Happy Friday,

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:24

There are 5,000 known species of sponges on the ocean floor. Five thousand. There are 300,000 species of beetles. There is a similarly stunning variety of flowers, trees, birds and butterflies. Think about that for a moment. God’s creative genius is stunning, so allow yourself to be stunned. Enjoy His beauty and wisdom. 

Perspective and Hope: Perhaps it’s the people I hang with, but I’m hearing more concern over, “the world we are leaving to our grandchildren.” On the one hand, I get it. There is a lot out there I do not like, and several trends that seem ominous. But if you’re slipping down this path, let me remind you: 1) People have always been worried for – andworried about – the next generation; 2) Many things are going well – they do not make the news, but they are; 3) Sin has an expiration date. There may be storms ahead, but God wins. His future rule and reign are certain. Embrace hope.

Without Comment: 1) According to a recent study, ten percent of Americans are estranged from a parent or child, eight percent from a sibling and nine percent from an extended family member; 2) Overdose deaths surged during COVID, up 29 percent from the previous year; 3) On a related note, life expectancy in the US dropped 1.5 years during 2020; 4) Netflix reports the average user watches a series in five days, with millions binge-watching an entire twelve-hour season in a single day. When asked about competition from Amazon Prime – and other up and coming streaming services – Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, shrugged. He said their biggest competition is sleep; 5) A current iPhone has seven million times more memory than the guidance computer on Neil Armstrong’s 1969 spaceship, and over one hundred thousand times its processing power.

Identity: As noted a few weeks back, an upcoming sermon series has me thinking about identity. I landed on this topic before gender identity, identity politics and other identity issues became trendy. FWIW, I do not intend to focus on the trendy side of identity in this series. My goal is to help people see the need to see themselves as God does. However, I’ve felt the need to do some reading. Carl Trueman’s book – The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution – is good, though depressing. (You can listen to a podcast with Trueman here.) Much of the rest of what is out there is, well, depressing – e.g., sociologists note that while those living in the premodern world had their identities assigned (I am a blacksmith because my father was); and while those living in modern times discovered their identities (often in college); today many struggle to figure out who they are. Part of this is because we are asking different questions. Part of this is because we are no longer allowing ourselves to be defined with reference to faith, family or country. As noted, I will be encouraging people to find their identity in Christ.

Not New but Still Creepy: In last week’s Update, I alluded to John David Mann’s new novel, Steel Fear. I have no intention of reading it, but Amazon has been sending me links to it all week. What’s more, although we do not have an Echo, Sheri and I spent a few days visiting our youngest son and his wife, and they do. Apparently, Bezos was listening to those conversations, figured out who we were, and has been sending me related purchasing suggestions all week. This is not the first time this has happened, but it still unnerves me. In fact, “Jeff, since you are no doubt reading this, please go back into space and stay there until you can learn to leave me alone.”

Speaking of Bezos: At first I thought the Bezos, Branson and Musk billionaire space cowboy club was comical. Now it gives me pause. What else are they working on? More to the point, what kind of technology have they developed for their own security? It is starting to feel like there are people – and companies – acting bigger than nations.

Water: Droughts and floods have been much in the news this week, but this article – on the depletion of the aquifer under the Great Plains – is likely of greater import than those garnering headlines. BTW, as you may have noticed, water issues are causing headaches everywhere. I am thinking, for instance, of the problems accompanying the depletion of the CO River and the rising tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia as the latter nears completion of the efforts to dam the Nile.

Helpful: George Yancey, a sociologist at Baylor with a long-time focus on race and racism, has a helpful article out called Let’s Stop the Racial Insanity. After exploring ways forward that will not work, Yancey – who is a Christ-follower – advocates Collaborative Conversations. His article will not please everyone, but I do appreciate his way of framing next steps.

Speaking of Reading: I am very high on Jeffrey Bilbro’s Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News. Bilbro has given voice to many of the half-developed ideas I had been unsettled about. And he says it with some punch. For instance, “As we become increasingly embedded in an ecosystem of interruption technologies that fosters a state of continuous partial attention, our neural networks are being restricted.”

Closing Prayer: Our Father, you called us and saved us in order to make us like your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Day by day, change us by the work of your Holy Spirit so that we may grow more like him in all that we think and say and do, to his glory. Amen. Søren Kierkegaard – 1813 – 1855

Happy Friday:

I keep praying that pols, journalists, influencers, celebrities and others with access to a microphone will embrace Solomon’s counsel. In the meantime, I’m suggesting you give it a try. I do this not only because the world needs calming voices, but also because those who heed Solomon’s counsel are the first to win. When someone says something unkind (perhaps even untrue) about you – and you respond in gentleness – the wrath being turned away is your own.

20 Words: When I started writing a ministry-management column thirty years ago, the editor asked for 4,000-word articles. Over the next ten years, he kept chipping away at that number. “Declining attention spans,” meant 4,000 became 2,500. And then 1,500. And then 800 words. When my new limit was set at 400, I resigned. I thought about this trajectory while reading a recent interview with NYT best-selling author, John David Mann. In what I suspect is Mann’s effort to copy James Patterson – whose 3-page-per-chapter books have sold 300 million copies – Mann’s new book has 150 short chapters. They average 700 words. One chapter is only 20 words long. Twenty words. Who can say anything in twenty words? Certainly not a pastor. I need 25 just to sneeze. By way of reference, this paragraph is over 150 words long.

Without Comment: 1) Twenty-five percent of today’s US population is first- or second-generation immigrants. As a percentage: Anglos are declining, Blacks are static, and the Asian and Latino populations are increasing. 2) Three-hundred tons of caffeine will be consumed today – enough for one cup for everyone on the planet; 3) Speaking of drinks, over the last year, though many bars were closed, alcohol consumption spiked, and so did drug use. Overdoses in 2020 reached a record high. 4) The average American today sleeps two hours less than a century ago.

Community: In the New Testament, the word saint always appears in the plural. Apparently, we cannot become like Christ on our own. You need others. And here is the point, they need you. Let me suggest that the anemic spiritual state of some people may be because their spiritual well-being is their chief focus. It takes work for any of us to focus on someone other than ourselves. But the Christian life demands it. Christ first. Others second. Your spiritual well-being after that.

Bad Prayer is Better than No Prayer: In Dynamics of Spiritual Life – the book Tim Keller has recommended more than any other – Richard Lovelace argues that “bad prayer is better than no prayer.” I find that encouraging. Indeed, it actually motivates me to pray

What Sets a Church Apart: I used to think people chose Church A over Church B based on doctrine. I later realized the driving factor was more likely to be informed by worship style. I now fear it’s “cultural-ideology.” Ugh. By way of reminder, what’s supposed to be most compelling about us is our love.

Forced Family Fun: Last week Sheri and I visited our youngest and his wife in CO. Among other things, the four of us hiked a mountain trail outside of Golden. While hiking, we twice crossed paths with a father and his two teenage children. The son had in earphones and wore a blank stare. The daughter was too busy texting to make eye contact with us. What was obvious was that they were hiking against their will. When our children were younger, we referred to this kind of event as “forced family fun.” I believe our efforts were better received than the forced march we observed, but that may be my selective memory. In any event, we cheered the father on. He was trying. And though it hardly needs to be stated: families take a lot of work.

Overheard: Several times this week I’ve heard concern expressed about institutions. For some time, I’ve been sobered by how much depends on leaders. To be honest, I had not thought as much about institutions. But clearly, they matter, and many of them are not in good shape.

One Revolution Short: In a Sport’s Illustrated article thirty years ago, the writer reported on his golf game with then Vice President Dan Quayle. I do not remember much, but I do remember how happy he was to be able to use a specific line. When the VP left a putt hanging on the lip, the reporter replied, “Ah, just like Central America.” Quayle thought for a moment and then asked, “How’s that?” The reporter responded, “one revolution short of the ideal.” Quayle initially laughed and said, “No, no, no. We do not want any more revolutions in Central America.” After a moment, however, he corrected himself. “Actually, we’ll take one in Cuba.” It appears as though that may happen. Let me encourage you to pray for the Christians in Cuba. Last I checked the church there was small but strong. The chaos of a revolution clearly puts many there at risk. And – as this Christianity Today article on Cuba I wrote 20 years ago notes – the chaos of freedom would present a new set of challenges to the Christians there.

History: On good days, I wonder how anyone can embrace utopian fantasies, champion socialism, or believe that people are inherently good. On bad days, I believe no one learns anything from history. BTW, Acton was clearly right. Power corrupts. I’m tempted to say “always,” but I know of one leader who washed his followers’ feet.

Closing Prayer: Father, make us more like Jesus. Help us to bear difficulty, pain, disappointment and sorrows, knowing that in your perfect working and design you can use such bitter experiences to shape our characters and make us more like our Lord. We look with hope for that day when we shall be wholly like Christ, because we shall see him as he is. Amen. (Ignatius of Antioch – 107)

Happy Friday:

Consider others more important than yourselves.

The Apostle Paul, Phil. 2:3

The pluralism, fracture and acceleration of this moment makes life confusing. Thankfully, some things are simple. We must love and serve others, especially the poor. To be clear, the Christian life cannot be reduced to this. Our first assignment is to love God, and our marching orders start with sharing His love with others. But it does not stop there. The love of God compels us to focus on others. Have you moved past your default self-absorption? Everyone wins when you do, starting with you.

Personal Density: I first heard about personal density from Baylor Professor Alan Jacobs, who picked it from Thomas Pynchon’s “famously difficult” novel, Gravity’s Rainbow. I’ve not read Pynchon’s work – who wants to read a novel described as “famously difficult?” – but I can commend Jacob’s latest book, Breaking Bread with the Dead. I can also commend the pursuit of “personal density.” What is it?  You should read Jacob’s treatment for yourself. I will only say: 1) There are a lot of thin people out there – i.e., people who lack the “temporal bandwidth” that comes with understanding history; 2) Those who lack density are especially susceptible to conspiracy theories.

Who am I? If you’ve studied philosophy, you know that many of those prominent in the field have their own set of questions. Some years ago, I latched on to these six: 1) What – or who – is of ultimate importance? 2) Who am I? 3) Where did I come from? 4) What is expected of me? 5) What happens when I die? and, 6) Where do I go to get answers to these questions? In light of an upcoming sermon on Identity, I’ve been thinking about question number two. Psychologists suggest “I am who I think you think I am.” No doubt that’s partly right. Unfortunately, I also think it’s part of our problem. No offense, but my perception of your perception of me, is of little importance. I must ground my identity in what God says is true about me. BTW, once you start thinking about identity, you realize how many things are true about each of us. I am: a sixty-year-old male, a husband, a father, a pastor, a US citizen and an English-speaker. On top of this, the Bible refers to me as a sinner, a saint, an exile, a child of God and more. Here’s a two-part assignment: 1) Make a list of all the ways you might be described. 2) From this list, pick the three that are the most important.

Speaking of English-speakers: Since it’s been a rough week – COVID deaths surpassed 4M, YTD Chicago shootings are over 2,000 – I thought I should add some humor. Here goes: If you call someone who speaks two languages, “bi-lingual,” and someone who speaks three-languages, “trilingual.” What do you call someone who speaks one language? The answer… an American.

Catching Up: In addition to leading to 4M deaths, COVID is credited with accelerating some things (e.g., the transition to remote work) and delaying others (e.g., elective surgeries). This combination of acceleration and delay is now credited with other outcomes, such as the “Great Resignation.” Apparently, many people are choosing not to return to work, many are looking for new jobs and over 40 percent of US employees are thinking about making some sort of job adjustment.

Is Twenty the New Five: In seminary, I was told that if less than five percent of the congregation was mad at me, I wasn’t doing enough. However, if more than twenty percent were upset, I was in trouble. Since I long ago stopped paying attention to my polling numbers, I’m not sure where I stand. But I’m pretty sure it’s over twenty. Nor do I think I am alone among clergy. I am hoping someone is going to say, thirty is the new five.

Articles to Consider: Among the topics on which I’ve frequently reported (i.e., beat to death), here is another on the impact of declining birth rates; here is another on the decline of friendships; and here is one noting that more 18-34 year old males now live with their parents than live in any other arrangement.

Question of the Week: If someone from 1921 was teleported forward to today, what would they find most surprising? Since my guess is that your first round of answers would focus on technological advances – e.g., cars, TVs, the iPhone, surgical procedures, the internet, etc. – let me suggest you set those aside. The question is, what – other than advances in technology – would your great, great grandparents find most shocking about your life? Bottled water? The size of grocery stores? How much weight we’ve all gained? How many fewer babies there are versus how many more 60 plus-year- olds are up and about? Might it be the nature and number of commercials we are exposed to? Our discontent? Four-dollar cups of coffee? Racial progress? Racial setbacks? The number of people who get tattoos? The number who do yoga? Gender- fluidity? Yogurt? The number of us who are unable to fix our own car? By the way, asking and answering these questions will help you gain a bit of personal density.

Humility: Last year, Sheri and I listened to Armor Towles’ novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, which chronicles the transformation of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov – a young Russian aristocrat – after the communist revolution strips him of his privilege. We enjoyed the novel. I pass along this quote. “Like the Freemasons, the Confederacy of the Humbled is a close-knit brotherhood whose members travel with no outward markings, but who know each other at a glance. For having fallen suddenly from grace, those in the Confederacy share a certain perspective. Knowing beauty, influence, fame, and privilege to be borrowed rather than bestowed, they are not easily impressed. They are not quick to envy or take offense. They certainly do not scour the papers in search of their own names. They remain committed to living among their peers, but they greet adulation with caution, ambition with sympathy, and condescension with an inward smile.”

Closing Prayer: Open the eyes of our hearts to know you, who are the highest of the high, the holiest of the holy. You bring down the haughtiness of the proud, and thwart the schemes of the dishonest. You raise up the lowly and cast down the lofty. Riches and poverty, death and life, are in your hand. You alone can discern every spirit, looking into the depths of every soul. You protect those in danger, give hope to those in despair, and guide every creature on earth. By your power the nations of the earth can flourish and increase. Grant us, Lord, we beseech you, your grace. Pity the poor, encourage those who are sad, enlighten those whose spirits are in darkness, heal the sick, guide the confused, feed the hungry, release those who are unjustly imprisoned, support the weak, comfort the faint-hearted. Let all the nations of the world know that you are God, that Jesus Christ is your child, and that we are your people. Amen. (Clement of Rome – died in 96)

Happy Friday

Loving people is hard. Loving unlovable people is harder. Loving our enemies is harder still. But it is what we are called to do. As I have noted before, this does not mean we are to work to turn our enemies into friends – i.e., to get them to think and act like we do so they are more lovable. It means that we are expected to be the kind of people who treat our enemies as if they were our friends. If you are looking for motivation for this, consider Romans 5:10, which reports that “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.” By the way, in commenting on this command – which is one of the most frequently cited in the writings of the early church – G. K. Chesterton suggests that the reason the Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies is “because generally they are the same people.”

A Religious People: Fifteen years ago, I paused a series on the Book of Acts, to explore the obvious question raised by Acts 17: If Paul showed up at a Chicago Metra station today and said, “I see you are a religious people,” what idols would he be talking about? What followed were sermons addressing: money, sex, entertainment, science and tolerance. In a recent blog post, a history professor at Asbury Seminary, provided his list: national security, money, guns, the automobile, fame and celebrity, college sports and professional sports. I like my list better. Of course, I am aware that any such list says as much about the list-developer as it does about society. So the real question is personal: What good thing(s) have you elevated beyond their rightful station?

Social Media. In this article, Tim Keller argues that social media: 1) is more about identity creation than ideas, 2) drives extremism, 3) distorts reality, and 4) mutes the moderate majority. I think he is right on all fronts.

The Loudest Voices: During the eight years I directed First Presbyterian Church’s college ministry in Bellingham, WA., I grew disenchanted with denominational politics. Among other things, I realized that the pastors I was trying to learn from were seldom involved, because they had thriving local ministries and consequently little free time. That meant, those with the time to invest in regional governance were often those doing the least in their home communities. Maybe I am wrong, but I suspect something like that happens with social media. Those who have the time to invest online are not doing much in the actual trenches.

Quotes Worth Requoting: 1) “The final secret, I think, is this: that the words ‘You shall love the Lord your God’ become in the end less a command than a promise.”  Frederick Buechner; 2) “People who haven’t learned how to love will always feel like victims.” Jacques Philippe

“I am the Vine” 2.0: In response to my comments in last week’s Update – i.e., the statement that the main job of a branch is not to produce fruit but stay connected to the vine – one reader noted, “You never hear an apple tree grunt.”

The Law of Group Polarization: Not that we needed an academic to make this point, but years ago, Cass Sunstein – a professor of Behavioral Economics at Harvard – noted that “When people of a like-mind gather together, the common expression of their shared view becomes more extreme.”

Family ⬇️, Government ⬆️: In healthy societies, care for the young, old, weak and poor is provided by the family and church. When those two institutions lose leverage, government grows.

David Brooks: I recently relistened to this July 4^th homily, which was given by David Brooks at the Washington National Cathedral. I do not agree with all Brooks says / writes, but I am encouraged to watch his decades long journey towards Christ unfold.

Foundations: The tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower in Florida has me thinking about other foundations. At the risk of sounding like Chicken Little (again), it sure seems like our societal basement is wet, the concrete is crumbling and the rebar is showing.

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 of tyrants, to set the oppressed free. Amen. (Bernard of Clairvaux – 1090- 1153)

Happy Friday,

We make it harder than necessary. Consider the work of a branch – it effortlessly grows out of the vine and passes along nourishment to the fruit. In our effort to “bear fruit,” we often cut ourselves off from the vine. This can only happen if we think our job is to bear fruit rather than to humbly abide in the vine. May God deliver us from our false thinking. All depends on our abiding in Christ.

A Reminder: Part of the way to be salt and light is to be so profoundly shaped by the hope of Christ that we become the non-anxious presence our hair-trigger world needs. (I’ve never seen an anxious branch.)

Be Encouraged: Last week I had a chance to tour Community First – an Austin, TX ministry to the homeless. This week ReNew Communities had a first – we closed two homes in one week (see brief videos here and here!  These ministries  are different – Community First targets the chronically homeless, whereas ReNew’s Matthew Homes are designed for the working poor – but both represent something often overlooked amidst today’s histrionics: Christ followers – motivated by God’s love for them – trying to quietly love and serve others.

Two Quotes: I keep pondering two statements made by Alan Graham, the founder of Community First: 1) “Homelessness is caused by a catastrophic loss of family.” And 2) “Housing will never solve homelessness. Community will.”

Without Comment: 1) In 2019, approximately 3,000 Protestant churches were started in the U.S., but 4,500 Protestant churches closed; 2) Studies suggest that despite improvements in mental health, Gen Z (college-aged Americans) are still struggling more than members of other generations; 3) Religious people live seven years longer than non-religious; 4) More than 100,000 people have signed a petition seeking to bar Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – who is worth nearly $200 billion dollars – from returning to earth after his upcoming space flight; 5) Sexually transmitted diseases have reached an all-time high for the sixth consecutive year in the US; 6) Since 1915, National Geographiccartographers have held there were five oceans. They recently added the Southern Ocean, arguing that the body of water surrounding the Antarctic is number six. 

French on Fundamentalism: David French has become must reading for me. This piece, though a bit dense, not only explains what happened when the Southern Baptists met for their annual confab, it unpacks the distinction between an evangelical and a fundamentalist. Both terms are hopelessly sullied, but I appreciate anyone who can help others tell them apart.

Comparison: Among the many reasons comparison is a flawed exercise, here are three: 1) We judge others by their actions while judging ourselves by our intentions; 2) We tend to justify our failures on external circumstances (I failed the exam because the questions were poorly worded) while ascribing others’ results on who they are (she failed the quiz because she’s not very bright); and 3) Comparison is always selective (I might compare my net worth with Bill Gates, but I am unlikely to compare my athletic ability with his.) The fact is, I am a bad judge of you and me. (NOTE: I was recently directed to this medical journal article that suggests that as we grow in Christ we stop judging ourselves with the ventral medial prefrontal cortex while we judge others with the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. Instead we judge everyone in the same way – i.e., with the dorsal medial.)

Giving Thanks: Though last week’s 9-0 Supreme Court ruling in favor of religious liberty was argued on narrow grounds, it was shockingly good news. Finding our way towards a functioning pluralistic society will be rocky, but this ruling suggests the Supremes may help us navigate a path forward.

Friends: Last week’s Update – in which I referred you to a chapter on friendship from one of the Broken books I wrote several years ago – garnered a record number of responses. It also generated a number of inquiries. The books are not currently available on Amazon, however, you can order copies here.

Closing Prayer: I kiss your feet, dear Jesus, I press my lips to them, because despite my many sins, despite the burden of guilt upon me, despite my lack of discernment, I know that I have nothing to fear from you. I embrace your feet, Lord Jesus; I anoint them with the oil of my repentance. And as I crouch at your feet, I know that I am safe, because you despise no one, reject no one, repel no one, welcome everyone, admit everyone. Amen (Aelred of Rievaulx – 1110 – 1167)

Happy Friday,

When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5

As someone expected to keep a church solvent, I’ve read this passage and wondered, “Who paid to repair the roof?” I’ve also wondered how I’d respond if someone cut a hole in the ceiling at Walgreens and tried to drop in the pharmacy line in front of me. But mostly, I’ve been challenged by the friendship and faith this passage displays. Lord, make me that kind of friend and help me develop that kind of faith.

A Good Week: In the US: COVID deaths and infections are down, those who want vaccinations can get them and restaurants are opening. On top of this, if the drop in numbers we are seeing at the food distribution sites that we staff are indicative, the number of desperately needy is also down. Oh, and there is more good news: both the Cubs and the White Sox are in first place. Go Chicago.

COVID Related: It will be interesting to see how historians assess our COVID response. At the moment, some – see this TED talk – think we overreacted. Others argue that governments must be willing to do more – indeed, that they must be willing to do “anything and everything” to save even one life. For the record, I value human dignity, but the Bible suggests there are things we should prize above physical survival. In a recent First Things piece, editor Reno argues that justice, beauty and truth are more important than preserving a life at any cost. In his writings, Solzhenitsyn likewise dismisses communism’s “survival at any price” mindset. I do not think we are well positioned to have some of the conversations that need to be had.

A Tale of Two Responses: A friend decided to watch – and compare – two relatively brief commencement addresses. The first – which is 12 minutes long – was given by Mitch Daniels at Purdue, where he serves as president. (He is the former governor of Indiana.)  The second – which is 18 minutes long – was given by Vice President Kamala Harris. She is speaking at the US Naval Academy. They reflect two approaches to risk.

Jesus: One of the fascinating things about Jesus is the attraction He held among “sinners” and “spiritual outcasts.” As Skye Jethani recently noted, “They flocked to hear him teach, they invited him to their weddings and introduced him to their friends at parties. All while Jesus spoke openly about their sin and need for repentance.”

Question of the Week: Given the state of today’s news media, is it possible to stayed informed without being malformed?

Humility: N.T. Wright notes that in his letter to Philemon, Paul suggests that perhaps the reason Onesimus was separated from him was so “he might be able to have him back forever.” Wright goes on to note how refreshing it is to hear a spiritual leader suggest that “perhaps” he “might” be able to see what God was up to in this situation, rather than claiming he was certain. Many today seem certain.

Without Comment: 1) 43% of millennials “don’t know, don’t care, don’t believe God exists;” 2) According to LifeWay Research, during Pre-COVID 2019, more US Protestant churches closed than opened; 3) We are 1,000X more likely to be in a car accident on the way to the airport than we are to die in a plane accident; 4) Average new home sale prices are continuing to set new record highs; 5) Christianity is spreading so fast in China that some think the country could have more Christians than the US by 2030, and be a majority-Christian country by 2050; 6) Before the Industrial Revolution, the principal sources of noise were thunder, church bells and cannon fire; 7) Those who keep a gratitude journal: exercise more, report fewer physical symptoms, feel better about their lives and are more optimistic about the upcoming week than those who do not. Psychology professor Robert Emmons calls gratitude “the forgotten factor in happiness research;” 8) Anger appears to be a more acceptable and popular response to today’s challenges than sadness.

Quotes Worth Requoting: 1) Ask people what they must do to get into heaven, and most will reply, “Be good.” Jesus’ stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, “Help.” Phil Yancey; 2) Imagine how much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it. You would break out of this tiny and tawdry theatre in which your own little plot is always played. You would find yourself under a freer sky — in a street full of splendid strangers. G. K. Chesterton

Opposites Can be True: Western Civilization is based in part on the Law of Noncontradiction – that is, that it cannot be raining and not raining in the same place at the same time. Along with the idea of objective truth, this “Law” is now dismissed by some. Not by me. However, we must remember, it is possible for two “opposites” to be true – e.g., things can be getting better and still not be acceptable.

Closing Prayer: Forgive them all, O Lord: our sins of omission and our sins of commission; the sins of our youth and the sins of our riper years; the sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies; our secret and our more open sins; our sins of ignorance and surprise, and our more deliberate and presumptuous sins; the sins we have done to please others; the sins we know and remember, and the sins we have forgotten; the sins we have striven to hide from others and the sins by which we have made others offend; forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all for his sake, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, and now stands at your right hand to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (John Wesley – 1703-1791)

Happy Friday:

No longer do I call you servants, but I have called you friends.

Jesus, John 15:15

Who am I? Among the many ways I might be described – husband, dad, son, pastor, male, child of God, sinner, saint, sixty-year old, exile, believer, disciple, slave – one of the most shocking has to be: friend of God. To be clear, Christ’s statement in John 15 does not mean that God is “my buddy.” Nor does it imply that I am God’s friend in the same way that He is mine. (He does not need me like I need Him). But He does call me friend. Amazing.

Marriage Matters: One of the more surprising, controversial and overlooked points UVA sociologist Brad Wilcox makes in his many discussions about family life, is that marriage is needed less to formalize romantic ties between a husband and wife than it is to bind fathers to their children. 

Stuck in the Present: Last week I interviewed Dave Moore about his new book – Stuck in the Present: How History Frees and Forms Christians. That interview is available here.

Trending: I’m fielding more eschatology questions lately – e.g., “Mike, don’t you think the end is near? Mike, what do you make of the mark of the Beast? Mike, are you surprised that things are heating up in the Middle East? etc. Having been a pastor for over thirty years, I ’ve had time to rehearse my answers. 1) Relax. While I find the book of Revelation (and Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.) to be pretty challenging to interpret, one thing is clear, Jesus wins! His kingdom will come! There is no need for alarm. 2) For the last 2,000 years, someone has always been saying, “This is it. The world ends tomorrow.” For His part, when Jesus was asked about the end, He said, “No one knows the hour or day, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father;” and 3) You will be better off if you avoid those who suggest that “last month’s blood moon” or their new insight into Revelation 20, makes it clear that Jesus will return next Thursday. Walk away, find a Bible, and start rereading the Sermon on the Mount.

Speaking of Trending:  Last week I commented on how many articles had started to appear about legalizing psychedelics. This week three other topics become “hot.”: De-transitioning, UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, formerly known as UFOs) and rising housing prices. BTW, since I have frequently commented on demographic trends, I will not say more. But if you want to read from someone who thinks our baby dearth spells the end, click here. And if you want to read the counter point, click here.

Contentment: I was recently reminded what a great example Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation – which can be found here – provides us. If Lincoln could find ways to be thankful during the height of the Civil War, what excuse do we have?

The Last Word: Years ago I heard Dallas Willard say that he was working on “not having the last word in a contentious conversation.” I’m working on that now. It’s hard.

Acts 2: A friend recently pointed out how shockingly new and radical Acts 2:1 seemed when he read it last Sunday – which was Pentecost. It reads: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

ADD: Speaking of comments by friends, another noted that he keeps reminding himself that his ADD means, “Apologize Don’t Defend.” Ouch, that hits a bit too close to home.

Question of the Week: What was I worried about last month?

Closing Prayer: Father, you are love, and you see all the suffering, injustice and misery which reign in this world. Have pity, we implore you, on the work of your hands. Look mercifully on the poor, the oppressed, and all who are heavy laden with error, labor and sorrow. Fill our hearts with deep compassion for those who suffer, and hasten the coming of Your kingdom of justice and truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Eugene Bersier – 1831–1889).

Happy Friday,

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8

A pet tiger got loose in Houston last week. Given that there is no such thing as a “pet” tiger, city residents took the situation seriously. Perhaps there’s a lesson in that for us.

$$$: When Jesus spoke about money, he capitalized the “M” and suggested it was a power few could handle. He also had scary things to say about the spiritual well-being of those who had a lot of it, which likely includes you. (If you suspect otherwise, click here.) Is money more than money to you? Can you give large amounts of it away? Are you scared if you have less than normal? Are you jealous of those with more? Money is not intrinsically evil, but it is deceptively deceitful, and if your identity is in any way tied to it you are at risk. What we are after is not a thriving 401K, but godliness with contentment.

Coming Soon: Although I did not expect things to grow more contentious, the Supreme Court’s decision to hear a Roe v. Wade case this term makes that certain. In this piece, David French sets out three scenarios for the months ahead. 

A New Sport: The International Olympic Committee has announced that Virtue Signaling will be an exhibition sport at the 2024 games. Yes! I’ve been discouraged about my Olympic prospects since I failed to make the US Decathlon Team back in 1978. (In high school, I failed to advance out of Mr. Donaldson’s 6^th period gym class as they only took the top five competitors.) Given what I see in social media, many are in training, but this announcement gives me hope. I am not ready to give up my dream of making the Decathlon team, but I think Virtue Signaling is a better bet. 

JRWS @ 100: I failed to highlight April 29^th, which would have been John Stott’s 100^th B-day. Stott, a renowned author, theologian and former rector at All Souls Church in London, was widely regarded as one of the 20^th century’s leading “churchmen.” My brief interactions with him were formative for me. This commemorative piece explains why. Today’s closing prayer is from him. 

Quotes Worth Requoting: 1) To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. Tim Keller; 2) Pray until you pray. Unknown; 3) Good morning theologians! You wake and sing. But I, old fool, know less than you and worry over everything, instead of simply trusting in the Heavenly Father’s care. Martin Luther talking to the birds.

Parenting Advice: Parenting advice tends to come from those who’ve yet to have kids, consequently I’ve had less to say since the early 90s. But here is something that holds up. I direct this to parents of young children: the days are long but the years are short.

Courage: For various reasons, the topic of courage is in the news. Two things come to my mind: 1) Jim Collins observation that level five leaders are those who combine humility with an indomitable will. And 2) The film just about every US President since 1952 has listed as their favorite: High Noon. FWIW, it’s available on Amazon Prime. 

This Week’s Question: Am I my Brother’s Keeper? As I suspect you know, this is not a new question. But I raise it here, in the event that you have not pondered it lately. BTW, don’t be like Cain. The right answer is “yes.”

Without Comment: 1) 2020 saw the sharpest decline in US births since 1965 and the fewest number of births since 1979. The decline worsened during COVID, but the trend was already in place; 2) In the late 19^th century, 91% of US college presidents were members of the clergy; 3) In 1910, over 80% of Christians lived in the Global North – Canada, the US, Europe, Russia, etc. One hundred years later, over 60% of Christians live in the Global South – Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Closing Prayer: Good morning Heavenly Father, good morning Lord Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Lord Jesus, I worship you, Savior and Lord of the world. Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God. Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen. (John Stott)