Samuel Hagos

The Price of Getting What You Prayed For Reflections on the Unseen Cost of Fulfilled Longings, Loss and Lent

We often admire the glamor of those whom God uses greatly, but rarely do we ever pause to consider the grief it cost them to get there.

10 Things I Have Learned in Two Years as a Pastor Reflections on two years in pastoral ministry as a 29-year old.

Two years ago today, January 8th, 2022, I packed up everything I owned and moved to Chicago to serve as a pastor.

Two years later, here are some things I am learning (key word) about myself, life, God and people.

Rest in Peace to a legend.

January's for Reflecting, Not Resolving Why I'm saving my Resolutions for February

Revisiting John Onwucheckwa’s great piece on beginning the year. It hit different this year.

Feeling like you ended 2024 on empty just to start 2025 below empty? Read this piece and be free.

When in God’s Country…

The Day After Christmas Timelessness, Stillness and God's Presence in the Ordinary

The day after Christmas often feels like a deep exhale.

The excitement of unwrapping gifts has passed. The house is quieter. The fridge is filled with leftovers. And the hurried preparations have given way to a slower, unstructured rhythm that guides our days until after the New Year.

That is good to know, I am only 8 episodes in the first season. Will enjoy it while I can! Thanks for the tip, Brandon!

I have been missing out. 😅 But, I am on board now and have something to binge this season.

I am a sucker for political dramas, from West Wing, to Scandal, House of Cards and The Diplomat. I started Designated Survivor yesterday, and I am trying to figure out why hasn't anyone recommended this to me yet?

Merry Christmas!

“Christmas reminds Christians like me that we should set aside our quest for earthly power and instead entrust our future to a God who joined his tears to ours, both in his nativity and later upon the cross.” @esaumccaulley.bsky.social

When God Calls You to Something Bigger Than You Advent, Mary and Impossibilities

This Christmas Eve, may God give you the grace to take the next step of faith and trust God for big things, and resolve like Mary in the face of impossibility, “Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

November, Advent and Waiting Reflections on the Eleventh Month of 2024

My reflections on my November, Advent and Waiting.

I confess: I am not into fiction and have been struggling to find something I enjoy. I started a novel today, and am 12 pages in and I’ve never been so captivated—in heart and mind—by a story so soon. Like, your boy almost shed a tear sitting in this coffee shop. 😅

Hi, Auntie!!!

Nothing like a slow Saturday morning catching up on Abbott Elementary, a show that lifts my spirit and makes me laugh.

What are you reading these days?

Update:

First snow of the winter in Chicago…Will this Texan ever get used to this? 🙃

Anyone on Substack? Drop your link below! Would love to connect!

It lives up to and will exceed whatever you imagine it to be!

Early morning essentials. Excited to start @malcolmbfoley.bsky.social’s forthcoming work. Timely and necessary. Meticulously crafted, deeply compelling, and rich with insight. A significant contribution to a conversation we can’t afford to ignore. Review forthcoming.

Pre-order here: a.co/d/iafZWUG

Same! I was very excited about it being a reasonable alternative to Twitter, but quickly discovered that it failed short. I admit, I’m partial to Twitter. It was a very good app and community for a while until the last few years.

Here’s to hoping BlueSky will bring the best out of us!

My frustration with Threads is that my timeline was filled with accounts I do not follow. Though I’m new to Bluesky, I at least appreciate how you can toggle between discover and following. And the interface is similar to Twitter and the best it has to offer, which I appreciate.

Chicago: Support a great cause by purchasing a meal at Lem’s BBQ on 75th! All of today’s proceeds are donated to the Black Boy Literacy Campaign that ProgressiveChicago and SalemChicago lead. We help get 3rd-5th grade boys excel in reading. We believe literacy is liberation! They’re open until 8PM.

Coffee and a book. Best way to start a gloomy morning in Chicago.

Likewise!! I withdrew from being as active on Twitter a few years back. Hoping BlueSky is a more meaningful space.

You and your family have been in my prayers the last several months. Hope you are well!

I am a budding historian and writer, interested in 19th-20th century American religious history and biographies.

Excited to slowly but surely cultivate a meaningful community here on Bluesky.

Here’s to this platform bringing the best out of us.

Hello BlueSky, I’m Samuel—coming to you from Chicago. I serve as a pastor at a Black Baptist church on the South Side and will celebrate two years there this January. I’m passionate about preaching, church ministry, and thinking theologically about life’s most pressing concerns.