I Have to Confess... After Writing This, I Need A Nap!

My son once asked me why God created in 6 days instead of 8, or 3, or 10.  At the time I simply shrugged and said, “I’m not sure.”  I gave some thought to it and shared that the number 7 has great significance Biblically, and that God does what He wants to with purpose that is beyond our ability to understand sometimes.  You know, the pat answers that tend to be offered for the unexplained portions of Scriptures… “Mystery!”  In the years since though, I’ve given that interchange a lot of thought.

I Have to Confess, I Am A Radical At Heart... But It's Not What You Think.

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I’ve got to confess that I’m a little surprised by a recent assertion that “rebellion starts somewhere” by a long time friend of mine who, as it happens, is black.  Not that I wouldn’t expect her to rightfully be passionate about the mistreatment of black people in this country… It’s more surprising to me that she would sound like she's embracing, at least the possibility of, overlooking the means if they produce a particular end.  It seems so unlike her to yield to anger and throw her own valuation of life and values out of the equation.  But she, like so many others in this country, seems to be wearied by this constant state of tension around matters of race.  And whether we like it or not, racism still exists in 2014 American life.  It is a reality.  To what extent, and who the aggressors are, I will leave for others to argue over... those topics aren't the reason for this particular confession.  I am writing to address the thought of "rebellion" as a solution.  I want to share some thoughts on radical change in the relationships Americans have between differing cultures.  But, as with all things, I must confess that I view it all through the bifocals of my faith in Jesus Christ.

To begin, I feel that the Body of Christ, if it is indeed a body, should not only be speaking and speechifying about issues surrounding reconciling Love and Christ-like Peace; Christians should EMBODY these principles for the world to see. 

I Must Confess, I AM An Optimist...

“An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be.” – Oscar Wilde

It may seem odd to many, but I feel that one of the results of sincere and abiding faith in Jesus should be optimism. Optimism doesn’t pay attention to present ordeals.  It is instead a fuel for vitality and hope to keep going when others would have already given up.   Optimism born through the inspiration of faith allows us to turn toward the future and continue to move forward with a song on our hearts, proclaiming God’s victory in reclaiming that future for sinners who seek His forgiveness.   Further, optimism will not allow us to abandon that promise to the enemy, because it also reminds us that the Engineer who designs and builds that future is currently working to make sure we are getting moved into a mansion built just for us. (One that will be the perfect size.)

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." - James 1: 2-3

May you always look on the bright side of any trial… and may you realize that the bright side is bright because Jesus is there ahead of you to light the way.

Love in Christ,

Chris