Pastor Tom's Journal

  Matthew 14:1–13 Herod heard reports about Jesus, but instead of wonder, he felt fear. “This is John the Baptist,” he said. “He has been raised from the dead.” Herod had tried to silence John, but he could not silence the truth John had spoken. He could behead the prophet, but he could not behead the truth. This message explores what happens when truth confronts power, when conscience is silenced but not satisfied, and when a person has enough spiritual curiosity to be disturbed by God but not enough surrender to repent. John loses his head. Herod loses his soul. Jesus receives the news, withdraws in holy grief, and continues the work of the Kingdom. Main idea: When truth confronts power, the faithful may suffer, but the Kingdom does not die. The real tragedy is not that John lost his head, but that Herod lost his soul while trying to save face. Read the full Substack reflection and subscriber study materials here: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-haunting-of-herod Jo...

I recently posted this piece under Pastoral Excellence , and I’m leaving it there because the application to spiritual leadership is real. But the same idea also belongs in Leaning Leadership Ladder and here,  because it speaks directly to leadership development, professional growth, communication, coaching, and the process of turning concepts into embodied skill. Zig Ziglar is often credited with saying: “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly — until you can learn to do it well.” That line is not an excuse for carelessness. It is a correction to paralysis. We do not usually become skillful by waiting until we feel ready. We become skillful by beginning, rehearsing mentally, acting, noticing what happened, correcting, and trying again. The learning loop is simple: Begin. Rehearse. Act. Notice. Correct. Repeat. Practice does not automatically make perfect. Practice makes permanent. Corrected practice makes better. Read the LinkedIn article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...

Sometimes prayer begins when the heart is faint. Psalms 61–65 take us on a journey from weakness to worship, from silence to trust, from thirst to satisfaction, from danger to refuge, and finally to overflowing praise. We begin with the cry, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” and we end with valleys clothed in grain, shouting and singing together for joy. This short reflection is part of the ongoing Psalms Project and today’s Bible Chat. It is an invitation to bring your faint heart, your waiting soul, your thirsty spirit, your wounded places, and your gratitude into the presence of God. Full written reflection on Substack: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/from-the-faint-heart-to-the-overflowing Read Psalms 61–65 in parallel translations on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2061-65&version=NIV;NRSVUE;MSG For those who would rather simply listen, the YouTube version is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zki4kWYas4Y More resources: Bible ...

   Is it possible to become so familiar with Jesus that we limit our capacity for real faith in Him? In Matthew 13:53–58 , Jesus returns to His hometown. The people are astounded by His wisdom and deeds of power, but instead of receiving Him, they take offense. They know His family. They know His trade. They know His village. But their familiarity becomes a filter that blocks their faith. Matthew gives us the haunting summary: “And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.” The danger is not that they knew too much about Jesus. The danger is that they thought they already knew all there was to know. That danger is still with us. We can know the songs, the stories, the symbols, the vocabulary, and the traditions of Jesus while still resisting Him when He comes to us as Lord. We can admire Him without obeying Him. We can invoke Him without surrendering to Him. We can build institutions around Him while keeping Him safely inside the box we have prepared....

  The Kingdom of God grows in a complicated field. That is one of the lessons Jesus gives us in Matthew 13:24–52. He speaks of weeds and wheat, mustard seed and yeast, treasure and pearls, a wide fishing net, and a household steward bringing out treasures new and old. The field is complicated. People are complicated. Systems are complicated. Motives are complicated. Growth is complicated. But the seed is good. Dive Deeper - https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-kingdom-in-a-complicated-field The Kingdom is active before it is obvious. The Kingdom is valuable before it is fully possessed. The Kingdom is mixed before it is sorted. The Kingdom is certain before it is complete. So we do not panic over weeds. We do not despise small beginnings. We do not cheapen the treasure. We do not inspect every fish. We sow faithfully. We grow patiently. We gather widely. We trust God completely. Bible Chat on Substack: https://tomsims.substack.com/s/bible-chat Fellowship of Joy: https://www.fa...

Hear This If You Can Matthew 13:1–23 The Word of the Kingdom is still being sown. Jesus tells of seed scattered broadly and generously. Some is snatched. Some is scorched. Some is choked. But some becomes fruitful. This message asks a direct question: what is happening in our hearts when the Word of God lands there? Are we hardened? Are we shallow? Are we crowded? Or are we becoming fruitful? There is also hope. The Spirit of God can break up the packed-down places, deepen the thin places, and clear the crowded places so the Word can take root and bear fruit. Watch the message: https://www.facebook.com/tomsims/videos/836824365718771 Read the full Bible Chat reflection and study guide: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/hear-this-if-you-can Join Fellowship of Joy for conversation, encouragement, and shared spiritual growth: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fellowshipofjoy More links and resources: https://linktr.ee/tomsims #BibleChat #Matthew13 #ParableOfTheSower ...

   Over the past several days, I have been exploring a connected set of themes involving conviction, neutrality, grace, spiritual anxiety, and the call of Jesus to decision and rest. These reflections emerged through sermons, essays, pastoral conversations, and leadership-oriented teaching resources. Each piece stands on its own, but together they form a broader conversation about: spiritual commitment, healthy faith development, grace, fear, religious scrupulosity, and wise pastoral leadership. Below is a guide to the current series with summaries and links. 1. There Is No Such Thing as Permanent Neutrality Medium Essay This reflection explores the tension between: pluralism, tolerance, state neutrality, personal conviction, and the human need for meaningful commitment. The article argues that one can deeply value: religious tolerance, diversity, humility, and civic neutrality, without surrendering personal conviction or drifting into spiritual ambiguity. It reflects on the m...