The Friday Update - Electric

Happy Friday,

Paul wrote this under Nero—a Roman emperor who occasionally lit his gardens by burning Christians at the stake—which suggests we’re to pray for our leaders whoever they might be. (Note: I’m writing this before any election results have been announced.) 

Revival

Recent reports about a U.S. revival need nuance. While 41% of U.S. 18-22-year-olds are attending worship monthly—more than any other group besides the oldest adults—only 27% of 23–26-year-olds are also showing up. And church attendance is not enough. Keep praying and sharing.

Sixty-Six

Last month I drew attention to my 65-and-11/12ths birthday. As of today, the fraction is gone. I’m 66. Be assured I’m already feeling much wiser. And, although I’m marking the date by moving from 12 to a 14 pt. font, I’m pretty sure I am still able to read above my age level, perhaps as high as a 68 or 69 year old.

Overheard

1) You can tell a lot about a church by what it applauds.

2) We want the fruit of the Spirit without the pruning.

3) Our lives are a lot easier when we are amazed by the right things.

4) Prayer is powerful, but Noah still had to build the ark, David still had to face Goliath, Esther still had to step out, Joshua still had to march, and Nehemiah still had to rebuild the wall.

5) Don’t seek validation from a world that crucified a perfect man.

6) Patriotism is one of the places where “poison is determined by the dose.”

Without Comment

1) Over 100K Americans are > 100 yrs old, and it’s estimated that by 2054 over 400K will be.

2) Meet the Press—the world’s longest-running TV show—debuted on this day in 1947.

3) Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports a decline in religious freedom in 10 of the 18 countries they examined.

4) Horror films—which may be the most theological movies being made—now account for 16% of box office ticket sales.

5) U.S. children are the most likely in the world to live with one parent. 

Quotes Worth Requoting

1) “See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little.” — Pope John XXIII

2) “There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still.” — Betsie ten Boom

3) “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

4) “If hypocrisy were helium, everyone would have funny voices and some people would float away.” — Jonah Goldberg

Identity

One of the choices we make is how we see ourselves. Are you a child of God? A cancer patient? An alcoholic? The guy who was unjustly fired? The woman who was cheated on? Something else? Who do you see when you look in the mirror? You get to decide what defines you. Choose wisely. 

Social Media Malaise

When a group of Z'ers were asked how many watched Netflix, virtually every hand went up. When asked who wished it had never been invented, no one put up their hand. When asked how many watched TikTok, nearly every hand went up. When asked how many wished it had never been invented, almost every hand went up.

Y2K

I've started hearing about people who want “Y2K products” — e.g., older appliances, cars, toilets, etc. On a related note, three decades after it aired, 72M people (nearly 22% of all Americans) report having watched at least one “Seinfeld” episode in ’26. Not bad for a show about nothing.

WOTW

Honorable mentions go to opsimath (someone who starts learning late in life) and silver tsunami (not to be confused with blue-nami, it refers to the large number of Boomer business owners who are cashing out). Full honors go to electric for no other reason other than that's how the city of Chicago feels right now because of the Bears.

As an Aside

I am neither surprised nor happy about Meryl Streep playing Aslan in the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movie, The Magician’s Nephew.

Resources

Click here to hear my interview with Jason McClaflin, who leads Convoy of Hope’s efforts to develop long-term strategies to address food shortages in underdeveloped countries. 

Closing Prayer

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Amen.” (Reinhold Niebuhr — 1892-1971) 

P.S.

 If TFU has become part of your Friday rhythm—and you’d like to help us out—then send it to a friend. Preferably one who reads. But we’re trying to be hospitable.