I have a nice drum set at home. It was my dad's set he used when he was younger. He gave it to Brittani some time ago and she used it to play some gigs. We've even used it for worship at our church. But for the last several years, it's sat in my garage.

I see it every day collecting dust. I've moved it around plenty of times to make room for others things we've put there.

But I have it.

Last week, I acted on something I've had in my mind for quite a bit. It's a project that'll take me a while, but not nearly as long as I've been thinking about doing it. I've got the polish rags, cleaner and handheld buffer ready. And I'll order new drum heads soon. I'm going to clean up the set and get it looking new. Who knows, I may even buy a new snare drum or cymbals as a personal reward. Either way, get ready, neighbors, for some noise.

Because what good is having the set if it's just there?

Week in and week out, Christians gather to worship. As part of their worship, congregations hear a word from the Lord. This week it may be about prayer or serving. Some churches need to hear again the power of forgiveness and reconciliation. We all need reminders about gratitude and generosity, sacrifice and humility. All these messages find their way to the hearts of God's people every week. No matter what the message is you'll hear this week, it should be rooted in the love of God.

That's where our word comes from.

But Christians must also understand love is not a thought experiment. It is no whimsical feeling or theory. Love is more than theology. Therefore, God's love must not sit dusty and idle in the minds of those who sit in the pews. As someone once said so well, Love is a verb.

Living our love for God is the best way to thank the Lord for the gift we've received. The gift of faith. The gift of salvation. The gift of love itself. Our Father has gifted us with so much. And so, every day is a new chance to dust off what we've left stagnant. Today is always the day to let the love of God shine through everything you do and everything you are.

Stay blessed...john

Moses was sure his excuses would work. The Lord called him to go to Pharaoh, but Moses had his song and dance ready. Most times, we look to his experience at the burning bush as a lesson to skip the excuses and follow God's leading. That's not a bad lesson, of course. But if you've ever thought Moses was a little too quick to get out of his mission, remember Stephen.

Stephen stood accused of being against the faith of Moses (Acts 6:14). The council gave him a chance to speak for himself. So, he recalled the historic faith of his people, including Moses' story. His point was to show he wasn't rejecting his tradition. Instead, he saw it fulfilled in Jesus' ministry.

As part of his retelling, he reminded everyone of Moses education and life in Egypt. One day, upon seeing the ill treatment of one of his people, Moses acted. It wasn't a good act, mind you. An Egyptian was now dead. But notice Stephen's extrabiblical explanation of why Moses decided to act. Of Moses, Stephen said, "He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand" (Acts 7:25).

We assume Stephen included that bit of commentary to illustrate his audience's inability to understand what God was doing that day as well. Or their unwillingness to understand.

Apparently, before the burning bush, Moses convinced himself the Israelites would listen to him. Why wouldn't they? He was one of them, after all. But they didn't because they didn't understand. And since they didn't, Moses spent the next forty years building a new life in the desert. So, can you blame him for looking for a way out of God's plan all those years later?

Maybe, then, another lesson is about our failures. Moses was wrong in what he did to the Egyptian. He was wrong about how he thought the Israelites would respond. But God wasn't that concerned about his failures when he called him from the burning bush. Maybe we shouldn't be overly concerned about ours when God calls us.

Stay blessed...john

'Twas the night before the Election and tensions were high.

Fear lingers and there's an anxiousness that blankets our conversations and thoughts. If you-know-who wins, well, you know what will happen. This is, after all, the most consequential election of our lifetime. Or, I forget, was that the last one?

We need to acknowledge the division amongst our neighbors. It's foolish to act like people don't have sincere and strong differences of opinion. Still, I remain convinced we're not as far apart as some people want us to believe. Offense and animosity get ratings. Ratings get money. Outrage becomes an industry. And so many of us buy right into it.

I keep catching myself saying, "I'll be glad when the election is over." But what then? Will people start respecting one another? Will the lies and half-truths suddenly stop? The day after Election Night will be like most Wednesdays. Certainly online: Rude and derogatory memes, insulting comments and outlandish suspicions.

There are two things that frustrate me about that. For one, statistics tell us our politics displease most Americans: 87% are tired of political division and 87% think political polarization is a threat to the nation. So, why don't we demand something better? Something better from our leaders and from each other. The second thing that gets to me is how so many Christians participate in this supposed hatred. It's impossible to be the light of the world or the salt of the earth when we blend so easily within the vilest aspects of the culture.

Who will be the sensible voice in all our chaotic conversations? It should be the people of God commanded to live peaceably with all. While others seek to sow division, the Christian call is to feed and care for our enemies. Is that hard work? It can be. Many Americans claim to be overwhelmed by our politics. So, can we Christians heed scripture's cue to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with God?

I believe we can. So, be mindful what you share. Choose your words wisely and faithfully. Bring light and love to your conversations. See other people as the child of God they are. That might be the most consequential thing you can do.

Stay blessed...john

How do you feel about chance or happenstance? I'll gladly affirm the power of pot luck over good luck. But sometimes things just seem to work out in unusual ways. In the moment, it can be hard to see how something should work out. Plus, our interpretations about how and why something happens can be wrong. Often, only hindsight helps us make better sense of our experiences. Better sense. Not always perfect sense.

"As it happened," Ruth ended up in a field belonging to Boaz (Ruth 2:3). Knowing how the story ends, that sounds like a lucky draw for her. She could have ended up at anyone's field. Naomi even later instructs her to make sure to stay with Boaz. Otherwise, "someone might bother you in another field" (2:22).

It just so happened Ruth ended up somewhere that could be advantageous for both her and Naomi. It just so happened Boaz is someone who could end their misery. As it happened sounds like luck and that doesn't feel all that spiritual. But some things feel like lucky breaks or mere bad luck.

This is where I reflect back on the idea of the will of God. The idea is that not everything that happens to you is the will of God. But there is the will of God in everything that happens to you. That has brought me much comfort over the years. 

Maybe God directed Ruth to that field. She's a part of Jesus' genealogy, after all. So, God must've been directing her path, right? But wouldn't that mean God, too, took Ruth's family from her? That's more difficult to reconcile.

For now, I'll admit to you my shortcoming, using Dora Greenwell's words:

I am not skilled to understand
what God has willed, what God has planned;
I only know that at his right hand
is One who is my Savior!

I'm okay with the "as it happened" moments in my life. Whether God made them happen or not, I trust the Lord's promises. We will not be forsaken. God will be with us. Somehow, God will make our paths straight.

Stay blessed...john

Naomi saw a nagging determination in Ruth. Ruth was not going to leave her mother-in-law to fend for herself. You may recall, both women lost their husbands. Naomi lost two sons and her husband. One of her daughters-in-law already left for home after her husband died. Naomi's charge to them both was to leave because she had nothing to offer them. They were still young enough to build a new family.

But Ruth was not having it.

Once Naomi realized this, she "said no more to her." She accepted her companionship. Still, her heart was empty.

The two women journeyed to Bethlehem, where Naomi was from. When they arrived there, the town recognized her. And yet they weren't sure they did. "Is this Naomi?" they asked. It probably wasn't her years away from Bethlehem that made her almost unrecognizable. Instead, her loss and deep grief had taken a toll on her. While her people were happy to see her, she had a different response.

Naomi's name means 
pleasant. But she told her people to now call her Mara, which means bitter. Remember the bitter waters from Exodus 15?

While Naomi saw Ruth's determination, it hadn't changed her feelings much yet. I wonder how much she paid attention the "beginning of the barley harvest" (Ruth 1:22). Even if it meant anything to her, she would have no idea what it foreshadowed. The rest of Naomi's story centers around the attempt to connect Ruth to Boaz. That new marriage would redefine their family. It would even shape Jesus' family (Matthew 1:5).

What I'm reflecting on today is Ruth's determination to stay with Naomi. She had every right to return to her home and rebuild her life. But she chose Naomi. She walked with her through the darkest time of her life. Both of their lives.

Ruth's name comes from the root word for friend. As we see, her friendship would be a strong encouragement through Naomi's bitterness.

By God's grace and mercy, may the same be said of our friendships as well.

Stay blessed...john