Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Thoughts about Charlie Kirk from 3000 years ago S30e21
The death of Charlie Kirk has hit hard all across this country. Join me for 6 minutes as we apply some ancient wisdom to our current situation.
We'll even hear from Alan Paton's Cry the Beloved Country to give a voice to the idea that we are all in this together. If this is "the heaviest thing of all your years," or even just a curiously heavy thing, then this is worth your consideration.
Democrats and Republicans might just have common ground to meet upon. Please join me now as we find it together.
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The Psalms of My Friends
Thoughts about Charlie Kirk from 3000 years ago S30e21
As much of the world knows, Charlie Kirk was killed last week. Normally, this podcast has us working through the scriptures, one book at a time. Perhaps this occasion of Charlie’s death, could serve as a moment when the scriptures work through us. As we consider this person, and especially our RESPONSE to this killing, let’s eventually ask the Good Book, specifically the book we’ve been in, and precisely the Psalm that we find ourselves looking at; what words do you have for us in this hour?
To begin, I’d like to recall a beautiful scene in Alan Pāton’s Cry, the Beloved Country. To set this up, a man has killed, another man. Surrounding the season of the trial, the father of the killer, Pastor Steven Kumalo meets the father of the killed, James Jarvis. But at this moment in the story, Jarvis doesn’t yet know that Pastor Kumalo is the killer’s father.
They find themselves at an awkward moment.
“So the old man, (pastor Kumalo) sat down and Jarvis said to him, not looking at him, there is something between you and me, but I do not know what it is. You are in fear of me, but I do not know what it is…
Pastor Kumalo: I am afraid
Jarvis: I see you are afraid, Pastor. It is that, which I do not understand. But I tell you, you need not be afraid. I shall not be angry. There will be no anger in me against you.
Then, said the old man, (Pastor Kumalo) this thing that is the heaviest thing of all my years, is the heaviest thing of all your years also.
Jarvis looked at him, at first bewildered, but then something came to him. You can only mean one thing, but still I do not understand.
Pastor Kumalo: It was my son that killed your son, said the old man.
For those of you who know the rest of the story, Pastor Kumalo’s son is eventually killed and both fathers are left without their son.
This for Erika Kirk and family, this likely is the heaviest thing of all their years. For us, even if it is not the heaviest thing, it may still be a heavy thing, worth our consideration.
From both sides of the Aisle, we are experiencing shared pain from unique perspectives. My son is dead. Your son is dead. Our sons are dead.
We ask: What Then, is next for us?
May I humbly suggest some wisdom from 3000 years ago?
The passage that keeps rising up in my heart for this moment in history is from Psalm 34: 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Look with me for just a minute at this verse:
Here we find a spiritually geographic association; a proximity to those who have the right heart toward Him. : Broken-heartedness. smashed into pieces. Shattered.
His response is closeness. Closeness of the Person of HIM to the person of YOU
When the heart is in this condition, broken, smashed, and shattered;
He somehow then allows, a more porous awareness of His presence
What is the response of God toward the broken hearted?
God has a special response, and it is: NEARNESS.
brokenhearted? smashed into pieces. Shattered.?
It is often there that the nearness of God is easiest to see and feel
If you inquire about “the heaviest thing of all my years”, or, How was your crisis? Their response is often: I never felt closer to God.
Our son has been killed. How should I respond?
Ps 34:18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
In fact, I think this could be the place of particular unity at this moment.
For both political families, my son has been killed…and I am brokenhearted.
Remember,The presence of God is curiously promised to the
Smashed & shattered
It is in brokenheartedness that there is a more porous awareness of the divine
In conclusion: Taking us back to the Moment in Cry the Beloved country when Jarvis wonders: “there is something between you and me, but I do not know what it is.
Well, I think I do know what is between us. Or what SHOULD be between us: brokenheartedness.
No matter which side of the aisle you start on, I’d argue that this is a time to meet IN the aisle, to meet in the aisle of the brokenhearted, the shattered and the crushed in spirit. For It is There we may especially see the Lord’snearness And maybe, just maybe, He’ll show us the next steps forward in the way out of this mess.
The Lord loves to hear cries for help—from his family, and even from people who are not yet close to Him.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted Democrats.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted Republicans.
Pastor Kumalo said, this thing that is the heaviest thing of all my years, is also the heaviest thing of all your years.
May this be a heavy thing for all of us, for all our years,: we have lost a son.
My prayer is that we May all experience the nearness of God
as we Join together in being brokenhearted.