Triple C News - November 4, 2020

Hey, everyone!

Whoa! It’s really been quite a unique election time! And it’s not over yet! It’s been so polarizing between the two parties that I’ve heard more than one person expressing the wish that there should be more than two parties to choose from!

Actually, there is a third party. 

Unfortunately, many haven’t heard of it.

And it’s waaay more important than the two parties we hear about all the time.

In Luke 15, a fellow lost a sheep, search for it until he found it, carried it home, invited his friends over, and threw a party to celebrate. And our Lord Jesus said that “in the same way, there is rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents!”

It may seem hard to imagine with all the issues swirling about in the news, but it’s the party in Heaven when someone believes in Jesus that matters most!

You don’t hear about it in cable news but everyday around the world, women, men, girls and boys are coming quietly, unnoticed into the Kingdom of Jesus! One sociologist estimated that the number is 3000 per hour!

And the angels party!! 

We’ve had loads of parties that aren’t around any more…

There was the Whig Party…

the Federalist Party…

the Know-nothing Party…

the Anti-Nebraska Party…

the Anti-Masonic Party…

and the Minnesota Farm-Labor Party…

but they’ve all been over for a long time!

But the party in Heaven when someone says, “Yes!” to Jesus is the party that never ends!

That’s why Paul instructed us to pray and intercede “…for kings and those in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life…” 1 Timothy 2.1-2

He wants us to pray for leaders in politics…(he was talking about Nero and that bunch!)…

that everything could stay quiet and peaceful…

Not stirred up, conflictual and chaotic!

So that our lives could be quiet and peaceful…

Why??

“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth!” (1 Timothy 2.3-4)

Because God wants people “to be saved”, quite simply!

Praying for calm and peace and a quieting of chaos and conflict between parties because there’s another party that matters more the ones we care so much about!

The party in Heaven that always grows and never ends!

Would you join with me in asking God to bring peace and quietness to our troubled society during these stressful days? 

That God would speak peace over our conflicted land?

That there might be an unexpected calm settle over us as they figure things out in this election and beyond?

And would you join with me in doing our part and giving our heart to be peace-makers, rather than peace-breakers? 

For our Savior said the peace-makers are blessed “for they shall be called the children of God” . 

(Matthew 5.9)

Would you remember with me the words of the Apostle who wrote to us, “Let no unwholesome, hurtful talk come out of your mouth but only those words that build others up and give grace to those who listen…” (Ephesians 4.29)

He says this just before he adds, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us (5.1-2)

Think before you tweet!

And if like me you have loved ones and friends on both sides and in both parties down here…

to misquote my mom when I was a kid…

“Remember to look both ways before you cross the…line!”

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love…”

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi