“Take Notes” by Tom Painter
“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. – Jeremiah 21:8
In a world that despises anything that approaches absolute clarity, God’s statement to his people is so refreshingly clear. All of life boils down to two paths – life or death. There is no complicated middle ground. The life led by the Spirit leads to life that exceeds our ability to imagine its goodness. The life that follows anything else is inherently corrupt. At its core it is rotten and leads to horrible suffering and spiritual death.
I confess that in the past, in the name of tolerance and getting along, I have been overly patient and understanding of the other path. The strongest insight that I have gained during my own 100 Day Challenge is that those on the path of death deserve to be warned with as much clarity as God gave to the people of Israel through Jeremiah.
Jesus was merciful and loving without sacrificing clarity. The woman caught in adultery understood the depravity of her choices even more clearly through the mercy of Jesus than through the condemnation of the Pharisees. We should be the same with those around us. Jesus’ mercy exceeds every sin when we confess it and we are all guilty.
Since most people reading this are members of Christ’s church, let me make a plea to you. Do not flirt with the world. The only place you can flourish and grow is in the Church. Don’t hang out on the periphery of the fellowship! Move to the core where you have strong ties to the Way of life. The Christian life should not be attempted solo. Without our bonds of fellowship, we are easy prey!
Friend, have you “messed up”? Do you need a 2nd chance?
According to a study from Duke University, roughly 40% of a person’s actions don’t happen because we make a conscious decision. This 40% of our actions are determined by habit. Wendy Wood, in her session at the American Psychological Association’s 122nd annual convention, discussed habits. She explains, “Habits allow us to focus on other things…Willpower is a limited resource, and when it runs out you fall back on habits.”
In OT Hebrew she is EM (אֵם) and in NT Greek she is MYTYR (μήτηρ). The mere mention of MOM evokes all kinds of emotions and images. Why? Why are MOMS so impactful? What have they given to our world?
This past week I started my final class in the MBA program at Thomas More College. I am determined to finish my degree with the same energy I started the program with, but this may not be the case for everyone. Some students take it easy towards the end of his or her respective academic endeavor. This may happen to a high school student taking it easy on school work during his or her final days of senior year. It could be a college student expecting to earn his or her degree shortly and they go through the motions. No matter the academic level, there are students who will not have the energy to finish strong. Does this happen to Christians? Do we know Christians who do not have the same energy to serve as they once had? Why is this important? When we put on Christ in baptism, our commitment does not end. It only begins. Finishing what we started is critical. The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 says, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
Today is the 6th day of Summit’s 100 Day Challenge. How are you doing? Where is your Challenge checklist? Is it on the refrigerator where you will see it each morning? Maybe it is with your Bible to check as you read the Word each day, or on your night stand where you can begin or end the day with your success. Have you stepped out of your comfort zone just a little this week and done things a little differently? If you miss a day, don’t give up, strive to do better tomorrow.
As our midweek service was about to begin I received a message from David Cooper. He could not make it because the 275 Hwy was shut down. Having heard that there was a death he said he was praying. A few minutes ago, Ben Buchanan asked me to add his good friend, Andrew Shipley, to our prayers. He has something stuck in his throat and about to undergo surgery.
Is it wise to bring children into this tumultuous world? This question has plagued us since the dawn of Christianity. Jesus warned:
Life has a way of humbling us. Our routines can be turned upside down by an unexpected event that can shake us to our core. Whether it be a sudden serious illness, loss of employment, or death of a loved one, we continually are reminded how fragile our lives can be.