All posts by : Kyle Dunn

Because my dad worked in the oil industry, our family moved several times between Louisiana and Texas as he promoted through the company. Each new city afforded a connection with a new church. I was blessed to have outstanding Student Pastors during my teenage years. One of them, in Lafayette, Louisiana, was a wonderful man named Paul Strahan. Paul was a character, full of life and Southern charm, accessorized with a thick Mississippi accent.

Paul was one of the first people to believe in me as a leader, to recognize the call of God on my life.

As a high school student, Paul invited me to help in our church’s middle school ministry. It was exhilarating, as if strong winds filled my sails, propelling me toward a purpose. Those opportunities to plan and lead ministry prompted a question in my heart, one that I shared with Paul: Was God calling me to step away from plans for veterinary medicine, into a life of pastoral ministry?

Paul was wise and kind, not pouncing on the moment, not pressuring me to sign on the spot for a ministerial contract (that’s not a thing, by the way). He said, Well, let’s pray about it and talk about it over the next several weeks. On Wednesdays or Sundays, Paul would ask about my thoughts and prayers concerning ministry. I would share my best sense for how God was leading.

Paul didn’t oversteer or claim divine insight. He was a great Shepherd and a reliable sounding board for processing the work of God. He believed in me as a future pastor. He believed in my ability to seek God for direction.

Paul passed away last week in a rapid loss to cancer. I grieve for his family.

Appreciate those who believed in you.

In the almost 40 years since high school, we caught up several times, but I allowed myself to fall out of touch with Paul. I realize now that it was just before Covid since we last touched base. I regret that.

Chances are high that someone believed in you early in life, just as Paul believed in me. And just maybe, they were kind and good to you even if you didn’t recognize it in the moment. It is now clear how God used them as a link in a chain of mentors, the people who shaped you into who you are today.

If by God’s grace, they are still living, reach out to them today. Send a text, connect on Facebook, or even better, write a handwritten letter. Thank them and give them a glimpse of the fruit that has come from your life because they cultivated your younger self.

I take comfort in the hope of seeing Paul again in heaven. I look forward to seeing him grin and hearing, Welcome, in a thick Mississippi accent. I look forward to thanking him for letting Jesus use him in my life.

Believe in someone still finding their way.

Look around for someone wrestling with where they are headed, grasping for guidance and encouragement.

Invest in them.
Affirm them.
Be kind and good to them.

Believe in them.

It is possible that your lingering pessimism, your simmering outrage, and your soured outlook live at the top of your heart and in the front of your mind because this is what you feed on all day.

News, podcasts, and social media with content about more terrible things done by terrible people have an impact on your soul.

Little room exists for peace and hope while hooked up to the steady drip of bad news, scandal, and rolling examples of human failure and cruelty—dispensed through the IV of a screen.

Be informed. Be involved. But set your heart and mind on things above.

Peace and hope are available to those who carefully curate the feed they allow to influence their hearts and minds.

Connect yourself to the life and promise of God’s Word. Surround yourself with songs of worship, Godward podcasts, and social media accounts that celebrate beauty and inspire joy.

Make the switch.
Disconnect from the toxic.
Plug into better things.

Our church spent several weeks studying the life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The Bible explicitly tells us that in two of the most difficult episodes of Joseph’s story, the Lord was with him.

His brothers betrayed him. He had been sold twice. Now, he belonged to and worked for Potiphar in Egypt. But the Lord was with him.

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:2 NIV)

Potiphar’s wife pursued Joseph, but he refused to sleep with her. Maintaining his integrity and choosing what was right still landed Joseph in prison. But the Lord was with him.

“Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (Genesis 39:20-21 NIV)

Other Scriptures affirm that the God of Joseph is also with us:

• “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
• “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy31:6NIV)
• “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 NIV)
• “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” (Matthew 1:21-23 NIV)
• “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalms 139:7-10 NIV)

Take courage and hope from these verses. The Lord is with you, wherever you go—in every meeting, in every conversation, in every decision, in every catastrophe, in every triumph.

If you are walking through difficult circumstances—I am so sorry. The uncertainty, the frustration, the disappointment, and perhaps a sense of helplessness—these drain joy and evaporate hope. Like the Psalmist, instruct your soul to hope in God. The Lord is with you.

The statement sounds simple, almost too simple. What difference could it make in the moments of our days to believe and know that the Lord is with us?

Well, that all depends on who you believe the Lord is – what he is like and what he is capable of.

I LOVE YOU. Fully. Just as you are. For free. I am all in. I’m committed for as long as God gives us life.

I DESIRE YOU. Just as you are. You still make my heart beat fast. I’m glad you are my person. Making time for us to be close is more than physical – it’s when I feel emotionally connected to you.

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU. Asking God for more joy in your life. Asking God to lead you into more freedom in his grace. Asking God to deepen your love for his Word. Asking God to give you peace as you live in his purpose for your life.

I APPRECIATE YOU. I see what you bring to this marriage. I am thankful for the ways you serve and provide and treat me with kindness. I am thankful to partner with you for building our family. I appreciate how you communicate and how you pursue me. Thank you for making our life together so much fun.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)  ESV

Abiding is our daily effort to pursue, to enjoy, and to rest in Jesus Christ.

To understand abiding (or as the NIV translates, to remain), let’s think about the difference between:

• Knowledge and Intimacy
• Busyness and Being Still
• Option and Opportunity
• Duty and Depth
• Memorizing and Marinating

Remaining in Jesus–and to have him remain with us, is the most wondrous invitation.

Communion with the Son of God. Soaking in his peace. Lingering in his Truth. Tapping into his sufficiency. Sitting in his mercy. Remembering that we are beloved.

Make room in today’s schedule – to be with him, to talk to him, to listen, to abide.

The prophet Hosea delivered messages of truth and love—speaking verbatim the words of the Lord. In this chapter, we find God musing over his relationship with wayward Israel.

Hosea 11:1-11

““When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.”

Take notice of three things with me:

1. God gives a sad summary of Israel’s response to him—“the more they were called, the more they went away from me.” (Hosea 11:2) These words hold a divine grief. God feels for us as he observes our sin sickness. Even when we are under the love of God and even while he is calling to us—our flesh can lead us step by step, choice by choice, away from him.

Look at your past two weeks. Is your life’s momentum toward Jesus or away from Jesus? For whichever is true, pause right now and talk to the Lord about it.

2. Do you see the words I’ve bolded in the Scripture text? Look at all the actions God takes in loving and caring for his people. As you follow Jesus, God is not distant or remote. He is actively leading, providing, loving, calling, teaching, lifting, and bending toward us. God is so good to us. And though we might deserve anger and devastation, he who is rich in mercy gives compassion. (Hosea 11:8-9) (Ephesians 2:3-5)

The Lord is your daily shepherd.
The Lord is your patient father.
The Lord is your capable healer.
The Lord is your faithful provider.
The Lord lifts you up to himself again and again. (Hosea 11:4)

Pause right now and thank God for his daily leadership, love, and care. Be specific with your praise.

3. Near the end of this passage, Hosea announces hope that Israel will eventually follow the Lord—because God will roar like a lion. His roar is not a warning. His roar is not to scare them—it’s an invitation. Do you see it in the text? When he roars, his children will come. And when they return, he will settle them in their homes.

The Lion roars to us, calling us home, calling us to his side, where nothing can touch us. He calls us out of roaming and wandering, inviting us to be settled. God is so good to us.

Pause right now and talk to God about your desire to find rest, to know peace. Tell him how much you long to feel settled.

On Saturday morning, I toured the home of Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President. The National Park Service preserves his three-story house in Oyster Bay, New York. It served as a family retreat, summer White House, and venue for global negotiations. The walls are lined with art, hunting trophies, numerous bookcases, and charming reminders of a lively home for a loving couple with six children.

I recently read Edmund Morris’ three volume biography on the man the nation knew as Teddy. This weekend’s tour fulfilled my history-nerd desire to get even closer to this leader I admire. He was a devoted family man, a no-nonsense executive, and a gigantic personality. TR was NY Police Commissioner, Governor, Vice President, and eventually a two-term President. Along the way, he commanded the Rough Riders on San Juan Hill, preserved millions of Western acres as national parks, led America to secure the Panama Canal, negotiated peace between Japan and Russia, wrote more than thirty books, oversaw critical military preparation before World War I, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

On Saturday afternoon, former President Trump was almost assassinated. Those horrific events bring to mind one of my favorite stories about Roosevelt. While campaigning in 1912, a would-be assassin shot Roosevelt in the chest at close range just as Teddy exited his car. After bystanders tackled and subdued the shooter, TR insisted on carrying on with the speech. Look at his opening words to the crowd (courtesy: The History Channel):

“Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.” His second line, however, was a bombshell. “I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.” The horrified audience in the Milwaukee Auditorium gasped as the former president unbuttoned his vest to reveal his bloodstained shirt. “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose,” the wounded candidate assured them. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a bullet-riddled, 50-page speech.

Holding up his prepared remarks, which had two big holes blown through each page, Roosevelt continued. “Fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet—there is where the bullet went through—and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.”

Bleeding and a little short of breath, Teddy went on to speak with courage and passion for a full ninety minutes.

Wow.

As a student of history, I recognize the iconic nature of the photo from former President Trump’s assassination attempt. Brave protectors. A bloodied, but courageous and determined candidate. The flag—still there.

It was a terrible day. A retired fire chief lost his life, others were injured, and many were traumatized for life. It was terrible because hate took action, attempting to stop a candidate, attempting with bullets to bypass and blaspheme our democratic process.

Elections with robust campaigns are foundational to our democracy. Candidates step forward, and ideas are put forward—with passion. Then, the voters decide.

Yes, the process has been broken for a long time. What happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, is the fruit of what we have allowed—disagreement turning into hate and declaring rivals to be enemies.

This has been simmering toward a boil for a while now. We have lost the ability to respectfully disagree. We see only red or blue. On Saturday, a young man saw the party, positions, and rhetoric more than he saw a person. On Saturday, a young man thought it was a good idea to take a life because of politics.

I am thankful that President Trump is okay. His resilient, courageous, inspiring, Rooseveltian reaction will live on in history.

We came very close to exponential disaster—millimeters close, fractions of a second head turn close. We were not just close to losing this specific candidate. We were close to igniting the flammable national tension, perhaps leading more people to take up arms against their neighbors.

If you need fresh evidence of God’s providence, it can be measured in the millimeters of a perfectly timed turn of the head.

We are citizens of a better Kingdom—one that is to come. Yet, while we wait, we endeavor to do good in the name of Jesus and to announce the good news of the Kingdom—to all.

Political violence has no place. Hatred of political rivals has no place-especially among the people of Jesus.

Our hope is in Jesus, not a candidate.

Let’s pray for our leaders and ask God to glorify himself in an election process that still has months to go. Let’s pray for Mr. Trump and his family. Let’s pray for Mr. Biden and his family. Let’s pray for the families of the other victims at Saturday’s rally.

Let’s take inspiration from Mr. Trump’s incredible courage and determination to carry on—to continue serving—despite the dangers. TR would be proud.

Let’s do our part to dial down the tone and temperature attached to our opinions and positions. Let’s pray that our children and the next generations of politicians learn from these moments.

Let’s continue to seek God, to cling to him, and to reflect Jesus in all that we say, and do and post.

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:29-37 NIV

Jesus answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” with a parable, illustrating love through a man helping a fellow traveler. The Samaritan gave up his ride so the wounded one could make it to an inn. He spent the night nursing injuries, then pre-paid recovery expenses, promising the innkeeper more should it prove necessary.

Jesus is honored by our good responses to strangers in need—compassion, willing interruption, stepping into messy situations, time and money spent.

Another detail in the story merits attention. The first act Jesus describes is the Samaritan bandaging the victim’s wounds, pouring on oil and wine. What did the Samaritan use as bandages? Where did he get the oil and wine? Had he brought a first-century first-aid kit on the journey, just in case? Perhaps the items were already part of his cargo. Or did he pack with a purpose; ready to respond, to bind up, to love?

• Oil to comfort, to reduce swelling, and to quiet the burning and stinging.
• Wine to clean out the wounds, to wash away germs, stopping the chance of infection.
• Cloth bandages to slow or stop the bleeding, to seal things up so healing can begin.

Before leaving home, what can we pack for today’s journey to school, or work, or running errands—just in case we cross paths with a fellow traveler beaten and bloodied by life? Do you have a Scripture or two at the ready, passages of hope to soothe a sting?

Devotional moments in God’s Word help us to enjoy Jesus, to follow the Spirit, and to trust our Father. They also double as packing for the day’s ministry opportunities. Scriptures of grace and truth become oil and wine. Passages about God’s power, his mercy, and his faithfulness, become bandages for an on-the-go first aid kit.

Let’s go about our day watchful for the wounded; stopping to help might just save a life. Yes, they could require longer-term care from other sources, but a few minutes spent listening to them and pointing them toward hope in Jesus, could slow the bleeding so healing can begin.

Today is full of responsibilities, yet also a few unplanned opportunities and divine encounters. Are you packed for them?

“Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to me when I was helpless, dead in my trespasses and sins. Use me today to strengthen someone who feels robbed, attacked, wounded, or abandoned. Spirit of God, bring specific Scriptures to mind so that I might encourage them.

My day, as always, is yours. My schedule is interruptible. My time is shareable. My things are replaceable. I’m leaving home today with eyes up, watching for opportunities to love my neighbor, for the privilege of representing you.”

To know me is to encounter my love of history. I enjoy articles on discoveries in archaeology. I am captivated by first-hand accounts of life way back when. I am a sucker for any YouTube video about battles and battlefields. My Audible app usually has a few biographies loaded—a cadre of long-gone mentors, speaking across time to share wisdom and to warn against folly.

It is good to read old and new things; content with a today timestamp and words locked onto pages in brittle, old-smelling books.

Let’s spend a few minutes with a Christian leader from history. His name is John Taylor of Ashbourne (1711-1788). His life in England ended just before George Washington became President on our side of the pond.

John penned thoughts on pride and humility which strongly relate to our modern discipleship. I am painfully familiar with the battle against pride. In my early years of ministry, I indulged insecure ambition—attempting to dress it up as passion and drive. I wanted people to view me as a capable leader. I hoped to bypass formative positions as an intern and staff associate to prove my value swiftly. Sadly, I neglected to grow the child of God in me and ended up searching for value in the opinions of men rather than in Christ and his calling.

Here are four paragraphs on the subject from JT paired with a few pastoral thoughts and questions from yours truly.

JT: “He that overvalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them. Pride has been able to harden the heart against compassion, and stop the ears against the cries of misery. It makes masters cruel and imperious, and magistrates insolent and partial. It produces contempt and injuries, and dissolves the bond of society. Nor is this species of pride more hurtful to the world than destructive to itself. The oppressor unites heaven and earth against him.”

KD: Confidence, drive, and forward motion can serve noble purposes. But they can also combine into the persona of an arrogant locomotive—barreling ahead, crashing through whatever dares to get in its way. Is your confidence under godly self-control? Has pride convinced you that you are better than others? Skim through the transcript of your inner monologue. Do you find thoughts of contempt for a coworker or an extended family member? How often does Christ-like compassion feature in your view of others? Jesus says to love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). He would also lead us to avoid making new ones—through overvaluing ourselves and undervaluing others.

—–

JT: “He that sets too high a value upon his own merits will, of course, think them ill-rewarded with his present condition. He will endeavour to exalt his fortune and his rank above others, in proportion as his deserts are superior to theirs. Once fired with these notions, he will attempt to increase his fortune and enlarge his sphere; and how few there are that prosecute such attempts with innocence, a very transient observation will sufficiently inform us. To pride, therefore, must be ascribed most of the fraud, injustice, violence, and extortion, by which wealth is frequently acquired.”

KD: One way we judge the viability of leftovers is by the smell test. We cautiously bring the container close for a telling whiff. Let’s pop open the lid of your heart today. Can you pass the smell test for pride? Are you grateful for and content with what you have? Has pride made you so self-focused that achievements or acknowledgments rarely satisfy? Do you frequently feel unappreciated, undervalued, and unnoticed? Has pride converted you to the belief that you deserve more than others? Are you scheming to get ahead even if it means climbing over or sabotaging competitors? I have been guilty of pushing to get noticed, even on the heels of recognition. At some point, alarms in my heart moved me to address pride’s hold. I was at the center, and shifts were made in thinking and reacting to make Jesus the center more often. Jesus cautions that all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will receive honor (Luke 14:11).

—–

JT: Another concomitant of pride is envy, or the desire of debasing others. A proud man is uneasy and dissatisfied, while any of those applauses are bestowed on another, which he is desirous of himself.

KD: Ask God to trim away the part of you that envies and resents others. Does their success trigger a plan to outdo or surpass them—to grab back the spotlight? The Bible says a godly life includes intentionally putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). Train yourself to celebrate when others win.

—–

JT: “Another consequence of immoderate self-esteem is an insatiable desire of propagating in others the favourable opinion he entertains of himself. He therefore tortures his invention for means to make himself conspicuous, and to draw the eyes of the world upon him.”

KD: John Taylor could not have imagined smartphones, social media, and the prideful pressure some feel to get noticed. Yet his century knew this truth in common with our own—our pride loves to “draw the eyes of the world.” Please do not attach your value to people liking, commenting, or sharing what you’ve posted. Dear one, you are enough without the applause of men.

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.

Ezekiel 28:1-2 NIV

Be on your guard against pride. It will lie to you, sabotage you, and separate you from those who would love and support you. And it will work to make an idol of—you. Pride wants to compete with God for glory.

Some of what equips us for godliness comes as cozy reminders that we are fully loved, swimmers in a sea of grace. And that is what we are. Do not despise the less cozy questions you prefer not to ask of your soul. Identifying traces of pride and walking with the Spirit to deal with them pays marvelous benefits in every century.

Humility, with an accurate view of self, is just one of the ways Jesus invites you to enjoy him and to live more free.