“3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (2 Peter 3:15 ESV)

Gamesmanship and power for the hour, always our Mettle is tested and Always we are tried but not beyond our abilities. By “tested” it is meant that vast shifts in persona are dangled before our eyes, new sins, the “slow stain of sin” creeping and making profit from our meeker vulnerabilities. The Fact we never normalize strange errors or discount ourselves because of a fluke, uncharacteristic, performance.

Indeed, power for the hour comes from the Mutual Support structures of life in community, as much as from reclusive, hour of prayer from our Soldier of One mindset. Indeed, we normalize said community support as just a bit of Juice from another prayer warrior, a little determined Voice from another thinker, a Sense from another who has sensibility and affection. We are affectionate towards our people, because that is a personality trait that never shall wane, never shall tire, never shall capitulate.

So to the barometer of Self: this fine day of foreign warring and local surreal peace on the streets, the haggard bus lines and amazing photo opportunities, just to Remember: strangely buoyed and built up, we are Product of invisible love chains from Him who Loved Us, and Product of dastardly Refusal to concede to the middling claims lofted our way, to the convenient explanations heaved upon us, to the self-ruin and doubt thrust our direction.

Outlet and forum, our better angels thrive on Audacious Announcing Christ with us, and are sensitive to the weird and wild Journeys of our fellow prayer warriors. Who… see it in pastor’s eyes… we expected Trials, persecutions, even, but in the bleary-eyed hour of First Contact, it is too much for us: we capitulate to convenience and dismissals, even those for who Any One point of contact… any one is sufficient to Change the World. One loving gesture of Understanding. One affectionate Refusal to Condemn. One pastoral Coming Alongside.

We therefore aim no longer thus to capitulate. We aim to Win the game of one’s religion worn on their sleeve, as no longer about creedal technicalities, but about the “escape valve” or “buoyancy meter” of just how and what is called Sin: we are sharing the Gospel in every manner we know how. Others, under the banner of a foreign and even inimical Religion, they may share our calm demeanor and patient Notions of odd-ball erring mankind granted Pardon and more, granted Joy, Peace in Believing. 

All are sinners: see our own totem poles and wouldn’t-it-be-nice, if so and so just… just—I don’t know—disappeared. And our prayerful response, to Love our Enemies, we don’t get there by willpower, the counterposed mindset is not, “Okay, erase that thought, love on them…” so much as “Dear Lord, take me to that Place… take me where I am mocked and humbled myself, so I might look out in rainbow blessed Vision, on a world yes gone mad, but gone Peace as far as I am concerned”. We suddenly Peacefully Engage. Because of having lost all: “Who even cares, I may die on the commute home tonight; I couldn’t care…” is no suicidal ideation but is a Man, a Woman, who—yes, for loved ones—is like Paul the Apostle self-preserving (“22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Phil 1:22-24 ESV)). No, we are rambunctiously Joined to our people and to our community, because of Love, because of the upcheer of one email received, because of the grandiose Plans turned meek and humble yet Bold, to Invade Sin, to feel it all Forgiven because our coastlands and interior each are themselves targeted and threatened, and that is way bigger, the sins of an enemy are way larger, than our own missteps, and thanks be to God we are not summed up by our mistakes any longer. God needs us, call us Warm Bodies and nothing more, perhaps, but God needs us. This hour. This fine morning. This day’s laboring times.