Ryan Shinn – Page 6

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.

Religious Haughtiness – Psalm 50:7-15

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)

Continue reading “Religious Haughtiness – Psalm 50:7-15”

AI Experiment (Infographic Edition)

Everyone is talking about AI. Is it going to make society into some Star Trek style utopia, or will we have to send Arnold Schwarzenegger back in time to save the world. I dunno. I’m kind of agnostic about it all. What I do know, is that I need to be able to use it as a tool as effectively as possible.

I’ve been spending much of my spare time learning about it and experimenting. I’ve taken online classes and created lots of things. Last weekend, I used AI tools to create some songs that I thought turned out really amazing. You tell me. I’m curious what you think.

Leaving Paradise

A life-long friend called me the other day and spoke about his family’s decision to leave the state of Washington, where they’d called home for over 2 decades. It seems they’d had enough. They’ve had enough of policies that make it harder for honest people to live and provide for their families, enough of political vitriol that separates neighbors and families while creating boogey-men out of anyone with a different opinion, and for them enough with new policies forcing them to make decisions about their children’s health. I totally understand. I’ve been in similar situations myself, as have countless people. Two thousand six was the moment for me. I’d had enough of California and moved to Dallas-Ft Worth Texas, where I’ve been ever since. So, I know about moving to a state far away first hand.

Stealing the Sunrise

In my first year of college, I pulled a lot of all-nighters—and not the wimpy ones where you go to sleep at 3 AM and then get a good 6 hours rack-time before going to class. No, I mean staying up until the sun rose and then going to class without having slept at all. I did this because as a Political Science major, I had a lot of reading to do. I have always been a good reader but a bit of a slow one, so that meant spending a lot of late hours reading and chewing ice to stay awake.

I remember one night I finished my homework around 4:30 AM. My morning class was at 9, and I knew that 3 ½ hours sleep would end up only being worse than if I hadn’t slept at all. The chances of oversleeping my alarm was also just too great. So, I made the decision to walk somewhere off campus and watch the sunrise. In my young man’s mind this was a good idea and I don’t know if I’d experienced a sunrise on my own before.