Radically Happy

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Escaping #SolutionRapture*
• By crossing out narcissism
• Starting with mine

Immanuel Approach Memo

Continued from 5/19 IAM: Reduced

I am… grieving.

I watch in sorrow
As my most precious institutions
Crumble under the enemy assault

Family
Church
Sexuality
Governance
Business

The shame
Is almost unbearable

Because I allowed this
Because Jesus commanded it
From the throne of my heart

I look to Jesus.

In His eyes
I see a sorrow
Far greater than mine

But also
Something else
That might be amusement
But is closer to joy

I look at my heart

And realize
Those institutions
Were built for Jesus
But not on Him

And they are His
To reclaim
Whenever He wants

And I must
Give them back to Him
So they become
Fully His

I look at my enemy.

And realize
He is me
And he is right

That those institutions
Deserve to die
Just like I
Deserve to die

Because we
Are not Christ
Though we claim
Otherwise

Because
Our human righteousness
Is as filthy rags

And the war
For my heart
Can only be won
By surrendering to Jesus

And as my enemy-me
Triumphantly topples
The last stone
From atop another

I see Jesus arise.

He steps off His throne
He girds Himself
As if for battle

He takes my hand
And leads me
Where I do not want to go

But where?
Why now
When it is already too late?

What difference
Could it possibly make?

To be continued

Reflection

I feel…

• Frustrated
• Responsible
• Ashamed
• Helpless
• Anger / Sorrow
• Wonder
• The faintest glimmer of hope

Scripture

“To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One.
Isaiah 40:25

*#SolutionRapture is becoming infatuated with an elegant (but often unworkable) solution in a way that ignores the true ugliness of the real problem.