Gary Mintchell

Author Archive

Oppression

May 7, 2025

French intellectuals after World War II became enraptured by the idealistic vision of communism.

Albert Camus pointed to Stalin writing about how the oppressed became the oppressor.

Once the Christian Church was oppressed by Rome.

Then it became at various times of European history the oppressor.

Even in today’s America people who feel oppressed wish to become the oppressor.

How many people try to live out Jesus’s teachings about dealing with each person with kindness and understanding only judging each by the strength of their character?

He touched people with skin disease. He forgave a criminal. He saved a woman from execution by stoning. He made her accusers go home and ponder their own sins. He made a culturally despised outcast the hero of a story. He healed people in the household of a hated Roman soldier. He taught that unlike the Romans we should be known by how much we can love other humans.

Think upon whom you might wish to be oppressed. Perhaps a little kindness and love will go far toward reconciliation.

Posted in Compassion, discernment | Leave a Comment »

The Wind Blows Where It Wishes

May 6, 2025

35 mph gusts outside my window

The banks of evergreens shimmying like 60s go-go dancers

The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound

Said Jesus

But you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

The Spirit blows. I know not from where it comes nor to where it goes.

But those who feel the Spirit blowing will see the kingdom of God.

Be still for a moment. Listen for the Spirit blowing towards you.

It’s there. Rather, it’s here.

Posted in spirit | Leave a Comment »

You Know They Are Not When

May 5, 2025

When do you know that someone is not authentic? When they say they are being authentic.

When do you know someone is not being honest? When they tell you they are being honest.

When do you know someone is not a Christian? Well, let’s not go that far. But, to quote an old song, they will know we are Christians by our love.

We can listen to words, but we know by actions.

Posted in discernment, Doing | Leave a Comment »

Images

May 2, 2025

Two images burned into my consciousness.

A well dressed white man with a large cross made of gold dangling from a gold chain around his neck. His message promoted on social media spread hate toward people who did not look or speak like him.

A man dressed in the garments of a teacher of his first century time with no social media, or even just media, explaining that following God meant loving your neighbor. Asked who was a neighbor, he told a story where the person embodying the neighbor was a man from the most despised social group of the area.

Two images. I know not the name of the first. I know (and follow) the second. Choose which to emulate wisely.

Posted in Attitude, Ethics, Love | Leave a Comment »

Beginner’s Mind

May 1, 2025

Paul’s letter to the Jesus-followers in Rome (Romans) is often as feared for study as is John’s Revelation. Scholars have written volumes probing into Paul’s supposed deep theology presented in that brief document.

I thought, why not apply the practice of Beginner’s Mind to the study of that letter?

Beginner’s mind—just experience the sound, sight, thought as new. Without labeling. No knowing, explaining, judging. You are always new. Always beginners not knowing what will happen in the next moment.

First century practice of sending these letters reflected the lack of reading ability on the part of many recipients. A courier would bring a document to the little ekklesia (gathering). The appointed reader would read the document aloud to the gathering. The entire document. Not just clips.

I sat and read the letter straight through. No breaks. Just as if I had been sitting in that ekklesia. Beginner’s mind—no preconceived thoughts, no theology, no arguing.

Then I read a bit of background.

This totally changed my understanding—and how I teach it.

What came clearly to me was this was an essay on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation involves the journey of living with-God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The meat of the letter begins with awareness of where we are—people not living a fruitful life in the spirit. Paul must address the differences of Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). He does this through discussion of the law. Can we move to the next stage by following the law? Well, maybe, but it’s exceedingly difficult.

So he discusses faith. Abraham, the first Jew, was reckoned right with God through faith and not law (which hadn’t come, yet).

Paul leads us from faith to grace (you cannot have a letter about Jesus without discussing him).

Paul did not end the letter with the discussion of “being saved by grace through faith” as many do today. He answers the “then what” question. He adds chapters 11-15 which describe our lives as lived with grace.

I think that is the point. Faith is essential. Living life in the spirit is the necessary next step. After all, James, the brother of Jesus, told us that faith without doing something with it is dead.

Oh, and studying the final chapter is also instructive as he describes the ekklesia as a community of women (listed first), men, slaves, free people. Everyone welcome. How is your ekklesia (church) doing in that regard?

Posted in Study | Leave a Comment »

Everybody Knows

April 30, 2025

I caught myself about to use the explanation “of course, everybody knows.”

I don’t know what everybody knows.

Does everybody even know all the same things?

If I am looking for justification, does “everybody knows” justify anything?

I know what I know. (I’m content.)

Except for the times I know something and don’t know that I know. (I’m asleep. Wake me up.)

Then there are the times I know that I don’t know. (I need to learn. Develop curiosity.)

Sometimes I don’t know that I don’t know. (That is dangerous. I could be spreading false ideas.)

But I don’t know what you know—until you tell me and I listen.

Did I just trap myself in that endless loop that I know so much that I know nothing?

Posted in Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

Choose Your Focus

April 29, 2025

Some people always see what’s wrong. They see mistakes others make. Sometimes they focus on their own mistakes or shortcomings. The lawn isn’t mowed correctly. The government is all screwed up. The pastor’s message put me to sleep. My co-workers don’t pull their weight. They frown.

Some people choose to see where people are helpful. They focus on what good they can do right now, where they are. They complement good work. They smile.

Who would you prefer to associate with? Who would you like to be?

Posted in Attitude | Leave a Comment »

Visualize the Process

April 28, 2025

Have a goal they tell us. Write it on a Post-It note and stick it on your bathroom mirror. Visualize attaining it. Dream it, and it will come true.

In business or organization life, they also tell us to have a mission statement. Although most people write a paragraph, wisdom says it should be brief enough to print on a T-shirt.

But maybe this isn’t the best advice.

Professor of Happiness Arthur Brooks says, “No evidence exists for a mystical force that gives you what you imagine, and acting as though such a force does exist can even demotivate you and set you back. However, considered reflection on the process of achieving a desired outcome can change your behavior in productive ways. If you want a big balance in your bank account, thinking of a large number won’t help. But thinking about how you’re going to make financial progress and anticipating possible setbacks can encourage you to adopt useful habits of thrift and responsibility—and that becomes how you manifest a chosen goal.”

Did I mention he was a professor? At Harvard, no less. So he writes a paragraph. Try this…

Visualize the process.

See yourself eating less in order to lose weight. See the team working on your ministry.

Posted in Habits | Leave a Comment »