Ryan Shinn – Welcome

Put On Love – Colossians 3:12–17

Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

This passage reads like straightforward instruction, and in many ways it is. Paul lays out what a life shaped by Christ should look like, not in abstract terms but in everyday behavior. Forgiveness stands at the center of it. Being forgiven by God while refusing to forgive others simply does not fit within the way God works. Love, gratitude, and forgiveness are not optional traits here. They are commanded because they reflect the character of Christ himself.

What strikes me is how closely thankfulness and forgiveness are tied together. People who are thankful tend to be more generous and more patient with others. They are usually easier to be around. I want to be that kind of person. The challenge, of course, is that this is often hardest with the people closest to me. This passage reminds me that Christlike love does not stop at the edges of convenience. If I want to live in a way that reflects Jesus, then forgiveness, gratitude, and love have to show up consistently, especially at home.

Dust of the Rabbi – Luke 5:1–11

Luke 5:10b–11 – “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

This passage carries more weight than it might appear at first glance. Simon and the others were fishermen, which likely meant they had not made it through the full layers of Jewish religious education. In their own words and actions, they knew they were not obvious candidates to be chosen.

Yet Jesus, a respected rabbi, calls them anyway. When Simon announces his own sinfulness, that he doesn’t measure up, Jesus does not turn away. Instead, he invites him to follow. In that culture, that invitation meant more than learning information. It meant becoming like the rabbi and doing the things the rabbi does.

That changes how I read this passage. Jesus calling Simon means Jesus saw something in him, confidence that Simon could walk with him and grow into what he was called to be. In the same way, Jesus calls us to follow him with the same kind of trust. He knows our limitations, but he also knows what he can do through us.

A right response is not to strive harder, but to stay close. To let his presence guide…to be attentive, still, and willing to move when he moves. The goal is not perfection, but proximity. To follow closely enough that I am shaped by him, learning as I go, covered in the dust of my rabbi.

Unity – Ephesians 4:1–6

Ephesians 4:2 – “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

Paul’s call here is practical and relational. He is writing to believers and urging them to live in a way that matches what God has already done in them. Humility, gentleness, and patience are not abstract virtues. They are everyday habits that make unity possible. Paul anchors this call in something deeper than good behavior. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God over all.

This is a reminder that unity in the Church does not happen by accident. It grows when believers actually live out the Fruit of the Spirit in their relationships with one another. It is really easy to get caught up in internicine arguments over issues of Christian doctrine. Pretty soon, a deep split happens. Some of these issues are totally unimportant. Some of these issues are not at all.

How we treat other Christians matters, not just for our own growth, but for the health of the whole body. If we truly believe there is one God and one body, then preserving unity is not optional. It is part of living a life worthy of the calling we have received.

AI Experiment #2 – Text Edition

The first thing that you get to experience with AI is just text-based. It kind of reminds me of the early days of computers, working with DOS (wow-I’m old).

Those in academia know that we’re in an arms race. Students want to use AI to get good grades. I guess we’ve completely abandoned the idea of learning.

Teachers/Professors are trying to make sure that students are actually doing their own writing, and not just coming up with good prompts for AI generators.

So, I thought that it was a fun little test to see which AI’s were the best at making an admittedly dry topic come to life, and at the same time, fool a commonly-used and respected AI checker.

The Lord Is My Portion – Psalm 16

Psalm 16:8 – “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

This Psalm paints a picture of steady confidence in God’s care. The writer keeps coming back to what God provides: protection, wisdom, guidance, and peace. What stands out is that the focus is not just on what God does, but on the proper response to it. Praise flows naturally from trust. God is seen not as a backup plan, but as the source of everything good.

For me, this passage is a reminder that God will never abandon his people. He is faithful to provide direction and wisdom when I ask, even when I am not seeing it, and he guards my life in ways I often take for granted. It is easy to fixate on circumstances and worry about all that I lack and the things I don’t have, but this psalm keeps pulling my attention back to God’s goodness. Whether life feels smooth or uncertain, the heart of the passage is gratitude. God himself is the gift, and everything else flows from that.

God With Us – Matthew 1:18–25

Matthew 1:21 – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

This passage gives us a quiet look at Joseph’s character. Before the angel ever appears, Joseph has already decided to act with restraint and dignity. Whatever Mary told him, he clearly did not yet understand what God was doing. Still, he chose not to shame her publicly. That alone says something about the kind of man he was. He was trying to do the right thing with the information he had, even while confused and hurt.

It’s interesting to me, how honor shows up before clarity. Joseph doesn’t wait for everything to make sense before choosing kindness. After God speaks to him, he obeys, but his integrity was already there. I don’t always treat people honorably when I’m unsure of their motives or story, but I should. Joseph trusted God when God spoke, but he also lived in a way that left room for God to work. I hope to be that kind of man, one who chooses honor first and trusts God to meet me in the middle.

A Mighty Warrior – Zephaniah 3:14-20

Zephaniah 3:17 – “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

This passage is a promise of real, permanent rescue. God tells his people to rejoice because their punishment is removed and their enemies will no longer have the final word. The shift from present to future tense is noticeable, but the message is consistent. God is not offering temporary relief. He is promising lasting restoration and victory, brought about by his own strength, not theirs. Without Jesus, this promise rings hollow (or at least still not fulfilled).

Reading this through the lens of Jesus changes everything. We are not waiting on a political savior or a change in circumstances. Jesus has already completely accomplished this promise through the cross. Because of that, even suffering does not undo the outcome. God is for us, and we cannot ultimately lose. As it tells us in Philippians, living might mean suffering just like Jesus, but dying…well, that’s even better. So, we can suffer just like Jesus, or we can be with Jesus. Either way, it’s a win!

What stands out most to me is the picture of God himself as a warrior on our behalf, who also loves us deeply. That is why this is personally my favorite passage in the Bible. It’s a message of ultimate hope. Sometimes that love is quiet and steady. Other times it is loud and joyful. Either way, the promise is the same. In Jesus, triumph is certain.

Small Beginnings – Micah 5:1-15

Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah speaks hope into a time of threat and uncertainty. He points to a ruler coming from Bethlehem, but not a new person at all, someone ancient, even beyond what the people could fully grasp. This ruler would shepherd God’s people using God’s own strength, and his influence would extend far beyond Israel. It sounds a lot like Jesus to me.

It’s hard not to see Jesus here. Bethlehem, a shepherd-like ruler, and a greatness that reaches the whole earth all line up clearly. For me, this passage is less about action and more about confidence. Jesus really is the promised Messiah, and history is not drifting aimlessly. Christmas is about much more than a baby in a manger, a stable, or a silent night with shepherds and animals (come to think of it, that doesn’t feel very silent at all). Instead it’s about an ancient promise of God leading his people and setting everything aright.

What God Likes – Amos 5:21–24

Key Verse:
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” — Amos 5:24 (NIV)

God’s words through Amos are uncomfortable by design. Something was fundamentally wrong. Israel’s worship had become performative. They honored God publicly while privately allowing idols, injustice, and divided loyalties to take root. God makes it clear: religious activity, no matter how sincere it looks, cannot substitute for faithfulness, justice, and wholehearted devotion.

This passage reminds us that God is not impressed by outward displays if they are disconnected from inward allegiance. What He desires most is a people who place Him first, live justly, and walk in righteousness as a natural overflow of a genuine relationship with Him. Worship that pleases God is not loud or visible by necessity. It is faithful, obedient, and aligned with His character.

For me, this lands close to home. It is easy to confuse spiritual activity with spiritual intimacy. God is calling me back to the quiet places. He calls me to be still, seek His face deliberately, fast privately, read His Word not for appearance or output, but for communion. Justice, righteousness, and loyalty to God begin there, in the unseen places where no one else is watching.

Today’s call is simple, but not easy. Pursue God Himself, not just the actions that look like devotion. When that happens, justice and righteousness will follow—not as performance, but as fruit.

Stinginess – James 5:1‑9

James 5:8 – “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

It’s striking how James begins this chapter by calling out those who hoard wealth and fail to treat others fairly, like the farmer who hasn’t paid his workers. But right alongside that warning is a picture of patience, a farmer waiting for the land to yield its crop. That contrast reminds me that patience and thankfulness are the opposite of grumbling, greed, or self-absorption. It is not easy at all to see God’s Kingdom and his righteousness as more important than my desires.

Instead, it’s far too easy to get caught up in my own wants, thinking about what I feel I deserve or how I can get more. James challenges that focus. Instead of constantly chasing after more, I want to pause, be thankful for what I have, and consider how I can use it for God.