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An Election Year and Titus

April 5, 2024 by Lauren 4 Comments

The term election year is a misnomer.  Although we elect a president every 4 years we have the opportunity to vote on something every year.  So since every year is an election year, and this one is shaping up to be as contentious as ever, I have not been able to stop thinking about a sermon I heard at church a few weeks ago.  Don’t close this without reading because I mentioned politics.  I won’t be choosing sides or stomping on anyone’s toes but my own.

 

This is the passage I want to emphasize today:

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 3:1-7 NASB

 

The first thing in this sermon to prick my conscience was this question:  “When was the last time you prayed a meaningful prayer for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Supreme Court, military leaders, congressmen, the governor?”  Ouch.  My honest confession today is that I complain about our political leaders much more than I pray for them.  Probably 10 to 1 or more.  And this can’t be.  Especially in an “election year”.

 

In light of that, contemplate this next statement with me.  “When Christians become political, sinners become the enemy and not the mission field.”  Let’s break this down.

  1.  Does this mean that Christians should not be involved in politics?  No.  We need believers in Jesus Christ who will get out and vote their conscience, no matter what is on the ballot.  And we must have genuine people who will put Christ first willing to run for office – from school board to the highest position in the land.
  2. Does this mean that everyone who disagrees with us is not Christian?  That is a big, hard no.  Even if they disagree on something we hold a strong moral stance on.  It could just mean that they have a different life experience and, therefore, a different point of view.  It may also mean they are looking at the candidate or party as a whole – disagreeing with somethings, but agreeing with others.  You know what they say about assuming…
  3. When we constantly view those who hold opposing political views as enemies, we cease to see them as people made in God’s image.  We should never care more about someone’s stance then we do their soul.  Loving like Jesus does not mean voting for one party of the other.  Especially when so many of us feel politically homeless in our current climate.

My prayer is that we would all approach politics with not only compassion, but humility.  There is no side that is right on every single issue.  And none of us has it all figured out.  Taylor Swift was not the first person to point the finger at herself as the problem.  In 1905, G.K. Chesterton wrote in a letter to the editor of the Daily News, “What’s wrong with the world today?  I am.”  And I think I might just need to reread Titus 3:1-7 every day until I can remember that.

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What is Prime in Your Life?

July 11, 2019 by Lauren 28 Comments

prime – (adj) 1.  of first importance; main Dictionary

 

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:� that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”  1 Corinthians 15:3

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Amazon Prime Day is almost here.  This annual event is bigger and longer than ever – lasting a full 48 hours.  July 15-16 the retail giant will have slashed prices on electronics, kitchen gadgets, clothing and toiletries.  They are broadcasting videos with shopping tips which, once watched, enter you to win giveaways. There is even a prime day concert this year.  Taylor Swift’s picture is on it.  I assume that means she’s singing.

 

I thought about doing a detailed post with pictures and links with all the crazy good deals you can find.  Lots of bloggers are, but I decided against it.  Full disclosure:  I am an Amazon affiliate.  This means that if you purchase anything from Amazon through the links I share, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.  I do this because running this website costs me some money, and as of now, no one is offering to pay me to write.  So every little bit helps.  And the link at the top of this post is my affiliate link.  If you click it you will see what Amazon is planning and if you purchase through it I will benefit.  But honestly, I’m not pushing you to purchase.

 

Why has Prime Day even become a thing?  My guess is because there is a lull in all major buying holidays in July and the retail geniuses at the Zon came up with a marketing strategy we couldn’t resist.  Sale prices from the comfort of our homes with free two day delivery on top.

 

I’ve been reading A Practical Guide to Culture:  Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle.  My daughter’s youth minister gave it to me and I’m getting so many great tips on how to have conversations with her about the world we have created for ourselves to live in.  And we ARE having good discussions.  I’m not done reading it yet, but it’s so good I might continue to reference it another 2 or 10 times.  What I did not expect from it, was to feel personal conviction for some things I have been a little (or a lot) too complicit in.  When I started thinking about a Prime Day post, chapter 12 on Affluence and Consumerism was all I could think about.  Not deep discounts on Fire TVs and designer clothes, but the $1.2 trillion dollars Americans spend annually on “nonessential goods like jewelry, alcohol, candy, recreational vehicles, gambling, and more.”

 

Now, while some struggle with debt, many can easily afford these luxuries, but at what cost?  Americans have “more money, disposable income material goods, technology, leisure time, vacations, square footage in our homes, quality health care, computers, cars, and conveniences than past Americans.  We have more wealth and more possessions than any civilization in the history of humanity.”  It sounds like we should be happier.  But that’s far from the case.  “Americans today report more symptoms of depression and anxiety than over the past 50 years”, and so much depression among young people that teens and pre-teens from affluent, well-educated families are the newest identified “at-risk” group!

 

Stonestreet and Kunkle believe that “beneath consumerism, idolatry lurks.  It sells an approach to life that says, ‘I’m the center of the universe.  Everything exists to meet my needs and satisfy my desires.'”  But when our stuff fails to make us happier, more important or personally better; we, like Solomon, discover that it is all meaningless.  Stuff may make us temporarily feel better, but the feeling never lasts, and often masks a need for true heart change.  We can’t live in order to consume when we are made to contribute.  I know I can do better with the resources God has so generously given me.

 

Now that I have been a huge internet downer, let me bring things around to say that I do believe – like the authors state – that God created us with the capacity for pleasure.  He is so kind in this.  And we can love the good things He gives us as long as our love for Him is not eclipsed.  Let’s keep first things first.  So if you have delayed gratification on that Instant Pot or want to get some discounted Christmas shopping done early, by all means thoughtfully hit up the Amazon sales.  And if you do, please use my link above.  I’ll be so grateful!  And thanks for reading.

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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