Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the peace recipients,” or “Blessed are the peace lovers.” He said, “Blessed are the peace makers.” As Christ followers, we are expected to take the initiative – to work towards, pray for and chase after peace.
The Goal: It was said of Jonathan Edwards that his relationship with Christ meant, “His happiness was out of reach of his enemies.” May we find that level of contentment in Christ.
Superior: There is not one instance in the New Testament of Jesus approving of someone feeling morally superior to anyone else.
This Week’s Question: We are always becoming something. What are you becoming? Along these lines, Dallas Willard writes, “The most important thing in your life is not what you do — it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity. The main thing God gets out of your life is not the achievements you accomplish. It’s the person you become.”
Eight Points: In a sermon a few weeks back, I listed eight points I’ve taken to periodically reviewing. Perhaps they will help you keep your wits about you during these crazy days and crazy nights: 1) Look around, many things are going well. We have much to be thankful for; 2) Some of what I thought was stable is actually quite fragile, but realizing this is helpful; 3) COVID was not simply an interruption, it was a disruption. Things are not going back to the way they were; 4) In addition to expecting change, the Bible makes it clear that I should expect life to be hard; 5) I need to become more like Christ; 6) The church needs to be more fully shaped by the Gospel; 7) God is in control, always; and 8) I cannot do everything, but I can do the next right thing.
Funerals & Frank: Pastors joke that they prefer funerals to weddings, because, “When you are officiating a funeral, you can be quite certain it is God’s Will.” Alas, maybe not all funerals. The new number one song played at today’s funerals is, I Did it My Way, by Frank Sinatra.[i]
Legos 2021: Since 1949, LEGOs have been famous for allowing you to create nearly anything, and for hurting like crazy when you step on one. Jim Dennison notes they will now be known for promoting LGBTQ activism. In a recent company announcement for, “LEGO Everyone is Awesome!” a spokesman notes that the new purple figure, “Is a clear nod to all the fabulous drag queens out there.”
We are Drago: While visiting Philly a dozen years ago, I was amazed by the number of people running up the art museum steps, raising their arms over their heads and jumping around like they were Ivan Drago. OK, OK, you got me. They were not pretending to be Ivan Drago – the evil Russian automaton. They were identifying with Rocky Balboa – the Italian Stallion himself. In their minds they were “one” with the good guy. Which is the point. As Brant Hanson notes in his new book – The Truth About Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are – in the stories we tell ourselves, we are always the hard-working good guy, never the evil thug.
Without Comment: In James Emery White’s book Meet Generation Z, he shares the following about those born between 1995 and 2010: 1) They currently constitute 25.9% of the US population; 2) Nearly half do not think they are exclusively heterosexual; 3) They live in a world where cell phones are so ubiquitous in class that teachers don’t know which students are using them to take notes and which ones are planning a party: 4) They have never licked a postage stamp.
The Weight of Glory: Tuesday was the 80th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’s sermon, The Weight of Glory. You can buy the book here, or listen to the sermon (read by someone other than Lewis) here.
Prayer Request: Several years ago, Jeff Schlachtenhaufen – a friend and leader at Christ Church – passed away after a long fight with cancer. This weekend his daughter, Helen, competes in the Olympic trials for the 800 and 1500 races. There are so many things – and people! – to pray for, so I realize that this request may strike you as an odd one to single out, but I invite you to join me in praying that she runs well and “feels His pleasure” as she does (à la Eric Liddell.)
Closing Prayer: Lord God, I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to enduring; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. Amen. John Wesley – 1703-1791