We may be horrified by what’s happening around us. We hear the news. We see what’s happening in the Middle East.

It’s deeper than that. We may be weighed down internally. It could be garden-variety grief over a relationship that we’ve lost. We may be facing a medical crisis of someone we love. Maybe we are having a medical crisis of our own. Our heaviness could be caused by circumstantial or chronic problems.

Whatever the source of our discontent, we may have created familiar pathways to escape the pain of life. It could be substances that we use and abuse. We might turn to games or social media to distract us. We have our ways of coping.

For just over nine months, I have been on a journey of discovery and reflection. I have been trying to live in a non-escapist way, ironically, by removing myself from the life I knew in Grand Rapids, MI. I don’t think of my time in St. Thomas as an escape, but it was a break. The break gave me time and space to grow in self-awareness and love. It wasn’t an escape for me.

The difference is intent and practice.

I intended to step out of my familiar surroundings, the things that propped up my identity, to strip away various sources of my security, to really understand who I am without all the scaffolding. My intention was renewal and return. I did not want to “get outta here” as much as I wanted to be more present, more alive, and more engaged in the world around me—back here in Michigan.

In practice, I kept my intention always before me. I reminded myself and others that I was in St. Thomas for nine months—for a reason. I practiced acts of service in the context of an incredible congregation. I served as a transitional minister. This formed me in ways that I have yet to fully understand. I’ve been advised to give it some time.

I practiced surrender and developed new skills of resilience in a new place where I had to trust God and others—daily. St. Thomas is a beautiful and amazing place to live. But it can be a challenging place, especially if you’ve made your life there and are trying to operate a business, raise a family, or lead a church.

I practiced truth-telling and kindness, even when it was costly. I have loved the opportunity to speak and share God’s message of love and forgiveness. Honestly, that was the easy part. But being a Christian preacher is not a popularity contest. I tried to call others to repentance, to self-giving sacrifice, and to love their neighbors in tangible ways. This is the hard part of preaching. Practicing truth-telling with integrity entails truth-living. I knew that my life needed to be aligned with my public message. I sometimes missed the mark and rested in God’s grace when I failed and disappointed others. I had to apologize and ask for forgiveness on several occasions.

I’m back home now. I’ll be spending the next couple of months integrating what I have learned while I was away in St. Thomas and applying it to my life in Michigan.

If you are a person who prays, please pray that I can reconnect with family, friends, and coworkers in healthy and productive ways. Pray that I can be fully present, more alive, and more engaged as I hold a posture that empowers and encourages others.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for your support!

Photo: Sunset over Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

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Peace to you, St. Thomas

I don’t know about other preachers this morning, but I struggle to know what to say about the resurrection of Jesus, as told by the New Testament gospels. It is such a defining event in Christianity; how is a preacher supposed to sum it up?

Resurrection, as I understand it, is even bigger than the resurrection. It’s about new creation. Resurrection shifts our perspective on reality itself. It is cosmic in scope. It’s not just one event 2000 years ago, though the event tells us something. It’s an all-encompassing observation and unitive anticipation. It’s rebirth writ large.

Art and music help us access things that transcend words and concepts. If there is a reality beyond what can be consciously known, then art and music can help us to glimpse it, celebrate it, and stand in awe and wonder of it. I just learned about this music video this weekend by U2, “Resurrection Song.” Enjoy!

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It’s up to the transitional minister to know what questions to ask, which people to go to, what to name, and what to keep quiet about. When a transitional minister sees something that might need some attention, they are wise to initially withhold their own opinions. It’s best to honor the people they serve by first naming something, calling attention to it, and openly inquiring with a genuine sense of curiosity. This serves to invite and draw others into the space of inquiry and curiosity.

The risks are great if a transitional minister prematurely reaches conclusions about what the church “should do” or “must do” without involving the local leaders who have been carrying out the ministry for many years.

On the flip side, there is also a danger in a transitional minister who is just “tending shop.” Someone who is doing the bare minimum of preaching, showing up for meetings, and visiting congregants. Some transitional ministers could be unwilling to ask the congregation to look at themselves, ask powerful questions, consider new possibilities, and highlight the opportunities that are at hand. Transitional ministers who don’t do the hard work are the same ministers who are prone to flatter others and lap up the flattery that is given to them in exchange.

I’ve been blessed and privileged to serve St. Thomas Reformed Church for the past nine months. I will by flying home to Michigan a week from today, Wednesday, April 8. I plan to do just one or two more of these Substack posts about transitional ministry and my time in St. Thomas. Then, I will pivot this to focus on my work in jail ministry.

I’m in the process of handing aspects of ministry to a friend and mentor, Rev. Dr. Randy Weener. He arrived on Saturday, March 28, and is getting oriented to the church and island this week. He plans to serve here for two months, April and May, and then he will return to his home. I think he can best be described as providing an extended pulpit supply. He is half-time and will not have the same job description as I did when I was hired as a transitional minister.

Randy will not have time, nor will he be asked to get up to speed on all of the inner workings of the church. Because of his brief term of service, it makes a lot of sense for him to “tend shop” and to focus on holding things together and helping congregational leaders keep momentum from the transitional period.

But Randy’s very gifted. He is gifted at asking powerful questions. He is a Christian leadership coach by training and in practice these days. Randy is a gifted listener and observer. He carefully considers how to be a “guide alongside” and does not try to be a “sage from the stage.” Randy will serve St. Thomas Reformed church well by nurturing her in biblical faith, in missional prayers, and in loving presence.

Pastor Randy has been a youth leader, a chaplain to a university basketball team, a pastor of an established church, a church planter, a classis leader, and a denominational executive in the office that catalyzes new churches. Now, in retirement, Pastor Randy is focused on empowering the next generation of pastors, church planters, and Christian leaders. His humble, wise, and stable presence is just what STRC needs in the short season of preparation before a new thing begins.

Everything is on track with the STRC search process. The church has prepared a call for classis approval on April 28, 2026. Upon that approval, the candidate, Rev. Dr. Raully Donahue, will give his response.

While Pastor Randy’s time in St. Thomas will be short, just two months, I think he’ll be extremely effective. While his limited part-time contract is focused on worship leadership and preaching, Pastor Randy’s steady presence, wise questions, and deep pastoral love will be felt by all. Pastor Randy will help STRC see what’s next in empowering ways, understand what God is up to, and encourage the congregation to follow Christ in mission.

Friends at STRC, I’m excited for you in your next season. Thank you again for the incredible privilege I’ve had to serve you.

- Pastor Nate DeWard

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As I prepare for the final two weeks of ministry with St. Thomas Reformed Church, I’m trying to be aware of how I’m showing up in relationships. This place and these people have been such a blessing. Sure, there were challenges, but that’s life.

I am hoping to prepare the congregation for my departure. There are meetings to hold, documents to pass along, and sermons to preach. Most of all, I want the congregation of STRC to know how dearly loved they are. I will miss them. I hope they remember what a difference they’ve made in my life as I have served them as a transitional minister.

I didn’t know what I would find when I flew into St. Thomas on June 18, 2025, just a little over 9 months ago.

I’ve discovered a church family that has helped me recover a part of myself — the pastor part of myself. I’ve reconciled some contradictions in my vocational identity. I can now embrace that I am a pastor and a non-profit leader. The two are not in conflict, though there may be some tensions at times.

My journey back to Michigan on April 8 will be heavy with emotion. Preparing to leave is a significant change that I want to grieve well. Thankfully, I have a great support system. I’m especially grateful to my wife, Andrea, my family, and my great friends and coworkers in MI who have supported me this whole time. As hard as it is to leave St. Thomas, I know I’m going back to a lot of great people in Michigan.

Thank you, St. Thomas Reformed Church. I look forward to our next couple of weeks together. May God bless us in our “goodbyes” and “see you laters.”

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On Sunday, March 15, the congregation met after worship to discuss and vote on the finalist that was presented by the consistory on Sunday, March 8, after many hours of interactions with the congregants and leaders. With overwhelming support, the congregation voted to affirm Rev. Dr. Raully Donahue in their advisory vote.

Last night, Tuesday, March 17, the consistory met and voted to extend a call to Pastor Raully. He and his wife, Kari, have been informed, and we will be working through the proper steps with the Classis of New York.

Right now, I am asking everyone to do three things: 1) Give thanks. 2) Come Together and 3) Pray.

As this process unfolds, we can give thanks to the many volunteers who have sacrificially served and given their time to see this process to this point, especially the pastoral search team. We are united in our desire to love and serve the Lord. We ask that God would unite our church around its leaders in this time of transition. I am asking the congregation of STRC to come together in a supportive posture. That’s why it’s important for us to pray. May God’s will be done. Pray for the decisions that have yet to be made and the work that lies ahead.

This is just one step in the journey, friends. While we have reached a significant milestone, we need to put our trust in God. Look for God’s presence and provision daily.

If Pastor Raully and Kari accept the call, we will announce the news at the appropriate time.

To God be the glory.

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I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, the head of the Church.

Thank you for reading this and previous posts that have revealed my discoveries, wonderings, and reflections on faith and life as I have served as a transtional minister for St. Thomas Reformed Church (STRC).

If you were to ask me, “Have you (STRC) found a pastor?”, I would likely give the safest, most truthful reply: maybe. We are at a point in time where God is revealing our next steps, so honestly, as I write this at 5:15 AM on Sunday, March 15, we’re still waiting to find out.

This moment is pregnant with opportunity and hope.

The pastoral search committee has done a fantastic job of utilizing the congregational self-study to put together the church profile and post the opportunity online.

We have networked broadly across the denomination (RCA) to highlight the opening.

The Candidate Selection Team has dedicated many hours to sift through applications, have initial screening conversations, and conduct multiple Zoom interviews with various candidates. These have enabled us to survey what we are looking for and clarify what is most important to us.

The Congregational Engagement Team has hosted potlucks where congregants are asked to reflect on their story within the larger story of how God has used St. Thomas Reformed Church to be a blessing. These fellowship nights have brought people together in closer connection and unity.

The Administrative Team has helped us stay organized, focused, and given professional guidance on matters such as background checks and other administrative tasks.

Through all of this coordination, we had a simple task before us: discern who God might be calling to STRC.

Wait? What? Why so uncertain?

We say might be because a call goes both ways, even though it is initiated by the church. The candidates (and their families) have been observing us this whole time. They have been weighing whether or not this might be the right fit for them. (Pastoral Search Page)

They have been looking at this opportunity through their own lens, hoping that we have done our work of congregational self-discovery, of prayerfully envisioning God’s future for this congregation, and of preparing for the next season of ministry with a new pastoral leader.

Our job, good people of STRC, is to trust God when we know that we have done our jobs and done them well. Our call is to lean into God’s grace and forgiveness (for ourselves and with one another) on the parts of our ministry that are still messy, unfinished works in progress. Some call it sanctification.

The pastoral search committee has discerned who God might be calling to serve STRC. We have named that pastor. The consistory has invited him and his wife to St. Thomas for an extensive set of interactions. The congregation was able to hear him preach and interact with us in a Bible study. He spent time with the staff and congregational leaders. There is a lot that has gone into it. Now, today we will have a congregational meeting to discuss the way forward. The question before the congregation members is this: Do you support this person to be the next senior pastor of STRC?

In the Reformed Church in America, our denomination, we utilize this congregational meeting and the Advisory Vote that is taken to inform the consistory as it makes the decision on whether to extend a call to the candidate.

If a call is issued by the congregation, it must be approved by the Classis of New York and accepted by the candidate for it to move forward. But first, on Tuesday, March 17, the consistory will convene for its monthly stated meeting and decide whether it will extend a call to the candidate, based on all of the inputs and knowledge it has of the process thus far. The consistory will also consider our options and plans if this particular finalized candidate interaction does not result in a call, and where we go from here.

It’s an important phase. Nothing to be frightened by—rather trust. Nothing to be anxious about—pray. Ask God to do what only God can do and lead us forward.

In the name of Jesus, the only head of the Church.

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Quick Refresh for my non-USVI readers: Before St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John became a territory of the United States in 1917, it was a part of the Danish West Indes. You can find that history here.

I recently learned about the history of the Annaberg Plantation in the Virgin Islands. It is now a part of the U.S. National Park on St. John, and I visited the plantation on my day off, Monday, 2/16/26. Through technology, readers can get a virtual tour of the plantation.

Annaberg Plantation is located at the top-center part of this map of St. John.

Here are a few Key points:

• Annaberg Plantation became the largest sugar-producing operation in St. John’s history.

• Several smaller farms and plantations were combined by James E. Murphy and in 1796, Murphy bought Waterlemon Bay and renamed it Leinster Bay, to honor his Irish ancestry. More history here.

• At one point, Murphy amassed 1,245 contiguous acres, of which 494 were used for sugar cane farming, with the largest labor force of any single operation: 591 enslaved workers.

Here are some key questions I’m wrestling with after my visit:

Do we fault Mr. Murphy for making money the way he did?

Does the generational wealth that was produced by the exploitation of enslaved Africans matter to us today?

How does the colonial mindset of wealth extraction show up in our 21st-century world?

What lessons can be learned from history, particularly as Christians, so that business practices reflect the ideal of the human dignity of all people? As Americans, do we believe in the “inalienable rights” of people to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in our day?

These are not easy questions. I won’t attempt to offer easy answers. But I think it’s important to tell the stories of history in ways that help us lead better lives. I believe our consciences should be formed by the Holy Spirit, who leads us toward the truth.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

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*I have deliberately used the more direct form of referring to “enslaved people” for impact.

St. Thomas Reformed Church leaders will recall that one of the mandates they had given to me was to help them get more connected to their neighborhood. This was an important milestone in my work with the beloved STRC community.

I went to the CCDA.org website this morning to refresh myself on the principles of Christian Community Development (CCD) from the premier organization that helps these kinds of efforts. I clicked on the page that lists their CCD philosophy. I’ve indexed it here for your convenience.

Reconciliation
Redistribution
Relocation
Leadership Development

Empowerment
Church-Based
Listening to the Community
Wholistic Approach

The “Listening to the Community” principle caught my eye, and I noticed they have a one-minute video that underscores the biblical relevance of starting there.

As STRC, we are trying to educate ourselves by getting to know our neighbors relationally. CCDA states:

We want to affirm our neighbors, to collaborate with them, and to bring about sustainable change by leveraging our community resources and assets. We do that best when we have a relational presence and the proximity to know what’s going on.

For more businessy-minded folks, you could call this “doing our market research.” But it goes deeper.

Many of the people in the room last night (I counted about a dozen) are people with resources, ideas, and lived experience that could help us work on issues we have in common. It takes a measure of humility for us to ask with curiosity, “What qualities, talents, and abilities does my community have that can help promote community growth?”

Our focus is on building community with our neighbors. We want them to “see themselves as assets and as part of the solution to community challenges.”

In the interest of brevity, I’ll close this post with a final observation: When you journey with Jesus, you might start with one goal but then discover that he has something new, different, and better for you. We are open, Lord. We’re listening… We’re learning from you… as we listen to and love our neighbors.

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Lyrics of “Beloved” by Derek Webb

Beloved these are dangerous times
Because you are weightless like a leaf from the vine
And the wind has blown you all over town
Because there is nothing holding you to the ground

So now you would rather be
A slave again than free from the law

(chorus)
Beloved listen to me
Don't believe all that you see
And don't you ever let anyone tell you
That there's anything that you need
But me

Beloved these are perilous days
When your culture is so set in it's ways
That you will listen to salesmen and thieves
Preaching other than the truth you've received

Because they are telling lies
For they cannot circumcise your hearts

(chorus)
Beloved there is nothing more
No more blessings and no more rewards
Than the treasure of my body and blood
Given freely to all daughters and sons

This Sunday, I plan to preach on Matthew 5:13-16.

This song, “Beloved,” and this text are a message for the Church.

Salt, stay salty.

Light, do not be hidden.

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When dogs are loved, feel special, have a family to bond with, and have a “job” to do, it’s a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, some dogs are so territorial, so easily spooked, and unconstrained that it can cause real problems. Snickers is loved, special, has a family, and has a job to do. Yet, he has a bit of a Chihuahua complex, not unlike a Napoleon complex, and feels the need to bark more than he should and “protect” the house, even when he is not being threatened.

That brings me to Deuce and Goombi, two cats of Kongens Quarter. Deuce is a white cat with two spots on his head. Goombi is a tan cat with nothing distinctive that I can discern. They hang out by the cars near the parsonage. They are fed by neighbors and even given veterinary care, or so I’ve heard. I’m not a cat person, so I have mixed feelings about them around the parsonage. But I don’t feel threatened by them, unlike Snickers.

This morning, I woke up and planned to go for a workout. As I stepped out the front door and onto the parsonage front porch, I was greeted by Deuce and Goombi. This used to happen all the time before Snickers came to St. Thomas to live with us at the parsonage in August. Lately, Deuce and Goombi have kept their distance because Snickers, the one who lives a “king’s life” in Kongens Quarter, barks and makes threatening gestures — despite being the one with all the privileges of being loved, special, and having a family to look after him. He’s spoiled.

I wonder, why do some animals feel so threatened, so reactive, and protective that they have to be aggressive toward other animals, peaceful animals that just want to live their lives in the Kongen’s Quarter neighborhood?

I’m happy to say that we’ve (mostly) kept people and other animals safe from Snickers. We have not done it perfectly, but we have tried to give him rules and direction to keep him from harming people. Territorial and reactive animals need constraints so their aggressive impulses don’t turn into aggressive behaviors that harm other animals in the neighborhood.

I’m trying to share an observation about the animal kingdom with the hope that you might be more attuned to our world, where privileged humans, Homo sapiens, act more like Snickers, Canis lupus familiaris, than any human should. We all need to do our part to care for the Deuces and Goombis of the world and keep Snickers in line. We love Snickers in ways that curbs his worst impulses and protects the friendly animals of Kongens Quarter from Snickers’ bad behavior.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” — Mark 4:9

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First, Venezuela.

Then, ICE & Renee Good.

For people with a conscience, it’s hard to know what to do some days. We have access to so much information. We could study the history and geopolitics of Central and South America. We could learn more about the quality of the oil in Venezuela and the history of corporations and the governments that pump and refine oil there.

For people who care, we could study the videos of Renee Good, look into her background, we could “do our own research” on proper law enforcement techniques. We could gather more and more evidence to have an informed opinion. We could read and read and read, and scroll and scroll and scroll.

In the end, I’m not sure that more information will get us out of this mess. What will help? Truthfulness. Honesty. Living in reality. AND resisting propaganda and lies that are coming at us…fast.

For those of us living in St. Thomas, we were impacted by the Venezuela strike the U.S. government carried out early on the morning of Saturday, January 3. Almost immediately, the airspace over Puerto Rico and St. Thomas was closed. That caused a significant hardship for some and a minor inconvenience for others as flights were cancelled, delayed, diverted, and the entire island aviation community was forced to respond to an unprovoked attack on a sovereign country in South America. It’s about 560-570 miles by air (900-920 kilometers).

Minneapolis feels like a world away. Yet, we feel the effects of what’s happening here.

I’m going to echo what I heard a few trusted friends say in varied ways this past week:

We are being told to “reject the evidence of our eyes and ears” by powerful forces.

That phrase comes from George Orwell.

It’s happening in government, media, business, religion, families, education, and entertainment. Seven powerful “mountains” of control in society that are being seized and used for disinformation and misinformation.

While some will be “sticking to their guns” quite literally and choosing the path of violence, domination, and destruction, there are good people in the world working to teach non-violence, de-escalation, and conflict transformation. Others are teaching how to peacefully protest, advocate for human rights, defend civil rights, and engage responsibly as citizens.

Some will “stick to their guns” by doubling down on conspiracy, whitewashing history, and spinning a very dystopic version of events to fit their ideological commitments. Others will read, watch, and listen to reputable media sources. People will support principled journalism.

Some will “stick to their guns” and make claims that you have to trust certain religious authorities, put your absolute trust in particular dogmas, and show your unwavering loyalty to the “tribe” or “denomination.” Others will allow their faith and the faith of others room to grow. Their faith will seek understanding, accepting mystery and uncertainty along the way. They will become more tender, more compassionate, and grow in the Spirit. They will nurture others spiritually in ways that are grounded in reality, in science, in responsible scholarship.

I believe this: “We have to live in reality. We have to commit to living in reality.” It’s the only way we can face it.

I am watching as violence, deceit, and coercive rhetoric, policies, and doctrine are being used to shape a new reality, a reality that is not based on human rights, laws, and respect for people and the environment.

Don’t give up.

- Nate

“Don’t Give Up” lyrics by Peter Gabriel

In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose

Don’t give up
‘Cause you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not beaten yet
Don’t give up
I know you can make it good

Though I saw it all around
Never thought that I could be affected
Thought that we’d be last to go
It is so strange the way things turn

Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground

Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up
We don’t need much of anything
Don’t give up
‘Cause somewhere there’s a place
Where we belong

Rest your head
You worry too much
It’s gonna be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don’t give up
Please don’t give up

Got to walk out of here
I can’t take any more
Gonna stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river’s flowing
That river’s flowing

Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no one needs

Don’t give up
‘Cause you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not the only one
Don’t give up

No reason to be ashamed
Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up now
We’re proud of who you are
Don’t give up

You know it’s never been easy
Don’t give up
‘Cause I believe there’s a place
There’s a place where we belong

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“Someone needs to say something…”

For many Christian leaders, this is the inner monologue before stepping into the pulpit and cautiously weighing our words. Many times, however, the pulpit is not the place to go too far into the weeds of current affairs. Too fraught.

So this is the place where I’ll share some of my thoughts on God’s justice and a Christian response to the United States’ actions on Saturday, January 3, in Caracas, Venezuela.

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) released a statement calling for “Solidarity, Justice Amid Venezuela Crisis.”

“True security cannot be built through domination, nor peace secured through control of nations or resources, but only through justice, truth, and steadfast love—the love that binds all people together in Christ.”

If you’re not familiar, the WCRC is a global fellowship of Reformed believers committed to faith, justice, and communion in Christ. They endeavor to build bridges of understanding, bolster the voices of churches on critical issues locally and globally, and enhance the witness and outreach of member churches and ecumenical partners. The Reformed Church in America is one of the denominations in the WCRC’s 230+ member churches that are active in 105 countries around the world, with over 100 million individual members collectively.

“In solidarity with Reformed churches in Venezuela and all who suffer fear, displacement, and uncertainty, the WCRC commits itself to prayer, advocacy, and concrete action for peace and justice.”

Read the Full WCRC Statement

Churches play a prophetic role when facing injustice and in the midst of conflict. Christians are called upon to remember their allegiance to Christ and that the kingdom of God transcends national loyalties. Christians must resist the cunning attempts of national leaders who co-opt, misappropriate, and misuse Christian language and symbols to promote agendas that violate biblical principles of truth, justice, and peace.

College football is big money. I get that a successful football program is worth millions to a university like the U of M. Protecting the brand is worthwhile. But I wonder if the ethos is “to protect the image at all costs.” I wonder what would have happened if they had paused, taken time to reflect on the culture in their athletic department, and made the best decisions from there.

Call me an idealist, but I’m so stinking proud of the leadership of the St. Thomas Reformed Church and its classis-appointed supervisor who decided to hire a transitional minister. It has given them time to reflect on their church culture and make some small improvements that will pay dividends in the years to come.

In contrast, I’m a little disappointed in the regents and the president at Michigan for not taking a closer look at themselves upon the occasion of Sherrone Moore’s firing. It appears Moore deserved to be fired, and they’ve hired a great new coach. But what about the institutional culture at the U of M? Have they learned anything from this incident? Was it purely an isolated incident? Or, perhaps, is there a system in place that reinforces duplicity? Would it have been too much to ask Michigan’s leadership to take 9 months before hiring its next coach to make space for deep reflection and learning?

I’m afraid the swift decision to hire head coach Kyle Wittingham may short-circuit Michigan’s ability to learn from its hardship. This little church in St. Thomas, USVI, didn’t take the quickest and easiest path. They made the hard decision to pause, reflect, and learn.

STRC is a distinctly different institution from the University of Michigan. For starters, the University of Michigan is a relatively young institution by comparison. STRC is 365 years old. I would like to think that wisdom and resilience are products of their storied history. Michigan is only 208 years old (wink). STRC has a biblical/spiritual mission - character formation is at its heart. I would like to think that an institution built on character transformation would attend to its own character deficits and make plans to improve from time to time. Michigan’s mission is “creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.” That’s nice for a university, and they do a good job. But it’s not the same as transforming human hearts and communities with the gospel.

I have nothing against Michigan, its athletic department, its alumni, or its fanbase. They just happen to be the perfect foil for what I think STRC is doing—even if most of the people here don’t realize what’s happening underneath the surface.

To be clear, I’m talking about systems. I’m not talking about the former and recently departed leaders of these two great institutions. STRC has made the courageous decision to reflect deeply on the systems and the practices that make up the culture of this church. We will resist the urge to find a “quick fix” and reactively hire a new pastor. We can and will do the work needed to move forward thoughtfully, carefully, and courageously. Shoutout to the STRC pastoral search committee that has practiced spiritual discernment, patience, and has learned and grown together as a small group. They are doing a fantastic job as we’ve reflected on ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, and prepared for the future.

Go Blue.

Great work, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

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As far back as I can remember, Christmas break was either a desperately needed break from school (1980s-2003), an endless feeling of being stretched too thin (2003-2013), or the demanding treadmill of end-of-year fundraising in the non-profit world (2014-2024). My body isn't accustomed to feeling the kind of rest that I feel as we close out 2025.

About a year ago, I knew I needed a reset. I didn’t have words for it, but I knew I needed a break. My first inklings came while I was at St. Gregory’s Abbey for a retreat.

In the quiet and solitude of the monastery cottage, I could feel myself starting to calm down. I spent the better part of the first day on the retreat pacing and trying to focus. I napped. I drank coffee and tea. I read books. I worshipped with the monks.

I took walks. I journaled. I reflected on the ways my life unfolded in 2024 and whether I was living sustainably. I prayed for my family, my ministry at work, and my church. This time of reflection stretched on for a week, and it was good for my soul.

After that, I took tangible steps to take care of myself and my family. Some of that meant “leaning in” and taking action. I also had to hold my tongue, take a step back, and trust that God was indeed leading the way.

As we close out 2025, I’m in a good place. I’m not struggling with the usual exhaustion. I’m glad I listened to what I sensed the Lord saying back in January of 2025. I’m thankful for the people who have supported my “working sabbatical” in St. Thomas with St. Thomas Reformed Church. Thanks be to God!

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I think Joseph is easy to caricature because he is one-dimensional in the scriptures. He does not have any lines in the Bible or in the pageant later this morning. So I am taking the liberty to imagine who Joseph was as a person.

1. Did Joseph ever love Jesus and Mary without resentment? I can imagine that Joseph had to work through some of his struggles from the whole nativity story. Mary’s story about how she got pregnant was somewhat incredible. It was enough to make Joseph, who was betrothed (engaged) to Mary, want to break it off quietly, so as not to bring embarrassment to her (Matthew 1:19). It seems like he wants to do the right thing. For a while, he wasn’t clear about what the right thing was. I wonder if that initial ambivalence ever metastasized into resentment.

2. Did Joseph ever question his faith? It must have been a powerful experience to be visited by an angel of the Lord while he slept (Matthew 1:20). Joseph was dealing with some of his fears, it seems, because the angel says, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.” While it seems like he emerged with resolute faith on the other side of this encounter, I wonder if doubt played a role in his faith. In my experience, there is a healthy time of questioning and doubting before people courageously step out in faith.

3. Did Joseph have a strong community of men to support him? Especially in our Western individualistic mindset, Joseph is often pictured as a solitary figure. Joseph is portrayed as heroic and rising above the crisis with Mary as Herod sends out his killing squads. Joseph was specifically warned by an angel in a second dream, “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” This kind of exile likely caused Joseph and Mary to feel lonely and isolated. I wonder how they coped. Who was able to help them get by financially? Who helped support them relationally while they waited for the threats on Jesus’ life to die down? Specifically, who was supporting Joseph?

4. Did Joseph ever get to live a normal life? At the end of Chapter 2, it says that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus settled in Nazerath, in the region of Galilee, because Joseph was once again afraid of a political leader. Archelaus was reigning in Judea as a successor to his father, Herod. That was enough to cause Joseph and Mary to stay away from the place they had planned to live upon their return from Egypt.

   

   Having your living conditions dictated by tyrannical rulers is no small thing. It impacts your ability to make money, provide for a family, and it erodes a person’s sense of place and belonging. I wonder if Joseph ever got over the impact of this oppressive regime before he died. I have a hunch that the trauma that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus experienced eventually healed. It seemed to have left a mark on Jesus and perhaps gave him the ability to live in solidarity with marginalized folks, because that was all he ever knew himself.

5. Did Joseph think Herod the Great was actually “great?” Definitely not. Despite Herod’s significant construction projects, real estate accomplishments, and branding savvy, Herod was not a good guy. He was kind of ruthless, even though he got stuff done. He rebuilt the Second Temple for the Jewish people, but then he placed an imperial eagle at the Temple gates as a nod to his true allegiance - Rome. Herod was calculating, jealous, violent, and mentally unstable. In the end, probably died a painful death. Read more about Herod here. A good man like Joseph lived under the conscious threat of powerful men like Herod—often enabled by the religious leaders of his day (Saducees). But Joseph raised his son to be a good man. “Jesus” was the name Joseph was instructed to give his son, “because he will save people from their sins.” Sometimes, real power means bearing witness in a way that resembles the quiet strength of Joseph… and Jesus. May it be so.

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More resources: https://bibleproject.com/videos/isaiah-1-39/

The judgment uses colorful imagery in Chapter 1.

Photo Credit: Andrea DeWard

In Chapter 2, the prophet employs powerful imagery of peaceful commitment: turning swords into plows and spears into pruning hooks. An eschatological vision of people who will no longer need or want to learn the ways of war, but abide in the peace of God.

Come, Lord Jesus.

For many years, the UFC has operated the most powerful brand in combat sports. They took MMA and fight promotion to new heights sometime in the early 2000’s after a pair of brothers bought the franchise for $2 million in 2001. The UFC’s estimated value is now worth an estimated $12.3 billion in 2025. Not a bad investment if you care about money.

They are successful, in part, because they know how to sell a fight. It’s not just enjoyable, it’s intoxicating. The chiseled athletes are men and women who have trained religiously for years to have the privilege to step into The Octagon™ and destroy their opponent. When they step into the fighting cage and the gate is locked behind them, something primal gets unlocked in the hearts and imaginations of UFC fans. We paid for this. We want blood.

I’m not joking. Some of the fans boo if the fighters opt for a less violent form of fighting, like jiu-jitsu or wrestling. While these forms of MMA offer fighters effective ways of “submitting their opponents,” most fans want to see a violent knockout. At least that’s my animal instinct.

Before every main event, there is a ton of promotional buildup. The fighter’s stories are told in compelling narratives, modern mythology. If the particular fighters have a beef with each other, it drives pay-per-view sales for TV and ticket sales at the gate. Everybody loves an epic battle between two fighters with bad intentions.

The UFC knows how to sell a storyline, but they don’t do it alone. The media helps. These days, there are multiple independent and small media companies that follow the fighters and the fights closely. I was once publicly ridiculed by two of MMA’s best journalists in post-fight coverage. I love that clip. I don’t even care that they are laughing at me because I got called out by Marc Raimondi and Shaun Al-Shatti.

Can you see why so many Americans love MMA so much? There is an entire culture of epic battles, and a warrior ethos has been cultivated for years. The Octagon will even be set up on the White House lawn on June 14, 2026, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. It will be my 50th birthday, by the way. I was born on July 4, 1976, the nation’s bicentennial.

My sense of awe and admiration for U.S. war machines closely mirrors my bloodlust with the UFC fighters in The Octagon™.

This is the newest and largest aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, the Gerald R. Ford. I took this photo from the Southern shore of Water Island on Monday, 12/1/25. They are anchored here for some Rest and Recuperation for a mission in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. has been promoting the latest iteration in our War on Drugs, a so-called “war” we’ve been fighting since 1971, started under the leadership of the disgraced President Richard Nixon. Nixon, you may recall, had a win-at-all-costs and by-any-means-necessary mindset that got his administration in some trouble.

These days, the U.S. is blowing up Venezuelan drug boats with dubious legal justification. It’s part of a campaign of kinetic and “double-tap” strikes that have killed over 80 people in at least 21 strikes.

Let me say this clearly and without controversy: Americans need to be asking hard questions of their elected leaders. War is not beautiful.

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James 5:7-10

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Jesus is the hope of the world. God has called you and me, those who are in church to be his witnesses. Jesus has put us in charge of the Vineyard, the Farm, the Orchard, and….the lone mango tree to cultivate and take care of it until his return.

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