Happy Friday,
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
James 1:19-20
I find people are quite quick to speak, even quicker to become angry, and rarely listen, especially when there is a computer or cellphone screen serving as a shield. I wish I could say that wasn’t true of me also, but it is. However, I’ve learned to ask myself why. Why am I angry? Am I angry because of an opposing opinion? Then I need to allow others to be different than I am. Am I angry because this person has said something that is untrue, nonfactual, or just wrong? Then I can ignore it and move on. Am I angry because this person is harming someone else with their words? Then I can lovingly confront them. But sometimes, I’m angry because God is trying to teach me something that I’m opposed to learning. In that case, I need to confess and let the Holy Spirit work on my heart.
Guest Writer: This week, Mike’s Friday Update is written by Kate Gleich. Kate is the Associate Director at Christ Church Crossroads in Grayslake, Illinois. She lives in North Chicago, Illinois, with her husband of 17 years and her four boys (ages 8, 9, 14, and 14). This month, she and her family are enjoying the hot Florida weather while she works remotely, the boys swim, and her husband enjoys a well-earned sabbatical.
WOTW: The runner-up this week is an idea rather than a word. The idea is Occam’s razor: the simplest explanation is usually the best one. You can see my thoughts on simplicity below. The first-place word of the week goes to evangelastic: the stretching of scripture to fit one’s view. I recently read a book by Sue Edwards, who credits her seminary friend, JoAnn Hummel, with coming up with this word. I wonder how often I do this, allowing myself to try to form God in my image rather than accepting that I’m made in His.
Quotes Worth Requoting: 1.) “The measure of you as a leader is not what you do, but what others do because of you.”- Howard G. Hendricks; 2.) “Sometimes me think, what is friend? And then me say: a friend is someone to share last cookie with.”- Cookie Monster; 3.) “We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our body for ourselves.”- Elisabeth Elliot; 4.) “…most people aren’t toxic. They just see things different than you do.” – Carey Nieuwhof; 5.) “You have to date your friends.”- George Gleich (my late father-in-law)
IS2M: 1) Accountability matters. I’m currently trying to get back into running, but running in Florida means getting up early if you want to somewhat beat the heat. When my alarm goes off, I want to hit snooze. But what I want more is my running partner back home to see my run on Strava; 2) Simplicity is key. On my first day of college, in my first class, my professor drew a circle on the board. She put two dots and a swoop inside of it. Then she asked the class what it was. After a few ridiculous “smart” answers, someone called out, “it’s a smiley face.” It was, in fact, a smiley face. Overcomplicating something to look smart often just makes you look dumb; 3) Morning people. You’re probably either a morning person or a night person. It’s doubtful you’re both. It’s possible you’re neither.
Without Comment: 1) In an age of an epidemic of loneliness, people are turning to apps for online friend-making; 2) McDonald’s isn’t grimacing at its new viral sensation, The Grimace Shake, even though its popularity looks different than expected; 3) Another year, another Ivy League scandal. Harvard is facing a lawsuit surrounding legacy admissions; 4) Don’t have the money to travel the world or the legacy to be educated at Harvard? “Travel” and learn through reading the top-rated books by a local author in each country around the world; 5) A new study by the Pew Research Center shows that there are a record number of 40-year-olds who have never been married in the U.S.
Closing prayer: Loving Lord and Heavenly Father I offer up today all that I am, all that I have, all that I do, and all that I suffer, to be Yours today and Yours forever. Give me grace, Lord, to do all that I know of Your holy will. Purify my heart, sanctify my thinking, correct my desires. Teach me, in all of today’s work and trouble and joy, to respond with honest praise, simple trust, and instant obedience, that my life may be in truth a living sacrifice, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, my Master and my all. Amen. (Elisabeth Elliot, 1926-2015)
P.S. In conjunction with his recent trip to Israel, Mike is re-interviewing several Middle Eastern leaders. In this podcast he speaks with Dr. Salim Munayer, who has spent the last 30 years working in reconciliation work.