JKHLIBRARY - HOME

10 Things I Love About the United States of America

7/4/2020

No doubt the US is not a perfect country. It never has been. It isn’t today. And it never will be. If for no other reason than that I live here! But if something had to be perfect for me to love it, I would be a perpetually unhappy man. So, while I admit there are important issues before us today that need to be addressed, I pause this Fourth of July to share 10 things I love about the US of A.

I love that there are dozens of flavors of ice cream when I go to the grocery store, not to mention countless varieties of everything else.
I love the possibilities that exist to learn. Whether it be in classrooms, in libraries, on the internet, or through a book bought on Amazon, I can always learn a little more about something.
I love our state and national parks. From Yosemite to the Grand Canyon and from the Grand Tetons to the Florida Everglades, one can never run out of great places to explore. And don't forget those long beautiful coastlines!
I love the availability of health care. I know it may not be as available for some as for others, but from what I’ve seen during my travels, I would much rather be in the US with a strange ailment than in a place like Guatemala or Uzbekistan.
I love that as a Christian I can legally speak of my faith and meet with others who desire to do the same.
I love that I am generally able to navigate my surroundings without fear. That does not mean that I feel safe at all times (and that sadly my black friends often feel more unsafe than me), but when I consider the plight of those in North Korea or Syria or Afghanistan, I am grateful for the safety we do enjoy.
I love that this country has both world class cities and wide-open spaces. Sometimes a night at a downtown theater is first rate, and sometimes driving in the country is just what my tired soul needs.
I love that the US has more foreign-born residents than any country in the world and the variety and perspective and yummy food that brings.
I love our capital, Washington, D.C. The fact that I can go inside the White House, the Capital Building, the Supreme Court building, and the country’s largest museums all for free, and without knowing a single person who works inside, is rather remarkable.
I love the USA because the people I love most live here.

0 Comments

A Christian Response to COVID-19

3/12/2020

0 Comments

This morning, as I drove to meet with friends, I asked myself how God might want us to respond to the current COVID-19 scare. What I write here is not meant to be "the" Christian response or a complete Christian response, but hopefully it helps some find a more Christ-centered perspective on the events of the day.

Ask the question

A disciple of Jesus should always want to know the perspective God would want us to have and the activity he would have us pursue. When it comes to COVID-19 (and any other issue in our daily lives), we should ask: “God, what do you want to remember about you right now and how do you want me to trust you? Also, how can I love you well given the circumstances and how can I love others well?”

Live with hope in a living God

This does not mean we throw caution to the wind, but it does mean that we do well to ground our perspective and responses in the fact that God is the ruler over all.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced imminent death, but nonetheless rested in the reality of the living God (Daniel 3:16-18)
David confronted Goliath when others hid in fear, because he boldly believed in the reality of the living God (1 Samuel 17:32-51)
Hezekiah trusted in the saving hand of God, when the Assyrian army stood at his doorstep (2 Kings 17)

Fear the right thing

Often, we overly fear what can harm us physically, and fear too little about what can harm our soul (Matthew 10:28). If we go into hyper self-protection mode, but in the process enter into a season of paralyzing fear, anger towards others, and hoarding to the detriment of others, we have lost sight of what matters most.

Use COVID-19 as a reminder

The Coronavirus will take lives, and we should do what we can to support efforts to minimize its spread. However, we must recognize that sooner or later all of us will face death. The question is whether we are ready for that moment.
Jesus said that the flood in the time of Noah and the collapse of a tower that caused the death of 18 should act as reminders of the coming judgment of God. His advice was to repent and be made right with God (Matthew 24:36-41; Luke 13:4-5).
Often, we think of ourselves as those who are in the land of the living headed to the land of the dead. But in reality we are all in the land of the dying, with the potential (if we turn to God) of enjoying the land of the everlasting.
Our fragility should not just be a reminder to remain personally God-centered, it should also encourage to tell others about Jesus before their time comes.

Take prudent precautions, but don’t panic

Nehemiah was commissioned to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Many people sought to curtail his effort and even threatened to kill Nehemiah and his building crew. In response, Nehemiah set guards in their post, but he did not panic and stop the work (Nehemiah 4:12-23). Likewise, even though it is prudent to take precautions against catching the virus, we should not panic such that we cease to carry out the larger tasks God has given us.

Care for the most vulnerable

So far, indications are that COVID-19 disproportionately impacts the elderly or those whose immune system is in some way compromised. This means that they will likely need to stay more homebound. What are ways we can be serving them?
There has already been and will continue to be substantial economic impact due to the global scare. Those who will be most impacted are probably those who can least afford it. What can be done to care for those who are losing jobs and the income necessary to sustain their families?
Some people are more vulnerable to anxiety. We can care for them by being a friend and serving them at this time.

Take advantage of the disruptions

Most likely events and plans you have made will be cancelled or adjusted. Rather than going to a play or a conference or a church service, you will now be at home or in smaller venues. But there is much that can still be done in the name of Christ. You can stay in touch with and encourage friends and family. Instead of going to a ball game, you can invite friends over and get to know them better. You can read the Bible or another good book that you have too long neglected. Or you can take a walk with your wife and play with your children.
Our mandate is to love God and love others. Nothing about COVID-19 should keep us from doing that in some form or fashion.

Pray

There are at least three major effects of COVID-19: the physical ailment, the economic fallout, and personal anxiety. Ask God to work mightily to curtail all of these effects and let others hear your prayers because they need living examples of people who live with hope (John 11:38-42)

0 Comments

Eight Weird Ways to Be an Evangelist

2/23/2020

0 Comments

I haven't met too many people who have an interest in being an evangelist. In fact, I am not sure I have an interest either, at least not when you consider the stereotype. But here are a few ways to break the mold.

Start on the other person’s turf. At some point or another it might be good to invite a friend or colleague to church or a Bible study, but more often than not the best place to start a conversation about God is on the other person’s turf. You’ll probably find people much more relaxed talking about big questions like God while grabbing a bite after work, joining them for a jog, or when catching a cup of coffee.
Show and tell. Sometimes we think of loving people and sharing Christ as two separate tasks, but that’s not the way Jesus saw it. He said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mathew 5:16). There’s a reason show and tell was so popular as a kid. People need to see the gospel at work as well as hear it.
Work to find reasonable answers to people’s reasonable questions. There really are intellectually satisfying and evidenced-based answers to questions like: “How can we know there is a God?” “Where is God when there is evil and suffering?” or “Why should I trust the Bible?” Helping people find good answers to these questions will go a lot farther in helping them embrace Christ than just telling them they need to have more faith.
Keep it a conversation. I’ve met too many people who think sharing Christ means giving people a mini lecture on the finer points of Christianity. Do that and you’re likely to see people make themselves scarce. Instead, share just a thought or two about Christ at a time, then ask your friends if what you’ve said made sense or how they see the data differently. Keeping them in the conversation along the way will likely earn you the right to a second conversation, and then a third.
Share truth tentatively. As I’ve walked with Christ, my convictions in many regards have gotten stronger. At the same time, the way I share those convictions has gotten more tentative. For example, instead of saying, “Here are three reasons that prove God exists,” try “I can see how it can be hard to believe in God. Do you mind if I share a few reasons that have given me confidence God exists.” In the end, I share the same stuff, but when I offer truth more “tentatively” it is much more likely to be received.
Be content to share one piece of the Christian story at a time. There are all kinds of truths we might share with people when explaining the heart of Christianity – we are all made in the image of God, we all sin and thus distance ourselves from God, Christ’s sacrifice was enough to take away our sin, faith in Christ and not our own works is what God is looking for, when we trust Christ as our Lord and Savior he makes us his children forever – but there is no requirement that we share all these truths in one sitting! For many, people just one piece of the puzzle is all they can swallow at a time, so be patient and wait for the next conversation to share even more.
Don’t be afraid to share your own story. If you are thinking of sharing Christ with someone, it must be because you have already seen Christ work in your life. Pick three words or phrases: one that describes your life before Christ, one that describes what happened when you came to trust in Christ, and one that describes what your life has looked like since. Having a little outline like that in your head makes telling your story easy.
Relax and pray. If you think whether someone comes to Christ or not is all on your shoulders, think again. The results are up to God (1 Corinthians 3:7), so relax and ask God to work in the lives of others in ways you never could.

0 Comments

<<Previous

10 Things I Love About the United States of America

A Christian Response to COVID-19

Eight Weird Ways to Be an Evangelist

John Hopper

Archives

Subscribe to Blog

10 Things I Love About the United States of America

A Christian Response to COVID-19

​Eight Weird Ways to Be an Evangelist

John Hopper

Archives

Subscribe to Blog

Eight Weird Ways to Be an Evangelist