February 5, 2025

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

The True

Blockbuster Trade

“Maybe it’s an April Fools’ Day joke in February.”

That was my first though when I saw the news. But no, it wasn’t April Fools’ Day, and it wasn’t a joke. One of the most significant trades in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) had been completed, the centerpiece of which sent superstar Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers while Anthony Davis made the reverse trek. Neither player was consulted before the trade was completed. It was a blockbuster trade if there ever has been one, and, while I haven’t been big a NBA fan since the Michael Jordan days of my youth, I was stunned.

Later that day, I read that one NBA player reacted, “If Luka can be traded, anyone can be traded. It’s a business.”

On one hand, it is easy to make too much of sports news like this. Even if you enjoy following sports, news like this has limited impact on your life or your Gospel invitation to make disciples (side note: that phrase—"making disciples"—excites me). So, while the coverage of the trade is breathless and filled with drama, it is very unlikely to impact your personal reality.

But what about that undisclosed player’s reaction: “If Luka can be traded, anyone can be traded. It’s a business.” That statement should make you think.

Is your reality that tenuous?

Is your identity, and your most important association, that subject to whim?

Is the foundation of who you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop?

The unequivocal answers should be no, no, and no!

Your reality is held by the one who set the Earth in place (Ps. 104:5)!

You have a name and a belonging, and both are wrapped up within the Name of all Names (Is. 43:1)!

Your foundation is firm (Is. 33:6)!

Perhaps you wish you were an NBA superstar. I, on the other hand, wanted to play baseball and start at either shortstop or catcher for the Chicago Cubs. But even those dream jobs come tied to a reality in which your professional identity and association can be altered in a moment’s notice, and often without even your consultation.

You, my friend, are different! You have a no-trade clause, and your eternity cannot be shaken (Heb 12:28)! So today, don’t operate in fear or trepidation. Instead, ask the Creator and Lover of your soul what it is He desires of you, and then boldly set out in pursuit of it! It’s not a business: It’s a calling and a promise!

World

Tariffs

It was a wild news week on the tariffs front. First, U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on goods imported from China, Canada, and Mexico. Goods from Mexico were to be subject to a 25% tariff when entering the U.S., while goods from China were to be subject to a 10% rate, and goods from Canada were to face either a 10% (energy goods) or 25% markup (non-energy goods).

The announcements set off a flurry of activity. China announced counter tariffs on the U.S., mostly aimed at energy exports. Mexico and Canada, after threatening retaliations, reached temporary agreements with the U.S. to pause tariffs until March 4, 2025. The centerpiece of each agreement is the deployment by Canada and Mexico of 10,000 enforcement personnel to their respective borders with the U.S. The White House says it will reevaluate the tariffs based on the effectiveness of these actions by Canada and Mexico.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The initial announcement of tariffs was unsurprising—President Trump had repeatedly promised as much on the campaign trail—but it still caused quite a stir in political and economic circles. Unsurprisingly, stock markets worldwide receded on the news while the U.S. dollar strengthened. On Capitol Hill, Democrats largely used the former reaction to decry the tariffs while Republicans used the latter to defend them. President Trump acknowledged U.S. consumers might feel some “pain” in the form of higher prices on goods, but contended the tariffs were necessary to accomplish needed border security assistance from the three countries. The subsequent announcement that Canada and Mexico would deploy additional personnel to the border underscored the latter argument.

The issue of tariffs is likely to continue generating white-hot debate and opinion on both Capitol Hill and across America. As Jesus followers, we should be careful to both, a) engage the public debate thoughtfully (there are merited reasons for a wide array of views on the matter, and the ensuing public policy is strengthened when people of good faith engage it thoughtfully), and b) take seriously our mandate to be the vessel through which the needs of the poor are met in any economic environment.

On the latter point, there is a vibrant debate underway about the role of the government in caring for the poor—a debate that will likely intensify if consumers do indeed feel “pain” through increased cost of living. Yet again, it is a debate that can be thoughtfully participated in from a variety of viewpoints. Even so, you and I should very clearly acknowledge our mandate from scripture to personally serve the poor and needy (this instruction is one of the most frequently issued in scripture—a few examples are Pr. 31:8-9, Ps, 82:3-4, Pr. 28:27, and Deut. 15:11). Deuteronomy 15:11 is particularly relevant as it plainly states that poverty will never be “solved,” but calls us to it anyway as a part of continually turning our hearts away from an inward focus.

World

Dismantled

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is being dismantled, according to Elon Musk, head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The announcement comes a week after most U.S. foreign aid was paused, and a day following the dismissal of two USAID officials who reportedly denied DOGE personnel from accessing part of the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. Employees of USAID, both domestically and around the world, have been put on leave and, in the case of those stationed internationally, instructed to return home.

There is widespread expectation that President Trump and Musk are leaning toward placing whatever portions of the agency survive under the supervision of the State Department. It is not immediately clear, however, when such a determination will be made.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Like the last story, there are layers to the public debate surrounding this story, including:

- What role should U.S. taxpayer dollars play in international humanitarian aid?

- Do the current programs and expenditures of USAID advance a worthwhile goal?

- Does a president have authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress?

- Are there national security concerns presented by either recipients of USAID funding or by the void that would be created by ceasing funding?

- What are the most effective procedures for completing a review of this magnitude?

Perhaps more important than your opinion on any of the above is, once again, a clear understanding of your personal mandate to care for the needy among us. You may view the participation of the world’s superpower as essential to the mandate, or, on the other hand, you may view government participation as a disincentive to the robust participation of Jesus followers in this work.

Either way, as you thoughtfully interact with the public debate and questions outlined above, how will you continually embrace your own personal inclination to the poor? How will you be sure to see the need around you? How will you work to be certain your heart is inclined to the need? And how will you be certain to live sacrificially for their care?

While the American people have a tremendous ability to participate in their own self-governance, you—even if you are an American citizen—do not have the ability to ensure your government’s participation in this space precisely mirrors your personal preference. You are, however, invited to walk in the beautiful personal invitation of the Gospel to “uphold the cause of the poor” (Ps. 82:3)!

U.S.

Tragedy over the Potomac

It had been nearly 15 years and approximately eight billion passengers since the last fatal commercial airline crash in the United States. That streak ended tragically over the Potomac River near Washington, DC, when an American Airlines flight with 64 people onboard collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers. There were no survivors, and investigators continue to pull wreckage from the river and work to determine the cause of the crash.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The families of 67 loved ones who perished are mourning. While it is true commercial aviation has become one of, if not the, safest forms of commercial transportation, that reality does nothing to blunt the abrupt and piercing loss of such a tragedy. On this most basic level, we as The Equipped family should look for ways to comfort the grieving (2 Cor. 1:4).

Next, as investigators work to determine the cause or causes of the crash, there will be significant conjecture in the public discourse. We as Jesus followers would be wise to carefully consider the evidence as it is uncovered and lend our voice in a way that reduces the likelihood of a future tragedy.

Finally, my friend, every day is a gift from your heavenly Father! Rejoice because of the breath in your lungs, the relationships in your life, and the certainty you have in eternity. This Earth is temporary, heaven is forever, and it is all for His glory!

The Beautiful

Much More Valuable

The recent snow in our region has dramatically increased the quality of our birdwatching! It has underscored our awareness of the Creator’s attention to detail and His concern even for the “birds of the air.” You, by contrast, are infinitely more valuable and He has promised not only to care for you, but into relationship with Him!

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:26).