Tag Archives: communities

Prayers and Reflections in a Tumultuous Season, Part II

September 6th, 2024 | Dr. Charlie Self

As we navigate the raging waters of a surplus of instant information and deficit of deep wisdom, I hope the following will calm our hearts, enlighten our minds, and strengthen our hands for service to God and our communities.

“Lord, help me displace outrage with obedience, and instant reactions with intercession. Help me stand for truth with tears and pursue peacemaking as your child. Please continue your delivering, healing, and reconciling grace in my life and empower me toward victory over sin and all the schemes of evil. Jesus, you are Lord over all creation, including all powers of injustice and oppression. Thank you for your love and power. Amen.”

Isaiah 44:19 is a great verse for today’s hyper-reactive public square. As the prophet repudiates idolatry and the folly of using the same wood for a cooking fire and an idol, the little phrase, “no one stops to think…” leaps from the page. Pausing, considering context, and reflecting are lost arts in our pursuit of clicks and likes. As we necessarily debate issues, let’s stop and think and then share in a way that makes our world better.

“Loving Lord, awaken us to your pathos for the hurting, your providential care in our lives, and your power to help us walk in holy love. Holy Father, bring your divine embrace to the vulnerable and your wise discipline to the haughty. Jesus, as you were sent, so send us to share your light and love. Sovereign Spirit, unite your church in faith, hope, and love. Help us edify, not efface, the beauty of your church. Amen.”

There is a need for fresh intellectual leadership. The late Dallas Willard, renowned Christian author, shared with leaders that he longed for the day when pastors and local churches once again were the intellectual leaders of the community.

A special thank you to all faithful scholars. You pursue your fields with dedication and discipline and your discoveries help us understand world better. Yes, you have some dishonest and intemperate colleagues, but your efforts to learn and then teach remain important to our world. Throughout history, church and society have kept learning alive through much tumult. Always position your work as service and remember your good influence.

Friends, as we go forward, let us do so with passionate prayer and principled thinking, with a desire for all to meet Christ and a willingness to cooperate with people of conscience.

December 31: Reflections and Resolutions

January 8th, 2019 | Dr. Charlie Self

Reflections and resolutions are part of the in between moment as we prepare for 2019. Rather than offer self-help palliatives and platitudes, I suggest that we consider history and hope for our community, nation and world. Here are some reflections and resolutions for our local and global communities.

Mr. President, confrontation and personal attacks are not always the best way for promoting policies for all people. Please consider greater conciliation and principled compromise and stop the personal attacks.

Republican and Democratic Congressional Leaders, you can get your revenge or actually legislate. You can investigate for two years or build a legacy of goodness. You can start your Presidential campaigns or actually help your constituents.

Members of the media, your partisan “gotcha!” journalism has only exacerbated tensions. How about serious investigations of facts and explorations concerning solutions instead on one more hit piece?

Friends of conscience and goodwill, we can begin making the world a better place by discussing serious issues with civility and leaving ad hominem attacks at the door. We can renew our neighborhoods and our nations with new partnerships for the common good.

Lust for power is more potent than money and sex. Will we use our positions and privileges to serve or simple aggrandize more authority? Will we remember why we began a pathway of leadership or will we default into self-protective modes?

2019 can be a great year of courage and wisdom, or a terrible year of anger and competition. May we choose well.

2018 Predictions

January 1st, 2018 | Dr. Charlie Self

Everyone is offering insights on trends and possible future. I add my voice, but in a different key. The following are universals that will happen regardless of personal or political decisions. The real question is how each of us will steward each day. Here are some insights for 2018:

God’s mission will go forward, with millions coming to faith and thousands of new churches planted.

The Gospel will continue its competition with missionary and militant Islam and increasingly militant pagan-secular elites determined to eradicate Christianity as a major force in the West.

God’s people will keep finding each other and discover new ways of uniting in the face of cultural implosions.

American politics will be polarized, but small progress will be made as elected officials prepare for midterm elections in November 2018.

Global economic progress will continue, with millions more gaining access to markets and opportunities.

Serious challenges remain in American cities as the gap between those who can afford housing and those on the margins keeps growing.

Many American churches will experience significant renewal in local communities, especially those parishes that care deeply about all aspects of personal and community flourishing.

The Warriors and Celtics will meet for the NBA championship.

Many prayers for a wonderful New Year!

Some Wisdom Amidst the Noise, Part 3

April 11th, 2017 | Dr. Charlie Self

Not all opinions are equal. Just because we feel something does not make it right. May we humbly (re)discover critical thinking and tender hearts, without fear of where our learning may take us.

We need more beauty in our lives, from a child’s smile to magnificent sunsets. Please pause and never lose the wonder.

Lord, help us to enter the mystery of your holy love and humility, seeking ways to bless those that curse us and do good for those that desire our demise.

Lord, help us become active contemplatives and contemplative activists, seeking your glory and the good of others, worshiping in our gathered communities and our scattered domains of work.

Lord, help us navigate between fear and foolishness, learning courage bathed in love and wisdom.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Amen.

One test of (all) leadership is principled compromise leading to proximate justice.

At the heart of being human are the deepest desires for God and meaningful work.

Be countercultural tonight: invite friends over for a potluck…with food all of you have cooked from scratch.

Boys can dance and girls can hunt…and they are still different.
How did three such different people come from the same parents?
God delights in uniqueness.

Four Talks You Can Use

August 14th, 2015 | Dr. Charlie Self

Four exciting new short talks on theology and economics from national leaders are now available. These talks are designed to be used as assignments to help you introduce students to these vital issues in your classes. Featuring dynamic and engaging presentations from highly credible figures, and only 15 minutes in length, these talks promise to be a powerful curricular tool.

Oikonomianetwork Four Talks