Happy Friday
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24f
Growing: How do we grow closer to God? How do we mature in our faith? Some ask. Few like the answer. The New Testament suggests we mature by suffering – either the pain we do not choose (trials) or the pain we do (discipline). As many know, while we do not seek trials, we often come to see God’s grace in sending them. Does that lead us into discipline? Not often. But it should. The disciplines take us forward, and when they become habits they cease being unpleasant.
Open Letter to Pastors in Illinois. Thanks to all of you who forwarded the letter I wrote to pastors in Illinois. This week one of the major blogs for pastors picked up on it and wrote this piece about the situation. By the way, if you didn’t get around to forwarding it, you still can. Here it is.
Bigger and Closer: One of the commitments I made during my sabbatical was to extend my morning devotional times. Whatever I might have thought that would have led to, what has happened has been a bit surprising. Even as I work on a book about knowing and following God, I find God strangely quiet. That said, I am thankful to report that His silence has been less discouraging than motivating. I do not find myself desperate (at least not yet), just hungry.
Mind the Gap: One of my sabbatical projects is to think about how we can do a better job reaching out with the Gospel. It is obvious to me – as it has been obvious to many others – that it is increasingly unlikely that people will accept an invitation to church. At Christ Church we have addressed this by holding outreach events outside the church. But it’s clear to me we need other efforts. Last night, four of us invited four others to a discussion (over a nice meal) of Clayton Christtensen’s book, How Will I Measure My Life? Christensen – a popular Harvard Business School professor – writes as a business school professor. The questions he raises are questions everyone needs to be asking and they naturally led into some spiritual conversations. We will try it again. Meanwhile, I do recommend the book.
The Polar Vortex: You are likely sick of hearing about the weather. Let me say that I assume that if you live in one of the many areas where temps are currently lower than those in Antarctica, that you have found a way to stay warm. And I hope you at least occasionally marvel at how cold it can get and at how accurate weather forecasting is becoming. But the real reason I am commenting on the weather is to alert you to this growing concern. The temps are so cold in some parts of the US that beer cannot be delivered because it freezes before arriving. And this on Super Bowl weekend!
Not Religion or Politics: As a friend recently reminded me, Miss Manners suggests avoiding controversial topics — most especially, religion and politics. Why? These areas reflect our core beliefs. Thus, probing them in social settings can be fraught with peril. Ergo, it is safer to discuss hobbies, sports teams and the weather. For the record, our founding fathers took a gutsier approach. They knew that for self -government to succeed, citizens needed positive internal character to govern our own lives. They also knew that this happened best in vibrant communities of faith. This was not a call for a single “state church”. Instead, they wanted a free market of religious exercise, believing it would best serve the common good. I could fill pages with quotes about this. Two will have to suffice:
- “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” George Washington
- “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
Eternity: The most famous speech ever given was Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. In Luke’s account it shows up right after he selected the twelve disciples, suggesting it was part of their orientation session. I have been pondering the sermon again, marveling at the radical challenges he sets before us. I am also reminded that the call he sets before us makes no sense unless He has plans for us on the other side. Would you sign on to follow a guy who says that if you do, you’ll not only be poor, hungry and thirsty but you’ll cry a lot and be ostracized? There are challenges and sacrifices to make now, but eternity changes everything.
Prayer Request: I have three requests: 1) For world leaders as they navigate big challenges; 2) for a bigger view of God and a greater sense of intimacy/connection; 3) for progress on writing projects as I move through the half-way mark of my sabbatical.
Quotes Worth Requoting
- “It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run, and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that.” A. W. Tozer
- “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” Leo Tolstoy
Closing Prayer: Lord, when I think that my heart is overflowing with love and realize in a moment’s honesty that it is only myself that I love in the loved one, Deliver me from myself. Lord, when I think that I have given all that I have to give and realize in a moment’s honesty that it is I who am the recipient, Deliver me from myself. Lord, when I have convinced myself that I am poor and realize in a moment’s honesty that I am rich in pride and envy, Deliver me from myself. And, Lord, when the Kingdom of Heaven merges deceptively with the kingdoms of this world, Let nothing satisfy me but God. Amen. Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997)