Happy Three Month Birthday (Well, early)

I will never forget an encounter that changed my life. For this blog, we’re going to say it was a day I was talking with Tammy. Tammy was a teen I had been working with at my gym, training her in self-defense and fitness. She was precious—tender-hearted, kind, smart, and full of promise. All the reasons her dad wanted her to be equipped to protect herself in today’s world. Over the years, we built a strong friendship. She was like a little cousin to me. But one day, she came in visibly upset. We went through the workout as usual, but something was off. Jokes fell flat, silent tears were shed, and her whole demeanor had shifted. At the end, I gently asked if something was wrong. It was like a dam broke. Tammy opened up and shared something deeply personal—she was struggling with homosexual thoughts and urges. Wanting guidance, she had confided in her pastor. But instead of compassion, she was met with condemnation. She described nearly two hours of being berated, judged, and warned she would burn in hell if she didn’t repent. He told her she could no longer serve at the church if this was the path she’d chosen. But here’s the thing—she hadn’t chosen anything. She was experiencing confusing emotions and looking for help. She loved the church. She loved her friends there. She loved Jesus. She came seeking understanding and got rejection. That was the last time she set foot in that church. I sat there, heartbroken and angry. Tammy wasn’t rebellious—she was wounded. She needed grace, not a spiritual beatdown. And there I was, a Bible-believing Christian and conservative church pastor, holding the tension of truth and compassion in my hands. I believed in the biblical view of sex and marriage. But what about grace? What about loving her through a confusing season, mentoring her with wisdom, helping her process powerful emotions—not by affirming them as right, but by acknowledging them as real and pointing her toward Jesus? That day, something changed in me. I knew that something had to shift. And it needed to start here—with a new way of thinking. One rooted in Jesus. One that starts with grace and leads to truth. Why Grace Comes First Jesus modeled this for us. Whether it was the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus the tax collector, or Peter after his denial, He led with compassion before correction. He didn’t ignore sin—but He didn’t start there. He met people with grace first. Because grace softens hearts. It disarms fear. It invites relationship. That’s what we want people to experience at Passion Church. Whether it’s their first Sunday or their first time back in years, we want them to know: there is grace for you here. Grace Isn’t the End Goal But grace isn’t the destination—it’s the invitation. Because grace without truth may comfort us for a moment, but it will never transform us for eternity. Truth without grace leads to Hell—but grace without truth doesn’t exist. That might sound bold, but it’s biblical. If we base our salvation on truth alone—just law, just right and wrong—then we fail every time. Romans says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If truth were the only measure, then by truth alone, we are all heading toward separation from God. But grace steps in. Grace makes a way. Yet grace that ignores truth isn't love. You cannot love someone and withhold the truth from them. That’s not compassion—it’s cruelty dressed in kindness. It’s like this: imagine I tell my daughter not to touch the electrical outlet. I warn her over and over. I even smack her hand away when she reaches for it because I love her and want to protect her. But then I walk away, and she touches it. She gets hurt. When I come back, I don’t shame her—I comfort her. I care for her, tend to her wounds, and get her the help she needs. But imagine if, at the end of that moment, I said, “Honey, if the light socket makes you feel good, go ahead and touch it again.” That wouldn’t be love—that would be abandonment. Love protects those it loves. Love accepts the mistake, but it doesn’t affirm it. That’s the heart of Jesus. Grace wraps its arms around you in your pain, but truth gently guides you toward freedom. We need both. Leading to Truth Truth isn’t a weapon—it’s a key. It unlocks the door to freedom. Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). We don’t use truth to shame—we use it to shepherd. At Passion Church, we believe you don’t have to sacrifice love to speak the truth, and you don’t have to water down truth to be loving. We walk with people through real struggles—just like Tammy—and we don’t abandon them to those struggles, nor do we affirm the lie that they are defined by them. We mentor, we guide, and we let the Holy Spirit do the heart work that only He can do. This is what real discipleship looks like: walking together, in grace, toward truth. What This Looks Like at Passion Church It looks like real stories—of redemption, healing, and restoration. It’s the single mom who finds community before anyone asks about her past. It’s the teenager wrestling with identity who finds love before receiving direction. It’s the addict who walks into a service hungover and walks out full of hope. From our welcome team to our worship, from the sermon to the follow-up, every part of our church culture is built to reflect this value: we start with grace, and we lead to truth. Why This Matters The world is confused about love and truth. Some churches speak truth so loudly they forget to love. Others love so broadly they forget to speak truth. But we believe the Gospel is better than that. Jesus meets us where we are, but He never leaves us there. And as His church, we’re called to do the same. At Passion Church, our mission is to help people become fully alive in Jesus. That starts with grace. But it never ends there. Final Invitation Maybe you’ve felt the sting of truth without grace. Maybe you’ve been handed grace without direction. Maybe you’re like Tammy—longing for a church that sees the struggle, speaks the truth, and never lets go of your hand in the process. If that’s you, know this: you are welcome here. There is grace for you. And there is truth that will change everything. Let’s walk that journey together.

The past few years have been some of the hardest I’ve ever faced. They’ve been filled with tension, stress, loss, and grief—both personally and spiritually. But nothing prepared me for the day I lost my sister, Nia, on January 15, 2024. That kind of devastation cuts deep. I was broken, grieving, and numb… but life didn’t slow down. My ministry was changing rapidly, my ex-wife and I had just separated, and the businesses I own were starving for attention and direction. I felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm with no place to hide. And the weight of it all was too much for me to carry. I couldn’t stop. But I also couldn’t survive on my own strength. And so—I prayed. Not perfect prayers. Not long prayers. Sometimes just whispered, tear-filled prayers. But they were real. They were raw. And they were lifesaving. Prayer didn’t make the grief disappear, but it became the foundation I stood on when everything else was shaking. And slowly, through daily prayer, God began building something new in me—a fresh strength, a deeper dependence, and the resilience to lead through one of the most sacred and stretching seasons of my life. Now, more than ever, I’m convinced: how we start our day matters. When I start my day with God—everything changes. My mood shifts. My patience increases. My decisions improve. My interactions with others are more grace-filled. I become a better father, pastor, and follower of Jesus. That’s the power of daily prayer. It’s not just a spiritual routine—it’s survival. It’s strength. It’s a daily invitation into God’s presence where everything begins to realign. Why Daily Prayer Matters 1. Prayer connects us to the heart of God. Every relationship needs communication. God isn’t looking for perfect words—He’s looking for your heart. Daily prayer is how we align our minds with His truth, how we hear His whisper, and how we stay grounded in the middle of life’s chaos. 2. Prayer brings peace in the middle of pressure. Life is loud. Prayer is where the volume gets turned down. Philippians 4:6–7 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but instead to pray about everything—and in return, God gives us peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. That kind of peace only comes through consistent connection with Him. 3. Prayer invites God into the details. From big decisions to small frustrations, when we invite God into our day—every part of it—we start to see Him show up in unexpected places. Your commute. Your meetings. Your parenting moments. Your late-night thoughts. Prayer transforms “just another day” into holy ground. 4. Prayer transforms us. Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind—it’s about allowing Him to change our hearts. It shapes our character, stretches our faith, and reminds us who we are and whose we are. It Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated You don’t need perfect words. You don’t need a script. You just need a moment—and a willing heart. Pray while driving. Pray while washing dishes. Pray with your kids before school. Start your day with it. End your day with it. Write it out. Whisper it. Sing it. Sit silently and just listen. There’s no wrong way to pray—only an open invitation from your Father to draw near. The Power of Pre-Deciding Here’s a game-changer: pre-decide. When you pre-decide that you're going to start your day with God and keep Him involved, that decision begins to shape your direction. Over time, it becomes your normal, not your exception. You don’t have to debate it every morning. You’ve already decided—God comes first. Building that habit takes time and consistency, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can start by making it simple and obvious: Simple: Download the YouVersion Bible App and start with the Verse of the Day. Pair it with a few minutes of reflection and prayer. That’s 5–8 minutes total. You’ve got that. Obvious: Set a daily reminder in the app. It’ll pop up on your phone at the same time each day. That little nudge might be all it takes to build a powerful new rhythm. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight—just choose one small step, and keep showing up. God meets us in the simple and the steady. A Simple Prayer to Start With “God, today I give you my attention. Speak to me, guide me, walk with me. Help me see people the way You do, and give me strength for whatever comes. I trust You, and I love You. Amen.” Powerful Bible Verses About Prayer 📖 Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 📖 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 📖 Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” 📖 Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 📖 James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 📖 Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 📖 Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” 📖 Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 📖 Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” You're Invited If you're reading this and wondering where to start—start with prayer. Start with showing up. Start by saying, “God, I want more of You.” And if you don’t have a church home, or you’ve been searching for a fresh start, we’d love to have you at Passion Church. We meet every Sunday at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, and whether it’s your first time walking into a church or you’ve been following Jesus for years—you are welcomed and wanted here. Come as you are. Bring a friend. Bring your questions. Bring your heart. Let’s pursue God together. Josh Tufte