Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) The Fire is Grace Daily Gospel: Matthew 3:7–12 The Set-Up John the Baptist is out at the Jordan River running what my evangelical upbringing would call a revival. He’s the ultimate straight-edge pr...

The Fire is Grace: Matthew 3:7–12

The Good News is that God wants to burn away the toxic systems and egos that are quietly killing us. The process might hurt, but it doesn't destroy us. It simply burns away the bullshit so that our real, authentic, selves can emerge.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Repentance is Revolution The Daily Gospel: Matthew 1:1–17 & 3:1–6 The Set-Up Matthew opens with a genealogy, and, honestly, we usually skip this part because it reads like a boring directory of anc...

Repentance is Revolution

The Good News is that God chooses broken family trees, survivors, outcasts, and the wilderness to launch the revolution. You don't have to pretend to be perfect: You just have to be willing to walk out into the desert, get in the muddy water, and change your direction.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John 16:1–15: God does not trauma-dump The Set-Up Jesus and His disciples are continuing a walk through the dark, leading towards the day of his execution.  “They will put you out of the synagogues...

John 16:1–15
The Good News is that you do not have to have everything figured out right now. Jesus doesn't demand you digest and execute the entire blueprint in a single motion. He just promises to send the Advocate to guide you to the next step.
substack.com/@consistentl...

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John 15:1–11 - Abide in Me Jesus and the disciples have left their secluded room and are walking towards the Mount of Olives. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every b...

John 15:1–11:

The Good News is that the Gardener knows exactly what to do. When it feels like you are being stripped down to nothing—when the knife prunes away your comfort, status, or illusions—you are not going to whether away. You are being prepared for a massive, defiant explosion of life.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John 14:18–31 - The Advocate The Set-Up Jesus has just told His closest friends He is leaving, and they know what the Empire does to leaderless movements. They expect to be hunted, crushed, and forg...

John 14:18–31

The Good News is that you can be standing in the dark, watching Empire march toward you, and still possess peace. The Divine has made a home inside you. You have the Advocate. You can look at the chaotic machinery of the world and know with absolute certainty that it has no power.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John 14:1–17: Radical Hospitality The Set-Up “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” Jesus tells the Disciples about His Father’s house, which has "many dwelling p...

John 14:1–17: Radical Hospitality
The Good News is that the Kingdom of God does not require you to have the perfect plan. You are allowed to be lost, confused, or even hopeless. Jesus steps in to remind us that the table has plenty of room, and He is with us each and every step.

Luke 24:1–12

The Good News is that God’s communication strategy completely bypasses the guys.

He gave it to the women carrying spices in the dark..

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Matthew 28:16–20: Until the Wheels Fall Off The Set-Up The women did their job and delivered the message from the empty tomb, and despite their fear, the disciples actually listened. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.” Matthew refuses to sugarcoat it: there are no longer Twelve anymore; it’s now “the Eleven”. The inner circle is broken…and where does Jesus meet them? Galilee. Christ takes the revolution straight back to the backwater margins where they first met. “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” Think about that. They are staring at a man who literally beat a Roman execution. What does Jesus do? He gives the doubters the exact same global commission He gives the worshippers. In the Kingdom of God, doubt isn't a disqualifier; Jesus trusts even the skeptics with the keys to the revolution. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Empire thinks they run the world through military violence. The religious elite think they run the world through gatekeeping. Jesus publicly announces a hostile takeover of the cosmos built on radical, self-emptying love. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” The Kingdom is now an expansive, borderless, global manifesto. He tells them to baptize: Wash the toxicity of the Empire off their bodies and initiate them into a radical, loving community. Teach them the Sermon on the Mount: bless the poor, love your enemies, protect the vulnerable, and share your bread. Jesus doesn't promise them wealth or power. He gives them the only guarantee that actually matters:  “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” When Empire pushes back, when you are broke and exhausted, when your faith wavers and you doubt the whole thing, I am with you. The Takeaways The Scar is Visible. Matthew calls them "the eleven." You don't need a perfect community to do holy work. Doubt is Not a Dealbreaker. Some worshipped, some doubted, and yet Jesus commissioned all of them. And you don't have to have your theology perfectly sorted out to join the movement.  Tear Down the Borders. "All nations." If your religion is tribal, nationalistic, or exclusive, it is in direct rebellion against the Great Commission. The Kingdom is open-source. A Different Kind of Authority. Jesus claims all authority, but He wields it from the bottom up, not the top down.  Presence Over Prosperity. Jesus didn't promise an easy life; He promised "I am with you always", the spiritual fuel that keeps the revolution moving. The Good News… Is that Jesus looks at a messy, anxious, doubting, imperfect group of people and says, “You are exactly who I want to change the world with.” The Good News is that the Kingdom doesn't rely on your perfection; it relies on His presence. You are allowed to be terrified. You are allowed to have questions. You are allowed to limp. The resurrected Christ hands you the baton anyway, promises to stay by your side until the wheels fall off, and sends you out into the dirt to love people back to life.

Matthew 28:16–20:
The Good News is that the Kingdom doesn't rely on your perfection; it relies on His presence. The resurrected Christ hands you the baton anyway, promises to stay by your side until the wheels fall off, and sends you out into the dirt to love people back to life.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Matthew 28:1–16: Women (Will Always) Lead the Revolution The Set-Up The Roman Empire had sealed the tomb and posted armed guards. They thought they had succeeded in quieting the rebellion.  Instead...

Matthew 28:1–16: Women (Will Always) Lead the Revolution
The Good News is that Jesus waits for the "Eleven." He doesn't demand a flawless community. All He asks is that you leave the safe room, trust the testimony of the marginalized, and hike out to the dirt of Galilee to meet Him.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 16:9–20: The Bonus Track The Set-Up First, let’s be honest about the text: Acknowledging that verses 9-20 were added later doesn't destroy the Bible; it only proves that the Bible is a living, ...

Mark 16:9–20
The Good News is that the mission is completely unregulated by fear. The same Jesus who defended Mary Magdalene, yelled at the stubborn religious elite, and literally conquered the grave is actively working with us in the margins. The story didn't end in the first century.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 16:1–8: What are you going to do about it? The Set-Up The men have fled and to many, the movement has seemingly been crushed by Empire. It is up to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and...

Mark 16:1–8

The Good News is that the reality of God is not meant to be comfortable or safe. It is entirely normal to feel "terror and amazement" when you realize the tomb is empty. You don't have to be brave to encounter the Divine; you just have to keep moving, caring, and sharing.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John 12:1–11: An Absolute, Beautiful, Waste The Set-Up It is six days before Passover, and the religious elite are officially looking for Jesus. So, what does Jesus do? He goes to a dinner party in ...

John 12:1–11: An Absolute, Beautiful, Waste

The Good News is that when the cynics in the room try to shame you for the extravagant ways you pour out your heart, Jesus will step in front of you and say, "Leave them alone." Your messy devotion is safe with Him.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 10:17–31 - First Will Be Last A guy runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees. He has money, youth, and religious status. He asks: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Look at ...

Mark 10:17–31:

The Good News is that salvation is God's job, not yours. You don't have to be wealthy enough, moral enough, or put together enough to force the camel through the needle. God does the impossible work of grace so you can drop the heavy bags you've been carrying and just follow Him.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) The Annunciation - Here I Am The Set-Up God has decided to break into human history, but doesn't go to the marble palaces in Rome, or the Temple in Jerusalem to negotiate with the high priests; God ...

The Annunciation - Here I Am

The Good News is that the invitation of the Annunciation is always open. God is always looking for ordinary, unqualified people who are willing to say, "Let it be done to me." You don't have to be perfect; you just have to be willing to carry the grace into the dirt.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 9:42–50: Cut it off The Set-Up While Jesus is still holding the child from the previous verses, He looks around at His ambitious, power-hungry disciples and delivers a zero-tolerance policy on ...

Mark 9:42–50
The Good News is that when Jesus tells us to cut off our hand or tear out our eye, He is giving us permission to drastically alter our lives for the sake of our own survival. You are allowed to walk away from the things that are killing you.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) (Back after a week of vacation for Spring Break…) Mark 9:30–41: Get to Work The Set-Up Traveling through Galilee, Jesus privately warns his disciples of his impending betrayal, death, and resurrect...

Mark 9:30–41: Get to Work

The Good News is that God's grace cannot be contained. You don't need permission from the gatekeepers to start casting out the darkness in your own community. Grab a bottle of water, look for the person the world has ignored, and get to work.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 7:24–37 - Be Opened The Set-Up Exhausted after confronting religious leaders, Jesus seeks secrecy in the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon. A desperate Gentile woman, an outsider, finds Him, be...

Mark 7:24–37
The Good News is that Jesus does not heal from a sterilized distance. If you feel isolated by trauma, your past, or inability to communicate, Jesus is willing to pull you aside, get into the messy, reality of your pain, and command the closed-off parts of your life to be opened.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 6:47–56 - Do Not Be Afraid The Takeaways Jesus has just dismissed the crowd of 5,000 and forced His disciples into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee while He retreats to a mountain to pray. I...

Mark 6:47–56

The Good News is that the grace of God is radically accessible. You don't need to understand the deep mysteries of the universe to be made whole. You just have to be willing to drag your brokenness into the street and reach for the fringe of His coat.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 6:30–46 - Scarcity is a Lie The Set-Up The exhausted disciples returned from their mission and Jesus, seeing their burnout, mandated rest: "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and r...

Mark 6:30–46

The Good News is that Jesus doesn't ask you to fund the whole operation: He just asks you to hand over what you have. When you surrender your resources to the Divine, they are blessed, broken, and multiplied. There is enough grace to feed the entire crowd, with baskets left over.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 6:14-29 - A Contrast of Kingdoms The Set-Up Herod is a puppet king. He divorced his wife and married Herodias, his own brother’s wife, in a messy, illegal, arrogant power grab. John the Baptis...

Mark 6:14-29

The Good News…Honestly, it’s hard to find "Good News" in a beheading, but it lies in the context.

The Good News is that the Empire can kill the prophet, but it cannot kill the movement. Jesus is building a Kingdom that operates on radical generosity and resurrection.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 6:1–13 - Prophet without Honor The Set-Up Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth, and teaches in the synagogue. Initially impressed, the locals quickly become offended, dismissing him as merel...

Mark 6:1–13

The Good News is that the Kingdom of God does not require a massive budget or corporate backing. It requires vulnerability. If you feel unequipped, underfunded, or exposed, it means you are in the exact right posture to do the work.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 5:21–43 - Give Her Something to Eat The Set-Up Jesus gets off the boat, and the mob is waiting. Immediately a VIP pushes through the crowd. His name is Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, but al...

Mark 5:21–43 - Give Her Something to Eat

The Good New is that your mess, your trauma, and your "impurity" are not a threat to Jesus. Whether you feel your life is falling apart or like an outcast, Jesus is willing to break every rule in the book to grab you by the hand and say, "Get up."

BIG NEWS!

So incredibly excited to announce my next discernment chapter. This Fall, I’m heading to Candler School of Theology for my MDiv!

✨ 100% Tuition Scholarship
✨ Hybrid Program
✨ Certificate in Episcopal & Anglican Studies

Feeling pumped for the journey ahead!

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 4:21–34 - Get Some Sleep The Set-Up Jesus is still teaching from the boat, and He drops a series of metaphors about how Truth and Grace actually spread.  “Is a lamp brought in to be put under ...

Mark 4:21–34
The Good News is that God's grace works in the dark. You don't have to understand how it works to benefit from the harvest. When that grace finally breaks through it proves to be unstoppable: a wild, beautiful weed that no empire and no corrupt system can ever uproot.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 4:1–20 - Lay Down the Groove The Set-Up Jesus is back by the water and the crowd is so massive and desperate that He has to use the boat trick again, pushing off the shore to create a buffer so...

Mark 4:1–20

The Good News is that you are not permanently assigned to one type of dirt. The Farmer never stops throwing the seed. Grace keeps falling, waiting for the moment you decide to do the hard work and let your roots go deep.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) John & Charles Wesley — Until the Wheels Fall Off (I usually do a summary and takeaways for the day’s Gospel reading - but it’s good to know our saints as well - and as one who claimed Methodism for ...

John & Charles Wesley
The Good News is that the grace of God is free, it is universal, and it is available right now from homes, to offices, to school, and especially to the streets. You don't have to clean yourself up to get to the altar; God has moved the altar to exactly where you are standing.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 3:7–19a - Silence and Roster Building The Set-Up Jesus withdraws to the sea, but the secret is out: He has become a magnet for the desperate and the marginalized. Mark tells us that the crowd ...

Mark 3:7–19a

The Good News is that the table of Christ is big enough to hold people who fiercely disagree with each other. If Jesus can make the Twelve break bread together, there is hope for our polarized world.

substack.com/profile/4765...

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 2:1–12 - Get Up and Walk The Set-Up Jesus is back in Capernaum. Word gets out, and the house He is staying in is packed There is no room, not even near the door. Sitting up front are the scribe...

Mark 2:1–12 - Get Up and Walk

The Good News is that Jesus has the authority to bypass every religious gatekeeper, every purity test, and every societal judgment to look directly at you and say, "You are forgiven. Get up." You don't owe the Temple a dime. The grace is already yours.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 1:29–45 — The Immediacy of the Gospel The Set-Up Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes directly into Peter’s house, where his mother-in-law is down with a fever. Jesus goes directly to her, take...

Mark 1:29–45:

The Good News is that if you feel like the leper (exiled, untouchable, too broken or "impure") Jesus is willing to leave the city, walk into the dirt, and trade places with you. He takes the isolation so you can have the community. You are never too far gone for the reach of His hand.

Consistently Upwards (@consistentlyupwards) Mark 1:1–13 - And Away We Go! The Set-Up: Mark's Gospel begins abruptly, declaring the "good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" - a treasonous claim, as these titles were reserved for the Roman E...

Mark 1:1–13 - And Away We Go!

The Good News is that when the Spirit drives you into the wilderness—when you are surrounded by the "wild beasts" of anxiety, depression, or loss—you are not abandoned. The heavens have been ripped open, and the Divine is in the dirt with you.