Trapped in the Moment Before the Miracle

When Waiting Feels Unfair

By Pastor Vinnie MacIsaac

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Have you ever felt the ache of waiting—wondering why God doesn’t step in right when you need Him most? Come with me into the story in the Gospel of Luke (8:40-53), where two lives intersect in a crowd, each one desperate for a miracle. Look around. Can you sense the tension, feel the weight in the air as these two souls press into the crowd, hoping for the same thing—a touch from Jesus that will bring healing?

First, there’s Jairus—a man whose life has likely never known such desperation. He’s a respected synagogue leader, a man used to being in control, with people looking up to him. But now, none of that matters. His twelve-year-old daughter, the light of his life, is at death’s door. Every second is precious as he finally spots Jesus. Without a moment’s hesitation, Jairus pushes through the crowd, urgency overriding his dignity. He falls at Jesus’ feet, pleading for his child’s life with a voice thick with desperation.

Then, look over to the edge of the crowd, and you’ll see her—a woman who’s been suffering in silence for twelve long years, hidden from society because of her condition. That’s as long as Jairus’s daughter has been alive. For twelve years, she’s watched life pass her by, felt her health deteriorate, and endured isolation, loss, and shame. But today, she’s determined. She won’t stop until she reaches Jesus, even if it’s only to touch His garment. She’s tried everything else. If anyone understands the desperation of Jairus, it’s this woman who’s lived a life defined by waiting.

Imagine for a moment the tension that hangs between these two lives. Who should be healed first? The girl, whose life has barely begun, or the woman, who has suffered the same number of years the girl has been alive? The crowd surges around Jesus, but He’s focused on the people before Him. Jairus leads Him through the throng, urging Him to hurry, while this woman follows in silence, hoping just for a brief touch, an instant of healing.

And then, it happens. As Jairus walks beside Jesus, trying to pull Him through the crowd, he suddenly feels the frustration of delay as Jesus stops. The woman, unnoticed by most, has reached out and touched His garment. That single touch is her boldest act of faith, her deepest cry for mercy, and she can feel it—the suffering ends in an instant. Jesus has stopped, turned, and asked, “Who touched me?”

Can you imagine Jairus in this moment? His heart must be pounding with impatience and confusion. He’s trapped in this maddening pause, watching someone else receive the miracle he so urgently needs for his daughter. This woman is healed; she’s finally freed from twelve years of pain. But Jairus is gripped by the thought, Why her and not my child? Why is God helping her first?

The woman, realizing she can’t stay hidden, comes forward. She falls at Jesus’ feet and tells Him everything. The twelve years of shame, the hopeless visits to physicians, the long nights of pain, and the isolation that almost broke her spirit. Jesus listens, and then His face softens. He calls her “Daughter,” a name that must warm her heart and bring tears to her eyes. “Your faith has healed you; go in peace.” She’s no longer “unclean,” no longer a forgotten outcast. Her faith has been honored, and she has been made whole.

But for Jairus, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. He’s waiting, caught in the agony of helplessness as he watches a stranger receive what he needs so desperately. And then the unthinkable happens. A messenger arrives, his face grim, and delivers the news Jairus dreads most: “Your daughter is dead.” Those words must pierce him like a knife. His hopes, his faith—all of it seems to collapse in an instant. He followed Jesus, he pleaded with all he had, yet it feels like the heavens have been silent, like God has chosen someone else over his own daughter. Why would God allow this? he must wonder, Isn’t my daughter’s life as important as this woman’s healing?

Before Jairus can even process the heartbreak, Jesus turns to him. He doesn’t ignore his pain or dismiss his fear. He looks right into Jairus’s eyes, His gaze filled with an understanding far beyond what anyone else could offer. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus tells him, “just believe, and she will be healed.” These words—simple, yet profoundly challenging—call Jairus to a faith that holds on, even in the face of despair. He’s still reeling, still grieving, but he follows, trapped in the moment before the miracle.

As they reach his home, the mourners are already gathered, their wails filling the air, a heart-wrenching symphony of sorrow. Jairus’s heart must be breaking, the sound a stark reminder that he’s already too late. But Jesus sends the mourners away, allowing only Jairus, his wife, and three disciples into the room. It’s quiet now, still. And then, with a gentleness that defies the weight of the situation, Jesus takes the girl’s hand and speaks, “My child, get up.”

And there, in that moment, life returns. The girl rises, breath filling her lungs, color returning to her cheeks. Imagine Jairus’s face, the astonishment, the fierce, almost painful joy as he realizes his daughter is alive. The delay that felt so unfair, the wait that seemed endless, has led to a miracle greater than he could have dreamed.

Trapped in the Moment Before the Miracle

How many of us know this feeling—trapped in the excruciating pause, watching others receive the blessings we’re longing for, feeling like our prayers are unheard? We see others’ needs being met, and bitterness starts to rise. Jairus must have felt it—the pang of perceived unfairness as he watched the woman healed, all while he faced the news of his daughter’s death.

But here’s the truth Jesus shows us through Jairus and this woman: there is a purpose in the delay. The woman endured twelve years of waiting for her healing, and Jairus had to wait while someone else received their miracle. Both were trapped in those moments of waiting, where faith feels stretched beyond its limits. But Jesus had something greater in store for each of them. For the woman, the wait ended with immediate healing; for Jairus, the delay led to a resurrection beyond what he had asked for.

So, if you’re waiting, feeling trapped in the moment before the miracle, hold on. Jesus is near, even in the silence, even in the pause. He hasn’t forgotten you. Like Jairus and the woman, you’ll find that in His perfect time—whether the answer is immediate or after a longer journey—His presence and His power will be the answer you’ve been seeking. Hold fast, for the miracle may be closer than you think.

Appendix:

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Leadership When There Are No Solutions

Adaptive Change

By Pastor Vinnie MacIsaac

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Have you ever faced a problem that felt too big to solve? What do we do when we hit a wall and no amount of effort or expertise seems to fix it? How do we lead others through challenges we can’t fully grasp ourselves? When there’s no guidebook or blueprint for success–where do we turn?

Imagine you’re leading a church community, and for years, young adults have been drifting away. You’ve tried everything–new programs, social events, even hiring a youth pastor–but attendance keeps dropping. You’ve reached out to other churches, done the research, and tried all the usual strategies, but nothing addresses the core issue. Deep down, you wonder if this isn’t just about attendance. Maybe it’s about something deeper–a disconnect between the church’s message and what young people are seeking today.

So, what do you do when there’s no easy fix? This is where adaptive change and adaptive leadership come into play. Adaptive change isn’t about applying quick fixes or “technical solutions.” Instead, it invites us to slow down and ask new, sometimes uncomfortable questions: How can the church truly connect with young adults today? What are they seeking in a faith community? Adaptive change means rethinking church culture, opening space for genuine, honest conversations, and reimagining approaches. It requires new perspectives, humility, and, most of all, a willingness to grow–even when it’s hard.

By leaning into adaptive change, churches can experiment with fresh approaches, listen deeply, and build a community that resonates with people in ways traditional methods might miss.

You know it’s time for adaptive change when your technical fixes don’t work. In other words, if hiring an expert, reading a book, or following a YouTube video could solve the problem, you would do it. But when no known solutions exist, even among experts, it’s time to engage in the process of adaptive leadership. Adaptive change is created by building adaptive capacity and enhancing relationships.

What Is Adaptive Change, and Why Does It Matter?

Adaptive change is a strategic approach for leaders and organizations facing complex problems that can’t be solved with existing tools or knowledge. It’s about walking a path of discovery together, asking tough questions, and allowing space for growth–even when it challenges us.

The concept of adaptive change was developed by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky at Harvard University. In their book Leadership Without Easy Answers, they introduced adaptive leadership as a way to tackle big problems by helping people wrestle with deeper issues. Heifetz famously said, “Leadership is about disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” It’s about asking challenging questions and allowing room for honest growth.

Skilled leaders build adaptive capacity by demonstrating competency in technical fixes. When an expert knows what to do, these leaders study or engage that expert and implement necessary actions. Building competency within an organization prepares leaders for times when they must navigate uncharted territory. Sometimes, technical fixes and expert opinions are insufficient; leaders must invent new paths, not just new on-ramps. Adaptive capacity enables leaders to address complex challenges through adaptive problem-solving.

Why Adaptive Change Is Essential for Church Leadership Today

Adaptive change has become essential for churches navigating a fast-changing world. Churches are often caught between tradition and the shifting needs of the people they serve. Today’s churches face complex challenges–how to engage younger generations, embrace diversity, and respond to social issues. These challenges can’t be solved with “one-size-fits-all” solutions.

Key leaders in church leadership–like Carey Nieuwhof, Reggie McNeal, Thom Rainer, and Tod Bolsinger–emphasize that adaptive change is essential for the future of the church.

• Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, compares the church’s journey to the expedition of Lewis and Clark: “You keep looking around, and all you see are mountains. It doesn’t mean you’re lost; it just means you’re somewhere you’ve never been before.” Bolsinger encourages church leaders to adapt and keep moving forward even when they don’t have all the answers.

• Reggie McNeal, a church consultant, calls on churches to shift from an “institutional” mindset to a “mission-focused” one. In Missional Renaissance, he writes, “The most important shifts a church can make are not institutional but missional.” McNeal reminds us that the church’s mission isn’t about maintaining the status quo; it’s about serving and meeting people where they are.

• Carey Nieuwhof, a respected voice in church leadership, believes adaptive change is crucial if churches want to stay relevant, especially for younger generations. He encourages open conversations about burnout, creativity, and renewal, seeing adaptive change as the key to church growth.

• Thom Rainer, CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, has dedicated much of his work to church health. In his blog Growing Healthy Churches Together, he calls for adaptive leadership to address real-life struggles like declining attendance and inclusivity, urging leaders to create safe, welcoming spaces that meet people’s needs.

The Limits of Technical Change in Today’s Churches

Sometimes, churches turn to technical fixes to solve deeper issues, only to find they don’t quite get where they need to go. Here are two examples that show the limits of technical solutions in church settings:

1. Engagement Through Technology: Many churches have adopted livestreams, social media, and apps to reach more people, especially younger members. While these tools can increase accessibility, they don’t address the core reasons some young people feel disconnected from church life. Adaptive change would mean asking how we can make church life more meaningful and address the real challenges young people face today.

2. Diversity and Inclusion: Some churches have added multilingual services or cultural groups to reflect their communities’ diversity. But if we want true inclusivity, we have to go deeper. Adaptive change calls us to look at our own biases, reshape traditions, and create a place where everyone feels they belong.

How Adaptive Change Can Strengthen Church Communities

Adaptive change encourages churches to look within and ask, How can we be true to our mission, even if it means trying something new? It creates room for resilience, collaboration, and community–a place where people feel they’re seen and valued.

Churches that embrace adaptive change are more likely to develop fresh approaches, reach new people, and stay relevant. When we look at our challenges with honesty and are open to growth, we make room for God to work in ways we may not have expected.

Simple Steps to Start Adaptive Change in Church Leadership

If adaptive change sounds daunting, know that it starts with small steps–just opening a door or starting a conversation. Here are some practical ways to begin:

1. Listen with Openness: Start by truly listening to your congregation, especially those who might feel unheard. Create spaces where people feel free to share their thoughts and needs. This will help you understand what’s really needed.

2. Invite Diverse Perspectives: Make it a priority to include diverse voices. Encourage people from different backgrounds to share their insights. This will open your eyes to new possibilities and bring in fresh ideas.

3. Ask Big Questions: Instead of asking how to “fix” an issue, start with questions like, “What are we missing?” or “How can we serve in a way that truly reflects God’s love?” Adaptive change begins with questions that get to the heart of the matter.

4. Experiment, and Embrace the Journey: Adaptive change means trying new things, even if it’s messy. Each experiment brings us closer to meaningful change.

5. Stay Purpose-Driven: Shift the focus from maintaining programs to embracing the church’s mission. Ask, “How does this help us live out our mission?” When each step is rooted in purpose, the community feels it.

6. Build Relationships that Support Growth: Foster connections within the congregation. Encourage small groups, mentorships, and friendships that empower people to support each other. This creates a resilient, adaptable community.

Embracing the Path of Adaptive Change

Adaptive change is more than a strategy; it’s a journey of faith that church leaders and members take together. It’s the willingness to ask hard questions, to grow in unexpected ways, and to become a church that reflects God’s love and grace in a world that desperately needs it.

There will always be times as you lead when there no known fixes for your problems and that is exactly when you are called to lead with adaptive compacity. Are you ready to start this journey of adaptive change in church leadership? Begin with one step–whether it’s inviting someone into a conversation, taking a risk on a new idea, or opening yourself to listen with fresh ears. As you explore new possibilities, you’ll find others ready to join you in building a church that listens, adapts, and grows in love and purpose. Let’s move forward in faith, trusting that God can work through our questions and lead us into transformation together.

Appendix: Insightful Reading to Learn the Basics of Adaptive Leadership

1. “Adaptive Church: Collaboration and Community in Mission” by Dwight J. Zscheile

This book emphasizes the need for collaboration and innovation within church communities, focusing on how congregations can adapt to cultural changes and engage meaningfully with their surroundings.

2. “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory” by Tod Bolsinger

Bolsinger applies adaptive leadership concepts to ministry, guiding leaders in navigating unfamiliar challenges in the church, and equipping them to lead in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

3. “Leading Change” by John P. Kotter

A classic in change management, Kotter’s book outlines an eight-step process for leading organizational change, focusing on the human factors necessary for sustainable transformation.

4. “Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading” by Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky

This foundational book on adaptive leadership highlights the personal and professional risks of leading change and offers strategies for navigating the challenges of difficult leadership roles.

5. “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Combining insights from psychology and organizational change, this book helps leaders understand how to create lasting change by addressing both the rational and emotional elements of change resistance.

6. “Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change” by Tod Bolsinger

This book explores the development of resilience in leaders facing adaptive challenges, particularly in church contexts, and emphasizes the character formation needed to lead through intense change.

7. “The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation” by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks

Integrating brain science with spiritual growth, this book provides insights into how churches can foster real transformation by understanding the brain’s role in relationships and discipleship.

8. “The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World” by Ronald A. Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky

Offering practical tools and tactics, this book is a hands-on guide to fostering adaptive change, helping leaders develop the skills necessary to lead effectively in complex environments.

This list serves as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in understanding the fundamentals of adaptive leadership and its application in both organizational and religious contexts.

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Seeing Others Like Jesus:

The Power Of Pause

By Pastor Vinnie 

Seeing others like Jesus means to pause and look to Jesus to guide my emotions

Let me be real for a moment—people sometimes assume I have life figured out. I’m a husband, a father, and a theologian. From the outside, it seems like I should have it all together. I spend my days studying Jesus’ life, trying to understand how to live like Him. But here’s the truth: I struggle. A lot.

There are days when it feels like I’m pulled in a hundred different directions, barely holding on. One evening, in particular, stands out. I came home feeling mentally drained, my head full of work deadlines and family responsibilities. The moment I walked in the door, my wife snapped at me over something small. Instantly, frustration flared. I felt the urge to snap back, to let the tension rise.

But something inside whispered, “Pause.”

I took a breath. Instead of reacting, I asked myself, “What’s really going on here?” In that pause, I realized my wife wasn’t angry at me—she was overwhelmed. Just like I was. That moment of empathy changed everything. What could have turned into a heated argument became a moment of connection. I went from hearing her words to understanding her heart.

It was then I realized something important. Emotional intelligence isn’t about pushing down emotions or pretending to be calm. It’s about recognizing what’s really happening inside—both in myself and in the people around me. And I realized this is how Jesus lived: seeing beyond the surface and connecting with people’s hearts.

The Disconnect We All Feel

Even though I spend my life studying faith, I often feel disconnected—like I’m just going through the motions. Do you ever feel that way? Surrounded by people, yet unseen? It’s easy to feel like no one is really paying attention, but then I ask myself the hard question: How often do I fail to see the people around me?

We all carry so much—work stress, personal worries, and relationships that feel strained. It’s easy to rush through the day and miss what’s happening with the people in front of us. But what if we slowed down? What if we paused and asked, “What’s going on beneath the surface?”

Daniel Goleman, an expert on emotional intelligence, said, “In a very real sense, we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels.” Jesus understood this perfectly. He didn’t just hear people’s words—He felt their pain. That’s what I want for my life too, but I wonder, Am I missing it?

How Jesus Modeled Emotional Intelligence

Jesus as He reaches out to touch and heal the man with leprosy. It reflects the deep emotional connection and love that Jesus shows to those in need.

There’s a story from scripture that always hits me hard. It’s about the man with leprosy who approached Jesus. Most people only saw the man’s disease. He was shunned, isolated, and abandoned. But Jesus? He saw more.

Mark 1:41 says, “Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.” That touch wasn’t just about curing a disease. It was about healing the man’s heart. Jesus saw his emotional wounds and responded with love, while others looked away.

This challenges me. When someone lashes out or shuts down, do I stop to consider what’s really going on with them? Or do I let my own frustrations get in the way of seeing their pain? How often do I miss opportunities to bring healing because I’m too focused on my own reaction?

Simon Sinek put it best: “Empathy is being concerned about the human being, not just their output.” Jesus lived that truth every day. I want to live that way too, but it’s hard.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters 

Here’s what I’ve learned: Emotional intelligence doesn’t just help others. It transforms me. It helps me in seeing others like Jesus. When I stop trying to fix problems or control situations and instead focus on connecting with people, something shifts inside me. I feel more peace. More patience.

I’ve seen this in my relationships. When I take the time to really listen to my wife, my kids, or even my coworkers, everything changes. The tension eases. Conversations become more meaningful. Suddenly, I’m not seeing them as challenges—I’m seeing them as people who need understanding.

But it’s not always easy. There are plenty of moments when I look back and think, How could that moment have gone differently if I had just paused? If I had taken a breath and asked, “What’s really happening here?” Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Emotional intelligence helps me connect with those who are hurting. It allows me to offer presence, empathy, and healing—just as Jesus did.

A Step Toward Living Like Jesus

It’s time to take steps to be like Jesus

Here’s what I’m starting to understand: Living like Jesus isn’t about how much scripture I know or how often I go to church. It’s about how I treat the people in my life every day. Emotional intelligence is a huge part of that. If I am going to see others like Jesus did I’ll need a plan. So, here’s my plan: The next time I find myself in a tense moment—whether with my wife, my kids, or a colleague—I’m going to pause. I’ll ask myself, “What’s really going on here? What might this person be feeling?”

I’ve seen it before—that one pause can change everything. I’m convinced this is how Jesus lived. He didn’t rush to judgment. He paused, saw people’s hearts, and responded with love. That kind of love can change my life—and yours too.

If I’m honest, I crave deeper connections. I long for relationships that matter and a life full of purpose. Emotional intelligence has been the key to unlocking that for me. It’s helped me see others as Jesus did—not as problems to fix, but as people who need love and understanding.

So, here’s the question for both of us: Will you pause? Will you take that moment to reflect? Will you choose to live like Jesus in your interactions? The people in my life—my family, my friends, and the people I care about—are waiting for someone to really see them. I want to be that person. Will you?

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PODCAST| Jerusalem’s Victory!

By Pastor Vinnie & Jonathan Martin

This week we finish our series on Jerusalem! Pastor Vinnie, Jon, and Peter explain how Jersulem finally finds its victory! God has a plan for His holy city and we have not seen the end of this amazing city of peace. The city of Peace became a blaze of war in 70AD and was toppled to the ground. The middle east has remained a mess since then with Jersulem always surprisingly at the center of takeovers, takedowns, and conflicts. Jerusalem has come to be one of the least likely places we’d look to find peace. But the final battle is not over yet. The Book of Revelation actually has a lot to say about this city’s final fate. In the New Testament Jesus declares the destruction of Jerusalem but is that really the end? Listen now! And find out why and city of hope, peace, and righteousness is cast down and destroyed. Are there lessons we can learn to prevent this from happening to us?

Pastor Vinnie is joined by his long-term friend Peter Thomas and his regular co-host Jon on the second part of this great two-part episode exploring the connection between the Historical Jesus and the history of the city called Jerusalem or Salem. In this second part on the Holy City Jerusalem, they will dig deeper into the destruct of the city and how Titus achieved his victory however the City’s big comeback is a certainty of which even today we see the strings of beginning. Listen to this amazing podcast and find out why the best is yet to come!

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About Vinnie & Jon:

Vinnie is a full-time Ordained Pastor at Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vienna VA located in the beautiful Northern Virginia / DC area. He is happily married to TinaLynn for over 30 years and they have an eight-year-old son, Jose. They live, work,  and Jose goes to school, on the Vienna Campus as a part of an incarnational approach to ministry. They believe in an integrated ministry approach that is balanced with a full and abundant balanced life. Core to being balanced is being centered in Pastor Vinnie’s favorite Gospel; the Gospel of John, and his favorite Bible verse in that Gospel; John 10:10.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (abundantly)“. Living life “in all its fullness” means both being incarnational and at the same time authentically human and having fun! He describes himself as a “Child of God. Husband. Daddy. Work in progress. Follower. Leader. Sci-fi-junkie.” In addition to family life, pastoring, and working on a doctorate at Fuller Seminary, Vinnie shares the Gospel, and his passion to equip others with the power of Jesus in numerous interactive ways through www.SimplyVinnie.com 

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PODCAST| The Rise And Fall of Jerusalem

By Pastor Vinnie & Jonathan Martin

In this two-part series, we focus on the ancient historical origins of the city and why it was important to Abraham, David, and Jesus. In part one we explore particularly the ironic nature of its roots as it passes hands from Melchizedek to Abraham and then from David to Jesus. As we watch Jerusalem rise in the Old Testament as the beloved city of Peace and Righteousness, it becomes a symbol of hope and communion with Heaven, which makes it shocking when in the New Testament Jesus declares its destruction! Listen now! And find out why and city of hope, peace, and righteousness is cast down and destroyed. Are there lessons we can learn to prevent this from happening to us?

Jerusalem is the very city of which Jesus, Himself, wept over, and cried out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37) What is so special about Jerusalem? Why did Jesus speak of Jerusalem as being a place that kills? Doesn’t Jerusalem, itself, mean the City of Peace? Pastor Vinnie invites his long-term friend Peter Thomas to join Vinnie and Jon on a two-part episode to answer all these questions and more while exploring the connection between the Historical Jesus and the history of the city called Jerusalem or Salem.

Listen on your favorite platforms:

About Vinnie & Jon:

Vinnie is a full-time Ordained Pastor at Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vienna VA located in the beautiful Northern Virginia / DC area. He is happily married to TinaLynn for over 30 years and they have an eight-year-old son, Jose. They live, work,  and Jose goes to school, on the Vienna Campus as a part of an incarnational approach to ministry. They believe in an integrated ministry approach that is balanced with a full and abundant balanced life. Core to being balanced is being centered in Pastor Vinnie’s favorite Gospel; the Gospel of John, and his favorite Bible verse in that Gospel; John 10:10.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (abundantly)“. Living life “in all its fullness” means both being incarnational and at the same time authentically human and having fun! He describes himself as a “Child of God. Husband. Daddy. Work in progress. Follower. Leader. Sci-fi-junkie.” In addition to family life, pastoring, and working on a doctorate at Fuller Seminary, Vinnie shares the Gospel, and his passion to equip others with the power of Jesus in numerous interactive ways through www.SimplyVinnie.com 

Simply Devotion is now on Audible.

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PODCAST| Will The Real King Please Stand Up?

By Pastor Vinnie & Jonathan Martin

Who is King? The Chief Priest in the time of Jesus famously declared, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15) Is that true? And is a King a Messiah? Are those words really interchangeable or is the Messiah more than a mere earthly political King?

Jon and Vinnie, explore the shocking vast amount of contenders to the throne in the time of Jesus’s kingship. Everyone wanted to be king, and everybody wanted to rule, yet the true King of the Jews came to serve.

Dig in and go super deep with Vinnie and Jon in the episode as they uncover the depths of the history behind that Messiahship of Jesus. They will uncover hyperlinks to what a Messiah is all the way back to the infamous and mysterious Melchizedek, Samuel, David, and more.  They will unpack a holistic view of the work, title, and purpose of the Messiah and examine who is the only one who fulfills that identity.

Join us for this most thrilling episode of Season Two of Simply Devotion as we ask the question; “Will The Real King Please Stand Up?”

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Appendix:

The Herodian Dynasty:

• Herod the Great (born c. 74 BC, ruled 37–4 BC or 1 BC), client king of Judea who expanded the Second Temple in Jerusalem and in the New Testament orders the Massacre of the Innocents
• Herod Archelaus (23 BC–c. AD 18, ruled 4 BC-AD 6), ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea
• Herod Antipas (born 21 BC, ruled 4 BC-AD 39), tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, and in the New Testament ordered the death of John the Baptist and mocked Jesus
• Philip the Tetrarch or Herod Philip II, (born c. 20 BC, ruled 4 BC-AD 34), tetrarch of Iturea, Trachonitis, and Batanaea
• Herod II or Herod Philip I (c. 27 BC–33 AD), father of the Salome in Mark 6:21-29, did not rule over any territory
• Herod Agrippa (born c. 11 BC, ruled AD 41–44), client king of Judaea, called “King Herod” or “Herod” in Acts 12 of the New Testament
• Herod of Chalcis (died AD 48), also known as Herod II or Herod V, king of Chalcis (r. AD 41–48)
• Herod Agrippa II (born AD 27, ruled 48–c. 92), ruled Chalcis and was described in Acts of the Apostles as “King Agrippa” before whom Paul the Apostle defended himself

About Vinnie & Jon:

Vinnie is a full-time Ordained Pastor at Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vienna VA located in the beautiful Northern Virginia / DC area. He is happily married to TinaLynn for over 30 years and they have an eight-year-old son, Jose. They live, work,  and Jose goes to school, on the Vienna Campus as a part of an incarnational approach to ministry. They believe in an integrated ministry approach that is balanced with a full and abundant balanced life. Core to being balanced is being centered in Pastor Vinnie’s favorite Gospel; the Gospel of John, and his favorite Bible verse in that Gospel; John 10:10.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (abundantly)“. Living life “in all its fullness” means both being incarnational and at the same time authentically human and having fun! He describes himself as a “Child of God. Husband. Daddy. Work in progress. Follower. Leader. Sci-fi-junkie.” In addition to family life, pastoring, and working on a doctorate at Fuller Seminary, Vinnie shares the Gospel, and his passion to equip others with the power of Jesus in numerous interactive ways through www.SimplyVinnie.com 

Simply Devotion is now on Audible.

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Reconsidering Joy

By Pastor Vinnie

“Joy is happiness brought by the wisdom of restored trust in God even among the struggle.

When happiness fades joy reignites!”

I stumbled upon this journal reflection I had written last year from my thoughts on the book of James. It has been healing for me to read my own reflections. I pray you find it the same way as we step through James Chapter 1 together.

As you read this, stop, reflect, and reconsider if you bring Joy or trials into this world, and how?

Buckle up… here we go!

Deep Reflections on James 1:1-12 in context with the full epistle.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials. (James 1:2)

Joy is beyond happiness. If you are like me, you too want to be happy, and seeking happiness is a worthy pursuit. (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:4, Proverbs 15:13). God wants us to thrive in completeness and soar in happy bliss.

Happiness

The wind in your face on the beach, the laugh of a child playing by your side, and the thrill of a new budding friendship, are all that defines the rewards of this life to us all.

We all want what we call happiness. But what really is happiness? When you get right down to it nobody actually knows, and it actually is the subject of interesting philosophical debate[i] but for our purposes let’s just consider it to mean “the natural emotional state of well-being” that is present when we are not at risk or in danger. Therefore, if our problems didn’t exist then we’d be freely living in continual “happiness.” I believe we were designed to be happy at all times in all things; if it were not for the interruptions caused by our collective brokenness in this world. And now happiness, as grand as it is, is also subject to humanity’s hardships. Music may make us happy. A good movie may make us happy. Deep meaningful relationships may make us happy. However, they do this by distracting us from the trials of this world and offering us a reprieve.

Trials

The most basic way to see the cause of trials in this world is actually to see them as a breach in the equilibrium of the happiness that God had originally intended for us always have in Eden.

If happiness is “the natural emotional state of well-being” that God designed us to live in then trials are the pains of the brokenness humanity has collectively produced. Our brokenness is a condition we love to share with others. We have been passing this brokenness on since our expulsion from Eden. Our chaos is the disruptor of the continual happy bliss that should have always existed in a world of pure potential. God brought goodness and happiness and man has taken that goodness and happiness and turned it into chaos and suffering by corrupting it for selfish means.

Consider this; God created more than enough happiness and goodness for all of humanity because that is what a good creator would do. Selfishness is the broken desire based on a lack of trust that assumes God has not provided enough and so we (like Cain) seek to take more than our share of goodness and happiness creating in its place an abundance of emptiness for others.  Trials are created because of the selfishness of humans destroying the Kingdom’s economy of goodness. God’s  Kingdom economy is full of wisdom, blessings, and completeness that fill us up with love and goodwill but through lack of trust in God we inflict continual pain and suffering on each other and as a result, the world has reaped chaos and suffering as far as the curse is found. No one can escape suffering and trials because all humanity is seeking to gather up all the blessings and wealth for itself ensuring a continual inequality for all.

Joy

The Epistle of James, offers us joy in place of trials.

What is Joy? – For James, it is the wisdom of not being double-minded or saying we trust God while seeking our own sources of happiness. Joy is the reprieve from trials and yet is greater than happiness because with wisdom it can endure where happiness fades.

Joy is happiness brought by the wisdom of restored trust in God even among the struggle. When happiness fades joy reignites!

Joy is the restoring of trust in God despite the shortage of happiness in the economy of man. Since our lack of trust created selfishness that produced sufferings in this world, trust in God’s wisdom is what restores us to a place where we can escape suffering by believing He has our best interest at heart. We suffer. In fact, we all suffer and that suffering makes us seek to gather in greed for ourselves what is meant to be shared and make others happy.

The Epistle of James rebukes us for seeking selfishness as a way to dispel chaos and trials;

“But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” (James 1:10-11)

James is warning us, that the way to victory is not in selfish wealth, but rather God is in the business of letting the inequality of selfishness pass away like a scorched plant under the hot sun. God will limit selfishness and wealth[ii] but there is one commodity that God will not limit;

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (James 1:5-8)

What I have come to love about this passage is that James says, not only that God will give wisdom generously in times of trial, but even more importantly “without finding fault” with us for lacking it in the first place!  We were once fools, selfish fools, we once sought happiness in all kinds of excess and wealth. We once thought materialism would fill us but it left us empty and inflicting even more trials on others. We once put our trust in anything and everything but God’s wisdom. James tells us that God doesn’t hold that against us! James tells us that God does not find fault in our past lack of wisdom. James tells us that God simply calls us to trust His wisdom and that he will give it generously so that we can stop being double-minded!

Joy is the victory of trusting God is enough especially when our pain tells us to doubt his heart towards us. Wisdom reminds us that if we have God and His joy we will know that the Kingdom economy never comes up lacking!  We will stop hoarding and start giving, because when we have the Wisdom of God!  We finally trust He is good, and if He is good He will take our current trials and turn them into perseverance that produces even greater faith than before! (James 1:3)

Victory Is Our Joy

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

The crown is won by love, and we love Him because through His wisdom we know He loves us[iii] and is trustworthy! Our reprieve from now on is not simple temporal happiness that fades under fiery trials, but rather the deeply profound, and lasting joy found in knowing the heart of God towards us regardless of what we are facing!

The word for the crown in the phrase “crown of life” is the same word used in Revelation 2:10. This is not a crown of royalty, which would be a diadem, but rather the word here is stephanon[iv] which is a crown of glory or honor that was given to Greek Olympians who finished their race with glory and honor in front of the full stadium of onlookers. True joy is not in status, wealth, or fame, but it is in seeking life-giving wisdom from God to trust Him in our brokenness, and find Joy in helping those in also in struggles, and if having victory in giving more happiness then we take from this world.

Consider it pure joy to be giving the Wisdom of God to seek Him first and only among your trials[v], to seek to give back happiness even in suffering, rather than take from what only will only wilt in the scorched sun. Wisdom is the crown of life to all who trust Him in the chaos of our daily struggles.

Joy endures the struggle because it knows the heart of God towards us is a crown of victory! Joy endures the night and brings us into the morning!

“Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)

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Footnotes:

[i] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/happiness/#DouAboValHap

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202009/what-is-happiness-anyway

https://stanfordmag.org/contents/what-is-happiness-anyway

[ii] James is not attacking wealth or wealthy people per se, rather he is addressing a particular kind of wealth that is rooted in selfishness and greed. This is what happens we seek to gather pleasure in ourselves to ease suffering rather than see our joy from God.

[iii] 1 John 4:19

[iv] στέφανον (stephanon)

Noun – Accusative Masculine Singular

Strong’s 4735: A crown, garland, honor, glory. From an apparently primary stepho; a chaplet, literally or figuratively.

[v] Matthew 6:33

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PODCAST| Behind-The-Scenes

By Pastor Vinnie & Jonathan Martin

Listen to a rare behind-the-scenes episode of Simply Devotion.

Life happens! But we are back at it making more podcast episodes to forever keep you connected to the heart of devotion; Jesus!

After many unexpected life events and a long unexplained hiatus, Jon and Vinnie return with an extra special episode of Simply Devotion! In this special “Behind The Scenes” episode Jon and Vinnie will give you a deep personal insight into their lives and ministries and explain to you why they have been away so long and what to expect next.

This is not your regular formatted podcast episode but rather this is a time to sit back with a good cup of coffee and get caught up with old friends. Not only is it a catch-up opportunity but it is also a more open-ended format to hopefully help our podcast listeners understand and grasp pastor Vinnie and Jon as people with real lives, complex ministries, and interests outside of what you normally hear in the podcast. We are calling this Behind-The-Scenes because we are going where we have not gone before in this season.  We are going beyond the content and into the lives of the content creators themselves.

Simply Devotion will continue to move forward and we are super thankful for all our faithful listeners who have reached out to us to ask when the next episode is coming. It is because of you all, it is here!

Let’s get caught up!

Listen on your favorite platforms:

About Vinnie & Jon:

Vinnie is a full-time Ordained Pastor at Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vienna VA located in the beautiful Northern Virginia / DC area. He is happily married to TinaLynn for over 30 years and they have an eight-year-old son, Jose. They live, work,  and Jose goes to school, on the Vienna Campus as a part of an incarnational approach to ministry. They believe in an integrated ministry approach that is balanced with a full and abundant balanced life. Core to being balanced is being centered in Pastor Vinnie’s favorite Gospel; the Gospel of John, and his favorite Bible verse in that Gospel; John 10:10.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (abundantly)“. Living life “in all its fullness” means both being incarnational and at the same time authentically human and having fun! He describes himself as a “Child of God. Husband. Daddy. Work in progress. Follower. Leader. Sci-fi-junkie.” In addition to family life, pastoring, and working on a doctorate at Fuller Seminary, Vinnie shares the Gospel, and his passion to equip others with the power of Jesus in numerous interactive ways through www.SimplyVinnie.com 

Simply Devotion is now on Audible.

On TikTok @simplyvinnieblogs

Join my Facebook to find more

spiritual growth resources!

The post Behind-The-Scenes appeared first on Simply Vinnie - Unpacking The Complicated.

PODCAST| The Historical Certainty Of The Cross

By Pastor Vinnie & Jonathan Martin

Pastor Vinnie and Jon deeply explore both consensuses of modern scholars, as well as the political and theological reasons, as to why we can be certain that the historical Jesus really died on the cross for us. We are finishing up the Passion Week of Jesus we divide into the absolute historical certainty of the cross!

This is perhaps one of our most in-depth episodes this season so far this season and you will be thrilled with the certainty that Jesus finished the passion week dying for our sins. In this episode, we not only survey want several different scholars from outside of Christianity have to say about the cross of Jesus but we take a long hard look at the political role Pontius Pilate was put into and discuss the complex political realities of the cross and its timing.

At the Cross, two distinct political worldviews come into conflict; 1. The Roman and 2. The Jewish. And what is the conflict they must face? Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Is he really the King of the Jews? They provide an answer by putting Him on the Cross. It is on the Cross that we see most clearly who Jesus is and to what length He will go to make sure that both Roman, and Jews, have every possible opportunity to come to terms with who he really is. And so it is for us too today; The Historical certainty of the Cross asks us all to decide who really was Jesus of Nazareth? Was he just a good moral teacher? Was he just a renegade teacher trying to cast doubt on the Jewish elite leadership of the time? Was he a zealot seeking to rally Judah to stir up an insurrection against Rome? Or is He the Savior of the world? Since the historicity of the Cross can not be doubted these questions are real questions all serious students of history must now ask. What do you say about the Cross?

Listen on your favorite platforms:

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About Vinnie & Jon:

innie is a full-time Ordained Pastor at Vienna Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vienna VA located in the beautiful Northern Virginia / DC area. He is happily married to TinaLynn for over 30 years and they have an eight-year-old son, Jose. They live, work,  and Jose goes to school, on the Vienna Campus as a part of an incarnational approach to ministry. They believe in an integrated ministry approach that is balanced with a full and abundant balanced life. Core to being balanced is being centered in Pastor Vinnie’s favorite Gospel; the Gospel of John, and his favorite Bible verse in that Gospel; John 10:10.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (abundantly)“. Living life “in all its fullness” means both being incarnational and at the same time authentically human and having fun! He describes himself as a “Child of God. Husband. Daddy. Work in progress. Follower. Leader. Sci-fi-junkie.” In addition to family life, pastoring, and working on a doctorate at Fuller Seminary, Vinnie shares the Gospel, and his passion to equip others with the power of Jesus in numerous interactive ways through www.SimplyVinnie.com 

Simply Devotion is now on Audible.

On TikTok @simplyvinnieblogs

Join my Facebook to find more

spiritual growth resources!

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Love Never Fails But Christians Can Do Better

By Pastor Vinnie

“Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:8

I did not grow up in the church. I did not see the flaws some of you have seen who were with it from childhood. I have not experienced some of the legalism you have, nor have I really been a part of a toxic church that I was not engaged in turning around. Sure, I have pastored some imperfect churches, even a couple of problematic ones. But the difference was as a pastor I could try to move them toward health.

So, I was completely unprepared for what I would find when I joined TikTok last year. Despite what you have heard about TikTok, it’s not a kids’ app. A whole lot of education happens there. There is a massive Christian community, and an equally massive atheist/ex-Christian community. Let me assure you there is no love between them. And the algorithm is designed to bring these groups smack dab into each other’s faces. I am a big boy, and more than capable of defending myself. Still, there was one thing I was not prepared for, and that is the comments of Christians on atheists’ videos. They are often mean and really fall short of the love of God. I am not saying all atheists on that app are a barrel of loving warm and fuzzies because they are not. However, when atheists tell their story of growing up in toxic homes and churches maybe we should listen?

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.

Spiritual abuse and spiritual trauma are real. As a former mental health worker, I feel secure in thinking I know what trauma looks like. Many of the atheist TikTok community’s videos are about spiritual trauma and abuse. Many of the stories they tell are heartbreaking but as horrifying as their stories are, there is nothing more horrifying than the comments “Christians” leave.

Consider these real comments left on videos of people talking about abuse that happened to people in the larger Christian church. (I’ve altered them a bit so you can’t trace the writers.)

• “You’re just the daughter of the devil.”

• “Enjoy hell—I hear the weather is hot there.”

• “Your [expletive] content keeps popping up in my feed.”

• “God’s plagues were made for you.”

• “Satan is evil and so are you; you will perish with him.”

• “You’re a demon.”

• “God let that happen to test you. He was right about you.”

Where is the love that never fails? What kind of Christian would leave these kinds of comments on videos of people talking about trauma that happened to them in the church? I’ll tell you: the same kind who likely gave them the trauma in the first place!

The comment section alone is enough to prove the ex-Christians, deconstructionists, and ex-evangelicals are not lying about their stories. And before you write this blog off as just being about a silly app like TikTok that you never plan to go to anyways, stop! Stop, and understand it’s not about the app. That is just the place these stories are told. They happened in everyday Christian families and churches; maybe even in your own.

What can you do?

• Love people—not just your beliefs, doctrines, and convictions.

• Believe in people and empathize with their pain.

• Don’t be a “comment section” Christian, but rather a Christian who understands that the highest level of agape is loving people who utterly reject everything you’re about—because that is how Jesus loves you.

Listen, love should not just be found in 1 Corinthians 13. It’s should be found in the comments sections too. Love is Jesus. The gospel is nothing if not a love story of God to humanity. And if love is not poured out in our congregational relationships and taught from our pulpits every week, we aren’t loving like Jesus.

Jesus never fails, because Jesus is love.

So, what’s the problem with the church? Paul tells us in that famed love chapter: we refuse to put away our childish ways and embrace a love that never fails.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease. (1 Cor 13)

These days I tend to spend my limited time on TikTok loving and living out Jesus to those whom the Christian church hurt then blamed. They need a better example than what they’re seeing. I invite you to come to join me and I don’t just mean on TikTok. Join me everywhere! There are lots of people hurt by the church wherever you are and wherever you hang out. I wonder how the perception of Christianity would change if we all sought out those hurt by that church and simply showed them a better church in you!

Note: A version of this article first appeared on Adventist Today. Click here to read it.

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