The True

Eager Anticipation

“Are there any baby goats yet?”

Our family has asked that question dozens and dozens of times over the last few weeks, each time with more urgency, concern, and anticipation. We have five goats, four of which are female and due to deliver their first baby goats (kids) any day now. Our anticipation began well before they were due to deliver, and that anticipation has been joined by concern and urgency as the expected due date has come and gone with no kids to show for it. We have had the does checked by those more experienced than us, and all seems well, so we continue to wait…and worry.

One of those two things is a central component of following Jesus. The other, not so much.

God’s Word is full of reminders that we are to live with a holy expectation. Our God is preparing a permanent place for us, and we are to wait expectantly for the return of Jesus. The books of Psalms and Romans provide particularly compelling language around this idea:

“For the creation waits in eager expectation” (Rom 8:19).

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5).

Wait. Wait. Wait. It is a word and a concept that can prove very difficult. We are born with a desire to have our needs and wants met—and met now. When we are required to wait, it often leads to worry and concern. But while waiting and patience are instructed of us, concern and worry are contrary to what God has invited of us.

Instead, we are called to eager expectation, to joyful hope, to patience even through suffering, to steadfastness in prayer, and to strength of heart in the waiting. In other words, instead of building worry and concern, we are called to allow our confidence in God to grow as time passes. We are even invited to let our excitement about what is promised intensify the longer it is delayed. Rather than be a people marked with concern and worry, we should be a people known for our holy and eager anticipation of what is to come.

I confess it will be hard to eliminate worry about when the baby goats will appear. The concern is borne out of a caretaker’s responsibility for their animal’s wellbeing. However, that concern is more fruitful and productive when we couple it with an eager anticipation of what is to come!

We are not to worry about the perpetual tomorrow (Matt 6:34), but rather to wait with an expectant hope for that time in which He will make all things beautiful (Ecc. 3:11). You know struggle and difficulty in this time of waiting. Your invitation in the midst of it is to take hold of joyful hope, patience in affliction, and faithful prayer.

“Are there any baby goats yet?” No, but when there are, we’ll share pictures!

U.S.

A Consequential Debate

The first debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential general election is in the books, but it has yet to recede from the headlines. Instead, it appears to have had a measurable negative impact on President Biden’s support for reelection within his own party. This shift is almost certainly due to a debate performance that was faltering and meandering. The President, who will turn 82 shortly after the election and before the next term begins, was already facing questions about his age and a possible cognitive decline, and those questions have now grown louder within his own party. Former President Trump, who just turned 78, has also faced questions about his age, but polling suggests that his party’s voters do not sense a looming cognitive decline.

Analysis and eternal perspective: In today’s version of U.S. presidential politics, a debate rarely impacts the race in a measurable and sustained way. Although it will be some time before we can render a conclusive judgement about this debate, it is possible this time is different.

As we have covered here at The Equipped on a number of occasions, a majority of voters are dissatisfied with the presidential candidates on the ballot. However, most of this dissatisfaction has been aimed at the candidate on the other side of the aisle (Republican voters are dissatisfied with President Biden and Democrat voters are dissatisfied with former President Trump). The debate has caused a marked increase in the number of Democrat voters who say they are dissatisfied with their party’s nominee. If that increased concern proves to be more than a short term blip, it could render this debate as one of the most consequential in recent memory.

As Jesus followers, we should respond in two ways:

1) Whether Democrat, Republican, supportive of Biden or Trump, or just overall dissatisfied, we should be proactively for the flourishing of our city and nation (Jer. 29:7, Pr. 11:10). While God may call you to do this in a variety of ways—some politically based and others not—this is a clear and consistent assignment for Jesus followers all throughout scripture.

2) We should pray for our leaders, including both candidates and their families (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Neither man is perfect (nor are any of us), and each of us faces the inevitable decline, and ultimate perishing, of our physical bodies. This is a challenging reality of the human condition, and we should pray that each family has the wisdom needed to navigate it, and to place faith and confidence in the One who transcends those realities.

U.S.

Supreme Immunity

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that U.S. presidents have significant, but not total, immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. The ruling divides potential prosecution into three categories with varying levels of immunity: 1) Core constitutional duties, for which the Court finds complete immunity, 2) Official acts, for which the Court finds a presumption of immunity, and 3) Unofficial acts made in a private capacity, for which the Court finds beyond the protection of immunity.

The immediate consequence of this decision is that the case charging former President Trump with illegally trying to overturn the 2020 election will now be sent back down to a lower court to determine whether his actions were “official” or “unofficial.” The case will almost certainly remain unresolved when voters go to the polls in November.

Analysis and eternal perspective: This sounds like a broken record, but this decision is creating deeply divided responses. One practical piece of advice: No matter your view of the opinion, read the conclusion of the holding in the case (linked above, beginning at the bottom of page 41—Section V—and running just over one page).

After reading, you may still disagree with the holding in some way. In fact, what you will find is the necessity of a balancing act, and it is highly likely each of us would conduct this balancing act in a slightly different way.

However, there is likely more consensus here than first meets the eye. Most of us agree that presidents should not be completely above the law. Most of us also agree that the law should not be used against a president for political purposes. Thus, a balancing act ensues and produces a ruling like this one. We as The Equipped are best prepared to navigate the cultural conversation if we are in possession of what the Court actually said rather than simply retreating to our respective political camps.

Finally, kings and kingdoms of men rise and fall. But the King of kings reigns and rules forever (Dan. 2:21, Rom. 13:1, Rev. 19:16).

U.S.

A Flurry of Decisions

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a flurry of opinions in the final days of its now-concluded session. While the presidential immunity case discussed above garnered the most headlines, there were several other consequential decisions, including:

1) The Court overturned a 1984 decision that had resulted in what is commonly referred to as the “Chevron doctrine.” This doctrine dictated that ambiguity in the laws passed by Congress and signed by the President should be interpreted primarily by federal agencies. This week’s ruling essentially finds that grant of authority to be beyond what is authorized by the U.S. Constitution, and instead requires the Judicial Branch to adjudicate any discrepancies in the statute, and Congress, should it so choose, to legislatively address any ambiguities—intended or not—in the law.

2) The Court threw out one of the charges pending against a number of defendants for their actions on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol. The court found that the law in question (18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)) applies only to actions that tamper with evidence—such as the destruction of records. While many of the defendants in the cases emanating from January 6, 2021 face additional charges, the Court’s finding fundamentally impacts any charges brought under this provision.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Stop me if you have heard this before: These decisions are being met with deeply divided responses.

If you decide to interact with this story in a substantive way, it would be wise to read both majority opinions of the Court (linked above) as well as the provision of the statute in question for the second case (linked above and very short). While you may not walk away in full agreement on either case, you will once again find a balancing act. The power to legislate is delegated to Congress, the law applies to everyone, and the law must be applied according to what it says—no more and no less.

These rulings come just before Americans celebrate Independence Day and are a compelling reminder of all that goes into a system of self-governance. They are also a reminder of a truth often discussed here at The Equipped:

We are a guilty people who have been found forgiven and free because of what Jesus has done for us!

There is, and will continue to be, a wide difference of opinion on many of these matters. But what a gift it is to stand together in receipt of such overwhelming grace and mercy!

The Beautiful

Rooted

Beauty and value is so often cultivated beneath the surface. It happens inside of you, and outside the view of others. It finds richness and vibrancy in preparatory seasons.

The key to all of it is a rootedness in what is life-giving. Your roots are set in some kind of soil. They are producing some kind of fruit. Just like these root vegetables, the place of your rootedness will determine the beauty that is produced!

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Col. 2:6-7).

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