A Word about the Word-
The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income… Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward… All of a person’s is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. [Ecclesiastes 5:10–6:9]
As we think about our lives and our work, let Solomon’s words above sink in. And allow concepts like enough, satisfied, and enjoyment sink in as well.
Close to Home
How is Trinity doing? I often get asked. The context recently is COVID-19 with its health risks and its gathering-stifling protocols. And, probably, with a bit of national political fall-out thrown in.
The answer is layered, isn’t it? If it’s the numbers that you’re asking about, then I would say pretty good. Our offerings/expenditures are in a pretty good place! Sunday morning “attendance” is a little harder to measure as you have both in-person attendance (following a max-50% seating capacity protocol) and livestream attendance (which is quite strong).
If it’s the church “family” that you are inquiring about, then my response would be varied. We (staff and elders) try to stay connected with as many as we can in these odd days. Some are well and some are struggling. Some are new and connecting and some have flown the nest (for numerous reasons).
If it’s our “mission’ that is being asked about, then I would say, in principle, we have never been clearer. In practice, we still have a long way to go. But that’s been the beautiful challenge for 2,000 years!
The World as It Is
Feeling the need to keep it light: a short break from the world’s pandemic and arctic blast and the invasion of Zombees.
Naomi Osaka, the 23-year-old joy of a tennis player from Japan, won the Australian Open. She is now 4–0 in Grand Slam finals. Wow! Osaka beat Jen Brady, a very gregarious American who is fairly new on the world stage. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic won his 9th Australian Open and his 18th Grand Slam. He’s a great player (“a machine,” my friend called him this morning). My fear is that he will pass my two favorite players (Nadal and Federer) in career Grand Slams. The tennis star also broke the record for the longest time ranked #1 in the world—a massive 311 weeks!
In other news, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are getting a divorce after six-and-a-half years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Aside from being worth over 2 billion dollars, one wonders if this will damage any aspirations Kanye may have had for a 2024 presidential bid. (If you could only see how firmly planted my tongue is in my cheek…)
O, Worship the King!
In case you missed the Ash Wednesday service, this final musical piece was outstanding and so worshipful!
Enjoy this as a reflection on last Sunday and our important rhythm of confession with its glorious experience of forgiveness and fellowship with God himself!
I’ll catch you on the other side.
