From Anxiety and Fear to Peace and Courage

Recently, a panel of medical experts recommended that all adults under 65 be screened for anxiety. The current state of mental and emotional health alarms medical and mental health experts. Troubling mental and emotional health is being played out in alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide. It’s not news to any of us that anxiety and fear are affecting the health of every segment of society. Dr. Jim Denison describes 2020 this way. The year 2020 “began like 1973 with impeachment, then became 1918 with a pandemic, followed by 2008 with the recession, followed by 1968 with nationwide civil unrest.” I would add a hyper polarized election cycle to the mix. Everything seems unstable and unpredictable. People are constantly thrown off balance by the shifting ground. Not only is the ground shifting, but there is little around to grab hold of. Uncertainty, tension, and fluidity of life fuels anxiety and fear. Fear and anxiety effects everyone’s sense of happiness and for most people, happiness is the top value in their lives. After all, everyone wants to be happy. Michael Horton has insightfully described the wrestle with anxiety and fear when he writes: “Perhaps all of our anxieties can be reduced to the fear of being unhappy.” Many people are not just unhappy, but they are afraid of being unhappy. Followers of Jesus do not need to live under the cloud of anxiety and fear. Jesus has called his followers out of anxiety and fear into peace and courage! Let these verses find root in your soul. Scriptures like these, when they find root, combat anxiety and fear. “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalms 27:1 (NLT) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT) I encourage you to read and meditate on these verses over and over throughout the days ahead. These truths will nourish and transform you.

Built Any Bridges Lately?

Last week I didn’t post “Matt’s Thoughts” because I spent most of my time at our local county fair. For the last 34 years, I’ve spent a week during the summer working at the fair. (Except 2021 when fairs weren’t permitted due to Covid) The county fair has been a great opportunity to rub shoulders with people I see little the rest of the year. I look for ways to “love my neighbor” and “pastor” the community. Here’s some examples of opportunities I took to let my “light shine.” The fair is a time to build bridges. I met a man recovering from a near death accident. He explained, in very colorful speech, the extent of his injuries. After listening to his story, I challenged him, from my survival story. I told him he lived survived for a reason and needed to ask God why he survived. He didn’t fully grasp the challenge. So I challenged him again: “God let you live for a reason, and you need to ask Him why you're still here.” He understood and I hope the question of survival challenges him like it did me in 1996. I greeted a woman who had just gone through the loss of a loved one. I greeted her and asked her how her pregnancy was going. She told me, with tears, that she had miscarried during the midst of grieving. I put my arm around her shoulder and prayed for her, while others around us waited for food. I celebrated with a woman whose son has been sober for a year. At the 2021 fair, she told me about the anguish and pain of watching her son abuse alcohol. I prayed with her at the 2021 fair. A year later, she is celebrating to have her son back, working, and making healthy choices. I spent an hour sitting and talking with a couple who I’ve made friends with over the years. They come from a different philosophy of life than me, and we disagree on many aspects of life. But I love this couple and appreciate the opportunity to discuss life, politics, morality and the issues facing humanity from a “faith” point of view. The Apostle Peter instructed the early church “Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NCV) I try to tell and show people the reason I have for hope. I take the last part of Peter’s instructions seriously: “In a gentle way and with respect.” Gentleness and respect build bridges with people who interpret life differently than me. Bridges make crossing over to faith possible. Few people fight the currents to faith. People cross bridges to faith. I encourage you to look for ways to build bridges by responding with gentleness and respect. Jesus will use your “loving your neighbor” to change lives.

Find Shelter In The Midst Of Life's Storms

Multiple storms are converging on the world. Their winds are creating levels of uncertainty. The clouds of racial, economic, political, mental illness, drug abuse, violence, war, family breakdown, and moral division are unleashing rain from every direction. In a storm, there is no better place to be than in the “shelter of the Most High.” Unfortunately, there is no avoiding the storms of life. Storms will wreak havoc on everyone. The big question is, “Where will you find shelter?” David included in the Psalms a song from Moses about sheltering in a storm. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty … He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings…. His faithful promises are your armor and protection … If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter … he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. The LORD says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.’” Psalms 91 (NLT) God never promised a life without storms. He promised, “I will be with them in trouble.” Never go through a storm alone. Run into the shelter of the Most High. God will “shelter you with his wings” and “His faithful promises will be your armor and protection.” When the winds of financial uncertainty blow your way, run to the Lord. When winds of health struggles approach, snuggle under God’s wings. “Jesus, I can’t face this storm alone. I don’t want to face this storm alone, HELP! Jesus loves that kind of prayer!

Fear Not

The chaos of the world has become a powerful breeding ground for fear. I get glimpses of fear in the eyes of men, women, young people, and children. People are in fear when they are alone and when they are in groups. People are fearful of the world financial situation, loss of freedoms, war in Europe, ability to get goods, the next court ruling and the political turmoil in Washington D.C. I talk to people that have no reason to fear. Life is up and to the right. They don’t have financial worries; their health is stellar, their family is healthy and beyond functional and yet they worry about some things or everything collapsing. Out of fear, people don masks and hide from each other. The mask keeps people from revealing their true feelings, opinions, and values. Relationships never become what they should be. God regularly commands His people to not be afraid but to be strong and courageous. God desires His people to be free from fear. Fear holds people captive and keeps them from becoming who He wants them to be and living the flourishing life Jesus spoke of. Jesus said, “I came to give life--life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 (NCV) The way to live the life Jesus plans is to focus on the greatness and sovereignty of God. Put your hand in His hand. Give Him access to your heart when you are afraid. He will breathe courage into you. Your circumstances might not change, but the grip of fear on you will loosen. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Psalms 23:4 (NLT) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalms 27:1 (NLT) “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4 (NLT) God is the answer to your fears. Turn everything over to Him. Spend time focusing on everything God’s Word says about fear. You’ll be encouraged and strengthened.

In Our Stormy World - Stay Anchored To The Rock

Recently, I’ve been reading the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. The 32nd chapter includes a song God spoke to Moses. Moses was told to write the song down and teach it to the people of God. The song is about God’s power, unchanging nature, and teachings. He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT) He is the Rock that is unmovable and unchanging. He is the Rock that does all things right. In a world and time when everything seems to be moving and changing, God is reliable because HE is a faithful God. Circumstances may change, the people surrounding you may change, the reliability of those in authority may change, but not our ROCK! The New Testament writer of the letter of Hebrews also described God as being unchangeable and reliable. “Those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. … God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:17-19 (NLT) Notice the truths, “He would never change His mind” and “it is impossible for God to lie.” Hope in God “is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” All of us need a “trustworthy anchor for our souls.” The stormier the weather the more trustworthy the anchor needs to be. The world is a stormy place right now and there doesn’t seem to be fair weather on the horizon. Anchor yourself to the hope of God’s character and reliability. He is a solid Rock who is perfect, just, fair and faithful.

The Lord Who Heals

I have been writing about some of the Hebrew names for God. Each name reveals a facet of God’s character and of how God interacts with people. It’s not possible for mere people to understand the myriad nuances of God’s character! But we can understand aspects of His character because He’s shown certain details about Himself. He revealed to humans only what they could understand. As Israel escaped Egypt and traveled through the wilderness, they couldn’t find a source of drinking water. When they finally found a water source, the water was undrinkable because of its bitterness. God told Moses to throw a log in the water and God would cleanse the water. Moses obeyed, and the people had water to quench their thirst. It was at the water hole that God gave the people a rule for them to follow. God gave them the command to “test their faithfulness to Him.” “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NLT) God revealed Himself as “Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals you.” In this context, God’s promise was to prevent the diseases the Egyptians had suffered if they (the Israelites) listened carefully to the voice of the Lord and obeyed. The Bible recounts various ways Jehovah-Rapha has healed people of sickness and disease (Psalm 41:3), mental affliction (Jonah 2:5-7), spiritual fatigue (Psalm 23:3), emotional suffering (Psalm 147:3) and anxiety or worry (John 14:27) A highlight of Jesus’ ministry was the healings and even bringing the dead back to life. The religious establishment was against Him because He was a “healer.” The mystery, of course, is why God heals who He heals and when He heals. I’d sure like to understand God’s thinking and actions. In the meantime, I will claim healing for myself, my loved ones, and the ones I lead. I will continue to “ask and keep on asking.” I will encourage anyone who is sick to have the church pray for them. Healing is in the hands of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. Do you need healing? Turn to Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals.

Trust in Jesus

Boy, the world is in chaos! It seemed like 2020 was a once in a lifetime year. Now 2021 is just about as crazy as 2020. In the last two months, assassins executed the President of Haiti, American troops vacated Afghanistan, and the country slipped into absolute anarchy, a 7.2 earthquake rocked Haiti and then a tropical storm unleashed an unimaginable amount of rain, fires are burning across the Western United States, Greece, France, Italy, North Africa and Turkey. Conflict rages across the world. There are few regions of the world that don’t currently have conflict. There is civil conflict in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel and Palestine, Libya, Ukraine, Iraq, and Iran, just to name a few. In the US and other countries, the “Delta” variant of COVID-19 is creating new levels of uncertainty, stress, and division. This past week the Governor of Washington State mandated that all public, charter and private school teachers and staff must be vaccinated by October 18, 2021. A new statewide indoor mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated people takes effect Monday, August 23, 2021. What a “fun” time! I keep going back to a line written more than 3,000 years ago by King David. He wrote the song during a period of strife, conflict, and uncertainty. The circumstances differed significantly from today, the stress and struggles were similar. David wrote: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalms 20:7 (NIV) In these stressful, uncertain, divided times, I choose to put my trust in the Lord our God. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows what I should respond to and how I should respond. Things may be uncertain to me, but they are not to Him who rules over all. 3,000 years ago, if you had chariots and horses, you were more powerful than almost any foe you could face. People who had chariots and horses trusted them to overcome all enemies and obstacles. People put their trust in chariots and horses. Don’t trust in chariots. Don’t trust in horses. Trust in Jesus!

Are Things Going Sideways for You?

The winds of change have been blowing for months. Some days the winds are fierce, other days the winds are less intense. So much has changed in our world in recent years, and the speed of change seems to increase monthly. 2021 began with great hope. Hope the year would be different. Hope the political world would chill out, the conflict surrounding COVID-19, law enforcement, and racial tensions would decrease. People hoped for resolution surrounding relationships in countries like N. Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the middle East region. Hope surfaced in many circles that vaccines would bring a new chapter in the battle against COVID and a reopening of the state, nation and world. It could be easy for people to wonder with all that is changing “who’s manning the store?” No one seems to be in charge. Life seems to be in the hands of the customer and not the store owner. Let me reassure you with a few scriptures. Though everything around is changing, it doesn’t mean there is no one manning the store. The store is not in the hands of the customers. “He who guards you never sleeps.” Psalms 121:3 (NCV) “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:29-30 (NLT) “Your Father sees everything … Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:4, 8 (NLT) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17 (NLT) Just because we may not understand the changes in life, or don’t like the changes, it doesn’t mean that no one is in charge or that things that happen are without purpose. The moments when we don’t understand, when we don’t like things, when life is hard, are when trust is most difficult to apply and yet most needed. Are things sideways for you right now? Let me encourage you to anchor to the one who never sleeps, watches over the sparrow, counts your hair, sees everything, knows what you need before you ask, never changes but is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Wisdom in the Middle of Trials

One of the last books in the New Testament is a letter written by Jesus’ brother James. He wrote to a group of Jesus’ followers who were experiencing the spectrum of life’s hardships. The Jesus followers had scattered to the corners of the Roman world because of ongoing conflict in Israel. The second sentence of James’ letter sets the tone for the rest of the letter. “Count it all joy, … when you meet trials of various kinds,” and “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials.” I don’t know about you, but I feel that “counting it all joy,” and “remaining steadfast,” are MUCH easier read about than done! There are a variety of trials addressed in the letter. Some were relationship trials such as partiality and preferential treatment. Some trials were rooted in disobedience to the principles laid out. Some had to do with the interchange between faith and “works.” Misuse of the tongue, fighting, not praying, or praying with wrong motives, jealousy, boasting about plans, and the behavior of the wealthy, round out the roster of trials. How does a Jesus follower “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trials? One word – WISDOM. James encourages those who he commands to “count it all joy” and “remain steadfast” under trial to ask for WISDOM. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV) Every one of us is “UNDER” a litany of trials. “Trial” could be the 2020 word of the year. James encourages and commands those under trial to ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. Start today, start right now, while you are reading this - ASK GOD FOR WISDOM. You might have heard me or someone else say, “Each of us is either just coming out of a trial, in the middle of a trial or headed into a trial.” That is the nature of life! ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.

God, What are You Doing?

Early in 2020, I wondered what God is doing. Churches across the world ceased for a time to meet in person. Government measures to contain COVID-19, hamstrung world economies. Travel and tourism ground to a halt. The last time a pandemic impacted the world in this way was 100 years ago. I’m pondering a couple of verses while asking: God, what are you doing? What do You want the outcome to look like? In what ways are you wanting to change me and change the church I lead? In the middle of world turmoil, the prophet Habakkuk asked God what He was doing. God responded, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” (Habakkuk 1:5 NLT) What God spoke to Habakkuk is true for me, I “wouldn’t believe even if someone told [me] about it.” God is doing something so big and so grand that it is global. I heard from people in SE Asia, Amsterdam, Nigeria, Uganda, Germany and Liberia this week. The story is the same. Virus, people sick, government restrictions and economic hardship. It is easy to judge what is happening in Washington State, but people are suffering and government restrictions are changing life around the world. God spoke to the Jewish people who were also experiencing turmoil. “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, … Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. ... Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (Isaiah 46:8-10 NLT) I take comfort and assurance from God’s voice through Isaiah when He says: “For I alone am God, and there is none like me. … Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” I for one am practicing surrender every day. Most of life is out of my control, but I trust the one who alone is God and everything He plans will come to pass. “I trust, help me when my trust wavers.” AMEN

Is it Possible to Please God and People?

Every person has wrestled with “people pleasing.” Adam was interested in pleasing Eve. The Apostle Paul, describing the average husband and wife, said, “A married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:33 NLT) and “A married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:34 NLT) Paul describes the reality of married life. The husband or wife who doesn’t care about pleasing their spouse will be miserable, and their spouse will be even more miserable. “Happy Marriages” comprise husbands and wives who seek to please each other. People pleasing is not a bad thing. Parenting is often about people pleasing. A doctor’s “bedside manner” is likewise about people pleasing. Customer service is about people pleasing. People pleasing is not bad, but it can go too far and slip into fearing people. King Solomon wrote, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.” (Proverbs 29:25 NLT) People pleasing, when it goes too far, slips into fearing people and fearing people is a NO WIN proposition. When I wrestle with “fearing people,” I ask myself “Who am I going to please? Which group am I going to please?” For example, When I started pastoring, the dress code for pastors was a jacket and tie. A pastor didn’t need to worry about “people pleasing.” As society became more casual and “casual Fridays” became the trend, pastors wrestled with pleasing the jacket and tie people or the casual Friday people. “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” [Marcus Aurelius] Why do we care so much about other people’s opinions? Jesus’ follower’s primary aim must be to please God. Pleasing people is often also pleasing God, but sometimes “displeasing people” equals pleasing God. Paul stated it this way: “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 ESV) Here’s the principle: Please people when it pleases God, displease people when pleasing them, would displease God. Stated another way: Always please God, even when it displeases people.

Resilience and Perseverance

I have been thinking about the resilience, perseverance and endurance that you and I need in our life. Every day something happens that threatens to deflate us emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. In my almost 40 years of leadership and ministry (33 years at SWAG,) I have never experienced a prolonged season like we are in right now. Resilience is the quality of “bouncing back.” Resilience is taking a punch and getting back up. Resilience crashing your bike and getting back on. Resilience is “getting back on the horse.” Resilience and perseverance are more than “simply holding on to the end.” (Oswald Chambers) Resilience is one reason Job has been an example over the centuries for those in a season of trials. After losing his children, property and health, he declared: “Even if God kills me, I'll still put my hope in him. ... No matter how things turn out, I'm sure I'll still be saved.” (Job 13:15-16 NIrV) Job was convinced that his life was in God’s hands and that ultimately, he would see God face to face. He understood that God is sovereign, and that life’s future is in God’s hands. It was his trust in God that he could bounce back from one blow after another. Resilience and perseverance is developed over time and through trials. Jesus’ brother James encouraged early believers who were in the midst of a long season of trials. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT) This is a once in a century opportunity to allow resilience, perseverance and endurance to grow in our lives and even be “fully developed.” Rejoice in this season of hardship. Don’t give in. Like Job, declare “even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him.

Do Everything without Grumbling and Arguing

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about not grumbling and arguing. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV) What is grumbling and arguing? When does addressing issues in a relationship, in a job, a church, a community, or nation become grumbling and arguing? Grumbling and arguing is pointing out faults, problems, and obstacles without offering and working towards a solution. It is easy to point out faults, problems, and obstacles -- it is more difficult to suggest and seek solutions. People are grumbling and arguing in every stratum of society. People’s standard of living, their level of education, their faith background, or their political leanings, seem to be irrelevant. They all grumble and complain! They grumble and argue about COVID-19, BLM, the environment, the economic situation and outlook, and the fiscal policies thrust upon them. This grumbling and arguing are testing social structures and revealing the cracks at every level. Couples see the other person as a foe. Instead of working together to determine how they are going to get their boat through the rapids, they fight each other with the paddles. Children grumble and argue with parents and vice versa. Politicians and political parties grumble and argue, when they could collectively seek solutions that benefit the whole. They stonewall and blame each other, ignoring tested social structures. They are tasked with building a bridge to lasting change and solutions, but instead they grumble and argue about the bridge that is crumbling. What did Paul say? “Do everything.” Everything is a big word! It is only 10 letters but encompasses all of life. Everything means everything. Where does “do everything without grumbling and arguing” start? With me! With you! With us! With Jesus' followers! Jesus wants US to be the ones shining in our society like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.

The Second Mile Way of Living

Jesus often taught counterintuitive truths and principles: “Give and you will receive,” and “Keep your life and you’ll lose it, lose your life and you’ll save it,” and “If you want to be the greatest you must become the servant of everyone.” I’m convinced that most of Jesus’ teachings caused the hearers to scratch their heads in confusion. One of the counterintuitive principles that Jesus taught is “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41 ESV) I bet there were more than a few raised eyebrows from angry, frustrated, and irate people who heard Jesus' teaching. “Really Jesus? Someone FORCES me to go one mile, and I’m supposed to volunteer to go two miles with him?” Jesus' statement requires some details to understand what he was saying. In Roman occupied Israel, a Jewish Roman law required someone to carry the belongings of a Roman soldier who demanded it but only for one mile. Jesus multiplied the one-mile requirement to two miles. Jesus was saying, “If a soldier demands you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.” Refusing to carry the pack, even one mile is intuitive, volunteering to carrying a pack two miles is counterintuitive. Fully committed followers of Jesus are “second mile people.” Jesus’ way is to travel the extra mile unless the first mile is immoral, unethical, or disobedient to God’s way. If it would be wrong for a person to go one mile, then obviously the second mile would also be wrong. If authorities demand that a Jesus follower, pastor, or teacher stop speaking against abortion, that would violate God’s standard and the demand would call for civil disobedience. It would be wrong, disobedient, and immoral to help a woman abort her baby. If one mile is wrong, then the second mile is also wrong. If in the current context, wearing a mask and social distancing is the required one mile. What is the second mile? Wearing a mask without complaint? Are you seeking to live as a “second miler?” The first mile is obedience. The second mile is the Jesus’ way.

Spiritual Face Covering and Spiritual Social Distancing

I bet you are tired of social distancing and face coverings! Social distancing and face coverings are not natural. At times, both seem pointless and contradictory. I’ve been thinking about “information and idea viruses” and I’ve been thinking about “spiritual, emotional, psychological and mental social distancing” and “face coverings.”

“Information viruses”, or ideas or posts that aren’t true, or the veracity of which isn’t verifiable, originate with “liberals”, “conservatives”, people of “faith” and “atheist” and they thrive on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram and other social media posts. Information viruses discuss COVID-19, BLM, Blue Lives Matter, face coverings, restrictions on churches, should school open, should school be remote or a hybrid, do children spread COVID-19, etc., etc.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT) Paul’s instruction describes “spiritual, psychological, mental and emotional, social distancing.” Too often people social distance their thinking but do not socially distance what they adopt. Too often if something is “viral” and emotionally tugs at the heart the post gets shared. Discerning what is true and false is a missing practice in people’s lives.

Discernment is asking the questions, “Is this true? Is this honorable? Is this right and pure? Spiritual, emotional, psychological, and mental social distancing should be the response to information viruses. Keep your distance from non-sense! Research the source of the post. Sift through the post. Accept what is acceptable and reject what is questionable, or that comes from a questionable source.

We are also directed to use face coverings, or filters, for our speech. Face coverings protect the other person from my germs; they are not for my protection. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT) Spiritual, emotional, psychological, and mental face coverings on my speech are for protecting the other person.

Put on your “spiritual face covering,” and practice “spiritual social distancing.”

Some Thoughts about Change

I dug up “Matt’s Thoughts” from March 2016. Some of these thoughts come from my 2016 post.

Throughout most of history, CHANGE happened at a snail’s pace. People could go their entire lives and experience less change than you and I experience in just a matter of days! Since 2020 began the speed of change is happening even more rapidly. There is more change happening at this moment than many experienced in a lifetime. CHANGE is our way of life. And change is hard because change can cause a loss of control over things we desperately want to control.

Each of us has dozens of areas where minor changes could lead to improvement in life. Diet, exercise, sleep, kindness, patience, where we spend spare dollars, who we spend time with, and who we allow to influence us - these are all areas where minor changes can yield significant benefits.

There are also countless areas in life that we have almost no capability of impacting the change that is taking place. The COVID-19 virus, the economic fallout, much of the BLM issues, what the start of school will look like, are a just a few of the circumstances we have little or no control over.

There are things we can control and there are things that we can’t control. We often become stressed, worried, and frustrated about the change happening that we have no ability to control. On the other side, we take a ‘laissez-faire’ attitude towards the areas we could and should control.

We fret over what we can’t control, all the while not controlling the things we can. Why not control the things that we can and relax and trust Jesus with what we can’t control?

The Apostle Peter instructed believers about control when he wrote: “Prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.” 1 Peter 1:13 NLT

The Uncertainty About "What's Next"

It is surprising to interact with someone who is NOT feeling the pressure of what is happening in the world. Married couples, singles, young people, kids, older people, employed, unemployed and business owners are all feeling stress and anxiety. Uncertainty about “what’s next” is partially to blame for the stress and anxiety everyone is feeling.

I’m reminded of Paul’s words to “pastor” Timothy and the believers in his congregation who were under pressure, stress, and anxiety because of the culture of the Roman Empire and the difficulties of just surviving. “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. … Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy 2:3-7 NIV

Those were tough words by the Apostle Paul 2,000 years ago, and they are tough today! No one wants to get up in the morning and say to themselves “get ready to suffer.” Trials, pressure, stress and anxiety is not on the “favorite” list of most people. We’d like to avoid trials, pressure, stress and anxiety “at all cost.” But, for servants of Jesus, that is not an option.

None of us should make it our mission to seek trials, pressure, stress, and anxiety, they will all come our way. Paul’s instruction to Timothy and the believers in his care was to respond to these situations, “like a good soldier” seeking “to please his commanding officer.”

Paul’s last line of instruction is foundational to pleasing our Commanding Officer. “Reflect (on the idea of suffering like a good soldier) for the Lord will give you insight.” If we reflect and ask our Commanding Officer for insight, He will provide it.

Peter's Pep Talk

Pressure continues to bear down upon humanity. The complications of the COVID-19 virus would be pressure enough to raise everyone’s stress level more than a few notches. Throw in financial hardship, unemployment, loss of businesses, questions about school in the fall, and travel restrictions, protests, locusts, conflicts in China, Hong Kong, India, Ethiopia, Yemen, North Korea, Libya,– I think I’ll stop there! You get the idea.

You know stress and pressure, but now that I’ve written out some issues facing the world, it probably raised your anxiety level even higher! It is easy to lose sight of fundamentals of following Jesus when pressure is bearing down. I’m reminded of a “pep talk” the Apostle Peter gave to believers he was responsible to care for, lead and coach. He wrote during a trying period in the Roman Empire, and just prior to his execution:

“Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:11-12 NLT

I don’t know the application of Peter’s words to your situation, but I’m sure something in his “pep talk” applies. I see three applications for me.

I should be asking, “What does good look like in this situation?”
How can I work to maintain and foster peace?
I should seek to do “right.” (I want the Lord to watch over me and His ears open to my prayers.)

Jesus, help me “do good” “work to maintain peace” and “do right.” I want your watchful gaze on me and your ears open to my prayers. Amen.

Loving Our Neighbors

I have been thinking about how you and I can love our neighbors during the crisis moment. It is important to love your neighbor not primarily because they need to be loved but because Jesus said the second commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus taught that the second commandment to “Love your neighbor” is equal to the commandment to “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.”

If I’m mostly “staying home and staying safe,” HOW do I love my neighbor? (Your neighbor might be people who live around you, but your neighbor is also the cashier at the store, the barista at the coffee stand, the person you pass on the street or trail when you are walking, the cleaner that used to visit your house, the landscapers who care for your yard, the UPS delivery person, etc.)

Pray. What if you are the only one who is praying for your neighbor?

Be kind. Everyone you encounter is experiencing stress in unprecedented ways.

Greet and Talk. When you pass someone on the road or trail, greet them and talk to them – DO IT.

I regularly run similar routes. I regularly encounter an elderly widow woman I’ve known for years on my runs and I stop and take time to talk with her and often pray with and for her. Two years ago, she commented on my bright yellow running jacket, so I bought her a jacket and took it to her home. The jacket was the wrong size, so I returned it and got her a larger size. I often bump into her wearing the jacket. This woman is not a church person, but I’m determined to love on her and hopefully to love her to faith.

Ask Jesus to guide you and show you opportunities to love your neighbor. Then listen and, when prompted by the Spirit, act on that prompt.

You’ll be surprised how Jesus wants to use you to love people.

Trust and Obey

What is God up to? That is the question that has been bouncing around in my heart. There is no mystery to some what God is doing; He’s always working to reconcile people to Himself! God wants to be your friend. He is not out to harm you. He is working on hard hearts, closed minds, and broken spirits. He is working in the lives of those who are mad at Him and others who deny His existence. He wants people to understand that He loves them.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives.” (Romans 5:4 NCV)

What else is God up to? What is he up to with nations? What is He up to in world economies? What is He up to with the church?

There are plenty of prophesies and conspiracy theories floating around in social media these days! But do they help you understand what God is up to, or what He wants from you?

Let me tell you how God expects you to respond to the current world situation. I’ll use the lines from an old Gospel hymn, as true today as when John Sammis wrote them in 1887. Let the lyrics encourage, instruct, and challenge you.

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

I know for certain that God is trying to teach you and me to “trust and obey!”