Make the most of your time
There is Hope!: From tax collectors and prostitutes to lepers, Gentiles and Roman soldiers, the early church included the most scorned people in the culture. This is good news. It suggests that even the desperately broken person who looks back at you from the bathroom mirror is welcome in the family of God.
Looking Back: Alan Jacobs’ book, Breaking Bread with the Dead, has me on a quest for greater “personal density” – i.e., an expanded temporal bandwidth. C.S. Lewis made a related point to Oxford students on the eve of WWII. In a chapel talk entitled, “Learning in Time of War,” he writes: “Most of all, perhaps we need intimate knowledge of the past. Not that the past has any magic about it, but because we cannot study the future, and yet need something to set against the present, to remind us that periods and that much which seems certain to the uneducated is merely temporary fashion. A man who has lived in many places is not likely to be deceived by the local errors of his native village: the scholar has lived in many times and is therefore in some degree immune from the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press and the microphone of his own age.” (FYI, you can click here to listen to an interview with Jacobs).
Prayer Requests: There is enough going wrong in the US to occupy our attention – and dominate our prayers – but we must not overlook the more severe challenges being faced around the globe. Personal friendships have me focused on Nigeria and Belarus. In “The Mass Murder of Nigerian Christians,” you can catch up on some of the horror of the first. The situation in Belarus is so fluid I suggest you google prayer for Belarus.
The Synoptic Sermons: Last week’s entry comparing Luke’s Sermon on the Plain (blessed are the poor in spirit) with Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount (blessed are the poor) generated some questions. For what it’s worth, I am of the belief that some form of this talk was Jesus’s stump speech and He gave it many times in many villages – each slightly different. Matthew recorded one version, Luke recorded another.
Without Comment: 1) 2020 set a record for the most natural disasters costing at least $1 billion; 2) Internet searches for Bible verses soared this year, with Isaiah 41:10 being the most read: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Quotes Worth Requoting: “If once upon a time we looked to politics primarily for governance, we now look to it for belonging, righteousness, meaning, and deliverance—in other words all the things for which we used to rely on Religion.” David Zahl.
Why Believe?: Why do you believe what you do? Anthropologists suggest it has much to do with our parents; philosophers point to a “quadrilateral of authority;” Freud dismissed religious belief as the naïve wishes of the weak; some therapists suggest we believe whatever helps us sleep through the night. For the record, Luke – whose second chapter will be much in play this month – justifies belief in Christ in history. This means, he suggests we believe it because it happened and is true.
Part of the Problem: We all make assumptions about human nature. Part of the problem today is that we bring our assumptions – which may be quite different from those held by our neighbor – into our understanding of justice, freedom, tolerance, respect, human rights and more. As a result, we talk right past each other.
The Path Forward: Last month I heard Lecrae, a Christian rap artist, suggest we stop discussing the fatherlessness of the inner city when exploring the problems faced by Blacks. I am sympathetic. To be clear, I not only believe the family is God’s plan, and the best ministry of health, education and welfare. I also believe that we have all the documentation we need to prove as much and that those who stand against the family as a patriarchal, damaging or exploitative institution are tragically wrong. However, Lecrae’s point is, we need to move on. It’s time to stop discussing and to find ways to support and help build healthy, hopeful and stable families in our city’s centers.
Closing Prayer: Lord, your grace has cut down the tree of sin in my life, but the stump and its roots are still there and they go deep. Must I always guilty prove, and idols in my heart have room? Oh! Let the fire of heavenly love the very stump of Self consume. Amen. (John Newton 1725-1807)
Next Week: There will be no Friday Update next Friday, Dec. 25th. So let me wish you a Merry Christmas now, and suggest that next week you reflect on Luke 2 and Phil. 2:5-11.
December 11, 2020
Qualified: A study recently announced that only 18 percent of pastors feel qualified to lead at this moment. Count me among those who would like to meet one of the 18 percent.
The Paradise Tree: Count me among the five year old boys who – after being reprimanded for bringing sticks into the home – was confused when my dad moved a tree into our living room. Why do we do it? I mean, what does an evergreen tree have to do with Jesus or Santa? If you’re curious, you can read the history of the Paradise Tree here.
Sign of the Apocalypse: Breakdancing will be an Olympic sport starting in 2024.
Values: Many now value “being true to themselves” over “being a good person.” Indeed, some would suggest that being “authentic” is the highest good. Those who take an honest look deep inside know this is a bad plan. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “For the first time I examined myself with a seriously practical purpose. And there I found what appalled me; a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears, a harem of fondled hatreds. My name was Legion.”
The Humiliation of God: Dorothy Sayers, an English playwright (and friend of C.S. Lewis), once said that God went through three great humiliations: 1) at the incarnation, when He surrendered deity to embrace humanity; 2) at the cross, when He was mocked, beaten and killed; and 3) at this moment, when He allows us to be His representatives on earth.
Without Comment: 1) Advances in neurological imaging mean what we understand about the brain is doubling every 18-24 months; 2) 69% of American children are born into a house with no college graduates; 3) Trust – which is the ratio of how many times you have been betrayed versus how many times the plan was followed – is at historic lows; 4) In conversations, Americans grow uncomfortable after a four second silence, the Japanese are comfortable up to eight seconds.
Freedom of Worship: The phrase Freedom of Worship is often code for the opposite – i.e., some who use it are implying that religion must be confined to worship spaces (in a church or your home) and not allowed in the public square. What we are after is Freedom of Religion, which means not only that we are free to choose what we believe, but that we are free to practice our faith and advocate for our views.
Quotes Worth Requoting: “If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” Lecrae (whose comments on race cost him 30,000 social media followers in a single day)
Mary Did You Know?: In his newsletter, Mark Galli asks, “What Did Mary Know? and When Did She Know It?” and then directs us to this Christmas song by Pentatonix, an acappella group.
Closing Prayer: I pray you, good Jesus, that as you have given me the grace to drink in with joy the Word that gives knowledge of you, so in your goodness you will grant me to come at length to yourself, the source of all wisdom, to stand before your face forever. Amen. (Bede, The Venerable, 672-735)
December 4, 2020
Forgiveness is central to the Christian faith – not only God forgiving us, but our forgiving others. It is a command. Indeed, forgiveness is to be granted before it is felt, not felt before it’s granted.
Name the Two: A friend makes a persuasive argument that the trajectory of 2020 was altered by two “things.” The first is obvious: COVID. But what is the second? I mention his answer below, but I want to give you time to think of your own answer. Besides COVID, what do you think radically reshaped 2020?
Question of the Week: Annie Dillard – the provocative, unconventional, occasionally unorthodox and nearly-always brilliant writer, claims that THE theological question of all time is: What the Sam Hill is going on? Perhaps, but that’s not my question this week. I am trying to figure out: How many of the changes swept in by COVID are here to stay?
The Virtual Promotion of Virtue: Count AA meetings among those now facilitated via Zoom. And that is a good thing. Because now there is always an AA meeting available for someone struggling in a moment of weakness.
A Rerun: I appreciate Rick Warren’s reminder that God can use those of us who are tired, broken and spent. Indeed, those who see themselves this way are the ones He uses most. “Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rehab was immoral, David had an affair, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric, Peter was impulsive, Martha worried too much, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid.”
J, A and R: Jerusalem (the Bible), Athens (reason) and Rome (rule of law) combined to give us the West. In this brief post, George Weigel claims that because we rejected the first, we are losing the second and will soon lose the third.
Without Comment: 75% of the time a parent spends with their children has been spent by the time the child is 12 years old; nearly 3 in 8 homes in the US are rentals, and in 2019 nearly half of all renters had a net worth of less than $7K; the average attention span for a Millennial is 12 seconds, and for a Gen. Z is 8 seconds (you are to be congratulated for reading this far!); several decades ago, trust in institutions ran about 70%. It is now down to 19%. More disturbing: trust in others – which was 60% – is now down to 32%; more disturbing still: it is age related. Boomers are more trusting of others than Millennials and Gen Z.
Good News: David Brooks notes that journalists are not encouraged to share “good news,” but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. Here is some for this week: 1) According to the FBI, violent crime has fallen for the third year in a row, and it has dropped by over 50% since the 1990s. Today’s young are committing crimes at a significantly lower rate than their predecessors; 2) At the turn of the 21st century, 27.7% of the globe survived on $1.90 a day or less. That number is now 9.4% (and would have been 7.9% were it not for the pandemic); global life expectancy is up from 67.1 years to 73.2 years; adult literacy is up from 80% to 86.7%, the world-wide child mortality has dropped from 9.8M annual deaths to 5.2M; US per capita income is up from $42,970 to $56,663.
The Second Half of the Answer: What other than COVID changed 2020? Phone-based video recorders. (Think George Floyd.)
Declining the Gift: Down Syndrome has been called the “canary in the coal mine”for selective reproduction. And in case you haven’t noticed, the canary has died. Although women are having children later in life – which should mean more Down Syndrome children – both the numbers and the percentages of Down Syndrome children is down. Last year in Denmark, only 18 Down Syndrome children were born. I headlined this entry, “Declining the Gift,” because parents raising Down Syndrome children often feel that it is a huge privilege. I might have labeled it Eugenics.
Follett: I am just finishing the third book in Ken Follett’s Pillars trilogy set in the Middle Ages. They were a welcome diversion during COVID – and the arrival of the Plague in Kingsbridge made me appreciate how well we are weathering COVID. But I found the characters thin. I did not expect Follett – an atheist – to portray the Medieval church in a positive light. (He didn’t.) But I am surprised at how much he misunderstands how faith in God shapes people.
Closing Prayer: Grant me O most sweet loving Jesus, to rest in you above every creature, above all health and beauty, above all glory and honor, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtlety, above all riches and arts, above all joy and exultation, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and promise, above all desert and desire, above all gifts and presents which you are able to bestow or infuse, above all joy and gladness which the mind is capable of receiving and feeling; finally, above angels and archangels, and above all the heavenly host, above all things visible and invisible, and above all you are, O my God! Amen (Thomas a Kempis – 1380-1471)
November 27, 2020
Not Again: Next week I’m helping facilitate a conference in Portland. (Well, it was going to be in Portland. Now it will reside in Zoomland – AKA my home office.) Disappointment aside, my pre-conference training session opened with a one question survey: Pumpkin or Pecan Pie? The vote was 51/49. Wow, we really are a divided nation. (BTW, I am rethinking my attendance at the conference. I cannot imagine I’ve anything to learn from the idiots who voted for pecan pie.)
Without Comment: 1) According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve: the top 1% of the wealthy own 31% of the wealth; the next 9% own 39%; those between 50% and 90% own 29%; and the bottom 50% own 2%. 2) A cyclone headed to Somalia is predicted to drop two years of rain in two days. 3) 1 in 5 Americans will struggle with some type of mental illness in their lifetime, 90% of those who end their life have a mental illness, 25% of people living in shelters are mentally ill, and 1/3 of all alcohol abusers and 1/2 of all drug abusers have a mental illness.
Sorry in Advance: This piece by David Brooks should have been in your hands yesterday. (At least, that’s the case if you flouted CDC guidelines and celebrated T-Day with others.) I plan to send it your way earlier next year.
Quotes Worth Requoting: “Scripture calls us to give thanks in all circumstances. It does not say, we must feel thankful. The holiday is Thanksgiving, not Thanksfeeling.” Jim Denison
Nov. 22, 1963: Fifty-seven years ago last Sunday, three remarkable men died: John F. Kennedy (the 35th POTUS), Aldous Huxley (the seven time Pulitzer Prize nominee) and C.S. Lewis (a Christian apologist). The prominence of the first two overshadowed the passing of the third, although in Peter Kreeft’s book – Between Heaven and Hell, which imagines that the three of them meet immediately after death to debate what will come next – Lewis (as a Christian theist) bests Kennedy (as a humanist) and Huxley (as a mystic). I suspect it was the anniversary that prompted the Wall Street Journal to run this piece about Lewis.
Reconsidered: Adam Bryant believes servant leadership has lost its punch. I kept reading his tweet, expecting to disagree – not so much because I thought Robert Greenleaf’s essay The Servant Leader was so good, but because of Christ’s example. But Bryant won me over. It turns out he was doubling down on Christ’s example by noting that sometimes servant leadership is way too much about the servant. The real goal is selfless leadership. Or, as Lewis noted – the goal isn’t to think less of ourselves; it is to think of ourselves less.
The Preacher: While summarizing his doctoral work in communication, a friend noted that preachers sort themselves into four categories: 1) Life Coach (e.g. Rick Warren); 2) Story Teller (e.g. Max Lucado); 3) Artist (e.g. TD Jakes) or 4) Professor (e.g. Tim Keller). As I was thinking about these divisions, someone else made an even more astute observation. After agreeing with the four-fold approach, he said, “Perhaps, but at this moment churches do not need preachers as much as they need pastors.”
A Pastor in Action: Speaking of pastors, this 2 minute video is a great example of pastoral ministry in action.
What Would Gottman Say? John Gottman, a global leader in marital counseling and the founder of the Gottman Institute, is famous for watching a couple interact for ten minutes and then predicting (with 90+% accuracy) whether they will divorce. How does he do it? Gottman says that among the things he looks for is contempt. According to his research, a relationship can survive just about anything else. Hmm. After listening to talk radio, I wonder how long Gottman thinks the US can hold things together.
Closing Prayer: I thank thee that many of my prayers have been refused — I have asked amiss and do not have; I have prayed from lusts and been rejected; I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with thy patient work, answering ‘no’ to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Amen.
November 20, 2020
Systemic Racism: Few topics are as contentious at this moment as systemic racism. My belief that it is real, but overstated, generates attacks from just about everyone. Consequently, I’ve been hesitant to say anything. This article by David French – while not perfect – leads me to make an exception.
Not so Fast: If you are sick of 2020, do NOT read this Atlantic discussion with Peter Turchin. He is the Russian-born UConn academic who gained attention in 2010 after his math models predicted social storms in 2020. (He says the next five years will be worse.)
Another Approach: If you want to ignore Turchin and keep making fun of 2020, click here for another meme.
Black Friday: Since Black Friday ads started running before Halloween, I lost my chance to launch my annual preemptive strike against the commercialization of Advent. I am tempted to just repeat last year’s Black Friday advice and move on – i.e. if you are going Black Friday shopping, please be a decent human being and turn your phone horizontal before filming fights. But I can’t help myself. Let me at least repeat the Advent Conspiracy refrain: Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
This Week’s Question: Election maps make it clear that big cities vote blue and rural areas vote red. My question is: Will those leaving big cities (e.g. NY, Chicago, etc.) turn rural areas blue or will they change to red?
Without Comment:
- According to this New York magazine article, “roughly 30 percent of American women under the age of 25 identify as LGBT;” (for women over 60, that figure is less than 5 percent).
- According to this FBI report, religious and racial persecution in the US rose to its highest level in 2019, with 6 out of 10 religiously motivated hate crimes being anti-Jewish, 13% anti-Muslim, 4% anti-Catholic and 1.4% anti-Protestant.
- During 11.11 (China’s equivalent of Amazon’s Prime Day) on‐line retailer Alibaba did $56 billion in sales in the first 30 minutes it was open. (That figure compares to $10 billion in total sales for Amazon over their two-day Prime sale.)
- NBA player James Harden has turned down the Rockets’ offer to make him the first $50 million-per-year player.
- According to this annual tech study, if your iPhone camera had been built in 1991, it would have cost you $540K.
- The Mayo Clinic just announced that 900 of their staff have tested positive for COVID.
- McKinsey & Company estimates that pandemic-related school closures will lead to one million additional high school dropouts.
In News About News: In his book, Stop Reading the News, Rolf Dobelli recommends that we stop reading the news (obvious, right?). But just to be clear, he’s not saying stop reading and start watching. He is arguing that constant updates about what is happening right now obscures the big picture, gets risk assessment wrong, is a waste of time, is invented by journalists, destroys our peace of mind, kills creativity, gives us an illusion of empathy, encourages terrorism, and more. I am not recommending you stop reading the news so you can read Dobelli’s Stop Reading the News. I am recommending that you dial back on the news so you can dial up on Scripture.
Depression and Anxiety: Last week I heard from three therapists. The two who direct clinics were scrambling to hire more counselors. The one with a solo practice has never had so many new clients. You may lack professional training, but that shouldn’t stop you from realizing that just about everyone you meet is having a hard go of it and is headed into disappointing holidays. Find ways to quietly serve and spread joy.
RIP: Two spiritual leaders of note passed away this month, Richard Lovelace, whose book Dynamics of Spiritual Life, is one of two books Tim Keller has been recommending for thirty years and Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. The latter’s 2002 book The Dignity of Difference was one of the most electrifying and clarifying things I ever read. Though the second half disappointed, his explanation and analysis of globalization and its effects held me in a trance. You can read his WSJ obit here. We need more Lovelaces and Sacks.
Closing Prayer: Look on us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls disappear before the beams of your brightness. Fill us with your holy love, and open to us the treasures of your wisdom. You know all our desires, so bring to perfection what you have started, and what your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek your face, turn your face to us and show us your glory. Then our longing will be satisfied and our peace will be perfect. Amen. Augustine (354-430)
November 13, 2020
A Notable Difference: There is a difference between a conversation and a debate. The first seeks understanding. The second seeks to win. I’m not coaching any forensic teams, but I’m overhearing a lot of debates. BTW, are you focused on understanding those you disagree with? Are you trying to make a point or make a difference?
Frog in the Kettle: It’s claimed that if you place a frog in a pan of water, and then place that pan on a flame, the frog will relax and boil to death. Meanwhile, if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will quickly jump out and be OK. Neither claim is true. (Don’t report me to PETA, I am only reporting what I read.) Besides, today’s culture does not equate to a pot on a stove. The question we should be asking is, what happens to a frog in a microwave?
Prayer: Credit Eugene Peterson with noting that “prayer takes place in the middle voice.” (In Greek, the active voice is used when someone is doing something; the passive voice is used when a person is being acted upon; and the middle voice is used when a group of actors act upon each other.) He writes, “We neither manipulate God (active voice) nor are manipulated by God (passive voice). We are involved in the action and participate in its results, but we do not control or define it (middle voice).”
It Turns out I Like Authority: I depend on authoritative voices to help me navigate the science, technology, politics, and current events that shape my world. And it really ticks me off that we no longer agree on which voices are authoritative. It takes a lot of extra time to fact check.
The Annual Cull: Once a year I cull my books, jettisoning enough of them so that those remaining fit on the shelves. It’s not much fun, but it has to be done, and it is illuminating. A few years ago, I started getting rid of reference books because Google had replaced them. This year I realized that many of my eschatology books had not aged well, so out they went. I did hold on to 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Occur In 1988, because, well, it’s a classic. By the way: 1) I didn’t buy it, it was sent to every pastor in the country; 2) the author not only came out with 89 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Occur in 1989, he published similarly updated books in’91 and ’94 as well. And no, as far as I can tell, no one has yet written, 20 Reasons to Think the World Will End in 2020.
Leadership: I’ll never forget trying to do a word study on leadership, only to realize the word did not appear in the Bible. I will also never forget when I realized it was there all along, just spelled differently: S E R V E.
Without Comment: 1) Traffic at a website that explains “how to move out of the US” is up 1,676% over the last five months; 2) Americans are giving up their citizenship at the highest levels on record; 3) divorce rates are at a fifty year low (see graph here); 4) marriage rates in the US are at an all-time low (see graph here); 5) By the way, 64% of college-educated and economically better off Americans are in intact marriages, but only 24% of working-class and poor Americans are.
Prayer Requests: In addition to praying for the obvious – the country, President-elect Biden, those with COVID, those caring for those who are ill, those working to find ways to end its spread – I would ask that you pray that God’s children will be people of resilient joy. I think that will be in short supply as we move through a COVID-adjusted T-day and Christmas.
Sixty is the new…: Last week I noted that sixty years earlier “my parents became parents.” Some said they didn’t realize I had a much older sibling; a few noted that sixty is the new forty. Others – mostly family members – suggested that “60 is the new 58,” or that “60 is the new 65.” Tough crowd.
Closing Prayer: Grant, O Lord, that we may keep a constant guard on our thoughts and passions, that they may never lead us into sin; That we may live in perfect love with all humankind, in affection to those who love us, and in forgiveness to those, if any there are, who hate us. Give us good and virtuous friends. In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Warren Hastings (1732 – 1818)
November 6, 2020
Side Note: Sixty years ago today my parents became parents.
Big Head / Big Heart: When I was working with ScholarLeaders International (then called CISF), I had to defend our efforts to help leaders from the Two-Thirds World earn PhDs from those who felt education made people spiritually dead. My response? Given the choice between a “large heart and a small head,” or a “small heart and a large head,” choose the first. But why do we think we have to choose? Why not an expansive heart and a developed mind?
Boys vs Girls: It’s trendy to suggest that gender is a social construct. These statistics suggest otherwise. Note: If I was a professor, citing these stats would likely lead to a call from the dean (to say nothing of student protesters).
Kinda Boring: Steve Martin (yes the Steve Martin of white suits, banjos, SNL monologues and The Jerk fame) argues here that book stores only really need two categories: “I can’t put this down,” and “Kinda boring.” He prefers the first.
Without Comment: 1) Pew reports that in ‘97, 64% of Americans expressed confidence in each other’s ability to make wise political choices. Today, 34% do; 2) today 62% of Americans say they are afraid to share their political views with others; 3) a 2019 report from the Joint Economic Committee notes that: a) 1 in 4 millennials (adults b/w 24 and 40) speak a language other than English at home; b) 1 in 7 marriages among millennials is interracial; c) and as of 2015, most of the US population under the age of 5 is nonwhite; 4) the CDC reports that 39.6 percent of all births in the US are to unmarried women (a percentage 10X higher than in 1940).
Election Comments: I wanted to make this an election-free post, but given that there are only 1,188 days left until the 2024 Iowa caucuses, I thought that would be irresponsible. Here is a political claim you must immediately attend to: The Lord Reigns. And here is a political poster that strikes the same theme.
Word Nominations: Last week I asked for nominations for the 2020 word of the year. Pivot received the most votes, mask came in second, with curate and unprecedented straggling in. I also received a nomination for “colonoscopy prep” as the official beverage of 2020. I didn’t realize that was a category, but if it is, that seems like a winning entry. BTW, in the “let’s knock 2020” category, I thought this meme was clever. And if you live in California – where T-day gatherings are limited to six but funerals can have thirty – here is some advice. Schedule a funeral for your pet turkey on Thursday, Nov. 26th, noting that refreshments will be served.
Who Moved?: A couple weeks ago I asked if the left had moved further left or the right further right. As expected, both sides argued that they were stable and that the other guy was becoming even more extreme. I suspect more than a few PhD dissertations will be written about this. I also suspect that the question itself is a bit of a Rorschach test. What is beyond guessing is that we need an objective standard, such as the Word of God.
Helpful: I appreciated the efforts of Tim Dalrymple (the President of Christianity Today) to explain why the political views of your friends may have surprised you this election.
Perspective: By the way, if you are having a bad day, take heart. It could be worse. You could be a pollster.
Closing Prayer: Most gracious Father, we most humbly beseech you for your holy church. Fill it with all truth; in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where anything is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in need, furnish it; where it is divided and torn apart, make up its breaches, O holy One of Israel. Amen. William Laud (1573 – 1645)
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October 30, 2020
Cain and Abel: One of the few things I remember from Sunday School as a child, was that Cain killed Abel because “Abel wasn’t able to defend himself.” This week I heard someone suggest that this murder happened “at church.” I hadn’t heard that before. But now that I have, it does explain a few things.
Lie to Your Kids. I am re-running this WSJ article by Erica Komisar, a therapist who suggests that atheists lie to their children about God, because “the alternative is to tell them that they’re simply going to die and return to dust.” To be clear, I do not believe we should embrace Christ because Christianity is helpful. Rather, I believe we should yield to Him because He is God and Christianity is true. But in Don’t Believe in God? Lie to Your Children, Komisar makes a point too few seem to see: nihilism has consequences.
Praise Versus Thanksgiving: As one who promotes the ACTS acrostic for prayer – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication – I remain on the lookout for better ways to explain the difference between Adoration (praise) and Thanksgiving. My answer to date has been: we praise God for who He is; we thank Him for what He has done. This week’s devotional reading included Habakkuk 3, where the prophet declares: Even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! Perhaps the way I should contrast praise and thanks is to note that we should praise God “even though things are not unfolding as we wish.” (It seems that next week about half of the country may need to be reminded that they should praise God even though their candidate lost.)
Zoom Towns: Now that COVID has fast-forwarded working-from-home, Zoomtowns – i.e., the 1,522 US towns that: 1) have a population less than 25,000; 2) are located near a park or lake; and 3) are at least 15 miles from a census-designated urban area – are booming. (Forbes lists some of the most popular ones here.)
My Apologies: It turns out Wednesday (Oct. 28) was Chocolate Day and I let it go by unheralded. Sorry. The least I could have done is repeat the many health benefits of dark chocolate. After all, as Charles Schultz said, “All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Without Comment: 1) Early expectations were that sheltering-in-place would lead to both a baby boom and a spike in divorces. Neither seems to be happening. In this report, we hear that the pandemic has made people appreciate their spouse more and that the number of couples reporting that their marriage is in trouble has fallen from 40% in 2019 to 29% in 2020; 2) eighty thousand Southern Baptists, most of them older adults, have been trained in disaster relief and have responded to 136 disasters across the country.
Old Books: I’ve been a fan of old books since hearing C.S. Lewis advocate for them (which you can read here). My appreciation of Alan Jacobs – the author of Breaking Bread with the Dead – is more recent, but sincere. So, I was excited to hear him interviewed by The Trinity Forum’s Cherie Harder. You can listen to the interview here or read a modified transcript here.
Quotes Worth Requoting: “When the early believers converted to Christ, it never occurred to them to fit Him into the margins of their busy lives. They redefined themselves around a new, immovable center. He was not an optional weekend activity, along with the kids’ soccer practices. They put Him and His church and His cause first in their hearts, first in their schedules, first in their budgets, first in their reputations, first in their very lives. They devoted themselves.” Ray Ortlund
Branding: I know it’s been going on for a while, but it still rankles me that every piece of fruit I go to bite into has a sticker on it. It makes me want to track down the marketers at Del Monte and Dole and say, “Look, God made this piece of fruit. When you can start with nothing and create an apple, you can take credit for it.”
The Fourth Branch: A healthy democracy really, really, really, really, really needs a press it can trust. It seems to me that we have fewer journalists and more ideological propogandists out there, and I do not have the time to triangulate every news story I hear.
Bowling Alone Turns 20: The 20th anniversary of Robert Putnam’s seminal book, Bowling Alone, did not go unnoticed. But most of the celebration directed Putnam’s way has been reserved for his new release, The Upswing. In it, the 79 year old Harvard professor – and his co-author, Shaylyn Romney Garrett – not only document society’s decline since the 60s – e.g., the retreat of civic organizations, the heightened polarization between political parties, the widening income inequality gap, the decline in religious attendance, the spike in deaths of despair, etc. – they explore some ways forward.
Nominations Now Accepted: In a few months, publications will roll out their summaries of 2020, which will include their choice for Word of the Year. I am accepting nominations now. Sheltering-in-place, social-distancing, herd immunity, Zoom (Zooming, Zoombombing, etc.), woke, quaranteam, flattening the curve, pandemic, second wave, COVIDIOT, key workers and Brexit have already been claimed.
Prayer Requests: Being president has never been easy. It now seems likely that whoever wins next week’s election will not only inherit a host of problems and a very divided electorate, but more than a few are convinced that their election is somehow illegitimate. Please remember Paul’s advice to Timothy (1 Tim 2:1f): I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Closing Prayer: O Lord, calm the waves of this heart, calm its tempests! Calm yourself, O my soul, so that the divine can act in you! Calm yourself, O my soul, so that God is able to repose in you, so that his peace may cover you! Yes, Father in heaven, often have I found that the world cannot give me peace, but make me feel that you are able to give me peace; let me know the truth of your promise: that the world may not be able to take away your peace. Amen. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
October 23, 2020
Everybody can be great: If you are looking for a 60 second inspiration break, click here. If you want to see the only political ad that makes me say “Yes!” and “Finally!,” click here.
Without Comment: 1) Another new study finds that “highly religious” couples have fewer disagreements, and that the women in these relationships are happier and more sexually satisfied; 2) Gallup notes that 86 percent of Americans see political bias in news; 3) this study claims that fewer than one in four Americans has a friend who holds an opposing political viewpoint; 4) here is another survey noting that university faculty lean left (this one notes that 98 percent of the donations from University of Wisconsin faculty are for Dems).
Quotes Worth Requoting: There are three things I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. Linus
The Tension is Rising: While talking with Jason (our youngest son, and the publisher of The Pour Over, a 3x/week news summary for Millennial Christians), he and I both noted a growing agitation among our readers. More particularly, we both noted that if we say anything about COVID or the election we draw fire from all sides.
What to Do If People Are Agitated with You: While I am sure your email box only ever overflows with notes of affirmation, should someone eventually suggest you have the intellect of a garden rake, remember this: the book of Proverbs breaks people into three groups – the wise, the foolish and the evil – and suggests we adjust our response accordingly. By the way, you do not have to be a Millennial or a Christian to sign up for The Pour Over. It’s not Conservative. Not Liberal. Just Christian. It’s also free, helpful and it only takes 30 seconds to sign up. Click here.
New Holidays: The number of “holy-days” is growing. But with the exception of Juneteenth, the others (e.g., Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Prime Day) seem little other than brazen attempts to get us to shop. BTW, last week’s Prime Day generated $3.5 billion in sales, up 60% from last year.
Bad Feeling: I may be wrong, but it looks like another Nobel Prize season has come and gone and no one from Stockholm has tried to reach me. I talked with a guy who supposedly knew a guy who would talk to a guy who could put in a good word for me. I thought I was a lock. What do you have to do to win one of those things?
Question – Who Moved Further?: Over the last twenty years, the left has moved left and the right has moved right. Which group has moved the furthest?
Thinking Well About the Election: I recently had a chance to interview two prominent and long-serving senior pastors. The discussion was about shepherding a church during this contentious moment. I was not planning on making this broadly available, but I think their insights are too good not to share with everyone. Click here.
Closing Prayer: Show me, O Lord, Your mercy, and delight my heart with it. Let me find You whom I so longingly seek. Behold, here is the man whom the robbers seized, manhandled, and left half dead on the road to Jericho. Kind-hearted Samaritan, come to my aid! I am the sheep who wandered into the wilderness. Seek after me and bring me home again to Your fold. Do with me according to Your Will, that I may abide with You all the days of my life, and praise You with all those who are with You in heaven for all eternity. Amen. (St. Jerome, 347 – 419)
October 16, 2020
By the way, I realize most people do not capitalize the H in Heaven, but ever since reading Peter Kreeft’s book, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven But Never Dreamed of Asking!, he notes that we need to think about Heaven “as if it were a real place like Boston” (which it is) “rather than a wispy abstraction like ‘wellness’.” He goes on to note that Heaven is just as real as Peoria and Timbuktu. More real, in fact. Because in a thousand years there will be no Peoria, but there will be Heaven.”
From Heaven to “Almost Heaven, West Virginia:” Last week’s positive response to pictures led me to offer them again. Here are some stunning pics of West Virginia. They make me want to flee the suburbs of the Midwest.
RC-SCOTUS: If ACB is confirmed to the Supreme Court – and as I write this, that seems likely –her addition will not only secure a conservative majority on the court, it will secure a Roman Catholic one. Given that the US has only had one RC President (JFK), this is a bit surprising. What is it about the Catholic Church that seemingly positions one for the bench but not the Oval Office? Here are a few other religious stats about our leaders:
- 54.9% of Members (233 in the House, 60 in the Senate) are Protestant.
- 30.5% of Members (141 in the House, 22 in the Senate) are Catholic.
- 6.4% of Members (26 in the House, 8 in the Senate) are Jewish.
- 1.9% of Members (6 in the House, 4 in the Senate) are Mormon.
- 2 Members (1 in the House, 1 in the Senate) are Buddhist.
- 3 Representatives are Muslim.
- 3 Representatives are Hindu.
Stop Demonizing | Start Praying: The left and right are not simply disagreeing, they are vilifying. Don’t go there. We are called to love our enemies, and I am pretty sure that includes not ascribing evil intentions to their political positions. We must hold their humanity in mind as we extend them the same grace we also require.
Two Disturbing Views: I have not taken the time to fully vet either film – which makes recommending them dangerous – but because I run behind on viewing, I am recommending both Social Dilemma (on Netflix) and Just Mercy (DVD). I may say more about them later.
2020 Humor: A new genre of humor is emerging: jokes about 2020. I first heard someone say they were not turning their clocks back “because no one wants an extra hour of this year.” I then saw a meme which read: “we’re officially in the fourth quarter of 2020, man I hope we are playing the Falcons” (sorry to my in-laws in Atlanta). And then there was this. I am not surprised that people want 2020 to be over. But, I do wonder why they expect 2021 to be better.
Without Comment: 1) NFL viewing is down 11%; 2) Ten million people have already voted, dwarfing all earlier elections; 3) The number of pastors who believe their churches will survive the pandemic is dropping. Early on, 70% were ‘very confident’ their church would emerge on the other side. That number is now 58%. Many now suggest 20% will close.
Quotes Worth Requoting:
- “The end of the Book of Revelation should never be read as, ‘We win!’ Rather, ‘The Lamb has triumphed over all things, including us!’ He’s not on our team, we’re trophies of his grace.” Scotty Smith.
- “I’d rather hang out with a humble conservative than a self-righteous liberal. And I’d rather hang out with a humble liberal than a self-righteous conservative. Humility is life-giving. And self-righteousness is always toxic.” Shane Claiborne.