Susanne Maynes

Honoring God's Image-Bearers

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You Don’t Need Another Jacked-up Conference

May 8, 2025 by Susanne Maynes Leave a Comment

Some things just need to be addressed.

Photo by Jaime Lopes on Unsplash

I’ve been seeing social media ads for a couple of seemingly related conferences coming up in our region. The events feature speakers well known in the evangelical world and promote values which seem biblical.

At least on the surface.

Heavy promotion generates heightened excitement to draw people in.

One ad promises life transformation as people step into God’s purpose for their legacy, their family, and their finances.

Other promises include that attendees will “maximize their God-given potential…unlock generational wealth…awaken the leader within…live a life of significance…elevate your standard… scale your influence…win like a champion.”

Conference attendees can help support good causes such as fighting sex trafficking and cancer, all while hanging out at a luxury resort, playing golf with celebrities, and possibly winning a Porsche.

The message is clear: you, too, can enjoy a great life just like these wildly successful, high-energy, wealthy, attractive men and women who are ready to pump you up.

With lines like “let all your fears turn to cash” and “become rich in faith, family, and fitness,” the promo video could pass as brilliant satire.

But I can’t laugh, because too many people fall prey to this stuff.

We’ve been saturated with our culture’s obsession—the dream of living a glamorous, comfortable, enviable life.

For Jesus, of course.

So we cough up the cash for an emotional high at a super-positive event, hoping we’ll reach the dangling carrot of a Fantastic Life.

Listen, sisters and brothers:

When we chase prosperity and self-importance instead of God, when we whitewash our disordered desires with Christian verbiage, we’ve got an idolatry problem.

If we fixate on our personal significance and influence, then no matter how loudly we claim our life is all about Jesus, it’s not about him at all.

Ironically, the ads I mentioned have been showing up in my feed right after posts by a wise friend of mine, Jamie Beeson.

The contrast couldn’t be clearer.

Jamie says,

“Our beliefs can sound really spiritual and God-honoring when really they are rooted in identity issues, fear, unbelief or pride.”

She addresses the “Christianese and toxic positivity that masks exhaustion and is leading you to burn out or worse.”

When we make much of ourselves, we wear ourselves out—but when we make much of Jesus, we find contentment and peace.

The invitation Jesus extends has nothing to do with striving for significance. He makes no demand on us for constant hyper-positivity or working hard to impress others (of course, we call that “influence”).

No, Jesus invites us to rest and freedom. He offers us love, joy, and peace. His promises aren’t a seductive lure—they are completely trustworthy (2 Cor. 1:20).

In Jesus, we find hope, not hype.

I suspect most of us (me included) must learn the lesson again and again that we can just relax.

We’re not going to gain a meaningful life by building platforms, reaching audiences, or advertising our awesomeness.

Jesus offers everything we long for. He fills our empty places. He satisfies our thirsty souls. He guards our hearts with his supernatural peace (Phil. 4:7).

We don’t need to chase the glitz and glamour of another frenzied event featuring the Beautiful People who promise us the keys to happiness.

Only Jesus can assure us of something we desperately long to know—that we matter.

Friend, please hear this:

You matter, not because of your talents or accomplishments.

You matter, not because of your followers or finances.You matter because God made you in his image. You matter because human beings are the crown of his creation. You matter because you’re his beloved child.

That’s it. That’s all we need.

Not another jacked-up event.

Just Jesus.

How Jeremiah’s Warnings Resonate Today (What We Want Most Carries Consequences)

May 1, 2025 by Susanne Maynes Leave a Comment

I’ve been reading through Jeremiah, struck by how timely and relevant the prophet’s words are for us today. Jeremiah helps us discern whether someone claiming to be a prophet is genuine or a fraud. Photo by Trophy Technology on Unsplash   In Jeremiah’s time, the people of Judah believe their future is safe as long as they keep offering sacrifices and uttering what scholar Carmen Imes calls their magic password, “…the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord (Jer. 7:4)!” The people think because God dwells among them they are immune to his Continue Reading

How We Can Misunderstand Jesus Just the Way the Palm Sunday Crowd Did

April 17, 2025 by Susanne Maynes Leave a Comment

In fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Zechariah (9:9), Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on Palm Sunday. Jubilant crowds wave palm branches and throw down their cloaks before him, shouting, “Hosanna!” Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Last Sunday’s sermon at my local church highlighted the mixed nature of the crowd that day. No doubt, many of the people Jesus has taught and healed are present, gratefully singing his praises. But so are jealous religious leaders, grinding their teeth and seeking an opportunity to get rid of Continue Reading

The Resurrected Jesus Revealed Himself to Women First—and That’s Good News for Everyone (Let Me Tell You How my Jesus Treats Women – Part 2)

April 17, 2025 by Susanne Maynes Leave a Comment

Jesus was no ordinary rabbi. While other religious leaders avoided women in public, especially those considered unclean, sinful, or non-Jewish, Jesus had no problem talking to women. He healed women, affirmed women, and even taught women. Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash Mary, the Disciple at Jesus’ Feet (Luke 10) When Jesus’ hospitable friend Martha gets overwhelmed with kitchen duties and complains that her sister Mary should be helping her serve him, Jesus responds with a compassionate course correction, “Mary has chosen the better part. Continue Reading

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