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Church Street, Princeton
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It would be just like him

The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.

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Practicing Our Scales

Imagine if our walk with Christ, representing his kingdom in the world, were as practiced and pure as Hania Rani’s fingers on the piano keys.

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Rescue

I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.

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Your Roots Are Showing

The life that I bring to the world can only be found in my attachment to Christ. His presence with me is essential.

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Connection

I live in a U.S. county with traffic problems. It's a peninsula, and what's not swamp land has been developed. Building new roads is difficult and expensive. Making things worse, roads that could connect don't.

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Living Living

On Being Neighborly

I recently saw a social media post about the angle of the sun and the risk of sunburn. The main takeaway is that the sun's intensity in April is comparable to that in August. Where I live, August feels different than April; August is hot and humid, while April is generally pleasant.

What a beautiful morning it is! The sun is shining, temperatures are in the 60s, and a gentle breeze is blowing. The trees are adorned with leaves in a variety of spring greens.

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Thread 1
When walking, running, or biking in neighborhoods, you are sure to encounter some annoying driving habits. Everyone's in a rush, seldom watching for the unexpected. I appreciate those drivers who choose patience and concern for others, demonstrating kindness toward their neighbors.

Thread 2
Today, I noticed a man strolling through a nearby neighborhood. Our only connection was my wave. He wore a doctor's mask, which triggered memories of 2020 and the pandemic. I thought, "That mask isn't necessary outdoors!" My nicer self led me to consider reasons he might have for wearing one. Ultimately, I came to, "What's it to me?" He has his reasons, and I'm in no position to judge him or anyone else.

Thread 3
I recently saw a social media post about the angle of the sun and the risk of sunburn. The main takeaway is that the sun's intensity in April is comparable to that in August. Where I live, August feels different than April; August is hot and humid, while April is generally pleasant. Surely, the sunburn risk is greater in August than in April, right? No, it's the same. It may even be greater in April because I am still so pale, and the air feels deceptively cool. This highlights a possible disconnect between feelings and reality. Feelings are valid, but it’s essential to recognize and consider the truth.

Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor. In his kingdom, love is everything. We tend to define who our neighbor is based on feelings. But when someone asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" the Master tells a story about a Samaritan man, an outcast who helps his enemy in extravagant ways.

As I operate on feelings,
Jesus reveals the truth.
That truth is up for my consideration.
What will a step of faith look like?

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Living Rick Shafer Living Rick Shafer

Effectiveness

Is the COVID vaccine effective? How about the Gospel?

(This is written at a time when a large number of Americans have received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.)

Is the COVID vaccine effective? We are told yes. But we’re also told to continue wearing our face coverings. I know several people who are very bothered by this contradiction.

I’m wondering why people aren’t more bothered by another contradiction. Was Christ’s death on the Cross effective? Does the Gospel change anything? Apart from Jesus’ sacrifice, we were destined for an eternity of guilt, shame, and fear. This is death—an endlessly broken relationship with God, who is Life. But, in Christ, that relationship was reconciled and we have been restored to innocence, honor, and spiritual power. This is Life. Abundant Life.

So, why do we still talk about saved people (maybe ourselves) as ‘worms’ and ‘depraved’? Why get a vaccination if it makes no practical difference? And why give our heart allegiance to Jesus if we’re still stuck in our guilt, shame, and fear?

Yes, we still carry around the brokenness written into our cells. But why not see ourselves as God sees us? Isn’t it better to trust that Christ’s death and resurrection really did make all things new? And then learn how to live in this newness?

At the same time, we can affirm the necessity and availability of God’s grace in all of this. It’s all by his grace.

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Living Rick Shafer Living Rick Shafer

New Life

We have been rescued and resettled. Now Kingdom life is becoming more normal, less foreign. Let’s unpack that a little.

God has rescued us and given us new life in Christ —

A new heart. A new spirit.
A new citizenship. A new family.
A new Sovereign and Father.
A new identity and culture.

Together, we are learning to walk in this newness of life.

People like us —

Exchange life with God.
Exchange life with one another.
Honor the identity God has given me, us, and every person.
Live in the patterns of God's kingdom.
Work for good in the world.
Make new disciples of Jesus.

Let this become our lived experience —

God is great. God is good. And God is near.
We are trustworthy stewards of the many forms of God's grace.
We are God's treasured possession and we live Jesus-like lives.
We so love the world that we give our first and our best.
Our everyday story is for God's glory.

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