When the Days Grow Shorter

Finding Light and Joy in the Changing Seasons

September is a time of change. Already the trees around Austin show hints of color, and the morning air carries a chill that reminds us summer is slipping away. Over the course of the month, we’ll lose more than 80 minutes of daylight. The days grow shorter, the nights longer, and for many of us that shift can feel like a slow slide into gloom.

I’ll be honest: I feel it too. The long, bright days of summer lift my spirit, and when the darkness settles in, I can struggle. Some of you know this feeling well—whether it’s Seasonal Affective Disorder or simply the heaviness that comes with winter, the shortening of days often brings with it a shortening of joy.

But what if we could learn a different perspective?

In Scandinavia, where winters are long and dark, people have discovered ways not just to endure the season but to embrace it. They talk about hygge (Danish), koselig(Norwegian), and mys (Swedish)—words for creating warmth and coziness with candles, blankets, good food, and close company. They also practice friluftsliv, “free air life,” a way of finding joy in the outdoors no matter the weather.

Imagine that: instead of dreading the shrinking daylight and dropping temperatures, people lean into it. They light candles, gather friends, share meals, and bundle up for a walk in the crisp air. They create space for joy by focusing on light, warmth, and relationships.

That perspective has a lot to teach us. As Christians, we know that darkness doesn’t have the final word. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned”(Isaiah 9:2). Jesus himself said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

What if we allowed the darker months to remind us to look for the Light of Christ? What if we used this season as an invitation to slow down, to nurture relationships, to dress warmly and breathe the fresh air God still provides?

For me, a few practices have made a big difference. Last year I decided to leave our outside Christmas lights on throughout the winter. It may sound simple, but it was a joy to come home and see our house lit up with cheery colors in the darkness. That little bit of light lifted my spirit.

Another practice I’ve picked up—though not as regularly as I’d like—is coloring. I have a few adult coloring books that I pull out in the winter. The act of slowing down, choosing colors, and creating something beautiful helps me shift my focus and find calm.

And then there’s Teddy. Since getting a dog, I’ve had to take him on walks—usually three short ones a day. What started as a responsibility became a gift. Being outside, even for just a few minutes at a time, really helped my mood last winter. Teddy has been my unintentional teacher in friluftsliv.

Maybe your version looks different—lighting a candle when you read Scripture, inviting a friend over for coffee, or bundling up for a short walk. The details aren’t what matter. What matters is cultivating practices that remind us that even in dark seasons there is beauty, joy, and the presence of God.

Darkness doesn’t have to mean despair. It can be the pathway to a different kind of light. Just as the Scandinavian people embrace winter with warmth and joy, we too can embrace the changing season as a reminder of the deeper light and hope found in Christ.

So as the days grow shorter and the nights longer, let’s not see this as something to endure but as an opportunity to live differently—to create space for light, love, and the presence of Jesus in our lives.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Why Didn’t God Create People Who Couldn’t Sin?

One of the common questions skeptics ask Christians is this: “If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, why didn’t He just create people who couldn’t sin?”

The usual Christian response points to free will—that true love requires the freedom to choose. Without choice, love would be coerced, not genuine. I agree with that answer, but I think there’s another angle worth considering.

Maybe the answer isn’t simply that God didn’t create people who couldn’t sin. Maybe the answer is that He is. God is in the process of creating a people who will be able to love Him fully and live free from the temptation of sin. Life itself is part of that process—God shaping us into the people He desires us to be.

If love must be chosen, then creatures capable of truly loving God must also be capable of rejecting Him. That’s what we see throughout the story of Scripture.

The first beings God created were the angels. They dwell in His very presence (Luke 1:19), yet even there sin entered in. Satan led a rebellion, and a third of the angels followed. Clearly, being close to God’s presence doesn’t automatically prevent sin.

Then God created people. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden, enjoying direct fellowship with Him. Yet even in that ideal environment, they listened to Satan’s lies and chose rebellion. Experiencing God up close wasn’t enough to guarantee faithfulness.

The rest of the Bible is the story of God’s pursuit of a people wholly devoted to Him. Unlike the angels or Adam and Eve, these people live not by sight, but by faith. They trust God without seeing Him, love Him without walking beside Him, and obey Him without hearing His audible voice. This element of faith is essential—it is shaping us into people who will not sin.

Think about it: if God can raise up people who are loyal to Him now, while they cannot see Him, how much more will those same people remain loyal to Him when they do see His face? If they love Him now, how much more will they love Him then?

What we are experiencing now is not the final word. It’s a necessary step toward God’s ultimate goal: a world where His people live in perfect relationship with Him, free from sin and full of love.

These are just some thoughts I chased late one night, but the more I turned them over in my mind, the more it seemed to make sense of what God is doing. Maybe you’ve wrestled with the same question. If so, I hope this gives you something to reflect on.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Preaching to Make Disciples: A Conversation on the Purpose of Preaching

Paul’s Ponderings Interview | July 2025

In this post (which is a ChatGPT interview) I reflect on how preaching fits into the mission of making disciples. It made me ponder what makes preaching effective—not just as a Sunday event, but as a formative part of lifelong discipleship.

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ChatGPT: When did you first begin to understand that preaching wasn’t just about teaching or inspiring, but about making disciples? What shifted in your thinking?

Paul:
I always connected preaching to discipleship—honestly, I thought it was the main part of discipleship in the local church. But a shift began when I read a quote from Dallas Willard:

“If the steady, longtime faithful devotees to our ministries are not transformed in the substance of their lives to the full range of Christlikeness, they are being failed by what we are teaching them.” (The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 18)

That quote hit me hard. It helped me see two things. First, preaching and teaching alone aren’t enough for true spiritual formation. People also need help applying the message—and that’s where spiritual disciplines come in.

Second, my preaching needed to include action steps. That’s why I started clearly stating the “big idea” and offering a “challenge” people could apply each week. Ultimately, I had to let go of the idea that just giving people the right information was enough. Discipleship requires helping them live it out.

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ChatGPT: What role does preaching uniquely play in the discipleship process—compared to things like small groups, Bible studies, or one-on-one mentoring?

Paul:
I believe the unique role of preaching is to give people a weekly opportunity to make a decision.

Yes, I know that most people forget the sermon by Tuesday. In fact, I forget most of the sermons I’ve heard! But there’s a cumulative effect to sitting under good preaching. It becomes a spiritual discipline that shapes us over time.

Every week, I want to create a space where people can respond to what God is saying. That’s why I include a time of Prayer Response after the sermon—with an invitation to see me to ask questions, to make a commitment to follow Jesus, and to pray silently using prayer prompts.

Preaching isn’t mainly about giving new information (that’s the role of teaching). It’s about calling people to make a decision in their discipleship journey.

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ChatGPT: What have you learned over the years about preaching in a way that actually leads to transformation—not just agreement? What makes the difference between a message that’s merely heard and one that shapes someone’s life?

Paul:
Honestly, a lot depends on the individual preacher. When I was younger, I tried to mimic the styles of preachers I admired. But I had to learn to be true to who God created me to be.

That said, two things really make a difference: passion and preparation.

I need to feel passionate about what I’m preaching—that’s why I prepare the sermon the week I preach it. I just can’t do it weeks in advance. I have to be in the text and in the moment to preach it from the heart.

But passion without preparation isn’t enough. We have to handle Scripture well. That means spending time reading, meditating, praying, and using solid study tools. I want to understand what the original audience would have heard so I can faithfully apply it today.

When a preacher is clearly invested—heart and mind—the congregation notices. That’s when preaching starts to move from noise to transformation.

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ChatGPT: How does your approach to sermon planning and series design reflect your desire to make disciples? What factors do you consider when deciding what to preach next?

Paul:
For me, preaching is about opening the Scriptures for people. I take 2 Timothy 3:16–17 seriously. Scripture is what God gave us to equip and train His people. So even when I do topical series, each sermon is grounded in a single text.

Right now, I’m committed to preaching through books of the Bible. I believe that in doing so, we naturally encounter the full range of human experience and the central themes of the Christian faith.

For example, preaching through Jude allowed me to focus on faith and the message of the Gospel. Preaching through Nahum opened the door to talk about God’s justice, covenant, and the tension between His goodness and judgment.


So when I plan a series, I think about:

• What Scripture passages can help shape us?

• What themes or doctrines does the congregation need to engage with?

• How does this help form disciples?

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ChatGPT: What do you most hope your congregation experiences through your preaching—not just in the moment, but over the long haul of their discipleship?

Paul:
Two things: truth and hope.

I want them to experience the truthfulness of Scripture—not as a dusty old book, but as the living, revealing Word of God. I want them to see that it speaks into their lives and helps them live faithfully in this world.

And I want them to experience the hope of the resurrection. That’s the core of Christianity. Because Jesus rose, we can live with confidence, knowing King Jesus will return and make all things right.

This hope gives us strength to keep going when life is hard. It helps us remain faithful when the path of discipleship is steep. Long-term discipleship needs that kind of hope—and I want my preaching to cultivate it.

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ChatGPT: If you could give one piece of advice to pastors who want their preaching to make disciples—not just attenders—what would it be?

Paul:
Here’s my advice: “Remember that the core mission of the Church is to make disciples.”

We’re not called to give inspirational speeches or life tips. We’re called to preach to make disciples.

That means, first and foremost, preaching Scripture. Open the Bible. Help people understand it. Give them the truth the Holy Spirit can use to transform their lives.

And second—prepare well. Know the text. Do the work. If we want to feed the flock, we need to know the food we’re giving them.


Final Thought:

Preaching isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being faithful. If we commit to opening God’s Word with clarity, passion, and purpose, we give people what they need to grow—not just in knowledge, but in Christlikeness.

One Umbrella Is Enough

We’ve all seen diagrams like this—the family hierarchy laid out under a series of umbrellas, topped with “Christ” and descending through “Husband,” “Wife,” and “Children.” I have seen this image floating around social media (apparently its origin is from Bill Gothard), and I have to be honest: it struck me as not only unhelpful, but also theologically confused.

Let me explain.

First of all: Why the extra umbrellas?

If Christ truly covers the family, then no other umbrella is needed. The protection, provision, guidance, and love we all need ultimately come from King Jesus. So putting additional umbrellas under His implies that His covering is somehow incomplete or that we need human intermediaries to trickle down His blessing or that we need the person above us to intercede on our behalf. 

That’s just not how the Gospel works. Under King Jesus, every member of the family—husband, wife, and children—has direct access to Him. His lordship isn’t filtered; it’s shared. One umbrella is enough.

Second, let’s talk about that word: “Biblical.”

Slapping the label “Biblical” on an image like this gives it a sense of divine authority. But let’s be clear: this is not a biblical chart—it’s a modern, Western, post-industrial ideal of how a family should function. Yes, some of the roles mentioned (like children obeying their parents) are clearly taught in Scripture. But many of the others? Those are inferences or cultural overlays, not explicit commands.

It is crucial to remember that the Bible was written to people living in a different time and culture than we do, and this reality means that we are to take the truth and information found in Scripture to give us the wisdom to live in our time and place. 

Not only that, but the image implies that these gender roles are taught in the Bible, but in Deuteronomy (for example), it is the father, not the mother, who is commanded to teach his children about God’s covenant. 

It is logical to assume that because men are naturally stronger than women (1 Peter 3:7) that they would have the role of protector, but we also know from real life that mothers play a role protecting their families. Ever heard of a “Mama Bear”? That’s not just a cute phrase, but a role that mothers take seriously. Consider the wise woman talked about in 2 Samuel 20 who saved her entire city from Joab and Israel’s army. She used her wisdom, not her strength, to serve as a protector of her people.

The Proverbs 31 woman reminds us that women played an important role in the providing for the needs of the family. In fact she was hard at work while her husband sat at the city gate. Providing for the family doesn’t follow on the shoulders of just men, it is a shared responsibility.

The reality: Every family looks a little different

Rather than trying to cram every household into a one-size-fits-all diagram, it’s more faithful to Scripture—and more honoring to the Spirit’s work in each family—to recognize that a well-ordered home is one where both husband and wife are using their God-given gifts, strengths, and passions to lead the family in following Jesus. The distribution of tasks may vary. Who leads prayer? Who handles finances? Who gets the kids to school? It depends. And that’s okay.

The goal isn’t rigid gender roles—it’s mutual submission to Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 — The Expectation for Disciples

The Apostle Paul gives us a better summary of what godly family life looks like:

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:17 (CSB)

If both husband and wife—if every member of the family—is living by this truth, then that household is honoring God. It’s not about how well we align with a chart. It’s about how well we follow King Jesus.

So let’s ditch the extra umbrellas. Let’s stop using “Biblical” as a weapon to enforce cultural preferences. And let’s get back to what truly matters: Following Jesus together as a family, in whatever shape that takes.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Avoiding Worry

We’ve all been there. It’s late at night, long past bedtime, and you’re tossing and turning, unable to quiet your mind. You replay conversations, stress over bills, or fear what tomorrow might bring.

If you’ve experienced that, you’re not alone.

Researcher Lucas LaFreniere conducted a study on worry that revealed something staggering. Participants wrote down their nightly worries for a period of time, then returned 20 days later to see if those worries had actually come true. The result? 91.4% of what people worried about never happened.

LaFreniere explained it like this: “Worry makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future… it sucks the joy out of the here and now.”

That hits hard, doesn’t it? Worry robs us of today’s joy over things that—nine times out of ten—won’t even happen. Jesus Himself asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). The answer is no. Worry doesn’t solve our problems—it just deepens our misery.

But here’s the good news: Jesus offers us another way.

Rethinking Worry

Too often, we treat Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (“Do not worry,” Matthew 6:25–34) as a command. We hear people say, “Worry is a mild form of atheism because when you worry, you’re doubting God.” That only makes us feel guilty—so we try to stop worrying, which ironically makes us worry even more.

But what if Jesus’ teaching wasn’t meant as a crushing command, but as a gentle reminder? Don’t worry, because your Father has things under control. The birds are fed. The flowers bloom. And you are more valuable than them all.

So, how do we move from worry to trust? John 6:15-21 gives us three principles that can help.

1. Refuel (v. 15)

After feeding the 5,000, Jesus slipped away to the mountain to pray. He had healed, taught, and fed thousands—He was physically and emotionally drained. Even the Son of God needed to refuel in His Father’s presence.

If Jesus needed that, how much more do we? Worry drains us, but prayer and Scripture refill us. Prayer connects us to God’s peace (Philippians 4:6-7), and His Word steadies our perspective (Psalm 119:15-16).

Start small. A short prayer in the morning. A verse taped to your mirror. Small, consistent practices make a huge difference.


2. Remember (vv. 16-20)

As the disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee, a storm hit. They struggled for miles in the wind and waves until suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the water. Terrified, they didn’t recognize Him at first—but then He said, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Here’s the truth: storms will come in our lives—health scares, financial stress, family crises. But when storms hit, we must remember: Jesus is with us. He promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Even before the disciples saw Him, Jesus already saw their struggle. The same is true for you—He sees your storm, and He is coming to you.


3. Receive (v. 21)

When the disciples welcomed Jesus into their boat, they reached the shore safely.

That’s our call too—to receive Him. If you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, John 1:12 says that when you receive Him, you become God’s child. That’s the first step toward freedom from worry.

But for those who already follow Jesus, receiving Him means surrendering control. Too often, we grip the oars of our lives, exhausting ourselves with worry. But when Jesus is captain of the ship, He brings peace (Isaiah 26:3).

The Hope Beyond Worry

Let’s put it together. To avoid worry, we must:

• Refuel through prayer and Scripture.
• Remember that Jesus is with us in the storm.
• Receive Him as the one in control of our lives.

Here’s the big idea: Worry loses its grip when we focus on Jesus and the hope we have in His life, death, and resurrection.

This doesn’t mean life will be easy. Storms will still come. But instead of being consumed by worry, we can cling to hope—the hope that one day, King Jesus will return and make all things right.

So here’s a challenge: this week, when worry starts to take hold, stop and say: “God is good, and today is a blessing.”

Then pray a short prayer, releasing your worry to Him.

Corrie ten Boom, who endured unimaginable storms, once said: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

Don’t let worry rob you of today. Jesus is here. He is enough.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.