Happy Friday
Lord, where else can we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.
Peter, John 6:68
The crowds following Jesus grew when He fed them and shrank when He explained the true cost of following Him. After one such explanation – which had prompted a large number of people to walk away – Jesus asked the twelve if they planned to join the exodus. It was at this moment that Peter beautifully framed their dilemma. “Where else can we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” Being a Christ-follower is not easy. In fact, there are times when walking away may seem attractive. But where exactly would we walk? Jesus is altogether unique. He alone has the words of eternal life.
Lament and Hope: I recently opened a three-hour discussion on “pluralism in higher education” by asking the nine in attendance to answer an initial question: “If ‘one’ means you believe we will fix our cultural challenges, and ‘ten’ means you think that’s quite unlikely, where do you stand?” The average response – which included two college presidents, two university trustee board chairs and one provost – was an eight. Ugh. However, after three hours of discussion, the score was reset to a five. No one shared any particularly encouraging information or mapped out a way forward, but the mood was noticeably buoyed. What accounted for the change? I’m not sure, but if I was forced to guess I’d suggest a combination of things: 1) We lamented – which is a biblical path forward; 2) We strengthened each other; 3) We rehearsed God’s faithfulness in the past; 4) We focused on eternity.
Beyond Reach: Jonathan Edwards – the brilliant Puritan preacher, an architect of the Great Awakening and the subject of last week’s history podcast – was famously fired by his church over his views on communion. Lots of pastors get fired. What is noteworthy about his release was his response. It was reported that, “His happiness was out of reach of his enemies.” May we all grow into that space.
Quote Worth Requoting: “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Thomas Moore
Acts 5: Speaking of navigating challenges, consider Acts 5. In that chapter the apostles are arrested, imprisoned, interrogated, beaten, and threatened with death. Their response: They welcomed the chance to share in the sufferings of Christ. It’s probably prudent to note that it’s our culture – not the New Testament – that suggests that suffering is abnormal and bad.
The Heavens Declare: I never tire of photographs from space. It seems to me that they shout Psalm 19 – “The heavens declare the glory of God” – as loud as anything could. If you join me in this, you’ll appreciate this year’s winners of the National Maritime Museum annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest.
SCOTUS: Count me among those who hope (and pray) that the Justices of the Supreme Court remain above the DC dumpster fires.
National Unity: If you are old enough to remember 9/11, you know that on 9/12 the country came together. That is what typically happens in a national crisis. Unfortunately, that is not what is happening now. Perhaps it’s because COVID forced us inside and limited much of our interaction to social media. Whatever the cause, I suspect things will get worse before they get better. The initial reports on redistricting suggest the lines are being redrawn in such a way that even fewer congressional elections will be competitive. When this happens – i.e., when a voting district is deep red or deep blue – those elected to Congress occupy positions further to the left and to the right.
Do Not Idolize the Middle: Speaking of cultural and political positions, I think Keller’s comments here are gold.
Without Comment: 1) Trust in the media dropped to 36 percent, a scant four points above the lowest score ever. Sixty-eight percent of Democrats currently trust the media, but 89 percent of Republicans do not; 2) The average smart phone user checks their phone 50x / day; 3) Depression in America has increased 450 percent since 1987; 4) DC Comics recently announced that Jon Kent – the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane – is bisexual. He joins Robin in this. Captain America and Supergirl are gay.
Addictions: This Arthur Brooks piece on breaking a phone addiction is worth scanning if: 1) You check your phone as soon as you wake up; 2) You grow anxious if it’s not next to you; 3) And you are average and check it 50x / day.
Closing Prayer: You taught us, Lord, that the greatest love a man can show is to lay down his life for his friends. But your love was greater still because you laid down your life for your enemies. It was while we were still enemies that you reconciled us to yourself by your death. What other love has ever been, or could ever be, like yours? You suffered unjustly for the sake of the unjust. You died at the hands of sinners for the sake of the sinful. You became a slave to tyrants, to set the oppressed free. Amen. (Bernard of Clairvaux – 1090-1153)