Opening Thoughts

Disciples have always said, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:15). We have always believed an uncertain future is held in the hands of our God. Though what lies ahead is unknown, we know our Father in heaven, and this helps us navigate the uncertainties of life today.

And disciples are especially conscious of this sentiment today. These are unprecedented times for most of the world's population. Various nations have experienced, even in their recent past, the derailment of their lives because of a virus. But most of us have never seen a sickness wreak havoc on the whole world at the same time. Upheaval and uncertainty abound.

So how can I write my April update? What in the world will this month look alike? No one knows for sure.

But what I do know is that God's people are His priests here on earth. We are called to worship God amid chaos but also serve our world. We should intercede for others, bring a sense of peace and confidence to their lives, and exude Jesus' kingdom composure. Though we have fears and worries of our own, we must not forget who we are. Death has lost its sting. With boldness, we must be His representatives here on earth.

But, man, these are crazy times. The end of the world? No. But, still, wild days.

Personal Update

As for the Holdridge family, we are doing great while we shelter in place. Our girls have continued in their studies, and I have pressed on in mine. Church work, at least during the workweek, is busier than ever. Meetings, planning sessions, sermon prep for my Genesis and Mark teaching, writing, reaching out to people, and time in front of the camera have maxed out my Monday-Friday schedule.

But, as a family, this season has admittedly been a refreshing change of pace. I know this is an extremely difficult time for millions of people, and I understand the pressure many are under. As a leader, I feel it too. But, as a father and husband, it has actually been nice to see my family more than usual. To have our night time schedules slow down a bit so we can sit by the fire and enjoy each other, to stay at the breakfast table on the weekends because there's nowhere to go, and to cozy up to a movie together has been a joy. Don't get me wrong. I can't wait for this madness to end. I hate seeing people hurt. But, at least for us, there have been some redeemable aspects to this whole thing.

Plans: nateholdridge.com

This month, you will likely see fewer articles, a handful of Instagram videos, and lots of teaching notes. For various reasons, I am bearing a heavier teaching load than average during this season. It is a joy, but it keeps me from being able to write as much as I usually would. And the Instagram videos are one way our leadership team is trying to communicate encouragement and perspective to our church family during this troubling time, so when I share one, we will embed it into the blog if you'd like to check it out.

Christ Unites

I can say with confidence that Christ Unites, my book on Ephesians, will actually come out in April. Since Calvary is self-publishing this one, it has taken a little longer than we expected, but I think people will enjoy the work.

Book Recommendation

This month, I would like to recommend an old friend of mine, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Dr. Richard Swenson. This book was a great source of insight for me as I began structuring my life while in my twenties and early thirties. It helped me prioritize more of the right things, learn the power of saying no, realize I cannot possibly operate at a high level in every area of my life, and that I need to have margin in my time, mental energy, health, finances, and relationships. I cannot run on the edge, to the limits, for long without paying a high price. So I've tried to build my life with margin. This book explains why and how.

Here is the description:

Margin is the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. Today we use margin just to get by. This book is for anyone who yearns for relief from the pressure of overload. Reevaluate your priorities, determine the value of rest and simplicity in your life, and see where your identity really comes from. The benefits can be good health, financial stability, fulfilling relationships, and availability for God's purpose.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDHW5KK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Prayer Requests

Let's all join together in praying for the people we know who've been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. I have friends pastoring in NYC who describe a terrible scene. We all know people who are taking a massive financial beating. Many are sick. We all know people who are terribly afraid. Let's pray for them.
God's grace for teaching, but also for vision and leadership, at Calvary.