, and in the end, miss out on the ways he longs to meet us. God’s work is only completed where God places us.

Yes, moving into this new home is about creating a sanctuary for my family, but it’s also about cultivating an oasis among the firs, meticulously crafted by dependable roofers and esteemed roof contractors in Utah. As we envision this space, we seek to foster a garden-like atmosphere, where we warmly welcome others to discover their sense of belonging in the Lord’s presence. May this home stand as a beacon, guiding us and countless others closer to Him, just as a steadfast gutter company in Cool Springs ensures the seamless flow and protection of our shelter.

Now that the two major US political parties have hosted their conventions, announcing their candidates and platforms, it is time to decide who is worthy of my vote for President of the United States. Four years ago I published an article outlining why I found myself unable to vote for either of the two-party candidates nominated in the 2016 Presidential election. I find myself in a similar place again.

I have many dear friends who I respect and value that will be voting for Joe Biden and Donald Trump. In sharing my reasons for not voting for either of them I am not valuing these friendships less, I am simply sharing a different perspective.

I am at heart a moderate in most things, including politics—wanting to find the best sustainable solution, rejecting polarities. I am also a Christian who wants the teachings and example of Jesus to inform my conduct, including how I vote. I hope my perspective can be helpful for those of you looking for something that seeks to ignore the political partisanship of these days.

I share these thoughts not to be divisive, but to process what I hope is for many is a decision worthy of contemplation and study. In my home state of Oregon my vote for a President is irrelevant and will not change the outcome. What I do hope can change is the trajectory we find ourselves on in public discourse and political engagement. I hope you find my process of working through the validity of both candidates to be helpful.

Why I Cannot Vote for Joe Biden

1. He reversed his stance on the Hyde Amendment.

I don’t want to overstate this because I don’t think the Hyde Amendment is some beacon of solace for those who are against abortion, but Biden’s reversal on the Hyde Amendment is troubling because of what it represents.

What is the Hyde Amendment? It was put into place as a way of appeasing anti-abortion groups by not allowing federal dollars to go to abortion funding. The thinking is that those who are opposed to abortion should not have their tax dollars funding it.

Up until last year Biden agreed, but now he has changed course because he believes the Hyde Amendment impedes necessary health care changes under his universal health care plan.

I find this troubling because it represents a partisan move, with Biden distancing himself from those who have a different perspective on abortion. I believe abortion is a stain on the United States and its historical legacy as a people, and I cannot vote for someone who no longer wants to recognize the validity of my stance on our moral obligation to steward the lives of the most vulnerable of all people groups, the un-born.

2. Kamala Harris as VP represents a move far left of center.

As someone who wants to see Congress work together toward practical solutions, I had hoped Joe Biden would choose a candidate who had a history of bipartisan work. Biden, however, chose the least moderate of all possible VP choices in a current elected position. According to GovTrack Kamala Harris joined bi-partisan bills the least often of all Senate Democrats.

Harris recently questioned a judge up for nomination based on his affiliation with a Catholic organization that has long held an anti-abortion stance:

“Were you aware that the Knights of Columbus opposed a woman’s right to choose when you joined the organization?”

Her question suggests that there is no place in public service for those who have competing views with her own. Americans cannot move forward as a society, in a positive manner, if this kind of partisan perspective becomes the norm.

3. Democrats have reluctantly accepted Biden.

This is a more subjective statement and cannot be expounded upon with quotes and facts. It’s more of a feeling, and it’s a line many Democrats have relied on in championing Biden as their candidate—”the stakes are too high not to vote for Biden.” I find it uncompelling to vote for someone because the other options are far worse.

Why I Cannot Vote for Donald Trump

Four years ago here were my main reasons to not vote for Trump:

• He’s not a leader, he’s a dictator in style.
• He uses his Christian faith as a political prop.
• He will hinder religious liberty.

All of those reasons have proven to stay true, but with one Presidential term to look at, I have other reasons why I believe Donald Trump is not fit for the Presidential office.

1. He has not sought to be the President for all people in the United States.

In times of crisis the Presidential thing is to seek to bring people together and to champion the power of a unified country. What Trump has done with every single crisis is to tear apart his dissenters on Twitter, seeking to increase the divide between left and right through polarizing language and baiting tactics.

Take for instance Trump’s actions following the international protests that took place following the murder of George Floyd. In a press conference Trump made it be known he would use force to quiet any violence, drawing on the Insurrection Act of 1807.

Following the statement, Trump deployed military police from the local area’s National Guard to forcefully clear protesters from Lafayette Square, located a stone’s throw from the White House, to have a photo op with a Bible (not his Bible, just a Bible, as he mentioned) in his hand on the steps of a nearby historic church.

As a Christian, I find it appalling that the Bible would be used as a prop that somehow legitimizes his authoritarian act of removing peace protesters. To justify one’s action over another by saying God is on your side instead of theirs is peak arrogance that seeks to stoke the fires of division. The Office of President should be above the kinds of partisan acts. The reality is that Trump has used the office to continue his campaign, pandering to his base, rather than lead all Americans.

2. The policies Trump’s Administration have implemented around immigration and refugees are not biblical.

For now, let’s leave “The Wall” out of this. Instead, let’s discuss the border detention camps and the policies around religious refugees. While it is true that the border detention camps, housing people in cages, were built under the Obama administration, Trump has ramped up focus on immigration, using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to find and deport non-US citizens.

So maybe Trump’s immigration and refugee policies aren’t that bad? Well, no. While Trump has taken a strong stand against illegal immigration, he has also made legal immigration increasingly difficult. Some estimates say the Trump administration has reduced legal immigration and naturalization by over 50% in the last 4 years.

And then there are refugees, numbering over 20 million worldwide, and most recently Trump’s Administration has lowered the number of refugees the US will accept per year to be 18,000 (a 500% decrease in 4 years), putting quality Christian organizations such as World Relief nearly out of work. In fact, at our current rate, less than 10,000 refugees will be resettled this year, a far cry from the 130,000+ resettled under the George H.W. Bush Administration.

I care about this because as a Christian, God’s Word gives mandates around care for foreigners and refugees (Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Matthew 25:37-41). I believe we need more tables, not fences.

3. The current pandemic crisis we face is at least partly due to the inaction of Trump.

This one is quite simple. There is no way to know whether Trump or any other President could have more successfully navigated Covid-19. But I do believe that Trump’s unwillingness to put the full weight of his authority around wearing masks and fast, low-cost testing has put us in the position where nearly 200,000 people have died and every American’s life has been altered. It did not have to be this way. For a man who prides himself on quick decision-making, he has failed this one.

Last week Trump made the promise of delivering a vaccine by the end of the year, which is something I hope comes to pass. Of course, Trump made a similar promise in May. He also made this promise in front of an audience who was not honoring any social distance guidelines, as well as only a few wearing masks. If scientists are saying these two steps are the most helpful things we can do to combat the virus, why isn’t the President helping increase the adoption of these guidelines? A vaccine would be great, but, now a half-year into the crisis we needed the leadership and example of the President to prevent the rampant spread of the virus.

In Summary

Although neither of these men meets the threshold of being worthy of my vote, they are the candidates we deserve. My frustrations with their candidacy are reflected in society as a whole. We do such a poor job of considering those who sit on the other side of the ideological aisle.

If you find yourself frustrated that these candidates are the best we can do, I would encourage you to consider what part you have to own in helping your little pocket of our great country to move forward together.

Despite living in a pandemic, my family has been exploring moving. Why not just let the crazy get a little crazier, right? We’ve looked at houses, gotten our house ready to sell, and now we’re just a few weeks from moving.

Before moving, homeowners may first need to sell their current properties. We buy Texas land, helping property owners turn their real estate into cash quickly and efficiently without any stress.

As the stay home orders in my state were issued back in March, I had several weeks of sleep debilitating anxiety, largely to the increased demands I was experiencing at my church. Then things leveled off and I felt normal. Until, last month. Again, sleep debilitating anxiety, mostly because I couldn’t get my mind to stop playing through all the worst-case scenarios of buying and selling a house. Taking short breaks with ufabet can also provide a fun and simple way to relieve stress during overwhelming days. Visit online casinos like rocketspin casino to enjoy an exciting casino experience from the comfort of your own home.

Though the circumstances of moving and a pandemic are wholly different, the mind-racing outcome in my life is connected: I was losing control. And for me, as a consistent, routine-oriented person, control is what I need, or at least the feeling of it. I structure my life in order to have a feeling of control. How ironic that I cling to control and yet my vocation is helping people take steps of faith toward Jesus.

Here’s the big conclusion I’ve come to in trying to work through my struggle with losing control of certainty in my life: control is a myth!

Blaise Pascal, the scientist turned Christian apologist, describes the uneasiness we all live with:

“When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in an eternity before and after, the little space I fill engulfed in the infinite immensity of spaces whereof I know nothing, and which know nothing of me, I am terrified…The eternal silence of these infinite spaces alarms me”

(Pascal, Thoughts, 28)

What Pascal is pushing toward is the fear we all have of uncertainty. I may have faith in Jesus, but every human has faith. Or better said, every person places their hope somewhere. Why? Because with so much uncertainty we naturally try to find answers that provide a more foundational understanding of life.

In earning several degrees my sense of knowledge actually decreased instead of increasing. You might think that my time spent studying and learning would give me a greater sense of my own abilities to know and learn, but in fact, the opposite happened. As I learned I became more aware of how much I didn’t know. I think living in our age of technology and scientific achievement paints a similar picture: we still don’t know much.

In these pandemic times, many have looked to science to find answers, and while science gives us clues about how best to respond, a mutating virus does not make concrete answers possible. Even the things meant to provide answers don’t fulfill. Walker Percy describes this well:

“You live in a deranged age—more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.”

Control is a myth. Even the best of science and technology has not been able to keep a virus from tearing apart every seemingly stable area of our lives. Back in the early days of Covid restrictions I posted Psalm 91, as a timely work of God’s sheltering presence in the midst of uncertainty. Here’s a brief section:

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.

Psalm 91:9-10

I don’t have simple answers for helping you release control. If I had the answers I could write this in past tense instead of present. But no, this is my current reality—desiring for something I cannot obtain: control. What I do have is God’s Word that reminds us of the certainty of His activity and presence in our lives. I’ll put my faith in Him.

During these Covid days, many have mentioned that we are fighting a battle against an unseen enemy, and this point is well taken. But I do believe we have missed the bigger point—there is a greater unseen enemy who may be winning a more important battle.

What this enemy desires to do is use the present world-wide battle against the unseen Covid enemy to confuse and divide. This plays out every day as people shout their opinions with a lack of care for the experience of others and a lack of charity for those who have a different understanding. The truest unseen enemy is successfully using our present battle against a separate unseen enemy to malign the body of Christ.

After the disciples asked Jesus, “how then should we pray?” Jesus responded by ending a prayer with the statement, “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). Our lack of willingness to recognize Satan’s unseen schemes is ever before us today.

Near the end of World War II a German pastor gave a sermon in Stuttgart about the presence of evil in his home country.

Year by year we have seen an increasingly poisonous atmosphere settling down upon our globe and we sense how real and almost tangible are the evil spirits in the air, seeing an invisible hand passing an invisible cup of poison from nation to nation and throwing them into confusing.

Helmet Thielicke

Is he speaking of the mid-1940s or early 2020? Confusion is everywhere. Masks are political. Is going to church an act of defiance against oppression or a life-risking choice? Depends on who you talk to. Are we going to continue to blind ourselves to Satan’s desire to throw us into confusion? Are we going to continue to blind ourselves to our role in that confusion?

The church can and should be the voice of reason while the crowds try to throw us into confusion. During his prophetic ministry Jeremiah refused to give in to the calamity around him. He, like John the Baptist, was a voice in the wilderness pointing to the Savior.

The days of social media mean that everyone has a megaphone, but too often it is Christians who help build the confusion Satan desires. We end up fighting the wrong battle, for the wrong side. Eugene Peterson said about Jeremiah, “While Jeremiah was often in crowds, he was not crowd-conditioned. The crowd did not dictate his message. The crowd did not shape his values” (Run with the Horses).

May the Lord deliver us from all evil; the unseen evil of Satan’s schemes, the unseen enemy moving around the globe. Help us to be voices of clarity, not confusion. Help us to give others charity instead of judgment. May it be so.

On this episode hear from Jon Guerra describe his background that led into leading worship with Vertical Worship (4:40), creating devotional music (24:35), and most recently working on the film score for A Hidden Life, Terrence Malick’s latest movie (30:25).

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You can find Jon Guerra’s music on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube. 

Be sure to listen to his latest record Keeper of Days, releasing this Friday April 24th. It’s wonderful.