The Recovering Pastor

10/27/2026

Pastor Heather, circa 1985

10/26/2026

**Things That Stood Out to Me from Sunday's Sermon**

*1 John 2:15–17 — “Do not love the world or anything in the world.”*

One thing that really stood out to me is that when Scripture tells us not to love the world, it doesn't mean we shouldn't love God's creation or the people in it. It means we shouldn't love the things of this world so much that we put them before God.

Three things stood out as especially dangerous when they become our priorities:

**1. Physical Pleasure**
There is nothing wrong with enjoying life. The danger comes when our attitude becomes, *“All that matters is what makes me feel good.”* - Pastor David McNeely When our desires become more important than what is right, we've lost sight of what really matters.

**2. Material Things**
Having nice things or wanting to improve our lives isn't necessarily wrong. The problem begins when getting more becomes more important than loving people, helping others, or following God. When is enough ever enough?

**3. Pride**
This one really made me think. Pride isn't always about what we accomplish, but about **why we want to accomplish it.**

Are we trying to impress others, gain recognition, or prove our worth? Or are we genuinely trying to do well with what God has called us to do?

**I think the common thread in all three is motivation.**

It's not always about what we have, what we enjoy, or what we accomplish. It's about the place those things hold in our hearts.

The question I walked away with was:

**Am I living to please myself, impress others, or honor God?**

Because the things of this world are temporary, but what we do for God has eternal value.

*“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” — 1 John 2:17 (NIV)*

10/26/2026

Please vote today: each vote counts for two, and the next cut is Thursday night. I need your help I . It’ll be cut to the top 10, and I’m number nine right now, so I need to get some votes in.

https://tophost.org/2026/heather-brown-3

10/24/2026

Don't stop voting... https://tophost.org/2026/heather-brown-3

10/22/2026

https://recoverypastor.substack.com/p/glitter-and-ashes-the-ashes-from?r=38qxg6&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=poster

10/22/2026

Please vote! Tonight is the cut for the top 15 in each group. I’m at 11. Please keep me in the top 15.

https://tophost.org/2026/heather-brown-3

Here’s the link to the substack article I reference.

https://recoverypastor.substack.com/p/glitter-and-ashes-the-ashes-from?r=38qxg6&utm_medium=ios

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

Vote .. https://tophost.org/2026/heather-brown-3

10/21/2026

I like that thought because so many of us are trying to clean up ashes from fires we didn’t start. And even when we’re tired, we’re still trying.

Part 1 — Just because the ashes landed on us doesn’t mean we started the fire.

10/20/2026

https://tophost.org/2026/heather-brown-3