For God so loved the world that He sent his only Son.
God’s love changes everything for us. The fact that He loves us simply because He loves us – i.e., He loves us because He is loving, not because we are lovable – means we can be encouraged and secure. He knows the worst about us and loves us anyway. He is that amazing.
Stuff: According to this article, the size of the average American home has tripled over the last fifty years, nevertheless, we now have so much stuff that 1 in 10 Americans rent offsite storage, and less than half of us can fit both cars in a two car garage. There is more – e.g., the US has five times more storage facilities than it has Starbucks, and the average 10-year-old has 238 toys, but plays with just 12. It leads me to ask, “How many toys do you have that you haven’t played with in a long time?” It also leads me to Christ’s comments in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
Money: By the way, money is not usually an idol. It’s what we spend our money on that is the best indication of what we might be idolizing.
The Hardest Part of the Job: If you ask a pastor how hard their job is, you can expect to hear “HARD”. You can also expect them to cite a quote by Drucker that says as much. Perhaps it is. The latest stats suggest only ten percent of those who attend seminary retire as a pastor. I’m skeptical that it is as bad as we make it. (For starters, I think that since Genesis 3, many people think their job is hard). But I have been curious enough about the Drucker quote to ask other pastors, “What do you think is the hardest part of serving as a pastor?”. Of the things I have heard from others – boards, budgets, spiritual indifference, critics – two resonate: 1) keeping people – and the church – looking out rather than looking in; and 2) making the Good News clear.
This Week’s Sign that the Apocalypse is Near: Breakdancing is slated to become an Olympic Sport. The IOC will not officially rule on the request to add “breakers” until 2020, but according to this article, 16 member breakdance teams are likely to join “surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing” as new Olympic events.
Quotes Worth ReQuoting:
- Sometimes God doesn’t change your situation because He’s trying to change your heart. Lecrae
- Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
The Border Crisis: Count me among those trying to figure out what is really happening at the US border and what I should be doing about it. I found Border Crisis 101, which is published by the Evangelical Immigration Table (EIT), to be helpful. FYI, I know and trust some of those who serve on the board of EIT.
SBNR: Psychology Today recently noted that those who are SBNR – i.e., spiritual but not religious – have significantly higher incidences of depression than those who are “religious.” The speculation is that religion entails interactions with other humans, which is good for us.
Question: Does your faith shape your politics or does your politics shape your faith? Are you sure?
Closing Prayer: O Lord, our Savior, who has warned us that you will require much of those to whom much is given; grant that we whose lot is cast in so godly a heritage may strive together more abundantly by prayer, by almsgiving, by fasting, and by every other appointed means, to extend to others what we so richly enjoy; and as we have entered into the labors of other men, so to labor that in their turn other men may enter into ours, to the fulfillment of your holy will, and our own everlasting salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Augustine (354-430)