We interrupt this depressing series on the election for a couple of feel-good, answer-to-prayer stories.

Babo the Dog passed away just after Christmas 2022. Since then we’ve been saying to ourselves, “God will send us a dog when the time is right.” Coming up on two years, total strangers have counseled, “Don’t wait any longer; actively search.” When our daughter was here this summer, she found a potential dog at the Pikes Peak Humane Society in Colorado Springs. I went down there. A huge operation, and the dog I went to see was already gone.

Last week, I was preparing for the lesson on prayer for an upcoming discipleship class and reviewing John 16.24:

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)

So I prayed specifically, and the thought came to mind:

You’re going to be in Pueblo Friday while June is at a music teachers’ conference. Why don’t you check out the Pueblo animal shelter?

(Pueblo is a much smaller city than Colorado Springs, an hour south of us.) An online search brought up Paws for Life, and a site search on “small dogs” brought up Benji:

To make a long story short, I made an appointment for 2p, Friday afternoon, met Benji, filled out an application, and brought June over at 3p. They usually do a home visit, but we’re 60 miles away! They asked us to send a video of our house and yard, which we did as soon as we got home Saturday. They called right away on Saturday, told us we were approved, and I picked up Benji at 2p, Monday.

I think he finds his new home “acceptable.”

And he looks a bit better after a haircut! As we say in our (military) family: “Back in regs.” (A regulation haircut)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights… (James 1.17, NIV)

As the election approaches, I need to remind us of what I wrote back in October 2020, before the last presidential election.

Wesley’s rules for voting, Bob’s paraphrase:

1. Vote for the person you judge most worthy.
2. Do not run down the other candidate.
3. Do not run down the guy who voted for the other candidate.

Simple to write, hard to do, especially when believers on both sides tell you that you can’t be a believer if you’re not voting the way they think you should. I wrote about this phenomenon in Following Jesus?, written January 2020. I concluded that blog this way:

Maybe we should all spend more time following Jesus than trying to decide if the other guy is following Jesus.

So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. (Romans 14.12, MSG)

When Peter saw [John], he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21.21, 22, ESV, emphasis mine, different context, same principle)

Re the election, vote, but remember:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13.1, ESV)

Yesterday I shared the poem Life Goes On to remind us not to despair when things don’t seem to go our way (and in less than two weeks, things won’t go “our way” for half the country!). As the election approaches, what are we to do?

My friend Bill Mowry has one answer, maybe THE answer: PRAY. That’s what the apostle Paul said, and he lived in a time much more antagonistic to the Christian faith than we do. Bill writes:

The first-century church grew up under an occupying military force. Rome controlled Israel, Jerusalem, and most of the known world. Signs of Roman power were everywhere. The early church took root under the leadership of the Emperor Nero, the immoral ruler who institutionalized the persecution of the early church. The church had no legal standing and was shunned in a climate dominated by the ancient gods — the pagan deities of Rome and Greece. A failure to worship the gods was a traitorous act towards the state. Paul knew that the church was living in treacherous and dangerous times.

How did the Apostle Paul encourage the church to engage in this oppressive political and social arena? Here’s his charge: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers . . . be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Bill goes on:

The phrase “first of all” speaks to that which is of greatest importance. The church’s priority list should have prayer for government leaders, whether Democrat or Republican, as one of its top priorities…Prayer is an exercise of trust and authority. Do I trust in the political process or in the God who stands behind the process? Prayer speaks to authority. When I pray, I recognize the authority of our Lord over the transient authority of political rulers. Rome is no longer a dominant force and Nero’s name lives in infamy. However, Christ’s church continues to grow (Matthew 16:18)!

“Rome is no longer a dominant force…” reminds me of something Andy Stanley pointed out a few years ago. What would the first-century Christians cowering in the catacombs have thought if you told them that within 200 years, EVERY building in Rome would have a cross on it?

Let’s pick up another snippet from Bill Mowry’s essay:

Let’s skip down to 1 Timothy 2:8 and consider how we should pray: “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling . . .”

How should we pray? First, we lift “holy hands” signaling a posture of surrender and worship. Second, we pray without anger or quarreling. It’s amazing how prayer can dissipate anger — even my anger with politicians who take positions I’m vehemently opposed to. Prayer lifts me to God’s perspective (Luke 1:52) renewing or rebuking my attitudes in the process…We do not disciple men and women to embrace our political positions or preferences. Instead, we teach them the radical strategy of prayer, exercising a re-thinking of trust and authority. We model praying for our political leaders, not only for those we like but for those we may disagree with.  – Bill Mowry, Mixing Politics with the Great Commission, October 11, 2024. I recommend the essay in its entirety.

The Apostle Peter reminds us:

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (1 Peter 2.13 – 17, MSG)

As we approach the national election in the US where surely half of the people will be disappointed/angry/apoplectic (choose one!), it’s good to remember:

Life goes on

Here are excerpts of a poem by that title by Howard Thurman, a black megachurch pastor in the 1940s. For him, life was difficult – I quoted him in a blog on Ruth 3: The Disinherited.

Excerpts of “Life Goes On” by Howard Thurman (bullets allow me to single-space the lines)

• During these turbulent times
• we must remind ourselves repeatedly that life goes on…
• The wisdom of life transcends our wisdoms;
• The purpose of life outlasts our purposes;
• The process of life cushions our processes.

• The mass attack of disillusion and despair,
• distilled out of the collapse of hope,
• has so invaded our thoughts
• that what we know to be true and valid
• seems unreal and ephemeral…

• Let us not be deceived.
• It is just as important as ever
• to attend to the little graces
• by which the dignity of our lives
• is maintained and sustained.

• Birds still sing;
• the stars continue to cast their gentle gleam
• over the desolation of the battlefields
• and the heart is still inspired
• by the kind word and the gracious deed…

• To drink in the beauty that is within reach,
• to clothe one’s life with simple deeds of kindness,
• to the movement of the spirit of God
• in the quietness of the human heart
• and in the workings of the human mind—
• this is as always the ultimate answer to the great deception. – Shared by Nancy Small, Associate Director for Spiritual Direction Initiatives, Office of Ignatian Spirituality, USA East Province of the Society of Jesus

Good stuff: “It is just as important as ever to attend to the little graces by which the dignity of our lives is maintained and sustained…the heart is still inspired by the kind word and the gracious deed.”

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalm 46.1 – 3, ESV)

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2. 14 – 16, ESV)

Jehoshaphat gets four chapters of coverage in 2 Chronicles. Yesterday, we looked at chapters 17 and 19 (chapter 18 is a repeat of 1 Kings 22). Except for the alliance with Ahab, Jehoshaphat is doing a good job, but chapter 20 opens with a bang:

Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat received this intelligence report: “A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you. (2 Chronicles 20.1 – 2, MSG)

What to do? Pray, of course!

Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to GOD for help and ordered a nationwide fast. The country of Judah united in seeking GOD’s help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to GOD. (2 Chronicles 20.3, 4, MSG)

Jehoshaphat prayed the promise of God’s power and protection (See 2 Chronicles 20.3 – 13), and God moved Jahaziel to confirm the promise with specific directions:

Then Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of GOD to speak from the midst of the congregation…He said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat—GOD’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours. Tomorrow you’ll go after them…You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch GOD’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—GOD is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20.14 – 17, MSG)

“You don’t have to lift a hand…” Wow. But you do have to march out boldly. So they did. Early the next morning, and they opened the day with singing praise to God!

They were up early in the morning, ready to march into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen Judah and Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say! Believe firmly in GOD, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you’ll come out on top!” …Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for GOD; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing,

Give thanks to GOD, His love never quits. (2 Chronicles 20.20, 21, MSG)

And that was it…

As soon as they started shouting and praising, GOD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. As Judah came up over the rise, looking into the wilderness for the horde of barbarians, they looked on a killing field of dead bodies—not a living soul among them. (2 Chronicles 20.22 – 24, MSG)

Back in the day, Don Francisco set a number of Bible stories to music, and thanks to YouTube, they’re accessible. What a country! Don does a very nice job with 2 Chronicles 20 in this song. Please click the link: it’s worth the four minutes. For the song, Don uses an adapted version of the King James translation:

Praise ye the LORD; his mercy endureth for ever and ever. (2 Chronicles 20.21, KJV)

Not a bad lesson, when in trouble, praise the Lord!

Jehoshaphat then led all the men of Judah and Jerusalem back to Jerusalem—an exuberant parade. GOD had given them joyful relief from their enemies! They entered Jerusalem and came to The Temple of GOD with all the instruments of the band playing. When the surrounding kingdoms got word that GOD had fought Israel’s enemies, the fear of God descended on them. Jehoshaphat heard no more from them; as long as Jehoshaphat reigned, peace reigned. (2 Chronicles 20.27 – 30, MSG)

Back to 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat, chapters 17 – 20, makes three good kings in a row for Judah! I don’t think I’ve noticed that before. Chapter 17 records a very good start:

Asa’s son Jehoshaphat was the next king…GOD was on Jehoshaphat’s side because he stuck to the ways of his father Asa’s early years. He didn’t fool around with the popular Baal religion—he was a seeker and follower of the God of his father and was obedient to him; he wasn’t like Israel. And GOD secured the kingdom under his rule, gave him a firm grip on it…He was single-minded in following GOD; and he got rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. (2 Chronicles 17.1 – 6, MSG)

And then something I haven’t seen done by any of the kings – teaching!

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials—excellent men, every one of them…on a teaching mission to the cities of Judah. They were accompanied by Levites…They made a circuit of the towns of Judah, teaching the people and using the Book of The Revelation of GOD as their text. (2 Chronicles 17.7 – 9, MSG)

Chapter 18 records a little hiccup with Jehoshaphat attempting to help Ahab. It’s a repeat of 1 Kings 22, which I wrote about back in June. 2 Chronicles 19 opens with a rebuke of that episode but an affirmation as well:

Jehoshaphat king of Judah got home safe and sound. Jehu, son of Hanani the seer, confronted King Jehoshaphat: “You have no business helping evil, cozying up to GOD-haters. Because you did this, GOD is good and angry with you. But you’re not all bad—you made a clean sweep of the polluting sex-and-religion shrines; and you were single-minded in seeking God.” (2 Chronicles 19.1 – 3, MSG)

But rather than “shoot the messenger” as his father Asa did when confronted, Jehoshaphat kept doing the right thing, continuing the teaching ministry:

Jehoshaphat kept his residence in Jerusalem but made a regular round of visits among the people, from Beer-sheba in the south to Mount Ephraim in the north, urging them to return to GOD, the God of their ancestors. (2 Chronicles 19.4, MSG)

Jehoshaphat has a good start AND a good finish as we’ll see tomorrow when we look at chapter 20. Stay tuned.

Make sure you get yourself a king whom GOD, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen…This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his GOD, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons. (Deuteronomy 17.16 – 20, MSG)

From time to time I read essays BEFORE they’re posted and offer editing suggestions including typos, grammar, and sometimes major content issues. Here’s part of what I sent to an author recently:

I guess I’m dense. So far I have no idea what you are talking about…You are trying to explain something very important to you, but you’re not succeeding.

In specific notes I pointed out apparent contradictions.

How would you respond to such feedback? Here’s what he wrote:

Good to know I’m not succeeding! Back to work on this… Thanks again!

Humility and teachability are not qualities you see every day:

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. (Proverbs 15.31, 32, ESV)

You may have noticed (or not…) in yesterday’s blog that I was using the NIV when I started going through Philippians, but I switched to ESV before I was done. I’ve been asked before how I choose which translation I’m quoting from. There are several possibilities:

• If I’m blogging on the reading program, I’m often quoting from the translation I’m reading from. This year, it’s mostly The Message as I go through the Historical Books.
• Sometimes, I have the quote in my head, and I want to find the translation that uses the phrasing I’m thinking about. That’s what happened yesterday. I’m used to Philippians 3.1 as “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord,” and NIV’s “Further, my brothers and sisters,…” didn’t sound right to me so I switched.
• Sometimes, I just quote from the translation that’s open in the computer without giving it a lot of thought.

So, no consistent reason. I hope you don’t mind.

I recently read Why We Worry When Choosing a Bible Translation by Peter J. Curry, about whom I know nothing. It opens this way:

By far the most common question I get asked about Bible translation is What’s the best one? What I’ve noticed is that, very often, the question comes with a hint of worry—worry that, depending on my answer, the person may discover they’ve been using a second-best translation. And when it’s God’s word we’re reading, no one wants to settle for second best! The anxiety is understandable.

But can anything be done about it? …How much should we worry that we’ve picked the wrong translation?

It’s a long and useful article if you’re interested in this sort of thing. What struck me was that people worry about their translation choice. It’s definitely an English speaker’s problem. We’re the ones who have over 60 options at Biblegateway.com. There are 20 Spanish translations, 5 German, and 4 French at that site.

I was greatly helped by an Internet presentation a few years ago. I don’t remember who the presenter was, but he was an expert in Bible translations. Here are some things I remember:

• NO translations are literal word for word. If they were, we wouldn’t understand them. “Heart,” for example, in Hebrew is really “kidneys,” or something, as I recall.
• There is a spectrum of translations from word for word to thought for thought. One type is not automatically better than another.
• When asked “What is your favorite translations?” the presenter said, “You give me a verse, and I’ll tell you my favorite translation for that verse.”

In other words, fret not. God can and does speak, even through “poor” translations. Peter Curry, the author of the original article I cited leaves us with these suggestions:

1. Reduce your options. When you reduce your options, it makes the decision feel less momentous. There are any number of ways to do this with translations. The simplest is to simply adopt the translation your church or denomination uses. If you trust your church or denomination enough to be a member, it makes sense that you would also trust their choice in translation. So, pick theirs and be done.
2. Be content with good enough. If this still leaves too many options, ask yourself if you’re making perfection the enemy of the good. I think many Christians who are worried about choosing the “wrong” translation need to hear that any mainstream, evangelical translation is going to serve them very well. They are all very good—even if they are good in different ways. If you already use the NIV or the NASB, ask yourself why you feel the need to switch. Is there really something wrong with your current translation? Or, have you fallen prey to the comparison trap? If so, it may help to remember that you can always supplement your main translation with others by using any number of free online resources. I highly recommend it.
3. Be Grateful. Finally, I think the best way to overcome the paradox of choice is to turn angst into gratitude. Behind the angst is a blessing: we have so many good English translations to choose from! Most Christians in history, and many Christians around the world still today, do not have the rich legacy of Bible translation we have in English. We should be enormously grateful for this rich heritage. Instead of worrying about choosing the wrong translation, most of us should just be grateful we have a choice at all.

I would add, there is no “credit” for having the “right translation” or despising a “bad” translation if you’re not prayerfully reading some version and putting it into practice.

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

But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. (Matthew 7.26, MSG)

Too good not to share…a truth that most of us have seen but need to be reminded of from time to time.

Sahil Bloom shared this story:

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by 8am, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.

“I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.”‍ – Sahil Bloom, October 11, 2024

“Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.” Abraham Lincoln believed that:

I have friends in Alabama, no stranger to hard times, whose answering machine message said something like:

We’re having a good day at our house, and we hope you’re choosing to have a good day as well.

The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote these words to the Philippians:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now… (Philippians 1.3 – 5, NIV)

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice… (Philippians 1.18, 19, NIV)

…make my joy complete… (Philippians 2.2, NIV)

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2.17, 18, NIV)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 3.1, ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4.4, ESV)

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4.10, 11, ESV)

About 16 months ago I wrote about the “rapid unplanned disassembly” of the Starship spacecraft by Space-X. What you and I would call an explosion, Space-X calls a “rapid unplanned disassembly” which they use to gather data to move their program along. Space-X has a culture of “embracing fiery mishaps.” It works for them.

This past Sunday, October 13, Space-X not only successfully launched Starship, it caught the 200-foot-tall booster so it can be reused! Here’s the opening of a Wall Street Journal report:

SpaceX caught a towering booster rocket back at its launchpad in south Texas, an engineering milestone for the Starship vehicle at the center of Elon Musk’s plans for deep-space exploration. 

The Super Heavy booster, the first stage of Starship, lifted off from south Texas on Sunday morning and propelled the Starship craft into space. Shortly after the launch, SpaceX made the call to return the booster back to the pad from which it had launched.

A livestream from SpaceX showed the device zipping back toward the facility, and, as it approached a tower, its engines slowed the enormous device down, allowing for the catch around 8:30 a.m. ET. The vehicle latched down on mechanical arms sticking out of the tower. – Micah Maidenberg, WSJ, October 13, 2024 (The article may contain a video of the launch and recovery. If not, click here.)

A skyscraper went into space, returned to earth, and parallel parked. – Sylvia Smith, shared by Mark Ewell

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18.1, ESV)