Comics, News, Theology and Hope

y morning routine rocks! I often write about walking Scout, the beauty of the quiet, or my devotional time. But one of my favorite elements is sipping that first cup of coffee with Rebekah and reading the newspaper together before breakfast.

We always start with the comics. Currently my favorites are Pearls Before Swine, Zits, Arlo & Janis, Non Sequitur, and Doonesbury.

Then we catch up on the news. But sometimes I wonder why. Too often the morning paper is simply a sad litany of the brokenness of this world; an expanded indictment, or “exhibit A”in the case against humanity.

SPEAKING & LISTENING: But we read nonetheless, because both Rebekah and I work in careers where we are called to speak into the reality of people’s lives.

We need to be aware of the stories, to be in-sync with the narrative of life and in touch with what’s going on.

Reading the news is a form of listening.

So, if we listen so that we can speak, then what do we say?

SCRIPTURE: For both of us, the answer to that question is rooted in scripture. I already mentioned my morning meditation and devotions, so let me share the passage I read this morning. It came from the book of Titus, chapter three and verses 3-7. “Listen” to this:

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Talk about speaking exactly to the content of most morning newspapers! Those first few phrases from the Titus passage absolutely nail it.

• The message that I would like to speak into this world for Thursday, January 24, is this: “But, when the goodness and the loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.”
• And how does God save us? “Not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy…” 
• And what does that mercy look like? “Through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Consequently, when I read the morning paper and look at the brilliant, cutting humor of Non Sequitur, where the author (Wiley) both lampoons religion and points his finger at the rotten core of our cultural values, I know exactly what to speak into the reality of day-to-day life.

“But, when the goodness and the loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.”

In Hope and in Promise – DEREK