Reflections On This Week's Biggest News Story

I stayed up late Sunday night to hear President Obama’s announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Following the story that evening on multiple news outlets was a riveting and emotional experience for me.

I have continued to follow the barrage of information surrounding the death of bin Laden and the never-ending stream of pictures and videos of American celebrations. I totally understand people’s excitement over his death and share in the admiration for the men and women who acted so bravely during the course of the operation that resulted in bin Laden’s death.

I realize that while this doesn’t end terrorism, it does bring a measure of resolution to the tens of thousands of families around the world who have suffered because of bin Laden’s acts of terror. And I realize, too, that this has brought a sense of unity to many in our country and fueled hope for a different, better future.

However, I have seen a very dangerous side of the celebration. Patriotism, which is good, can quickly turn to un-Christ-like attitudes and actions.

Some people are “celebrating” because they believe that Osama Bin Laden is now in hell. One newspaper headline I saw even read, “Rot in Hell.” Others are celebrating because they believe it shows the superiority of America or at least that America is “the winner.” Several hand-made signs in New York City and around the country have simply read “WIN” or “America Wins.”

This has led me to a series of questions that I think every thoughtful person ought to ponder. I do not attempt to answer these questions, but do hope that we will each prayerfully reflect on them.

• Should we ever hope for the damnation of anyone?
• Should killing someone ever be a cause for celebration or joy?
• How does our response to Bin Laden’s death fit in to Jesus’ command to love and forgive our enemies?
• How are Christians representing Christ in their response to bin Laden’s death?
• If we display such an intense hatred for our enemies that we are overjoyed at the news of their death or suffering, how will the world ever know the radical love and forgiveness of Jesus?
• When, if ever, is it healthy to celebrate the death of anybody?
• Does violence, even a “justified” act of violence, have the capacity to heal the wounds inflicted by violence, or to end the cycle of violence?
• We, as a nation, are rightly repulsed and angered when we see others dancing and celebrating over the death of Americans. Do you think our response to bin Laden’s death might engender similar reaction among others?
• How can we “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “mourn with those who mourn” and “bless those who persecute us” (Romans 12).
• How can we celebrate and express gratitude for what’s good while respecting those who may not share our joy?

These are some tough questions that don’t have simple answers. But I think they are important questions for any Christ-follower to think through. So as we recognize the significance of bin Laden’s death, the heroism of the American soldiers and the healing that continues to take place for the thousands of victims of terror around the world, let us also seek to be ambassadors for our Savior in the process (2 Corinthians 5:20).

A Fish Story

A few nights ago, several minutes after I had tucked my daughter into bed, I opened the door to her room to check on her and see if she had fallen asleep. She was still awake. And she was writing in her notebook.

I asked her what she was writing, and she answered, "Do you want to hear it?"

I said, "Yes."

She read it to me.

Below I have typed the story she wrote and read to me. It's a wonderful story and fuel for all kinds of analysis from psychologists, parents, friends, counselors and anyone interested in a story about life, love and lessons learned along the way. Enjoy!


A Fish
by Emma Bryan

A girl was walking by a pond. She saw a fish, and she wanted to catch it. But the fish was too fast. So she said that the fish should go home, and she stopped trying to catch it.

One day later, the fish came back. The girl said to the fish, "I am not your mother." But the fish said that it did not have a mother. (The girl did not know that. But then she found out.)

So the girl kept the fish. The fish was very pretty. The girl was so happy that her mom said "yes" to keeping the fish. Her mom was so nice to the fish.

One day the fish was dying, but the girl did not know. But she knew the fish was sick. So she took the fish to the fish doctor. She was so, so, so sad.

The doctor said the fish did not get fed because the girl had forgotten to feed it.

The girl did not want to tell, but she had to do it. So she did. She got in trouble, but she learned a lesson. The lesson was to tell her parents before playing to make sure the fish was fed.

The good news was the fish did not die. The girl fed the fish every day so the fish would not die. She loved the fish so much.

Soon it was the fish's birthday. They had a party, but just with the people in their house. They were so happy it was the fish's birthday.

The End.

Who is My Brother? (Not Who Some Think.)

Compliments are GREAT THINGS. Both for the giver and the recipient. Compliments can bring life, joy, energy, confidence and blessing.

Earlier this week I took my son to a nearby medical clinic. He had been experiencing some symptoms of what turned out to be strep throat. After a decent wait in the waiting room, we finally heard those welcome words from the lady at the door which led back to the exam rooms. “Ethan Bryan.”

That meant it was our turn!

When we entered the exam room, there was only one bench to sit on. Ethan took the seat, and I stood nearby. Shortly after, noticing there was no place for me to sit, the nurse said to Ethan, “Your brother is welcome to sit next to you, too.”

That’s right. “Brother!”

It was an unintended compliment, but a compliment nonetheless. At almost-40, I have entered the age bracket where looking younger than you are is a good thing! When I told her I was Ethan’s father, she commented on how young I looked (and in that word “young” I chose to hear “good-looking,” “ripped” and “athletic”).

Ethan is feeling better now, anxious to forget how he felt and ready to hit the basketball courts again. But I will remember that “compliment” for some time.

Because it reminds me of the power of a compliment.

Proverbs 25:11 observes: “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

This truism applies to apt words of all kinds (apt words of encouragement, rebuke, warning, celebration, and more). But it also speaks to the power of a compliment.

So how are you doing at handing out apt compliments these days?

“You look nice.”

“You are great to work for.”

“I admire your sense of humor.”

“I admire your creativity.”

“I admire your athleticism.”

“I admire your wisdom.”

“I admire the way you think, or the way you parent, or the way you handled that situation.”

“You are a wonderful friend.”

“I have great respect for your ability to ….”

“You are the best….”

“You inspire me to….”

“You are a wonderful, Godly person.”

The power of an apt compliment. It’s like apples of gold in settings of silver.

So will you aptly compliment someone today….everyday?

LISTS 2010

Here are my Top Five lists from 2010. If I am faithful to do this for the next fifty years, it's gonna be great fun and very meaningful to look back on these annual posts.

Top Five Movies I Saw:

(I probably only watched a dozen movies—rented and at a theater—all year, so my pool to choose from is relatively small)
1. A-Team and Star Trek (two fun movies based on 80s shows)

2. The Book of Eli

3. The Last Song and Letters to God (two movies with many similarities)

4. Lie to Me (first two seasons of this intriguing TV show…on DVD)

5. Food, Inc. and King Corn (two movies, similar hard-hitting impact)

Top Five Websites I Visited:
1. Ted.com
2. Ajc.com / CNN.com / USATODAY.com
3. Pandora.com
4. CBSsportsline.com

5. FastCompany.com

Honorable Mention: FollowTheRabbi.com

Top Five Books I Read:

1. To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter

2. Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination by Walter Wink

3. Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard

4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

5. The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence by Tom Peters

Honorable Mentions:

What Good Is God: In Search of a Faith That Matters by Philip Yancey

Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do by Michael J. Sandel

The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels

Top Five Restaurants I Ate At:
1. Subway

2. Sweet Tomatoes

3. The Cheesecake Factory

4. Taco Mac (more for the football than the food)

5. Starbucks (not a restaurant and hot chocolate isn’t a meal, but I frequented no eating establishment more often)

Top Five Things I'm Really Glad I Spent My Time Doing:

1. Growing my relationship with my wife and children

2. Being with my church family on Sunday mornings.
3. Tutoring kids at Esther Jackson Elementary School and helping to fund the digging of freshwater wells in Africa
4. Spending time with friends

5. Reading

Fifteen Great Memories

1. Attending my son’s football and basketball games and playing ping pong with him in our basement

2. Tucking my daughter in at night, picking her up from school, and riding bikes with her in the neighborhood

3. Playing Yahtzee, watching movies, and times of laughter with my wife

4. Thanksgiving Day with 31 relatives in North Carolina

5. Two Hilton Head Island vacations with family and an afternoon Braves Game with my dad

6. Teaching from the scriptures on Sunday mornings and 10:30am discussions with the high school group

7. Talking on the phone with my parents

8. Dedicating my nephew, William, to God

9. Sunday nights at Taco Mac with friends

10. Early morning conversations with friends over coffee, Wednesday lunches over backgammon with Carlos, dozens of phone conversations with SteveW

11. A Wells for Africa jug filled with coins and surrounded by smiling faces of children

12. A wonderful, warm and perfect Christmas brunch with my church family at Altobelli’s

13. Conversations with George and Dianne

14. A blistering hot August Braves game with friends

15. Christmas Day Snow

The Deep End

Over the past few weeks I've been re-reading Eugene Peterson's book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. It's worth a second read....and a third. When I came to page 310, I read an already heavily underlined section, with notes in the margin. It's just great, and I used the quote below to begin my teaching last Sunday at church.

“Anyone who joins a church expecting to be part of a happy and harmonious gathering of put-together people sooner or later is in for serious disappointment. We can also suspect that such a person hasn’t read the Scriptures very carefully. There are exceptions, occasionally quite glorious exceptions, but Christian communities, all of them are communities-in-progress, baptized sinners in various stages of development in the life of love.

“Men and women are not admitted to the community by presenting credentials of love skills, nor do we maintain our place in the community by passing periodic peer reviews on love. We are here to be formed over our lifetimes into a community of the beloved, God’s beloved who are being formed into a people who love God and one another in the way and on the terms in which God loves us.

“It’s slow work. We are slow learners. And though God is unendingly patient with us, we are not very patient with one another. Outsiders, observing our embarrassingly slow and erratic progress in love, wonder why we bother. Well, we bother because God is love: he created us in love; he saved us in an act of love; he commanded us to love one another.

“Love is the ocean in which we swim. So what if many of us can only wade in the shallows, and others of us can barely dog paddle for short distances? We are learning and we see the possibility of one day taking long, relaxed, easy strokes into the deep.”

I love this passage because it communicates so well what lies at the heart of a God-designed life: living as a beloved child of God and growing in that love so that we can pass it along to others.

I love Peterson’s words because they summarize our church’s (and my own) raison d'être. And even more, they describe what I actually see going on among our church....i.e. we are fulfilling our life purpose!

I am part of a phenomenal church community. And we are learning, slowly and imperfectly, but surely, to take long, relaxed strokes in the deepness of God’s kingdom of love and grace. We are learning about how to truly live the blessed life! How great it is!