There’s a fascinating, oft – overlooked parable in Judges 9. It might be one of the most profound teachings about political power and who we trust to rule found in the scriptures. As we see political chaos in England over “Brexit” and in the U.S. amid impeachment deliberations for presidential abuse of power in relations with Ukraine, it raises questions about who we choose to lead our governments and why.
If we want our work and efforts to be relevant, significant and impactful to the communities and people we seek to serve, then we must make hard choices. Otherwise, what we do may sound good, even do good, but still not be on-target to what we set out to achieve—nor to what we need to do.
Humor is the one thing that can help us let go of that inability to forgive because it highlights our commonalties. When we laugh with someone, whether it is a stranger, a friend, or an enemy, our worlds overlap for a tiny, but significant moment.
This is where my journey with volunteering with children with disabilities has led, acknowledging that we are all made in God’s image. Although some of us are circumstantially forced to trust and be dependent on human caretakers, all of us are called to live with struggles, and trust the ultimate caretaker God.
“How to Be an Antiracist” is Ibram X. Kendi’s critical, contemplative, and honest prescription for healing America of “one of the fastest-spreading and most fatal cancers humanity has ever known”—racism
It is ironic that an institution that places such an emphasis on beauty from stained glass, to art, to music, is not front and center on the global environmental crisis. Here is an opportunity to take the lead on this issue. What if local churches put trash in their mission?