Month: February 2025

Advice You Didn’t Ask For…

/ Jason Morris / Leave a comment

This morning, I found myself thinking about the “constantly irritated” state I seem to find myself in these days. Whether I’m watching the news, checking in on my favorite sports teams (I’m a Ball State, Cubs, Colts, Bears fan…so, I’m used to disappointment), listening to the radio, I find that so much of what I watch or listen to clouds my mind with irriating, angering information.

Recognizing that this can negatively impact my interactions with others, I realize that I need to take some proactive steps to avoid being “constantly irritated.”

With that, here are some suggestions I’m going to offer for myself…and maybe you’ff find some of them helpful too.

1. Turn off the television.

In the world of the 24-hour news cycle, it is so easy to have the noise of the news constantly in our ears. It’s pretty rare that the news shares positive and uplifting stories. It’s usually about how the world is falling apart. We can only take so much.

So, turn off the TV…or at the very least, change the channel.

2. Listen to perspectives you normally dismiss.

Let’s be honest, most of us have our preferred news sources. And, we are loyal to those news sources…to the point that we label the other news sources as pushers of propaganda. And, if we are using our logic, reason and common sense tools, we know that ALL of the news outlets are pushing propaganda.

In Fort Wayne, if you normally listen to WOWO on your commute, listen to NPR (and vice versa). If you normally listen to STAR 88.3, listen to Rhythym & Praise (94.1). If you listen to the Homestead radio station (91.1) listen to Columbia City (91.5).

If you watch CNN, watch FOX too. If you watch The Daily Show, watch Gutfield.

Or take some time to read some papers from around the world.

3. Read for fun and drink better coffee.

Maybe you don’t drink coffee (sinner!). So, find a nice tea or flavored water. The idea here is to just slow down and enjoy a relaxing moment.

With all of the noise around us, read something that isn’t related to your vocation – or tied into current world events. This is an opportunity to take a break.

4. Listen to Frank Zappa (or your favorite musician).

When I was in middle school, my dad took me to a Louie Bellson drum clinic. Before Louie came out, a college percussion ensemble performed. Part of their set included selections from Zappa’s “Apostrophe” album. I was mesmerized! Following the clinic, my dad took me to a local record shop where we picked up several Zappa records. My dad then showed me where he kept his Zappa stash (my mom didn’t want him to indoctrinate me at too young of an age). Zappa quickly became my favorite musician.

Earlier this week, I was feeling a little stressed and as soon as I heard “watch out where the huskies go and don’t you eat that yellow snow,” the stress released, I smiled, laughed and relaxed.

Maybe Zappa isn’t your thing…but I think we should all take time to listen to the music that brings us joy.

5. Go for a walk…even if it’s cold outside!

There’s something about being outside that refreshes my spirit. There are all kinds of reports that deal with the positive impact, mentally, physically and spiritually, of being outside. It’s cold today…but take the time to bundle up and spend some time outside. At the very least, the cold air will wake you up!

And, while you’re outside, if you have the opportunity…jump in a cold lake! Research also indicates this is good for our holistic wellness.

6. Spend time with people who bring you joy.

My favorite people happen to be my family. Make the people who bring you joy a priority. Spend time with family and friends. Whether it’s sharing a meal, doing a puzzle, going for a walk or just sitting around talking, this time together is important.

7. Watch the sun rise or set.

My friend, the late William Conner, used to talk about the importance of stopping, looking and listening. He often shared stories about the sunset and how described the colors as “sky blue pink.” He inspired me to do my best to be inspired by and thankful for things that happen every single day…like the sun rising and setting.

Anti-Woke…Anti-DEI…Anti-Gospel…Anti-Jesus

/ Jason Morris / 1 Comment

A couple of days ago, I had a t-shirt pop up in a “things you might light” post.

After “liking” and sharing the image on social media, the algorithm’s set about their work and shared another t-shirt with me this morning.

To be honest, these algorithms are “spot on” because I truly “love” both shirts.

Both t-shirts have stirred up some thoughts that led me to my under-utilized blog.

Over the last several election cycles, many “Christians” have advocated for policies and candidates that embrace an “anti-woke” and “anti-DEI” agenda. For many “Christians,” the assumption has been made that “the reason why the USA is going to hell-in-a-handbasket is because of the ‘woke liberals’ and their ‘progressive agenda’ that promote crazy ideas like diversity, equity and inclusion.”

There are others who may not have this perspective, but have supported candidates who embrace these types of “anti-woke” and “anti-DEI” values because these candidates often make empty promises that their “anti-woke, anti-DEI” policies will lead to lower grocery and gas prices. Maybe I’ve missed it, but I feel like that’s not really working out for us right now. Many of the “on day 1” promises have been replaced with important legislation, like banning paper straws and renaming the Gulf of Mexico (sarcastic tone implied). Call me cynical, but I’m struggling to see how this is going to make my groceries cheaper.

What I am seeing is that programs that are meant to help support the most marginalized members of our society are being gutted and defunded, while billionaires are signing new government contracts for unnecessary space exploration.

When one really digs deep into so much of what is being claimed as “Christian values” within the political sector today, one will easily discover that much of it is void of biblical, Christ-like values.

Many Christians support the pro-life movement. But many of the pro-life folks are actually just “pro-birth.” Many that work to protect the sancity of life and worked tirelessly to reverse Rov vs. Wade also promote policies that cut funding to programs that care for that life after birth. We’re pro-life and pro-war. We’re pro-life and pro-capital punishment. We’re pro-life and anti-affordable healthcare. We’re pro-life and anti-free school lunch. So, maybe we should just call it what it is…we aren’t pro-life, we are pro-birth. We can make a case that protecting the life of the unborn is Christ-like, but not caring for that life after birth is Christ-less.

One of the great things about the States is our freedom…freedom of speech, thought, the right to be wrong. So, feel free to embrace these “anti” positions…just stop claiming them for Jesus!

Leading up to elections, I always encourage folks to read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). If someone won’t take the time to read these chapters, I suggest at least reading the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). These passages reveal the heart of Jesus.

They demonstrate that Jesus is always on the side of the poor, the marginalized, the overlooked, the abused, the least and the last.

They show that Jesus never took a “me first” approach, but always embraced the “others first” mentality. Jesus was not proud or arrogant, but took on the posture of a humble servant.

Jesus did not use fear and intimidation, but embodied love, mercy, and grace.

Jesus called out the oppressors and championed the cause of the oppressed.

Jesus spoke worth and value into those society devalued. He empowered women (I mean, it was the women who announced His resurrection, the first ones to preach the Gospel). He told those who asked “who is the greatest in the Kingdom” that if we want to enter the Kingdom we must become like children (Matthew 18:1-5).

In the American-Evangelical “Christian” pursuit of “anti-woke” and “anti-DEI” policies, I am afraid these “Christians” have embraced an “anti-Gospel” and “anti-Jesus” agenda. Though I embrace a very progressive eschatology (I’m more of a “this is a metaphor – a story to tell us that “love wins” and not a “this is going to play out just like that Kirk Cameron movie based on a piece of rapture-inspired fiction” kind of guy), I could be convinced that in the American-Evangelical “Christian” pursuit of “taking America back” some may have actually embraced a political idol that is actually “anti-Christ.”

So, what do we do? Well, we do the things Jesus called us to do: love God, love neighbor, love enemies, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, make sure everyone has something to drink, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned, care for the orphan and widow, provide for the least of these. In other words, don’t be a jerk.

And, that’s the challenging part for me. Because I am committed to the way of Jesus, that means I’m committed to doing the hard work of loving the folks that are giving Jesus and Christianity a bad name. That means I have to embrace the posture of a humble servant. That means I have to love God, neighbor, and even my enemy. That means I have to strive to stop being a jerk.