Happy Friday,
By this I will know that God is for me.
King David, Psalm 56
By what, exactly? In Psalm 56, David states, by this I know that God is for me. What is the this? His feelings? His circumstances? An easy life? No. No. And NO! David trusts in God because God keeps a list of David’s tears. When we’re inclined to think God doesn’t exist or that he’s as unconcerned as the Greek’s Unmoved Mover, remember your loving Father knows the number of hairs on your head, keeps count of your tears, hears your prayers, and sings lullabies over you as you sleep.
Gut Check: Religion says, “I obey; therefore, God must accept me.” The Gospel says, “While I was a sinner, God loved and rescued me. I worship and obey out of gratitude and love.” Tragically, the former belief is the background music animating our heart unless and until we drive the Gospel into every corner of it—and do so every day.
Failed: My plan was to start my sabbatical with a 3-day silent retreat at a local Catholic retreat center—i.e., no talking, digital engagement, or work. I failed. I’m not faulting myself for keeping my phone on after our daughter-in-law went into labor, nor for saying things like “thank you” and “excuse me.” The goal was never silence; it was silencing my heart. I failed because, while I had moments of quiet transcendence, my heart mostly behaved like a cage full of Greyhounds asking frantically to be released so they could run. Silence can be uncomfortable. It’s hard work to not work.
All Donne: I’ve been reading the reflections of John Donne, the 17th-century poet-turned-pastor who gave us “no man is an island,” “for whom the bell tolls,” “nature abhors a vacuum,” “reaching the end of your rope,” etc. Donne—who pastored in London during the Plague (nearly dying from it himself) writes powerfully about death, dying, and eternity—three things moderns avoid thinking about. There is so much I might say about Donne. I’ll limit myself to underlining CS Lewis’s adage that we really, really, really must read old books. “To stay current, stay ancient.”
Imagine: As with his life, I was positively challenged by much of President Carter’s funeral. That said, I could have done without the addition of Lennon’s Imagine. The song is not only demonstrably wrong and contrary to the teachings of Christ, it’s anti-government. (Imagine there’s no countries…”). Let’s just say I did not imagine Imagine being played at the state funeral of a Christian who served as President.
Misc: 1) Many have joined me in lamenting the passing of D1 football; 2) It’s MLK weekend—time for your annual reading of Letters from a Birmingham Jail; 3) Given the spike of pastor-phishing scams, I feel the need to say, “I will never text you to ask for gift cards.” A black Tesla, maybe. But not gift cards.
Without Comment: 1) Per the CDC, 70% of the US population is overweight; 2) Per this piece, a new platform allows homebuyers to see the political affiliations of their neighbors before they buy; 3) Per Barna, 54% of “practicing Christians” report consuming porn with some level of frequency; 4) Per this report, roughly 40% of US adults over 55 will develop some form of dementia in their life; 5) Per Gallup’s annual survey, we trust nurses and grade school teachers a lot more than journalists and members of Congress; and 6) Per this WSJ report, an unusually high (23%) number of recent Harvard MBA graduates remain unemployed three months after graduation.
Updating Malik: In the 1980s, Charles Malik—a prominent Lebanese diplomat, philosopher, academic, and human rights advocate—argued that seven institutions shape society (the family, church, state, education, business, media, and entertainment). In A Christian Critique of the University, Malik further argued that because education—esp. Higher Ed—shaped those leading the other six, it was most important. If he were alive today, I think he’d agree that: 1) Higher Ed has lost its way; 2) in recent years, the state and media have gained influence; the family and church have lost it; and foundations and other nonprofits have become an eighth category.
Overheard: 1) Family dinners without devices create more lasting memories than social media posts about family dinners; 2) You can measure your spiritual growth by your prayers—both their frequency and their content; 3) The best political statements are made by serving your neighbor without making a statement; (BTW, in an age of global causes, knowing your neighbor’s name is revolutionary); 4) DIY religion is failing; 5) Jesus didn’t come to make us safe but to make us disciples.
Resources: I will be speaking on CS Lewis at Cherry Hills Church (Denver, CO) the evening of February 24 and at Corinth Reformed Church (Hickory, NC) the evening of March 23. I will be preaching at Lake Norman Church (Charlotte, NC) on March 16 and at Corinth Reformed Church (Hickory, NC) on March 23. If you are interested in registering or learning more about the Lakelight tour of Istanbul next October, click here.
Prayer Requests: I invite you to join me in praying for 1) peace negotiations in the Middle East, 2) our outgoing and incoming presidents, and 3) the families devastated by the fires in Southern CA and those fighting them.
Closing Prayer: Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says, “He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head.” For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the Son of Man, so that human beings might in their turn become children and heirs of God? Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace. Amen. (Augustine, 354-430)