Spirituality and Tech

This sounds like an echo of Jesus talking about hypocrisy, in Matthew 7. I think that this should be pretty self-explanatory, but then common sense is lacking these days... Do not use this as a justification for sin. Just because someone who has struggled with a particular thing in the past is confronting you in love doesn’t give you the right to beat them over the head with this line of thinking. It is not an instant acquittal card. Even if they are being a hypocrite, it is incumbent on you to receive that critique gracefully, discern it, then take it to the Lord if the conviction sticks. If you are the corrector who is still in the same pattern, maybe don’t say anything to the other person, unless you are actively trying to break the pattern. #definitionsthursday #stathanasius #patristics #hypocrisy #judgment #memesplanation #TechFreedom

Here is a controversy that is still raging in theological circles... The nature of free will. Does it exist? Augustine knew that it does exist. I agree with that, as I sense that it is a part of the image of God, it is where our personal sovereignty resides. I’m not going to go deeper into that today, but if it exists, and can be corrupted, then we need to be aware of that. It cannot truly be said to be free, if it cannot be influenced in one way or the other, whether for good or evil. #FFW #memesplanation #quotes #churchfathers #patristics #freewill #good #evil #augustine #TechFreedom

Thankfulness leads to humility. When we thank God for everything, whether breaths, accomplishments, or material goods, we recognize that we are not the source of our lives. This diffuses that rather nasty human trait of pride. When we recognize that all we are and all we have did not originate in or with us, but is a gift from God, then how can we be anything but humble? This is not a humility of “woe is me, I’m a worm”, but a mindset, rather, of “I am blessed and God is the source of those blessings, so I get to steward them.” There is a confidence that comes there that is not related to pride, but of knowing one’s right place, as I talked about last week. #TTT #saints #quotes #memesplanation #thankfulness #humility #TechFreedom

In writing a paper last week, I was confronted with the reality that often, the Church idolizes relevance more than it actually serves God. It is a problem when we place anything above God, but when the culture is as corrupt as it is now, it is exceedingly troubling. We are meant to be salt and light, but when we rubber stamp all of the sins that we are meant to stand against, and refuse to correct people in love, then how can we call ourselves the Body of Christ? If we seek to serve culture more than God by chasing after relevance more than after His heart, then how can we claim to be His, rather than friends with the world? #distromonday #stathanasius #relevance #servegod #churchfathers #memesplanation #TechFreedom

Father, Thank You for being present with us. Thank You for promising that we will receive the land. Thank You that those who stand against You will be cut off from the land. Thank You for guiding and establishing our steps. I ask that You would reconfirm all the things that we have sensed You leading us into. Establish our steps, Oh God. Help us to delight in You, and for our lives to delight you. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Psalm 37:22-4 TPT Yahweh’s blessed ones receive the land, but the cursed ones will be cut off with nothing to show for themselves. When Yahweh delights in how you live your life, he establishes your every step. If they stumble badly they will still survive, for the Lord lifts them up with his hands. When, oh Lord? When do we see these things? It seems like we are on the cusp, but You won’t give any of Your friends the details right now. As we take a look at this old promise today, it feels all the more poignant and needed than ever. All I can do is to encourage all of us, including myself, to keep believing. Hold on to these promises. Believe that we and our children will be the beneficiaries of these ancient promises. Appropriate them. Make them yours. I have to be honest here, as much as I want to blithely go along and act as though it is not hard to do what I am calling on us to do, I can’t. This season is hard. It needs to end, two years ago. Possibly more like 3, frankly. For those who have been more aware and awake for longer, I salute you. I don’t think I would’ve had the fortitude to stick with it as long as you have. How have you stuck with the truth and held onto hope for as long as you have? How are you not entirely “black pilled” so to speak? Ok, back to the text... God, do as you say here, establish our steps, we who are your delight. We who are the apple of your eye. I repent. I repent for being tempted to despair. I repent for trying to make things go and be my way, with my understanding. It is not enough. Thank you that you have always caused me to survive in the midst of my stumbles. I need your understanding, I need wisdom to make the choices that will lead to blessing for my family and this world. Thank you that you have lifted me, and are lifting me, even now. I leave the timing, as wonderful as it would be to have it all happen publicly tomorrow, and the method to you, Oh Lord. You know all. You have all wisdom. You know how to execute justice fully to bring the most of your image bearers into communion with you. Save us, Oh God. I forsake the pride that would insinuate otherwise, that I could know better than you.

What have you overcome? What hardships and struggles have brought you to the person you are today? Own that history. Do NOT hide from it. Your wounds and scars give you authority because you walked THROUGH those things and have proof for it. This is not an invitation to the victim Olympics, mind you. This is an invitation to openness about those things which have formed you, rather than hiding from them. #freedomsaturday #noshame #confidence #openness #honesty #overcome #overcomer #memesplanation #TechFreedom

May think that he was one of the worst presidents, though his spot at #1 seems to be solidly eclipsed by not-abidin. Either way, I think that this quote is a good one. If you are a Christian, and I expect that most of you are, this also applies for us, as he was a Baptist pastor, for whatever that was worth. Let us each do what we can to make a difference, today. However small or insignificant that may seem in the moment. It could change someone’s life even if it feels like nothing to you. #freeyourpcfriday #carter #meh #bethechange #changealife #memesplanation #TechFreedom

Why can’t we adopt this attitude every day? How much would that change your life if you looked for things to be grateful for everything rather than shredding it or whining if it isn’t “just so”, or as my son would say, “Certain”. Shift your perception, starting today, and choose to be grateful for even those difficult family members and situations we all face. Be thankful for the fact that they are alive, and that you are alive. Recognize the miracles entailed in that. #definitionsthursday #ThanksgivingDay #thankfulness #gratitude #grateful #perspective #shift #memesplanation #TechFreedom

What is love? (tell me you didn’t have Night at the Roxbury pop into your head, with Farrell and Carvey rocking out to the song on the way to the club) CS Lewis rightly observes that love is not a feeling, but a consistent desire to see the best possible things happen for the one whom you love. That feeling can, and often does, stem from consistent actions toward the end of achieving the highest possible good for another. But that feeling is not love. I love you all. That is why I try to help you get free from Big Tech. Today also happens to mark our first anniversary. One year ago, I started this channel with a simple message and the hope that I could help the world to break away from Big Tech. #FFW #love #whatislove #cslewis #memesplanation #TechFreedom #anniversary #oneyear

Empathy and understanding lead to ceasing hostilities under natural circumstances. This does not work, however, with those who have given themselves entirely to evil in one way or the other. That sets us at diametric odds with [them] and their desires. There cannot be peace with that which is behind and undergirds [them]. On the other hand, if they repent, then this can be applicable to those relationships, as well. When, as Longfellow observes, we see their pain and suffering, we find ways to forgive them and move past that former opposition. #TTT #longfellow #quotes #memesplanation #forgiveness #empathy #understanding #TechFreedom

Great reminder. The best is yet to come. We move from glory, to greater glory. C.S. Lewis knew this to be true. This is an echo of Paul, from the New Testament. Take heart. Have hope for the future, believe and work towards those things that you want to see. Remember the good and the bad from the past, so that you do not become captivated by nostalgia. Nostalgia colors everything with a rosier hue than it really had. #distromonday #cslewis #glorytoglory #holdon #kccm #Bible #memesplanation #TechFreedom

Consider that we very well may be in the midst of this sort of deliverance, now. The peoples whom Israel failed to destroy are the same as those who have set up the world as it is. We are being delivered and taking possession of the land that they have controlled for too long. There will come a time when action will be required of more of us. In the meantime, appreciate this retelling of the Exodus narrative by the Psalmist. Psalms 136 TPT His Tender Love 1 Let everyone thank God, for he is good, and he is easy to please! His tender love for us continues on forever! 2 Give thanks to God, our King over all gods! His tender love for us continues on forever! 3 Give thanks to the Lord over all lords! His tender love for us continues on forever! 4 Give thanks to the only miracle-working God! His tender love for us continues on forever! 5 Give thanks to the Creator who made the heavens with wisdom! His tender love for us continues on forever! 6 To him who formed dry ground, raising it up from the sea! His tender love for us continues on forever! 7 Praise the one who created every heavenly light! His tender love for us continues on forever! 8 He set the sun in the sky to rule over day! His tender love for us continues on forever! 9 Praise him who set in place the moon and stars to rule over the night! His tender love for us continues on forever! 10 Give thanks to God, who struck down the firstborn in Egypt! His tender love for us continues on forever! 11 He brought his people out of Egypt with miracles! His tender love for us continues on forever! 12 With his mighty power he brought them out! His tender love for us continues on forever! 13 He split open the Red Sea for them! His tender love for us continues on forever! 14 And led his people right through the middle! His tender love for us continues on forever! 15 He vanquished Pharaoh’s armies, drowning them all! His tender love for us continues on forever! 16 He led his people through the wilderness! His tender love for us continues on forever! 17 He’s the one who smashed mighty kingdoms! His tender love for us continues on forever! 18 He triumphed over powerful kings who stood in his way! His tender love for us continues on forever! 19 He conquered Sihon, king of the Amorites! His tender love for us continues on forever! 20 He conquered the giant named Og, king of Bashan! His tender love for us continues on forever! 21 Then he gave away their lands as an inheritance! His tender love for us continues on forever! 22 For he handed it all over to Israel, his beloved! His tender love for us continues on forever! 23 He’s the God who chose us when we were nothing! His tender love for us continues on forever! 24 He has rescued us from the power of our enemies! His tender love for us continues on forever! 25 He provides food for hungry men and animals! His tender love for us continues on forever! 26 Give thanks to the great God of the heavens! His tender love for us continues on forever!

I was talking about humility recently, and this fits the bill as a succinct summation of it, however, I would add that it is the ability to think of oneself less because one is more concerned with God’s thoughts about you and the rest of the world, vs your own thoughts and opinions. We get to that place when we trust that He truly has us, so we don’t have to scramble to defend ourselves or anything like that, because our Father has us taken care of.

Pertinent words from CS Lewis today, what do you sense that this season in your life or our country’s life do you think might be preparing you or us for? I have always sensed this truth in my life, though to be honest, I am unsure how all of the pieces fit together right now. I still believe it, though. He is too good to waste things in our lives, even when we blow them up ourselves.

Another quote from St. Ireneus, this time breaking down what the incarnation was. Life in Christ is a process of being transformed from glory to glory, according to Paul, but to what end? Ireneus suggests here that the ultimate end is communion with God, as Jesus prayed for us in John 17. God has been on a restoration project from the moment Adam and Eve ate that fruit. The ultimate end of that project is that all His image-bearers would be able to unite in Him, both individually and corporately, that is the image of the marriage feast of the Lamb in Revelation.

How can we be “fully alive”? There is a bit more to this quote than is shown here... The rest goes something like, “And man is only fully alive when he beholds God.” Or something like that. How do we behold God? Partially in nature, partially in Scripture, partially in one another, and partially in prayer. Which of these things ring the most true in your life?

As we begin our move toward Christmas, remember that this is still true of the Lord. He will never break the brokenhearted, He will gently protect the ones who admit to being at their rope’s end, and He will come through for you. Truth. This passage is from Isaiah 42, and is about the Messiah, or the Servant of the Lord, whose commission it is to set the world to rights. Jesus is still about that work for and in us and the world. Find comfort in that Truth, today.

Ephesians 3:20-21... How able is God? However big your imagination of His power and glory may be, He is immeasurably more able than that. Give Him the glory for how He is going to change our situation. As always, though, if He leads you to do something, just do it. What can you do to shift things for people, one thing at a time? How can you be a blessing? #distromonday #memesplananation #God #Heisable #anything #ephesians3 #Bible #TechFreedom

Father, As we look at this week’s passage, help us to rest in you. Help us to know that we will always have more than enough, no matter what, as long as we stay In Christ. Thank you that the wicked are momentary, but we, your faithful lovers, are forever. Thank you that you enable us to return more than we borrow. Thank you that the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, Amen Psalm 37: 19-21 (TPT) Even in a time of disaster he will watch over them, and they will always have more than enough no matter what happens. All the enemies of God will perish. For the wicked have only a momentary value, a fading glory. Then one day they vanish! Here today, gone tomorrow. They break their promises, borrowing money but never paying it back. The good man returns what he owes with some extra besides. Even in times such as these, we can trust that the Lord has our back, we can trust that He will always make sure that He will provide more than enough for us, every time, no matter what. Rest in that truth. He provides more than enough, after all, you and I are here, now, not 6 feet under. No matter how much we choose to exalt the problems that we face over God in our lives (worrying or fearing the worst), we always land in a way that we can recover from. This is coming from a man who has been in the bread line, a man who grew up in soup kitchens, a man who has failed in business in the past, so badly that my family has lost a home. Yet, we have always had food on the table, never lost our car, and our boys have grown as they should. God has always provided for us, and usually more than we really needed, one way or another. In contrast, the enemies of God have no real staying power. They may succeed fabulously at foolish, oppressive ends for a time, but the wheels will fall off. They will not be remembered well in posterity, if at all. Those who borrow, but never intend to repay their debts... These are the enemies of God who will suddenly cease to be. They will be here today, but gone tomorrow. God will deal with them, don’t worry, just stay cozy. How does this apply to us? Think of the powers-that-have-been, are they truly succeeding, other than in momentary gains? We might be tempted to despair over the state of our nation, over the fact that [they] are appearing to win, and cheat openly, to not have any real repercussions for those treasonous actions they have taken in rigging and tampering with the election. Cry out for justice. Cry out in repentance for the ways in which we as Christians might have dropped the ball or anything like that. Sit in His presence and wait, allow Him to guide you. That will put you into the category with staying power, rather than here today, gone tomorrow.

Be reminded, God has your back. He will strengthen you if you lean on Him. He is your protector, if you will trust Him. He is Good. He is faithful. Choose to trust Him today. Straight up. Test Him. Prove Him. #distromonday #Truth #trustGod #Isaiah #restinHim #memesplanation #TechFreedom

Father, Show us the truth of this passage. Help us to trust you more than we trust in finances or any other similar thing that we would normally place faith in, whether a political system, financial investments, a job or career, or even interpersonal relationships. As we grow in trusting You, help us not be distracted by the storms around us. Help us to be at peace, in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen Psalm 37:16-8 (TPT) It is much better to have little combined with much of God than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked and nothing else. For the Lord takes care of all his forgiven ones while the strength of evil men will surely slip away. Day by day the Lord watches the good deeds of the godly, and he prepares for them his forever-reward. The less is more reality offered in this passage flies in the face of conventional thinking and what we are taught about being ambitious. Choosing to be ok with less, as long as it is not less freedom that we are guaranteed in our constitution, can be liberating as well as being a great way to keep your nose clean, so to speak. What I haven’t talked about yet is that the balance is having “much of God” vs “nothing more”. Just being destitute or impoverished is not what God desires for us, but He does desire that we would depend on Him, or rather recognize our dependence on Him for each heartbeat and every breath. That is harder to do when we have more resources available to us, isn’t it? That is why Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich (self-satisfied, self-centered) person to enter the Kingdom. If we do not come unto God as children, recognizing our reality of being utterly dependent on Him for everything, then we will not experience having “much” of Him, whether we have “much” in the natural or not. Our place is that of humility. Humility is simply recognizing our actual place in the universe, as contingent beings. We are because He is. We exist to glorify Him. We exist to multiply His image on the Earth . He does not depend on us, we depend on Him. However, He loves us. He treasures each of us, knowing the number of hairs on each of our heads as well as catching every tear that we have ever cried. He knows you. He values you. Have you been forgiven? Are you in that category of people whom God cares for, or are you experiencing your strength slipping away? This is not so say that attacks do not occur for those who are righteous, as they certainly do, but do you sense God’s care in your life? You are one who will receive a forever-reward. We all have an image in our heads that may be a bit different from one another, but to me, that forever-reward sounds like the promise of heaven, a place where we will not be confronted with loss or lack or pain or injustice any longer. What comes to mind for you?

Father, As we choose to be shaped by your Word, I ask that you would help us to keep our noses clean. Help us to hear you laugh at the Enemy and his followers. Let us see their weapons be turned against them in their hands. Let their plotting and planning to destroy your innocent ones, your beloved children, blow up in their faces. May they never recover. Let there be repentance on their part, just as we repent for our part in making the world less heavenly. Help us to be humble and not gloat over their destruction, even though it would feel good to do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Psalm 37:12-5 (TPT) Let the wicked keep plotting against the godly with all their sneers and arrogant jeers. God laughs at the wicked and their plans, for he knows their day is coming! Evil ones take aim at the poor and helpless; they are ready to slaughter those who do right. But the Lord will turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves, piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are helpless. I don’t know about you, but I want, no, need, to see the wicked ones who have nearly destroyed the planet get their comeuppance. I am not talking about those who are at the bottom trying to survive in the systems created by [them], to be clear. I am talking about [them], [their] masters, and the evil spirits that animate their choices. Those entities that tell [them] that [they] are somehow better than we are. Those entities who encourage [them] to follow their worst impulses, destroying children, families, communities, and the environment itself. I am reminded of the NICE in the C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy, specifically in That Hideous Strength. The NICE was literally run by a demon talking to the leaders through the decapitated head of a murderer. Only the demon was called a “macrobe”, and in the Space Trilogy, they came from the moon, which they had made lifeless over the millennia. I need to hear the Father’s laughter, scornful, derisive laughter over these enemies. I know that I shouldn’t take joy in their destruction, but it is so hard not to. I see facades slipping and masks of alleged benevolence starting to melt off of the waxen faces of those who have given themselves over to the Enemy. The thing that we need to remember, more than even that [they] are coming to an end, is that the physical bodies of the people who have given [their] souls for power and influence are not our enemies. It is the Powers behind them that are. This is why we are not to execute vengeance for ourselves. God still loves them and wants to see them repent and come Home, but he knows how that will all go, and we cannot afford to get in the way of that.

Father, Come and be with us. Help us to experience the shalom that this verse refers to, even in the midst of the dark seeming to get darker, and the ride seeming to spin more and more out of control. Thank you that we can run to you and be at peace, even in the craziest of times. Thank you that you promise us inheritance if we stay humble, aligned with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen Psalm 37:11 (TPT) But the humble of heart will inherit every promise and enjoy abundant peace. I suppose that the first question that needs answering is what is humilty? How does one exhibit humilty of heart? To me, humilty is not about any kind of artificial low self esteem or even self-loathing. No. That is false humilty. That is religion. Humilty is an accurate understanding of who you are in God. You are His beloved child. Not a red-headed step child, only good as a receptacle for abuse, but you are a golden child. You are a favorite. That may strike you as odd, given that likely your life has not been easy. Maybe you were abused, maybe you still are in an abusive relationship. I don’t know. I was abused as a kid. My life has been less easy than some, largely due to choices I’ve made, coupled with things that I was taught that were wrong. It is what it is. I used to think that humilty was the friars in “The Holy Grail” walking around chanting, and smacking themselves with lumber whenever they had a stray thought that was less than holy, or something like that. The TRUTH, though, is that we are supposed to be confident in the Lord, not doormats. We can stand strong without lashing out at people who offend us or hurt us in some way. We can love ourselves because Jesus loved us first, and still does. It is that not lashing out part that I think this passage is focused on in context. If we live humbly, with quiet confidnce that our Father has our back, and will see to the undoing of the Wicked, that He will vindicate us in the end, then we will see His promises begin to manifest. We will have peace, even as [they] mistreat us wholesale. We can look at the circumstnaces of life without despair or anger, or the desire to take revenge, because we know that God has it handled for us. This allows us to begin to experience shalom, that is, wholeness, health, prosperity, and inner peace, all these things that we seek after through our own devices, all our lives, but they usually elude us, other than for brief moments. The promise to the humble, here, and I might even stretch it to the meek. Not the weak, mind you, but the meek, or those who have strength, but restrain it, rather than just seeking vengreance for every percieved wrong or slight. That is humilty, that is the power to wait on God to work it out for you. Let’s ask Him this question, as we practice our listening prayer today: Lord, how can I grow in humility now? How can I see all of these promises fulfilled? How can I have shalom, now?