Category Archives: Christianity

Further exploration of what it means to be a Christian and topics related to the faith.

Lives In Isolation: Reflections on the Coronavirus

Christianity, Society, ,

With all the Coronavirus hub-bub these days everywhere, I was recently asked about a social media post citing the Bible verse from 2 Chronicles where God punished the sins of Israel through plagues, locusts, etc. These calamities were all in an attempt to bring God’s people to repentance. No, I don’t buy the idea that it’s God’s plan to use the Coronavirus as a catalyst for worldwide repentance. Just in the same way that I don’t believe it is God’s will for us to watch Cancer ravish the lives of our loved ones.

We do live in a world that is detached from God, a “war-zone” if you will.  It is a world of physical disease and diseases of the soul such as greed.  In this war-zone, we are now in the midst of another pandemic, the likes of which seems to emerge once every one hundred years or so.  So rather than view the current pandemic as a global call to repent, I see it rather as another symptom resulting from our detachment from God.  The virus is a part of this world that is not of our Lord, but rather a byproduct of our fallen condition.   For inspiration during these challenging times, I opt to examine other people throughout our collective human experience that have lived lives in isolation.

In all of this I like to remember the historical and biblical characters who lived their lives in much worse isolation.   As my wife was cleaning her closet on day two, she came across the “Diary of Anne Frank.”  What an appropriate person to reexamine during our current time period.   Anne was 13 when she was forced into hiding.  Our situation pales in comparison.  She couldn’t go outside, or open the window for fresh air.  She often had to remain silent for periods of time.  Yet she endured and even found moments of happiness and some satisfaction in an unreasonable living situation.

On to the Bible. Noah, now there is a fella with some cramped living arrangements. Not only was he limited to interactions with a small group of family members, he was sharing the space with a whole bunch of animals. Basically, this lucky fellow found himself in a floating zoo for 40 days and 40 nights. The smell must have been magnificent.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse than Noah, there is Jonah.  Yes, Jonah’s duration was much shorter than Noah and Anne Frank (3 days and 3 nights) But how uncomfortable must he have been to be in the mouth of a “big fish?”  If I had to pick one of these, I don’t which one I would choose to suffer through, but I will say I would rather endure our current dilemma, no doubt about it.

Finally there is Jesus.  He went to the desert in isolation really only accompanied by Satan, not exactly great company.   Our Lord spent 40 days without food or human contact.  So now, not only was he not talking to anyone, Satan was there to tempt Jesus while he was physically weak, not once but three times.  The temptations seem to resemble a morbid type of teasing….starving, well here is some food to alleviate your suffering.  Only the Son of God could suffer and overcome such tremendous isolation and temptation.

Our current crisis will pass, it is not unique to the human experience.  For strength I will continue to consider those before me that have traveled a similar road, while praying to Our Lord Jesus, and of course repenting every day just in case 🙂

-Got any other examples?  Feel free to comment….

LuHi Football: A bigger message

Christianity, Football
There is an elephant in the room. The elephant is that football is a dangerous sport and that kids shouldn’t play it. I concede football is not the safest sport, but I will say…..it has never been a safer sport than it is right now with better equipment, new rule changes, and a better understanding of concussion symptoms.  Football is no stranger to rule changes as the game was historically under the microscope for its brutality. In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt met with college presidents at the White House to discuss the game, because its brutality was reaching some unacceptable levels.  As a result of this meeting and other discussions, the forward pass was invented along with the new position of wide receiver which spread the game out drastically. We are currently at another one of these historical paradigm shifts with the game of football, as helmet to helmet contact is now further restricted by modern rule changes, all in an effort to make the game safer and acceptable.

Here at LuHi our coaching staff and players are adjusting to these new rule changes while preparing for our upcoming season. There is some excitement in the air as LuHi will begin the fall of 2019 competing in the Metropolitan Independent Football League (MIFL).  This is a league full of not just good football teams, but excellent academic schools. Last year the champion was Rye Country Day School, which represents both of these attributes. As a member of this new league, LuHi has also been selected to take part in a football/concussion study which may eventually lead to further rule changes, as our league is a pioneer in this cutting edge study.  We are excited to be a part of the MIFL and to take part in this study, which will blaze the trail for changes that will make football much safer.

 

This summer our program had the opportunity to compete in a 7 on 7 tournament hosted by our new league.  LuHi ended the tournament as champions, defeating Hackley in the semis and Morristown-Beard (NJ) in the final. As a result, there are no secrets: LuHi has some folks that can play football.
While we are excited about the opportunities moving forward, the bigger questions are – Why should people play football? and What do I want our players to take away from their LuHi football experience?  

Like many sports, playing football has many life lessons, some of which are GREATLY emphasized.  One player can’t dominate a football field. It is an 11 on 11 game and as such TEAMWORK is developed to the greatest of extents.  A Division I quarterback can’t be effective if they are not protected by the well-orchestrated protection efforts of the offensive line in front of them.  This scenario can be created for any position on the football field. Football is an incredibly technical game where the collective efforts of the team far outweigh any individual talent or effort.

As a coach, one of my missions for our program is to develop this emphasis on teamwork into a community – one that supports one another but also looks to extend this support to our greater Long Island community.  I want our players to take away an understanding that life is bigger than football and to use some of the lessons they have learned to serve their community.  Last year, we had a group of our players volunteer to help an organization set up their homeless shelter at Ascension Lutheran Church in Deer Park. We worked as a team to transform a church gymnasium into a functioning shelter in the dead of winter.  I want our players to take away the command of Jesus to “Love our neighbors as ourselves” and for them to understand that everyone is made equal in the image of God and as such we need to empathize and treat all people with respect. Setting up the shelter, and the interactions we had with some of the people staying there, really helped deliver these messages outside of the football field.

While the game of football teaches us valuable life lessons, like toughness and accountability, I believe teamwork is one of the more important lessons.  It is my hope and prayer that our players take these lessons and continue to extend them into their communities.
By: Chris Reno – 7/24/19

Failing Successfully

Christianity, education, Leadership, , , ,

Image result for failure success

This morning, I was listening to a podcast sermon, and I thought the topic was perfect for our students and their families. In truth, the message applies to everyone: “Do not be afraid of failure.”

The speaker discussed how fear of failure has reached epidemic levels among children—something we can clearly see mirrored in the adult world. Fortunately, failure is a natural part of life.

Consider the apostle Peter, one of the most influential disciples. It was Peter to whom Jesus said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Yet this same trusted disciple famously failed—denying Christ not once, but three times (John 18:15–27). In many ways, Peter reflects the human condition: one moment deeply faithful, the next filled with doubt. Despite his failure, Peter ultimately became the rock upon which the Church was built.

The same message can be found in the secular world. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, has said that when he looks back on his life, it won’t be his failures he regrets—it will be the opportunities he didn’t take because he was afraid to fail.

We must remember: nothing worthwhile comes easily. We can’t be afraid to apply ourselves fully to our efforts. For students especially, it’s often easier to accept failure on a test they didn’t prepare for than to face the disappointment of a poor result after studying hard. But I encourage our students to give their best. If the outcome is still disappointing, that moment becomes a valuable learning opportunity.

A Lesson on Selfishness: The Ultimate Virus

Christianity, , , , , , , , , ,

stomach-virus-creature

Every Sunday evening, my wife and I sit down to go over the upcoming week. You know, the kind of discussion where we figure out who has evening meetings, who’s picking up the kid, and when we’re having dinner. We’re basically trying to coordinate the week in a vain attempt to provide some structure and order to our lives.

Kelly was preparing for a business trip to Florida (yes, an actual beach resort) for a conference and would be gone from Wednesday through Saturday night. I knew this trip had been on the calendar for quite some time, and while I was admittedly a bit jealous, I felt mentally prepared.

What I hadn’t realized was that my own schedule was jam-packed. I had work obligations every single day that week—seven days straight. That’s when the frustration hit: I realized my sacred weekend downtime had vanished. In that moment, I vented to Kelly—thinking and saying things like: You have to go on a business trip during the busiest week of my calendar? My business trips are never this long. How am I supposed to meet all my work obligations and take care of our daughter? And most importantly… I need my weekend! When is that supposed to happen??

Of course, none of this was her fault. And by this point in our marriage, Kelly understood this was just my irrational way of blowing off steam. It didn’t take long for me to recognize the immaturity of my reaction and my lack of composure in the face of adversity (Titus 2:2). I eventually calmed down, refocused, and said all the right surface-level things while quietly trying to figure out how to manage my complicated week.

With no immediate family nearby, Kelly had already lined up a couple of friends to be on standby during her trip (yeah, she’s that good). Knowing I had some reinforcements on the sidelines gave me a bit of peace.

Wednesday morning arrived, and Kelly was out the door by 5 a.m. I was ready to take on the challenge. I got up, saw her off, made breakfast, woke up the kid, packed lunch, and we were out the door on time for school and work. At the end of the day, I picked up the kid, made dinner, and we were home by 5:30 p.m. Day one—conquered like clockwork.

Thursday followed a similar pattern. On my way out of work, a few teammates on my admin staff jokingly threw jabs like, “Being a mom isn’t so easy,” and “Now you see how much Kelly juggles.” I chuckled and acknowledged their points, but honestly? Things were going smoothly. Dare I say… motherhood is overrated?

Thursday ended just like Wednesday—flawless execution (Proverbs 19:21). That evening, my daughter and I even went out to eat and made it home in time to walk the dogs. Not only were we executing the week with near perfection—we were even keeping up with the dogs. What a week indeed! (Daniel 4:4)

But all of this was short-lived. Everything changed drastically in the wee hours of Friday morning—1 a.m., to be exact.

If you’re a parent, you know the sounds I’m talking about. You wake up suddenly, hearing your child bolt out of bed and sprint to the bathroom. And I don’t need to describe the next sound I heard once she got there.

I tried not to panic, but it was clear—my daughter had a stomach virus. From 1 a.m. to 4 a.m., this awful cycle repeated every 30 minutes. To make a long story short, the worst of the storm lasted until 10 a.m. My new routine became: hold her hair back, wait it out, get her back in bed, and clean… clean… clean.

Once things settled a bit, my thoughts immediately turned to work. There was no way I’d be making it in that morning, so I sent an email to my team to let them know I’d be out.

By 11 a.m., peace returned—a true Pax Romana. I was exhausted, but my daughter seemed to be on the mend, which brought a sense of calm. My admin team had been informed, responded with sympathy, and even suggested a few remedies. I had reached out to Kelly as well—more than once—and, being Kelly, she had already arranged for a friend to stop by with reinforcements: Lysol, bleach spray, Saltines, ginger ale, and a bottle of Coke. Now that was a brave friend.

Meanwhile, back at work, things were busy—really busy. Guilt started creeping in. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy what I do and feel a strong sense of obligation. Still, I reminded myself: my daughter’s health came first. I was able to manage the guilt—but what I hadn’t handled well was my communication with Kelly. I wasn’t always positive. Every now and then, old jealousy crept in, and I’d send a passive-aggressive text.

Images of her enjoying her professional conference—at a beach resort, no less—haunted me (1 Samuel 18:8). Meanwhile, I was bleaching bathrooms, washing sheets, and coaxing my daughter to sip ginger ale. And then, I had what alcoholics might call a moment of clarity.

This wasn’t the first stomach virus my daughter had ever had. So… where was I during all the other ones? Oh right—I wasn’t the one doing this. I’m not the mom.

Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned. Motherhood is definitely not overrated.

This whole ordeal reminded me of just how much Kelly does for our family. I only stepped into her role for a few days, and it left me drained. I made a point to tell Kelly how much I appreciated her—as a wife, as a mother, and as my partner.

During our conversation, she made a powerful observation. At the end of it all, after I’d missed work Friday and Saturday, she said:
“In a weird way, our daughter helped you get your weekend back.”

She was right. I had whined and complained about losing my weekend at the start of all this—and in the end, I got it back. But not without lessons learned.

The Lord, in His wisdom, seemed to be saying, “Sure, you can have your precious weekend… but there will be lessons to learn.” (Proverbs 3:11–12)

Scripture References (ESV):

Titus 2:2 – Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Daniel 4:4 – I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
1 Samuel 18:8 – And Saul was very angry… “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?”
Proverbs 3:11–12 – My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Old Testament Law and Jesus

Christianity, ,

As a practicing Christian, I decided to read the Bible in its entirety. If you’ve done this—or even if you haven’t—you’ll know that one of the greatest challenges is developing a working mental framework to understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. This was a challenge for the apostles as well (circumcision or no circumcision in the Book of Acts, for example). It even led to early church splits, such as when the Gnostics refused to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with Christ as one and the same.

In this post, I’m focusing specifically on the concept of the law as it appears in the Old and New Testaments—not the nature or actions of God across both, which is a much bigger undertaking. To better understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments as it pertains to the law, I looked to the teachings of the early Church, the words of Jesus, and my Protestant faith.

Old Testament law can feel overwhelming when you first begin to read the Bible. Many of these laws clearly no longer bind Christians today. To clarify the various types of Old Testament law, I turned to St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas divided Old Testament law into three categories: moral, ceremonial, and judicial. Moral law is dictated by natural law; ceremonial law pertains to divine worship; and judicial law governs the justice maintained among people. Aquinas concluded that only moral law remains applicable to Christians.

The Ten Commandments are a clear example of moral law, while much of the Book of Leviticus provides examples of ceremonial and judicial law. For Christians, the law has been sharply reduced in light of Aquinas and early Church teaching. With that in mind, we can now turn to the New Testament—and specifically to the words of Jesus—to further understand the law’s place in the life of a believer.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus directly addresses his relationship to Old Testament law:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Clearly, the moral law is still applicable, but Jesus has fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf.

Later in Matthew (22:34), the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

This is a powerful quote and speaks directly to the relationship between Old Testament law and Christian living. It also provides a practical guide for how we, as Christians, should approach daily life and relationships. Jesus simplified the law down to its core message. First: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind—a daunting task! We must seek the Lord daily through His Word and prayer. In a world full of distractions, this is no easy feat, but daily seeking is a strong starting point.

Second: love your neighbor as yourself. This often feels more approachable, but can still be difficult—especially when dealing with someone who is hard to love. In these moments, we must remember that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). I also believe that these two commandments clearly point us toward genuine Christian service, especially to those in difficult or less fortunate circumstances.

My Protestant faith has further developed my understanding of the law (again, referring to moral law only). The law serves as a mirror to reveal our sin (Romans 3:20). It helps us recognize our sin—something made easier by the fact that the law is written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 2:15). When we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we become more aware of our sin. And through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to avoid sin, even while knowing we’ll never be completely sinless.

As Christians, we hold onto the truth that Jesus fulfilled the law, but we also acknowledge that the law continues to reveal our sin and drive us to repentance.

In closing, I want to quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer at length to further clarify the daily struggle of Christian life:
“Every day Christ’s followers must acknowledge and bewail their guilt. Living as they do in fellowship with Him, they ought to be sinless, but in practice their life is marred daily with all manner of unbelief, sloth in prayer, lack of body discipline, self-indulgence of every kind, envy, hatred and ambition.”
(Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship)

As Christians, we will continue to fight the daily battle. But we live in hope, because we know that Christ has already won that battle for us—and that all the law and the prophets ultimately come down to this: seeking Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.