Aaron Stern

“Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.” Frederick Buechner

@jr_briggs Congrats, J.R.!

I’m a bit emotional right now. I've been working on it for over a decade. I've spent almost three years researching this topic as I worked on my dissertation. I've written in the quiet, dark, early morning hours each week for the past 14 months. I've had almost 40 people read, review, and provide specific feedback on it. I've invested hundreds of hours writing, rewriting, editing, and polishing it. And I just submitted the final version of my manuscript to my editor for my forthcoming book The Art of Asking Better Questions (late summer 2025, InterVarsity Press). I've written several books, but this one is my passion project. In many ways, it feels like I’ve been working on this book my entire adult life. But before I wrote it I knew I had to live it first; it had to be written inside of me. Now it's done. And now I can rest.

What if the only way to eradicate our enemies is to love them into becoming our neighbors?

“You can’t see your own butt.” Dr. Hud McWilliams We need others to see ourselves.

C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters on how politics can divert a Christian. “As long as activism matters more to him than genuine religious practices, he’s in our grip. And the more he prioritizes those worldly causes under the guise of being ‘religious,’ the better.”

“Burnout is usually regarded as the result of trying to give too much, but in my experience it results from trying to give what I do not possess.” Parker Palmer

“If you are not anchored in the goodness of God, you will lower your theology to match your pain.” Christa Gifford

The message of Jesus is undermined when things are done in the name of Jesus but not in the way of Jesus.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 To be still doesn’t mean we do nothing. It often takes effort to be still.

Grateful for a couple of days with these brothers. We’ve been connecting monthly for 7 years. Every pastor needs this. Every human needs this. @gpackiam @aaronstern

There were two responses to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2). “They have had too much wine.” and “What does this mean?” Cynicism and curiosity. Responses still common today.

I love that on the 1st Pentecost Sunday, it is the Apostle Peter who preaches. This same Peter had just denied Jesus a few weeks earlier. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for good behavior & unwavering faith. The Holy Spirit is a gift to those who turn to Jesus & wait on him.

@stevecusswords Yes!

Man, that Nuggets win felt SO good. What a series. And credit to Anthony Edwards, he's a phenomenal talent.

“A leader must take special responsibility for what’s going on inside, lest the act of leadership do more harm than good.” Parker Palmer

Fasting picks a fight with our flesh to ensure that our appetites are not our god.

“The greatest threat to America is not the absence of divine morality in society, but divine love in the church.” J.T. Thomas

Say it again for the people in the back!

Easter weekend is a good time to tell the story of how agnostic UNC prof Molly Worthen recently discovered the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. A 🧵…

On Good Friday, Jesus didn’t just go to the cross to show us His love. He also went to the cross to show us how to love.

Now, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Are there any tables in your heart Jesus needs to flip that cause you to be hardened to love?

Henri Nouwen wrote, “Power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.” (In the Name of Jesus)

On Holy Monday, Jesus flips tables in the temple, confronting the religious leaders for their abuse of power. Power is a tricky subject. It regularly gets a bad rap because of its misuse, but power is unavoidable. Everyone has power…how it is used is the issue.