Opinion

Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Growing up, as a little boy and then a young man, I remember clearly the many things my mother sought to teach me. Most clearly, when attempting to teach me about cooking, I remember the words “it needs more salt!” By just a little taste she was almost always right; it needed more salt. She said, “salt brings out the taste, salt gives it flavor, salt makes it taste good! And as usual she was right! Imagine if you will, a salted nut candy bar without salt. Imagine eating popcorn without salt. Imagine corn on the cob without salt. Imagine almost anything when cooking without salt, it is just plain bland and without flavor. Now, think about Luke 14:34-35: 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Here we hear Jesus using a metaphor of salt to help us understand what it truly means to be a disciple or the cost of discipleship if you will. How important it is to maintain one’s spiritual strength and purpose as a Christian in a world full of sin. It is likened to the value of salt with its ability to preserve and give flavor just like a true disciple of Christ can have a positive influence on others within this sinful world! Think about the words “Salt is good” and then think about the role we as Christians have, we as disciples have in preserving and purifying our troubled society. It’s about maintaining our commitment to Christ, it’s about who we are in Christ, it’s about what we are doing for Christ. If salt has lost its taste, it is of no value, and if our effectiveness or our purpose as a disciple for Christ has lost its fervor, then of what value are we? Or, to put it another way, metaphorically, we might call ourselves disciples, but in this world, we have no flavor, and the world thinks we don’t taste very good! Let us grow in spiritual fervor, not losing our moral compass, our purpose, amongst societal pressures or personal struggles, and live out our faith with greater authenticity!

I am excited to start off the Cardinal Corner update this year. There are so many great things happening throughout the district that it is hard to select where I should begin…

For many Americans, Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. Perhaps you were able to escape to the lake, venture on some family trip, have a backyard barbeque, or get in the last few days of Minnesota’s great get-together (the MN State Fair). But whatever Labor Day activities you did this weekend, I hope and pray it was a good one. However, did you ever think about what Day means, especially from a Christina perspective?

Scripture: Psalm 23 (CEV)