Lessons from the Forest Floor

Chapter 38

Good Monday Morning to this new week of 2024

They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3

Yesterday, I went for a hike, and during the first hour, I walked downhill through a forest. The trail was full of exposed roots—washed bare by water and rain, leaving much of the dirt gone. I’m used to navigating rocky trails and have a sense of where to place my feet. But this time, walking over the roots was tricky. My hiking boots, designed with hard rubber for gripping rocks, kept slipping on the roots. Thankfully, I made it down safely without slipping too much.

We often hear how having “roots” is healthy and good. It’s a strong metaphor. Yesterday, I saw plenty of roots—but I found myself wishing they had stayed underground! Isn’t that a meaningful metaphor for this new week? We need strong, deep roots, but they don’t always need to be visible. They can stay hidden, doing their work beneath the surface. Many things in your life establish a firm foundation, deeply rooted but unseen. If they become too visible, they could turn into stumbling “root” for others.

An interesting thought as we step into this new week.

Wishing you a great start,
Philemon

Echo Chambers

Chapter 37

Good Monday morning and welcome to week 37 of 2024!

Information comes from a myriad of sources and perspectives, but when we only hear the same viewpoints repeatedly, we risk being trapped in what’s known as an echo chamber.

The Bible warns against a narrow, self-centered approach to faith and understanding. For instance, Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his opinion.” This verse cautions against isolating oneself from diverse perspectives.

In her book “When Faith Disappoints: Finding Hope and Healing in the Midst of Doubt,” Lisa Fields explores into the challenges and struggles of faith, particularly when faced with disappointment and doubt. She emphasizes that genuine faith often arises from the freedom to grapple with profound spiritual questions.

Francis Bacon wisely noted, “If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.”

Similarly, a Spanish proverb states, “Among the safe courses, the safest of all is to doubt,” while Voltaire observed, “Doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous.”

The prophet Jeremiah also voiced his doubts to God:
“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?”

Apologetics goes beyond merely winning arguments; it’s about addressing the emotional and spiritual wounds that underlie skepticism. Often, a lack of belief stems from personal pain or disappointment, leading to a fragmented understanding of God, shaped by selective Scriptures and teachings or flawed definitions.

The problem of evil isn’t resolved through intellectual answers alone; it requires space for emotional wrestling and personal reflection. Healing in the Christian life demands vulnerability, confession, and authentic community, not isolation or superficial connections.

Misconceptions about God arise when faith is grounded in half-truths and cultural ideals rather than the full richness of Scripture. True peace, as embodied by Christ, involves emotional complexity and acknowledges that struggle and tears are part of the journey.

Purpose is not found in external achievements or recognition but in being conformed to the image of Christ. Pain and purpose coexist, and spiritual maturity involves recognizing that external success cannot heal internal wounds.

As we navigate our faith, let’s remember to embrace diverse perspectives, allowing room for doubt and growth. Through this openness, we can achieve a deeper, more resilient understanding of our beliefs and find healing and purpose in our journey.

To this new week of opinions, options and openness, I wish you a great start.

Philemon

Timeless Midweek Thoughts

Chapter 36

“The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority. When this is once realized, we can go through the New Testament and find passage after passage where this meaning is evident, where the Kingdom is not a realm or a people but God’s reign.

Jesus said that we must “receive the kingdom of God” as little children (Mark 10:15). What is received? The Church? Heaven? What is received is God’s rule.

In order to enter the future realm of the Kingdom, one must submit himself in perfect trust to God’s rule here and now. We must also “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6: 33). What is the object of our quest? The Church? Heaven? No; we are to seek God’s righteousness—His sway, His rule, His reign in our lives.”

George Eldon Ladd
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week!
Philemon

The Protector and the Protected

Chapter 35

Good Monday Morning to this new week 35 of 2024

In the unfolding drama of all the wars and struggles of life around us, where moments of crisis and conflict often take center stage, I’ve found my blog evolving into something that resembles a war diary. The entries seem to revolve around the themes of life and death, challenges and triumphs, and the ever-present tension between fear and faith.

As I reflect on these stories, Psalm 91:2 resonates with me: “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'” This verse is a powerful testament to God’s dual role as both our protector and the one who is protected. It serves as a reminder of the divine refuge we can seek in the midst of life’s chaos and trials.

One of the things I appreciate most about the stories I encounter and read is their raw authenticity. Many of these stories feature people who are struggling with doubts and facing intense trials. Their faith is not presented as an unshakable fortress from the start, but as something that endures through the struggle. The people in these stories are often deeply aware of their own fragility, yet they cling to their trust in God, their ultimate protector.

As we navigate our own struggles and uncertainties, many verses in the Bible offer a comforting perspective. It assures us that God is both the refuge we seek and the fortress that guards us, reminding us that despite what we read and see, He is the protector and we are the protected in moments of doubt and struggle.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), as the name of the Lord is a fortified tower to which the righteous run and are safe (Proverbs 18:10); He is my rock, fortress, and deliverer, my shield and stronghold (Psalm 18:2), and we need not fear, for He is with us, strengthening and helping us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10); indeed, He is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, a stronghold, refuge, and savior from those who are violent (2 Samuel 22:3), as the Lord is good and a refuge in times of trouble, caring for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7), so we are encouraged to be strong and take heart, all who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24), for truly He is our rock and salvation, our fortress, and we will not be shaken, as our salvation and honor depend on Him, our mighty rock and refuge (Psalm 62:6-7); the eternal God is our refuge, with everlasting arms underneath, driving out our enemies (Deuteronomy 33:27), and we are invited to come to Him with our weariness and burdens to find rest (Matthew 11:28).”

Let’s wrap this up, the dual role of protector and protected with another element, that of being free from the imprisonment of thought, as another term of having faith could be called. It’s a question of where and what we put our trust. Charles Wesley wrote the hymn and puts it this way;

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

As you begin a new week, may you find comfort and strength in the understanding that God is both your protector and the source of your freedom. This freedom transcends the absence of struggle, conflict, or physical restraint and offers a deeper sense of liberation from trusting in His divine presence and guidance.

Philemon

Crossing paths, light and shadow

Chapter 34

Last week, I wrote about delays, and now I find myself six days behind schedule. As this week comes to a close, and we take time to rest and prepare for the next, I wanted to share a brief but inspiring thought from Taras in Ukraine. Even in times of delay and uncertainty, there’s strength in reflection and resilience.

In these times of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the words of Psalm 13:1 resonate deeply: “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” The pain of feeling abandoned and the desperate longing for divine intervention are echoed in the heartbreaking story of Melissa.

Born on July 6 to Helga and Andriy, Melissa entered this world on the same day that Andriyko her uncle was fatally wounded and died due to the war. In their family, joy and grief have intertwined like light and shadow. “To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die…” Melissa’s birth, coinciding with Andriyko’s tragic death, feels like a poignant sign from the Lord. It is as if the outgoing and incoming generations, the protector and the protected, crossed paths for a brief moment, passing the baton of life amidst the chaos. Taras M. Dyatlyk, Ukraine
August 24, 2024

Zichrono livracha” may his memory be a blessing.

Philemon

Saved by Delay

Chapter 33

Good Monday Morning to this week 33 of 2024

On Aug. 9, an ATR-72 aircraft from Voepass Airlines, flying from Cascavel to Guarulhos, crashed in a residential area in Vinhedo, north of São Paulo. This is very sad news; there were no survivors. May God comfort the relatives in this terrible tragedy.

Some of the focus has been on 10 others. You might have seen it: 10 passengers missed the flight. Brazilian media reported that Adriano Assis, one of the passengers who arrived at the airport hours before the flight, went to a cafeteria to pass the time. He realized he had missed his flight only after the departure time had passed. “When I rushed to the gate, the staff informed me that the doors had closed an hour earlier. I argued with them, but later, when I heard about the crash, I felt strange emotions. I went back, hugged the official for doing their job well, and apologized.” Additionally, nine other passengers missed the flight because they confused the airline’s name and flight number.

This incident serves as a reminder of how unpredictable life can be and raises many questions.

Being on time is certainly important, especially as Swiss. Actually it’s really hard for me to be late at all. In our culture it reflects diligence, respect for others, and a well-managed life. In the Book of Proverbs, we find the wisdom of planning and foresight:

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV): “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Adriano Assis and the other nine passengers were spared by what some might call fate or divine intervention. It begs the question: what lessons are they meant to learn from this close encounter with mortality?

While punctuality is crucial, life teaches us that it is just one part of the broader picture of existence. We are reminded of the uncertainties and the need to be prepared for the unexpected. The missed flight, in this case, led to the preservation of their lives, offering them a chance to reflect and reassess priorities.

The Bible speaks to the transient nature of life:

James 4:14 (NIV): “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

This verse encourages us to live with humility, knowing that we are not in control of everything. It urges us to make the most of each moment, to act with kindness and compassion, and to seek purpose beyond the mundane.

Philosophically, we can consider the Stoic idea of amor fati, which means “love of fate.” This concept encourages acceptance of whatever happens, recognizing that every event is an opportunity for growth and reflection.

For those who missed the flight, the questions remain: How will they live differently now? Will they value each day more deeply, knowing how close they came to disaster? Can they find gratitude in the mundane moments, realizing that each day is a gift?

These questions prompt us to take a good look at our own lives. While being on time is important, it’s just one of the many things we juggle daily. Are we really focusing on what matters most, or are we just trying to keep up with the clock? Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves: are we prepared to handle life’s unexpected detours with a sense of humor and adaptability?

As we start this new week, let’s consider the value of living each day with intention and not just racing against the clock. Who knows, maybe missing your next flight might lead to an unexpected adventure or two! Embrace the unpredictability of life, and let each moment count—even if it means showing up fashionably late once in a while.

Wishing you a great start to the new week!

Philemon

Shores, water’s edge, banks, riversides, littorals


Chapter 32

Good Monday Morning to this new week!

Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. Luke 5

Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent some time at water’s edge, banks, riversides, littorals or, most recently, at the shore of the Bielersee. Shores – where land and water meet – places of transition and reflection – they sure do hold a special allure that has inspired many – as including Jesus – though in a country of little water there were a few shores he was drawn to.

Jesus first met Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee. They were fishermen working on the shore when He called them to become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-19). The shore, a place of their daily work, became the setting for a transformative moment.

Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching of his ministry, near the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 5-7). The natural amphitheatre created by the landscape allowed His words to reach a large crowd, illustrating the role of the shore as a place for sharing wisdom.

After a day of teaching and healing, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 men, women, and children with five loaves and two fish near the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:1-14). The shore served as the backdrop for this incredible demonstration of provision and abundance.


Shores provide a unique place where we can pause and reflect. The rhythmic sound of the waves and the expanse of the horizon can bring clarity and peace, making them ideal for contemplation and renewal.

Shores a gateway to new possibilities symbolising transitions and new beginnings. Just as the shore is where the land meets the sea, it is a place where we can move from the old to the new, from routine to adventure.


The beauty of coastlines-whether sandy beaches, rocky shores, or tranquil lakefronts-can inspire creativity and provide a sense of calm. It’s a place where nature’s artistry meets our own sense of wonder.


Shores can be subject to weather conditions that may not always be pleasant, such as strong winds or intense sun, or flooding. Popular shore areas may be crowded and commercialized, which can detract from the seeker’s peaceful experience. 


As we embark on this new week, make sure you carve out time to visit a shore zone! Take a walk along a local beach, enjoy a peaceful moment by a lake, or take a contemplative pause by a river. Make these shore zones more than just geographical locations. Make them sanctuaries for reflection, renewal, and inspiration! Just as Jesus found moments of profound significance by the shores, we too can find moments of peace and purpose.

Wishing you all a great start to this new week.

Philemon 

Guardian of Opportunities

Chapter 31

Good Monday Morning to this new week 31 of 2024

As we step into this new week, let’s reflect on an intriguing idea: Jesus as a guardian of opportunities. Jesus indeed opened doors to new possibilities and transformative experiences for those around Him and for us today.

Opportunities are more than mere chances for success or advancement. They can be distinguished between potentiality (dynamis) and actuality (energeia or entelecheia). An opportunity represents a state of potentiality that, through human agency or external factors, can be transformed into actuality.They are moments laden with potentiality, requiring freedom and ethical deliberation to actualize. They are temporally bound and subject to the dynamics of agency and determinism, and their value is often judged based on their outcomes and ethical implications. Recognizing and seizing opportunities involves a complex interplay of personal agency, moral responsibility, and social context. From a pragmatic and utilitarian perspective, opportunities are evaluated based on their potential to bring about the greatest good for the greatest number. Pragmatists emphasize the role of opportunities in problem-solving and experiential learning and assess opportunities based on the outcomes they produce, advocating for actions that maximize overall happiness and well-being.

Here are some approaches of Jesus to opportunities:

Jesus’ command to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34) and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) are profound opportunities for personal and communal transformation.

Jesus’ plea for forgiveness for His persecutors (Luke 23:34) and His teaching on forgiving others (Matthew 6:14) show us the path to freedom from bitterness and resentment.

In declaring Himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and asserting that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26),

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus’ life of service (Mark 10:45) and His call for discipleship (Matthew 16:24) provide a model for leadership and greatness through humility.

Jesus’ assertion that He is the light of the world (John 8:12) and that knowing the truth will set us free (John 8:32) reveals opportunities for liberation.

By urging us to seek first God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and declaring that it is within us (Luke 17:21), Jesus opens the door to a transformative reality that begins in our hearts.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This promise is a gateway to everlasting hope.

In summary, Jesus provides opportunities for love and compassion, forgiveness and freedom, faith and possibility, rest and peace, humility and service, enlightenment and liberation, and kingdom living.

Jesus as the guardian of opportunities. His teachings and actions invite us to be catalysts for transformation.

Blessings for a wonderful week ahead!

Philemon

Beyond Bonhoeffer’s Option: Rethinking Faithful Resistance

“Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:3

Chapter 30

Kornelis Heiko Miskotte, commonly known as K.H. Miskotte, was a prominent Dutch theologian and pastor in the 20th century. Born in Utrecht on September 23, 1894, and died on August 31, 1976, Miskotte played a major role in shaping modern Dutch Reformed theology. Miskotte is best known for his engagement with the Bible and his critical stance toward modern secular culture. He was strongly influenced by Karl Barth, a leading figure in neo-orthodox theology. Like Barth, Miskotte emphasized the transcendence of God and the importance of Scripture. He wrote several influential works, including When the Gods are Silent (“Als de goden zwijgen”), which explores the challenge of maintaining faith in a secularized world.

When it comes to resisting Christian passivity, Christians often draw on the wisdom of Bonhoeffer, who was a leading voice in the Confessing Church—a clergy movement that resisted the Nazification of Germany’s Protestant churches. Instead of fleeing to America, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany before the war. He was banned from teaching and preaching and eventually joined a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, which led to his imprisonment and eventual execution.

In summary, while both Miskotte and Bonhoeffer were deeply committed to resisting Nazi tyranny and were rooted in their Christian faith, Bonhoeffer was more directly involved in active resistance and focused on discipleship and community, whereas Miskotte emphasized intellectual resistance through biblical theology and critique of modernity.

Yet many today have fractured and co-opted Bonhoeffer’s legacy by separating his biography from his theology. This distortion creates a “Bonhoeffer option.”

Methods of Resistance:

Bonhoeffer:

•   Active Plotting: Bonhoeffer’s resistance included direct involvement in plots to overthrow Hitler, which was a significant and risky form of opposition.
•   Theological Education: He founded an underground seminary in Finkenwalde to train pastors in the Confessing Church, emphasizing discipleship and community.

Miskotte:

•   Intellectual Resistance: Miskotte’s primary form of resistance was through his intellectual and theological work, writing and preaching against the ideologies of the Nazi regime.
•   Pastoral Care: He provided pastoral care and moral support to those in the resistance, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith and opposition to tyranny.

One way pastoral theology makes this possible is by reminding people of the power of God’s word—which brings us back to Miskotte. When his fellow Dutch citizens faced a costly choice between pious inaction and violent reaction, Miskotte invited them to a theologically grounded yet politically active form of resistance. This, he believed, began with the simple yet radical act of listening. Miskotte saw that the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam produced a surprising, new hunger for Scripture—including an outbreak of Bible study groups in occupied cities in the winter of 1940. Miskotte personally facilitated some of these underground meetings and used his theological training to publish and distribute a study guide to meet the desperate need for biblical resources. His booklet, entitled Biblical ABCs, targeted the religious roots of Nazism. The primer began with the importance of God’s name, which Miskotte saw as the “cornerstone” of all “resistance” to authoritarianism and the decay of truth.

Ben Cowgill makes an interesting statement:

Miskotte respected the power of paganism. This may sound obscure or even offensive. The term has a long and controversial history, including colonialism, and modern people use it to describe their own religious practices. But Miskotte means by paganism something primordial: the standard human outlook that specific cultures concretize in different ways. This pagan outlook is rooted in particular lands, and it contains no grand contrasts: no creation from nothing, no end of the world, no transcendent agents. Instead, it is pluralistic and agonistic to the core. Gods and mortals struggle. Miskotte believed that paganism was honorable and even, in a sense, true, and therefore extremely durable. In fact, he thought that the Christian church, being composed of converted pagans, was always unstable and in danger of falling back into this most natural vision of the world. Only a constantly renewed attention to the Torah—“the anti-pagan monument par excellence”—can prevent this relapse. Only an active discipline of unbelief can keep us from absorbing the surrounding status quo ethos. Christians must also understand that it will take very strong catechesis to arrest our drift: we should not underestimate the fascism latent in ourselves and our churches, nor the kind of intensive, preventive deprogramming we need to pursue. Miskotte is an expert, Torah-based deprogrammer.

In this way, Miskotte saw Christian sanctification as a form of sabotage. The God of Israel revealed in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, Miskotte said, “is a saboteur from the beginning.” Not only does Jesus destroy our man-made notions of God and religion, but sanctification initiates us into God’s ongoing holy sabotage of our lives and the socio-political worlds that define them. In his essay on Miskotte’s work, theologian Philip G. Ziegler says that a key to “sanctifying the name” is active unbelief and disobedience to the chthonic and religious powers that drive natural life. Yet even this form of nonviolent theological resistance is often viewed as literal subversion by the political establishment—especially by people whose visions of peace, justice, and greatness conflict with those of the kingdom of God.

Sacred sabotage is brought about not by the power to crucify, but by the power of one who was crucified. This translates into a political presence that, according to Stanley Hauerwas, exists “so that the world may know that there is an alternative to the violence that characterizes relations between peoples and nations.”

More than that, God distinguishes us together. In the same way, resisting political violence in our time requires the church to renew its identity as the community of God’s Word.

As Miskotte reminds us, Christian sanctification involves participation in God’s holy sabotage of our world and its mechanisms of violence. The church’s prophetic task is to bear witness to the peace of Christ that reconciles and sustains the world. A restored humanity is possible only at the cross, not by the sword. And as dissident disciples, we smuggle this subversive message as witnesses in, to, and for a hostile world that is being reconciled to God but has not yet recognized it.

As sanctified saboteurs, baptized into God’s life, we boldly say, “We are Christians before we are (add your nation),” in accordance with our original confession that Jesus is Lord.

Wishing my readers a good and peaceful start to this new week in whatever form of sabotage they take. ✨

Philemon

References

• Bonhoeffer, D. (1995). The Cost of Discipleship. SCM Press.

• Miskotte, K. H. (1967). When the Gods are Silent. Collins.

• Stacy, J. (2024). Sabotaging Political Violence. Journal of Reformed Theology, 68(5), 74.

• Ziegler, P. G. (Year). A Theological Provocation. Journal of Reformed Theology.

• Cowgill, B. (Year). The ABC’s of Biblical Resistance: An Interview with Dr. Collin Cornell. Reformed Theology Today.

Headwinds / Gegenwind

Chapter 29

Good Monday Morning to this new week!

This morning, I rode for an hour and a quarter against the wind at 5 Beaufort. After a while, I got into the groove, trying to hold my speed. Keeping my head down and staying focused, I resisted distractions. Occasionally, a turn would make the wind a little less fierce, but turning around wasn’t an option. Knowing my destination wasn’t too far anymore kept me going.

The concept of headwinds, which refers to winds blowing directly against the direction of travel, is metaphorically and literally mentioned in various contexts in the Bible. In Jonah 1:4, “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” This passage describes Jonah’s attempt to flee from God’s command, resulting in God sending a storm as a form of divine intervention. Similarly, in Mark 6:48, “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.” Here, Jesus observes his disciples struggling against a headwind while rowing on the Sea of Galilee before he walks on water to reach them. Additionally, Acts 27:4 states, “And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.” This refers to Paul’s voyage to Rome, where the ship faced contrary winds, making their journey difficult.

Moreover, the physical challenges of headwinds serve a greater purpose. They fortify strength and resilience, compelling us to exert greater effort and adapt to harsher conditions. The cooling effect of headwinds during strenuous activities helps regulate body temperature, preventing overheating and enhancing endurance. Training against headwinds not only elevates physical conditioning but also instills a sense of triumph, making subsequent rides in calmer conditions feel remarkably smoother and boosting overall confidence and performance. (all in the good case that the wind changes in due time)

I wish you a good start to this week, headwinds or tailwinds!

It seems to be the same headwind against which we must surge,
or accept being slowed by, continue crawling against, until, in hope,
it shifts, and we go with it, together, towards a *”promised land”.


Philemon

*a metaphor for personal or collective spiritual growth and transformation