June 11, 2025

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

All about the Number

It is all about the number, but everyone’s number is different.

The annual time trials had arrived, and every swimmer was being judged by the number on the clock when they touched the wall at the end of the race. Some got to the wall with smooth beautiful form while others appeared to struggle a great deal. But so long as every swimmer swam legally, the “how” and the aesthetic appeal (or lack thereof) were of no consequence.

The only thing that mattered was the number.

The number would determine the rank.

The number would set the standard.

Swimming is a team sport conducted individually. Swimmers combine their efforts toward a team goal, but each one must navigate the course as an individual. From the starting block to the finishing wall, each swimmer competes alone.

The comparisons to your life are many, but let us quickly establish that you are never alone. Your God clearly promises, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). You do not walk this life alone.

You do, however, have your own number. You have a unique race to run, and the goal for your race is not determined by the race set out for the one next to you. Hebrew 12:1 says you are, “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,” and that you should, “run with perseverance the race marked out for [you].”

Friend, it is so very easy to look over at the swimmer—or the Jesus follower—next to you to compare. It is so easy to either validate or excoriate yourself (both are plenty acceptable results to the enemy of your soul) based on what you see in the lane—or life—next to you.

But here is the truth: God has given you a unique race to run. He’s given you a unique number to aim for and equipped you with a specific set of skills to accomplish that course. For some, it is smooth and beautiful and fast. For others, perhaps it appears to require far more effort.

Like the sport of swimming, following Jesus is a team sport that requires individual and personal surrender to the lordship of Jesus. You need me, and I need you. In this sense, it is very much a team sport. But Jesus requires that your devotion and mine be personal and undivided. He insists on having your complete and total surrender to Him (Rom. 10:9; Philip. 2:9-11).

You cannot run my race, and I cannot run yours. We can and should spur each other on, but my friend, it is all about the number, and everyone’s number is different.

The time trials are upon us. What race has God set before you? What number has He assigned to you, and what is necessary in order for you to attain it?

Let’s together endeavor to support the one next to us, but also resist the urge to confuse their lane assignment with ours. The number sets the standard, and those standards merge together to accomplish the will of your heavenly Father.

U.S.

Troops in the Streets

Tensions are high in Los Angeles, CA after U.S. President Donald Trump activated National Guard troops and Marines to restore peace after violent protests broke out in the wake of a wave of federal enforcement of immigration laws. A total of 4,000 National Guard have been authorized to deploy to the city, as well as 700 Marines. It is the first time since 1965 National Guard troops have been utilized over the objection of a state’s governor. Both California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass say the troops’ presence has an escalatory impact, while President Trump says the move is to maintain order.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Immigration law, and in particular the enforcement of it, has long been a flashpoint for division and disruption. Amid a chaotic situation, we as Jesus followers would do well to soberly consider a few sometimes-difficult truths:

First, rule of law is a biblical precept (Rom. 13:1; Tit. 3:1). This does not mean that every law of men is just, but it does challenge a current predominant theory that immigration law should simply go unenforced.

Next, much of the political drama around this story has very little to do with substance and a great deal to do with palace intrigue. It is very easy to let your view of the president or the governor or the mayor capture all or most of your attention on this story. Let’s together work to focus our energies on what is True and beautiful (Philip. 4:8) rather than on personality disputes.

Finally, we as Jesus followers should embrace a truth that doesn’t fit neatly into a political narrative. We should support the faithful enforcement of the law while seriously engaging the process of making the law as just as possible. We should also personally engage in caring for the needy among us—especially those who are “strangers in the land” (Deut. 10:19).

You should be forewarned: Embracing the approach in the paragraph above will earn you critics. When it does, remember how the life of Jesus turned so many things upside-down. Let’s together endeavor to seek a biblical approach, even when it is not a well-worn path.

U.S.

One Big Beautiful Tussle

What may have been the world’s most powerful partnership is now on the skids. U.S. President Donald Trump and the world’s richest man Elon Musk are feuding just days after Musk stepped away from serving as one of President Trump’s closest (albeit informal) advisors and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The fallout stems from Musk’s unfavorable view of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which is currently being considered in the U.S. Senate. The tussle quickly turned personal with each man attacking the other on social media.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Palace intrigue. Yet again, the vast majority of ink spilled—or airwaves filled—on this story will be about the relationship between Trump and Musk that fractured in full public view. There is little utility—and in fact the risk of great harm—for us in that portion of the story.

You and I are called to, whenever it is possible, “live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18). We are also instructed to bring the mind of Christ to bear in every situation (1 Cor. 2:16).

These two instructions alone should be enough to recenter our focus, and they are plenty challenging to carry out. For example, the One Big Beautiful Bill at the epicenter of the feud contains trillions of dollars of spending and changes to the U.S. tax code. Every one of us would find some cause to rejoice over, and other reasons to object to, various provisions in the bill. How can we bring the mind of Christ to bear in that debate? How can we view it through the lens of the True and the beautiful? Most important, how can we interact with it in a way that channels the True and the beautiful?

It starts by minimizing the noise of the palace intrigue around you and maximizing the presence of the Almighty. Let His still, small voice resonate clearly within you, and let it have influence over your posture and your engagement to the exclusion of all else!

U.S.

Return Facilitated

The man at the center of multiple high-profile legal challenges is back in the United States and facing charges of human smuggling. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported from Maryland to his native El Salvador in March, a move that sparked numerous legal challenges and ultimately a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the administration to “facilitate” Garcia’s return to the U.S. Garcia remains in federal custody and awaits prosecution.

Analysis and eternal perspective: This story remains one of the most divisive of the day. As we’ve discussed together previously, it pits the need for protective law enforcement against the due process rights of unsympathetic defendants. These can be nearly impossible to fully pull apart, but let’s together intentionally return to one of our core pursuits—that of giving careful consideration to all sides of a matter, consistent with Proverbs 18:17.

In this case, there are undoubtedly two ambitions worthy of defense: 1) The speedy removal of violent criminals who are illegally present in the country, and 2) The robust defense of due process rights. Even so, it is somewhat rare to find coverage of this story that amplifies both ambitions. As a result, you and I should be intentional to lift our eyes above the surface level reporting and carefully consider the long-term impact of the various proposals being advanced.

One final thought: The presence of a variety of opinions is a sign of a healthy and free society. Be encouraged by it, as it is a gift of liberty! Even so, that gift carries with it a sober obligation to carefully parse the resulting information through an eternal lens. Let’s endeavor together to guard that deliberative process. Each of us should engage it for ourself and, ultimately, should compare every idea against God’s Word as the dispositive authority on the matter.

The Beautiful

Smaller than it Seems

The beautiful Luna Moth appears only once a year (or twice in select locations) and its lifespan in adult, winged form is only about seven days! Its presence this week reminds us that life is but a vapor (Jam. 4:14), but also that God has poured immense blessing and beauty into your temporary home!

Also, take note of the “eyes” on the moth. There are four—one on each wing, both forewing and hindwing—and they are not eyes at all, but merely “eyespots” meant to give off the appearance of a much larger creature. If that doesn’t speak truth, nothing does! Fear not, for the power in you is far greater than that which you perceive with physical eyes (1 Jn. 4:4)! The enemy of your soul would have you believe he looms large, but in the shadow of the One who lives in you, he is oh so much smaller than it first seems!

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