A backfire is a technique to help prevent the spread of a wildfire. As I understand it, firefighters start a new fire in the path of an approaching wildfire. The goal is for the new fire to consume fire fuel the already blazing inferno would use to continue to spread. That weakens the approaching fire. In a sense, this is fighting fire with fire.

As you can imagine, though, a backfire can be dangerous. A quick change in wind direction easily intensifies the already consuming fire. In other words, a backfire can backfire.

In the realm of human relationships, several well-known quotes portray this scenario. You've probably heard that fighting fire with fire only makes more fire. Or if you fight fire with fire, everyone gets burned. People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.

All that to say that our personal backfires can backfire, too. So, be careful when you match word for word, resentment for resentment or anger for anger. An eye for an eye isn't fire talk, but one familiar quote follows our train of thought today: An eye for eye makes the whole world blind.

The world wants to fight fire with fire. Where would our favorite movies and stories be without more fire? As God's people, can we not find another way to put out the fires of hostility, injustice and inequality? Surely God has called us to.

With the dangers of a backfire in mind, listen to some of the words from Psalm 37 again: "Do not fret because of the wicked." "Trust in the Lord and do good." "Refrain from anger and forsake wrath."

How willing are you and I to forsake wrath in all its many forms today?

I can't with full confidence call myself a pacifist. But I do know pacifism isn't what most of us think. Pacifism isn't a sit-aside-and-do-nothing approach to the fires of the world. That would be immoral. Pacifism means "peace making." And that's how I read another line from today's psalm: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act" (37:5).

Commit your way to God's way. That means to live our your life in the way of Jesus. It doesn't mean we sit amongst ourselves and do nothing, waiting for some action to fall from heaven. It means our actions and our words demonstrate the way of heaven.

Stay blessed...john

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That's the singsong lie we repeated as kids. I don't recall how much we ever believed that or not. But I'm sure we knew the truth. Words can hurt. They do hurt. They hurt us as children who get made to feel unworthy or unloved. And they sting the ego and confidence of many adults just the same.

And yet we know words can bring life as well. After all, we are a people that cling to the words of God. Christians affirm with joy "The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!"

Today's reading offers a two-fold reminder for us about words. First, the words that hang over our lives can be of great burden. How often do we hold on to a snide remark someone made years ago? A comment they soon forgot or even, perhaps, meant little by? Greater still is the pain of the intentional insults that come our way. Or the steady dose of verbal abuse.

The psalmist cried to the Lord, "Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue" (Psalm 120:2). Lying lips carry hurtful words. And not merely hurt-my-feelings hurt. But an agony that impacts who someone is. Can you imagine the psalmist's deep anguish over having to defend himself repeatedly? To, day after day, listen to baseless accusation after accusation?

Still, the psalmist tried. He sought peace. He tried to speak peace. It isn't always that simple, but it is always that important. His words of peace weren't moving the needle of war amongst those against him. So, he prayed. And I imagine he kept speaking peace.

Hurtful words are all around us. Lord knows we do not need more mouthpieces for lies and slander. No, we need people who will speak peace. As difficult as it may be. As hurtful as waring words may be. Peace is not the option. It is the way.

Stay blessed...john

Yesterday, after worship, a young saint told me she was going to Walmart to buy a guitar. I told her how excited I was that she was going to learn how to play. She corrected me. She was going to buy the guitar because "that man showed us how to play."

A church member joined the children's class, ukulele in hand. He showed them the sounds of the instrument and taught them how to sing along to "Jesus Loves Me." That lesson inspired my young friend to get her own guitar. In her mind, of course, she knows how to play. As good a teacher as I'm sure our member is, we know she still has a lot to learn.

That is one of the great treasures of the church's connection together. We get to learn from one another. The Holy Spirit leads us all to new understanding and insight. At times, that's a discovery we make in unison. Most times, though, we piece together God's wisdom from one another.

The apostle Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to understand his message and purpose. God's power motivated all Paul shared with the church. Even if some of them didn't believe or trust him. Some may not even have acknowledged him. Still, he wanted them to keep growing and he was thankful that they "have already understood us in part" (2 Corinthians 1:14).

"In part" motivates me. As much as God and the church has taught me, it's only in part to what God's wisdom may reveal to us all. With anticipation and thanksgiving, I look forward to the many more lessons the Lord will offer to me and to us. It may be our knowledge will always be in part, but at least we'll know what is most important. We'll have the greatest lesson we'll need to inspire us to move forward. That God's power raised Jesus from the dead.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Stay blessed...john

One of the hopes of the epistle of 1 Peter is to encourage Christians to maintain their faith in Jesus. They had already endured through struggle and hardship related to their Christian convictions. It's quite likely they would do so again. Suffering would be a familiar cadence.

Peter recognizes that "various trials" had already landed weary blows (1 Peter 1:6). Still, the message is to rejoice. He insists that Christians reorient their view of persecution and suffering. Learn to see the hope of God through it all. So much is his insistence, church history dubs him the "apostle of hope."

All that to say, there is hope in the struggle of life. But not only the persecution kind of struggle.

The apostle finished the first chapter with a reminder of the good work of Jesus on our part. As a result, God "raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God" (1:21). There's that hope again.

Peter then turns to our connection with one another, reminding us we are "born anew" (1:23). Chapter 2, then, directs us to "rid" ourselves of "all malice and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander" (2:1). Often, when I read that, I recall conversations with people who respond by saying, "I'm trying!"

No one seems to be as sincere as they want to be. We try, but envy is sneaky. And we don't even realize how broad slander can be. Many of us feel it useless to keep trying. Nobody's perfect, after all.

Remember, though, there is hope. And our hope extends to the greatest of our sufferings, but also to the depths of our beings. Therefore, what we want to become, with God's help, we can. After all, as the apostle of hope has said, "through him (Jesus) you have come to trust in God" (1:21). So, if God can raise us from the dead, the Lord can surely also help us become the holier versions of ourselves. Have hope!

Stay blessed...john

Reading your Bible daily is a luxury many Christians have not had. Even today. More than half of the world's languages don't have a complete Bible translation. I'm convinced we take for granted the gift we have of the biblical text. 

You and I have access to every translation of the Bible available. We can choose the prettiest covers or the font size that helps you see better. You can buy a Bible at the dollar store or do a Google search for "premium Bibles" and spend hundreds of dollars.

All that, and biblical literacy continues to decline.

To be fair, reading any kind of book doesn't excite a lot of people. Kids are reading less, as are adults. Men seem to be the least likely to read.

Thankfully, illiteracy has never impeded the Holy Spirit. Please do not misunderstand me. I want you to learn to love the Bible. Love it enough to read it and know it. But let's reflect on a scene from Acts 13 to appreciate our relationship with scripture.

Paul and "his companions" were at a synagogue in Antioch. The people worshiped there and had heard "the reading of the Law and the Prophets" (Act 13:15). Afterwards, someone asked Paul for an exhortation. Paul retold the history of God's people that led to Israel's Savior, Jesus. Part of that story, of course, was the people's rejection of Jesus. Paul said Jesus' opponents didn't understand "the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath" (13:27).

Every Sabbath, the people of God heard scripture. But they didn't see what God was leading them toward. Paul reminded the people that day who had just heard the Law and the Prophets that it's easy to not hear. You and I gather weekly to hear scripture proclaimed. Whether you've read your Bible or not, it can still be easy for us to not hear as well.

What happens to our hearing when you're not there? As a church family, we can't fully hear what God is speaking to us when we have better things to do than gather for worship.

Oh, this is another note about the gift of reading the Bible and having personal devotions. But it's also a reminder that God speaks to us in the reading and hearing of scripture together. Let's hear the Spirit drawing us to Jesus.

Stay blessed...john