July 31, 2020

A Word about the Word-

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things [Philippians 4:8].

I will if you do…

As a matter of fact, go ahead and read that entire fourth chapter. A friend of mine, a widow struggling with too much stuff, asked for a biblical reading recommendation to give her a bit of a lift and better perspective. My answer? Philippians 4. The down-the-road consequences connected to the things we think about and dwell on are huge!

Close to Home

Sunday morning ought to be rather interesting and fresh. The message will include a dialogue with Dr. Leah Jeunnette, a bioethicist from CWRU, about the ethics and our responsibilities during this pandemic. You didn’t know I hung out with such smart people, did you?

We are peering into the future to see when we might resume in-person worship. As human beings we need to be together. As Christian people we need to worship and fellowship together. Look for an announcement sometime next week. Look for an even stronger call for everyone to wear masks in the church building to comply with Governor DeWine’s mandate requiring them in all indoor public spaces.

To stay in touch during these COVID days, I am going to start a daily, five-minute devotional video series. “Take 5” will start this Monday and we’ll meander through the Book of James. To subscribe and join us, click here.

Remember Trinity’s high calling in these days: unity and charity. Our retiring Director of Care, Diane Steele—with her tongue firmly in her cheek—added a third: sanity. Hear, hear!

The World as It Is

Two giants passed away in the last week or so.

“Real spiritual growth is always growth downward, so to speak, into profounder humility, which in healthy souls will become more and more apparent as they age.” [J.I Packer]

“When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the twenty-first century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression, and war.” [John Lewis]

#CultureNerd

Back in late March, as COVID-19 was strengthening its quarantining grip on the world, National Geographic magazine featured a story about an Italian man named Mauro Morandi. His badly damaged catamaran limped onto the shores of a deserted island in the Mediterranean called Budelli. He has lived there pretty much alone for over thirty years.

Morandi, who reads voraciously and has become a student of biology and botany while having over 50,000 Instagram followers (@maurodabudelli), is an interesting example of flourishing while living in solitude. He has become a bit of a celebrity and even gives an occasional tour of the island.

As you navigate this pandemic’s grip on your social life, you may enjoy this piece about Mauro Morandi. There are some really beautiful pictures as well!

And Then There’s This…

Martin Luther experienced and lived through the bubonic plague. And he offered these wise words:

“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely, as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.

I’ll see you on the other side.