Happy Friday:
I keep praying that pols, journalists, influencers, celebrities and others with access to a microphone will embrace Solomon’s counsel. In the meantime, I’m suggesting you give it a try. I do this not only because the world needs calming voices, but also because those who heed Solomon’s counsel are the first to win. When someone says something unkind (perhaps even untrue) about you – and you respond in gentleness – the wrath being turned away is your own.
20 Words: When I started writing a ministry-management column thirty years ago, the editor asked for 4,000-word articles. Over the next ten years, he kept chipping away at that number. “Declining attention spans,” meant 4,000 became 2,500. And then 1,500. And then 800 words. When my new limit was set at 400, I resigned. I thought about this trajectory while reading a recent interview with NYT best-selling author, John David Mann. In what I suspect is Mann’s effort to copy James Patterson – whose 3-page-per-chapter books have sold 300 million copies – Mann’s new book has 150 short chapters. They average 700 words. One chapter is only 20 words long. Twenty words. Who can say anything in twenty words? Certainly not a pastor. I need 25 just to sneeze. By way of reference, this paragraph is over 150 words long.
Without Comment: 1) Twenty-five percent of today’s US population is first- or second-generation immigrants. As a percentage: Anglos are declining, Blacks are static, and the Asian and Latino populations are increasing. 2) Three-hundred tons of caffeine will be consumed today – enough for one cup for everyone on the planet; 3) Speaking of drinks, over the last year, though many bars were closed, alcohol consumption spiked, and so did drug use. Overdoses in 2020 reached a record high. 4) The average American today sleeps two hours less than a century ago.
Community: In the New Testament, the word saint always appears in the plural. Apparently, we cannot become like Christ on our own. You need others. And here is the point, they need you. Let me suggest that the anemic spiritual state of some people may be because their spiritual well-being is their chief focus. It takes work for any of us to focus on someone other than ourselves. But the Christian life demands it. Christ first. Others second. Your spiritual well-being after that.
Bad Prayer is Better than No Prayer: In Dynamics of Spiritual Life – the book Tim Keller has recommended more than any other – Richard Lovelace argues that “bad prayer is better than no prayer.” I find that encouraging. Indeed, it actually motivates me to pray
What Sets a Church Apart: I used to think people chose Church A over Church B based on doctrine. I later realized the driving factor was more likely to be informed by worship style. I now fear it’s “cultural-ideology.” Ugh. By way of reminder, what’s supposed to be most compelling about us is our love.
Forced Family Fun: Last week Sheri and I visited our youngest and his wife in CO. Among other things, the four of us hiked a mountain trail outside of Golden. While hiking, we twice crossed paths with a father and his two teenage children. The son had in earphones and wore a blank stare. The daughter was too busy texting to make eye contact with us. What was obvious was that they were hiking against their will. When our children were younger, we referred to this kind of event as “forced family fun.” I believe our efforts were better received than the forced march we observed, but that may be my selective memory. In any event, we cheered the father on. He was trying. And though it hardly needs to be stated: families take a lot of work.
Overheard: Several times this week I’ve heard concern expressed about institutions. For some time, I’ve been sobered by how much depends on leaders. To be honest, I had not thought as much about institutions. But clearly, they matter, and many of them are not in good shape.
One Revolution Short: In a Sport’s Illustrated article thirty years ago, the writer reported on his golf game with then Vice President Dan Quayle. I do not remember much, but I do remember how happy he was to be able to use a specific line. When the VP left a putt hanging on the lip, the reporter replied, “Ah, just like Central America.” Quayle thought for a moment and then asked, “How’s that?” The reporter responded, “one revolution short of the ideal.” Quayle initially laughed and said, “No, no, no. We do not want any more revolutions in Central America.” After a moment, however, he corrected himself. “Actually, we’ll take one in Cuba.” It appears as though that may happen. Let me encourage you to pray for the Christians in Cuba. Last I checked the church there was small but strong. The chaos of a revolution clearly puts many there at risk. And – as this Christianity Today article on Cuba I wrote 20 years ago notes – the chaos of freedom would present a new set of challenges to the Christians there.
History: On good days, I wonder how anyone can embrace utopian fantasies, champion socialism, or believe that people are inherently good. On bad days, I believe no one learns anything from history. BTW, Acton was clearly right. Power corrupts. I’m tempted to say “always,” but I know of one leader who washed his followers’ feet.
Closing Prayer: Father, make us more like Jesus. Help us to bear difficulty, pain, disappointment and sorrows, knowing that in your perfect working and design you can use such bitter experiences to shape our characters and make us more like our Lord. We look with hope for that day when we shall be wholly like Christ, because we shall see him as he is. Amen. (Ignatius of Antioch – 107)