The world doesn’t lack passion. It lacks footing.

In a recent Ministry Collaborative podcast, Mark Ramsey quoted an old saying:

“Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world.”

That simple sentence exposes a hard truth: movement without a foundation is just motion—and motion alone rarely changes anything.

I’ve been pondering his words, and I’ve come to a less-than-obvious conclusion.

Much of our ineffectiveness—in life, in relationships, and in ministry—comes from an unwillingness to take a stand on what truly matters, or even to dare say that some things matter more than others.

I appreciate the impulse behind the idea that everything matters to someone, depending on perspective. It is a generous instinct, rooted in a desire to affirm people. But even noble intentions carry risks.

When everything matters, nothing does.

When vision is distorted by isolation, individualism, or materialism, we become myopic—unable to see clearly. In those moments, what we need is a better lens.

For those who preach or lead congregations—and for all who seek to follow Jesus—that lens is grace: grace that calls for righteousness and justice without condemning those who have been deceived by selfishness and insularity. It is grace that affirms the life and dignity of all God’s creation. It is compassion. It is generosity.
Where we stand, if we hope to move the world, is in Christ, with Christ, and on Christ.

If we want to move the world, the question is not whether we are passionate enough. The question is, ‘Where are we standing?’

The Church does not need more motion. It needs more grounding.

My ancestors understood this when they sang words that carried faith through uncertainty and loss:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand…
All other ground… is sinking sand!

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11

Learning where to stand requires:

• Naming your Ground
This week, take time to name—out loud or in writing—what you are actually standing on.
Ask yourself: What convictions shape my decisions when no one is watching?
If Christ is our foundation, clarity matters.
• Practicing Discernment, Not Equivalence
Resist the pressure to treat everything as equally urgent.
Pay attention to what you elevate with your time, energy, and attention.
Some things matter more—and choosing wisely is an act of faith, not exclusion.
• Letting Grace Be Your Lens
Before reacting, judging, or withdrawing, ask: Am I seeing this through grace?
Grace does not deny truth or justice—it grounds them in compassion and generosity.
• Examining Your Movement
Notice where you are busy but ungrounded.
Activity is not the same as faithfulness.
Ask: Is my movement rooted in Christ, or driven by anxiety, outrage, or fear?
• Seeking Community
Faith was never meant to be practiced alone.
Seek grounding in community—through worship, conversation, prayer, and shared discernment.
Standing firm is easier when we stand together.
• Maintaining your Foundation
Make space each day—however briefly—to return to Christ as your footing.

If we want to move the world, we don’t start by running – we start by standing—

in Christ,
with Christ,
and on Christ.

ihs,
just adam

February 3, 2026 – BHM

When I was about six years old, standing in the yard with my mother, while I can’t remember what was going on at the time, or what I had said or done, but I remember clearly her saying to me,

“Adam, you know what’s right.
No matter what’s going on.
No matter who’s around you.
You know what’s right.”

As a young man, I resented her words. They haunted me—returning at the most inopportune moments, interrupting my mischief.

As I grew up, however, I began to appreciate her words. And as I’ve grown older, I feel the full weight of her words. Way back then, Sarah Nell was speaking words that would one day give—and save—my life.

I can hear the voice of the Spirit in her words…

We must not lose our souls.
We must not yield to easy assimilation masquerading as integration.
We must not surrender our distinction.
We must not allow frustration to become despair—
despair that tempts us to collude with the powerful.
We must not mimic their ways.
We must preserve our integrity.

With justice and reconciliation as our goal,
and love as our sole motivation—
joy, creativity, resilience, compassion:
these are our weapons.
This is our protest.

I say to you—brothers and sisters, men and women of faith:

We know what’s right.
No matter what’s going on.
No matter who’s around us.
We know what’s right!

We know what’s right. Now let’s get to it.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,
just adam

How do we truly measure success?

If our worth isn’t defined by what we produce, then what standards should guide us? The way we choose our metrics—how we measure and qualify achievement—shapes not only our goals, but also our sense of fulfillment. Instead of simply counting results or focusing on the end destination, it’s worth asking: what really matters in the journey? 

Results or Reasons

Results matter, for sure, but not at the expense of the means and methods of achieving them. Our whys and hows are as important as goals we aim to reach.

Our motivations matter.  Our intentions matter.  Our methods do matter.  And I would dare say that these are at least as important as the outcomes we seek.

I reckon we need to begin to ask ourselves better questions, huh?

Reflections

• Are my actions motivated by love?  Do my actions elevate others? 

• Is what I’m saying, doing, or thinking helping to create joy in my life and in the lives of others? 

• Will my accomplishments only benefit me?

• Am I operating from a place of guilt and insecurity, or acting from a place of freedom and abundance?  

• Why am I doing this? How do I apply myself to the tasks before me?

These are better questions that allow us to examine ourselves while developing better ways of being that are actually life-giving and liberating for both us and others.  

The former ways bring exhaustion and frustration, only the latter yields contentment and confidence.

Get it?

²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

The Search for Meaning

From the moment we are young, we begin a lifelong search for meaning. We quickly learn that certain actions bring rewards, while others lead to consequences. Over time, our sense of self-worth becomes tied to what we do—our achievements, our productivity, and the judgments of others.

The Cycle of Busyness

Society teaches us that what matters most is what we produce. The idol of productivity demands constant performance. When circumstances or challenges prevent us from “doing,” our identity feels threatened. This relentless system of busyness leaves even the most successful among us feeling empty, questioning our value, longing for meaning, and searching for peace.

No matter how hard we work, this cycle never delivers true contentment or confidence. Instead, it drives us to exhaustion, convincing us that our lives only matter when we are producing, achieving, or accumulating.

The Invitation to Rest

But there is hope. Thank God for Jesus, who reminds us that our value is not measured by what we produce. We are valuable simply because of who we are. Jesus says, “Consider the birds of the air”—they do not earn their worth, yet they are cared for.

Peace comes with His presence, and rest is not something we must earn. It is a gift of grace, freely given. We do not have to surrender to the grind to find meaning. Instead, we can ground ourselves in grace, remembering that our being, not our doing, defines our worth.

A Gentle Reminder

I need this reminder often, and perhaps you do too:

“…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these…”
Matthew 6:28-29

Good morning. I love you all.

ihs,
just adam

In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. posed a question that still resonates today: “Where do we go from here—chaos or community?” Despite the remarkable achievements of the civil rights movement, King recognized that deep-rooted issues—racism, militarism, and the flaws of unchecked capitalism—continued to foster poverty and despair for millions. Progress had been made, but the journey toward justice was far from complete. 

Where do we go from here?

Today, we find ourselves facing similar uncertainties. Our communities, our nation, and our world are once again at a crossroads. History seems to echo itself, not because we lack knowledge, but because we often fail to learn from its lessons. Even as we celebrate advancements, we are confronted by instability and doubt about what lies ahead. 

So, where do we go from here?

Can technology, politics, or human ingenuity alone lead us into a brighter future? The evidence suggests otherwise. Is it possible that a visionary leader will rise to inspire transformation and peace? Experience tells us this is unlikely to be the sole answer.

Perhaps, the solution is as familiar as it is overlooked. The wisdom of those who came before us—and the faith that sustained them—may hold the key. When we are anxious about the future, we do not need to have all the answers. Instead, we can trust in guidance greater than our own. 

As the Psalmist writes:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23

Whether in our personal lives or in the public sphere, when uncertainty arises, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone on the journey.

We may not know every step ahead, but we can trust that there is a path—and a Shepherd—who knows the way.

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam 

January 16th, 2026

This morning, as I sit in the silence and sip my coffee, my heart and mind travel to all the places in the world, in this city, in my neighborhood, where there’s trouble, and I wonder what I can do to make a difference.

Do you ever do that?

The onslaught of terrible news and the absurdity and wickedness that is playing out right before our eyes, the malaise that seems to be stifling the hopefulness of the faithful – it is enough to make a soul wonder, ‘Where is God?’

Take a breath.

Feel your heart beating.

Hear the still small voice of the Spirit whispering, ‘I am with you…’

As I finish my coffee and head to work, I will remain sensitive to and aware of the Spirit. I will let the Spirit guide and empower me to find and to do some good. I will not yield to despair.

Where is God?

God is not here or there, yet God is somehow near, and even within, whispering amid the din of sorrow and suffering. So, I open my eyes, my heart, and I extend my hands, revealing kindness within.

I light a candle and turn my shoulders into these cold and bitter winds. I give myself to grace and kindness, and I begin again.

What can I do? Where is God? I can hear the voice of the Spirit, ‘I am with you..’ So, I will do some good, right where I am…

¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;

While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

¹¹ Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?

Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,

Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:10-11

That’s the goal for the day.

Now go and do some good!

Good Morning, I love you all.

ihs,

just adam

January 14, 2026

For most of my Christian life, and honestly for most of my life period,  I have wrestled with one thing or another. There always seems to be something going on. Struggles, conflicts, adversity, trials, afflictions, loss – I’ve seen and been through a lot. 

I have experienced internal striving, and sometimes external pressures – sometimes both at the same time.  Sometimes there were struggles with consequences for my own actions, and other times there were trials that I didn’t ask for, invite, or create. 

If it wasn’t one thing, it’s been another, but always something going on.

Have you ever heard a word from the LORD that was both confusing and comforting?  Jesus’ whole idea of an ‘easy yoke,’ has been both haunting and helpful, depending on the circumstance..

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30

I have read, sang, meditated, written about this passage before, but today it just dawned on me that the ‘easy yoke’ that Jesus speaks of is directly related to one’s willingness to heed to His guidance and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit.  

In a word – OBEDIENCE.

Sadly, most of us (present company included), are absolutely committed to learning things the hard way.  We resist surrendering as a sign of strength, and we commit ourselves to struggle unnecessarily, when submission is actually the goal.  

Plainly put – we make things harder on ourselves than necessary because of our own stubbornness of heart, pridefulness, and hard-headedness.  

‘I did it my way…’  (imagine my best impression of Frank Sinatra) 

But what if we may avoid some of life’s harshest lessons by learning how to listen, by learning how to be led, by being willing to accept corrections, and sometimes just by asking for help!?

Alas, I am a stubborn man.  Will you pray with me?

LORD, grant me more grace to LEARN from YOU. LORD, that I might accept this easy yoke and  find rest for my soul. 

Amen

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

January 9th, 2026

Slowing Down in the Mornings

I have been intentionally working to slow down in the mornings. This choice helps me carve out time to breathe, think, and pray before I get caught up in a daily routine that often pulls me in many directions.

Rethinking Discipline

In the past, I thought discipline meant always moving forward—staying on task, reaching goals, and taking care of every detail. I thought discipline was about checking off boxes and being productive. But over time, I’ve realized that discipline also shows up in moments of stillness.

Finding Maturity in Calmness

There’s a kind of maturity in calmness—the ability to resist the urge to be constantly busy. I now see that much of my busyness comes from internal reactions to anxiety, fear, and insecurity. These feelings show up as worries about being unprepared, fear of failure, and insecurity about my abilities.

Reflecting on Busyness and Drive

Even though my busyness can lead to productivity, it’s not always necessary. Likewise, my drive might lead to external accomplishments, but these successes don’t always bring true fulfillment or happiness.

Learning to Be Still

As I get older, I’m learning to slow down so my soul can catch up with my body. Being still isn’t the same as being idle; it’s an act of trust—trusting that God has everything under control.

So, as we close out the first full workweek of this new year, I pray we all learn to trust God more, lean into His promises, and accept the grace that allows us to rest, renew our minds, restore our strength, revive our spirits, and rediscover joy.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thankfulness, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam