Month: June 2020

Love in the Midst of Protest

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

  • Black Lives Matter
  • All Lives Matter
  • Those who want to overthrow the Police Departments
  • Those who want to reform the Police Departments
  • Those who are offended by the looting and violence
  • Those who believe violence is the only way the greater society will listen
  • Those who find kneeling during the national anthem a legitimate form of protest
  • Those who are offended at the kneeling of the national anthem
  • Those who defend President Trump
  • Those who can’t even stand the sight of Trump

Screen Shot 2020-06-06 at 4.54.05 PMThere are many more polarities in our society.

The thing I find disturbing about where our society is that every side is absolutely convinced they are right and those who don’t agree with them are wrong.

There is no room for dialogue. There is no room for respectful disagreement.

If that be the case, there is no way forward. Only war. Only more discord.

What if “All Lives Matter” people truly take the time and effort to seek understanding why someone would say, “Black Lives Matter” and visa versa?

What if we all took a position and posture of wanting to understand and see things from the other’s perspective? What if we all took a posture of learning from others?

For only when we are able to learn from one another will we find mutual solutions to the wrongs in our society. There is plenty wrong. Oh, there is plenty wrong in our world. But we won’t solve anything when we refuse to learn, listen, and understand.

Love seeks to learn, listen, and understand the other so that eventually there is never an other.

So listen again to the words of the Apostle Paul and apply them to your life today:

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Christ In Us

Screenshot 2020-06-03 at 5.59.21 PM

“I am the vine you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

Think back to January of 2020.
Things that are happening in our world today would have been truly unbelievable, indescribable. We are living through what would have been considered Hollywood worthy.
While these things may have taken us by surprise, while these things may seem overwhelming to us, nothing happening is taking God by surprise. And what is remarkable is that God placed churches like the Little Church on the Prairie and Lakewoodgrace and Christians all throughout this land so that God can show up everywhere there is a church and where Christians are present.
You see, Jesus promises to dwell and live in every Christian. Jesus is present in every church that bears his name.
Many are asking, “Where is God in all this?”
God is present, really present wherever Christians are. Christ is living in you.
C.S. Lewis writes: “Let me make it quite clear that when Christians say the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being ‘in Christ’ or Christ being ‘in them,’ this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying him.
“They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts – that we are his fingers and muscles, the cells of his body.”
You and I are placed in our communities to be Christ’s presence in our crazy world. We are strategically placed in our families and communities to be hope in a world that seems chaotic. We are placed in our social contexts to be Christ’s real presence in a world that is searching for meaning and purpose.
We are Christ’s body. God is at work wherever you are at work to be Christ’s presence to the people around us.
Continue with your calls. Keep sending notes, emails, and cards. Continue to check in with one another. More than ever, pray. Pray for our country, cities, and church. Every time we do, Christ is present.
Thank you for being the church. Thank you for being a blessing!

On Earth As It is In Heaven

Screen Shot 2020-06-02 at 1.35.26 PM

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)

As we watch and read about the madness of our culture fractured by systemic issues and violence it is easy to succumb to the feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness. Really, what can I do to change our culture? What can I do to impact what is taking place on the streets of our cities?

Don’t fall for this lie.

There is much you can do.

You can absolutely make a difference.

While God may not be asking us to change the world, God is absolutely asking us to change our world.

Your job and mine is to carve into this dark and hopeless world a piece of God’s kingdom where God’s will is done here on earth as it is in heaven. In our world, in our hearts, homes, neighborhoods, and communities, you impact the world in such a way that everyone around you knows that they are in the presence of God’s kingdom.

  • While the world sees black and white, we will love all human beings as brothers and sisters
  • While the world treats the wealthy and the poor differently, in our world we treat all human beings with dignity
  • While the world resorts to violence and anger, in our world we will always choose God’s peace and love

While we may not be able to change the world, we absolutely can change our world. And together, as we claim more and more territory for God, God will change the world.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”