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Joe Tognetti

@jjtogs

Christian; UMC pastor; husband/dad; Politics/sports/sci-fi/spreadsheets. An open-minded curmudgeon.

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14.01.2025
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Latest posts by Joe Tognetti @jjtogs

just saying: it's possible that "I'm gonna dramatically constrict my state capacity while plotting dramatic imperial expansion, and expanding my set of internal enemies while alienating most of my foreign allies" is the beginning of a world-historical masterstroke. but also possible that it isn't

05.02.2025 19:04 ๐Ÿ‘ 10549 ๐Ÿ” 1876 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 133 ๐Ÿ“Œ 157
Deny Survival for Christ? (March 8, 2026)
Deny Survival for Christ? (March 8, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Occasionally, Pastor Joe likes to remind folks that even reputationally lukewarm United Methodists believe in hard things that require sacrificial integrity but are consistent with the Way of Jesus. Today was one of those times.

Deny Survival for Christ? (March 8, 2026)
youtu.be/kwF2XhxxX3A

08.03.2026 19:08 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Last week, ICE detained a family of 5 in my community at their regular check-in for their pending asylum claim. What makes this unusual is that just 8 months ago, two of the sons were recognized on the floor of the US House as members of their high schoolโ€™s award-winning mariachi group.

08.03.2026 04:34 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ™‡๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ™‡๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ™‡๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

06.03.2026 17:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Sign the Petition Stop the construction of the wall in Big Bend Ranch State Park & Big Bend National Park

c.org/4Tb8Xqfn7j

02.03.2026 18:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Leading by Washing Feet (March 1, 2026)
Leading by Washing Feet (March 1, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Leading by Washing Feet (March 1, 2026)
youtu.be/TUCgKgo4Imw

01.03.2026 20:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œHe shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.โ€
โ€ญโ€ญIsaiahโ€ฌ โ€ญ2โ€ฌ:โ€ญ4โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ

28.02.2026 16:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

In both casesโ€”as well as Spanbergerโ€”they work hard & use their power to steer policy where they think it should go, & that earns respect from many voters who might not agree fully with what theyโ€™re doing (or not doing) but see strength, purpose, & a better general direction.

27.02.2026 18:05 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A good international example of โ€œmoderate but not weakโ€ is Mark Carney. Another good example of a U.S. moderate is Jacob Freyโ€”at least in the context of urban policy (policing, housing, etc.).

27.02.2026 18:04 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

๐Ÿ˜ค

27.02.2026 00:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I think this is offensive to every single layer of the pyramid

23.02.2026 21:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 414 ๐Ÿ” 61 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 12 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Jesus, the Wounded Healer (Feb  22, 2025)
Jesus, the Wounded Healer (Feb 22, 2025) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Jesus, the Wounded Healer (Feb 22, 2025)
youtu.be/x0dxbC2cUU4

22.02.2026 21:22 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Ash Wednesday 2026--Join Us!
Ash Wednesday 2026--Join Us! YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Ash Wednesday 2026--Join Us!
youtu.be/xHCuDnXR8Xs

17.02.2026 21:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Jesus, the Light of the World (Feb  15, 2026)
Jesus, the Light of the World (Feb 15, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Jesus, the Light of the World (Feb 15, 2026)
youtu.be/wNWDzVQcLDU

15.02.2026 19:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Okay I change my mind. Kenneth Walker is MVP.

09.02.2026 02:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Um, why isnโ€™t the Seahawks kicker, Jacob Myers, an option in MVP fan voting?

09.02.2026 02:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Bad Bunny was a good choice given his massive popularity.
Also, Iโ€™m white & middle-aged, so some of yโ€™all are going to have to explain this upcoming Halftime Show to me. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿง”๐Ÿผ

09.02.2026 01:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿคฃ

09.02.2026 00:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Can we permanently ban Draft Kings commercials

08.02.2026 23:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 18 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Iโ€™m not rooting for anyone. Iโ€™m just rooting against the SeaChickens. #SuperBowlSunday

08.02.2026 23:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Jesus the Grumpy Healer (Feb  8, 2026)
Jesus the Grumpy Healer (Feb 8, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Jesus the Grumpy Healer (Feb 8, 2026)
youtu.be/uCrYOl3AiLE

08.02.2026 21:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

โ€œThe righteous willย see andย fear, and they will derisivelyย say aboutย thatย hero, โ€œHere is the man whoย wouldย not make God hisย refuge, but trusted inย theย abundance ofย hisย riches, taking refuge inย hisย destructiveย behavior.โ€ย โ€
โ€ญโ€ญPsalmsโ€ฌ โ€ญ52โ€ฌ:โ€ญ6โ€ฌ-โ€ญ7โ€ฌ โ€ญCSBโ€ฌโ€ฌ
bible.com/bible/1713/p...

06.02.2026 04:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Urge Congress to Protect and Strengthen Vital Nutrition Programs Ask your senators and representatives to make ending hunger a priority by strengthening SNAP and WIC, fully funding global food, health and development programs, and passing a strong, bipartisan Farm ...

Act Now! Join me in asking our members of Congress to protect and strengthen vital nutrition programs. #EndHunger @bread4theworld.bsky.social
go.bread.org/page/90712/d...

03.02.2026 16:59 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Jesus Speaks to Who? (Feb  1, 2026)
Jesus Speaks to Who? (Feb 1, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Jesus Speaks to Who? (Feb 1, 2026)
youtu.be/u1xVns9LwCc

02.02.2026 00:56 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œWhen we understand that our identity comes from being children of God rather than members of superior ethnic or national groups, we are freed from the need to diminish others to feel good about ourselves.โ€
-Council of Bishops - The United Methodist Church, โ€œBuilding Beloved Communityโ€

28.01.2026 01:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œWhen we know that our ultimate authority rests in Godโ€™s love rather than human power, we are freed from the anxiety that makes simple answers so appealingโ€
-Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, โ€œBuilding Beloved Communityโ€

28.01.2026 01:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Fear mongering around welfare use by immigrants was always a lie. Keep in mind: โ€œimmigrantsโ€ in this survey includes citizens & long-term residents whoโ€™ve paid into public benefits systems.

28.01.2026 00:00 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

27.01.2026 14:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I guess Iโ€™m rooting for the Patriots. First time sinceโ€ฆthe last NE-SEA Super Bowl ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

26.01.2026 03:01 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Born Again? Born from Above? (Jan. 25, 2026)
Born Again? Born from Above? (Jan. 25, 2026) YouTube video by St. Mark UMC (McAllen, TX)

Born Again? Born from Above? (Jan. 25, 2026)
youtu.be/FOh44lo2XqE

25.01.2026 21:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0