I like good news. Who doesn’t?  The Gospel of Jesus Christ, of course, is the ultimate Good News. We always want to share it–as often as possible. But I also like hearing the good things that are happening in my tribe, the Church of the Nazarene. I especially want to know what’s happening in the USA/Canada region where I live and work. It seems Captain was right in Cool Hand Luke: “We have a failure to communicate.” 

There is news coming from various Nazarene entities. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries post on social media from time to time how Nazarene are helping to alleviate the world’s suffering. That’s good news. The NCM Magazine likewise provides good stories from around the world. Nazarene Missions sends an emailed prayer reminder on Wednesdays about different countries in the world. That’s good too. Nazarene News on Friday’s sends an email about what is happening here and there throughout the world. There is an obituary section (mostly USA/Canada clergy) and a once-a-month notice of the moving ministers (also mostly in USA/Canada). Nazarene News has a slight social media presence (emphasis on “slight”). Holiness Today offers good articles, but isn’t really a disseminator of news from around USA/Canada. There are probably a few other outlets of which I am unaware. Those sources are fine in what they do, but I need more good news. 

Just like the traditional news outlets, where ‘bad news sells,” social media seems to swirl around the negative. There’s bickering on all sides ad nauseam. Paul said our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but it sure seems like we are making it out to be. Our Enemy is the same since Eden. So why are we making it so personal against one another? (Cue: the comments about “standing for truth” or the need to “love unconditionally”). 

I’m not a Pollyanna. Bad things happen. When they do, those bad things need to be exposed. Confession, repentance, sorrow, lament and grief are legitimate responses to those bad things. They should never be swept under the rug or the bad things will keep happening. I get all of that. Still Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” We act (and post on social media) like Paul wrote “Keep hounding on the terrible things, again I say puke it out more and more.” Can’t we rejoice a little more than we currently seem to be? Do we have to be so negative? Our brothers and sisters might differ on some issues, but they are still our brothers and sisters. There need not be a feud in the family of God.

The truth is: Good things are happening. They are happening in my corner of the world (probably in yours too). Lots of good things. A lake-full of people getting baptized last month; the grand opening of Central Park; plenty of new folks at Pastor’s Chat and a great youth fall kickoff yesterday; and a medical team leaving for Panama on Saturday (our third team to Panama this year)—good things are happening at Flint Central Church. But I want to hear about God’s working across the country too.  

Listen in an age of angst and anger, we need to hear about the power of God at work among us. We need to be encouraged. We need reports of the good things of God. I’m not a “world’s going to H-E (well, you know the rest) in a handbasket” guy. I’m convinced that God is still at work in America. I just want to hear about it more and more.