Here I am breaking my own rule, I suppose, about staying politically neutral... even though to be completely honest my jaw-dropping shock at today's headlines has nothing to do with politics...

I had just logged onto my computer's Instant Messenger this morning, when...

KM: OBAMA?? The nobel peace prize?? whaaa?

Shawn McEvoy: what?

Shawn McEvoy: just got to my desk

Shawn McEvoy: okay, seeing it now

Shawn McEvoy: if it wasn't CNN, i'd swear it had to be The Onion. What has he DONE, exactly?

Shawn McEvoy: this isn't even anti-obama sentiment on my part. just sheer confusion

KM: no kidding!

KM: the committee even had to brush off questions that they were premature...something to do with his "promise"

KM: seems kind of insulting to previous winners who suffered for years

Shawn McEvoy: oh, ya think? man.

Shawn McEvoy: all i need to know is that reporters "gasped" when his name was announced. even a biased media was shocked

KM: LOL

KM: yep

KM: my favorite explanation in the CNN article:""His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population," it said."

KM: let's not worry about what's right or wrong, let's just go with the majority

Shawn McEvoy: and it's takes like this piece of reader feedback that are going to start fights:

"Yes, President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He has done more for strengthening the US relations with other countries than President Bush did in his 8 years of presidency. It is so predictable to hear Republicans and disgruntled white racists use such an honor to criticize. Stop hating. The world has spoken!!!"

Shawn McEvoy: excuse me, the nominations for this award were due 10 DAYS into his presidency. that's why i am bothered. had my president truly deserved something for truly establishing peace, i'm all on board

KM: right

Shawn McEvoy: and back to your majority quote... um, how cutting-edge is THAT idea anyway? "majority rules." hmmm... never thought of that before...

KM: ok, last one: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation but recognized initiatives that have yet to bear fruit: reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, easing American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthening the U.S. role in combating climate change."

Shawn McEvoy: "yet to bear fruit"... see, that's just embarrasingly silly

So what now? Well, the world and a lot more important things are moving forward. I'll continue to pray for and support the President, hoping he lives up to this mounumental honor. In the meantime, at least it's good to know that a whole world of possibilities have just opened up for me and so many others. I have just penned the following letter:

To Whom it May Concern,

I would like to nominate myself for the Nobel Prize in Science. I fully intend to do a science project someday, so I think by precedent I am qualified.

Thank you. Sincerely,
Shawn McEvoy

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On the one hand, it's always good to get scientific affirmation for something you believe or suspect.

On the other, it's never fun when you've been planning to write a devotional or blog post about that same belief or suspicion for over a year and someone goes out and steals your thunder.

But that's okay - this Fox News report on a survey by Marist College on the most annoying words in American conversation just gives me the excuse to get around to it now.

The article states,

Exactly! I've felt that way for years. When someone uses "whatever" on me in a conversation or email, it's a kick to the groin of non-importance. Beyond annoying, it's rude and  dismissive. It's also ignorant, especially at the end of what was supposed to be a friendly debate or argument, because it illustrates that the person had no better retort and is now summarily ending the conversation with a parting shot connoting that nothing you just said mattered anyway. "Whatever!"

In a country sorely lacking in civility, manners, and conversation skills... and ripe with apathy and self-importance, "Whatever" is the motto du jour.

Then again... what a powerful word it can be for our walk with Christ.

It's kind of like when you are reading a play, or preparing to act in one. You have the script before you. There are minimal clues for how any word in the text should be read. What inflection, what level of voice, what tone shall I use? What does the context and the setting and the personality of the character tell me in regards to how this word or line is going to sound? Ultimately, you and the Director decide.

And I've decided that "Whatever" can be, if we so choose, the defining word of the Christian life. Because while few other words carry the same potential for dismissive rudeness, no other words hold the same potential for all-out surrender and steadfast faith.

I find you guilty in your sins.
Whatever you say, Lord, I repent and accept the sacrifice of your Son who atoned for them.

This situation you're in is going to hurt.
Whatever. I know my faith will be made strong through trials, and that I can do all things through your strength.

You don't know what the future holds; only I do.
Whatever it is, you deserve glory and honor and praise. Bring it on! 

I want you to [go to Africa / give to this homeless person / quit this job / plant this church / preach my Word]
Whatever!

I know you think this is unfair compared to that person's situation, but do not let comparison steal my joy from you.
Whatever, God. Whatever.

***

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Phil. 4:11). Whatever you say.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Whatever you say.

Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal. 6:7). Whatever you say.

Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free (Eph. 6:8). Whatever you say.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phil. 4:8).

Whatever.

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All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

As the editor responsible for all devotional content here at Crosswalk, one of the questions I'm asked most frequently by our beloved users goes something like this:

"Your devotional offerings are great, but could you please include one for cousins of divorcees with sleeping disorders who have befriended agnostic vegetarians? Because that would be really great."

Okay, that's an exaggeration (but only barely). And it's not like we dislike filling niches. We have devotionals for women, the workplace, weight loss and the list goes on. We're continually adding to the selection and have plans for a men's devotional, a children's devotional, a singles devotional, and more. To an extent, we're at the mercy of what's well-written, theologically sound, recognizable, and most of all, available.

But when I'm asked a question like, "My fiance and I are interested in a devotional for yet-to-be-married couples living in the mid-Atlantic from different church backgrounds who are both post-millenialists. What do you recommend for us?" my answer is always the same:

Just study the Word, man.

Whether you find it here or somewhere else, locate a ministry, author, preacher, or regular old Joe/JoAnn whom God has gifted with insight into his holy scriptures, and read their take regularly. Follow that up with your own deeper individual study. Take that into praying with a spouse, accountability partner, disciple, or mentor. Join a group Bible Study. And take notes during sermons.

It's not much more complicated than that. We sometimes make it so. We pigeonhole ourselves or our current life situation or level of belief, and so risk hindering the effective wholeness of the Word. 

Besides, if there's one thing I've noticed through almost a biblical generation of life, it's that our specific situations are many times made more complex by our non-stop obsession with them, and are often made more simple by backing off and getting at them indirectly through solid study that may not at first seem related to what we are going through.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to hear which verses were blessings to folks who have gone through heartbreaks or challenges similar to what you are now experiencing. What I'm suggesting is that the Word of the Lord never returns void. And that there have been several topics I've tried to understand (and been disappointed in the lack of direct guidance the Bible appears to give on the subject), or several life situations I've wanted to study (and not known where to start or how to find others who have biblical wisdom to offer in the form of a devotional) that have been solved when I stepped away and just studied sound teaching with prayer.

One example is when, as a young man, I wanted to find everything the Bible said about the "big sins" our youth ministers were so concerned with keeping us from -- sex and drinking. I shortly exhausted all the verses that dealt directly with these topics. But it wasn't until I backed away from a focus on these issues and began more comprehensive studies of what God had to say about all things that the picture grew bigger and the reasons for abstinence, purity, sobriety, and not causing others to stumble became clear in the light of grace, righteousness, sacrifice, and ministry.

Another example is the time I was battling a crippling depression. I found few answers and little comfort in attacking the problem directly - even if there didn't seem to be a lack of correlative verses or devos, which only would have reminded me double of the state I was in. What did help was reading other topics from the Bible, and books from established Christian authors and preachers about the Bible itself, about faith, about truth. Eventually the clouds lifted, and I was stronger for having gone through the darkness and for the overarching principles that brought me home.

Let me encourage you today not to wall yourself off from the full richness of the Word, but to seek out sound doctrine and study on general principles regularly that I promise will apply to your specifics, whether directly or indirectly, immediately or eventually. 

Further Reading

A Plea to Use the Bible Every Day
How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time
 

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The Apostle Paul was gloriously obsessed with the victory of Christ that created freedom in Christ under the Lordship of Christ. How else to explain the non-stop use in his letters of the phrase "all things"? With these two little words, over and over again Paul reminds us just how much authority has come unto Jesus. If it doesn't take hold to hear that all authority in heaven and earth has been given him... that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess... that the battle has been won once for all... he goes further, into specific areas of our lives, to drive the point home.

Consider what Paul tells you that you, because of Christ, can now...

• Endure
  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
• Become 
  I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  1 Corinthians 9:22
• Know 
  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28
• Love 
  [Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  1 Corinthians 13:7
• Trust 
  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:16-17
• Profit 
  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything  1 Corinthians 6:12

The list doesn't end there, either. These powers and this dominion go beyond even Superman. Way past any government or earthly authority. And you serve The One who has them, and rather than oppressing you with his might, he leaves you free to live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28). Truly, his is...

...an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:10-11).

All you have to do is make him Lord of your life (which he already is anyway - what you must do is actively acknowledge it), and with those kind of mad skills at his disposal, why wouldn't you? That's one tremendous inheritance!
 

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