2.22.2020 - week 43
on the 2020 politics.
the california primary is two weeks away. that means i can’t turn around twice without seeing a political ad. and like many of the people reading this, i am tired of it.
tired of feeling like polarity is the only real option
tired of the cyclical infighting of demonizing the people in office
tired of reading angry facebook posts
kinda done w all of it.
but of course … as a christian and a citizen, i gotta do better than that. scripture calls us to:
- pray for our leaders (1 timothy 2:1-2)
- understand that no matter how we feel about them, they are ‘from’ god (romans 13:1)
- obey our leaders including pay our taxes (1 peter 2:13-14 + romans 13:7 + matthew 22:21)
it’s amazing how easy it is to dislike something without knowing what you want it to be. after some reflection, i have to be honest enough to say that although i have a clear list of political dislikes, i have never thought in great detail about what i believe in politically. so i took the time to do something i probably should have done a long time ago. i wrote a personal philosophy of politics. it’s what i believe from my experience and view.
i am anti ‘political games.’ the people who win elections should be released (inside the law of course) to do the things they campaigned on. when politicians use technicalities and games to slow government down, that really bugs me. i am radically pro-life. from conception to grave, every life matters to god and must be fought for. i believe in low taxation and limited government. in general, the government isn’t the best or most efficient solution to most problems. i believe systemic problems demand systemic solutions. vulnerable people can’t fight for themselves, they need those in power to fight for them. i believe that better decisions come from diverse voices. in general, if given the option, i want to add more women and people of color to the power structure. i prefer strong state and local governments over the tendency to keep increasing federal power. i believe some justice issues should be surfaced in conversation or online, but i don’t believe in criticizing or engaging anyone with negativity. this is partially due to my role as a pastor, believing i should save my influence for spiritual concerns with a bible in my hand, not wanting to fight with a keyboard.
agree or disagree or both or whatever. the point is that you should enter this 2020 election season not just sure about what you don’t like, but thinking clearly about what you do.
KG Korner
(a few wise words from lady kristen macdonald)
“Be strong and courageous”
Whether we have read these words on the front a card we’ve received or it’s pinned on our pinterest board for our son’s bedroom or maybe it’s a Bible verse we’ve heard preached - these are words we are familiar with and desire to live out. Let’s jump to Joshua chapter one where we find them.
Joshua was getting passed the baton of leadership from Moses. He had apprenticed Moses for a while and now it was his turn because Moses had passed on. One amazing piece of the puzzle was that Moses had led the people of Israel and because of their grumbling they were in the wilderness for forty years (!!!) and yet as they enter the promised land Joshua gets to take on leadership. He gets to reap from Moses’ obedience. As the baton is getting passed to him - God gives him this instruction to be strong and courageous with a really powerful promise: God’s presence. He says to him, “Just as I was with Moses so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
Then He says to Joshua that he should lead by knowing the Law and reminds him that success comes from following God’s way. He then comes back to the same idea of ‘Be strong and courageous,” and says that the mindset that he needs to beware of is fear. I’ve heard the antidote to fear is faith; and this text reveals that God knows the plan for Joshua’s life - that he would most likely feel the weight of the shoes he was trying to fill and the power to overcome wasn’t going to be found in himself but in the person who would be with him through it all, “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
But my favorite part of this story came at the end of the chapter after Joshua goes around to the camp telling the people that it’s time - they are days away from entering the promised land. He gives them the low down and their response was really beautiful and has been on my mind the last few days. “And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!” They understood that the presence of God in the leader was the thing that brought power. They didn’t want a leader led by their own devices but by God who moves in power.
There’s something this week, this month, this year that you will have to be strong and courageous for as you lead in various capacities. There is an opportunity to either “white knuckle it” through (which we have all done and man, can that be ugly!) or you can lean into the presence of God for supernatural wisdom and power. Often God shows us people in the Bible that were going along making strong and courageous decisions in small things and because of that he then allows them a few big moments where they then shine for Him because they are plugged into his presence and that’s the power propelling them and supplying them with all that they need. The beauty of “being strong and courageous” isn’t found in flexing muscles but in pointing to the one whose presence in you made all the difference.
cup of leadership
hey christians
let’s stop treating those down on their on their luck or stuck in their sin like we are worried we are going to catch what they have.
if god is near to the broken hearted (psalm 34:18) and very present in trouble (psalm 46.1) and we claim some version of the WWJD concept, then we probably should run away or wear masks yeah?
book review
it’s impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.
that’s the thesis of pete scazzero’s book ‘emotionally healthy spirituality.’ i picked this up as assigned reading for a class i’m taking this semester and was blown away. integrating important counseling concepts w. a true respect for god’s word, scazzero truly helps the reader see more clearly. what we must see is that wounds from the past and generational family dynamics must dealt with as we mature in christ. if our only prescriptions for those in pain are MORE PERSONAL BIBLE READING !!!, we send people to a great fight with inadequate weapons. this book will help you …. highly highly recommended.
content this week
this was a catch up week …. new sermon, no new podcasts
by all means catch up on past episodes of welcome to the war and mac pack wack world of sports
the next message in ‘just do it’ through the book of james is up on youtube.
don’t leave the scene. if you are caught in a cycle of struggle, i think it will encourage you.
verse of the week
and a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
james 3:18
2 pieces of good news I saw this week
1. FROM KRISTEN .. The invisible woman video - I was shown this video at MOPS this week and I think it is a beautiful monologue about building a life that is for the audience of one. If you’re a mom or wife or woman who feels weary but is trying your best I think this will encourage your heart.
2. it’s a bit of a barren sports time right now … the boys got me watching this video - one of our fave guys from our fave team tottenham hotspur score 50 goals. its all success and smiles, i promise you will enjoy.