05.18.19 - week 4
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly place - Ephesians 6:12
the supernatural realm is often overlooked.
because what’s easy to see + touch is so easy to sense, we live there as though nothing else exists.
because the western world relies on a system of scientifically provable facts, we operate as though nothing else exists.
because we are afraid of the all too easy manipulations of the spiritual realm, we operate as though nothing else exists.
too often i have led as though evil didn’t exist. in no real danger of ever being a ‘the devil made me do it’ preacher, i didn’t fully orb it out in my teaching. evil is real, its wreaking havoc in many places. sometimes we struggle to properly understand the evil in the world because we are looking at our circumstances through lenses that block out the supernatural.
i am still in the process of working this through to conclusion, for today my simple challenge is to start to see the universe as more than the simple matter and human emotion we can see and to use prayer as the spiritual weapon that it is.
‘If, then, the Savior is neither a mere man nor a magician, nor one of the demons … This is the reason why His works are no mere human works, but both intrinsically and by comparison with those of men, are recognized as being superhuman and truly the works of God’ – St. Athanasius
Cup of Leadership
when someone you know is hurting, just say something, just do something.
the self-induced paralysis that produces silence isn’t neutral, it’s communicating, and quite loudly at that. depending on the situation, the void is shouting a message somewhere between indifference and spite.
processing hurt has different contours for different folks of course, but i have yet to meet the person who is offended by a gentle kindness extended through word or deed. we all use the same tropes of excuse making, they are ‘tired of talking about it’ or ‘i don’t want to hurt them by saying the wrong thing’ or ‘i probably don’t know them well enough to reach out’
for a long time i have tried to try, no matter how awkward the situation. having been in the other chair for a season now, i’m more certain than ever this is the right path. you have the opportunity to bring the compassion/inspiration/reassurance that someone in your life very much needs.
you don’t have to have perfect advice to give or a pithy lesson to teach, you can just say ‘i’m sorry you are hurting’
Book Review
if you are looking for a summer beach book, this is it. a fascinating story of privilege + fraud + wealth, i couldn’t put it down. the story is told neatly and systemically, helping the reader keep the dozens of characters in this worldwide ‘bourne-style’ caper straight. a perfect fun read with lots of subtle lessons about the depravity humans are capable of in our quest for validation from each other.
3 Things I Really Liked This Week
1. joel houston / cameron strang – unedited podcast
2. a very intriguing article
3. a couple of my favorite worship leaders (lauren + kyle sweeney) pitched in to write this killer new song from sean curran, check it out, you will love it.