The Bungee Cord. 3-9-26

Hello,

It’s been nearly 30 years that I have sat down each week to bring a word of God’s grace through the Bungee Cord. I began this missive because there was a certain population of people who of whom I saw very few in worship: 18-35 years olds. With this observance, I decided that if they weren’t coming to me to hear the good news in Jesus Christ, I would go to them. Thus began the Bungee Cord. I dubbed it the Bungee Cord because I believe the Bible tells us that no matter how far one might stray from God, the reach of God’s grace will match that distance and lovingly gather people back, like a Bungee Cord. I have striven to make this weekly writing a message of grace and mercy, unlike the message that many hear purporting Christianity to be a repressive series of rules and judgments. John 3:16, 17 ,“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Having said this, I want to tell you about a group that I have joined in my town that meets monthly to discuss our nation’s foreign policies. It is a national organization that was developed decades ago to provide some citizen input to our nation’s involvement in the world. Communities all through the United States take their part in these groups. It is called “Great Decisions”, and a book is printed each year guiding us through selected topics. It has been very interesting.

As I take part in these discussions consisting of 15-20 people who gather at our local library in Ligonier, Pa., I have discovered that my input is often unique. Most of the input has to do with maintaining a competitive edge over other nations and acting to further our nation’s interests. People from multinational companies, college professors, and political junkies make up our group. I am amazed at the depth of their international experience and knowledge.

And then there is me. People in the group know that I am a pastor, and sometimes they respond to my input thinking me to be naïve and pollyainic (sp?). They do so because I find myself coming at our topics in a way that might best be described as seeing the world as a global community, and wondering how we and all nations can learn how to live next door to each other peacefully and respectfully. From my Christian way of thinking, I am reminded of Jesus responding to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”, and his answer was the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25ff), which also was the basis for Mr. Roger’s theme song, “Won’t you be my neighbor.”

I know that in my own neighborhood there are some people who are much easier to live next to than others, and one of them may be me. So, I am not surprised when a particular neighbor doesn’t tell me that they are going to trench over my power lines. Or, I am not surprised when another neighbor comes and graciously plows out my half-mile lane when the snow is deeper than our tractor can handle. Being a neighbor and having neighbors is part of life, and the things we do can make that a better place to live or an uglier place to live.

The truth is that God has determined to make our neighborly relationship with him the best it can be by tearing down any fence, calling off all the guard dogs, and showing unimaginable care for us, his neighbors, by sending Jesus. That includes you and me.

Riding the wave of God’s grace to you and me, I wonder what the global community might be like if we looked at the world as neighbors, people by no desire of their own find themselves with these neighbors. Rather than trying to “keep up with the Jones’” or “stake out our territory”, I wonder what would happen in our local neighborhoods and in our global neighborhood if we saw in our neighbors people who cry tears when a child dies, people who feel lost and alone in a world that they no longer know, people for whom daily bread is a daily need, people who enjoy laughing around a fire….

In these times, I find myself deeply concerned for my neighbors.

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger