James Travis Young
@jamestravisyoung.bsky.social
Christ-follower, friend, husband, father, writer, columnist at patheos.com
Friends, I just wrote a column on @patheos.com about how grace meets us in the darkness of our own exhaustion:
“𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
“𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
The Door That Would Not Hold
A weary Jesus seeks a closed door and quiet, but a desperate mother breaks through. Explore neurodivergence, kenosis, and grace as presence that remains when capacity is frayed.
www.patheos.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Friends, I just wrote a column on @patheos.com about how grace meets us in the darkness of our own exhaustion:
“𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
“𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
Friends, I wrote a new column on Patheos that explores what redemption means when rescue never comes.
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
#SacredOutcasts #Theology #FaithAndDoubt #Redemption #Titanic
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
#SacredOutcasts #Theology #FaithAndDoubt #Redemption #Titanic
How The Titanic Sank My Understanding Of Redemption
A theological reflection on the Titanic, suffering, and why redemption is not rescue, but presence when no explanation remains.
www.patheos.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Friends, I wrote a new column on Patheos that explores what redemption means when rescue never comes.
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
#SacredOutcasts #Theology #FaithAndDoubt #Redemption #Titanic
“𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
#SacredOutcasts #Theology #FaithAndDoubt #Redemption #Titanic
Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two, we can be one
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
#U2 // New Year’s Day
#newyearsday
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two, we can be one
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
#U2 // New Year’s Day
#newyearsday
January 1, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two, we can be one
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
#U2 // New Year’s Day
#newyearsday
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two, we can be one
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
#U2 // New Year’s Day
#newyearsday
Friends, I struggle with grief. What do you do with it when it doesn’t go away?
I put some words to it in my column at @patheos.com:
“‘𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘫𝘢𝘩’ 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
I put some words to it in my column at @patheos.com:
“‘𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘫𝘢𝘩’ 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
What Jeff Buckley Taught Me About Grief
A theological reflection on Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” as a song of grief, trauma, and grace, where faith does not rescue, but refuses to abandon.
www.patheos.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Friends, I struggle with grief. What do you do with it when it doesn’t go away?
I put some words to it in my column at @patheos.com:
“‘𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘫𝘢𝘩’ 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
I put some words to it in my column at @patheos.com:
“‘𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘫𝘢𝘩’ 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
Rituals, rites, and symbols do not make us like Christ any more than a uniform makes us Babe Ruth. To follow Jesus is to make disciples by living a life of authentic love instead of hiding behind institutions and empty gestures.
September 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Rituals, rites, and symbols do not make us like Christ any more than a uniform makes us Babe Ruth. To follow Jesus is to make disciples by living a life of authentic love instead of hiding behind institutions and empty gestures.
All of these pastors quoting Charlie Kirk quoting Paul reminds me of Michael Scott quoting Michael Scott quoting Wayne Gretzky.
September 23, 2025 at 8:12 AM
All of these pastors quoting Charlie Kirk quoting Paul reminds me of Michael Scott quoting Michael Scott quoting Wayne Gretzky.
Of all I have witnessed in this world, the fiercest cruelty is perpetrated by those who profess to be Christian yet betray Christ's love in word and deed.
September 21, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Of all I have witnessed in this world, the fiercest cruelty is perpetrated by those who profess to be Christian yet betray Christ's love in word and deed.
Christians fashion martyrs in their own image because its easier than worshipping Jesus himself by embracing the radical love he lived and died for.
September 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Christians fashion martyrs in their own image because its easier than worshipping Jesus himself by embracing the radical love he lived and died for.
The darkness may seem vast, and the light small and dim.
But all the light we cannot see still shines. Beyond the valley peaks the horizon, undiscovered yet abounding.
Every shadow bears witness of a hidden flame.
But all the light we cannot see still shines. Beyond the valley peaks the horizon, undiscovered yet abounding.
Every shadow bears witness of a hidden flame.
September 1, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The darkness may seem vast, and the light small and dim.
But all the light we cannot see still shines. Beyond the valley peaks the horizon, undiscovered yet abounding.
Every shadow bears witness of a hidden flame.
But all the light we cannot see still shines. Beyond the valley peaks the horizon, undiscovered yet abounding.
Every shadow bears witness of a hidden flame.
Last week, I broke my neck.
And now I see the promise of 2 Corinthians 4:10 as a prayer: Our physical bodies carry the death of Jesus so that his life may also manifest in us.
Sometimes the love we are called to live is revealed through brokenness and suffering, not in spite of it.
And now I see the promise of 2 Corinthians 4:10 as a prayer: Our physical bodies carry the death of Jesus so that his life may also manifest in us.
Sometimes the love we are called to live is revealed through brokenness and suffering, not in spite of it.
July 14, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Last week, I broke my neck.
And now I see the promise of 2 Corinthians 4:10 as a prayer: Our physical bodies carry the death of Jesus so that his life may also manifest in us.
Sometimes the love we are called to live is revealed through brokenness and suffering, not in spite of it.
And now I see the promise of 2 Corinthians 4:10 as a prayer: Our physical bodies carry the death of Jesus so that his life may also manifest in us.
Sometimes the love we are called to live is revealed through brokenness and suffering, not in spite of it.
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running
U2//I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running
U2//I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
July 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running
U2//I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running
U2//I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
“‘It’s not left-wing rhetoric to feed the hungry, heal the sick,’ Bono added. ‘If this isn’t murder, I don’t know what is.’”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day
www.nytimes.com
July 2, 2025 at 1:57 AM
“‘It’s not left-wing rhetoric to feed the hungry, heal the sick,’ Bono added. ‘If this isn’t murder, I don’t know what is.’”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Only love,
Only love can leave such a mark
But only love,
Only love can heal such a scar
U2//Magnificent
Only love can leave such a mark
But only love,
Only love can heal such a scar
U2//Magnificent
June 24, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Only love,
Only love can leave such a mark
But only love,
Only love can heal such a scar
U2//Magnificent
Only love can leave such a mark
But only love,
Only love can heal such a scar
U2//Magnificent
The courage to love others is a pursuit worth living for, and even worth dying for.
April 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The courage to love others is a pursuit worth living for, and even worth dying for.
Though many on Easter Sunday turn their eyes to the empty tomb, resurrection lives and moves every day in both ordinary and reckless acts of love—love that casts out fear, disrupts divisions, and calls forth life from every shadow death has tried to claim.
April 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Though many on Easter Sunday turn their eyes to the empty tomb, resurrection lives and moves every day in both ordinary and reckless acts of love—love that casts out fear, disrupts divisions, and calls forth life from every shadow death has tried to claim.
Jesus wasn’t born to die.
He wasn’t a victim of an angry God craving sacrifice.
His death reveals our brutality.
His resurrection demonstrates we were never abandoned, but instead gifted grace, connection, and love that refuses to give up. #GoodFriday
He wasn’t a victim of an angry God craving sacrifice.
His death reveals our brutality.
His resurrection demonstrates we were never abandoned, but instead gifted grace, connection, and love that refuses to give up. #GoodFriday
April 19, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Jesus wasn’t born to die.
He wasn’t a victim of an angry God craving sacrifice.
His death reveals our brutality.
His resurrection demonstrates we were never abandoned, but instead gifted grace, connection, and love that refuses to give up. #GoodFriday
He wasn’t a victim of an angry God craving sacrifice.
His death reveals our brutality.
His resurrection demonstrates we were never abandoned, but instead gifted grace, connection, and love that refuses to give up. #GoodFriday
There is no them
There's only us
(U2//Invisible)
There's only us
(U2//Invisible)
April 1, 2025 at 4:19 AM
There is no them
There's only us
(U2//Invisible)
There's only us
(U2//Invisible)
I once believed the grace preached by many but given by few was greater than our failures. But whether feeding the hungry you vote to deport or hating those you fear to love, grace that fails to transform you is just a lie masking your cruelty.
March 22, 2025 at 8:16 AM
I once believed the grace preached by many but given by few was greater than our failures. But whether feeding the hungry you vote to deport or hating those you fear to love, grace that fails to transform you is just a lie masking your cruelty.
Friends, I just wrote a @patheos.bsky.social article proposing a new perspective on Zacchaeus’s story that could radically challenge our understanding of discipleship and even atonement:
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
Called By Name
A new look at Zacchaeus's story could radically challenge what we believe about discipleship and atonement.
www.patheos.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Friends, I just wrote a @patheos.bsky.social article proposing a new perspective on Zacchaeus’s story that could radically challenge our understanding of discipleship and even atonement:
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
www.patheos.com/blogs/sacred...
This same isolationist thought was popular when Hitler invaded Poland. Then 6,000,000 Jews and 5,000,000 non-combatant non-Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.
Loving others begins with ordinary actions in our daily life, and ordinary love is what we are missing.
Loving others begins with ordinary actions in our daily life, and ordinary love is what we are missing.
March 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This same isolationist thought was popular when Hitler invaded Poland. Then 6,000,000 Jews and 5,000,000 non-combatant non-Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.
Loving others begins with ordinary actions in our daily life, and ordinary love is what we are missing.
Loving others begins with ordinary actions in our daily life, and ordinary love is what we are missing.
The sacrament is not in a cup but in living vessels filled with Christ’s love—fellowship with outcasts, the persecuted, and the rejected, those cast aside even by the church, broken by and for our transgressions. For the Pharisees never learned that mercy is greater than sacrifice.
February 3, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The sacrament is not in a cup but in living vessels filled with Christ’s love—fellowship with outcasts, the persecuted, and the rejected, those cast aside even by the church, broken by and for our transgressions. For the Pharisees never learned that mercy is greater than sacrifice.
Join me in prayer for the safety of students, teachers, and all others at this campus
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
1 student killed, another wounded in Nashville high school cafeteria shooting; suspected shooter dead
Police said the suspected shooter sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and the school district said Antioch High School is on lockdown.
www.nbcnews.com
January 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Join me in prayer for the safety of students, teachers, and all others at this campus
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...