conviction

Yesterday I was listening to a sermon while I drove in rush hour traffic. It was on Philippians 4. The title was The Guide to Joy in Anxiety. The preacher made a statement that has been resonating in my brain. He said, "Anxiety is not a state to be managed. It's a sin to be repented of." He pretty much reached out through the CD player and punched me in the head. He went on to say, "If you let anxiety rule you, you are declaring anxiety to be Lord and we all know the truth. Jesus is Lord." I realized in that moment that I have been repeatedly negating Jesus' rule in my life. That's why it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests before God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7.

The other thing that struck me this week happened while I was reading a poem. Ron Reed, who is the director at Pacific Theatre, has a blog called Oblations. The current post is a poem by Wendell Berry. The second paragraph says:

So, friends, every day do something that won’t compute.

Love the Lord. Love the world.

Work for nothing.Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace the flag.

Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot understand.

Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Do I do something everyday that doesn't compute with this world? Do I?