I’ve started reading a 70-word daily blog from economist Elliot Eisenberg. Here’s what he wrote on July 12, 2022. (It’s not an excerpt – the whole blog is only 70 words! Don’t say it: “Bob, can you get yours down to 70 words?!”) Anyway, back to Dr. Eisenberg:

GDP in 22Q1 was -1.6% annualized, 22Q2 looks to come in at -2% annualized. Yet job growth in 22H1 was superb, averaging 456K/month. How can this be? Are firms hoarding workers despite falling sales because bosses expect a mild downturn or because hiring is so tough? Maybe the GDP data will be revised up or employment data downwards. Otherwise, productivity must be sinking at 6%/year which is historically unprecedented

He calls it opposite observations. Employment up, productivity down. This raises an interesting question with respect to churches except we have no clear way to measure “productivity.” It should be in terms of “fruit,” which I have written about before. Here’s a list of possible kinds of fruit (“how God can use me today”) from Mark Green’s book Fruitfulness on the Frontlines:

• Model godly character
• Make good work
• Minister grace and love
• Mold culture
• Be a Mouthpiece for truth and justice
• Be a Messenger of the gospel

Most churches measure only attendance, along with income. But attendance or membership translates roughly into “employees.” Even the celebrated metric “baptisms” is only measuring employee growth. We’re not measuring employee productivity or fruit. And yet, fruit is of paramount importance: more about that tomorrow.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last… (John 15.16, NIV)

I’ve written about the Good Samaritan before including describing the research study that suggested that when we’re in a hurry, we often don’t take time to do what we should do. But reminders never hurt.

The Chosen presents the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.25 – 37) as a true story, Season 2, Episode 1. Whether it’s true or a parable, Jesus uses a priest and a Levite as negative examples.

Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. (Luke 10.30 – 32, MSG)

The Samaritan had compassion. It doesn’t matter how much I know or how many “religious” works I do if I don’t love my neighbor. 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13.1 – 2, ESV)

Here is a fascinating exchange:

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10.17 – 20, ESV)

The usual take on this is that when Jesus “saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,” he was talking about their casting out demons. But I heard an old pastor in a small group setting give a different interpretation: He said, “The 72 were proud and excited about what they had done. Jesus warned them of pride. ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’ Why did Satan fall? Because of his pride. ‘Don’t rejoice that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that you’re on the team.’”

But Jesus rejoiced that so many “little children” – probably the ordinary people who were following him – were getting it. 

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10.21 – 24, ESV)

Yesterday we looked at an excerpt from John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life” sermon, which included this vignette from Readers Digest:

Bob and Penny . . . took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball, and collect shells.”

John decries, and I agree, the “dream” of early retirement. Here is support from a recent Wall Street Journal article about Buchholz, an ordinary high school in Florida, that turns out championship math teams. Read the article if you enjoy reading about innovative ideas in education. I just want to highlight this section about the math coach Will Frazer:

A bond trader on Wall Street in the 1980s, Mr. Frazer retired young and moved to Florida, where he became a scratch golfer and lived the dream for a decade. Then he got bored.

He took a job at Buchholz coaching golf, switched to teaching math, quickly formed a math team, applied the lessons of his experience in finance and turned a bunch of teenage quants into a fearsome winning machine.

“The difference between what I do now and what I did on Wall Street is that I used to get paid money,” said Mr. Frazer, 63. “Now we get trophies.” – Wall Street Journal, July 14, 2022, emphasis mine

My friend and Navigator mentor, the late Skip Gray, used to say:

The happy Philistines [unbelievers] roaring around out there lack only one thing: purpose.

People do better when they have purpose, and Jesus provides that for us abundantly!

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1.27, ESV)

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way… (Philippians 3.13 – 15, ESV)

Yesterday’s blog about burning the plow and leaving the nets felt like it needed a caveat… But the scriptures I used didn’t offer one so neither will I.

My intense “friend” John Piper whose word on the “prosperity gospel” I shared last week preached a very influential sermon on May 20, 2000, to 40,000 college students. Here’s a portion of that sermon as reported in an article by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, March 20, 2017. I offer this excerpt without further comment and commend the article in its entirety. John said:

You don’t have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world.

You don’t have to be smart, or good-looking, or from a good family. You just have to know a few, basic, glorious, majestic, obvious, unchanging, eternal things, and be gripped by them, and be willing to lay down your life for them…

Three weeks ago, we got news at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards were killed in Cameroon. Ruby Eliason—over 80, single all her life, a nurse. Poured her life out for one thing: to make Jesus Christ known among the sick and the poor in the hardest and most unreached places.

Laura Edwards, a medical doctor in the Twin Cities, and in her retirement, partnering up with Ruby. [She was] also pushing 80, and going from village to village in Cameroon. The brakes give way, over a cliff they go, and they’re dead instantly. And I asked my people, “Is this a tragedy?”

Two women, in their 80s almost, a whole life devoted to one idea—Jesus Christ magnified among the poor and the sick in the hardest places. And 20 years after most of their American counterparts had begun to throw their lives away on trivialities in Florida and New Mexico, [they] fly into eternity with a death in a moment. “Is this a tragedy?” I asked…

It is not a tragedy. I’ll read you what a tragedy is.

[From Readers Digest, ] Bob and Penny . . . took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball, and collect shells.”

That’s a tragedy.

And there are people in this country that are spending billions of dollars to get you to buy it. And I get 40 minutes to plead with you—don’t buy it. With all my heart I plead with you—don’t buy that dream. . . . As the last chapter before you stand before the Creator of the universe to give an account with what you did: “Here it is, Lord—my shell collection. And I’ve got a good swing. And look at my boat.”

I’m reading the book that came after that sermon, Don’t Waste Your Life. I can’t say that I’ve burned all my plows, but I can say that I’m 75 and not retired. A couple of weeks ago I was able to visit with my friend Matthias from Kalimpong, India. His father, founding pastor of a church that will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, is 87 and still going strong. Last month I mentioned (again) Jim Downing, who passed away at the age of 104 1/2, six weeks after completing a ministry trip.

¹²  The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³  They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
¹⁵  to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (Psalm 92.12 – 15, ESV)

I’ve always found this short vignette intriguing:

Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9.61, 62, ESV)

The most common interpretation here is that “the plow” is the work of the kingdom, and you shouldn’t start the work while looking back at what you’ve left behind. After all, when you plow, you must look forward. That works as an interpretation and application, but I think it could be the other way: the plow is the plow. One puts his hand to the plow and just “looks” back at the work he could be doing for God.

The exact conversation occurred between Elijah and Elisha:

So [Elijah] departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. (1 Kings 19.19 – 21, ESV)

This story seems to support my interpretation. Elisha is the one with the plow! Elisha burned the plow to cook the oxen! Don’t put your hand on the plow and wish you could join in God’s work. Burn the plow! Leave the nets!

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5.11, ESV)

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19.21 – 23, NIV)

Luke 8 ends with the great story about Jesus healing a woman on the way to raising Jairus’ daughter. (Luke 8:40 – 56) The first lesson is that Jesus is never in hurry. He seems always to have margin. As our pastor likes to point out, he listens to her story, he doesn’t just rush off:

And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8.45 – 48, ESV)

The second lesson is about power. “I perceive that power has gone out from me.” That explains the frequent references in the gospels to Jesus going out to the desert places. “He often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5.16). Prayer for direction, as we’ve pointed out before. However, it must also have been to recharge.

Acts 1.8: “You shall receive power…” When power is used, it goes away. That’s worth a study right there: power is something I receive. That’s like charging a battery. But when the power is used, for example, to drive a tool, the battery must be recharged. 

Jesus told the disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. (Matthew 10.8) For me, I want to preach with power so that people are changed, and I definitely feel depleted after I speak! This coming weekend, I will be in rural western Colorado, speaking five times in two days. Lord, fill me with power for this weekend!

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14.12, ESV)

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4.33, ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us… (Ephesians 3.14 – 20, ESV, emphasis mine)

I couldn’t help but notice that Luke includes A LOT of Jesus’ reminding people that hearing is not enough – our encounters with God’s word must be accompanied by action:

Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? …The one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. (Luke 6.46, 49, 50, NIV)

Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away. (Luke 8.18, ESV)

I used to say, “No ‘points’ for hearing.” Once, a brother corrected me. “It’s not ‘no points for hearing,’ it’s negative points for hearing only.” A good word, and that principle alone may explain why many church members don’t seem to know much about the Bible. They’re not putting it into practice.

But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8.12, ESV)

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11.27, 28, ESV)

No further comment needed! I think Jesus was clear.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)

Jesus has been known to be a bit down on tradition:

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. (Matthew 15.1 – 6, ESV)

I couldn’t help but think that some traditions are silly and downright dangerous when I saw in the July 19, 2022, edition of the Wall Street Journal this picture of a British soldier, dressed in full uniform (wool, probably) with a large fur hat, “guarding” Buckingham Palace. Ladies and gentlemen, it was 104 degrees when that picture was made on July 18!

God bless the police officer who is giving the poor dude a drink of water, but where is common sense? When I taught at an Air Force leadership school, we canceled our outdoor activities (even though we were dressed way more suitably) when the temperature/humidity index was above a certain level.

More important than a lack of common sense, where is the compassion? Where is the kindness?

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness… (Colossians 3.12, NIV)

Back to highlights from Luke’s gospel. And that’s all we can do…highlights.

In Luke, accounts of miracles don’t begin until late in chapter 4, which ends this way:

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4.42 – 43, ESV)

Two simple observations:

• People want him to stay (and continue to meet their needs), but Jesus knows it’s time to leave. How does he know? Answer: he begins his day in prayer in “a desolate place.” When they want him to say, his answer is firm: “I MUST preach…to the other towns as well…” Jesus gathered his strength and direction during his times of solitude. Luke reiterates:

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5.16, NIV)

• God’s direction often results in movement. Paul and Barnabas were part of a thriving ministry in Antioch when…

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13.1 – 3, NIV)

We had just gotten the Navigators 2:7 Series going well in Omaha in 1977 when the Air Force sent us to Alabama. No problem. The ministry thrived in our absence. When we moved from Alabama to Colorado in 1984, we again left behind a 2:7 series in process. No problem. God again moved someone else in to take care of that.

We tend to like things to stay the same. We stay in place. Our leaders stay in place. But sometimes God’s work requires that we be open to change.

After this, Paul stayed many days longer [in Corinth] and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila…And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there…Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18.18, 19, 24 – 26, ESV)