The Attitudes

Chapter 6

taking sacred or revered texts (like the Beatitudes) and crafting their ironic, inverted opposites for provocative effect—is often called “subversive inversion” or “ironic reversal” specifically targeting religious or moral axioms to critique hypocrisy, cultural norms, or spiritual complacency.

The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-10) are special fruit, are they not? A spectacular benefit to those who hunger and thirst after extra layers of truth about the way things are in the kingdom of God. Perplexing and paradoxical, they rarely fail to offer something new. What would happen, I wondered, if one were to consider their diametrical opposite? An Interesting thought.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Blessed are the publicly strong and mighty in spirit, for they shall be able to enjoy making other believers feel like failures and doubt they were ever really Christians at all.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are those who have no sympathy, empathy or anything else ending with the same three letters, after all sadness is surely a sign of weakness, for they won’t need comforting, seeing as they couldn’t care less about anybody else.

Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.


Blessed are those who are up themselves, for they shall be listened to and have their ideas acted on, even when the things the meek suggested make much more sense, but no one heard what they said because the up-themselves were so loud and mouthy.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for unrighteousness, for they shall be free to do all sorts of horrible things, and if the whole God/heaven thing turns out to be a load of rubbish, it won’t really matter will it?

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are those who think forgiveness is soft and weak, for they shall be correct until the very moment when they wish they were not.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are those who nurse and feed on nasty, dismal things inside them, for they are very unlikely to want to see God anyway.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God

Blessed are those who cause war and misery all over the world, and thrice blessed are those who create conflict in places where there wasn’t any until they turned up, for they shall be able to have a laugh at everyone’s else’s expense, and be embarrassed by being called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who change sides when things get too hot for comfort, for there are limits, you know, even in the kingdom of heaven – surely?

Adrian Plass, Still Crazy 2022

Adrian Plass wields satire like a surgeon’s blade. What stings most is the recognition: these inverted beatitudes aren’t parody, in too many circles. Yet within the critique pulses hope—a reminder that the Kingdom’s radical inversion still beckons, if we dare to turn.

Wishing you a week of sacred dissonance. Walk gently into this week, but carry that disruptive grace.

Philemon

A dialogue between struggle and grace

Chapter 5

Beautiful things, inspiration, blessings can come when you’re exhausted, frustrated and ready to walk away – not when you’re polished, prepared and perfectly poised.

or as the Bible says;
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
Isaiah 40:29

look at this amazing story; brought by SRF last week and quoted from Wikipedia.


The Story of Jazz History’s Most Improbable Masterpiece

On a rainy January night in 1975, American pianist Keith Jarrett arrived at the Cologne Opera House in West Germany, exhausted and aching. He hadn’t slept properly for days, wore a back brace for chronic pain, and had just endured a grueling car ride with producer Manfred Eicher in a cramped Renault 4 from Zürich to Köln. To make matters worse, the piano awaiting him wasn’t the grand Bösendorfer he’d requested. Instead, he faced a poorly tuned, undersized rehearsal piano with weak bass, sticky keys, and faulty pedals. Jarrett nearly walked out.

But he didn’t.

The concert—organized by 18-year-old promoter Vera Brandes, Germany’s youngest at the time—was sold out. Over 1,400 people had paid to hear Jarrett improvise, a hallmark of his genius. With no time to fix the piano or his fatigue, Jarrett gritted his teeth and played. What followed became The Köln Concert, the best-selling solo jazz album in history, with over 4 million copies sold.


Chaos Behind the Curtain
The night was a comedy of errors. Brandes had booked Jarrett’s preferred Bösendorfer 290 Imperial, but the opera house staff mistakenly wheeled out a smaller, neglected piano. When Brandes tried to rush a replacement, a tuner warned that moving another grand piano in freezing rain would ruin it. Jarrett, famished and frustrated, barely ate his pre-concert meal. Yet with recording gear already set up, he relented.

What unfolded was pure alchemy.

Struggling with the piano’s limitations, Jarrett improvised workarounds: rolling left-hand rhythms to mimic bass depth, clustering melodies in the mid-register, and weaving gospel-like vamps over simple chords. Producer Manfred Eicher later reflected, “He played it the way he did because it wasn’t a good piano. He found another way to get the most out of it.” The audience, charmed by Jarrett’s playful nod to the opera house’s pre-show bell melody, leaned into the raw, human spontaneity.


Legacy of Imperfection
The recording—split into three parts for vinyl—captured 67 minutes of improvisation, including reinterpretations of Jarrett’s own “Memories of Tomorrow.” Critics called it “a dialogue between struggle and grace.” Jarrett himself admitted he barely remembered the performance, crediting the audience’s energy for carrying him through.


The Takeaway
The Köln Concert is a testament to resilience. It reminds us that brilliance often emerges not despite chaos, but because of it. When plans crumble, when tools fail, and when exhaustion looms, creativity can still thrive—if we show up.

As Jarrett proved, sometimes the most enduring art is born from the messiness of being human.

“The world doesn’t need perfection. It needs heart.”


P.S. Nearly 50 years later, the album remains a beacon for artists and dreamers. Next time you’re ready to quit, remember: your “broken piano” moment might just be your masterpiece in disguise. 🎹✨

Wishing much inspiration, grace and strength!
Philemon

The Messianic Secret

Chapter 4

“But Jesus warned him strongly: ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone.’” – Mark 1:44

Mark’s Gospel unfolds as a dynamic narrative, interwoven with dramatic action, intriguing encounters, and profound theological lessons. A particularly aspect of this narrative is the “Messianic Secret,” a recurring motif where Jesus explicitly instructs those he heals or those who recognize him as the Messiah to remain silent about his identity. This enigmatic injunction compels us to engage in a deeper exploration of Jesus’s self-understanding and the nuanced manner in which he intended his mission to be revealed

Jesus Undercover

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus performs miracles and asks those involved to remain silent. In Mark 1:40-45, after healing a leper, Jesus tells him not to spread the word. But the more Jesus asks for silence, the more the story spreads. Why did Jesus want to keep his actions secret? It’s a question that sets the tone for the whole gospel.

Demons Know, But Humans Don’t

Interestingly, the demons immediately recognise Jesus as the Son of God and acknowledge His power. Yet Jesus silences them, forbidding them to speak (Mark 1:34; 3:11-12). This contrast between the spiritual awareness of the demons and the human ignorance – even of his disciples – highlights the mystery of Jesus’ true identity.

The Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Glory

In Mark 9:2-9, Jesus reveals his divine nature to Peter, James and John during the Transfiguration. After this powerful moment, Jesus instructs them not to share what they have witnessed until after his resurrection. This deepens the messianic mystery by linking the revelation of his identity to his death and resurrection.

Prophecies of suffering

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus predicts his suffering and death. These predictions are often misunderstood by his disciples, who fail to grasp the full purpose of his mission. Jesus seeks to prevent misunderstanding and to help them understand the true essence of his messiahship – an essence that involves suffering and sacrifice.

More Than Just the Son of David

Jesus challenges the crowd’s limited understanding of the Messiah as merely the Son of David. This moment highlights the need for a deeper understanding of his true identity and purpose, beyond the popular expectations of a political liberator.

The Purpose of the Messianic Secret

The Messianic Secret serves several purposes:

To prevent misunderstandings: Jesus wanted to avoid premature or inaccurate expectations of him as a political messiah.

To focus on his mission: The secret emphasised his purpose of suffering, death and resurrection rather than immediate recognition.

Encourage reflection: The mystery invites deeper reflection on the true nature of Jesus’ mission and identity.

Mark’s use of the messianic mystery forces the reader to wrestle with the paradox of Jesus as both suffering servant and triumphant Lord, urging a move beyond superficial understanding.


This week, may you find renewed hope and purpose as you navigate the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead. Remember that Jesus accompanies you on this journey, offering strength, comfort, and unwavering support.

Even when life’s path remains unclear or shrouded in mystery – a concept echoed in the Messianic Secret – trust that His presence endures. Like the gradual unfolding of dawn as shadows retreat, the full significance of Jesus’s mission may not be immediately apparent. This element of mystery invites us to cultivate a deeper understanding over time, recognizing His work in the unfolding story of our lives.

Philemon

© Tanner Aidon basics to the Messianic Secret


Stumbling Eternially Uphill

Chapter 3

Proverbs 24:16a (NIV):
“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…”

As we turn the page to Chapter 3 of 2025, many of us are reflecting on what the next phase of this year might hold. While some of Jordan Peterson’s ideas can be controversial, one concept of his caught my attention and lingered with me:

“People make their mistakes as they stumble uphill.” … and they rise again!

This notion—is both comforting and empowering. It isn’t about perfection or avoiding errors; it’s about the climb, where every stumble teaches us something vital.


Finding Meaning in the Burden

One of Peterson’s most profound quotes from 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos is:
“The meaning of life is to find the largest burden that you can bear and bear it.”

At first glance, this seems counterintuitive. Why would anyone seek burdens rather than avoid them? But it’s precisely in carrying these burdens that we discover purpose and direction in life. The weight of responsibility—even when it feels overwhelming—grounds us in meaning and helps us become stronger versions of ourselves.

Of course, carrying a burden is no easy feat. It demands strength, perseverance, and a willingness to step outside of comfort. Peterson’s advice to “stand up straight with your shoulders back” is both literal and metaphorical. Physically, it’s a reminder of confidence and readiness; symbolically, it’s a call to face challenges head-on, no matter how daunting they seem.


Comparison and the Uphill Climb

here a little advice about personal growth:
“Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.”

In a world dominated by social media, this advice feels particularly relevant. It’s all too easy to look at others—their achievements, their milestones—and feel like we’re falling short.


A Shared Struggle

In Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, Peterson writes:
“The world is suffering. You are suffering. Everyone is suffering. We are all suffering together.”

This shared experience of pain and struggle connects us. It reminds us that we are not alone in our hardships. Our suffering, while deeply personal, is also profoundly collective. When we acknowledge this, we create space for empathy and solidarity—offering and receiving support as we each navigate our individual uphill climbs.


Stumbling Eternally Upwards

The concept of the eternal uphill climb—both physically and spiritually—resonates deeply as we navigate the complexities of 2025. We may stumble along the way, but as Proverbs 24:16 reminds us, the righteous will rise again and again, stumbling upward, eternally!


Wishing you a peaceful and purposeful weekend,
Philemon

Create in me a divine cooperation

Good Monday Morning to this 2nd Week of 2025

Chapter 1

Dr. Douglas-Klotz writes; I experienced a physical sensation of calming love from the Aramaic words,  when i applied the ancient practice of Jesus’s day.  “You breathe with, you say the words of the teacher or the prophet in their language and you come into rhythm with the words as a living experience. Here a few selections from from The Lord’s Prayer Bible’s King James V version.  

Our Father who art in heaven:

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light.

Hallowed be thy name

Focus your light within us — make it useful: as the rays of a beacon show the way.

Thy kingdom come

Unite our “I can” to yours, so that we walk as kings and queens with every creature.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Create in me a divine cooperation — from many selves, one voice, one action.

Give us this day our daily bread

Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

Forgive our hidden past, the secret shames, as we consistently forgive what others hide.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Deceived neither by the outer nor the inner — free us to walk your path with joy.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

From you is born all ruling will, the power and life to do, the song that beautifies all from age to age it renews. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is so familiar I tend to take for granted. In Aramaic, it has a powerful resonance weighted toward infinite love and possibilities, and gives us a perspective of a new way.

Wishing a blessed start to this new week and year!
Philemon

Review 2024

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

Silent Heavens

Chapter 52

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream …
Matthew 1.20

Very often, our prayers seem to vanish into the void. Like the ancient psalmists, we wrestle with questions: What happens to our faith when prayers for healing or peace go unanswered? How do we trust God’s purposes when His silence feels unbearable?

The Christmas story offers surprising answers. It shows us that God’s silence often cradles His most profound purposes. Consider Joseph: a righteous man whose dreams of a peaceful family life were shattered. His fiancée’s unexpected pregnancy disrupted every plan, and his prayers for normality seemed ignored. Yet through this divine disruption came the salvation of the world.

Mary’s story mirrors this pattern. Surely, she prayed for a safe and joyful entrance into motherhood. Instead, she faced suspicion, hardship, and a dangerous journey to Bethlehem. Her unanswered prayers for normalcy brought God into human flesh, reshaping history forever.

And the shepherds, weary of Roman oppression, prayed for a triumphant Messiah to overthrow their oppressors. What they received instead was a vulnerable baby in a manger. Their prayers for power met silence, yet that silence revealed a Savior who identifies with the weak and lowly.

These stories remind us that unanswered prayers are not divine rejection but sacred invitations. They call us to trust that even in silence, God is at work—transforming disruption into redemption, disappointment into deeper trust, and human weakness into channels of divine strength.

Prince of Peace, whose silence often shapes us more than Your answers, grant us faith to trust Your wisdom in our unanswered prayers. Transform our questioning into questing, our disappointment into deeper trust. Give us Joseph’s faithful persistence, Mary’s courageous acceptance, the shepherds’ hopeful watching, and the Magi’s determined seeking… We pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Lord of silence and unanswered prayers… Amen

A paraphrased summary of Taras M. Dyatlik, Advent Reflections – Awaiting the Prince of Peace.

Wishing you God’s abundant blessings in the days leading up to Christmas and beyond.

Philemon

No room

Chapter 51

Advent Reflections from Ukraine “Awaiting the Prince of Peace”

Taras, on behalf of the iROAD team: Roman, Olga, Ksenija and Katherina.

[Dedicated to all refugees that were rejected the shelter in the countries with “no war…” Including Ukraine, which rejected Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian refugees before the “big war”… I pray that those refugees will forgive our “no room” and “no interest”…]

The Gospel of “No Room…”

As millions of Ukrainians seek shelter from Russian missiles and war, the ancient words “no room” echo with fresh pain. When bomb shelters fill beyond capacity, when refugee centers reach their limits, when European countries begin restricting their “possibilities” — we confront an age-old human paradox. While unprecedented numbers of Ukrainians have found welcome abroad (7.7 million scattered globally, almost 25% of our population, with 5.3 million in EU countries alone), this full-scale exposes deeper questions about human selectivity in compassion.

How do we process this complex reality? Societies that welcome Ukrainians often continue turning away those of different religions or skin colors in their hour of need… I must acknowledge our own history: before this “big war,” independent Ukraine since 1991 was not notably inclusive in refugee assistance. Now, with 3.7 million internally displaced people seeking shelter in safer regions within Ukraine, we face the profound irony of becoming a nation of refugees who once restricted refuge to others…

I pray this experience can transform us: having known both rejection and welcome, exclusion and embrace, might we emerge from this war with deeper understanding of human displacement? Can our suffering teach us not just to receive mercy but to extend it more broadly? The ancient words “no room” challenge us not only to find shelter but to become people who make room for others in need…

“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

Luke presents the “no room” problem with stark simplicity. Bethlehem, swollen with census travelers and “strangers,” couldn’t find space for a woman in labor. The inn’s closure wasn’t active hostility but passive indifference — that subtle evil that allows suffering while maintaining respectability. Perhaps the innkeeper even felt justified: rules are rules, capacity is capacity, what can one do?

This ancient story finds tragic echoes in our modern reality — which some delicately call a “crisis” or “situation,” avoiding the stark truth of Russia’s war against Ukraine… Like Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem, millions of Ukrainians navigate labyrinthine bureaucracies, knock on foreign doors, and face the cold mathematics of refugee quotas and capacity limits… Some find welcome, like Mary and Joseph found their stable; others hear those ancient words dressed in modern diplomatic language: “no further possibilities,” “quota limits reached,” “temporary suspension of applications…”

The stable that sheltered Jesus mirrors today’s improvised sanctuaries — overcrowded subway stations during air raids, basement bomb shelters converted from storage spaces, abandoned buildings transformed into temporary homes, and even cattle barns repurposed as refugee centers… These unlikely spaces, like Bethlehem’s manger, become holy ground not through architectural grandeur but through their life-preserving purpose…

Yet the theological implications run deeper. God chose to enter human history through double rejection — first by having “no room” in Bethlehem’s inn, then through ultimate rejection on Calvary’s cross… This wasn’t divine accommodation to human failure but part of God’s intentional identification with the excluded… Making “no room” part of salvation’s story reveals a profound truth: divine presence often manifests most powerfully in spaces of rejection and displacement…

The manger wasn’t Plan B but part of divine purpose — showing how God’s presence deliberately inhabits places where society has “no room” for “them,” and eventually, for “us…” This raises a profound question for Ukraine’s wartime reality: What constitutes our true place of worship — a shelter or a church? The answer emerges through experience: both become sacred when they serve divine purpose. A bomb shelter where people pray together during air raids becomes as holy as a cathedral… Do you hear? As holy as a cathedral… A church basement storing humanitarian aid becomes as sacred as its altar… Do you hear? As holy as an altar… The God who chose a stable for His entrance into human history continues to manifest presence in unexpected spaces of refuge and rejection…

Perhaps “no room” is never really about capacity but about priorities, echoing through history in various forms of denial: “no time” to help, “no resources” to share, “no strength” to care, “no interest” in others’ suffering. Like Bethlehem’s inn that had no room for its Savior, we craft sophisticated excuses for our exclusions — citing limited resources, emotional fatigue, compassion burnout, or simply the overwhelming scale of need…

Yet the stable teaches us a different response: it offered not what it lacked but what it had… what it had, not what it lacked… No bed? Here’s clean straw. No privacy? Here’s a quiet corner. No warmth? Here’s shelter from wind. No resources? Here’s simple space. This mirrors today’s wartime reality where the poorest communities often share the most generously, where those with “nothing to give” somehow find something to share, where “no room” becomes “enough room” through love’s creativity…

May we be found among those who, like the stable, offer whatever we have — whether space, time, resources, or simply presence — trusting that God often arrives through those for whom society claims to have “no room,” “no budget,” “no capacity.” For in God’s economy, it’s not the abundance of our resources but the readiness of our hearts that creates space for divine presence. Sometimes the fullest worship happens in the emptiest places, and the richest giving comes from the poorest hands…

Prince of Peace, who chose to enter human history through rejection and “no room,” transform our hearts’ closed doors into spaces of welcome. When we are tempted to say “no time,” “no strength,” “no resources,” remind us of Bethlehem’s stable that offered what little it had. When our churches and homes feel stretched beyond capacity, grant us creativity to make room anyway. When compassion fatigue tempts us to turn away, help us remember that in welcoming those for whom society has “no room,” we welcome You. Make us people who, like the stable, never say “nothing to offer” but always ask “what can we share?” For You still come to us through those whom society excludes, and Your presence still sanctifies the humblest spaces where love makes room. We pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Lord of “no room” people… Amen

Taras, on behalf of the iROAD, 13.12.2024

Lament and Triumph

A Poem Inspired by Isaiah 59

Chapter 50

What does it sound like when woodwind weeps and Scripture sings? Let us listen to this symphony of prayer, lament, and hope. Let us hear what flows from the meeting of sacred word and sacred sound. A cry for deliverance. A song of redemption. A whisper of eternal grace.

This ancient cry of a heart pursued, and place it beside the duduk, the wooden flute whose every note carries the weight of exile and hope. Now, put them together—not simply side by side, but in a blender of sound, soul, and poetry. Stir their raw emotions, their aching vibrations, their hope for deliverance, and listen to what emerges.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save,
Nor His ear dull,
That it cannot hear.”
So the prophet cried to the fading winds,
To hearts weighed with dust,
To souls longing for a horizon
Where hope might rise like an untouched dawn.

The melody begins—low, mournful, ancient.
A whisper carried by time’s trembling breath,
A voice shaped by exiled stones, it sways like the wandering
Reaching, stumbling, yearning for light
In a world where shadows multiply.

Oh, Israel, your walls are broken.
The temple sleeps beneath its ruin,
And the streets echo not with songs of joy
But with the cries of a nation untethered.
Injustice stalks the alleys,
Truth has stumbled in the marketplace,
And the hand of peace is struck aside.

Where is the light? Where is the voice?
The stars are dim; the heavens silent.
Yet the melody rises,
Like a thread of hope climbing the dark,
A promise trembling on the edge of night.

The sound swells—now fierce, now tender,
A story both mournful and defiant.
It speaks of a Redeemer,
Of hands not shortened,
Of arms strong enough to pull the lost
From their endless drowning.
For though sin has built a canyon,
Love will build a bridge.

I hear the cries of confession:
“Justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not overtake us.
We hope for light, but behold, darkness;
For brightness, but we walk in gloom.”
And the melody bends beneath their weight,
Like a branch heavy with winter’s ice,
Like hearts heavy with the knowing
That they are their own undoing.

But then it rises, slowly, surely,
like the breaking of dawn.
A new voice enters, rich and golden,
The “arm of the LORD,” the Savior promised.
He steps into the ruins,
Clothed in righteousness,
With a zeal, no storm can quench.

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
To those in Jacob who turn from transgression.”
And the song becomes a hymn—
A hymn for the broken,
For the blinded who grope for walls,
For the weary who walk in endless twilight.

Oh, melody of grace,
Sing now of justice and mercy’s embrace.
For on the cross, they kissed,
And in the tomb they wept,
And in the dawn they rose
Hope incarnate, alive forevermore.

The final notes are not a lament
But a whisper of eternal promise.
Hope has come, and hope will come again.
For though we live in the “not yet,”
The “already” sings louder.
And we wait, not in silence,
But in a symphony of trust,
Carried by the winds of a world remade.

Let the Duduk weep its final tear
Not for despair, but for joy
Rising on the wings of eternity.

Blessing you with the hope of the 2nd advent
Philemon

Echoes of Truth

Chapter 49

Good Monday Morning to this new week

Living Faith: Wisdom from Modern Theological Minds


1. N.T. Wright:

“Heaven is important, but it’s not the end of the world.”

2. Stanley Hauerwas:

“The church doesn’t have a social strategy; the church is a social strategy.”

3. John Piper:

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

4. Miroslav Volf:

“Forgiveness flounders because I exclude the enemy from the community of humans and myself from the community of sinners.”

5. Timothy Keller:

“The gospel says you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, but more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.”

6. Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger):

“The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”

7. Elizabeth A. Johnson:

“We are not just stewards of creation; we are also members of the community of creation.”

8. Robert Barron:

“Your life is not about you. You are sent to reflect the glory of God, to act as a conduit of grace to the world, to carry the divine life within you and share it.”

9. Hans Küng:

“No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.”

10. Gustavo Gutiérrez:

“You say you care about the poor? Then tell me, what are their names?”

11. John Zizioulas:

“To be and to be in communion are the same thing.”

12. David Bentley Hart:

“God’s beauty is infinite and inexhaustible; its splendor is the measure of all things.”

13. Serene Jones:

“Theology is not an abstract discipline; it is a way of making sense of the struggles and hopes of real people.”

14. Jacquelyn Grant:

“Theologizing about liberation must not become an abstract exercise divorced from the realities of those who suffer.”

15. Kwame Bediako:

“The gospel is at home in every culture, and no culture is the gospel’s permanent home.”

16. C. René Padilla:

“The gospel of the kingdom is good news of total salvation: spiritual, material, social, and ecological.”

17. Mercy Amba Oduyoye:

“In African cosmology, life is the ultimate gift, and theology must affirm its flourishing for all.”

18. Willie James Jennings:

“The Christian imagination must be reshaped by a vision of belonging that disrupts segregation and exclusion.”

19. James K.A. Smith:

Jesus is a teacher who doesn’t just inform our intellect but forms our very loves. He isn’t content to simply deposit new ideas into your mind; he is after nothing less than your wants, your loves, your longings.”

20. Catherine Keller:

“Creation is not an event of the past, but the ongoing process of God’s relational becoming.”

Wishing an inspired start to this new week with these 20 Voices shaping faith in the 21st century.

Philemon