Not only commercial Halloween, but also Reformation Day.

My reflections:

1. Has social media become the ultimate authority for Christians?

2. Have church attendance and keeping up with church activities become our tangible indulgences?

3. Is the Gospel still the true treasure for believers?

My Lent Practices:
1. no short videos, like IG Reels or YouTube shorts
2. No political news (either from US or from Taiwan), only "read" political news.

"Consumer Christianity is now normative. The consumer Christian is one who utilizes the grace of God for forgiveness and the services of the church for special occasions, but does not give his/her life and innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions over to the kingdom of the heavens." D. Willard

A plea from a real Christian’s perspective

episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/21/w...

But as my certainty in God disappeared in the fog of trauma, my connection to the cross became stronger. Now I read the Gospels through my own post-traumatic lens, and so many of the stories now make more sense to me.

David W. Peters, Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded, p.9

10 Trends for Ministry in 2025
1. The religious landscape is changing

2. Church pews and sporting fields are in competition

6. Many Americans and churchgoers remain consumeristic

10. Churchgoers want sermons that address cultural issues but not endorsements

【Does the Gospel Still Speak to Me?】Day 1
The Gospel is about sacrificial companionship and giving, and my wife did just that. I received it.

Yesterday was terrible, but this morning my wife decided to take the day off to be with me.

It appears to me that the decline of fasting as a spiritual discipline reflects a weakness within the Christian community. White evangelical (also ethnic Chinese churches) seems to be shifting towards a particular culture or set of values, potentially losing its essence as a faith-based group.

"If LLMs are good enough to do what people expect them to do, the natural result is the destruction of the ability to trust anything that is written. That means that yet another aspect of what makes society possible is gone."

quote from internet

In the United States, the vast majority of Muslims celebrate Ramadan, with eight-in-ten Muslim adults saying they fast for it, according to our 2017 survey. In that survey, more Muslims said they fast during Ramadan than said they pray five times a day (42%) or attend mosque weekly (43%).

39% of the smallest churches (fewer than 50) state that less than 25% of their church is involved in small groups. This means fewer than 15 people attend small groups.

Only 21% of the smallest churches have 50–74% of their church involved in small groups.

research.lifeway.com/2024/03/04/f...

Crafting my upcoming sermon. Weaving the timeless Ten Commandments into modern LA context.

My lenten practices:
1. preaching from the lectionary
2. not watching short videos
3. not playing mobile games

my first day on BlueSky