The Change Sorrow Brings

"Never waste the opportunities offered by a good crisis."

-Machiavelli, 15th century philosopher

That is a powerful quote from an old political hand, a schemer some would say, whose name has become synonymous with the astute if ruthless exercise of raw political power. Most recently it has been quoted by Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's Chief of Staff, about the financial crisis that has dominated Obama's first term as president. When he said it people flipped out. How could he be so callous about a disaster that is affecting so many people? Could he really look at something that has been so disastrous to people all across America as a good thing?

I won't speak to Rahm Emanuel's motives or meaning when he quoted Machiavelli, but I will echo the sentiment. In fact, the Bible agrees with this statement. Around 57 AD, the apostle Paul wrote a pretty scathing letter to a church in Corinth, Greece. The Corinthian church started well but had become divided by sin, pride and misunderstanding of key doctrines. In short, the church at Corinth was an ugly, disastrous mess, and Paul addressed these problems head on. Paul's letter to the church that he loved was so confrontational that he actually had second thoughts about sending it.

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.

2 Corinthians 7:8

What comes next is a statement equal to that of Rahm Emanuel and Machiavelli, the apostle Paul's understanding of the power of a good crisis.

Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Paul is talking specifically about the sorrow he caused the Corinthian church with a letter that ripped them up and down about their behavior and attitudes. It hurt them. They changed.

Sorrow is universal. There are things that everyone will face, struggle with and be hurt by in this life. But God in his infinite wisdom and love for us recognizes that when we face sorrow, it is an opportunity for us to grow and become better. There is a kind of sorrow that God wants us to have so that we will turn to him more and more. Sorrow may hurt us, but we will change. Getting fired from your job. Losing a dear friend. Having a financial meltdown. Starting over with nothing. Facing the destruction of your marriage. Living through your parent's divorce. These things can cause great pain and sorrow in our lives. But when we turn to God in our sadness and allow him to bring healing and restoration, the Bible promises that we will never regret that kind of sorrow. When we turn to him, he will never waste a hurt. Has God used the painful circumstances of your past to change you? Is there sorrow in your life that you are allowing to be wasted?

Giving Up My Birthday

I hesitate to even say this, but in nine days I will turn thirty four years old. I know, I know...it's bad form to put your age in print where it can be referenced forever, but I think I can still pull off twenty nine to the casual observer. Over the years I have had some great birthday presents. I think the best was when Terri bought me season one of the show 24. We hadn't watched it when it was on the air and had no idea what to expect. After spending the next thirty six hours (eight for sleep) watching that first season, we immediately went out and got season two. Some birthday gifts are wonderful surprises. This year I want to take the surprise out of my birthday. I have a lot of great stuff, and I'm not convinced that I need much more, so this year I am going to do something different. I'm going to give up my birthday.

No, this is not the kind of giving up my dad did when he made the decision to just not age anymore. It is not even a giving up of the celebration of my birthday. In fact, I would love for this year's birthday celebration to be the biggest ever, with more people involved than ever before. This year I want everyone I know to celebrate my birthday in a big way, but a different way.

Instead of gift cards and presents this year from the people who are closest to me, I want everyone I know to send me money. Yes, I want you to send me money! Once it is all collected, every penny I get for my birthday will be gathered up to support missionaries all across the world. It will go to support a home that helps young european girls who have been rescued out of human sex trafficking. It will go to support schools in India that literally pull kids out of the garbage dumps where they hunt for enough food to live off of and teach them to be the doctors and world leaders of the future. It will go to support the distribution of food, clean water and the love of God all over the globe.

You may have never gotten me a gift for my birthday before. Let's change that this year. By celebrating my birthday you could be literally saving someone's life. So grab your checkbook and send a card. Together we can celebrate one more year of my receding hairline by generously showing love to people who need it.

Send cards to:

Chris Shandrow

800 E Vernon

Normal, IL

61761

Let's Talk Commitment

What would you do to show your commitment to a cause? I love seeing the guys who paint their bodies blue and orange and go shirtless in the minus zero windchill of a Chicago winder to support the bears. That is serious, bodily commitment. In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah also demonstrated serious commitment.

In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod, the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot.

Isaiah 20:1-2

Naked for three years. Might sound like a vacation to some, but publicly? That's commitment.