Happy Friday,
We make it harder than necessary. Consider the work of a branch – it effortlessly grows out of the vine and passes along nourishment to the fruit. In our effort to “bear fruit,” we often cut ourselves off from the vine. This can only happen if we think our job is to bear fruit rather than to humbly abide in the vine. May God deliver us from our false thinking. All depends on our abiding in Christ.
A Reminder: Part of the way to be salt and light is to be so profoundly shaped by the hope of Christ that we become the non-anxious presence our hair-trigger world needs. (I’ve never seen an anxious branch.)
Be Encouraged: Last week I had a chance to tour Community First – an Austin, TX ministry to the homeless. This week ReNew Communities had a first – we closed two homes in one week (see brief videos here and here! These ministries are different – Community First targets the chronically homeless, whereas ReNew’s Matthew Homes are designed for the working poor – but both represent something often overlooked amidst today’s histrionics: Christ followers – motivated by God’s love for them – trying to quietly love and serve others.
Two Quotes: I keep pondering two statements made by Alan Graham, the founder of Community First: 1) “Homelessness is caused by a catastrophic loss of family.” And 2) “Housing will never solve homelessness. Community will.”
Without Comment: 1) In 2019, approximately 3,000 Protestant churches were started in the U.S., but 4,500 Protestant churches closed; 2) Studies suggest that despite improvements in mental health, Gen Z (college-aged Americans) are still struggling more than members of other generations; 3) Religious people live seven years longer than non-religious; 4) More than 100,000 people have signed a petition seeking to bar Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – who is worth nearly $200 billion dollars – from returning to earth after his upcoming space flight; 5) Sexually transmitted diseases have reached an all-time high for the sixth consecutive year in the US; 6) Since 1915, National Geographiccartographers have held there were five oceans. They recently added the Southern Ocean, arguing that the body of water surrounding the Antarctic is number six.
French on Fundamentalism: David French has become must reading for me. This piece, though a bit dense, not only explains what happened when the Southern Baptists met for their annual confab, it unpacks the distinction between an evangelical and a fundamentalist. Both terms are hopelessly sullied, but I appreciate anyone who can help others tell them apart.
Comparison: Among the many reasons comparison is a flawed exercise, here are three: 1) We judge others by their actions while judging ourselves by our intentions; 2) We tend to justify our failures on external circumstances (I failed the exam because the questions were poorly worded) while ascribing others’ results on who they are (she failed the quiz because she’s not very bright); and 3) Comparison is always selective (I might compare my net worth with Bill Gates, but I am unlikely to compare my athletic ability with his.) The fact is, I am a bad judge of you and me. (NOTE: I was recently directed to this medical journal article that suggests that as we grow in Christ we stop judging ourselves with the ventral medial prefrontal cortex while we judge others with the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. Instead we judge everyone in the same way – i.e., with the dorsal medial.)
Giving Thanks: Though last week’s 9-0 Supreme Court ruling in favor of religious liberty was argued on narrow grounds, it was shockingly good news. Finding our way towards a functioning pluralistic society will be rocky, but this ruling suggests the Supremes may help us navigate a path forward.
Friends: Last week’s Update – in which I referred you to a chapter on friendship from one of the Broken books I wrote several years ago – garnered a record number of responses. It also generated a number of inquiries. The books are not currently available on Amazon, however, you can order copies here.
Closing Prayer: I kiss your feet, dear Jesus, I press my lips to them, because despite my many sins, despite the burden of guilt upon me, despite my lack of discernment, I know that I have nothing to fear from you. I embrace your feet, Lord Jesus; I anoint them with the oil of my repentance. And as I crouch at your feet, I know that I am safe, because you despise no one, reject no one, repel no one, welcome everyone, admit everyone. Amen (Aelred of Rievaulx – 1110 – 1167)