Not Just Merely Highly-Evolved Animals

God has granted us life, and He desires for us to live with a high regard of the lives of others, and to make our decisions consistent with this respect for all life. Deuteronomy 30 says:
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

What does it mean to choose life?  Well, I believe it means that we are following in the way that has been provided for us, to live in the presence of the Lord under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Our lives can reflect the life of God in us.  I also believe it means to cherish and protect life, to not take it for granted - one element is to make sure that we are protecting life inside the womb, as well as all who are living on earth.  We have to make sure that we recognize that all life is precious, life has value, and by showing respect toward others, we express that perspective.

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In Genesis 1, we can see the high view that God had for His creation of humanity:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Perhaps by now you have heard the story of a famous, well-regarded lion from Zimbabwe who lost his life at the hands of an American dentist who hunted the creature down in what some are regarding a most inappropriate way.  As CNN reports, Minnesota dentist Dr. Walter Palmer has basically gone underground in the aftermath of the death of Cecil the Lion.  He has become the target of intense criticism in social media; someone has posted a vile death wish on his clinic door.

The story quotes the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, which said Cecil was lured out of an animal sanctuary in Zimbabwe and shot with a crossbow. He lived another 40 hours until the hunters tracked him down and shot him with a gun. He was then skinned and beheaded.

The hunters also tried to destroy the GPS collar that Cecil was wearing as part of research backed by Oxford University, the conservation group said. Palmer said, "I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt," adding, "I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt."

Two Zimbabweans were charged in the case and have been released on bail. Officials in the African nation say they want to talk to Palmer. The undercover dentist has indicated that he'll cooperate, although he said in a statement that he had yet to be contacted by anyone about the investigation.

A headline in the Los Angeles Times asks this question: "Outraged over Cecil the lion? It may help you understand the rage over Planned Parenthood".   That headline fronts a piece by Charles Camosy, who I don't know very much about, but his article has been retweeted by some pro-lifers on Twitter. He calls for common ground between animal rights activists and what he calls "anti-abortion" advocates, saying their motivation is similar.  Describing those who are pro-life, he writes:

Anti-abortion activists are driven in similar ways. Prenatal children are also helpless and often subject to terrible violence. They obviously cannot speak for themselves. Their dignity and value are inconvenient for those who want abortion to be broadly legal and who want to use fetal tissue for research. They too are largely invisible, though this is changing because of ultrasound imagery and smartphone applications that can listen to a baby's heartbeat in the womb. Words like “fetus,” “tissue” and “products of conception” help keep the reality of abortion at bay. But as we have now seen with the Planned Parenthood story, anti-abortion activists have also been successful in using undercover videos in bringing terrible reality to light – what in one setting is called the "products of conception" in another is a "baby bump," and the antiseptic "tissue" means functioning organs.

Attempting to represent the viewpoint of animal rights activists, he writes:

Consider the views of those who care deeply about animal rights. What drives them? Animals are helpless creatures, often subject to terrible violence, and they cannot speak for themselves. Their dignity and value are quite inconvenient for those who want to exploit them, and their needs are pushed to the margins of our culture. 

 He continues:

This is not to say the two issues are morally equivalent. They aren’t. But the moral dispositions and motivations of animal rights and anti-abortion activists are actually quite similar.

Dr. Palmer's methods in taking the life of Cecil seem to be questionable, and if Dr. Palmer broke the law, then he should face the consequences.  And, I believe the outrage over Cecil's death is justified, to a certain extent, even though there is no place in a civil culture for some of the vitriol that has been directed at this man.

But, where's the outrage over the deaths of pre-born children in general, and specifically now in the light of the Planned Parenthood videos, 4 of which have been released, where we see the callous approach to the death of a human life, a baby, that is reduced to dollars and cents?  Dr. Palmer took the death of one lion; where was the collective outrage to the murderous actions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the noted abortionist who was actually taking the lives of babies in and out of the womb?

Our communicators, who hold an incredible position of influence, are showing where they stand. LifeSiteNews.com reports that "the broadcast news shows spent more time in one day on Cecil the Lion than they did on the Planned Parenthood videos in two weeks."

It says:

The three broadcast networks, ABC, NBC and CBS censored the third video released Tuesday by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) exposing Planned Parenthood’s practice of harvesting aborted baby parts -- censored it at Planned Parenthood’s urging. But the news shows did find more than 14 minutes for a more important story: the “outrage” over the shooting of Cecil, a famed African lion, by an American dentist.

Those who shape American opinion are guilty of selective, agenda-based reporting, and have generated misplaced outrage.   We have to be better than that, as believers in Christ.

Now, I believe that humane, legal treatment of animals is a sign of a civilized society.  I eat meat and respect the rights of hunters to participate in and enjoy their practice.  If Palmer went outside the bounds of the law, then he should be brought to justice, but not the type of vigilante justice that some, like British journalist Piers Morgan is advocating, according to LifeSiteNews.com.  

And, even moreso, human life is to be cherished.  In our culture, which is so steeped in the secularistic, evolutionary worldview, we somehow have lost the sense collectively that human lives are to be treated with dignity.   This calloused view of life will cause people to not value one another, so therefore they take the lives of others for seemingly insignificant reasons; granted, there is no good reason to take the life of another person.

We are not highly-evolved animals; we are humans created in the image of God.  And, that is why these Planned Parenthood videos show practices that are so disturbing - imagine, the horror of a child being dissected in the womb and his or her body parts extracted and sold.   Is this what we have come to as a culture?  And, should there be any controversy here?  Any doubt that public or private money should NOT be funneled to this organization?   But, the fact that people are seemingly tolerating and even protecting these practices show how far our culture has declined.  We need to advocate for a new respect for human life, and the protection of the defenseless in and out of the womb.

Part of the #Squad

Jesus desires to fill us in a profound and tangible way with the presence of the Holy Spirit, so that we might reflect His glory and point people to Him. Ephesians chapter 1 identifies Jesus as the head of the church, His body:
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

If you have called on the name of Jesus and you have been born again, you are part of the church, His church.   He has a plan for the church and he has provided power for the church to do His Kingdom work.  And, He has a purpose for your local church, too.  Your involvement in the local church represents a powerful opportunity to be involved in Christ's larger work.  That includes smaller groups inside the local church, through which the Lord can work to encourage and strengthen believers to walk in obedience to Him.

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The following passage in Colossians 1 establishes that Jesus is the head of the church, His body, and He wants to express Himself through His people:
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

After two actors quoted from Taylor Swift songs on radio shows, one of them tweeted out to ask the pop superstar if they could join "the squad?", according to a piece on The Atlantic website.  Swift responded that, "You two...are the ULTIMATE Squad Goals."

The article says, "Welcome to the summer of the #squad." It names some examples: The Huffington Post touting Sasha Obama and two of her pals as “the new standard for squad goals,” and BuzzFeed listed “16 Ultimate Squad Goals Through History” (these include Mt. Rushmore, the Rat Pack, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and “Jesus and his disciples”)

But Swift's penchant for squad-dom is the central focus of the article:

Swift is a performer not just of music, but of friendship. She takes the clichés of female camaraderie, young and old—“sisterhood,” “besties,” “goddesses” if one is being extra-giddy about it—and commercializes them. A handful of the shows on her 1989 tour have featured the sister-centered group Haim, and her concerts have featured surprise cameos from, at various points, the Swift-squadders Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss, Lily Aldridge, Jason Derulo, Lorde, the U.S. women’s soccer team, and Swift’s cats. (The shows have also featured, as gifts for every concert-goer, wristbands that transform an audience, via coordinated LEDs, into a sea of light—which is also to say, a massive squad.)

The Atlantic continues, saying that the hashtags #squad and #squadgoals..."make a general assumption: that groups—be they composed of girls or boys or celebrities or musicians or Taylor Swift’s cats or a mixture of all of the above—are more than the sum of their parts. “Squad” is the logical outcome of a cultural moment that brought about selfie sticks and “giving face”: We are, collectively, fascinated by ourselves, as physical beings. And we are particularly fascinated by ourselves as members of groups."

The piece also says that:

...there is also something reassuring about a squad, whether it consists of celebrities or normal people. The squad takes the logic of the sitcom—a small social universe, carefully curated and hermetically sealed—and makes it accessible to the rest of us. And there’s a certain appeal to that, on-screen and off. The squad is, ideally, a solid group of friends—friends who will be with you, season after season.

Which is also to say: The squad is a friend group that functions, in its way, as a family.

I don't even remember how I came across this article, and it's interesting from a sociological standpoint, even though I don't endorse some of the reference materials contained within it.

So, do you have a #squad?  You may consider yourself to be part of a squad centered around a celebrity.  But, I'll tell you, in a very real sense, hopefully sounding too trite, Christians are part of the ultimate squad centered around our ultimate Savior.

For, you see, we are all called to be part of the body of Christ.  Our big-time squad is "the church." And, on a smaller scale, we have our smaller groups or communities to which we are called - the local church, which is part of God's plan to make an impact on the world.  Then, there are small groups that can enable us to grow deeper in the Lord as well.  But, ultimately, we all derive life from the head, our Lord Jesus.

The article I referenced describes a squad as a friend group that functions as a family. Perhaps you've heard the term, "church family."  And, we refer to our "brothers and sisters" in Christ.  There is something powerful that bonds us together as believers in the Lord.  Sure, we follow Jesus, but we are connected in a more profound way - His life, His Spirit flows through each of us, and that can cement the relationships we have with one another.

Finally, I want you to consider your #squadgoals.  For the church, the body of Christ, those are found throughout the Scriptures - God wants His people to follow His instructions in order to live out and establish the principles of His Kingdom here on earth.  I believe that our ultimate aim as believers is personal obedience and corporately, to accomplish God's purpose.  God may have called you to a certain group of people, a definite squad, in order to express His life, His nature, and His plan through it.

An Area of Reversal in the Sexual Revolution?

God is calling us to a life in which we demonstrate His character, triumphing over temptation and radiating confidence in Him. 1st Timothy 4 says:
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

Later in the chapter, Paul writes:
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Some powerful keys to righteous living can be found here.  We are encouraged to pursue godliness - this comes through careful study and application of the Scriptures.   And, as we do that, we are called to be an example, walking in a manner that pleases God and shows others that we are attempting to do so, including a commitment to purity.  Jesus taught about being pure in heart - and that is a worthy goal for each of us, to be pure in thought and deed, in motive and practice.

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Ephesians 5 delivers some strong words for those who would stray outside of the boundaries that God has laid down for us:
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

On this Survey Thursday, I want to turn our attention to a study that was released earlier this month from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  And, I do want to give a word of warning that I am about to share some information for mature audiences.

The headlines sound really good for those who advocate for teenagers to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage, which is the Biblical model - in fact, sex outside of marriage is sin, and that continues to be a Biblical standard that has declined in practice as the result of the so-called "sexual revolution," with all sorts of negative consequences.

But a closer look at the key findings actually tells a mixed story.  Here's what we might call the "lead story" here:  during the years 2011 through 2013, 44% of female teenagers and 47% of male teenagers aged 15–19 had experienced sexual intercourse; the percentage has declined significantly, by 14% for female and 22% for male teenagers, over the past 25 years.   So one can conclude that fewer teens are engaging in this behavior.  So far, so good.

But, consider this: during that time period, 79% of female teenagers and 84% of male teenagers used a contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse.  That's troubling. According to Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association, quoted by the WORLD Magazine website,
“We have reduced the message for teens that sex plus contraception is okay.”  She adds, “They are only looking at the physical consequences. … It’s better for teens to not have sex.”

The WORLD article states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 22 percent of sexually active teenagers used the Plan B morning-after pill at least once. A decade ago, less than one in 12 girls had used emergency contraception.

The popularity of emergency contraceptives is likely due to increased availability. Since 2006, girls 18 and older can buy the morning-after pill without a prescription. Huber says that the increasing use of emergency contraceptives also shows the impact of narrowly focused sex education.

But the CDC study does indicates that teens saying that have engaged in sexual intercourse is on the decline.  A piece on The Daily Beast website says that:

Teens are putting off sex for several reasons, according to previous survey data. The most popular reason has always been because of religious beliefs or morals, but surveys have shown boys also delay sex out of fear of getting a girl pregnant and not having found the right person. While the data is heartening for teen health advocates, keeping in mind that the No. 1 reason behind the delay is moralistic, it should be noted that these surveys are self-reported via laptop. And although this may be the best method available to researchers currently, it still can only report what teens say about having sex, not what they're actually doing behind closed doors.

The Chicago Tribune reports that: "A decent (though disputed) number of teens are also hearing from their parents about sex, according to a survey of 2,000 parents and their teen children conducted in 2011, the beginning of the years mentioned in the CDC report.   The Tribune says that:

Forty-two percent of parents said they've talked to their 15- to 18-year-old kids "many times" about abstaining from sex, but just 27 percent of teens said their parents have talked to them "many times." Forty-eight percent of parents reported talking to their teens about when sex should or shouldn't take place; 29 percent of teens agreed with that statement.

So, the takeaways for us today:

Purity is the teaching of Scripture - it's God's model; it is God's best.  The Bible warns against fornication for a number of reasons, and it's important to teach our young people obedience to the Scriptures and the availability of God's power to say "no" to temptation.  And, it's heartening to see that 4-in-10 parents are teaching their teens not to engage in sex.

There are emotional and physical consequences to violating God's commandments in this way. Giving oneself to another person in a way that does not conform to His standards can cause a host of issues down the road when someone enters into marriage.  And, there is the risk of teen pregnancy, as well as sexually transmitted diseases; contraception is insufficient to prevent any of this.  Abstinence is the only reliable practice to prevent these physical consequences.

Finally, take heart - teens can do this!  The Bible teaches us that God provides a way of escape when we are faced with temptation.  Parents can be encouraged to teach truth and help their kids to make solid choices.  So often, we hear about teenagers who make bad choices - we can build an atmosphere of accountability in which we encourage good choices.

Inspiration from Pluto

The Bible tells us in Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God.  In Amos chapter 5, we read that:
8 He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The Lord is His name.

God created the heavens and the earth - and we see that He has also created the inhabitants of the earth.  He created you and me.  And, when we gaze into the heavens, we can behold the handiwork of God.  Our viewpoint can change as we begin to think about the vastness of what He has made.  That can help us to think about His might and His majesty.  But, this incredible God is not way out there, He is close to you and me, calling us to follow Him and to be in relationship with Him.

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In Psalm 8, we read verses that can cause us to think about the majesty of our great Creator God:
(1) O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Then, in verses 3 and 4, we read:
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

It's pretty much disappeared from the news cycle now, but take a moment with me to think about the significant space adventure that is the New Horizons spacecraft, which launched 9 years ago, and through the incredible marvel of modern technology, was able to beam back pictures from the surface of the once-planeT known as Pluto, now known as a dwarf planet.

The website, IGN.com, which deals with entertainment, including science fiction, chose to deal with some real science by publishing a piece on the probe's findings. It quotes NASA’s associate administrator John Grunsfeld, from a prepared statement: “We knew that a mission to Pluto would bring some surprises, and now — 10 days after closest approach — we can say that our expectation has been more than surpassed,” adding “With flowing ices, exotic surface chemistry, mountain ranges, and vast haze, Pluto is showing a diversity of planetary geology that is truly thrilling."

The report states that the images also revealed hazes up to 80 miles above Pluto’s surface. and the atmosphere has two layers - one roughly 50 miles above the surface and the other at 30 miles. Alan Stern, principal investigator for New Horizons, said, "My jaw was on the ground when I saw this first image of an alien atmosphere in the Kuiper Belt.” He said: “It reminds us that exploration brings us more than just incredible discoveries — it brings incredible beauty.” Co-investigator Michael Summers is quoted as saying: "The hazes detected in this image are a key element in creating the complex hydrocarbon compounds that give Pluto’s surface its reddish hue."

There was also some activity on the planet's surface that was unexpected.  According to BBC.com, mission scientist John Spencer said that the first close-up image of Pluto's surface showed a terrain that had been resurfaced by some geological process - such as volcanism - within, as he said, the last 100 million years.  And, there are no impact craters, pointing to a "young surface," as he said.  He added that this active geology needs some source of heat. Previously, such activity has only been seen on icy moons, where it can be explained by "tidal heating" caused by gravitational interactions with a large host planet.

Alan Stern, the mission's chief scientist, commented: "We now have an isolated, small planet that's showing activity after 4.5 billion years."  He said the discovery would "send a lot of geophysicists back to the drawing boards".

The Answers in Genesis website proclaims that "Pluto's Surface is Young!"  Dr. Danny Faulkner who wrote the article, cited the surprise that so few craters exist on Pluto. He writes that not only is the crater density lower than expected, but that "Pluto is located in a particularly crowded part of the solar system." He states that, "Pluto ought to be undergoing impacts today at a higher rate than most other objects in other portions of the solar system."

He also says that while planetary scientists are at a loss to explain the lack of craters, "...the situation is even bleaker for them. Pluto has a tenuous nitrogen atmosphere. This nitrogen is leaking away from Pluto’s atmosphere, so it must be continually replaced. One can claim that the unknown mechanism driving the geological activity on Pluto also is bringing nitrogen from Pluto’s interior to the surface where it is outgassed. But Pluto is a small body, and it has only a finite amount of nitrogen. It is possible that after billions of years that all of its nitrogen should have been depleted long ago."

He also says that:

Being far from the sun, Pluto ought to be very cold and hence not have experienced recent volcanism. Any primordial heat would have long ago dissipated, if the solar system were 4.5 billion years old. The density of Pluto is very small, 2.0 gm/cc, which is consistent with a roughly half-and-half rock/ice composition. This density will not allow for long-lived radioactive elements, which allegedly are the source of Earth’s internal heat to provide for the continuous geological activity during Earth’s supposed 4.5-billion-year history. Nor is Pluto near any other large bodies that could raise tides within Pluto to heat its interior and thus drive surface geological activity as supposedly is the case with Jupiter’s large satellites. Hence, there ought not to be any significant geological activity sufficient to remove craters on Pluto’s surface.

He concludes by saying:

It is very clear that Pluto is young, far younger than the billions of years generally assumed. While this is unexpected and hence unexplainable for evolutionists, this is something that we might expect if the universe is only thousands of years old as the Bible indicates. The preliminary results from the New Horizons space probe are good news indeed for the recent creation model.

There's a lot of scientific stuff in this Answers in Genesis article, as well as other material that I have read.  I think we can think about several elements in light of this space probe:

One is that believers in creation can run toward science, not away from it, and see that scientific explanations, or the lack thereof, can provide encouragement that the Biblical account of creation is actually true.  Evolutionists believe in unproveable, random occurrences, but, we can see that scientific data and discovery does not necessarily disprove and can actually support the words we find in the pages of the Scriptures.   Conventional, evolutionary wisdom would dictate that Pluto would be devoid of activity and full of craters as the result of collision throughout the years - but, the actual photos are telling a different story, showing an active planet (or dwarf planet) where there is activity occurring, a planet that could be replenishing itself.

I also want to focus on words by two scientists: beauty and complex.   The beauty of the universe, the majesty of the stars and planets, can cause us to think about the incredible nature and presence of a Creator God.   These scientists have been wowed at what New Horizons showed them.  We, as Christians, should be in awe of such an awesome God that created these beings and set them into motion.  Then there was the reference to the complex hydrocarbons on and around Pluto - think about the complexity of not only celestial beings, but human beings.  There is order in the universe, there is life, there is activity, and it is being orchestrated by an Almighty God whose purposes are beyond what we can imagine.  And, when we recognize how we are designed and the way that our bodies and minds work, can we honestly say that we as a species arrived by random chance processes?  We are the work of a caring designer, who has formed us and wants to interact with us.

Changing Hearts, Upholding Life

It is so important that we hold to a perspective that life is valuable, that each person is created in the image of God, intended for fellowship with Him.  This obviously applies to life in the womb.  Job said in chapter 31 of that book:
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

Our viewpoint on the sanctity of life begins in the womb and it is important that we support efforts to protect unborn human life.  And, we also have to place a high value on the lives of those who have been born and promote that philosophy - everyone has value, each person has worth, and in Christ, we are called to show compassion toward all people, recognizing that perhaps through our love and interaction with Him, God might use us to make an imprint upon their hearts and lives.

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We are each created in the image of our Maker, and we can take steps to show that we value life, as it is ordained by God. Psalm 139 says:
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

The shock and outrage over these videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of body parts from aborted babies is continuing now.  Some Congressional leaders are advocating for a vote on legislation to prevent taxpayer funds from being sent to the nation's largest abortion provider, but for some reason, there still has not been a vote.   As Jim DeMint, a former Senator who heads the Heritage Foundation wrote on The Daily Signal website:

The U.S. Senate attached an amendment resurrecting a dead corporate welfare program to the highway bill while refusing to even allow a vote to end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood.

He explains that a bill authorizing the Export-Import bank, which conservatives have been trying to
eliminate, has been attached to a highway bill, thought to be a "must pass" bill.   By the way, the Ex-Im Bank lends money to foreign companies and countries to buy products from large corporations. The tactic of attaching controversial legislation to a "must pass" bill is sometimes used in Congress to get that type of legislation passed.  But DeMint rightly raises the question:  

Why not demand that the Export-Import Bank pass as a stand-alone bill? Why must only conservative legislation be given the higher hurdle to overcome?

He's referring to Sen. Mike Lee's bill to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood - a vote has been promised, but only as a stand-alone bill, not as an amendment to other legislation, where it would pass along with critical legislation.

So, already, we're talking about multiple revenue streams for Planned Parenthood: in addition to the alleged sale of body parts and/or so-called "fetal tissue," another source of funding for the abortion giant is taxpayer dollars; another is corporate donations.  And, large companies thought to be contributing to Planned Parenthood are attempting to distance themselves.  Last week, The Daily Signal, using information from the 2nd Vote website and app, published the names of 41 companies listed by Planned Parenthood as contributors.  Shortly after the story was published, representatives from Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Co. and Xerox contacted The Daily Signal to say they were erroneously listed and had requested that Planned Parenthood take them off its website.  By Thursday, Planned Parenthood had removed the names of all alleged corporate donors.

No doubt, Planned Parenthood is making money off the deaths of unborn children.  Crippling their operation is a tactic that can be effectively used to save lives.  But, there is an even more powerful tool that can be used to reduce abortion, and that's where you and I can be active participants:  heart change.  I believe that is going on in America today - witness the decline in the number of abortions, as polling data has shown.

In what Justin Taylor of The Gospel Coalition calls "the best 1.5 minute commentary on abortion ever heard on network news," according to the Live Action News website, Brit Hume of Fox News appealed to the hearts of Americans.  Live Action News published the commentary.  He said, in part, that the Planned Parenthood revelations "...have parted the veil of antiseptic tidiness behind which the abortion industry has for so long operated. The sight of a senior Planned Parenthood official, and a doctor to boot, discussing the market for fetal body parts in between bites of salad and sips of wine was stomach-turning."

Hume continued:

That’s because it laid bare the essentially brutal nature of abortion. Let’s be blunt: abortion involves the extraction and killing of a human life, which within a couple of weeks of pregnancy has a beating heart. Five weeks in, its hands and legs begin to grow. It is these tiny creatures, and too often ones that are far more developed, that are pulled from a mother’s womb and crushed with forceps.

Oh, but oh-so-carefully, lest body parts that can be sold are preserved. This gruesome procedure shows the extent to which we, as a people, have been anesthetized by the estimated 55 million—fifty-five million—abortions performed since the Supreme Court discovered a constitutional right to that procedure 42 years ago.

Will we as a nation not someday look upon that decision and what it has done to us, not to mention the 55 million, with horror and regret? One can only hope we will.

Some profound thoughts delivered on Fox News recently.  When one thinks about the value of life, consistent with a Biblical worldview, and the biological development of a pre-born child, this could result in changed hearts and altered decisions.  And, factor in the importance of prayer for our nation regarding this important issue and believers speaking the truth in love, and you have the components for a continued reversal of the tide of death that has been unleashed on our nation through abortion.

Defaulting Toward Potential Heroism

In Ephesians chapter 5, we get a glimpse into what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit of God, and a key element is the visible way in which we treat one another:
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

We are called to pursue a vertical relationship with God, entering into His presence, communing with Him, and allowing His Spirit to take control of our lives.  In verse 19, we see the connection between Spirit-filling and relating to one another - we are called to worship together, to give thanks to God for all things, and to develop an attitude of submission.  The body of Christ is called to experience God together, and as He fills all of us and moves through us, we become part of radiating an incredible testimony to the world.

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The first few verses of Philippians 2 can reinforce our call to be submissive to the Lord and sensitive to the needs of others:
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

It was designed to be a night out for two teachers before the start of school in Lafayette, Louisiana. Turns out it was a night of terror, but also of heroism.

Last Thursday night, a gunman opened fire in a theater, and at the conclusion of this round of senseless violence, three people were dead, including the instigator of this unthinkable incident.

And, there may have been more, but for a heroic act by one of those teachers.  ABC News reports that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said that one of the teachers heroically jumped in front of her colleague to shield her. One of them was able to pull the fire alarm to alert authorities despite being wounded. The governor said at a press conference: "Her friend literally jumped over her, and in her account actually saved her life," adding, "If she hadn't done that ... that bullet, she believed it would have hit her in the head."

Both teachers were shot, as the governor said, one of them was able to pull the fire alarm to alert authorities, which helped to save other lives.

33-year-old Jillian Johnson, who was actively involved in the Lafayette arts community, and 21-year-old student Mayci Breaux, a student who was about to enter a medical x-ray program, were the victims, according to TheAdvertiser.com.

Obviously, no one sets out to be a hero in a situation like this, but it can cause us to think about the priorities in our lives.  In a moment of tragedy or threat, would we think more of ourselves or of others?  That may be an easy answer for some, not so much for others.  And, that leads to another question - even in those not-so-intense times of our lives, when there is no pressure, where is our default set?  Toward getting our own needs met or seeking the welfare of other people?  We have the presence of Jesus within us, who teaches us and empowers us to develop a servant's attitude.   

And, another thing - even though wounded, one of these teachers was able to make her way to the fire alarm.  I do want us to think together about the concept of "sounding the alarm."   There are threats that we face as a culture today, and we can be challenged to examine whether or not we just want to escape unharmed, which may not be possible, OR to sound the alarm.   Even though we may be wounded by discouragement or intimidated by hostility, yet we can still stand strong in the principles of Scripture.  The enemy would want to wound us and render us ineffective, but God is offering us the strength to do the right thing, to say the right words, and to proclaim His truth.

The Chicken Church and the Priority of Prayer

In the midst of all Jesus said and did during His earthly ministry, we recognize that He was a man of
prayer. In Mark 2, we read:
34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

It's easy to identify the great miracles that Jesus did and the incredible truths that He preached - but we also see that in the midst of that activity was a powerful activity in which we can all participate - He was a man of prayer.  He went into a solitary place and He communicated with God His Father. Since Jesus is our example and we are called to follow in His footsteps, He can inspire us to make prayer a priority, and we can be confident that He will meet us there.

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In Matthew chapter 21, we read about one of the significant events during Holy Week, as Jesus "cleansed" the Temple:
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

Yesterday, I featured a conversation with someone with whom I graduated from high school - I have found myself using that phrase every now and then on my radio show, and I am proud to be associated with people from my hometown whom God is using in a variety of ways.

My hometown has a distinction - when you visit Marietta, Georgia, there is a landmark that is known far and wide.  I remember when it opened back in the 60's - it's even survived an attempt to shut it down.  Currently, the "Big Chicken," a large, metallic structure that has eyes and a beak on top, welcomes locals and visitors at a major intersection on Cobb Parkway, which was called the "Four-Lane Highway" when I was growing up.

An astute Facebook friend of mine posted a story recently about another Big Chicken, located halfway around the world.  It's portrayed on the Colossal website, which is devoted to, "Art, Design, and Visual Culture."  Seems there is a large chicken-like structure in Indonesia that the website says, "has the body, tail, and head of the bird, even holding open its beak in what appears to be mid-squawk." The builder claims it was divinely inspired:

The building was originally built as a prayer house by 67-year-old Daniel Alamsjah after he received a divine message from God. Although he intended the building to resemble a dove, the locals care more that it looks like a chicken, nicknaming it “Chicken Church.” In addition to a prayer house, Alamsjah also used the building as a rehabilitation center, treating disabled children, drug addicts, and others. Alamsjah was forced to shut the center’s doors fifteen years ago after steep construction costs.

The Jakarta Globe quotes Alamsjah as saying, “Perhaps because of my Christian faith, people thought I was building a church. But it’s not a church. I was building a prayer house, not a church, but a place for people who believe in God.”

He says a diverse set of people visited his prayer house: “Seven nationalities were represented like countries including Japan and there were many people there, not just Christians. Muslims were praying there too.”

The newspaper says that one of the local rumors surrounding Alamsjah’s prayer house is that the space was used for rehabilitation, because the building’s dark basement is made up of about 12 small unfinished rooms that could be cells. Alamsjah confirms that the building was used for rehabilitation, but those small rooms were designated as “private prayer rooms."

The locals call the structure, gereja ayam, or "chicken church."  Pictures show that the structure has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Alamsjah refers to his bird structure as a "prayer house," and he has found that people from a variety of different religions have come there to pray.  There are several concepts that come to mind here.

One is the nature of prayer.  People from a variety of faith perspectives practice prayer.  For many, unfortunately, while prayer may be a source of comfort or inner strength, they are not connecting to the God of the Universe, the One True God.  There are many approaches to what or who is referred to as "God," but Jesus said that He was the way, the truth, and the life.  As Christians, we can be convinced of the authority of Scripture and the reliability of our approach to God.

During an encounter in the Temple, in which he disrupted the practices of those profiting from the work of God, Jesus referred to his "house" as a "house of prayer."  Think about that - if something is dedicated to God or bears His name, then we should make sure that we are practicing His principles in it or through it.  And, just because something has a "God-stamp" on it doesn't mean that it's Biblical or lines up with Scripture.  If we call on the name of God, then we must make sure that we are following His ways.

Finally, we can be challenged to make sure that we designate places where we are as places of prayer. We can pray anywhere, anytime, and that's a great thing.  But, we should never take a cavalier approach to calling on God - I believe that we are to approach God with reverence and awe, acknowledging His presence, knowing He is with us, and seeking to communicate with Him with our entire heart and mind.   He is inviting us - calling us to enter in.

The Attitude that Wins

Jesus desired for His disciples to have peace, even as His crucifixion was imminent and they would be scattered.  In John 16, He highlights the powerful resources that He had given to them - and gives to us:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

We can be assured of the possibility of peace in our hearts - even when we are buffeted on the outside, we can abide in His peace on the inside.  Even in tribulation, God has given us the resources to be able to walk in not only His peace, but the joy that comes from knowing that as 1st John 4 says, the One who is in us is greater than the enemy, who is in the world.  We can take courage and develop confidence in the God who walks with us in our difficulty and we can reflect an attitude of His peace and joy to those who would observe our actions.

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In a world that can be described as hostile, we can display hope and encouragement in Christ.  These words in Romans 15 can help shape our attitude:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

The response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell decision legalizing so-called same-sex marriage continues, and it is wise to continue to examine the implications, while advocating for the religious freedom rights of those who do not accept the decision.  And, this decision can be a clarion call for Christians who embrace the Biblical definition of marriage to portray for society the beauty and benefits of a strong marriage relationship.

And, three recent polls show that support of same-sex marriage is actually trending downward.  Dr. Michael New writes on the National Review website:

Within the past couple weeks, three separate national polls have been conducted on the issue of same-sex marriage. Interestingly, each of these three polls shows a decline in support for it. Both Ipsos/Reuters and Gallup conducted polls in early July — just days after the Supreme Court handed its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Both polls found a slight decline in the percentage of Americans who support same-sex marriage as compared to previous polls that each firm conducted earlier this spring.

Additionally, a third poll by the AP found that only 42 percent of Americans support same sex marriage. This is a decline of 6 points from the organization’s last poll on the issue in April. It also found a significant increase in percentage of people — 59 percent in June vs. only 52 percent in April — who said wedding-related businesses with religious objections should be allowed to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples.

And, as Dr. New points out, the AP poll shows 31 percent of Americans who neither support nor oppose same-sex marriage!  He offers the encouragement that there is still room for persuasion for those that support traditional marriage.

Attorney David French has written a brilliant piece at National Review.  Writing in the aftermath of the release of those 3 polls and the recent debacle involving Planned Parenthood's devastating videos, he offers this potent paragraph:

The Social Justice Warriors forgot that most Americans just don’t like mean people. And in one two-week span of American life, millions of SJWs helpfully and unmistakably labeled themselves with their rainbow profile pictures, then proceeded to act like hectoring, condescending, arrogant scolds — loudly and publicly, day after day. They were mean. They mocked Christians, celebrated the plight of a Christian baker’s family as it faced financial ruin for refusing to facilitate a gay wedding, and kept pointing at the Supreme Court and the White House as if they represented some sort of cosmic scoreboard — as if the only response for conservatives was to take their ball, slink away, and go home.

He continues later in the piece: "Unable to learn, the social-justice Left is going back to the old, failed playbook of the 1990s — trying its best to silence cultural conservatives on marriage – and in so doing they are once again showing their totalitarian colors. Once again, they’re being mean. Americans don’t like mean."   In his final paragraph, French writes: "The mere act of engaging the Social Justice Warriors is a win. Your words have the chance to persuade, and their overreaction has a chance to repel."

So, there are some great takeaways from this information that has been shared recently.  I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in John 16, as He instructed His disciples to "be of good cheer" in the face of tribulation.  We may face cultural opposition, but we also know a God whose truth and faithfulness are certain.  So, even when people don't see our way and even want to silence, we can continue to speak truth with confidence, knowing that He is with us.

And as New points out, polling data shows that there are many who are undecided on the issue of same-sex marriage.  One-third, in fact.  So, vocal support of traditional, or natural, marriage, is important.  So is the tangible persuasion of making the case for marriage as we in the church develop and display compelling marriage relationships. 

Finally, French contends that the supporters of gay marriage are perhaps overreaching - and they are demonstrating an arrogance that is repelling.  He says that Americans don't like mean people.  I think that's a good word for us as Christians - we have to make sure that in our righteous indignation over the decline of culture that we have not crossed the line into unbiblical anger and come across as mean.   And, don't get arrogant, thinking that our Biblical authority gives us a right to be condescending.  That's the attitude that many have shown toward Christians in our culture. and we're better than that.  We can walk in love and humility, speaking truth and showing grace.

Paying the Toll

In Psalm 37, we can read a passage that points to the faithfulness of God to His people, who are dedicated to doing His will, to doing good for His glory:
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

God has been and is merciful toward us, and He calls us to a life of mercy toward others.  If we are convinced that God is faithful - and He is - then we can walk with a sense of confidence that He is taking care of us and watching over us.  If we aligned with Him and devoted to obedience, then we will see Him do incredible things in, through, and around our lives.  He has given us the prescription, and calls us and empowers us to walk in His way.

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In 1st Peter 3, we read a challenging passage that can encourage us when we face opposition when we do good, when we obey God:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

For almost 30 years, 77-year-old Vladislav "Sam" Samsonov has manned a tollbooth at the Boca Grande Causeway in Florida.  According to UPI.com, he is no longer there to receive the tolls from motorists on the highway.

His daughter posted on Facebook: "Please know that this is Sam's second retirement after also having been in the military for 26 years and he is well taken care of with benefits."  She continued, "he stated he would reach out to the local hospital to become a volunteer a few days a week to keep him busy," adding, "His only regret is no longer being able to interact with each of you and he wishes you all the best."

So, was Sam tired of being confined to a tollbooth day after day?  No, nothing like that.

Last week, he noticed he had undercharged a motorist driving with a trailer.  Is that it?  A simple calculation mistake.  No.  He put in $5.50 of his own money to make things right - that was what resulted in disciplinary action, which led to his firing.

Seems that Sam had a history of putting his own money toward tolls for drivers who came up short. He said that previous supervisors had asked him not to help customers pay their tolls, but he had never been formally disciplined.

Samsonov said that the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority told Samsonov that his work week would be reduced from five days to two days as punishment, and he was terminated when he refused.  He is quoted as saying, "If I can't be trusted for five days, how can I be trusted for two days?"

People.com reported that Sam had developed relationships with the drivers who would pass through. He said, "After 29 years, you can't help it," adding, "I gave children suckers 20 years ago. Now I'm giving those children suckers for their children."

Just don't help the drivers out when they can't pay the toll, I guess.

The magazine site reports that there has been support for Sam following his departure. The Facebook post by Samsonov's daughter has generated hundreds of likes, shares and comments. The Boca Beacon even printed an op-ed stated that Sam would be missed. 

Samsonov said he appreciated the support. "Makes me feel good," he said. "Makes me want to cry. But bite your tongue and you'll be OK."

I have had a few thoughts about this story.  I have to say that it seems that Sam was not treated fairly. He did something that seems honorable, and his supervisors decided to punish him.  This reminds me that sometimes doing the right thing, taking the proper course of action, may have negative consequences.   I am certainly not encouraging resisting authority in the workplace or breaking rules, but there may be times when we face punishment for doing good.  We have to be prepared to live and speak truth and walk in love, even when it is uncomfortable.

I also think of the concept of not being able to pay a penalty.  Sam stepped in occasionally to help drivers pay their tolls.  You might say that he paid what they could not.  Sound familiar?  To the Christian, we know Someone who paid a penalty for you and me that we could never pay. There is no amount of money, no collection of good works, that can satisfy the debt that we had to pay, the penalty for our sin against God.   But, Jesus stepped in, He gave His life on a cross, to be the perfect sacrifice, the satisfactory substitute, to pay for our sins.  The cost to us?  Salvation is a free gift, but in order to receive it, we surrender our lives to Him, asking Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of our lives, accepting His forgiveness of sins, and allowing Him to be our life.  

Jesus calls us to a life of surrender and a lifestyle of service, walking in obedience to His ways. We should be people known for our generosity, willing to humble ourselves before God and others, desiring to make Him known through the way that we live for Him.

Show Honor Where It is Due

In the second chapter of Philippians, the apostle Paul paints a picture of someone who was apparently sold out to service, and he directed the people in the church at Philippi to show this person honor.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need...

Later in the chapter, he wrote:
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
I believe that it is good to be sensitive to those around us who show leadership by showing humility. I think it makes a difference in a person's life when their devotion is recognized, when we express appreciation for their dedication.   We live in an age in which self is exalted, but God is calling us to a life of humbling ourselves before others, guarding against being lifted up in pride, aware of who is serving around us.  I believe we honor God as we recognize His faithfulness and the faithfulness of others.

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In Mark chapter 10, Jesus makes a powerful statement about servanthood, and I believe that can propel us to recognize those who serve well:
(43) ...whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

There was a moving tribute that took place at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia this past Sunday morning.  Instead of a chair in the location where a young man had sat to play the clarinet in the church's orchestra, a Marine flag stood in its place.

Baptist Press has an account of the scene.  You see, that clarinet player, who had played in the band at his high school and was part of the church's orchestra, lost his life last Thursday, the victim of a shooting at a military recruitment office in Chattanooga.

Lance Corporal Skip Wells was 21 years old, a graduate of Sprayberry High School and briefly attended Georgia Southern University. But, his life took a different course...family spokesman Andy Kingery told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Skip "felt a calling to serve -- in the Marines." The spokesman said, "He got out of boot camp about a year ago and was doing what was asked of him. … He understood the risk he was taking by putting on a uniform, and Skip died doing what he chose to do."

Sunday morning, the article reports that Jake Holman of the church's music staff related the words of orchestra director Gary Gaston. Holman told the congregation, "Gary said Skip was the kind of young man you could always count on." Skip "always showed up early and stayed until everyone was gone. He always had his Bible with him when he came to church [and] related well to people of all ages."

Holman then relayed information passed along to Wells' mother, Cathy: Instead of choosing a path of escape, Wells had gone back to help a friend climb a fence in eluding the shooter.

"In the effort to try and help one of his friends, he lost his own life," Holman told the crowd.

The church had a special prayer time for the families of the victims.

The article quotes Nolan Opp, Wells' friend since sixth grade, now an Army private first class: "He always put others before himself. There would be times when I was just not myself or I'd be down about something. He would go out of his way to make sure I was OK. Everybody looked up to him."

The AJC reports that a memorial service for Skip Wells will take place tonight at the high school's stadium.

I think of that image of the single flag on the church stage and the concept of honor.  I do want to say that we should never take for granted the sacrifices that those who serve in military make. They have chosen a unique lifestyle - a life of service, in which they place their lives on the line, and they endure challenges from a personal and family perspective, in order to defend our country.  So, we should take every opportunity to honor those who serve in our military...it's a dangerous world, and they are pledging to protect each of us.

The concept of honor involves a show of appreciation for those who serve in a variety of capacities - it can certainly apply to our military, to our law enforcement, and to those who serve in our churches. The Bible instructs us to honor those who serve in spiritual authority over us.   It's important that we are sensitized to the sacrifices that people are making around us and never take their labor lightly.

In an age where selfishness rains, it takes an adjustment in thinking to recognize the service of others. We can be challenged to place ourselves in a position where we are more keenly aware of how people put the needs of others first, to recognize it, and to be inspired in our own lives to lay down our lives with that attitude that Jesus demonstrated:  He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many, as Mark 10 reminds us.

Get Up and Do Something

In John 15, we read about the importance of abiding in Christ, recognizing that He is our life and that as children of God, we have the capacity to allow His life to flow through us. Jesus said:
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

It can be pretty easy to get off track in our Christian walk, if we're not careful.  We have to make sure that we are walking in the Spirit and maintaining our awareness of God's presence in our lives. Otherwise, the worldly influences, the distractions of life, can render our faith less effective.  Jesus offers a clear picture of the importance of abiding in Him, recognizing our sense of dependence on Him, and walking in a manner that pleases Him, which is done through our reliance on His indwelling presence.

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In James chapter 2, the author emphasizes the importance of good works, not born of human effort,
but produced by the Spirit of God:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by myworks.

SEC Media Days have come and gone, and there is plenty of excitement about the upcoming season - and, of course, a number of important questions.   Who will be the starting quarterback at Alabama? What difference will new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp have on Auburn?  Who will win their respective divisions and go to the SEC Championship?    Will the SEC have more than one team in the 4-team playoff?

And, on the media side, there's an important question - who will replace Tim Tebow in the co-host slot on the SEC Nation game day show?  By the way, ESPN's GameDay will have a new lead host - it's Rece Davis, who will be speaking next week at the Gridiron Kick-off event at Montgomery's Landmark Church.  But how about Tebow's chair?  You know the former Heisman Trophy winner, Florida legend, and outspoken Christian signed earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.

But, he had the opportunity to make an appearance at an event in Tennessee recently that made some headlines.  According to the Daily News Journal, Tim made a clarion call for people to respond to God and allow Him to work in their lives.  He's quoted as saying: "What's amazing when you get up and do something is what God does in your life," adding, "We just have to get up and do something."

At the event at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, sponsored by the organization, Music with a Purpose, Tebow said that by putting his beliefs and his outreach before everything else, he has remained spiritually strong as a "Christian who happens to be an athlete." He said, "When your identity is found in Christ, your identity never changes," adding, "You are always a child of God.

"That's why I always say I don't have to live the roller coaster that the rest of the world lives in my life."

The Christian Post account of his speech said that the quarterback noted that his faith also plays a crucial role in his work for charity, such as the opening of the Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City, Philippines, earlier this year. That hospital had been in the works since 2011. The nonprofit facility is devoted to its mission to "provide care to the underserved children of the Philippines." It employs a staff of 54.

So, while Tim Tebow may be on the field or on the sidelines with the Philadelphia Eagles in the upcoming season, he apparently has no intention on being sidelined from speaking about his relationship with Jesus Christ.  

And, that attitude can give us some inspiration for our own lives.  Tim Tebow is someone who is known for expressing his faith.  He has done it verbally, and he has done it by placing Scripture in his eyeblack; he has become known for the practice of what is called, "Tebowing," taking the knee after a score to signify a position of prayer.  In being an effective witness for Christ, attitude is important.  We have to be "on our game," sort of speak, and be prepared to live in a manner that glorifies Christ.  Tim Tebow recognizes the platform that God has given him.

The effectiveness of our witness is also determined by how we allow the Holy Spirit to use us - Tim Tebow says that you have to "do something."  In the Bible, James taught on that - faith without works is dead.  We don't work to earn our salvation, to prove to God that we are worthy of being saved, because we are not.  Rather, we want to do good works because the Lord is working though us.  Jesus taught that if we abide in Him, we will bear fruit.  Good works are not intended to earn brownie points with God or to make others think well of us, to make us appear as something we are not.  Good works are the outgrowth of a life yielded to the love and power of Christ.  

So, it's not about us - it's about having a good attitude, allowing the Spirit to use us, and attributing whatever good we do to the hand of God.  It's not about calling attention to ourselves, it's about letting Him be seen in us.

Big Numbers and Big-Time Obedience

God is calling us to develop a relationship with Himself, to seek His face, and to know His direction for our lives. In James chapter 1, we read:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

As servants of Christ, who are devoted to loving Him and carrying out His mission, we recognize that first and foremost, we have to maintain our sense of abiding in Him, being connected with Him.  He wants us to know Him better and to be people who study the Word, so that we can hear His voice, know His will, and be empowered to carry out His mission.  We are seekers of truth and He will communicate His truth to the world through the people He has called by His name.

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The apostle John writes in the book of 2nd John about the importance of obeying God and walking in the truth...
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Talk about making good use of your time and finishing strong...Lillian Weber is 100 years old and she set a goal before she reached the century mark - to sew 1,000 dresses for less fortunate kids. Christian Today reports that when the dressmaker celebrated her 100th birthday in May, Lillian not only accomplished her goal but even surpassed it when she donated a total of 1,051 dresses to Little Dresses for Africa, a non-profit Christian organization that has sent more than 3 million dresses to young girls in 47 African countries and 31 other countries.

She adorns each dress with a little something extra, perhaps an extra stitching or a special detail. Her daughter Linda is quoted in the piece: "She personalizes all the dresses," adding, "It's not like good enough that she makes the dresses, she has to put something on the front to make it look special, to give it her touch."

Lillian Weber described the creation of dresses as a labor of love and said that for as long as she can, she will continue making dresses for little girls in need. She is quoted as saying, "It's just one of those things you learn how to do and enjoy," adding, "I won't quit..."

Little Dresses for Africa recognized Ms. Weber's accomplishment at age 100 with a plaque. Organization founder Rachel O'Neill said, "There's no age limit to this. Somebody who's 100 years old still putting out this quality with such a positive and inspirational message, it's just been wonderful." She noted, "Lives are really saved because of these dresses."

From 1,000 dresses to 11,200 pounds of Oreo cookies...That's the number that an Atlanta-area church attained recently in its Operation Oreo, which started in 2009, when the pastor of Alpharetta First United Methodist Church had a conversation with a young soldier whose primary mission was to diffuse bombs.  The pastor asked the soldier what he missed most about home and he said, "Oreos, Double Stuf!!!" according to an article on The Christian Post website.   So, the pastor committed to seeing "Oreos galore" go to Iraq.   The initiative has continued, and this year, 5.6 tons of the cookies were sent to American military members serving around the world.  The Alpharetta church has spread the word throughout the community and enlisted the help of other churches.  

Senior Pastor Dr. Don Martin is quoted on the NorthFulton.com website: “These Oreos are a sweet and tangible sign of our love and support for the brave men and women who serve in a dangerous land. May God protect them until they come home to a grateful nation.”

These are some impressive numbers, and numbers can be important, But, we realize that numbers can represent the expression of obedience for those who desire to allow God to use them.  These stories can challenge us to see how God would want to use us.  What gift or talent do we have?  What passion do we possess?   The Lord is calling us to take the resources that He has given, to follow His direction, and then to place them in His hands so that He might bless and use the fruits of our obedience.

No doubt, the Lord will use His people to make a statement to this world - Lillian Weber is making a statement to African girls; the church people in North Atlanta are reaching out to those who bravely serve in our Armed Forces - in fact, the church is also involved in helping returning soldiers find civilian employment and sponsors the local Old Soldiers Day parade, according to the Christian Post.  

Sometimes, God will use the spectacular, other times, he will use the practical.  The main point is that He is calling us to participate in His work, to be willing to be His vessels through whom the love of Christ can be shared.  Obedience is the key.

Courage, Complacency, and Change

We serve a God who is deserving and worthy or our praise and obedience.  As His people, we can be devoted to seeking Him and desiring for His glory to be seen. In Psalm 72, we read:
17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.

When we see the cultural trends that cause concern in our lives, we have to ask ourselves if this is the best we can do - when God wants so much more for us!   When we consider that the Creator of the Universe desires for us to call upon Him and He desires to show Himself faithful, we have to ask why that is not taking place, or so it seems.  I believe it is incumbent on His people to seek His face, to fervently call upon Him, and ask Him to show up in a mighty way - in our lives and in our society, that Jesus would be lifted up and people would be drawn to Him.

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In Isaiah 37, we find that Hezekiah and the people of Judah were being besieged by the king of Assyria, who was attempting to discourage the people and speak against Almighty God.  Hezekiah displayed fortitude and called upon God with fervor:
15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying:
16 "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.
18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,
19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands--wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.
20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone."

You've probably had those phone calls come in to your home at the most inopportune time - someone wants to ask you some questions.  Well, a few minutes later, you're still answering them!   It seems Suffolk University and USA Today found roughly 1000 people to respond to their 51-question survey about Presidential candidates and issues of the day.  Real Clear Politics had some of the results and a link to more exhaustive findings.

This survey has been making news recently because it shows a new frontrunner for the Republican nomination - the billionaire candidate Donald Trump.   It shows him with a 3-point lead over Jeb Bush, even though in a hypothetical head-to-head, he loses to Hillary Clinton by 17.  Bush trails the former First Lady by 4 points.

A majority of respondents said that Trump's comments on immigration would influence their decision, with just under half saying that the comments matter "a lot" to them.  Also, just under half say that his comments would make them less likely to vote for him.   Just over a third said that Clinton's use of a private e-mail server matters "a lot" to them, with just over a third saying that would make them less likely to vote for her.

Again, this is a sample size of 1,000, with almost 37% of respondents referring to themselves as Democrat, 31% Republican, and 28% independent.  Almost 70% of those surveyed were white.

When asked the common question about whether or not they thought the country was on the right or wrong track, 26 percent, just over one-fourth, said the nation was heading in the right direction, with 58% saying it was heading down the wrong track.

There were questions about how various issues would weigh on their decision on who to vote for. Economic inequality was the top issue, with 62% saying it would weigh "a lot" on their decision, followed closely by immigration and Obamacare.  Only about 4-in-10 said that same-sex marriage would influence their decision "a lot."  Interestingly enough, it was a fairly even split between support for or opposition to same-sex marriage, 44% in favor to 42% against.  Just over half - 51.6% percent - said that local and state officials should allow same-sex marriage to be performed in their jurisdictions, with 33% percent saying such officials should resist the court's ruling and block same-sex marriages.

Almost 62% of those surveyed said that religion was "very important" in their lives.

I use survey data to stimulate thought and discussion.  From this survey, you can see that a strong majority feels the country is headed in the wrong direction.  And, you can't say that, based on these numbers, that so-called "same-sex marriage" has majority support - in fact, one-third of respondents recommend resisting the ruling.

And, with respect to Presidential politics, The Donald leads in this survey, but he gets trounced in a General Election matchup with Hillary Clinton.  It's still early in the race.

I think you can surmise that people aren't satisfied, and they may not be convinced that recent changes in our cultural and political landscape are what they're looking for.  Take same-sex marriage, for instance, or Obamacare.   It's about an even split on whether or not they approve of the President's job performance.  But, you have to ask, do people really want change or have we been lulled into complacency?

I think that we have to ask some questions of our own lives.   Are we perhaps disturbed with some of the trends we see in our culture?   Well, then, we have to then ask if anything can be done.   Complacency is an enemy of change, but courage fuels change.   God is calling each of us to be people of conviction, not just merely decrying the way things are and hoping that maybe there will be improvements, but to take legitimate, powerful action.   It starts with prayer, calling upon God to release His power and presence on our culture.  And, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our individual lives to see if we need attitudes adjusted and, then to agree with Him on a plan of action.

We can't merely accept the way things are, when God has something better in store for us.  But, He responds to the prayers of His people, and if we're willing to call on Him and participate with Him in His plan, then we can be convinced that He will move, He will act, in accordance with His Word.

How Sweet the Sound

By His grace, God has chosen to work through our lives, making His resources available to us, even though we do not deserve them.  2nd Corinthians 12 addresses the sufficiency of God's grace and
presence to us; Paul wrote:
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We have been chosen by God to be recipients of His glorious grace!  That is a very exciting spiritual fact for us.  In our own human frailty, we can do nothing to earn the love and acceptance of God, but through what Jesus did for us in giving His life on the cross so that we might come to know Him, we can experience His goodness and faithfulness - we can know a God who wants to walk with us and who will give strength and direction for our lives.

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God's grace, which involves the working of His nature through our lives, is a powerful force in transforming our lives and touching culture. Consider the words of 1st Corinthians 15:
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

On today's Meeting House program on  Faith Radio, I will feature a conversation with the creator of the new musical on Broadway, Amazing Grace, which depicts the life of John Newton, a musical that Eric Metaxas described on yesterday's Breakpoint commentary:

Through outstanding performances, it tells the story behind the immortal words—the life, the sins, and the conversion of a wretch named John Newton, the 18th-century British slave captain whom God transformed into a minister and abolitionist.

Newton, as you may be aware, penned the words to the hymn, Amazing Grace.

As I recall, the first time that I interviewed Eric, it was not about his biography of Bonhoeffer, which was really his breakthrough book, but about a book he wrote that was the novelization of the movie, Amazing Grace.  I had the chance to watch it over the weekend.

The movie was not really about Newton as much as it was about William Wilberforce, who fought to eliminate the British slave trade, as a member of the British Parliament. Sure, Newton was part of the cast, played brilliantly by Albert Finney, and the film showed how Newton was a spiritual influence on Wilberforce, whose part was acted by Ioan Gruffudd. who was in the Fantastic Four films.  And, Benedict Cumberbatch showed up as William Pitt, who encouraged Wilberforce behind the scenes, because I suppose his political ambitions, as the aspiring Prime Minister, prevented him from going public on what was an unpopular notion - originally.

The movie obviously shows the power of one person and the realization that Wilberforce had that his faith in God could be a powerful tool for social change.  There's a piece on the Christianity.com website that says, regarding Wilberforce:

How little did he grasp then how formidable enemies can be when their economic interests are jeopardized. Would he have persevered if he had any idea that it would be over twenty years of exhausting conflict in Parliament before the slave trade was finally abolished in England in 1807--primarily due to his efforts? That it would take an additional 26 years to emancipate the existing slaves--just a few days before he died at age 74 in 1833?

Wilberforce endured one setback after another, often laid low by frail health and the attacks of opponents. Yet his position against slavery eventually won. His life remains an encouragement to all who are willing to fight social evil no matter how many setbacks are encountered.

There was a turning point in the struggle to eliminate the slave trade, and it wasn't what you might expect.  The Australian website, NewsWeekly had an opinion piece by David Perrin, which states:

Wilberforce was spectacularly unsuccessful with his legislation to abolish slavery until his companions came up with a brilliant idea to disable the slave-trade by having slave-ships confiscated by Britain's Royal Navy, at the time the most powerful navy on the high seas.

England was then at war with France, and it was common practice for the Royal Navy to commandeer any ships at war with England.

Because slave-trader ships all flew under foreign flags of convenience, Wilberforce's allies in the British parliament passed a seemingly innocuous law that allowed the Royal Navy to commandeer any vessel flying a foreign flag.

This meant that, over a period of time, English slave-traders were deprived of their ships and profits. This severely hampered the slave trade.

Perrin wrote, "No doubt, over the ensuing months and years, the slave ships are slowly commandeered and the traders go broke...This disabling of the slave trade meant that they could not pay off their supporter-MPs. Hence, Wilberforce's legislation to abolish the slave trade eventually passes in 1807."

Originally, the establishment of Britain's slave trade was seemingly settled - but for Wilberforce and his colleagues, it was not accepted.  I think of my conversation with Doug Napier of the Alliance Defending Freedom recently, as he said that the marriage issue isn't "settled," even with a Supreme Court decision attempting to change the definition.  Neither is Roe v. Wade, as he pointed out.  He and Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation have pointed out on my radio show how the pro-life movement has worked successfully to reduce the number of abortions.  In 2007, Perrin cited how the tactics of Wilberforce could be used to reduce abortion:

Private abortionists make big money from the abortion industry. Any restrictions placed on abortionists can deprive their industry of considerable profits.

Any obstacle that can be placed in the way of abortionists - such as cooling-off periods, warnings of likely health risks, law suits, mandatory counselling and cost increases - all work as disincentives.

The American Thinker had pointed out that in Virginia, a Wilberforce-type approach was used in order to reduce the number of abortions. It states: "The Virginia legislature has found a similar route to help end abortion in the state. The legislature passed a law that requires abortion clinics to comply with same regulations as hospitals."

By the way, keep your eyes on court proceedings out of Texas, where lawmakers passed a bill, upheld by a Federal appeals court which, according to NBC.com, "required clinics providing abortion services to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers, and it required doctors providing the services to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals."  The law was supposed to have taken effect on July 1, but the U.S. Supreme Court, in another 5-4 ruling, put the law on hold.  It's unclear when and if the high court will hear the appeal.  Women's groups argued that there would be a net reduction in abortion facilities of more than 75% in a two-year period.

So, what does that mean for those of us vehemently opposed to the gay marriage ruling?  Is there a Wilberforce way forward?  I think that religious freedom protections will certainly diminish the availability of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  And, Congressional action that has been proposed would prevent government retaliation against non-profit entities who oppose same-sex marriage.   In the current political climate, an outright repeal or reversal of the high court decision is unlikely, but there may certainly be ways that it can be made less effective for those who would want to force acceptance of gay marriage on our society.

So, remember some Wilberforce lessons today.  Of course, one of the principal ones is the power of one person to enact change.   But, also remember that he had some people around him upon whom he relied, who provided some strength during those difficult times.

He also struggled between his devotion to God and his participation in politics.  He had a desire to isolate and spend time with the Lord, but John Newton and William Pitt both encouraged him to use that spiritual energy to enact social change.   I don't believe that now is the time for isolation for people of faith - we're not being called to head for the hills, but we are being challenged, I believe, to engage - living our lives full of Christ's character and grace.  His grace, amazing grace, can be powerful as it works through us to transform our lives and communicate Christ's love and principles to those around us.