Paul Derrick
@paulderrick.bsky.social
Trying to live a life that glorifies Christ (perhaps occasionally succeeding); husband/dad/grandpa/lawyer; politically independent; grateful ex-alcoholic; competition BBQ judge.
#LHPO
https://open.substack.com/pub/paulderrick
#LHPO
https://open.substack.com/pub/paulderrick
Pinned
Paul Derrick
@paulderrick.bsky.social
· Apr 25
Whatever I am in the sight of Jesus, that is what I am. Nothing more.
“Diversity is being invited to the party.
Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Belonging is being missed when you’re not there.”
— Jason G. Edwards
Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Belonging is being missed when you’re not there.”
— Jason G. Edwards
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 AM
“Diversity is being invited to the party.
Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Belonging is being missed when you’re not there.”
— Jason G. Edwards
Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Belonging is being missed when you’re not there.”
— Jason G. Edwards
No matter who you are, God loves you.
No matter what you’ve done in the past, God loves you.
God’s love doesn’t come with fine print or strings attached.
God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to take all yours sins and die on the cross for you.
That’s some serious love!
Thank God for it.
No matter what you’ve done in the past, God loves you.
God’s love doesn’t come with fine print or strings attached.
God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to take all yours sins and die on the cross for you.
That’s some serious love!
Thank God for it.
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
No matter who you are, God loves you.
No matter what you’ve done in the past, God loves you.
God’s love doesn’t come with fine print or strings attached.
God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to take all yours sins and die on the cross for you.
That’s some serious love!
Thank God for it.
No matter what you’ve done in the past, God loves you.
God’s love doesn’t come with fine print or strings attached.
God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to take all yours sins and die on the cross for you.
That’s some serious love!
Thank God for it.
Christianity, itself, is not in danger. That which is made by God, mankind cannot destroy. America, on the other hand, is already suffering the effects of the attempted hijacking of faith by white Christian nationalists. They *can* destroy this country.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
They’re doing to America what they did to Christianity | Bill McKibben
Trump’s wrecking-ball approach to America has a precedent: the evangelical perversion of Jesus’s message of radical love to one of hate and aggression
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Christianity, itself, is not in danger. That which is made by God, mankind cannot destroy. America, on the other hand, is already suffering the effects of the attempted hijacking of faith by white Christian nationalists. They *can* destroy this country.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Reposted by Paul Derrick
Reposted by Paul Derrick
Members of the military have the right and, in some cases, the duty to refuse illegal orders. Their oath is to the Constitution, not to the President.
Members of the military, know your rights and duties:
nlgmltf.org/wp-content/u...
Members of the military, know your rights and duties:
nlgmltf.org/wp-content/u...
nlgmltf.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Members of the military have the right and, in some cases, the duty to refuse illegal orders. Their oath is to the Constitution, not to the President.
Members of the military, know your rights and duties:
nlgmltf.org/wp-content/u...
Members of the military, know your rights and duties:
nlgmltf.org/wp-content/u...
The administration is happy to let endangered (and important) wildlife just die off. (Many, including pollinators, are critical to our own food production operations.) Please get involved with protection efforts in your area. We are the only stewards this earth has.
www.wral.com/news/ap/1e66...
www.wral.com/news/ap/1e66...
Trump administration revives rollbacks of species protections from first term
President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to roll back protections for imperiled species and the places they live. Trump's Interior Department on Wednesday proposed reviving a suite of changes...
www.wral.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The administration is happy to let endangered (and important) wildlife just die off. (Many, including pollinators, are critical to our own food production operations.) Please get involved with protection efforts in your area. We are the only stewards this earth has.
www.wral.com/news/ap/1e66...
www.wral.com/news/ap/1e66...
Let go of what you cannot change or it will own you.
November 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Let go of what you cannot change or it will own you.
God Doesn't Necessarily Want Your Church to Grow Larger
open.substack.com/pub/paulderr...
open.substack.com/pub/paulderr...
God Doesn't Necessarily Want Your Church to Grow Larger
I’ve seen many pastors and church members boast that their congregations are among the largest in their particular city or state and, therefore, they must be the “best” at doing what God wants them to...
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
God Doesn't Necessarily Want Your Church to Grow Larger
open.substack.com/pub/paulderr...
open.substack.com/pub/paulderr...
It's our job (and privilege), as Christians, to draw people together from every walk of life and corner of humanity to glorify God as one people. That means everyone, whether black, white, gay, straight, addicted, mentally struggling, or anything else. If we don't do that, we're doing it wrong.
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It's our job (and privilege), as Christians, to draw people together from every walk of life and corner of humanity to glorify God as one people. That means everyone, whether black, white, gay, straight, addicted, mentally struggling, or anything else. If we don't do that, we're doing it wrong.
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” - Karl Barth
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” - Karl Barth
Photo taken in 1913, on the 50th anniversary of Gettysburg. These men once fought each other. They still didn’t agree on everything, but they showed up and shook hands. Some things are more important than "who's right." Americans must find our way back to each other. With the help of God, we can.
November 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Photo taken in 1913, on the 50th anniversary of Gettysburg. These men once fought each other. They still didn’t agree on everything, but they showed up and shook hands. Some things are more important than "who's right." Americans must find our way back to each other. With the help of God, we can.
The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have not let Christ take full control of us. We may have some Christian attributes and experiences, but we have not abandoned ourselves to Jesus.
― Oswald Chambers (paraphrased)
― Oswald Chambers (paraphrased)
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have not let Christ take full control of us. We may have some Christian attributes and experiences, but we have not abandoned ourselves to Jesus.
― Oswald Chambers (paraphrased)
― Oswald Chambers (paraphrased)
"Do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that you may understand."
— Saint Augustine of Hippo
— Saint Augustine of Hippo
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 AM
"Do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that you may understand."
— Saint Augustine of Hippo
— Saint Augustine of Hippo
God always has things to tell us, but we won’t hear them if we don’t be quiet and listen, even if only for a few moments.
substack.com/@paulderrick...
substack.com/@paulderrick...
November 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
God always has things to tell us, but we won’t hear them if we don’t be quiet and listen, even if only for a few moments.
substack.com/@paulderrick...
substack.com/@paulderrick...
Reposted by Paul Derrick
Trump confirms he is weaponizing hunger
November 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Trump confirms he is weaponizing hunger
One of the most comforting and hope-inspiring truths in all of Scripture:
“[N]othing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus out Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
“[N]othing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus out Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
One of the most comforting and hope-inspiring truths in all of Scripture:
“[N]othing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus out Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
“[N]othing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus out Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
God’s mercies are new every morning.
November 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
God’s mercies are new every morning.
You say you’re a Christian? How do you treat people who have nothing to offer you? Do you assist the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized. If you say YES to God, LOUDLY reject and work against everything that harms people, truth, peace, and dignity. Don’t just say you’re a Christian. Live it!
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
You say you’re a Christian? How do you treat people who have nothing to offer you? Do you assist the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized. If you say YES to God, LOUDLY reject and work against everything that harms people, truth, peace, and dignity. Don’t just say you’re a Christian. Live it!
Currently being hawked, for a tidy profit, by some of the MAGA/CN disciples, as if Christianity needs to be “saved” or is no longer what it used to be. But man can’t alter what God has deemed righteous and perfect.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
November 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Currently being hawked, for a tidy profit, by some of the MAGA/CN disciples, as if Christianity needs to be “saved” or is no longer what it used to be. But man can’t alter what God has deemed righteous and perfect.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
Video of a woman dancing in a giant glass at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago party.
Some MAGA accounts falsely claimed this didn’t actually happen. They are wrong once again.
Some MAGA accounts falsely claimed this didn’t actually happen. They are wrong once again.
November 3, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Merciful God, through your Son you invite all the world to a meal of mercy. Grant that we may eagerly follow his call, and bring us with all your saints into your life of justice and joy,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
November 2, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Merciful God, through your Son you invite all the world to a meal of mercy. Grant that we may eagerly follow his call, and bring us with all your saints into your life of justice and joy,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.