Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount
Worrying about tomorrow is easy to do. But it is ill-advised. For starters, thinking about suffering is almost always worse than the suffering itself. More significantly, things end well for all those who are in Christ. That doesn’t mean the path between now and then will be easy. In fact, we are told to expect otherwise. But we need not worry. God has all things in hand. Plan ahead. Trust God. Do not worry.
What’s Trending: News filters and social-media apps can alert us to the stories, articles and cat videos that are trending. My observations are less data driven, but I think they are true. What is trending? Loneliness. I base my conclusion on conversations I’m in and the dramatic spike in articles about loneliness. Here and here are two recent ones from among the dozens I could chose from.
Marathons: Last week, Eliud Kipchoge broke the 2 hour marathon barrier. I was disappointed to see him do it, having hoped to break that record myself. (I can already easily match his pace, provided I am allowed to ride in a car). But the marathon news I have been pondering this week is not international. It came from a friend who had just watched 45,000 runners file past his Chicago home. Reflecting on his participation in the race back in 2001, he said, “It was 26 miles of only-encouraging voices.” If only that was true of more than just marathons.
Barr at Notre Dame: This week, Attorney General William Barr gave a speech at Notre Dame outlining attacks on religious freedom. You can read his remarks here, or you can read this report from the WSJ about it. My quick summary of Barr’s remarks reduces it to four points: 1) religion helps frame a moral culture and encourages discipline; 2) the rise of secularism has had a negative impact on the family; 3) the decline of the family is causing massive amounts of pain; and 4) many expect the state to address the results without addressing the cause. As you might expect, the reaction against what Barr said was strong and immediate.
George Washington: While Barr did not plagiarize George Washington, he came close. In his Farewell Address, GW said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” He also added: “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
The Hardest Part of Being a Pastor: A few weeks ago I was asked, “What is the hardest part of being a pastor?” I cannot know how others might answer this question, but I said, “Getting people to understand the Gospel. Most think Christianity is a religion, and that Jesus is an ethical guide. Few understand grace or what it actually means to be a Christian. Yet because they assume they do, they do not listen carefully to the offer God extends.” In light of this problem, let me share a quote from Martin Lloyd Jones.
To make it quite practical I have a very simple test. After I have explained the way of Christ to somebody I say “Now, are you ready to say that you are a Christian?” And they hesitate. And then I say, “What’s the matter? Why are you hesitating?” And so often people say, “I don’t feel like I’m good enough yet. I don’t think I’m ready to say I’m a Christian now.” And at once I know that I have been wasting my breath. They are still thinking in terms of themselves. They have to do it. It sounds very modest to say, “Well, I don’t think I’m good enough,” but it’s a very denial of the faith. The very essence of the Christian faith is to say that He is good enough and I am in Him. As long as you go on thinking about yourself like that and saying, “I’m not good enough; Oh, I’m not good enough,” you are denying God – you are denying the Gospel – you are denying the very essence of the faith and you will never be happy. How can I put it plainly? It doesn’t matter if you have almost entered into the depths of hell. It does not matter if you are guilty of murder as well as every other vile sin. It does not matter from the standpoint of being justified before God at all. You are no more hopeless than the most moral and respectable person in the world.
Tim Elmore: A few weeks ago, Christ Church hosted Dr. Tim Elmore – a popular speaker and author – for a talk about generational differences. Many found his comments very helpful. You can watch his talk here.
Closing Prayer: My Father, gird me still with your presence, both by day and by night. By day, teach me to remember my weakness, and by night tell me where lies my strength. By day point me down into Gethsemane, and by night lead me up into the mount of transfigured glory. By day show me the burden, and by night reveal to me the crown, so shall my days and nights be girded about with you. George Matheson (1842-1906)