Happy Friday,
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Though the final outcome of the cosmic battle has long been decided, earthly conflicts continue with the lives and destinies of individuals hanging in the balance. What can we do today to aid our King’s advance? Many things, but nothing without prayer. As James notes, it can frustrate arrogant powers.
Question of the Week: Our news feeds are full of conflict: Ds versus Rs, The WSJ versus The WaPo, Russia versus NATO. One side despises the past and celebrates the future. The other side celebrates the past and fears the future. It’s the Green New Deal versus the pipeline. I could go on, but you’re swimming in this already. Here is my question: As a Christian, I blame Genesis 3. What (or who) do others point to? When Side A pauses from blaming Side B (or vice-versa), where do they think the problem ultimately lies? Who among the press is giving much thoughtful reflection on the human condition these days?
The Human Condition: While I’m here, let me remind you that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the “educated elite” were giddy. “Finally!,” they claimed. “Now that we’re free from the shackles of religion, we will ride science and reason directly to Utopia.” H. G. Wells was among those voicing this belief. In his 1922 book, A Short History of the World, he wrote: “Can we doubt that presently our race will more than realize our boldest imaginations, that it will achieve unity and peace, and that our children will live in a world made more splendid and lovely than any palace or garden that we know, going on from strength to strength in an ever widening circle of achievement? What man has done, the little triumphs of his present state… form but the prelude to the things that man has yet to do.” Of course it didn’t play out that way. World War I, World War II and more rendered the 20th century more bloody than all the preceding combined. Wells owned his mistake, later writing: “The cold-blooded massacres of the defenseless, the return of deliberate and organized torture, mental torment, and fear to a world from which such things had seemed well-nigh banished — has come near to breaking my spirit altogether…” The horrors of the past days have rightly led us to question the mind and heart of Putin. Will they lead us to face how broken we all are?
Reflections on War: I have read several accounts about how overwhelming a modern battlefield is. Apparently, nothing prepares you for the sites, sounds and smells. I’ve also noted recent references to C.S. Lewis’s 1939 address to Oxford students, Learning in Time of War. But what I find most illuminating is the fact that some of the 20th century’s most gifted writers – Aldous Huxley, C.S. Lewis, George Orwell, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kurt Vonnegut and William Golding – all of whom were injured in battle – were never able to write directly about it. Each wrote about it using fiction (Huxley –Brave New World, Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia, Orwell – Animal Farm, Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings, Vonnegut – Slaughter House Five, Golding – Lord of the Flies) but none was willing to try to describe it directly.
Corrections: Last week’s WotW – Calvinball – was a popular choice, but there were many corrections: 1) Hobbes – who was named after Thomas Hobbes – spells his name with an “e;” 2) I missed the opportunity to note how ironic it is that Calvin – who was named after John Calvin – developed a game with no rules; and 3) Technically, Calvinball has rules, they just keep changing. I will try to do better. Meanwhile, I’m left wondering what it says about me that my readers know more about Calvin and Hobbes than they do about the Bible.
Corrections Continued. Last week I ran a post about Lordle, Mark Charbonneau’s spoof on Wordle. In it I incorrectly implied that Mark used to be a youth pastor. He wrote to correct me, explaining that he still does youth ministry, only now it is for adults. He’s pretty sure few of his congregation have figured that out just yet.
Without Comment: 1) After the race was canceled in 2020 and limited in 2021, this year’s New York City Marathon will return to full capacity (50,000 runners); 2) Beijing Winter Olympics television audience dropped 42% from 2018; 3) Two million cars will be repossessed this year in the US; 4) One-third of adults still sleep with a comfort object; 5) The average American generates nearly 4.5 pounds of trash each day; 6) Over the past century, “Michael” has been the most popular male baby name 44 times; 7) One in seven Americans receives food from a food bank; 8) More than 36 million U.S. adults cannot read above a third grade level.
Why I Still Believe: Earlier this week I preached at Trinity Chapel on the topic, Why I Still Believe. You can listen here.
Profiles in Courage: I join those who appreciate Ukrainian President Zelensky’s leadership. When asked if he wanted transportation to safety, he replied, “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.” It’s too early to compare him to Churchill, but he has come a long way from doing stand-up comedy.
A Few Moments of Marvel: In addition to wishing I had some of the leadership chops of Zelensky, I wish I had just a fraction of Ja Morant’s basketball hops.
Prayer Request: In addition to praying for all the obvious matters related to Ukraine, I am: 1) Citing Psalm 141:10 in reference to Putin; 2) Praying for the Russians (those living here and in Russia) who have been unwillingly drug into this conflict; and 3) Praying for the poor, who almost always suffer the most.
Closing Prayer: We pray to you, O Lord, who are the supreme Truth, and all truth is from you. We beseech you, O Lord, who are the highest Wisdom, and all the wise depend on you for their wisdom. You are the supreme Joy, and all who are happy owe it to you. You are the highest Good, and all goodness comes from you. You are the Light of minds, and all receive their understanding from you. We love you—indeed we love you above all things. We seek you, and are prepared to serve you. We desire to dwell under your power, for you are the King of all. Amen. (King Alfred the Great of Wessex – 849 – 899)