The Wired Word for 07122026 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

The Wired Word for 07/12/2026 ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article1.be68295a7e40.png) 🔗 **Source:** [The Wired Word for 07/12/2026]() > [!note]+ Document Notes > --- > tags: [faith-and-risk, evangelism, civil-disobedience, stewardship, current-events-bible-study, discipleship] > author: Communication Resources > source: The Wired Word > reference: https://readwise.io/reader/document_raw_content/01kx1rfybvtt6rez8e3nfav6ve > date created: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{time:HH:mm}} > --- > # 🏷️ Title: Couple Climbs Empire State Building, Sends Message — The Wired Word for the Week of July 12, 2026 > ## 🧭 Table of Contents > - [📝 Summary](#-summary) > - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) > - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) > - [📚 References](#-references) > - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) > - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) > - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) > - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) > - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) > - [❓ Questions](#-questions) > - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) > - [💡 Implications](#-implications) > - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) > - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) > - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) > - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) > - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) > - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) > ### 🔗 References > - [Climbers Get Engaged Atop Empire State Building. Then They Get Arrested. — The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com) > - [New Details Emerge About Empire State Building Daredevil Climbers — ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com) > - [Tourist Recalls How Angela Nikolau, Ivan Kuznetsov Climbed Empire State Building — Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com) > - Habakkuk 2:1-4; Matthew 14:22-33; Matthew 25:14-30; Acts 16:16-24 > - Stanley Hauerwas, *First Things* (May 1995) > ## 📝 Summary > - **What happened.** On July 1, 2026, Russian "rooftopper" couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus (a.k.a. Ivan Kuznetsov) illegally scaled the needle of the Empire State Building, reaching about 1,450 feet, staged an engagement, and unfurled a banner reading "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." They were arrested and charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar's tools. > - **Why it matters.** The Wired Word uses the stunt as a hook for a Bible study on boldness, risk, and message-bearing — asking what Christians will risk to share the gospel and God's love. > - **Key stakeholders.** The climbers; the NYPD and Empire State Building security; TWW's Christian small-group readership; the lawyer arguing the charges were overcharged. > - **Risks and tradeoffs.** The curriculum walks a line: admiring boldness while explicitly declining to endorse illegal or dangerous acts, and raising when civil disobedience is legitimate. > - **Bottom line.** A viral daredevil act becomes a mirror: are believers "too timid," and what does faithful, bold, sometimes disruptive witness look like? > ## 📖 Main Content > - The lesson pairs a news event with four scripture passages and discussion questions, the standard Wired Word format. The news frame is a security-breach spectacle; the theological frame is boldness versus timidity. > - **Core argument:** Christians may have "become too timid," and the passages model faithful risk — Habakkuk told to write the vision plainly, Peter stepping onto the water, the parable of the talents rewarding the servant who risks, and Paul and Silas disrupting Philippi at the cost of arrest. > - **Sourced context / terms.** "Rooftoppers" are climbers and exhibitionists who scale tall structures; the couple were subjects of the 2024 documentary *Skywalkers: A Love Story*. A "talent" in Matthew 25 is a monetary unit — more than 15 years of an average laborer's wages — not a modern skill. "Righteous" is defined in the study as being in right relationship with God and neighbor, not self-righteous. > - **Contested / uncertain claims.** The father, Dmitry Nikolau, told ABC News the couple were already married and the engagement was a "performance," which the lesson does not resolve. The banner slogan is "famously misattributed to Jimi Hendrix" and the lesson attributes it instead to William Gladstone — an attribution that is itself historically shaky. The security narrative (broken lock, slept in the building, walked through a mesh gate) comes from the DA's complaint and press reports, still under investigation. > ### 🗒️ Notes > - **The hook.** Two extreme climbers ascended the needle; banner spoke of love, power and peace; arrested. Framing question: what are we willing to risk to share the gospel. > - **In the News.** Nikolau and Beerkus, both in their 30s, live in New Jersey; reached ~1,450 ft; Beerkus appeared to propose; banner slogan quoted. Nikolau posted images to Instagram (1M+ followers). Charges listed. Tourist Julie Morris saw them slip through a mesh gate on the 102nd-floor deck. Building security under scrutiny — couple allegedly slept inside overnight; 5 a.m. hatch entry on camera; broken lock on 104th-floor security door. Historical climbers cited: Alain Robert (1994), Freedom Tower (2014), NYT Building (2008), Philippe Petit (1974), Harry "the Human Fly" Gardiner (1918). Defense attorney Jason Krinsky says the DA "overcharged." > - **Applying the News Story.** Reflect on your message to the world as individual Christian and congregation; without praising the rooftoppers, discuss risk-taking for the gospel; consider that believers have become "too timid" even while avoiding illegal acts. > - **The Big Questions.** Five prompts on message clarity, risk, word-and-deed witness, timidity, and when (if ever) breaking the law to send a message is appropriate, with civil disobedience in Christian history. > - **Habakkuk 2:2.** "Write the vision; make it plain." God wants a clear message. Ties "the righteous live by their faithfulness" to Paul in Romans 1:17; defines "the righteous" (Job, Dorcas — not self-righteous) and "live by faithfulness" (Abram, Genesis 15:6). > - **Matthew 14:28-29.** Peter walks on water, doubts, sinks, is caught. Risk of stepping into chaos; faith keeps us from sinking; "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" > - **Matthew 25:24-25.** Parable of the talents. One-talent servant lives in scarcity and buries the money; five-talent servant sees abundance, takes risk, is commended. Call to boldness with one's gifts. > - **Acts 16:20-21.** Paul casts out the "spirit of divination" from the enslaved girl, costing her owners income; Paul and Silas are dragged before magistrates, beaten, jailed, then freed. Hauerwas quote on adventure over safety. > - **For Further Discussion.** Team members Frank Ramirez (Leviticus 19:34 banner, welcoming the resident alien) and Mary Sells (God in small/quiet places, not just mountaintops). Petit's warning about viral content over timeless art; slogan misattribution to Hendrix vs. Gladstone. > - **Responding / Prayer.** Formulate a one-sentence personal Christian message; invest a talent in congregational ministry. Prayer against being "overly cautious and timid." > ## 📚 References > - [The New York Times — engagement and arrest coverage](https://www.nytimes.com) > - [ABC News — new details, couple released](https://abcnews.go.com) > - [Fox News — tourist account](https://www.foxnews.com) > - Bible: Habakkuk 2:1-4, Romans 1:17, Job 1:1, Acts 9:36, Genesis 15:6, Matthew 14:22-33, Matthew 25:14-30, Acts 16:16-24, Leviticus 19:34 > - Stanley Hauerwas, *First Things*, May 1995 > - *Skywalkers: A Love Story* (2024 documentary) > ## 🗣️ Paraphrase > - A daredevil couple broke into and climbed the Empire State Building's antenna, got engaged for the cameras, and hung a banner about love outlasting power — then got arrested and charged with multiple crimes. > - The Wired Word turns the spectacle into a study on holy boldness, arguing that many Christians play it too safe and that scripture repeatedly honors those who take faithful risks to bear a clear message. > - Four passages carry the theme: make your vision plain (Habakkuk), step out in trust (Peter on the water), invest your gifts instead of burying them (the talents), and accept that faithful witness can be disruptive and costly (Paul and Silas), while the study carefully declines to endorse the illegal stunt itself. > ## 📰 Newsletter > - Not applicable to this source — this is a faith current-events curriculum, not a Wor Dear Class Members, Two extreme climbers recently ascended the needle of the Empire State Building. At the top, they unfurled a large black banner which spoke of love, power and peace, before being apprehended by the police. In response, this installment of *The Wired Word* will focus on what we are willing to risk to share the gospel and send a message of God's love to the world. ![](https://www.thewiredword.com/_img/tww_logo_email.jpg) **Couple Climbs Empire State Building, Sends Message** ***The Wired Word*** **for the Week of July 12, 2026** **In the News** Two urban climbers ascended the needle of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, July 1. The Russian couple, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus (also known as Ivan Kuznetsov), both in their 30s, are part of a group called "rooftoppers" -- artists and exhibitionists who climb tall structures. According to *The New York Times*, the two reached a height of 1,450 feet above the city, and there Beerkus appeared to propose to Nikolau. Together, they unfurled a banner which read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." After making the illegal ascent, Nikolau posted an image on Instagram that shows Beerkus getting down on one knee. In another image, she shows off a ring against a backdrop of high-rises that are far below the tiny platform at the top of the needle. Nikolau's father, Dmitry Nikolau, claimed to *ABC News* on July 2 that the couple were already married. The climb and engagement were, in his words, a "performance." The stunt ended when an officer from the Emergency Services Unit of the Police Department climbed a steep, caged-in ladder to the spot where the couple was located. "Can you just stay where you are?" he said. "You can't be up here." One officer took Nikolau by the arm and another apprehended Beerkus. The two climbers, who live in New Jersey, were charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar's tools. The couple are well-known rooftoppers, having been the subjects of a 2024 documentary called "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which explores their romance and their quest for thrills and fame. In 2022, they climbed Merdeka 118, a skyscraper in Malaysia which is more than 2,000 feet tall. Nikoau has more than one million followers on Instagram. *Fox News* reports that a New York City tourist saw the couple slip through what appeared to be a restricted access point at the Empire State Building, moments before they climbed the antenna. Julie Morris was on the building's 102nd-floor observation deck when she saw two people pass through a mesh gate. "Well, I was on the top, the very top, along come these two people," Morris said. "Opened the mesh. Assumed they worked there and nobody stopped them." The incident is raising questions about security at the building. The couple allegedly slept inside the skyscraper the night before, according to *ABC News*. At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, a security camera recorded them going through a hatch on the 102nd floor. The DA's criminal complaint alleges that a lock on the security door to the Empire State Building's 104th floor, which provides access to the building's broadcast antenna, was broken. Police are now reviewing surveillance footage and investigating how the couple opened the hatch. The needle of the Empire State Building rises 200 feet above the top floor of the building, housing communication equipment and an antenna. Although not frequently climbed, it was scaled in 1994 by Alain Robert, a French climber. Jason Barr, an economics professor at Rutgers University who has studied skyscrapers, said, "These spires are designed partly for aesthetic reasons but also partly for advertising reasons, like 'Look at the top of my building.'" The spires of skyscrapers invariably attract the attention of both sightseers and climbers. Other skyscrapers and monuments in New York City have attracted climbers over the years, including the spire of the Freedom Tower, which was scaled in 2014 by a teenager from New Jersey. In 2008, three people climbed the New York Times Building over the course of a number of weeks. In 1974, Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center. And back in 1918, a man named Harry Gardiner, nicknamed "the Human Fly," climbed the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch in Brooklyn. Jason Krinsky, an attorney who is representing the Russian climbers, said the district attorney's office "overcharged" the case. "As far as what I've seen, and I'm sure you have all seen, It was a message of love," Krinsky said of the message on the banner. "You know, that's a nice thing." More on this story can be found at these links: [Climbers Get Engaged Atop Empire State Building. Then They Get Arrested.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3Dpeua_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXfrlUnFvdK9bxQdCmOszQk8VWFWRSNhBhrYFcavuHd6bnZu3viputnoG8zlgScXdZOPsLO-2BmmS6LPs45jWcG6Y-2B4Xa6DUfkKGNBsdP4eZ845Z4c7jDIpZH9dpAj6Rvwk8rVZqw-2F1K6po-2FwVPvlK1Xw3eE21MgNHbl2KOmq2VVJt7XAJCKxN3NEOmI3-2BDCuJFmdhAkXpwxKIJdmUOtnI1PfY-3D) [*The New York Times*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DxtmL_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXTNOhuz7dwxADf5KpZ1i-2FnXwAfe-2B6G3NuMHk3o4xDcd4aJ4R-2B59ngKPL6LKw2FOnZ5ggVRIofm6H6BzCdDz0aPqLknxRlcj5jrHjiVV7OzSCQ8-2FT6AYHqjclbl59J9zOjvfZZQVTBLdHQWljlQL-2FBWoA9fUV8h8VxxYDMRUFaGnqKE-2F-2FaZM-2BS-2Bm47uG1l99lcveXHGFWFYfStFKhCvNWwzo-3D) [New Details Emerge About Empire State Building Daredevil Climbers, As Couple Released From Jail.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPBfrstONwsvPb4QyB-2B00nqpeGpUdEYqlB6z-2FC8CHt-2BTwVSnViAktSb80aPRbKSdz4O1Ma6DV6h6fI4i6LADEOblony9tU5HgoLbjXpfF0mCyqcUlh2o2cn0frmLHIHVtnQ-3D-3Dapk__-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXaIpdtIR6MwxUjd-2FIj3o0U-2Ff7VTTZAegOr8C5oe7nEicIEWpdLrZoVkhuxtWieMd0lsRgZc37Vt32D408OvCBBuGa0rNpqFTdqdFg-2B-2B-2BHXeLDZgnMYeTnZf0cdJngcUNBjfYYV2uGaNq-2FK68A6sUM5xk1-2BNSUe1z0wXRRq-2BNpx96KZ98VZWDgEEIZSjNVMWCj5elBmVrS-2Byc390ILq2zKr8-3D) [*ABC News*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPBfrstONwsvPb4QyB-2B00nqpeGpUdEYqlB6z-2FC8CHt-2BTwVSnViAktSb80aPRbKSdz4O1Ma6DV6h6fI4i6LADEOblony9tU5HgoLbjXpfF0mCyqcUlh2o2cn0frmLHIHVtnQ-3D-3DD1_P_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXeyw-2BEVSmXUB3IinhRpMD1ZIwNyU8tdTKt5dbLSck4Xp3qrRwdOwDh7-2F-2BrNGY1M5tUqJlWIcOIuuPtmaq8OhO-2FkpUZxViKFZQMcok18wlZTzStSMigtqrBxl3LAUJL20pYZ0L4h8icn8QnWGxFDoZSDlpuEYzURoF6YwNRS6vO8ESRDQWtKvCLp-2BZlXO22bPkuKzrhkvdSQW5LyOdNDuFCw-3D) [Tourist Recalls How Angela Nikolau, Ivan Kuznetsov Climbed Empire State Building.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNnRLkPfLAMpP6p3RttiMUE7di-2FF9hFOgzTtT2Gb-2BGIZfq2vELNpnXaFnqt7TK32AEnyfrqE2f3pskitEa54gA250UYigN6tua98KIIjdDzgF97cyTvWm6L5MY1s-2BS35jwXDB-2FG9Y8M-2BFDI1eHAoLWo77YgS1tePTxjGQ3hDVzCPWwjP_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXY6jMSIlCLSKT9iewys4xYEG4PV-2BARZMQddWeeZ1Ei6sT9pk13dM302FPNRs0stukpNmuJgNOuMK54WZV0uhslx-2FeGSDPe7vNWuzd6DWhpM8p3DBfw-2Bf8ncBH0Si-2Fa4cM6t0uO1pWQw12tqbjrh8X4o4WxkFXfU0bHnWFxQw7XjDS0WWZv-2BHUmtuy4A-2BmYEWftZmNwCuTjfMR-2FgMtl9Gg-2FE-3D) [*Fox News*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNnRLkPfLAMpP6p3RttiMUE7di-2FF9hFOgzTtT2Gb-2BGIZfq2vELNpnXaFnqt7TK32AEnyfrqE2f3pskitEa54gA250UYigN6tua98KIIjdDzgF97cyTvWm6L5MY1s-2BS35jwXDB-2FG9Y8M-2BFDI1eHAoLWo77YgS1tePTxjGQ3hDVzCPlPWd_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXSbQabDLuWZ4pgCYWh5SPqbbfI-2BLkkEvwWyIG0FbJIFyGrkKKfvP74zTbtLvi4u2lU1ebJ7YHPXcY1S2TJKiZq02JoUfnWLDhMR1uxpqfuC6Uhn-2BT-2FaBLHKjSJXKR654J5lYDwlwGa6sDtSDM2ccwR98yAzGogzoaAo3p9sLGCK6RSDSYKDpRD1buD7mRuhsSUrHt4zg-2FFYbSSSiBzL-2BOOU-3D) **Applying the News Story** At the top of the Empire State Building's needle, two climbers sent the message, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." Reflect on the message that you want to send to the world, as an individual Christian and as a member of a congregation. Without necessarily praising these rooftoppers, discuss what you are willing to risk to share the gospel and send a message of God's love to the world. Consider the possibility that we have become too timid as followers of Christ, even as we avoid dangerous or illegal activities. **The Big Questions** 1. What message do you want to send as an individual Christian? What is the message that your church should be sending? How can the clarity of these messages be improved? 2. What risks are you willing to take to share the gospel -- the good news of Jesus Christ? 3. How can a message of God's love be sent, through both words and deeds? Where is this needed and why is it important? 4. In what ways have the followers of Christ become too timid? What would be the impact of greater boldness in ministry and mission? 5. When, if ever, is it appropriate to break the law to send a message? Where do you see examples of civil disobedience in Christian history, and what lessons do you learn from them? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Habakkuk 2:2***Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.* (For context, read [Habakkuk 2:1-4.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx0lUbNWwbwlTuZ-2BUElZ-2FXTfJ1AhPwbvTeBpVIk7xb8qNtLTeT3c0IO0ZFEoXplx0-2BmtLw_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXYggKF4htOPM8aTPZV5C9-2Fh3bLlmkZQJW4TJfz5Pp20k-2BQslAzGcCfwIJWvvAarX8KU-2FCJL4rsSjG9pqgQSA9LANwtxf85woP11Xd2ke9a-2Bu5eefHmxOTw3eVSLfHkqk-2BHbrmzKUM2B6IAsdZhLtNid14AREDjpRrH0ny7PTH6hlnET7G1DZiO-2FJC9AMIf6ctfRzH3N9h2kwEMfmuY1SZHs-3D)) This book begins with a dialogue between the prophet and God, with Habakkuk complaining that the wicked surround the righteous. In the second chapter, God responds, "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets." The Lord wants the prophet to be very clear about his message to the world. God speaks of a coming "vision for the appointed time" and urges Habakkuk to "wait for it" (v. 3). In the meantime, God says, "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness" (v. 4). The righteous are distinguished from "the proud" -- Babylonians who are attacking Jerusalem in the time of Habakkuk. The phrase "the righteous live by their faithfulness" has particular significance for Christians, since the verse is used by the apostle Paul in his argument about justification: "For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:17). So, who are *the righteous*? In the Old Testament, the righteous are people such as Job, who was "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1). Such righteousness continued in New Testament people such as Dorcas, who was "devoted to good works and acts of charity" (Acts 9:36). Job and Dorcas were not *self*-righteous -- holier-than-thou, self-satisfied and smug. No, they were truly righteous, which means being in a right relationship with God and neighbor. And what does it mean to *live by faithfulness*? In the Hebrew Scriptures, Abram was the first to live in this way. After God promised to give him an enormous group of descendants, "he believed the LORD, and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham, was made right with God by his willingness to believe God and to live by faithfulness. > **Questions:** What is important about the message of being righteous and living by faithfulness? How can you share this message with the world, through words and actions? Be specific. **Matthew 14:28-29***Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.* (For context, read [Matthew 14:22-33](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDS-2FxpXYonyOKnlEd0dPMO-2F8LKzu4a-2BkyziYy8Zwd-2FlOuj6YB_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXRRT3PFGfmsIKqptMVjGnERQhBSY1w2swKiX3tMmdbL3BCJvzwsJYd8c7GscCGiYooIZpsx0Js0f3Y6kdrNiRTy6nhMMTkqzLYNI62KtmgfTEzoQ7LVQ5MELCo2kZOdvtulLfZdgoNIJ8kNy8IdasHjPd-2FnWTTsKpdqijJqYngyshHbjOw0pEGuqfoVQWnvlh9LedVfo2Oms6BWcXeAozTA-3D).) After feeding the 5,000, Jesus tells his disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He then goes up a mountain to pray, and during that time the boat carrying the disciples begins to be battered by wind and waves. Early the next morning, Jesus walks on the water toward the disciples, showing his authority over the chaotic power of the sea. Peter calls out to Jesus, asking him to command him to come to him on the water. Jesus gives the command, and Peter takes a risk and begins to walk toward Jesus. But when Peter notices the strong wind, he becomes frightened and begins to doubt. This causes him to sink into the water. When he cries out, "Lord, save me," Jesus catches him before he goes beneath the waves. Helping him to the boat, Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (vv. 30-31). While it is risky to step into chaotic waters and walk toward Jesus, this story assures us that our faith will keep us from sinking. Peter deserves credit for taking the first steps, but his success was short-lived due to the fact that he became frightened and began to doubt. Jesus asks each of us the question, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" > **Questions:** What risk are you willing to take, in order to move closer to Jesus? In the chaos of life, what frightens you and causes you to doubt? How can the church help to strengthen and deepen your faith? **Matthew 25:24-25***Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours."* (For context, read [Matthew 25:14-30](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDXT-2FhjXHiT-2BVYTXVKy-2FDKEy2zFlRXE2XMJ7HCpDJR5dCXnO8_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXauAyR6L1MUzMUlevxiFDbVIFXsgMlcrW5sbl1fHvgmGHdtgy2-2FKWzr-2Bexu7gf6T2KqvteBxYNeI8lI1-2B4t3XAPtYtJXRO8xZHcC46ttApvYngO5E4MkAR4RTi51AlsCpfMYTqNRhQwrMuLP48xdLKFkYT62pxYUX2atZlu45e7SeLxMyo-2Bq4YC0C6q7-2BNDg9g6OeqRCjTWq-2FytNISCWLYc-3D).) In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells the story of a man who goes on a journey, and before embarking on his trip he distributes his property among his slaves. To one he gives five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent. In this parable, the use of the word "talent" has nothing to do with the ability to paint a picture or play the guitar, as we use the word today. No, a talent is a monetary unit worth more than 15 years of wages for an average laborer. So a talent is serious money -- something that would be, today, hundreds of thousands of dollars. The one who is given five talents goes off at once and trades with them, making five more talents. The one with two talents makes two more talents. But the slave with one talent goes off and digs a hole in the ground and hides his money. He is afraid that his harsh master will punish him for losing the talent, so he takes the most cautious and conservative course possible, and simply preserves the money by hiding it in the ground. This one-talent slave is living in a world of scarcity. Fearful of taking any chances that might cause him to lose what he has, he holds tightly to his treasure. The five-talent slave, on the other hand, looks around and sees a world of abundance, one that can multiply his holdings if he is willing to take a few chances. He takes a risk, trades his talents, doubles his holdings, and earns the commendation of his master. When we embrace the world of God's abundance, we trust God to make use of the gifts and abilities we have been given, whether our particular passion is for teaching children or cooking meals or repairing homes or programming computers. Our Lord wants us to be bold in the use of our unique and valuable abilities. > **Questions:** What are the talents and abilities that you can invest in the work of Jesus? How can you be more bold in these investments? What are the consequences of being too timid in the use of your gifts? In what way does your thinking about abundance and scarcity impact your decisions? **Acts 16:20-21***When they had brought [Paul and Silas] before the magistrates, they said, "These men, these Jews, are disturbing our city and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to adopt or observe."* (For context, read [Acts 16:16-24](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxz3fIAKntMdZpui1pm5SJK06-2B8bAXdvEkUb5wQJ2AasF2jtJjz7XcQ06RSbn57zFmN0Py_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXVAjkHSL5cwgmYiEWcB6-2FKcluckmOtK4DvSiqJJkr9mQcpPchsebN6nF5VnDu7fMkJ1F2yWw0WM6xMoAcwDDWOT-2BRi-2BybYopnCwnALR3qovvpDa7euUMyXqf8wHF-2BYfNMO4Vh7ss8DmIISx2SVDrpk9T5H3evQuBfjS8WhXKxSgQPfrKgFRc7nMz-2BcflIBURajWhIX98xMcghdAc-2FN8pDtE-3D).) When Paul's travels take him to Philippi, he encounters a female slave who has "a spirit of divination" (v. 16) -- literally the "spirit of the python" in Greek. Her owners make a great deal of money from her fortune-telling. When she encounters Paul and his companions, she cries out that they are "slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation" (v. 17). When she repeats this phrase over the course of many days, Paul becomes annoyed and gives a command to the spirit in the women, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her" (v. 18). The spirit leaves the woman and her owners lose their ability to make money. Upset at Paul and Silas, the owners seize them and take them before the magistrates, accusing them of disturbing the city and "advocating customs that are not lawful for us." The crowd joins in attacking Paul and Silas, and the magistrates have them beaten and thrown in prison. In the passage that follows, Paul and Silas are miraculously freed. "God has not promised us safety," wrote theologian Stanley Hauerwas in *First Things* (May 1995), but rather "participation in an adventure called the kingdom. That seems to me to be great good news in a world that is literally dying of boredom." > **Questions:** What is it about Paul's ministry that disturbs the city of Philippi? Why is he willing to do it, and what message does it send? What types of disruptive Christian action would you be willing to take for the sake of God's kingdom, even at the risk of arrest? What impresses you about civil disobedience in service to Christ? **For Further Discussion** 1. "I wonder what biblical banner people would pick to fly from the Empire State Building," says TWW Team Member Frank Ramirez. "I'd choose Leviticus 19:34 -- reminding us we were all immigrants at one point, and that we should love the resident alien in our midst as ourselves." Psalm 23:1? Jeremiah 29:11? John 3:16? What verse would you put on your biblical banner, and why? 2. "We are easily impressed by the fantastic and hard-to-believe stories of the Bible (Jonah, Noah, even Jesus' healings and transfiguration)," says TWW Team Member Mary Sells, "yet God seems to show and tell us that he is in the small places and not just on the mountaintops." What is the danger of focusing on the noise rather than on the silence, where God often resides? How can you share the gospel in ways that are small and quiet, rather than big and loud? Be specific. 3. Philippe Petit, who walked a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center in 1974, has decried the current emphasis on creating viral content, rather than timeless art. "We all take selfies, and we forget to look, we forget to smell, we forget to hear," [he said to](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DnDFf_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXbBtVzLrkbXDGIJ99lTA4Keimfl9QdZZ-2FqCp0JbG-2BRVuetFDTAKr49Q2vFlFACfv7xjktNHnFoBCedhcFyv93fnqbdWvAqNY9vjyn2IvPXEp-2FVCLbpO9ndI8tgyVmmsJQkr-2FJHUKuvkcqqo5qaXGCsUBLGOVBgxDLQ5PWU5NU-2B-2FXQN2t6ra0sYIeSCnuzWy5T9PordSimR7oIyZblRBTJaI-3D) [*The New York Times*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DyIEL_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXfMx5dXjgTLbTsp1onFr1e4TOCNQgpz1KSL5tJTbbc94Gg5Ou3FqiiSY2e25a-2F-2Bjqq5foSHien-2FiPjzxj-2F7FBWaC-2BdCiGyuVIsE5WqfWUCvaFrR5Un6s2uNNippeXdlCdoVOpi373BvTQmnH0CYAnwP9EXSDcK8745Z8oXe3Mv2BzFVkmmSzExJQQJE2GG04AO2YzQABAdzj4LTp-2FNdICN0-3D)[.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DxHQm_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXUar7wHFLVj-2F-2F71DTK-2FJH7-2FzVoFXVf-2BwJIZlo-2FqpxAm6Jkt1XxxaFl3uOMsy-2FMoJ9U-2BSZymDA2q8ZhImHJR9axjce72hRFSh1Eeb1GJTsW-2BlcNanr2-2B6e4biyVo5NmQpFurwM81Idw6-2B-2FhAKEUmvanfrznA8jufHwKsvybMjF3vI9EtRCy6O-2F8hVtyqBXGAo-2F8WYV0Cycoun5K2fZIMsqwo-3D) "We are now, you know, the toys of modern media." What are the advantages, and the disadvantages, of creating viral content for the church? How does your congregation use modern media, and how can it avoid being used by it? 4. "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace" was the message hung on the spire of the Empire State Building. Though it is famously misattributed to Jimi Hendrix, it closely echoes the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone. What does this message mean to you? How does it connect to your Christian faith, if at all? **Responding to the News** In a single sentence, formulate your personal Christian message and share it with your fellow church members. Reflect on what risks you might be willing to take to advance Christ's work in the world. In the week to come, embrace God's abundance and make an investment of one of your talents in the mission and ministry of your congregation. **Prayer** Help us to write our vision, Lord, and make it plain. Inspire us to share the good news of your grace and love with boldness and clarity, and to take risks when necessary. Save us from being overly cautious and timid, and help us to do your will with courage and confidence, following the example of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. ****Copyright 2026 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=1Fb7kd8wZQn1Q4YzSqQ0hujCoTc4N5_qS3ivxgsU93FoMDAwdTAwMPT5HuYylCyghtMZZuC7Lqk2l-sIBC70HUF8R2atie3D6_dKv5UkTwvVJea4WFDDfR4pmbzNYVq6gqZWXM_bVaMSTRefGWLUQsCKGRWylQzSPX1RrMe0oHdIK2SQs1Yeo4JHKwTfN0fcazBHG29DzmWrNY1GhiWdMCt-19Bi6gzKr8WhrPoASdza2mmKX5rjgAQ2m4cPFCPDeoJ9gf7_bLH4VOpLmI-2BBoSCqkUMpsE6LWeEYwmHigrvArf_lxZWEvAVKjSAicKgpiFYmRyR0m3INQN1O7GFQdBrQhgXay_efN7oMNfQc2mLGmOMLGDvnAY1j7VjpsaXYibRiArIv0PfHCF_pua0-T_STgYbU7tqYZbSAG4Mi0VEEilQ5tDofgtPlUrY95UW_SRIKkK5PMPcdZs3TOT6oiNy4yem0BI20MeOrGwCMA6-PpGiOGV_ptNsR41p219hYbbu6Qtw3WSZqHcOuyNwSNu99rhrZPpl3UehDXm9tK1VkqMJm3fa1ANX4FWtSv1s_Mj3bUyO7yV96eFXjuP1uMXetE6toDSDixmS_5LJpwypXJTMRwA51yqBsM14BVaLpzk_Kf94Wk=) <div>Dear Class Members, Two extreme climbers recently ascended the needle of the Empire State Building. At the top, they unfurled a large black banner which spoke of love, power and peace, before being apprehended by the police. In response, this installment of The Wired Word will focus on what we are willing to risk to share the gospel and send a message of God's love to the world. <center><img src="https://www.thewiredword.com/\_img/tww\_logo\_email.jpg"/></center> Couple Climbs Empire State Building, Sends Message The Wired Word for the Week of July 12, 2026 In the News Two urban climbers ascended the needle of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, July 1. The Russian couple, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus (also known as Ivan Kuznetsov), both in their 30s, are part of a group called "rooftoppers" -- artists and exhibitionists who climb tall structures. According to The New York Times, the two reached a height of 1,450 feet above the city, and there Beerkus appeared to propose to Nikolau. Together, they unfurled a banner which read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." After making the illegal ascent, Nikolau posted an image on Instagram that shows Beerkus getting down on one knee. In another image, she shows off a ring against a backdrop of high-rises that are far below the tiny platform at the top of the needle. Nikolau's father, Dmitry Nikolau, claimed to ABC News on July 2 that the couple were already married. The climb and engagement were, in his words, a "performance." The stunt ended when an officer from the Emergency Services Unit of the Police Department climbed a steep, caged-in ladder to the spot where the couple was located. "Can you just stay where you are?" he said. "You can't be up here." One officer took Nikolau by the arm and another apprehended Beerkus. The two climbers, who live in New Jersey, were charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar's tools. The couple are well-known rooftoppers, having been the subjects of a 2024 documentary called "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which explores their romance and their quest for thrills and fame. In 2022, they climbed Merdeka 118, a skyscraper in Malaysia which is more than 2,000 feet tall. Nikoau has more than one million followers on Instagram. Fox News reports that a New York City tourist saw the couple slip through what appeared to be a restricted access point at the Empire State Building, moments before they climbed the antenna. Julie Morris was on the building's 102nd-floor observation deck when she saw two people pass through a mesh gate. "Well, I was on the top, the very top, along come these two people," Morris said. "Opened the mesh. Assumed they worked there and nobody stopped them." The incident is raising questions about security at the building. The couple allegedly slept inside the skyscraper the night before, according to ABC News. At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, a security camera recorded them going through a hatch on the 102nd floor. The DA's criminal complaint alleges that a lock on the security door to the Empire State Building's 104th floor, which provides access to the building's broadcast antenna, was broken. Police are now reviewing surveillance footage and investigating how the couple opened the hatch. The needle of the Empire State Building rises 200 feet above the top floor of the building, housing communication equipment and an antenna. Although not frequently climbed, it was scaled in 1994 by Alain Robert, a French climber. Jason Barr, an economics professor at Rutgers University who has studied skyscrapers, said, "These spires are designed partly for aesthetic reasons but also partly for advertising reasons, like 'Look at the top of my building.'" The spires of skyscrapers invariably attract the attention of both sightseers and climbers. Other skyscrapers and monuments in New York City have attracted climbers over the years, including the spire of the Freedom Tower, which was scaled in 2014 by a teenager from New Jersey. In 2008, three people climbed the New York Times Building over the course of a number of weeks. In 1974, Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center. And back in 1918, a man named Harry Gardiner, nicknamed "the Human Fly," climbed the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch in Brooklyn. Jason Krinsky, an attorney who is representing the Russian climbers, said the district attorney's office "overcharged" the case. "As far as what I've seen, and I'm sure you have all seen, It was a message of love," Krinsky said of the message on the banner. "You know, that's a nice thing." More on this story can be found at these links: <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3Dpeua\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXfrlUnFvdK9bxQdCmOszQk8VWFWRSNhBhrYFcavuHd6bnZu3viputnoG8zlgScXdZOPsLO-2BmmS6LPs45jWcG6Y-2B4Xa6DUfkKGNBsdP4eZ845Z4c7jDIpZH9dpAj6Rvwk8rVZqw-2F1K6po-2FwVPvlK1Xw3eE21MgNHbl2KOmq2VVJt7XAJCKxN3NEOmI3-2BDCuJFmdhAkXpwxKIJdmUOtnI1PfY-3D">Climbers Get Engaged Atop Empire State Building. Then They Get Arrested. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DxtmL\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXTNOhuz7dwxADf5KpZ1i-2FnXwAfe-2B6G3NuMHk3o4xDcd4aJ4R-2B59ngKPL6LKw2FOnZ5ggVRIofm6H6BzCdDz0aPqLknxRlcj5jrHjiVV7OzSCQ8-2FT6AYHqjclbl59J9zOjvfZZQVTBLdHQWljlQL-2FBWoA9fUV8h8VxxYDMRUFaGnqKE-2F-2FaZM-2BS-2Bm47uG1l99lcveXHGFWFYfStFKhCvNWwzo-3D">The New York Times</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPBfrstONwsvPb4QyB-2B00nqpeGpUdEYqlB6z-2FC8CHt-2BTwVSnViAktSb80aPRbKSdz4O1Ma6DV6h6fI4i6LADEOblony9tU5HgoLbjXpfF0mCyqcUlh2o2cn0frmLHIHVtnQ-3D-3Dapk\_\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXaIpdtIR6MwxUjd-2FIj3o0U-2Ff7VTTZAegOr8C5oe7nEicIEWpdLrZoVkhuxtWieMd0lsRgZc37Vt32D408OvCBBuGa0rNpqFTdqdFg-2B-2B-2BHXeLDZgnMYeTnZf0cdJngcUNBjfYYV2uGaNq-2FK68A6sUM5xk1-2BNSUe1z0wXRRq-2BNpx96KZ98VZWDgEEIZSjNVMWCj5elBmVrS-2Byc390ILq2zKr8-3D">New Details Emerge About Empire State Building Daredevil Climbers, As Couple Released From Jail. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPBfrstONwsvPb4QyB-2B00nqpeGpUdEYqlB6z-2FC8CHt-2BTwVSnViAktSb80aPRbKSdz4O1Ma6DV6h6fI4i6LADEOblony9tU5HgoLbjXpfF0mCyqcUlh2o2cn0frmLHIHVtnQ-3D-3DD1\_P\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXeyw-2BEVSmXUB3IinhRpMD1ZIwNyU8tdTKt5dbLSck4Xp3qrRwdOwDh7-2F-2BrNGY1M5tUqJlWIcOIuuPtmaq8OhO-2FkpUZxViKFZQMcok18wlZTzStSMigtqrBxl3LAUJL20pYZ0L4h8icn8QnWGxFDoZSDlpuEYzURoF6YwNRS6vO8ESRDQWtKvCLp-2BZlXO22bPkuKzrhkvdSQW5LyOdNDuFCw-3D">ABC News</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNnRLkPfLAMpP6p3RttiMUE7di-2FF9hFOgzTtT2Gb-2BGIZfq2vELNpnXaFnqt7TK32AEnyfrqE2f3pskitEa54gA250UYigN6tua98KIIjdDzgF97cyTvWm6L5MY1s-2BS35jwXDB-2FG9Y8M-2BFDI1eHAoLWo77YgS1tePTxjGQ3hDVzCPWwjP\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXY6jMSIlCLSKT9iewys4xYEG4PV-2BARZMQddWeeZ1Ei6sT9pk13dM302FPNRs0stukpNmuJgNOuMK54WZV0uhslx-2FeGSDPe7vNWuzd6DWhpM8p3DBfw-2Bf8ncBH0Si-2Fa4cM6t0uO1pWQw12tqbjrh8X4o4WxkFXfU0bHnWFxQw7XjDS0WWZv-2BHUmtuy4A-2BmYEWftZmNwCuTjfMR-2FgMtl9Gg-2FE-3D">Tourist Recalls How Angela Nikolau, Ivan Kuznetsov Climbed Empire State Building. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNnRLkPfLAMpP6p3RttiMUE7di-2FF9hFOgzTtT2Gb-2BGIZfq2vELNpnXaFnqt7TK32AEnyfrqE2f3pskitEa54gA250UYigN6tua98KIIjdDzgF97cyTvWm6L5MY1s-2BS35jwXDB-2FG9Y8M-2BFDI1eHAoLWo77YgS1tePTxjGQ3hDVzCPlPWd\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXSbQabDLuWZ4pgCYWh5SPqbbfI-2BLkkEvwWyIG0FbJIFyGrkKKfvP74zTbtLvi4u2lU1ebJ7YHPXcY1S2TJKiZq02JoUfnWLDhMR1uxpqfuC6Uhn-2BT-2FaBLHKjSJXKR654J5lYDwlwGa6sDtSDM2ccwR98yAzGogzoaAo3p9sLGCK6RSDSYKDpRD1buD7mRuhsSUrHt4zg-2FFYbSSSiBzL-2BOOU-3D">Fox News</a> Applying the News Story At the top of the Empire State Building's needle, two climbers sent the message, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." Reflect on the message that you want to send to the world, as an individual Christian and as a member of a congregation. Without necessarily praising these rooftoppers, discuss what you are willing to risk to share the gospel and send a message of God's love to the world. Consider the possibility that we have become too timid as followers of Christ, even as we avoid dangerous or illegal activities. The Big Questions 1. What message do you want to send as an individual Christian? What is the message that your church should be sending? How can the clarity of these messages be improved? 2. What risks are you willing to take to share the gospel -- the good news of Jesus Christ? 3. How can a message of God's love be sent, through both words and deeds? Where is this needed and why is it important? 4. In what ways have the followers of Christ become too timid? What would be the impact of greater boldness in ministry and mission? 5. When, if ever, is it appropriate to break the law to send a message? Where do you see examples of civil disobedience in Christian history, and what lessons do you learn from them? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: Habakkuk 2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx0lUbNWwbwlTuZ-2BUElZ-2FXTfJ1AhPwbvTeBpVIk7xb8qNtLTeT3c0IO0ZFEoXplx0-2BmtLw\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXYggKF4htOPM8aTPZV5C9-2Fh3bLlmkZQJW4TJfz5Pp20k-2BQslAzGcCfwIJWvvAarX8KU-2FCJL4rsSjG9pqgQSA9LANwtxf85woP11Xd2ke9a-2Bu5eefHmxOTw3eVSLfHkqk-2BHbrmzKUM2B6IAsdZhLtNid14AREDjpRrH0ny7PTH6hlnET7G1DZiO-2FJC9AMIf6ctfRzH3N9h2kwEMfmuY1SZHs-3D">Habakkuk 2:1-4.</a>) This book begins with a dialogue between the prophet and God, with Habakkuk complaining that the wicked surround the righteous. In the second chapter, God responds, "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets." The Lord wants the prophet to be very clear about his message to the world. God speaks of a coming "vision for the appointed time" and urges Habakkuk to "wait for it" (v. 3). In the meantime, God says, "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness" (v. 4). The righteous are distinguished from "the proud" -- Babylonians who are attacking Jerusalem in the time of Habakkuk. The phrase "the righteous live by their faithfulness" has particular significance for Christians, since the verse is used by the apostle Paul in his argument about justification: "For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:17). So, who are the righteous? In the Old Testament, the righteous are people such as Job, who was "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1). Such righteousness continued in New Testament people such as Dorcas, who was "devoted to good works and acts of charity" (Acts 9:36). Job and Dorcas were not self-righteous -- holier-than-thou, self-satisfied and smug. No, they were truly righteous, which means being in a right relationship with God and neighbor. And what does it mean to live by faithfulness? In the Hebrew Scriptures, Abram was the first to live in this way. After God promised to give him an enormous group of descendants, "he believed the LORD, and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham, was made right with God by his willingness to believe God and to live by faithfulness. <blockquote> Questions: What is important about the message of being righteous and living by faithfulness? How can you share this message with the world, through words and actions? Be specific. </blockquote> Matthew 14:28-29 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDS-2FxpXYonyOKnlEd0dPMO-2F8LKzu4a-2BkyziYy8Zwd-2FlOuj6YB\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXRRT3PFGfmsIKqptMVjGnERQhBSY1w2swKiX3tMmdbL3BCJvzwsJYd8c7GscCGiYooIZpsx0Js0f3Y6kdrNiRTy6nhMMTkqzLYNI62KtmgfTEzoQ7LVQ5MELCo2kZOdvtulLfZdgoNIJ8kNy8IdasHjPd-2FnWTTsKpdqijJqYngyshHbjOw0pEGuqfoVQWnvlh9LedVfo2Oms6BWcXeAozTA-3D">Matthew 14:22-33</a>.) After feeding the 5,000, Jesus tells his disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He then goes up a mountain to pray, and during that time the boat carrying the disciples begins to be battered by wind and waves. Early the next morning, Jesus walks on the water toward the disciples, showing his authority over the chaotic power of the sea. Peter calls out to Jesus, asking him to command him to come to him on the water. Jesus gives the command, and Peter takes a risk and begins to walk toward Jesus. But when Peter notices the strong wind, he becomes frightened and begins to doubt. This causes him to sink into the water. When he cries out, "Lord, save me," Jesus catches him before he goes beneath the waves. Helping him to the boat, Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (vv. 30-31). While it is risky to step into chaotic waters and walk toward Jesus, this story assures us that our faith will keep us from sinking. Peter deserves credit for taking the first steps, but his success was short-lived due to the fact that he became frightened and began to doubt. Jesus asks each of us the question, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" <blockquote> Questions: What risk are you willing to take, in order to move closer to Jesus? In the chaos of life, what frightens you and causes you to doubt? How can the church help to strengthen and deepen your faith? </blockquote> Matthew 25:24-25 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours." (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDXT-2FhjXHiT-2BVYTXVKy-2FDKEy2zFlRXE2XMJ7HCpDJR5dCXnO8\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXauAyR6L1MUzMUlevxiFDbVIFXsgMlcrW5sbl1fHvgmGHdtgy2-2FKWzr-2Bexu7gf6T2KqvteBxYNeI8lI1-2B4t3XAPtYtJXRO8xZHcC46ttApvYngO5E4MkAR4RTi51AlsCpfMYTqNRhQwrMuLP48xdLKFkYT62pxYUX2atZlu45e7SeLxMyo-2Bq4YC0C6q7-2BNDg9g6OeqRCjTWq-2FytNISCWLYc-3D">Matthew 25:14-30</a>.) In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells the story of a man who goes on a journey, and before embarking on his trip he distributes his property among his slaves. To one he gives five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent. In this parable, the use of the word "talent" has nothing to do with the ability to paint a picture or play the guitar, as we use the word today. No, a talent is a monetary unit worth more than 15 years of wages for an average laborer. So a talent is serious money -- something that would be, today, hundreds of thousands of dollars. The one who is given five talents goes off at once and trades with them, making five more talents. The one with two talents makes two more talents. But the slave with one talent goes off and digs a hole in the ground and hides his money. He is afraid that his harsh master will punish him for losing the talent, so he takes the most cautious and conservative course possible, and simply preserves the money by hiding it in the ground. This one-talent slave is living in a world of scarcity. Fearful of taking any chances that might cause him to lose what he has, he holds tightly to his treasure. The five-talent slave, on the other hand, looks around and sees a world of abundance, one that can multiply his holdings if he is willing to take a few chances. He takes a risk, trades his talents, doubles his holdings, and earns the commendation of his master. When we embrace the world of God's abundance, we trust God to make use of the gifts and abilities we have been given, whether our particular passion is for teaching children or cooking meals or repairing homes or programming computers. Our Lord wants us to be bold in the use of our unique and valuable abilities. <blockquote> Questions: What are the talents and abilities that you can invest in the work of Jesus? How can you be more bold in these investments? What are the consequences of being too timid in the use of your gifts? In what way does your thinking about abundance and scarcity impact your decisions? </blockquote> Acts 16:20-21 When they had brought [Paul and Silas] before the magistrates, they said, "These men, these Jews, are disturbing our city and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to adopt or observe." (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxz3fIAKntMdZpui1pm5SJK06-2B8bAXdvEkUb5wQJ2AasF2jtJjz7XcQ06RSbn57zFmN0Py\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXVAjkHSL5cwgmYiEWcB6-2FKcluckmOtK4DvSiqJJkr9mQcpPchsebN6nF5VnDu7fMkJ1F2yWw0WM6xMoAcwDDWOT-2BRi-2BybYopnCwnALR3qovvpDa7euUMyXqf8wHF-2BYfNMO4Vh7ss8DmIISx2SVDrpk9T5H3evQuBfjS8WhXKxSgQPfrKgFRc7nMz-2BcflIBURajWhIX98xMcghdAc-2FN8pDtE-3D">Acts 16:16-24</a>.) When Paul's travels take him to Philippi, he encounters a female slave who has "a spirit of divination" (v. 16) -- literally the "spirit of the python" in Greek. Her owners make a great deal of money from her fortune-telling. When she encounters Paul and his companions, she cries out that they are "slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation" (v. 17). When she repeats this phrase over the course of many days, Paul becomes annoyed and gives a command to the spirit in the women, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her" (v. 18). The spirit leaves the woman and her owners lose their ability to make money. Upset at Paul and Silas, the owners seize them and take them before the magistrates, accusing them of disturbing the city and "advocating customs that are not lawful for us." The crowd joins in attacking Paul and Silas, and the magistrates have them beaten and thrown in prison. In the passage that follows, Paul and Silas are miraculously freed. "God has not promised us safety," wrote theologian Stanley Hauerwas in First Things (May 1995), but rather "participation in an adventure called the kingdom. That seems to me to be great good news in a world that is literally dying of boredom." <blockquote> Questions: What is it about Paul's ministry that disturbs the city of Philippi? Why is he willing to do it, and what message does it send? What types of disruptive Christian action would you be willing to take for the sake of God's kingdom, even at the risk of arrest? What impresses you about civil disobedience in service to Christ? </blockquote> For Further Discussion 1. "I wonder what biblical banner people would pick to fly from the Empire State Building," says TWW Team Member Frank Ramirez. "I'd choose Leviticus 19:34 -- reminding us we were all immigrants at one point, and that we should love the resident alien in our midst as ourselves." Psalm 23:1? Jeremiah 29:11? John 3:16? What verse would you put on your biblical banner, and why? 2. "We are easily impressed by the fantastic and hard-to-believe stories of the Bible (Jonah, Noah, even Jesus' healings and transfiguration)," says TWW Team Member Mary Sells, "yet God seems to show and tell us that he is in the small places and not just on the mountaintops." What is the danger of focusing on the noise rather than on the silence, where God often resides? How can you share the gospel in ways that are small and quiet, rather than big and loud? Be specific. 3. Philippe Petit, who walked a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center in 1974, has decried the current emphasis on creating viral content, rather than timeless art. "We all take selfies, and we forget to look, we forget to smell, we forget to hear," <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DnDFf\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXbBtVzLrkbXDGIJ99lTA4Keimfl9QdZZ-2FqCp0JbG-2BRVuetFDTAKr49Q2vFlFACfv7xjktNHnFoBCedhcFyv93fnqbdWvAqNY9vjyn2IvPXEp-2FVCLbpO9ndI8tgyVmmsJQkr-2FJHUKuvkcqqo5qaXGCsUBLGOVBgxDLQ5PWU5NU-2B-2FXQN2t6ra0sYIeSCnuzWy5T9PordSimR7oIyZblRBTJaI-3D">he said to </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DyIEL\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXfMx5dXjgTLbTsp1onFr1e4TOCNQgpz1KSL5tJTbbc94Gg5Ou3FqiiSY2e25a-2F-2Bjqq5foSHien-2FiPjzxj-2F7FBWaC-2BdCiGyuVIsE5WqfWUCvaFrR5Un6s2uNNippeXdlCdoVOpi373BvTQmnH0CYAnwP9EXSDcK8745Z8oXe3Mv2BzFVkmmSzExJQQJE2GG04AO2YzQABAdzj4LTp-2FNdICN0-3D">The New York Times</a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJjqs9eTHTvMgxKUxOrSDPqIWs73lW6yHly-2FjLqgM9bnWNC9ouEtA7xCRmkHuglT-2BbbV-2F1itVC6DGalDmU7vNVqON8xx5GmJRi6T7RCmzkObWH53dX5qzPH4VrVC5Ab1cQZLK4S5HndHWBBn-2Fwx0HuE-3DxHQm\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmYDdE2wsbYuqqVAYNJYAqZwIL5HDq82PlvDiqTRTh-2By5H4iiQJ50MJ1vFhB8pAOcXUar7wHFLVj-2F-2F71DTK-2FJH7-2FzVoFXVf-2BwJIZlo-2FqpxAm6Jkt1XxxaFl3uOMsy-2FMoJ9U-2BSZymDA2q8ZhImHJR9axjce72hRFSh1Eeb1GJTsW-2BlcNanr2-2B6e4biyVo5NmQpFurwM81Idw6-2B-2FhAKEUmvanfrznA8jufHwKsvybMjF3vI9EtRCy6O-2F8hVtyqBXGAo-2F8WYV0Cycoun5K2fZIMsqwo-3D">.</a> "We are now, you know, the toys of modern media." What are the advantages, and the disadvantages, of creating viral content for the church? How does your congregation use modern media, and how can it avoid being used by it? 4. "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace" was the message hung on the spire of the Empire State Building. Though it is famously misattributed to Jimi Hendrix, it closely echoes the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone. What does this message mean to you? How does it connect to your Christian faith, if at all? Responding to the News In a single sentence, formulate your personal Christian message and share it with your fellow church members. Reflect on what risks you might be willing to take to advance Christ's work in the world. In the week to come, embrace God's abundance and make an investment of one of your talents in the mission and ministry of your congregation. Prayer Help us to write our vision, Lord, and make it plain. Inspire us to share the good news of your grace and love with boldness and clarity, and to take risks when necessary. Save us from being overly cautious and timid, and help us to do your will with courage and confidence, following the example of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. 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