Happy Friday:
More happened at the cross than many think. What exactly? Roman and Jewish officials believed a problem was put down. No. Popular songs suggest that “Jesus took a fall and thought of me above all.” Not really. I often end up comparing the merits of the Christus Victor view of the atonement versus Penal Substitution. That is still not it. What happened? Why does it matter? What did Jesus do? The Bible says Jesus defeated every enemy, rule, power, and authority. It’s important that we do not limit what he accomplished, because if we do, we limit how we understand the Christian life.
It is also important that we simply step back and marvel.
Quotes Worth Requoting:
- In many cases, we may, by the rules of the gospel, be obliged to give to others when we cannot do it without suffering ourselves. . . . We should be willing to suffer with our neighbor and to take part of his burden on ourselves. Otherwise, how is that rule of ‘bearing one another’s burdens’ fulfilled? If we are never obliged to relieve others’ burdens except when we can do it without burdening ourselves, then how do we bear our neighbor’s burdens when we bear no burden at all? Jonathan Edwards
- A perfect relationship isn’t actually perfect at all, it consists of two people who NEVER give up on each other despite any hurt or pain.
- Jesus is not just nice, He is brilliant. He is the smartest man who ever lived. Jesus is now supervising the entire course of world history (Rev. 1:5), while simultaneously preparing the rest of the universe for our future role in it (John 14:2). He always has the best information on everything — and certainly also on the things that matter most in human life. Let us now hear His teachings on who has “the good life,” on who is among the truly blessed. Dallas Willard.
Pastoral Advice: A few weeks ago, I noted that people suffering from cancer chase clinical trials until the end, thereby denying everyone involved a chance to say goodbye. I have another pastoral observation – many of those who get knocked down do not accept help. There are those who feel entitled and who think little of taking (sometimes demanding) help for months (if not years). But many who have spent their life helping others, do not accept help when they need it. They “do not want to be a burden,” and prefer to hide. I understand, though I believe that more than a little pride is involved. And, once again, everyone loses. It can be an act of service to let others serve you.
On the Night Stand: I am just finishing Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood, a George MacDonald novel about Harry Walton, a young pastor serving a country parish in a small village in 19thcentury England. It’s typical MacDonald – brilliant at times and confusing at others. That aside, what strikes me is the almost total lack of overlap between the way Walton spends his days and the way I spend mine. And I like his way better.
- The Real Screen Time Problem: According to Erika Christakis’s article in The Atlantic, parents should stop worrying about their kids’ screen time and take a hard look at their own: “Parents now have more face time with their children than did almost any parents in history. Despite a dramatic increase in the percentage of women in the workforce, mothers today astoundingly spend more time caring for their children than mothers did in the 1960s. But the engagement between parent and child is increasingly low-quality, even ersatz. Parents are constantly present in their children’s lives physically, but they are less emotionally attuned.”
- Gaming Addictions: The World Health Organization recently recognized Gaming Disorder as a disease. Those inclined to roll their eyes at this have likely not met someone with the addiction. I have, so I am not surprised by the stories of people losing everything because they can’t walk away from a game. As I have noted before, as a pastor I have grown to hate addictions. They rob people of dignity, eventually taking everything and offering nothing in return. In this article, Dr. Scott Rigby, a clinical and social psychologist, explains why on-line community games have become so problematic. Lord, may we develop a love for you that eclipses all of the lesser things that try to fill the void, and may we develop an inner world strong enough to handle the allure of the increasingly alluring vices of the external world.
Ripped from the Headlines:
- World Cup: I am not sure I believe it, but seismographers claim that when Mexico scored a goal in their match against Germany, the number of people jumping up and down shook the planet substantially enough to mark the moment as a small earth quake. Read it for yourself in Mexico’s Revelry.
- Good News: It is easy to think the news is all bad. It is not. In some important areas, the world is getting better every day.
Prayer Requests: As noted before, about a month ago I added a quick exercise to my journaling – list two things that I am thankful for. I remain surprised at two things: first, how much I have to be thankful for – such as all of the students returning safely from mission trips; and secondly, the fact that learning to see blessings is a skill we can develop. Shifting from thankfulness to petition: Pray that leaders rise up who have the ability to help unify our polarizing country and pray that Christ’s followers embrace the call to love neighbor and be both salt and light.
Closing Prayer: Lord, I pray that you may be a lamp for me in the darkness. Touch my soul and kindle a fire within it, that it may burn brightly and give light to my life. Thus my body may truly become your temple, lit by your perpetual flame burning on the altar of my heart. And may the light within me shine on my brethren that it may drive away the darkness of ignorance and sin from them also. Thus together let us be to the world, manifesting the bright beauty of your gospel to all around us. Amen. Columanus (543-615)