What Moved Me in 2025

We have arrived at the end of another calendar year. 

2025 was quite a year for sure. 

Over the last couple weeks, as I've been reflecting on all that transpired in and around my life, I found myself remembering all the big and little things that moved me.

As he was fighting a losing battle with cancer some 30 some years ago, Jim Valvano gave a rousing speech that is famous for his ending mantra, "Don't give up, don't ever give up". At the beginning of this address, he mentions three things people should do every day of their lives, "laugh", "think", and "have our emotions moved to tears". If we do that every day, Valvano states, "that's a FULL day".

It is in that vein that I offer this list of things that stand out to me from 2025 because they made me laugh, think, or moved me to tears. Some of this list was inspirational, some involved pain, some of these things just left an imprint on my soul. Some were a mix of all of the above and more.

I offer three general things and then three specific things that really moved me this past year.

Generally: 

• Family - Our boys are growing up, with both now in elementary school. The development of their character and personality is a joy. Make no mistake, parenting two boys under 8 is exhausting but has special moments all the time. Family life was also filled with challenges too. My wife had significant health struggles. My mom did as well. Family is an area I see God constantly refining me in my own sanctification. But in my weakness, He is strong. 
• Funerals - I recently attended the memorial service of the former president of my alma mater, whom I'd had as a professor and whom I'd also worked under for a time. He was a man of sterling faithfulness and we celebrated that. That experience reminded me of the other funerals I officiated and attended this year. Good people with good legacies. Life is fleeting and I appreciate the reminder that this life is not all there is - and that Jesus has conquered the formidable enemy we all have.
• Pastoral Ministry - Tomorrow marks 13 years of serving at Milford First Brethren Church. It has been so rewarding, such a blessing. We are a smaller, aging congregation with plenty of limitations and weaknesses. But we make a difference in our community and beyond. It is such a joy to see God work in people's lives and to be a conduit for God's grace to those inside and outside the church. And even personally, God has shown up as I've led, studied, and proclaimed his Word at various points. Those moments keep me going.

Specifically:

• Andrew Peterson's "A Liturgy, A Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins" album. This album is a recording of a live concert he did along with numerous musician friends as a tribute to the CCM legend. Mullins has long been an artist whom I deeply respected and the older I get, the more I appreciate his catalog. Few people could credibly take on this kind of tribute while matching the "heart" of Mullins - and Peterson is certainly one of those few. The entire album honors and celebrates one of the all-time albums in Christian Music history and leaves you not just grateful for Mullins - but drawn to Jesus. And that's just how Rich would have wanted it.
• "Downstairs" - Twenty One Pilots - This song stands on a drastically different end of the musical spectrum as Peterson/Mullins but it reflects a similar spiritual perspective. Twenty One Pilots are a band who transparently wear their heart on their sleeve in so many of their songs all of their art. This one is particularly raw, and humble, and lamenting, and doubtful, and worshipful. These lyrics in particular will both haunt me and be part of my own prayers for a long time:

You can have all I've made and all I've ever known
You can have both my lungs if you ask me so
'Cause I-I-I want to be the one after your own heart
And I-I-I might doubt the process like I doubted the start

        When you can find multiple videos of vocal coaches and musical analysts getting emotion                     themselves over the content and construct of this song, you know it is something special.

•  "Wake Up, Dead Man" - This movie, now streaming on Netflix, is the best portrayal of the Christian faith that I have seen in a long, long time. It pulls no punches in its honest portrayal of the strengths and the weaknesses of Christianity (western, evangelical and Catholic). It is impossible to miss the critique of the growing power-hungry passion that has taken over many who call themselves Christian. It is also impossible to miss the beauty of Christ-like service and devotion that is portrayed too. This is the third of the popular "Knives Out" franchise that features detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) solving a crime in a dramatic fashion. This installment however flips the narrative on its head from what we've come to expect from these "whodunnit" movies. And in doing so, it leaves room for the truth of the Gospel to land powerfully. The director Rian Johnson is a former evangelical who no longer professes to be a Christian. In the hands of another with his background, one would expect a scathing rebuke. Instead, he offers an accurate depiction of the way of Christ in the face of brokenness, corruption, and shame.

Lessons From Exodus

Over the summer, I led our church through a sermon series in the book of Exodus.

It is a record full of stories many are familiar with but a book many of us don't know as well as we think we do. 

I enjoyed it, I think our people did too. I titled the series "Our Deliverer is Coming" with a hat-tip to the Rich Mullins song. I chose that title because of the undeniable correlations the Exodus story has with the life and work of Jesus. 

After finishing the book, I put together a message on "Christian Lessons from Exodus" (credit to Tremper Longman's overview commentary for the inspiration. And in this post I'd like to write on that kind of idea but share some lessons that I'm cherishing in a more personal way.

So, here's three takeaways that I learned and grew to appreciate having studied this great book.

1) Monotheism???

One aspect of studying the confrontation between Yahweh/Moses and Pharaoh/Egypt was an alteration of my understanding of the Bible's concept of "Monotheism". God doesn't assert his exclusive divinity in a way I've learned it in systematic theology. No when you read of God confronting Pharaoh through Moses in  Exodus 3-12, it is put in almost polytheistic terms. 

The 'gods' of Egypt help Pharoah's magicians imitate some of God's plagues in 7:22, 8:7, 8:18-19. 
And before the final plague, God declares his coming victory like this: 

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.  13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (Exodus 12:12-13)

Egypt certainly was worshipping supernatural powers of some (evil) sort. The Exodus was about establishing Yahweh's undeniable superiority over anything mankind could label a 'god'. 

This theme continues with the first of the Ten Commandments. Read them closely and you may be surprised at how God defines his own monotheism. Now, certainly we can deduce that no other powers deserve the title of "God" and I'm not here advocating for a polytheistic worldview. But I found it interesting how Scripture defines these things in these stories.

2) Sympathy for Israel

The problem with reading Exodus is that we let the rest of the Old Testament skew our perspective. I find myself having a greater sympathy for the ancient people of Israel after going through this book. The Golden Calf abomination of chapter 32 certainly is prescient of what unfolds throughout the rest of Scripture. But they also display corporate commitment and faith at a number of points (4:29-31, 12-13, 19, 24, 39:42-43). 

They were a people coming out of centuries of subjugation, abuse, and distress. They saw God powerfully work at numerous points and they follow God's leader - and that's to their credit, even if they were imperfect. 

3) The Beauty of Christ

There were so many instances in the Exodus story where we can't help but recognize the foreshadowing and precursors of Christ. 

• Moses stands as a deliverer who sets the stage for the Deliverer. 
• Israel's path of entering then leaving Egypt is symbolically followed by Christ in his early years (Matt. 2)
• The Law is fulfilled in Christ and he offers his own 'Law' via the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). 
• Jesus "tabernacled" among us, embodying God's presence with humanity in an even greater way than in Exodus (John 1:14 cf. Ex. 35-40)
• Jesus ultimately accomplished what the Law was only alluding to - full forgiveness and fellowship with God (Heb. 10:11-14)

There are certainly more I could list. If you read through Exodus and miss the connections to Christ, you have really missed the point.

Music Mondays: Arresting Lyrics

A pastor friend of mine recently used the words "arrested" to describe how he was caught up in singing a worship song. It was in a blog post or Facebook status or something - I can't find it to link to the fuller context - but his name is Tim Sprankle and he pastors the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church. I thought it was the perfect description of something I've experienced too. 

For me it usually happens in the car when I'm by myself and able to sing without shame with regards to my ill-tuned voice. I might get wrapped up in a song and all of the sudden come up on a lyric that stops me in my tracks. It's like the words are too holy to vocalize, too powerful to speak. Tears often well up and I take a deep breath to compose myself. 

It often happens with the same songs and the same lyrics. So that gave me the idea for a Music Monday series on "Arresting Lyrics"  - lines that I find emotionally powerful and profound. Not all of these cause me to ugly cry or anything, but they certainly have etched a powerful mark in my heart, soul, and mind.

This will stretch out over a couple of weeks, separated by my own categories. There are a few artists/bands that in my opinion deserve their own list. There will be a Miscellaneous week of assorted songs and artists too. Today, I've decided I have to start with one particular artist, Rich Mullins.

Mullins came up during the burgeoning age of Contemporary Christian Music in the 1980's. CCM was more or less birthed in the 70's but really hit it's stride when artists like Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, and Michael W. Smith emerged to help CCM become a profitable commercial business. Mullins was certainly a part of that generation, even doing early songwriting for Grant. But it soon became clear he would be "in but not of" the CCM world. From his lyrics to his lifestyle, everything about him signaled there was something different going on. He was tragically killed in an auto accident in 1997 that shocked his peers and his fans, leaving a gaping hole in CCM which no longer had its most passionate voice calling for honest spirituality and helping the marginalized. As time continues to pass, his work continues to resonate as these powerful lyrics attest.

So without further ado, here are what I consider to be Rich Mullin's most "arresting lyrics":

7. "Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom, Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross. I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that our God is an awesome God" - Awesome God

"Awesome" is a word that's been overused and drained of it's full meaning by pop culture. And if you look close enough, you can see the same has happened to this, Mullins' signature song. Here in the second verse, he deftly captures two complimentary aspects of God's character - judgment and grace. I know most audiences will just want to recite the memorable chorus but they'd also do well to contemplate the lesser known verses.

6. "Sometimes I think of Abraham and how one star he saw had been lit for me" - Sometimes by Step

This is another classic that has probably been overplayed by churches and Christian radio. And another made popular because of its chorus - in fact, there is live version on YouTube (not the one linked above) - where he admits writing the verses after his friend wrote the chorus because he liked the chorus so much. 

This line jumped out to me only recently as I was preaching through Romans while also revisiting some of Mullins' music on the side. Romans 4 connects the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12/15/17 to the New Testament Church - so that through faith in Christ, we can all call Abraham "Father", bloodlines notwithstanding. This lyric takes the detail of Gen. 15:5 and makes it personal - really putting it in a way I hadn't thought of before. 

5. "And your grace rings out so deep, it makes my resistance seem so thin" - Hold Me Jesus

For the longest time, I assumed the line ended "my resistance seems so small". It is really not an important detail but Mullins certainly makes the perfect contrast. This is a song of beautifully written contrasts that exemplifies genuine humility and brokenness.  

Check out the link for an incredible two minute introduction. 

4. "I may falter in my steps, but never beyond your reach" - Sometimes by Step

I might pair this line with one from "If I Stand" - "If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through. If I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you."  

If you watched the intro to the "Hold me Jesus" video, this all fits with Rich's willingness to live freely and risk falling rather than conform to some outward legalistic piety. This is what faith in Jesus is, this is what the life of faith looks like. And the "never beyond your reach" always seems to hit me hard. 

3. "It's so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart" - Hold Me Jesus

Another lyric I always misunderstood. I thought it was "it's so hard inside my soul". This makes even more sense of course. Beyond that however, these lyrics in particular have always reminded me of the line from "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" that says "prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Take my heart Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above." That is a favorite hymn of many and a verse that has spoke to many hearts over the decades.  I appreciate how Mullins captured the same sentiment and added theological beauty in his own way.

2.  "The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the giver of all good things." - If I Stand
"I'd rather fight you for something I don't really want, than take what you give that I need." - Hold me Jesus.

Millions of gallons of ink have been spilled and thousands of trees have been cut down so that theologians could try to explain the presence of sin in the life of a redeemed believer. Countless sermons have been given describing what Scripture calls "the flesh" or "sinful nature".  

In these two separate songs, with these two separate but similarly-themed lyrics, I think Mullins nails it rather efficiently and effectively. One acknowledges our own internal culpability. The other observes the battle against outward forces pulling us in the wrong direction. The better we understand these realities, the more dependent on God's grace we will be. I should really just stop analyzing though - the lyrics certainly speak for themselves. 

1. "If I sing let me sing for the joy that is born in me these songs. If I weep let it be as a man that is longing for his home" - If I Stand

This song has always made me want to learn how to play the piano. In my car, I feel like I can handle the vocals - but the piano would really put it all together. Daydreams aside, these two lines in particular are "play at my memorial"-type stuff. This song is a song of contrasts, as mentioned before. But the singing/weeping description is the kind of thing that really sums up the home-going of a Christ-follower.

The version linked above is of Jars of Clay from a tribute album that was produced in his honor after his death. I can remember learning about this album and the artists who were featured and hoping Jars would do this song. Dan Haseltine's voice was made to sing this song in my mind. Their version doesn't disappoint and actually exceeded my hopes with one small little thing at the end. Instead of "longing for his home", Haseltine simply sings "longing for home". The change is a subtle and fitting recognition that the presence of God is the Home we are all longing for. 

Next week we will feature another artist, though not with this many selections. Rich Mullins was a treasure that was only fully appreciated after he was gone. His work remains a great legacy. Not to his credit, but to the glorious grace of Jesus.

Music Mondays - Best Covers Ever

Some covers become classics because the second artist(s) offer an original take on a song that is not originally theirs. Many covers become classics because the song and the secondary artist fit perfectly in style and tone. 

This week's selection is one of the latter category. After Rich Mullins' tragic death, a tribute album was produced featuring many other CCM giants recording their versions of many of Mullins' hit songs.

I was a college student at the time and as soon as I heard of the album, I purchased it through my Columbia House CD club (remember those?). I remember being thrilled to see and then hear that Jars of Clay were covering "If I Stand". It was the perfect marriage of the right artist paying homage to the right song. My only disappointment was that I let a friend borrow the CD a couple months later and that friend had it and a bunch of his own CD's stolen out of his car. 

Thankfully we have the internet and Youtube now to revisit those things we once lost:

Music Mondays - Not Classic Comps Part 2

At one point I intended to include some more Christian Music comps as I did a couple weeks ago, but alas, I lost my list. Instead here is something that was shared by a friend on Facebook. Turns out it was exactly what my soul needed this morning.

Here's commentary provided by the artist for some context:

"I never met Rich Mullins in person. He died on the day of my twelfth birthday, the year I got my first guitar. My parents took me out to eat that evening and I'm certain we talked about his death because we always listened to Christian radio in the car and they would have certainly been talking about it. I didn't "discover" him until years later. I didn't know you were allowed to write songs about faith that weren't cheap, derivative and sterilized versions of main stream songs, but he did. I heard (and still hear) an emotional truth that was transgressive to the brand of christianity whose songs are cheap, derivative and sterile. His voice was imperfect, his language was non-religious and there was a yearning that no matter how polished the recordings were, could not be suppressed. The songs were records of spiritual conflict and unsettledness that spoke more often of need than of resolve. But the need had a direction and an object. As a singer/songwriter I hope to do with my need what he did, at least in a few songs, with his."

https://www.facebook.com/jonguerramusic/?fref=nf

Music Mondays

Over the weekend, my wife and I attended a local Pastor's Appreciation Banquet that featured an really good musical artist named Ted Yoder, who specializes in the hammered dulcimer.

It's an unusual instrument but one that creates beautiful melodies. One well-known artist who utilized this was Rich Mullins. And throughout his concert, Mr. Yoder mixed in some songs from Mullins.

The concert reminded me of how GOOD Rich Mullins' music was. He's still appreciated for 'Awesome God' and his tragic death. But you comb through his library and not only will you find sing-able songs but a powerful voice of a broken man who enjoyed an intimacy with God. I fear those qualities are sorely lacking in our American Church leadership let alone the Christian music industry.

But complaining misses the point and is not what this post is about. Let's allow ourselves to be moved by the wonder and faith of some of these classics.

This one features the aforementioned dulcimer:

This one contains lyrics that haunt my heart every time I listen:

I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need 

...And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

Music Mondays

I dug out one of my old mixed CD's from college, this was pre-iPods when it was all the rage to have friends with a legal or illegal program on their computer that would find any song you wanted and burn it on a cd for you.

It's crazy that even 10-12 years later, I still know what song comes next when one is ending. The very last song on one of the CD's I aptly marked "#3" was the following song.

This video is from 16 years ago and the song itself is 25 years old. It is amazingly relevant, heartfelt, and convicting. I wanted to learn to play the piano because of this song. I never did, but It made me want to learn just so I could play and sing this song. What a glorious desire and poetic prayer. It's one of a handful of songs I want played at my funeral.

Video first and then the lyrics and a bonus after the jump.