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Voting is not the most important thing you can do today.

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Most of us will post on social media that we have voted. This is a very important part of our country. In fact it might be the most important thing we do as citizen of this nation today. It is integral part of helping shape our nation. But it is not the most important thing you can do today.

The most important thing you can do today is love your neighbor. This is in fact the most important thing you do everyday. If all you ever did was vote you would miss out on the ways we can serve those around us. Jesus never said to vote. In fact Jesus avoided the politics of the day at every turn. He did however call all of us as Christian to love our God and love our neighbor. That might start with your vote but it shouldn’t end there.

Our part is to be kind to our neighbors who are sad at the outcome of an election. To help our neighbor who is struggling with illness. To help our neighbor who is hurting at the loss of a loved one or hurting because they lost their job. When I serve my neighbor, I am serving my lord. The one who first served me. So today go out and vote but don’t forget to serve those in need today. It is the most important thing we do everyday.

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Mark 12:28-34 ESV

What are you doing for school in the fall?…That burning feeling in the pit of our stomach.

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Photo by Adonyi Gu00e1bor on Pexels.com

This week I have heard too many families to count trying to navigate what they are planning to do this coming school year. We have parents wanting to send them to school at any cost, those who want to keep them home and safe at any cost, Those who want a hybrid model, those who just don’t know what to do and are paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice This doesn’t even include teachers and their families. All of it is probably too much to for all of us to know what to do. Add to that the fear of protests, elections, and layoffs might have it seem like too much for us to handle. You might have that burning feeling in the pit of your stomach.

I will admit the title of this article is meant to get you to click the link. I really want all of us to think about our kids. Here is the thing. Our kids are listening. Our kids are hearing your stress and fears. Our kids are hearing our anger. So stop and lets reset. Here are three things to remember this fall.

First, you will not ever make the perfect decision. In fact none of us will. For your kids sake please try to show them kindness and joy. Try to be as positive as you can for them as you navigate this impossible situation.

Second, pray and listen. This isn’t something you should take lightly. Probably more than any other year of sending kids to school we have some real fears about what it will be like. Will it be safe and will it be good for them? I for one am trusting in Jesus that he will be with our kids through all the ups and downs of the year.

Lastly, as I was reading the scriptures I came across one of my favorite stories. This one where they had a burning feeling as well. Lets get that burning feeling not in our stomach but in our heart. When those disciples were talking along the road to Emmaus they were in a moment of fear.

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”…. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:14-18, 30-32 NIV

Our job as parents is to remind ourselves, our family and especially our kids, that Jesus is setting our hearts on fire for him. Jesus is in control. This year will be hard. We will have ups and downs, victories and defeats. Yet through all of it Jesus has the victory. He walks with us on these roads of fear and brings us a heart of peace. My prayer for us this year is we have hearts that are on fire knowing he is with us and we can proclaim that to a world living in fear.

Life isn’t this simple. We don’t live in a meme life

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I can’t take it anymore. I know I am not alone in this, but the one thing I hate about Facebook/Social media is the amount of time friends, family, and others try to make a major social issue of our day into a simple meme. Life just isn’t that simple. It never has been, and it is hurtful when others try to post something to make it seem like it is. Life is messy, complicated, and tough. The answers are messy, complicated and tough as well.

Christians today are falling into the trap of trying to make our faith response to those around us simple as well. We can post things that seem like a gotcha moment. It almost never is. Most of the time we either get angry at you, ignore you, block your posts, or say something to you. Obviously this is complicated in any Christian’s life.

Over this past week, I know I have struggled to not respond to former students, family and friends who either post a meme thinking they got someone else, or that they are somehow a better Christian by using the right words with the right hashtag. Let’s be honest. Jesus spoke in words that were much more complicated than a simple meme.

I will be honest. This summer I am going to miss one of the things that allows me to see the world in a longer form story. You see, this summer, I don’t get to do a Group Mission trip. I don’t get to take students into communities for the deep dive into a week in the lives of people different from them. In communities where a simple meme doesn’t mean that much. People who have lost everything because of illness, or life. Where the Church serves people outside of political posturing, or right words. We just sit, listen, and serve. I am going to miss it. No short term mission trips don’t let us know all the problems but they are much better than a meme.

So here’s hoping that, like you, I can stop posting memes to make a point. Here’s hoping that more of us will actually have a conversation and talk about the depth of the problems and solutions. Here is praying for solutions that will actually work, not just pie in the sky dreams. Life with people is complicated and messy. Jesus did it with people. He always said a lot and didn’t over simplify it. We can disagree about what Jesus would do in these situations as we try to be a follower of Jesus.

Lastly, if you want to post something, maybe do what my friend Tim does and post funny stuff. Seriously, the guy has deep opinions, but if you need a break to process and just laugh, Tim’s Facebook page has all the funny memes all the time. He will talk about real stuff but facebook is for the funnies!

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”[f]

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[g] and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Acts 28:24-30 ESV

You set a table before me.

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

Over the last number of weeks I feel like I have been told what to think. We have protests, counter protests, and lots of arguing. We have post after post of anger, and frustration boiling over from people speaking about the injustices of life. We have people’s posts mocking others for the words they choose to use or not to use. Some people have argued with others they know and don’t know. Some people have unfriended others on social media. Some have just stopped talking because they don’t want to be attacked. Some are just feeling attacked over and over and don’t have a place they feel they can turn. Conflict in our community is at an all time high. You may have even said I am done with this person in my life.

Yesterday as I was sitting around the table with my accountability group eating dinner I was reminded of something. All the people in my life, those I am good with and those I have conflict with, we are going to eat around a table again. We are going to come to the table of our Lord. Jesus over and over again sat and ate with people he didn’t agree with. He ate with pharisees, and sinners. He often made people angry by doing this but Jesus knew the kingdom would be for everyone. I may not want them there but I know that Jesus does. I know Jesus wants them at the table. He wants us to be in relationship. He wants us to love and respect those around us who may not think like we do. He never asked them to change in order to be at the table. He knew the table would change us.

So in these days if you are hurt because someone said something to you or made a post mocking your opinion remember we are all going to sitting around the table together. The place where Jesus makes things new. Where he makes things well and brings forgiveness. Maybe it can change the way we talk about each other. Maybe we can listen and learn and bring healing. Let us come together at eat together, with our cups overflowing and have peace in Jesus.