Before you head off into your weekend, here are three things that I have read and been thinking about this week. I hope they help and challenge you as much as they have me. Have a great weekend!

#1

A person who honestly examines his own behavior would never judge other people harshly.

Three Simple Rules by Rueben Job

In the season of Lent we are focusing on a prayer of examination from Psalm 139:23-24. Bishop Job helps us see that a side-effect of examining our own life is that it creates in us compassion for others. I know that is the case in my own life. My great failures serve a couple of purposes. They remind me to NOT DO THAT AGAIN! And they create a place in my heart for other people that would not exist otherwise. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:32 that we are “to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” I believe being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving can be possible, in part, because of the humility created by learning from our failures. One more reminder that God brings beauty from ashes if we are willing to allow him to search our heart, test our thoughts, point out our wrongs, and lead us forward.

#2

There is no force in the world better able to alter anything from its course than love. You can get someone to remove his coat more surely by a warm, gentle sun than with a cold, blistering wind.

John Ruskin

I am a leader who prioritizes carrots to sticks; chooses honey rather than bitter herbs; and prefers encouragement to guilt as motivators. That is probably why this statement from the 19th century English critic captured my attention. I also think it is quite a contrast to the cancel culture that swirls all around us.

1 Corinthians 13 says “love never fails”. It may be delayed but never denied. Love is not only a noun – it is a strategy that will bring about the peace we all so desire in our world today.

Romans 2:4 says, “Do you not know that it is God’s kindness (patience) is meant to lead to repentance?” I praise God that he does not cancel us but instead chooses to cure us.

#3

Ticket for Coffee Shop Frustration: Order Black Coffee

(free link to the WSJ article..hopefully it works for you!)

If black-coffee drinkers feel like a shrinking minority, it’s because they are. The number of iced lattes, cold brews, iced mochas and iced Americanos on coffee chain menus rose by double digits in the past five years, while regular-filter coffee options declined 24%, data from market research firm Technomic Inc. show.

This one hits close to home for me. Those of us outlier black coffee drinkers are having to learn patience while waiting in line behind all those double shot oatmilk with two pumps of vanilla cold cream hold the foam “coffee” drinkers. (I put coffee in quotes for a reason!) The upside is this…black coffee drinkers are given the added benefit of sanctification as we learn to wait! With all due respect, most of the “coffee” drinks consumed today are really milkshakes with caffeine. There…it is good to get that off my chest. I’ll turn off the comments on this post now!