Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalm 119:164-5
Some monastic orders interpret this passage literally, requiring their devotees to read the Bible and pray seven times a day. Most Christians understand the passage to advocate lives shaped by the prayerful study of God’s Word. I’m in the second camp, but I am intrigued by the idea of a more objective measurement. And I am trying to imagine what it would look like to pastor in a setting where people read the Bible and prayed seven times a day. I’d be thrilled with twice!
A Movie Rec: Though you may prefer seeing, It’s a Wonderful Life for the 2,162nd time, I’m recommending Sully. But there’s a catch: you need to read Steve Garber’s comments about the movie first. His insights will help you see it less as the heroics of one man, and more as an illustration of the way our habits shape our life. Both the movie, and Steve’s reflections on it, are worth your time.
Prayer Request: This is the month when Andy Williams’ It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Merle Haggard’s If We Make It Through December do battle. As I noted last week, please notice, pray for and help those humming the second.
Dates, Worms and Lights: The story is told of a monk who woke up hungry in the middle of the night. After lighting a candle, he reached into a bowl of dates next to his bed, picked up one and took a bite of it. Glancing down at the half that remained, he noticed a worm, so he threw the date away. He took another. Took another bite. Held it to the candle, noticed another worm and threw it away. He took another. Same. Another. Same. Finally, frustrated, he blew out the candle.
Words: In December I profile various publications’ nominees for “word of the year.” I recently learned that NT Wright does something related – though as might be expected, he does something more insightful. After noting that oppressive groups – such as the Nazis – change the meaning of common words, he notes those words whose definitions are being co-opted.
Capitalism and Faith: Capitalism offers societies a Faustian bargain – gain riches and freedom but lose stability, tradition and community. More and more are signing up, which has dramatically helped lower the levels of extreme poverty. Count me among those who think it the best economic model available to us. But…if capitalists are not shaped by humility, compassion and generosity things get ugly. Jesus was not kidding when he said, “the love of money leads to all sorts of evil.”
Without Comment:
- According to Pew, the percentage of Americans believing that the federal government can be trusted “always or most of the time” fell from 73 percent during the Eisenhower administration to 17 percent now.
- The total number of hours US adults spend on digital media has increased from 2.7 hrs./day in 2008 to 6.5 in 2018.
- Although only 3% of its population is Christian, China will soon be home to the world’s largest Christian population.
- In this Atlantic piece, Julia Cho notes what has been lost since we moved away from land-lines. It’s worth noting, a similar thing happened when central heating meant the family didn’t need to gather around the hearth. Everyone could go to their own room and stay warm.
- In this blog post, Kirk Durston reflects on the predictions Oxford social anthropologist J.D. Urwin made nearly 100 years ago. Though he was writing thirty years before this country’s sexual revolution, he made predictions about what would happen during the three generations after many embraced “sexual freedom.”
- Finally, in this WSJ piece, provocatively titled, “Do Not Believe in God? Lie to Your Children,” Erica Komisar argues that “declining interest in religion” is leading to the spike in child and adolescent anxiety.
Closing Prayer: We pray you, Lord, purify our hearts that we may be worthy to become your dwelling-place. Let us never fail to find room for you, but come and abide in us, that we also may abide in you, for at this time you were born into the world for us, and live and reign, King of kings and Lord of lords, now and forever. Amen. William Temple (1881-1944)