1 QUOTE

“I try to catch them right on the tip of his nose, because I try to punch the bone into the brain.”

- Mike Tyson

1 NOTE

One marker for those who finish well is building a vibrant inner-life. Studying and preaching Genesis 1:11-11:9 has helped me see keep my heart close to God. I recently learned that God chose to judge the world by flooding the earth, because of what he saw. In the creation account, it is repeated six times, “And God saw that it is was good (and very good on Day 6 when he created humans). But chapter 6 presents a severe contrast. When God looked, he saw the earth was corrupt, and filled with violence (Genesis 6:11).

How much has really changed today? Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since 2014. Their war officially started with a full-scale invitation in February 2022. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the 19th century. The current war started in October 2023. Israel and Iran entered into conflict in 1979 when Ayatollah  Khomeini became Iran’s supreme leader. In American this past month, we saw two lawmakers in Minnesota gunned down in their home by a ‘Christian’ (not Jesus’ definition of discipleship) who dressed up like a police officer. The world chooses violence to solve their conflicts.

Miss Valerie is one of our Holy Faith Fellowship church mothers. She prays heaven down to earth, brings her tambourine for praise and worship, and always has a witty exhortation. Two Sundays ago she brought a gang of egg rolls for the snack table. A troubled man and his girl walked over from Gonzales Park. He pushed people aside, walked up the table and grabbed egg rolls by the handful. Semadre and Jaylen, young men in their 20s, told him he was out of order. The man started going nuclear. He began cursing (in front of the children), calling Dre and Jaylen the N-word, and ripped off his shirt, bobbing and weaving like Mike Tyson. The man wanted to get down. What he didn’t know was the Dre and Jaylen are both professional boxers. They could have knocked him out, though Dre confessed, “Pastor, I’m not gonna lie, he did give off old-man strength vibes.” Dre and Jaylen both became Christians this past quarter. Though new to Jesus, they chose the narrow path. And Miss Valerie jumping over the top rope and yelling, “In Jesus’ name, stay away from my sons!” sure helped. The man walked away, shirt off, with seven egg rolls in each hand. Valerie, Dre and Jaylen are praying for his deliverance.

When God looks out, he sees a corrupt earth, filled with violence. But at the Holy Faith Fellowship snack table in Compton, the Kingdom of God is breaking in. Disciples of Jesus reconcile first, come to terms quickly, turn the other cheek, and never solve conflict with violence (or violent words of gossip). And I am sure God will give Valerie, Semadre and Jaylen heavenly egg rolls when they enter the Kingdom of God.

1 QUESTION

How are you tempted these days to solve your conflicts outside of Jesus’ call to personal reconciliation (Matthew 5:21-26)?

Until Next Tuesday,

John