Week 52/01
Good Monday Morning to this last week of 2024
I recently reviewed all 51 of my blog entries and gathered some key highlights and valuable nuggets I discovered along the way this year!
Chapter 1: Harmony of Time and Faith
“Life unfolds not only in the ticking of seconds but in the poetic interplay of Chronos and Kairos. The past and future are but specters compared to the vibrant canvas of the present.”
Chapter 2: For We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
“In the dialogue between faith and reason, let us not see them as adversaries, but rather as complementary aspects of our pursuit of truth.”
Chapter 3: We Who Wrestle with God
“The word Israel … indicates something about existential conflict: an active engagement with the infinite. It’s a battle in some sense.”
Chapter 4: Who Is Writing Your Story?
“In a world that often emphasizes self-authorship, a different perspective emerges … our narrative might be less about self-dictation and more about listening to divine guidance.”
Chapter 5: Until That Day
“How Great Thou Art is an example of a hymn that invites a response of praise—like inhaling and exhaling. It’s where music and mission collide.”
Chapter 6: Domino or Butterfly Effect?
“I prefer the ‘butterfly effect’ … small, seemingly insignificant actions can lead to significant and unpredictable consequences.”
Chapter 7: Lessons from Masada
“Perhaps there’s something to be learned from this story. Beneath the terrible realities is a lesson of resilience and perseverance.”
Chapter 8: Writing on the Wall
“‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN’ … In short: Numbered, weighed, and broken in two. The undeniable truth? It leads us to God’s profound understanding of grace.”
Chapter 9: Doubt Is a Ladder, Not a Home
“At best, doubt is a ladder to climb, but ladders aren’t ends in themselves. Dwelling forever in perpetual doubt is like making one’s home on a ladder—far from ideal.”
Chapter 10: Generational Drift or Relay Race
“Do we embrace the baton, passing it around with intention and continuity, or do we, at times, find ourselves on the sidelines, reluctant to take the next stride?”
Chapter 11: Le Rêve
“Le Rêve is not just a place; it is a state of mind, an embodiment of dreams—of life’s unexpected twists and turns.”
Chapter 12: Say It Ain’t So
“They’re gonna call him Awesome Advisor, Super Strong God, Forever Dad, CEO of Chill. His rule and peace game? Straight-up endless.”
Chapter 13: Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! … This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”
Chapter 14: The Ants Go Marching … Mostly
“Quitting might not be quitting at all, but a resistance to stop exploring.”
Chapter 15: Your Login Attempt Failed!
“Just as the people of Shinar faced obstacles in their quest to reach the heavens, so do we face login failures on our spiritual journey—yet even these can spark growth.”
Chapter 16: Still Knitting
“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust … may we not lose faith but be found by You—still knitting!”
Chapter 17: Job Interviews
“Nehemiah’s ‘interview’ with the king unfolds in an instant—divine timing. Faith, preparation, and seizing opportunities align to rebuild what’s broken.”
Chapter 18: The Invisibles
“This story is about unnamed servants and invisible forces that cross our paths. They might have the most significant impact on our lives.”
Chapter 19: A Leaf, Branch, or Root?
“Some people are like leaves—temporary. Others are like branches—promising but possibly fragile. But then there are the roots, the ones who remain through everything.”
Chapter 20: Full of Mercy / In Need of Mercy
“If God was not full of mercy, mercy would have been in the world, not just in Him.”
(Yehuda Amichai, paraphrased)
Chapter 21: Gut Feeling / Intuition
“Despite the skeptics, Noah trusted his gut feeling—or a direct divine message—and didn’t mind being ridiculed for it. Believing in something beyond the obvious is key.”
Chapter 22: The Five Whys
“So, in summary, Pentecost needs to be repeated in our daily lives because we continually need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, guidance, and transformation.”
Chapter 23: A Matter of Context
“Even more important than which job to take or city to move to is the future hope of the Kingdom of God … Jeremiah 29:11 is bigger than any one of us—and far better.”
Chapter 24: More Than Good News – a Promise
“Christianity is not only evangelion but epangelia: not only ‘good news’ but ‘promise.’ Moltmann’s Theology of Hope reminds us that we are pointed to a future not yet fulfilled.”
Chapter 25: A Tenacious Grip
Recognizing this parallel, I found myself reflecting on this resistance to change ingrained in the human psyche, the magnetic pull of the familiar, and the inherent trepidation that accompanies forays into uncharted territories.”
Chapter 26: The Winner Takes It All
“So, does the winner take it all? In the grander scheme, everyone who runs with integrity gains something invaluable—lessons, thrill, and satisfaction.”
Chapter 27: Faith Amidst the Flames—Reflections from a War-Torn Ukraine
“If I let hatred seize my heart, I will become like them, and then evil will win. … Let us wrest joy from the teeth of despair—to fight for hope in a battle with hopelessness.”
Chapter 28: How Not to Jump to Conclusions Too Early with the Parable of the Talents
“Jesus calls for a community capable of embracing risk and forging deeper relationships. The Parable of the Talents challenges us to avoid oversimplified interpretations.”
Chapter 29: Headwinds / Gegenwind
“It seems to be the same headwind against which we must surge, or accept being slowed by, until, in hope, it shifts, and we go with it, together, toward a ‘promised land.’”
Chapter 30: Beyond Bonhoeffer’s Option—Rethinking Faithful Resistance
“Miskotte saw sanctification as a form of holy sabotage. God, the ‘saboteur from the beginning,’ disrupts our man-made notions and invites us into His ongoing holy resistance.”
Chapter 31: Guardian of Opportunities
“Opportunities are more than mere chances; they are moments laden with potentiality, requiring freedom and ethical deliberation to actualize.”
Chapter 32: Shores, Water’s Edge, Banks, Riversides, Littorals
“Shores—where land and water meet—are gateways to new possibilities, transitions, and reflections. They remind us that adventure often begins where two worlds converge.”
Chapter 33: Saved by Delay
“This incident serves as a reminder of how unpredictable life can be. … Are we truly focusing on what matters, or just racing the clock?”
Chapter 34: Crossing Paths, Light and Shadow
“Joy and grief have intertwined like light and shadow. It is as if protector and protected crossed paths for a brief moment, passing the baton of life amidst chaos.”
Chapter 35: The Protector and the Protected
“The tension between fear and faith is ever-present, yet God is both refuge and fortress, reminding us we are protected even in moments of doubt.”
Chapter 36: Timeless Midweek Thoughts
“What is received is God’s rule … We must ‘seek first his kingdom,’ submitting ourselves in perfect trust to God’s reign here and now.”
(George Eldon Ladd paraphrased)
Chapter 37: Echo Chambers
“If we begin with certainties, we end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we end in certainties.”
(Francis Bacon)
Chapter 38: Lessons from the Forest Floor
“We often hear how having ‘roots’ is good. But when roots become too visible, they can become stumbling blocks for others.”
Chapter 39: Prophecy—Forward-Looking Journey
“‘Prophecy’ is a cinematic, ambient, forward-looking instrumental that takes you on a profound journey … ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing.’”
Chapter 40: Reflections on World Mental Health Day
“In Elijah’s darkest moment, God didn’t demand instant introspection. He offered rest, food, and water. Even in our darkest moments, healing is possible.”
Chapter 41: The Four Horsemen
“Dürer’s Four Horsemen echo the daily headlines of war and chaos. Yet Jesus envisions a future marked by justice, renewal, and God wiping away every tear.”
Chapter 42: Brutal Honesty
“We are not heroes, just people clinging to Christ in a storm. Perhaps our true strength lies not in unbreakable façades but in the courage to be honest.”
Chapter 43: Escapism
“Jonah’s cruise to Tarshish was his attempt at escapism. Yet even on the high seas, God finds us, revealing growth through our running—and eventual returning.”
Chapter 44: A Divine Spark
“Inspiration doesn’t simply happen; it awakens something dormant, calling us to a greater sense of purpose. It’s a spark that transcends our usual boundaries.”
Chapter 45: The Gift of Presence
“As Christ became the visible sign of the invisible God, our presence in each other’s lives is called to be a visible sign of His unseen yet very real presence.”
Chapter 46: The Great Departure
“Moses, in his role as a leader, showcased a remarkable ability to navigate the tumult of discontent rooted in reflections on the past, doing so with grace. His plea to God serves as a great reminder of the transformative power inherent in forgiveness and the essential nature of collective responsibility.”
Chapter 47: Connecting Like Jesus
“No one connected like Jesus: His communication was spiritually charged, resonating with both the simplest child and the most elite scholar.”
Chapter 48: Midweek Churnings
“The shadow isn’t necessarily evil; it holds the potential to lead us to wholeness, transforming our struggles into wisdom, strength, and compassion.”
Chapter 49: Echoes of Truth
“You say you care about the poor? Then tell me, what are their names?”
(Gustavo Gutiérrez)
Chapter 50: Lament and Triumph
“The final notes are not a lament but a whisper of eternal promise: hope has come, and hope will come again. Though we live in the ‘not yet,’ the ‘already’ sings louder.”
Chapter 51: Advent Reflections from Ukraine—‘Awaiting the Prince of Peace’
“The ancient words ‘no room’ echo with fresh pain … Perhaps the fullest worship happens in the emptiest places, and the richest giving comes from the poorest hands.”
Thank you for being a part of this ongoing blog throughout 2024! Wishing you a joyful and blessed New Year’s crossover, and a prosperous 2025 ahead!
warapunga.ch
by Philemon Moser
