Things I Think…
1. Forgive my absence…been going through withdrawals from my pain killers as they shift me to one that (hopefully) will help more. I look like one of the junkies from a 70’s anti-drug film…it’s been quite unpleasant, but it will be worth it…
2. Why would I share all that when I could just say I’ve been ill? Because this sort of situation happens to a lot of people and there is no sin, nor should there be any shame … involved.
3. ““Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”” (Hebrews 4:7 NLT-SE)
This is what I really want to talk about tonight.
In the midst of doomscrolling through the news every morning, I often find anger…even rage…boiling up in my spirit toward the cruelty being displayed by the current government.
I will often hear the voice of God in my spirit…telling me to stop and assess what I’m thinking and feeling with the teachings of Jesus.
Sometimes…I listen.
My point is this…in the kingdom of God we don’t overcome hate with hate or violent cruelty with the same…we overcome with suffering and sacrificial love.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal…I trust we will remind each other of that going forward.
4. The Spirit may be telling some you that you have misplaced your trust in an idol…it may be difficult to change course now, but your soul may depend on doing so…
5. If you think that Jesus would gloat at tens of thousands of people losing their jobs…see #4…
6. This may be a helpful link for soul care…leavingmaga.org…
7. “In my opinion, a reversal of values is basic when we consider what it means to be a Christian. Moreover, if we read the Gospels, we should not be surprised at such a reversal. In the world of the Gospels, the humble are exalted and the proud are abased; the first are last and the last are first; the greatest must be the servant of all; the rich are sent away empty handed while the meek and the poor are made heirs of the kingdom. A reversal of values indeed… Strangely enough, in the early centuries of the Church, this reversal of values was never questioned. Instead, it was taught, written about and, more importantly, it was lived. For them, it was not only the forecast of a kingdom to come, it was a daily reality.” Duane W.H. Arnold
8.
If Obama had made a video that included a gold statue of himself the prophecy wonks would have had a collective stroke…can you spell Nebuchadnezzar?
9. The most powerful way to “resist” is to resist anything contrary to the way of Jesus that may rise up in your own soul…
10. The fact that I don’t have much doesn’t give me license to wish you had less…because my life has been difficult at times doesn’t give me license to rejoice when you have difficulty…both are sinful expressions of discontent with how God has managed your time here…
Powerful truths, Michael! I’m sorry you’re going through the withdrawals. Praying your new meds will be effective.
Thanks,CK…so far, so good…feeling better today.
Michael, so glad to see you here. Praying
for you.
Lots of wisdom in your musings.
I’m rereading Stott’s commentary on the
Beatitudes. It’s keeping me grounded right now when it’s so easy to veer off course.
Blessings to you and everyone here!
Thanks, bob1.
I think studying The Beatitudes and the entirety of the Sermon On the Mount are the single most productive thing we all can do in these times.
I’m going to start through them again in the church I pastor…
Michael
The most important thing, is for you to take care of yourself. There are a lot of people praying for you…
Duane,
Thank you, my friend…I’m doing much better today…feeling a tad hopeful…
I know what it is like to detox from narcotics. But on the other side is usually relief. I pray you find better relief than you had been having, Michael.
I appreciate your words here. And… I think now is also the time for anger, righteous anger. Anger is not a bad emotion; quite the contrary. It is an emotion given to us to activate us towards action. Anger gives us the energy we need to say “This is not right.”
It is what we do with our anger that is at issue. Therein lies holiness or unholiness. The Beatitudes help us with that discernment
But to be passive at this time – to retreat into a woeful fatalistic “I give up”, or to hide in the comfort of ignorance – is not what we as followers of Jesus are called to.
Thank you, Alex…getting better as the hours pass.
I completely agree with you…my problem is that I don’t always use anger constructively and can end up looking as bad as the things I’m angry about.
I tried being passive for a couple of days and it made me ill… 🙂
Michael,
First, I hope you are feeling better. I don’t do well at all on strong pain medications, and you have all of my sympathy.
Second, 3 and 9. It’s so easy to get angry with the news and the people causing it, and then to suddenly dislike anyone who agrees with it. I’m not great at confronting people verbally, but I’m really good at being angry or disgusted with them in my interior. I have been keeping very short accounts with God these days in terms of my inner life. I don’t want to turn cynical, I can see He is working in this mess (i.e. the recent court suit filed by some Sikhs, Mennonites, and Quakers that resulted in a judged denying access by ICE to houses of worship). I’m learning to look for those kinds of things and pray seriously about them.
The Orange and his minions remind me of the scene in the film JoJo Rabbit where all these Gestapo guys are searching the house of the main character (who is 10 years old), and he says “Heil Hitler”, and they all begin to salute one another. It provides a distraction that allows a Jewish girl hidden in the wall to be undetected. Sometimes God works through the evil around us.
Keep feeling better!
https://religionnews.com/2025/02/25/faith-groups-claim-legal-victories-on-refugees-ice-raids-at-houses-of-worship/
The good news from this week (and it wasn’t the Mennonites; it was the the Baptist Cooperative Fellowship!).
“It’s so easy to get angry with the news and the people causing it, and then to suddenly dislike anyone who agrees with it”
Exactly.
I have to keep very short accounts as well…I am known for verbal (and other) confrontations…I tend to enjoy them, unfortunately.
BCF is the denom. Jimmy Carter belonged to. No surprise there.
I have gone through withdrawals numerous times in my struggle with alcoholism. Ironically, I avoided narcotics like the plague because that’s what my dad did, and I didn’t want to go down that road. The alcohol was probably no different.
I have had a rough time with avoiding the rage induced by the current administration. I can not fathom how one could support this man. I just can’t.
In order to keep peace in our home and other family members I must keep somewhat of a lid on my views of what’s happening in our country. It’s been a lesson for me. I try to focus on what’s “at hand” and try to worry about things I have no control over.
If I forget to take my anxiety meds for a day it’s horrible. So I admire your bravery and glad to hear you’re feeling better.
try NOT* to worry about things I have no control over. Eesh I need an editor.
I am not far along enough in my pilgrimage to know how to control my anger when I get upset. I also think about Jesus, who was aware of all the injustices during His time on earth and yet didn’t walk around angry all the time.
Glad to hear you are on the upswing. Thanks for the reminders from scripture to pursue the better, not the expedient. I’m finding the withdrawl from political thinking and moralizing over the current administration is exhausting and fruitless in and of itself. I need to continue to move in the direction of the kingdom of God and its inherent mindset and practices. At the same time, as Alex alluded to, engagement in speaking truth to power is part of that kingdom mind. I’ve been emailing my Maga-headed representative in Congress and pointedly reminding him of the duties he swore to perform and the document he swore to uphold.
JoelG,
I hear you…it’s one of those “as much as it’s up to you, keep the peace” deals…I have had to practice the same.
I think the more we engage with our common liturgy, the better things go…
fil,
Well said.
In think we all have a prophetic calling…exercising it properly is where the work is.
Reuben,
I know you’ve been down this road and with much more intensity…it’s hard, but worth it.
After the statue video, there is simply no excuse for a Christian to do anything ,but mark Trump for what he is…an anti-christ…
Michael,
Back when the Babylon Bee didn’t suck and gone all in on Trump and MAGA, they posted this gem (ironically before they CPAC golden statue of Trump was made):
https://babylonbee.com/news/first-baptist-dallas-members-melt-golden-jewelry-towering-donald-trump-statue