Hello, Raggant families!
There’s always a reason to be glad for whichever season you’re in, as each season has unique features and opportunities. One thing I particularly enjoy about summertime is listening to books while working around my property, and in the last couple of weeks I’ve re-listened to a handful of gems that I recommend heartily.
As we routinely observe at school, good books affirm principles found in Scripture. We should not be surprised when they resonate with us, even if the author is not a Christian.
A secular leadership guru can tell you that leaders who take responsibility gain influence, but he probably doesn’t understand the Deep Magic that makes it so. Of course we know that the gospel teaches that death brings life, and people on the receiving end of loving sacrifice (like your children!) thrive at the expense of others (like you!), and the cycle is actually glorious. And still it takes faith to walk it out.
I’m fond of saying that it takes faith to believe what you know. You may know that God is calling you to sacrifice for others even when they are ungrateful. You may also know that this is a formula for their flourishing even if it is costly to you. You may also know that such costly labors are the sorts of things that God loves to bless. You may know all this, but do you actually believe it? Are you walking it out? Does your life feature this sort of sacrifice?
It’s true that our motto is a relentless reminder, but it’s just as true that we put “evangel” in our name for a reason.
Death brings life. Believe it.
There’s no better time to get this belief right down to the marrow of our bones than the start of the school year, because it’s about to get gloriously real. Are you ready?
Risus est bellum!
Jonathan