So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. The Apostle Paul, Col. 2:6f
I spent some time this week with a cranberry farmer from Massachusetts. In addition to learning a lot about cranberry bogs, I also learned about roots. I knew they were key. What I did not appreciate is that roots are always seeking more nutrients and water. If it’s true that you are rooted in Christ, are your roots desperately seeking more nutrients and water?
YALF: If you’ve been paying attention you’ve seen the acronym YOLO on bumper stickers, T-shirts and coffee mugs. It stands for, You Only Live Once. The statement is true, but misleading. YOLO advocates are promoting hedonism. The four letters suggest it’s time to live fast and party hard. I ran across a better phrase this week, YALF – You Actually Live Forever. If you want to see Jesus make this point in a shocking way, read the parable of the the dishonest manager Jesus tells in Luke 16. Christ’s point is: Life is short. Eternity is Not. Opportunity is Now. YALF.
Speaking of Bumper Stickers: A friend saw a new one on the car ahead of him: Are you Following Jesus this close?
PPP: Millennials are motivated by the triple P bottom line: people, profits and the planet.
The Resurrection: In the past, my study of the resurrection has mostly focused on Paul’s argument in 1 Cor. 15 – i.e., the resurrection proves that Jesus is God. This past week I have been pondering other things: the resurrection not only sets Jesus apart (no other religious leader rose from the dead) and supports the idea that Christianity is true, it also proves that death has been defeated and points to our future bodies. Jesus is the “first born from the dead,” but we will follow, receiving new, perfect and eternal bodies. Anyone interested in that?
Jesus > Jamie: If you want to be reminded how amazing Jesus is, the Book of Hebrews is the place to turn. The opening chapter unfurls “seven glories” about Jesus that make it clear that he is better than Abraham, Moses, the angels, etc. But that is not all. We need to be reminded that Jesus is better – and smarter – than everyone. It’s not just that He is Savior and Lord, nor that He is better than Moses and the angels. The fact is, Jesus knows more about banking than Jamie Dimon, more about football than Bill Belichick and more about electric cars than Elon Musk. Jesus is the smartest person ever.
The Imago Dei: One of the things that makes us different from every other part of creation is that God made us in his image. There are lots of ideas about that. I am wrapping up my sabbatical by attending a men’s retreat in CO. During a snow-shoeing jaunt in the woods I was reminded that dogs, cats, bears and eagles do not marvel at the mountains. But we do. Surely our amazement at beauty – and our innate response to celebrate great things – is part of what it means to be made in His image.
Quotes Worth Requoting:
- To say doctrine doesn’t matter, only how you live matters, is itself a doctrine. It’s the doctrine of salvation by works. Tim Keller
- Freud said religiosity is pent up sexual desire. Close. Sexual desire is pent up religiosity. The need to be fulfilled. Tim Keller
- Winners always quit. Jason Brown (Jason, an executive with Marketplace Chaplains, makes this play on words to note that most of us are too busy, and that the things that matter most are crowded out of our life).
Prayer Request: 1) I go through re-entry this week. During my sabbatical in 2011, re-entry was rough. I’m praying for a smoother landing; 2) the Supreme Court heard a significant religious liberties case this week. It involves a call to remove crosses from a World War I Memorial, but the implications are much bigger. They are expected to issue a ruling in June, which means they are likely debating it amongst themselves right now.
Closing Prayer: Almighty and merciful God, who wills the faults of sinners to perish, and not their souls; withhold from us the anger which we deserve, and pour out on us the mercy we implore, that through your mercy we may pass from sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. -The Gelasian Sacramentary, adapted