Avengers Affirm

I think it's quite a tribute that a person displayed the character of Christ in such a way that it was pointed out in the pages of the Bible.  Such is the case of Timothy, about whom Paul wrote in the book 
of Philippians chapter 2:
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

Proven character - what an incredible goal to which each of us can aspire!  That character is developed as we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, allow Him to take control of our lives and let His light shine through us. Ultimately, our aim is to glorify Christ, and that certainly means we can have the satisfaction of knowing that we are living in a manner that pleases Him and reflects His glory to the world around us.

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We can be ambitious to display the presence of Christ through us, so that when people look at us, they see our Savior. 1st Peter 3 states:
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.

I would certainly be flattered if someone wrote this about me on social media: It starts out by saying: “What a world… The “sinless” are casting stones at my #brother...A real #Christian who lives by #principle, has never demonstrated anything but #positivity and #gratitude. … Delete your social media accounts, sit with your OWN defects of #character, work on THEM, then celebrate your humanness.”

That is from an Instagram post that was related by the Mercury News website.  It was written concerning an actor who has faced some criticism these days.  Even though I have several issues with his personal behavior, nevertheless, he has become known in Hollywood as a Christ-follower, and I have no reason to doubt that.  But, his Christianity, as well as his relative silence on political matters, have rubbed some people the wrong way.

The article notes that a Hollywood filmmaker named Amy Berg put up a Twitter post, consisting of pictures of 4 actors named "Chris" and stating, "One has to go."  Apparently, the responses turned out to be rather "hateful," as Berg says.  Those actors include 3 who play Marvel Avengers characters: Chris Hemsworth of Thor, Chris Evans of Captain America, and Chris Pratt of Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as Star Trek and Wonder Woman actor Chris Pine.

But, it is Pratt who has received the most criticism as of late, which is why his fellow actor, Robert Downey, Jr. wrote what he did on Instagram, which I just relayed.  Hulk star Mark Ruffalo chimed in: 

Ruffalo added more gently on Twitter: “You all, @prattprattpratt is as solid a man there is. I know him personally, and instead of casting aspersions, look at how he lives his life. He is just not overtly political as a rule.”

The article notes:

Ruffalo and Downey’s defense of Pratt happened to come the same day that Ruffalo and other Avenger co-stars — not including Pratt — participated in a virtual fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, People reported. The other actors participating in the event were Downey, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Zoë Saldana and another “Hollywood Chris,” Chris Evans.

The article, which seems to be written from a liberal, Hollywood slant, says this about the wave of recent criticism for Pratt:

People’s stated concerns about Pratt center on: 1) His well-known reluctance to talk about his possibly conservative politics, even though he has famously political in-laws (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver) who, with his wife, Katherine, have expressed strong anti-Trump views; and 2) his association with Hillsong, a celebrity-friendly evangelical church whose leaders have espoused anti-LGBTQ views in the past.

Oh, there we go with the LGBTQ stuff again. That's unfortunately part of the territory these days for Christians attending Bible-believing churches. But, you can't argue with the Bible's stated principles regarding sexuality and the sinfulness of homosexuality - but we also recognize there is room for all who sin at the foot of the cross.  Now, Pratt has tried to distance himself a bit, as the article notes: 

While Pratt publicly defended the church for welcoming people “regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender,” the Daily Beast and other outlets reported that the pastor at Pratt’s local branch of Hillsong produced a film that equated homosexuality with “sexual brokenness” and that Hillsong has a lengthy history of gay conversion therapy and refusing leadership roles to LGBTQ people.

I have no problem with that. Actually, the article does get it wrong, though, in that the Pratts, if I'm not mistaken, attend Zoe Church, which is pastored by Chad Veach, and to my knowledge, is not related to Hillsong. But, I certainly can't fault Chris and Katherine from publicly attending an evangelical church.  Others, according to the article, do not share my position. 

But, back to the main thing here - Chris Pratt's character was affirmed publicly by at least two gentlemen who have worked with him in several movies.  Robert Downey actually affirmed his practice of Christianity.  So, what do the people with whom we interact say about us?  Downey describes his friend as a "real" Christian. I don't know what his criteria are regarding what a "real Christian" is, but I will say that in an age in which Christians are taken to task for being hypocrites, we have to make sure that our action lines up with our profession.  Being a "real" Christian certainly involves allowing Christ to live through us and to demonstrate His love, but...we also are called to not back down from His truth; that may involve making unpopular stands.  Even then, it is within the realm of possibility that we do that in the right way, in a manner that engenders respect, not ridicule.

Mark Ruffalo is one of the most politically liberal people in Hollywood - that is saying something, isn't yet?  But, even then, he respects Pratt's more nuanced approach to politics.  That's not to say we should not express opinions in the matters of selecting leaders and developing policy. We can be politically active, but we can do so without being degrading or off-putting...remember, our mission is to win people to Christ; we can be careful not to repel those whom we are trying to persuade.  Generally, that's not done in 280 characters!

All in all, we have to make sure that we are developing a reputation that represents the Lord in the way that He would intend.  We may not please all of the people all of the time - Jesus certainly didn't do that - but we can walk with the ambition of pleasing our Savior.   We can earn respect, which may cause someone to consider the claims of Christ and look to Him as their source of hope.

Better Off

Our level of satisfaction as believers in Christ cannot be measured by dollars and cents, by the balance in our bank accounts or IRA's.  Not even our material possessions.  True satisfaction for believers is 
measured by our heavenly riches, which you can consider to be intangible and inward. 1st Timothy 6 states:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Our level of satisfaction should not be determined by worldly criteria.  Jesus wants to give us abundant life, and even though we may have abundance in earthly possessions, we can keep in mind that He is the one who blesses us according to His will.  But, even in challenging times, when there is a virus on the move and economic peril that may ensue, we can continue to derive our joy and peace from the Lord who lives and is working in and through us.

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We can worship God because of how we see His goodness expressed toward us. Psalm 103 reminds us:
(1) Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

We are bombarded by a steady stream of polls these days - national polls that indicate how voters are responding to the Presidential race, as well as more targeted polls in the so-called "battleground" states.  There are polls about Congressional races.  But, the fact of the matter is that the only poll that counts is centered around next Tuesday, November 3 - and you have an opportunity to participate.  It's been described on this program as a "responsibility" and a matter of "stewardship" - so make sure that you pray and vote.

Gallup doesn't seem to do a lot of election polling, but it does "take the temperature," it seems, about Americans' opinions on various issues.  And, even in the midst of a pandemic and prevailing tension, Americans actually express some satisfaction.  

The Gallup website notes:

During his presidential campaign in 1980, Ronald Reagan asked Americans, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Since then, this question has served as a key standard that sitting presidents running for reelection have been held to.

Gallup's most recent survey found a clear majority of registered voters (56%) saying they are better off now than they were four years ago, while 32% said they are worse off.

This poll was taken in mid-September.  This compares to 45% who said in 2012 that they were better off than in 2008 - in a poll taken just after President Obama was re-elected.  In 2004, during President George W. Bush's re-election bid, the number was 47%.  

The Gallup poll shows that coronavirus is greatly on people's minds, with almost one-third saying in a poll taken earlier this month that the virus was the most important problem.  23% said government and/or poor leadership was the most important, with race relations and/or racism placing at only 10%.

So, even though COVID is still around, Americans are feeling pretty good.  And, this polling data reinforces the notion that the coronavirus is the major opponent of President Trump in his bid for re-election. 

Gallup does point out that, "This doesn't mean the economy won't be an important factor in the 2020 election. In fact, the economy ranks as the No. 1 issue that voters say will matter to them in their vote for president. However, 2020 presents an unusual situation in which members of both major political parties may have strong incentives not to mention the economy as the nation's top problem."

So, in summary, we can say that despite the virus, in spite of politics, most Americans feel their lives have improved.  Now, the results are general and I do not see what respondents shared were the reasons that they regarded that they were better off.   Could be economic, could be mental or emotional, maybe even spiritual.  While this is intended to be a political poll, it certainly takes the temperature of how Americans are feeling, and I have to admit there is a demonstration of Americans' resiliency here.

So, the question for the Christian is that: what determines our level of satisfaction?  It certainly should not be completely determined by the rise in the stock market or the victory of a political candidate.  The coronavirus has certainly been a robber of satisfaction, but we know that Scripture teaches that we can be joyful even in tribulation. And, Gallup points this out in another article, with information based on a September poll:

Americans' satisfaction with the state of the nation is holding near historical lows, even as their evaluations of the U.S. economy are slightly better. Currently, 14% of Americans are satisfied and 85% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., essentially unchanged from 13% satisfaction readings in July and August and seven percentage points above the record low 7% satisfaction in October 2008. As recently as February, 45% of Americans were satisfied.

Because we know Christ, we can experience deep satisfaction that is not based on what we experience in this world.  We can measure our degree of satisfaction by Biblical factors.  Because God loves us and we know Him, as we abide in the Lord, we can experience the fruit of His Spirit, which includes joy and peace.  Even when things don't seem to be going our way, we can continue to rejoice in Him because we know He is with us.

Reset

The Bible promises that the world will endure difficult times.  And, 2nd Thessalonians 2 points to a "lawless" person, who is referred to as the Antichrist, who will reign on the earth.  We can see these 
verses:
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

John writes in the book of 1st John about the "spirit of the antichrist" which is at work in our world today.  The prophesied coming of this lawless leader reminds us of the urgency of the hour.  The signs that Jesus outlined about the end times - with wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, and widespread conflict - are unfolding in our world, and we have to keep focused on our mission to live for Christ and speak His truth.

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In Revelation 13, we read about a global leader, known as the Antichrist, who will establish his 
authority over the entire world. We can read:
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

And, we see another "beast" arise who is essentially the "enforcer" for the Antichrist - later in the 
chapter, we see these verses:
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Economic leaders are scheduled to meet in January in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, and the Christian website, Sovereign Nations, has a piece that warns of the COVID-influenced agenda that could be discussed there, centered around the launch of "The Great Reset."

We've already seen how COVID has been used to clamp down on freedom of religion in states across our nation.  And, there have certainly been lessons that have been and will be learned with regard to this virus that was largely unknown less than a year ago.  COVID has brought economic peril, and it has apparently yielded an opportunity through which movers and shakers can capitalize in order to implement counterproductive social policies.

The article to which I referred, which is a repost by Desmond Berg of a Sky News story, opens with this line:

Sky News host Rowan Dean says the next World Economic Forum in Davos has morphed from a “jet-setter climate gabfest” into a sinister “anti-democratic enterprise designed to destroy your job, steal your prosperity and rob your kids of a future”.

The article goes on to say, "Mr Dean highlighted what he described as a 'disturbing trend among many of the world’s left-wing elites to increasingly conflate COVID-19 with climate change...Many are going so far as to suggest that all the measures applied to the coronavirus, the lockdowns, the destruction of businesses, the suppression of dissent, curfews, strong-arm police tactics, should become the ‘new normal’ for dealing with climate change."

Dean reports, regarding the advertising for the Forum: “This promo is saying that all the very worst things in the world, from the coronavirus to bushfires to riots to pollution to poverty are somehow linked," and adds, “Then it is claiming they can magically disappear. Literally at the push of a button and just like that, everything in the world is made right and pure again."

Justin Haskins of the Heartland Institute, a Regent University graduate and professing Christian, according to the Regent website, writes:

The purpose of the “Great Reset” is to use the coronavirus pandemic as a justification—attendees repeatedly referred to it as an “opportunity”—to completely overhaul the entire global economy, including the U.S. economy, to make a more “equitable” world and to fight climate change, which was on numerous occasions identified as the world’s next great “crisis.”

In an article published on the World Economic Forum’s website, WEF founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said “the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions.”

Haskins also writes:

In short, the Great Reset is a proposal to completely alter the entire global economy, moving it more toward collectivism and away from capitalism. According to its most ardent supporters, the purpose for the “Great Reset” is three-fold: (1) repairing the global economic damage caused by the coronavirus; (2) stopping a coming climate change catastrophe; and (3) using the two previously mentioned “crises” as an opportunity to advance socialist ideals, including the destruction of capitalism and individual rights.

Prophecy teachers J.D. Farag and Tom Hughes have devoted some podcast time to this concept, and when you consider the implications, this desire to see the world become one fits into the Biblical scenario.

The Bible teaches that in the end times, the world will come together under one government. The head of that government will be a character named the Antichrist.  He is hostile toward the true Christ and establishes his own religion.  World economic systems all come together into one, and the economy is predicated on the Mark of the Beast, without which commerce cannot take place; the person without the Mark cannot buy and sell.  National sovereignty will be surrendered to the global authority. It sounds a bit like the Tower of Babel, and we know how that turned out.

One could ask the question: So, where is religion in this "equitable" world?  The World Economic Forum website has a clue: "The COVID-19 Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs will help faith-based organizations and social entrepreneurs enact radical change and rebuild a better future." The mantra: "We must build the world we want out of this disruption, so that markets work for the whole of society, not just a few. For what is the purpose of a free market if the people who make it possible are not themselves free? How we earn, how we spend and how we sustain the world and each other need a radical rebalancing."  Can you say socialism?  The practice of Christianity replaced by the "religion" of humanism?

Tear it all down - that's the language of the streets of our nation, and found in the more sophisticated boardrooms of those driving global change.  The Judeo-Christian foundation is at risk, and there are those who, in the name of saving our planet and saving humanity, are willing to build on new and "radical" foundations, based on human ingenuity rather than Biblical wisdom.  

In the future, there will be a one-world government. There will be a dominating world leader. And, following a seven-year period of tribulation, the second coming of Christ and His thousand-year reign, there will be a "great reset." You find it in Revelation 21:
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

The world is going global and rushing headlong into oblivion; but we know from God's Word that His plan is at work.  

Stick Together

Shortly before His death, Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come.  In John 15, He reinforced the notion that they were called and chosen by Him to "bear fruit," reminded them to love each other, and then said this:

18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

We belong to Christ, and we are not called to walk in the philosophies of this world that are contradictory to the teachings of Scripture.  We are, as the Bible teaches, in the world but not of it - but we recognize that Jesus has placed us in this world for a very special purpose: to do His work and to bring Him glory.  This involves loving those who dislike or hate us and ministering to those who do not know our Savior.  We will face opposition, yet we can know that He is with us.

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There is conflict all around our world, and we find that groups of Christians face opposition simply because they name the name of Christ. Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew chapter 5:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Well, that was hopeful - Sunday, it was announced that the warring factions in Armenia and Azerbaijan had reached a cease-fire agreement, in which the United States was involved.  It wasn't too long afterward, though, that both parties were accusing one another of violating it, according to the BBC, which reported this was the third such broken cease-fire in the ongoing fighting over an area called Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to the BBC, "Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised internationally as part of Azerbaijan but is under ethnic Armenian control," and it reports:

Clashes that began in the region in September quickly escalated into a large-scale conflict, with the shelling of towns and cities and the alleged use of banned cluster munitions.

Several thousand people have died and shelling has killed civilians on both sides. Tens of thousands have fled their homes.

Regarding the latest cease-fire violation, the BBC states, "within minutes of the ceasefire coming into effect, Azerbaijan accused Armenian forces of shelling the town of Terter and nearby villages in 'gross violation' of the agreement," and adds, "Armenia's defence ministry said Azerbaijani artillery had fired on military positions in various parts of the front line after the ceasefire agreement had begun."

Writing for The Stream, Grayson Quay reminds readers of past history in the region: "During World War One, the Turkish Ottoman Empire turned against its Christian minorities. The Muslim nation controlled part of Armenia at the time, and massacred 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923."  Quay writes:

In A.D. 301, Armenia became the first nation to accept Christianity as a state religion. (It is said to have been evangelized by the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew.) Armenia almost immediately faced an attack from a hostile pagan Roman emperor, but they successfully defended their land and faith. Armenia remains Christian to this day, but the tiny nation of 3 million is still fighting to survive.

The BBC had called the region of Nagorno-Karabakh a "disputed territory." Quay notes that the area, also known as Artsakh, was once part of Azerbaijan, but had left the former Soviet country in 1968, and the countries fought then, and tension has apparently been in place since. Quay writes, "On September 27th, Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh. Turkey supplies arms to Azerbaijan and is sending Syrian jihadis to fight against Armenia. Hundreds have died on both sides."

Ah, yes, Turkey, the ambitious nation that is attempting to increase its influence in the region.  John Stonestreet and Robert Rivera, on the Breakpoint website, state that "Overshadowing all of this is an historical event, the Armenian Genocide when 1.5 million Armenians were murdered by the Turks a century ago. Armenia has no reason to trust Turkey and Azerbaijan."  They note Russia may get involved on the side of Armenia, and says:

So we have heavily armed neighbors who hate each other and are backed by regional powers who also hate each other. One expert says there is potential for a Syria-level death toll if this gets out of hand.

Let’s beg God that it won’t.

Quay quotes Sarah Stites, an Armenian-American, who says, “There’s a lot of trauma that runs in the genes of Armenians...and I think because of this they really stick together. They care a lot about having a good time because they’ve seen so many bad times. I think one of the reasons that they tend to live together in extended families and call all their relatives all the time is that they need to form those close bonds, those networks, to stay strong as this small people between two aggressive countries.”

In considering this situation, we are reminded of how the past affects our present.  Longstanding conflict between countries, just as longstanding conflict between individuals, can affect our way of life. Here we have a people victimized by a genocide around a century ago, yet they have continued to persevere, but continue to be afflicted.  There is a religious hostility element that seems to be driving the conditions, as a Christian people have faced persecution at the hands of Muslim oppressors. 

We find this type of condition all too often throughout the world, as followers of Islam in nations throughout the world persecute those, including Christians, who do not adhere to their religion. As we approach the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we can be reminded of the difficulties that followers of Christ are experiencing.

For the Armenians, for decades, they have apparently learned the importance of sticking together through tough times.  I think this is a great lesson for the body of Christ, when we consider how we can hold one another up in prayer and practical assistance when we face adversity.  When Christians face hostility, we can cling to and retain our faith in Christ.

To the World

We are called and empowered to testify to the salvation of our God, brought to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Psalm 96 can inspire us; it says:
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.

Our purpose is related to how we radiate the presence of Christ.  We are instructed to "proclaim" His salvation.  We do that by living a holy life that represents the Lord within us and by being ready to share what God has done in our lives and how someone can know Him, too. We have been equipped to fulfill that purpose and to show the world the love of Jesus Christ.  There may be opposition, there might be adversity, but we can know that God goes with us.

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In Acts 28, we read the account of how the apostle Paul, upon arriving in Rome, met with the Jews and shared this reminder of God's intended spread of the gospel:
(25) "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
26 saying, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." '
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"

A missionary named Paul went to a tribe that was hostile to the gospel, a tribe that practice witchcraft and cannibalism; in fact, two of the members of the tribe had taken the lives of two missionaries previously sent.  But, someone who was not in favor of killing missionaries apprehended Paul and kept him safe.

A search party came, and according to ChristianHeadlines.com, "The tribe considered this second visit a sign and listened to what the search party and Paul had to say, and slowly more and more members of the Yali tribe came to Christ."  

The Yali tribe lives in Papua New Guinea and was discovered by Mission Aviation Fellowship back in 1965. Three years later, two missionaries were killed by members of the tribe.  The story states:

Two of the tribe's warriors ambushed the missionaries as they were scouting out a place for a new airstrip in order to shared the Gospel with a "particularly hostile Yali tribe," MAF reports. The tribal warriors attacked the missionaries because they were spreading a message that went against the tribe's witchcraft and beliefs. The two missionaries took more than 200 arrows before they died.

One of the missionaries, Stan Dale, had already successfully translated the book of Mark into the Yali language along with a Yali man.  Dale and Phil Masters lost their lives.

Recently, 2500 Bibles were flown to the Yali tribe by MAF, including just over 100 children's Bibles. The Bibles had been requested - the article says: 

One of the Yali Tribe’s church ordered the Bibles after there were not enough to give to the Yali Tribe's village, MAF reports. The Yali tribe were waiting for the plane to land and the women and children were celebrating by chanting in their local tongue and dancing.

One of the flight pilots, Dave Ringenberg, who is also an Instructor Pilot and the Director of Papua Operations, said that "It was a holy moment – one to be remembered."

There are now over 100 churches serving the Yali tribe.  The pivotal visit of the missionary Paul many years ago was the result of a plane crash, but it became a catalyst for God to move in the lives of the people.

This series of events illustrates how God will draw people to Himself.  The Yalis were steeped in witchcraft and cannibalism, yet, He got His message across.  Through the visit of a missionary who actually crash-landed in Yali, people began to turn their lives over to Christ.  It is reminiscent of another missionary named Paul who crash-landed on an island named Malta and God began to show himself through him.  And, in tandem with the work of Paul, in Papua New Guinea, Bible translation had already begun, bringing God's Word to people who had previously not had the Bible in their language.

Remember, we live in a world that needs to hear the gospel.  And, the Church has the primary mission to show the world that Jesus is alive in us.  We can easily become distracted in so many ways that will divert us from our relationship with God - when we encounter hostile territory, we can be discouraged in our mission, but we know that we can continue to trust in the Lord and rely on His promises to us. 

Intensity

We have to make sure that our priorities line up with the priorities of Christ for us, as we find in the 
Scriptures; for instance, Philippians chapter 2 says:
(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.

There are those that criticize political involvement, saying it harms our witness.  I would submit that involvement in anything that supersedes our involvement with Christ does not accurately reflect His presence in our lives.  He desires to be the Lord of every single area of our lives, and in order to adopt and reflect this attitude, we have to consider what the Bible has to say about what we choose to deem important.  Recognizing the preeminence of the Scriptures can help us to develop a passion to follow Him.

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We have to make sure, especially during a political season, that our passion and intensity about matters 
of politics are controlled by the Lordship of Christ. 1st Peter 2 challenges us:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

The religious vote, and specifically the Christian vote, has been quite a focus for pollsters and those who follow their work.  We have heard frequently over the last four years about the 81% of white evangelical Christians who cast a vote for President Trump, and besides that fact that many in the media still don't understand that, it does seem as if there is an investigative focus on seeing that number decline.

According to Pew Research, it really isn't that much.  In fact, in August, Pew reported that the percentage of white evangelical Christians was up to 83%, and it has gone down some in the latest poll, to 78% - still comparable to the level of support in 2016.  In this October poll, 52% of white Catholic voters and 53% of white Protestant voters are with Trump.  The survey summary says:

Biden, meanwhile, is currently favored by 90% of Black Protestant registered voters, 70% of Jews and 67% of Hispanic Catholics. Among people without a religious affiliation, Biden is the preferred candidate for 83% of atheists and agnostics, and 62% of people who describe their religion as “nothing in particular.” In all of these groups, support for Biden is on par with that seen in the August survey.

There was speculation that the presence of third-party candidates in the survey could have contributed to the President's numbers.

Support for Trump has held steady throughout his Presidency; while this new survey, conducted just after the first debate in late September, did not measure job performance, still, according to the summary: "The share of White evangelical Protestants who said they approve of Trump’s job performance was 72% in the August survey, identical to the share who said this in Trump’s first summer on the job three years ago."

So, at least among this group of Christians, who, it's been speculated, voted for the President based on his stated pro-life views and promise to appoint originalist Supreme Court judges, are holding fast in 2020 - and with intensity.

The election has certainly, so it seems, turned into a referendum on Donald Trump - perhaps more the personality than the policies - especially among younger voters.  An interesting Politico article shows that in a Morning Consult poll, 52% of Generation Z, between 18 and 23 years of age, said they were voting for Joe Biden and 45% said they were voting against Trump. And, according to the article, "just under half of Gen Zers were 'absolutely certain' they’d vote." In the electorate as a whole, about a quarter of those surveyed said their vote was motivated by opposition to the President.

Voter intensity was also measured by Pew, which asked voters to rate the candidates on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being "the coldest" and 100 being "the warmest."  The summary says:

...51% of registered voters give Trump a “very cold” rating of less than 25 (including 40% who give him a zero – the lowest possible rating) while 38% give Biden a “very cold” rating (including 25% who give him a zero rating). There is a more modest gap in the shares of expressing “warm” or “very warm” feelings: 43% give Biden a rating over 50, compared with 38% who give Trump a warm rating – with about one-in-three voters giving each of the candidates intensely positive ratings (a rating of more than 75 on the 100-point scale).

But, the fondness among Trump voters for their candidates exceeds that of Biden supporters; the survey says: "a larger share of Trump supporters than Biden supporters express very warm feelings. About two-thirds of Trump supporters (68%) have very warm feelings toward the president. About half of Biden’s voters (52%) feel similarly warm toward Biden."

Voter intensity is certainly a factor - those who love Trump, which includes a number of evangelicals, I would say, really love the man.  Those who love Biden are perhaps not intense, but that fondness for the candidate is perhaps influenced by their strong dislike for the President.  I would contend that if Biden wins, it is because enough voters were repulsed by Trump to make the difference.

We recognize that in the Church, we possess different views.  A true expression of Christian character has to do with how to communicate those views.  It's fine to express an opinion, but forethought and Scriptural backing are key elements.  Unlike most political candidates, we are certainly not trying to win popularity contests as believers in Christ, and the Bible warns against being people-pleasers, but we are called to be God-pleasers; but we are constantly called to reflect Christ's character.

And, as John Ed Mathison, Pastor Emeritus of Montgomery's Frazer Church pointed out on a recent blog post, we have to make sure we maintain a sense of civility, especially after the election.  He wrote:

On November 3rd, some people will win and some people will lose. That’s inevitable. It’s important before the election to make some commitments as to how I am going to respond following the election. I have the right to give money, energy, and influence to see certain candidates elected. But once the election is decided, I am a Christian first, an American second, then a member of a political persuasion third!!

I commit to the following 7 action points:

• I will pray.
• I will vote.
• I will treat every person as I want to be treated.
• I will not engage in taunting, accusing, blaming, an arrogant attitude, or a divisive spirit.
• I will engage only in civil discourse and not listen to or perpetuate misinformation.
• I will be a good winner – or a good loser, according to Biblical standards.
• I will see this election as a process God will use to establish His kingdom on earth.

I was intrigued by this survey data having to do with motive and intensity.  It's perfectly fine to be passionate about a particular candidate or even participation in the process. I do believe that Christians should be involved in voting and that it's OK to have more than a passing interest in politics. But, as Christians, we always have to make sure we always have a greater intensity for Christ. If our devotion to politics, sports, hobbies, or other interests, outweighs our passion for the Lord, then we need to check our hearts and make sure our lives are in balance and that our priorities are straight.  Our faith should always inform our politics, not be tailored or impacted by our political involvement.

Wake Up

God is calling us, inviting us to awaken to His love and to walk in the manner to which He has empowered us. Romans 13 gives us this bold call:
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

That is very direct, isn't it?  It starts with experiencing His love and being renewed in His love each day. We are called to exhibit His love and to show the world that we believe in Christ and we are convinced of His truth.  We know that Christ has the power to change lives, and our world needs to experience that touch from the Lord.  In the midst of a sense of hopelessness that many have been walking through, we can certainly be empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit, exhibited through in His Church.

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We are called and empowered to walk in the light of Christ - His love will illuminate our hearts and His wisdom provides us with the direction we need. 1st Thessalonians 5 reminds us:
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron believes that God is moving in our country, but that He is shaking us.  Kirk was part of an event this past weekend called, Non-Essential, that highlighted the role of the Church in these challenging days, including the responsibility to vote. The Christian Post had interviewed Cameron regarding a special two-part series he hosted earlier this month called, Think. Pray. Vote., and he offered these comments:

"I find this time really interesting. I think we have to remember that God is still on His throne and all throughout time, He's used everything from the weather, to enemy nations, to the sin of His own people, and the prayers of the people of God to work together to accomplish His purposes,” Cameron told CP. “No doubt, that's what's happening right now. I think God is on the move. He's shaking America and the world right now, and I think there's important things for us to learn.”

Cameron also said, "When God's people are asleep, they're unaware, they're unconcerned and uninvolved in something as important as the future of our country. I think God needs to wake us up. And certainly, this has been a huge wake-up call in so many ways."

Tony Evans, Franklin Graham, and Eric Metaxas were part of the lineup for that series.  Franklin Graham's daughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, was part of Non-Essential.  Prior to its airing, she told CBN.com:

"I've seen so many concerns," she explained. "I'm a mom of young children and I see it very essential to speak on these issues that we're facing right now.

"The time has passed," Graham Lynch continued. "We can no longer sit on the sideline and let these issues keep coming up and we're not having a voice in it."

She added: "As Christians, we need to be fearing in this country the idea of socialism and the attack of our religious liberties...These are some of the things that our religious liberties, our forefathers fought for free exercise of religion. Some evangelicals and those on the left have adopted this idea that our religion should just be kept inside the four walls of our home and inside our places of worship. That's not what our forefathers intended. They intended our faith be very involved in jobs, our businesses, and our schools. And we're being very quiet."

The event took place at Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills, CA.  The Ventura County Citizens-Journal reported that five thousand people attended and "millions more" joined via livestream.  Kirk Cameron, in his presentation, referred to the National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, MA, stating, “Our founders wanted to go to a place where they could raise their children freely. Today, those principles are largely forgotten in our country. Our founders left us the secret sauce on how to build and sustain a free and just society—it is called the National Monument to the Forefathers which is calling out the nation to come back to its principles." The story notes that, according to Cameron, "The National Monument to the Forefathers, formerly known as the Pilgrim monument, commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims and honors their ideals of Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty all under Faith."

The article goes on to say:

Under Morality stand “Prophet” and “Evangelist.” Under Law stand “Justice” and “Mercy.” Under Education are “Youth” and “Wisdom.” Under Liberty are “Tyranny Overthrown” and “Peace.”

“Every one of these figures is under attack in the United States. Good is being called evil; and evil is good. Our children are being indoctrinated with ideologies in reverse of what our forefathers and churches taught us.

In a panel discussion led by the church pastor, Jack Hibbs, who has defied orders by the state of California to severely limit meeting sizes, Cameron related: "The Judeo-Christian worldview is essential to the nation—that is how our country flourishes. I am thankful for pastors that are fearless preaching the word of God, the authority of scripture, the need for salvation and the application of God’s word in all areas of life. Pastors and shepherds need to lead us with the Word of God.”

In that same discussion, Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA stated, “The Church is essential. The Church founded this country. Activist Christians (knew) our rights came from God and not from the government. They founded the greatest country to exist around two words: freedom and equality. The founders make it their duty and responsibility to make the world better. We are so blessed to live in the greatest country to ever exist. We still have the power to express our voice." 

Simple takeaways for us here: The Church is essential.  And, don't sit out this election.  In a nation founded on principles consistent with the Scriptures, we as Christians have to recognize the role that the Lord has given to us.  We cannot allow ourselves to become marginalized; instead, we can rise up bold and strong, walk by faith, and declare, "thus saith the Lord."  The system is designed to be run according to Biblical faith - if that faith is extracted, the whole thing is in danger of collapse.  That is where we are today; but I agree with Kirk Cameron, we are being shaken, but we can trust that God is moving.

Again, we can make the inspired choice to not sit this one out, regarding the election.  As Cissie Graham Lynch said in the Non-Essential event, after lamenting what she says were 40 million evangelicals who did not vote in 2016:

“We are at a crossroads. Who governs us, has never mattered more. It is essential. We can’t afford to sit out (this election). The time for Christians on the sidelines has passed.

“We need to stand boldly for the gospel. ‘I love God; not politicians.’ My family has the right to worship freely. Religious freedom is not to be silenced, not to be bullied. Religious liberty is essential.

“We have been given freedom; but it is a choice to be part of the solution. To whom much is given, much is expected. What are you going to do? Are we going to be part of the solution?”

God is all about solutions - it's a human tendency, unfortunately, to complain about our leaders; now, we have a chance to do something about it. With God's power and direction, we can help to set the stage for a tremendous move of God in our country.

Division by "Reconciliation"

Polarization in the world should not mean polarization in the church is running rampant, but the enemy has a strategy - keep us divided so that we are less effective in our love for each other and our witness
to the world. 1st Corinthians 1 states:
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

The Lord has not created to be robots, but any means, and has not called us to think and act exactly alike - we are molded with a specific DNA and our experiences help to determine who we are and how we see the world.  But, as believers, we can find common points about which we can agree, and hopefully realize that despite our differences, we can find there is much, much more that unites us that what we allow to divide us. That is how we can live as one in Him.

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In Romans 12, a chapter that begins with Paul exhorting us to not be conformed to the world but transformed by mind renewal, we read these verses a bit later:
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

We are in an age when those that sell themselves as being "anti-racist" have embraced a subtle form of racism that does not contribute to racial reconciliation or unity and creates more division between those of different races.

Ryan Bomberger of The Radiance Foundation writes at The Christian Post:

Boston University Professor and everything-is-racist author, Ibram X. Kendi, decided to attack Judge Amy Coney Barrett because she committed a cardinal sin against the self-proclaimed “antiracist.” She selflessly engaged in one of the most powerful acts of racial reconciliation — bringing children of a different “race” into her heart and home and loving them because they deserve to be loved.

Ryan is African-American; he is not only an adoptee, after he was conceived in a rape, but he is also an adoptive father - he took exception to a tweet by Kendi, which said:

“Some White colonizers ‘adopted’ Black children. They ‘civilized’ these ‘savage’ children in the ‘superior’ ways of White people, while using them as props in their lifelong pictures of denial, while cutting the biological parents of these children out of the picture of humanity.”

Bomberger was adopted into a white family - in response to Kendi's contention that whites have a "savior complex," he writes: "They didn’t have a savior complex. They had a love reflex."

Kendi is preaching a gospel of "anti-racism," which could be described as "another gospel."  Derryck Green, writing at the Institute on Religion and Democracy's Juicy Ecumenism website, states:

Antiracism teaches that white people who claim to be “not racist” are essentially racist. According to antiracism, being “not racist” is a passive position in the face of racial discrimination. Additionally, it absolves white people from actively acknowledging their participation in – and preservation of – structural racism through a framework of white supremacy and privilege.

Green recounts a seminar he attended that was sponsored by an agency of a large Protestant denomination. He described some of the material being taught, including this morsel: “church language can be used by white people to ignore race and racism.” He says:

White Christians suggesting we focus on our common humanity – being created in God’s image – to overcome racism is inadequate. Although everyone is created in God’s image, this language overlooks the real-life consequences of racism. Therefore, imago Dei language doesn’t qualify as antiracist. Biblical anthropology must be subsumed into antiracist rhetoric that adopts action toward reducing racism to be sufficient.

And, as Mike Gonzalez of the Heritage Foundation writes, this anti-racist rhetoric produces big bucks: 

Highly paid consultants spouting toxic racist concepts meant to transform society, and ignobly masking them as “anti-racism” training, are to be shown the door of the federal workforce, and hopefully out of corporate America one day, too. And all courtesy of Donald Trump and his Office of Management and Budget director.

He goes on to say: 

The consultants making a mint out of this racket label it “anti-racism” or “diversity” training. They are nothing of the sort. In fact, they push racist concepts that all Americans should spurn. That they are making use of the present crisis following the death of George Floyd to ram their reeducation camps down Americans’ throats is disgraceful.

Rod Dreher at The American Conservative related a reader's letter in response to a Wall Street Journal story about the action of a school leader in a Midwestern city.  The reader wrote:

The school superintendent in Evanston Illinois has stated that black, brown and LGBTQ students will be able to access in person learning during the pandemic (returning to the school campus) but no other students! So if your child is white, or Asian cisgendered and straight, they will be denied access.

Dreher quotes from the Journal article:

“When you challenge policies and protocols established to ensure an equitable experience for Black and brown students,” the board said in its letter, “you are part of a continuum of resistance to equity and desire to maintain white supremacy.”

And, teachers will be required to take "anti-racism" training.

So, where does it all lead?  More division in an already polarized society.  We have a dangerous trend of stigmatization, to the extent that, even in the Church, there are those who are finding our approach to dealing with race issues insufficient because we have such a problem with "white supremacy" - it seems to be the new insult, especially to those who want to find answers to race dilemmas without buying into popular worldly philosophies.  And, those pushing that theory seem unable to really give any examples. It's a straw man in search of an identity, and rather than bring us together, charging others with it runs the risk of tearing us apart as believers. This line of thinking builds distrust with one another and does not lead to unity.

As if we needed any more polarization.  We certainly should not allow politics to divide us, and inflammatory language toward fellow believers who do not share our political views is counterproductive and becomes another wedge, another weapon, that the enemy will use to get us off track.  Now, we can speak truth and express opinion rooted in truth, but we should never cross the line to degrade other parts of our own body.  Participation in the process is important, but we should never put politics above our devotion to Christ and our love for fellow believers and the world around us. 

Not Waffling on Compassion

In Colossians chapter 3, we are instructed to put off the actions of the flesh and to put on the character 
of Christ, activated by the Spirit. We can read:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

We are conduits of the love of Christ and the power of Holy Spirit; He desires for His love to flow through His people, and He gives us the capacity, as His representatives, to share the love with the people with whom we come in contact. We can prepare ourselves for His use by repenting of sin, opening our hearts, and allowing His Spirit to fill us. He will give us hearts to love with His love and to act in accordance with His Word. 

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There's a passage in 1st John 3 that illustrates how the compassion of Christ can flow through us; it 
says:
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

Unfortunately, the compassion of the Church sometimes gets hidden by those who do not share our worldview, including purveyors of information that contradicts Scripture. Even the abundance of compassion for women in what would be termed "crisis pregnancies" gets hidden because we are falsely charged as "pro-birth" only.

Hannah Hill was eight months pregnant when she met Atlanta pastor Eusebia Phelps.  She was planning to name her son Samuel, which, come to find out, was the name of Phelps' son who had lost his life seven years prior to when the pastor and the young lady met, according to The Christian Post, which reported that Bishop Phelps had called the Waffle House at which Hannah worked to place an order.  He actually placed and picked up the order from Hill, told her to keep the change.  He noticed she was pregnant, then, as he relates, "I was just really urged to give her the rest of the money that I had in my wallet, which was around $40,” adding, “And so I gave her the $40 and I told her that I just wanted to be able to bless her so she could buy something for the baby.”

Later, he told his wife he wanted to raise a thousand dollars for Hannah and baby Samuel.  The article notes:

Phelps took to Facebook and informed his friends and followers of his encounter with Hill. He shared his goal of raising $1,000 for her. By the time he woke up the next morning, Phelps had exceeded his expectations.

By the end of the following day, Phelps had raised $6,500 for Hill.

He intended to surprise her by taking the money to the Waffle House, but realized it was her night off.  But, those who had seen the announcement through Facebook Live began to try to contact the waitress - ultimately, Hannah's roommate was contacted, she woke Hannah up and they began the over half-hour journey to the restaurant.  And donations continued to climb, reaching over $12,000, and the surprise baby shower went down.  The article says that Hill told local TV station, WXIA that "she was living with her mom and trying to make ends meet. She is currently living apart from her baby’s father at the moment." It quotes Hill as saying, “I had a lot going on, and I don’t really pray that often...I’m not necessarily that religious. I wasn’t raised in the Church, don’t go to church a lot, haven’t opened a Bible in forever.”

But, she said, "...lately I’ve been praying...," and she indicated that the outpouring of support made her want to attend church.  

This is a prime example of how compassionate action leads people into consideration of a deeper relationship with Christ.  We should consistently have the love of Christ dominate our hearts so that we don't miss out on opportunities to share His love.  In our obedience, we demonstrate the power of giving.

We also recognize that God sees even when we might not think He does.  Jesus had not forgotten Hannah Hill, even though she had sinned against Him in the actions that resulted in conceiving a child. The child is precious in God's sight regardless of the manner in which he was conceived. We also know that He doesn't write us off when we sin against Him. Jesus died on the cross so that we might be forgiven of our sins and have a right relationship with Him.

Hunting Love

No one is beyond the reach of God's love.  And, He is sufficient to save us, to transform our hearts, to 
remove a hard heart and to give us a heart to know Him and do His will. Hebrews chapter 7 states:
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens...

God is calling us to lay down our lives, to put aside our human strength, and to experience His all-sufficient salvation - He saves us "to the uttermost, " the Scripture says. He has abundant and eternal life in store for us, and Christ desires for us to come to know Him, not on our terms, but on His - that we confess with our mouths His Lordship and believe that He is risen.  We surrender to Him, we die to self, so that we might experience His incredible, powerful life.

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God will work in our lives, even through and, you could say, especially through our pain and our grief.  
2nd Corinthians 1 reminds us of how God wants to work within us:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

I have to admit, I've never watched Dog the Bounty Hunter; couldn't even tell you where to find it.  Duane Chapman is the star, better known as "Dog."  He is what the title suggests - a bounty hunter; he hunts down criminals for money.  The biography on the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" website states:

Duane "Dog" Chapman began his illustrious career after a stint behind bars. Although convicted of murder (he was not present) because he was affiliated with the shooter landed him in the Texas penitentiary. This is where he developed the knack of locating people. With a healthy push from the warden he set his sights on making a change once released. 18 Months later he was released. Since that day he has made it his life's mission to follow the "Devil's Herd" as he calls it. He has changed countless lives and kept his word to his mother. He has made a difference.

2002-2003 Dog, Beth, and the posse filmed the pilot episode of Dog The Bounty Hunter for A&E. Shortly after filming Dog tracked down and captured Andrew Luster. This propelled his new series into the stratosphere.

Luster was an "heir to the Max Factor fortune: who was arrested, released on bond, skipped out on his court date, and apprehended by Dog.  Duane was married to Beth, who passed away in 2019.  Two spiritual things are apparently going on in Dog's life:  first, he has met a Christian woman, who is now his fiancee; she, like Dog has lost her spouse.  And, he is involved in a faith-based movie called, Hunter's Creed.

Dog and his new fiancee, Francie Frane, met when he was attempting to reach Francie's late husband, Bob, apparently to do an excavation project.  They discovered each had recently lost their spouses, and, as the Entertainment Tonight website puts it:

Duane eventually asked her out and she replied, “Yeah, if you go to church.” While initially brushing off Duane’s advances, the emotional, tear-filled church service culminated in the two holding hands and Duane declaring, “Gotcha!”

Francie is a former rancher and hunter, so Duane says there “couldn’t have been a better pick that God picked” for him. The two quickly bonded over their grief and Duane says he, “knew right away this was love.”

It apparently didn't take too long for Duane to propose. Francie notes: “We're both still grieving. We're never going to leave Bob and Beth behind [or] forget about them. They'll always be a part of us. We thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives with them and that's not what happened and we were dealt a really hard hand. Both of us had a decision to make – are we going to rise up from the ashes and get back to life and what Beth and Bob would have wanted from us?”

I mentioned the movie, Hunter's Creed, in which Dog plays himself - he recently spoke with The Christian Post about the movie and his faith.  The article provides this synopsis of the film: "After losing his wife, a man reunites with his church buddies to film the hunting show they’ve always wanted to make together. Before long, he senses a dark presence in the woods eventually bringing him face to face with death — and his faith..."

Regarding the effect on his wife's death on his own personal faith, Chapman relates: 

"I never doubted, OK, I don't doubt God at all! To be surprised or to say, "Why is this happening to me? Why didn't this happen?" Yeah, that's a normal feeling. And then you go to Scripture, and you listen to the voice in your mind that's in your head that says, "This has happened for a reason." The Bible says you're not to know why this stuff happened. Don't worry, this happened for a reason. So that's what I fall back on. Rather than "oh, there's no God, He don't heal no one," stuff like that, because that's not true.

In the film, according to the article, Chapman offers consolation to the lead actor prior to the death of his wife, telling him to "love all the time, keep close, keep working, laughing and praying;" also, he quotes the Scripture, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue..."  

So many things I've been thinking about relative to this story, and the first one is that God will sustain, even through periods of grief and loss.  He is the "God of all comfort," according to 2nd Corinthians 1, and in our times of pain, we can turn to Him.  Rather than try to mask our pain according to human wisdom or strength, we can come to Him to mitigate our pain.  As Jon Chasteen said on The Meeting House yesterday, we can ask Jesus to walk with us to those moments of pain so that we can experience His healing.  

It's hard to know where Duane Chapman is spiritually, but it appears God is working in His life, and Francie Frane has demonstrated the principle that Barry Meguiar talks about - attempting to move someone one step closer to Jesus.  All of us are on a step-by-step journey, and we can respond to the Holy Spirit drawing us to Himself.  

Duane Chapman has a tough background, including a stint in prison and career of apprehending criminals; definitely not work for the faint of heart.  You could say he is a "tough guy."  But we recognize that no one is beyond the reach of God's love.  Now, human toughness can keep someone becoming a Christian or being productive in a life of faith, and that's something we all have to watch out for.  But, a tough guy or lady surrendered to Jesus can make a determined believer, as God takes someone's personality, the way he or she was created, infuses it with Holy Spirit power, and does incredible work for His glory. 

Persevere

The concerns of this life can certainly weigh us down and cause us to not experience the joy and peace that God offers to us. We can be much more content if we take some necessary steps in order to adjust our attitude and combat the negative thinking that can render us less productive in our walk with the Lord. 1st Peter 5 states:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Paul writes to Timothy about the "great gain" that is found when we combine godliness with contentment. It is easy to become restless in our lives, and we have to rely on the promises in the Word and the power of the Spirit to keep us on track.  The Bible instructs us to "take every thought captive," and we can do that by replacing the thoughts which do not produce fruit for God's glory with the words that God has spoken to us.  We can identify and reject counterproductive thinking and learn to place God's Word foremost in our thinking. 

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In Mark chapter 4, in what is called the Parable of the Sower, Jesus highlights four types of soil into which the Word of God can be sown - there is the wayside, the stony ground, the thorny ground, and 
good ground. We pick up as Jesus talked about that third type of soil:
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

A recent survey by The Barna Group reveals the heart, the hopes, and concerns of pastors, which is relevant now that we are in the middle of Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month.  I have some good news and bad news from the survey - first, the bad news, according to CBN.com:

...Barna's president recently told CBN News that he believes 1 in 5 churches may not survive the shutdowns and changes brought on by the coronavirus and could be forced to shut their doors in the next 18 months.

Even though some churches have reopened and are having in-person meetings again, others say it's still too risky and they won't do that til 2021.

And, even though 20% of churches may not make it to the other side of the coronavirus crisis, that does mean 80% are anticipated to make it.  But, perseverance will be a key.

But there is optimism among pastors:

After the personal and financial challenges caused by COVID-19 are resolved, 49 percent said their church attendance will only "slightly decline" and 26 percent said it "will stay the same."

Add that up and 75% of pastors expect little or no decrease in church attendance - also, "64 percent believe the personal faith journey of their congregants 'will stay the same' throughout the remainder of the pandemic."  In other words, it seems that pastors are not anticipating a spiritual setback, at least among about two-thirds of their congregations.  

There is mixed news, as the survey also explored the potential effect of the Presidential election on their congregants.  While 87 percent said they either "strongly agreed" or "somewhat agreed" that they were prepared to lead their churches through the season, the CBN story says that there is concern over the "impact" of the election on their congregations:

41 percent of respondents said they were "somewhat concerned" over the impact, 33 percent answered that they were "very concerned," and 26 percent were "not concerned."

About two-thirds of pastors said they planned a "sermon or prayer gathering" related to the election, and about the same percentage indicated that the election would not cause division in their churches.

Their greatest hope, according to the Barna survey? Well, "50 percent of pastors said their greatest hope was that 'there will be an awakening of people's faith and trust in God.'"

Here are a few considerations for today:

First of all, don't allow the cares of this life - whether it be coronavirus woes, election concern, or anything else - steal your hope and joy.  And, regardless of the outcome on Election Day, don't forget that your hope is not in earthly leaders, but in the Lord Himself.  

We can also remember to resist cynicism or anger.  Don't become bitter in your spirit, and certainly resist having negative feelings flow out and impact your relationships in an ungodly way.  There will be challenges in this life, but we can continue to place our confidence in the Lord.

So many have had to develop a sense of perseverance.  And, James speaks of the trying of our faith developing patience.  Lockdowns, masks, social distancing, cancellations, and other adjustments to the routine ebb and flow of life are wearisome, but we can continue to trust that this season will pass. In the meantime, we can continue to exhibit joy and trust in the Lord.

Women on Busses

God is calling us, I believe, to move with Him, to allow Him to empower us and to show us what He 
wants us to do and where to do it. Isaiah 43 highlights the direction of God's Spirit:
16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,
17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

God hasn't placed us here on earth to merely exist or to fend for ourselves, to fend for ourselves. No, I believe He desires for each person to accept Christ as Savior and embark on an adventure of pursuing Him - obeying His Word and submitting to His call.  He has provided a "way," a "path," and as the Psalmist says, He leads us in the paths of righteousness.  We just have to make sure that we are on the right road and make a course correction if necessary.

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We are not called to stand still regarding Godly pursuits; He desires for us to move forward, to follow the leadership of His Spirit, and to flow with His motion. Philippians 3 states:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I hope you heard and were encouraged by my interview with Kimberly Fletcher of Moms for America yesterday - she leads an organization made up of women who are determined to be salt and light and do not shy away from engaging on the issues.  They are present this week in the nation's capital to show support for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, who gives every indication of being a justice who will follow the law and uphold the Constitution and not try to rewrite it.

We are living in an unprecedented age in which Christian women's organizations are not listening to the dominant culture and even some so-called Christian leaders and engage in politics, which Kimberly regards as "civic responsibility," consistent with the "civics" lesson that Sen. Sasse presented in Monday's Supreme Court hearings.  Unfortunately, those who take a stand for truth because they believe they should integrate their faith in Christ into the political realm are being accused of idolatry, misplaced priorities, and more.  I, like they, believe that our faith should inform every area of life, and that we should be seeking out ways to engage and influence the culture.

So, I am thankful for organizations who are leveraging their influence.  One of the relevant questions is: who is determining the direction for our nation?  Who is fighting for what has been called the "soul of America?"  Do we want the teachings of Scripture to determine our values, or for those who do not hold to Biblical principles to determine them?

For this reason, another Christian women's organization has been traveling the country, making stops in various states in the "Heal Our Land" bus tour, which takes its name from the familiar phrase in 2nd Chronicles 7:14.  Christie Hutcherson is the founder of Women Fighting for America, which she describes to The Christian Post as a “new movement that’s on the rise across this nation to bring back morality, biblical foundation, Constitution, and freedom into this nation.”  The article says:

Hutcherson stressed that the endorsement of political candidates is “not what this movement’s about.” She said that her movement's primary goal is to illustrate the “two different visions our country is headed for.”

“America’s at a crossroads,” she said. “We’re either going to go down the line of Marxism, communism, chaos, destruction, defunding the police, or we are going to go down a road where we are founded in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, safety and security, pro-police, pro-gun, pro-Christianity (and) pro-God back in schools.”

Christie says, “America needs a mother right now because we’ve lost our moral compass,” adding, “We’re trying to be the new women’s movement. The pink hat ladies, the NOW ladies, the feminist movement, they don’t speak for most women in America. But they’ve had the bullhorn and they’ve hijacked our voice.”

It's true - we are staring at two distinct visions for America, and the tug-of-war has been lived out in our institutions, our communities, and unfortunately, even our churches. You have those who acknowledge a Biblical worldview and embrace the sanctity of life, marriage, religious freedom, and the character of Christ.  It stands opposed to the humanistic worldview, which is devoted to socialism, abortion on demand, acceptance of homosexuality and transgenderism, and a hostility to religion.  

So, we have to pick a side.  For years, Concerned Women for America has done that, and they have been involved in a bus tour of their own - they are in Washington this week to show support to Judge Barrett. Their bus says, "Women for Amy" on one side and "She Prays She Votes" on the other, according to another Christian Post article, which says:

Concerned Women for America President and CEO Penny Young Nance explained that her organization wanted to bring together conservative women from across the county to “voice their support on behalf of Amy Coney Barrett as she went into her hearing.”

“We were lining the streets on Constitution Avenue and welcoming her so that she knew there was support for her and women of faith in support of her nomination,” Nance explained.

“The second thing is we were praying. We’re praying for our nation, we’re praying for the Supreme Court, we’re praying for the Barrett family. We learned from the [Brett] Kavanaugh nomination that these can be very chaotic hearings and that there is true spiritual warfare around these nominations.”

First, with regard to the election, you have to make your choice Biblically, whenever possible and when you have good information.  Faith Radio has an Election Prayer Guide you can download from our website and links to sources of information about the candidates and the party platforms. I believe you are responsible before God for the vote that you are casting.  Can you or have you tried to make a Biblical case for the candidates for whom you plan to vote?

Now, let's speak figuratively for just a moment.  These women's organizations have been traveling the country bringing a message of participation in the process, for that civic engagement that is possible within this great country.  We do have the right to free speech, freedom of religion, and other freedoms, and we can exercise a wonderful responsibility when we vote.  You have groups that are on bus tours, and we can examine the road on which we are traveling.  A valid question has to do with what our love for Christ is motivating us to do - are we following His direction?  Does our passion and adoration for our Savior, as well as for our country, cause us to do more than be passive observers?  Sometimes, in pursuit of a righteous cause, we have to get on the bus and follow the road, the path to which God has called us.  We know that God is moving, and He calls us to move with Him, according to His direction.

Honor and Pray

We can pray that our pastors and church leaders are strengthened to teach God's Word and model His character in the Church.  We live in an age where the Church needs to be vibrant and strong - the 
apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 4, saying:
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

That passage could have been written today, couldn't it?  This is a great indicator of the relevancy of the Scriptures, and there is a special call on our pastors and those called to spiritual leadership to provide direction for the body of Christ.  We can lift up our shepherds in prayer, calling on God to give them a special boldness for these times.  And, all of us can be determined to be faithful to God's Word and to His service.

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The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 1st Timothy chapter 5 about the way we should regard those who 
serve in spiritual leadership over us:
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

We are approaching the midway point of the month of October, which is Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month. While it is important to be praying for and affirming pastors, their families, and church staff members throughout the year, this is a great reminder to take clear and meaningful action to show honor to those who serve in leadership in your church.

One of the most powerful actions you can take - on a consistent basis - is to pray.  At the Baptist Press website, Ray Van Neste, dean of the School of Theology & Missions at Union University, has written an insightful peace about praying for your pastor.

With COVID-19 continuing to affect communities, the operation of churches, and the operation of worship, church leaders are facing particular struggles, and have been for months. Van Neste writes:

How do you continue to provide worship and preaching when you cannot meet together? How do you do that with a limited budget for technology or in places where internet connection is spotty or unavailable? How do you help people stay in contact? How do you care for shut-ins or the sick when you are not allowed to visit them or fear your visit might bring them harm? How and when do you restart services, Sunday School, nursery and other functions? With what restrictions, procedures or requirements?

I remember a chart that was circulating on Twitter that showed the many pressures and questions that church leaders were facing regarding COVID and their response, including the timing of re-opening. That whole issue of re-opening has been a sticking point, a source of conflict, for many pastors; as the university dean writes:

...many (perhaps most) pastors say they have people in their church mad at them either for being too cautious in re-opening services or for moving too quickly in re-opening. Often, the same pastor has people mad at him from both sides. We all know you can’t please everyone with the temperature in the sanctuary, so we sure can’t please everyone when figuring out how best to navigate these new waters. Then, for whatever reason – perhaps because many of us just aren’t at our best in these times – some people feel free to unload on their pastors in graceless ways over these disagreements.

Van Neste reminds congregation members to pray for their pastors, stating:

Pray for your pastor and let him know you are praying. You cherish his prayers in your difficulties, and he will appreciate yours. One of Paul’s regular requests of the churches was, “Brothers, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) or “I appeal to you, brothers, … to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Romans 15:30; see also 2 Corinthians 1:11 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1).

You may say, “Well, our pastor is no apostle Paul!” That just means he needs even more prayer.

Good point - none of us has arrived, and we all need to be humble before God, don't we?

So, during this Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month, we can empathize with the unique challenges that our church leaders are facing.  They are navigating the waters of COVID-19, determining how to respond to racial tensions that we see and seeking to respond Biblically, and even desiring to speak (hopefully) to issues surrounding the upcoming election.  Of course, there is the regular proclamation of the Word and caring for the congregation.  We need to pray for wisdom for those in leadership, that they would lead well and adhere to Biblical truth.

In this season of challenge, we need our pastors to be strong and even to challenge us to think Biblically, to respond with Godly wisdom, and to be devoted to Godly principles. And, we need words of encouragement - so that we may know that God is with us and that we can grow in faith through interaction with His Word. 

How Can They Hear?

Jesus dealt with people who just simply refuse to open their hearts to believe His truth.  And, even 
today, He is intent on getting His message across. In Matthew 13, He says:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear...

Jesus wants us to see and hear His truth - even those who are impaired physically can "see" and "hear" spiritually.  And, unfortunately, even those who have perfectly good eyesight can be blinded spiritually or those who can hear well refuse to hear the truth of God's Word.  His Word can be so easily drowned out by the voices of this world, the philosophies that contradict His teaching.  That is why we need to pray for souls and be faithful to live out our lives for Him, so that He can speak, even through us.

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In Romans 10, Paul writes about salvation in Christ, how it is received, and the spread of the gospel 
message. He says:
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

This is the day that has been set aside to commemorate the landing of Columbus in the Western Hemisphere in 1492.  Columbus has emerged as a rather controversial figure, but he is not alone in the realm of historical figures who face erasure from being honored for their accomplishments.  Columbus, like all human beings, was imperfect - but, we live in an age where historical figures whose achievements were once honored, in spite of their imperfections, are finding their achievements ostracized because of their imperfections.  This should not be.

But as Christian History Institute relates: 

...we know beyond doubt that Columbus sailed, in part, to fulfill a religious quest. Columbus’s voyages were intense religious missions. He saw them as the fulfillment of a divine plan for his life—and for the soon-coming end of the world. As he put it in 1500, “God made me the messenger of the new heaven and the new earth of which he spoke in the Apocalypse of St. John [Rev. 21:1] after having spoken of it through the mouth of Isaiah; and he showed me the spot where to find it. ”

The article describes Columbus as "the advance man for a mighty evangelistic campaign. He would open new worlds and unseen peoples to the gospel." As it's pointed out, his name, Christopher, means, "Christ-bearer."

Just as Columbus apparently sought to reach a new world with a message of new life, faithful evangelistic outreaches are going forward to fulfill the Great Commission.  One significant area is the work of Bible translation.  And, a milestone has recently been reached regarding taking the gospel to a group of people that require a special translation - those who are deaf.

According to Baptist Press, in 1982, the founder of the ministry, Deaf Missions, Duane King, "began asking why Deaf people did not have access to the Bible in their heart language."  Now, 38 years later, the work of 53 translators has resulted in the entire Bible translated into American Sign Language. The story points out that the New Testament was finished in 2004.

The CEO of Deaf Missions, Chad Entinger, stated, “God answered the faithful prayers of His people, encouraged us through the generous provision of Deaf Missions supporters and funding partners, blessed us with 53 diligent translators and helped us persevere each step of the way..." The article notes that the American Sign Language Version, "a series of videos, can be accessed on the Deaf Missions website and the Deaf Missions Video App."

This work will now become a "launching pad" for other translations in sign language.  The article notes that:

Aric Randolph, pastor of Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church in Brentwood, Tenn., whose church also is heavily involved in Bible translation for the Deaf with a project called the Deafway Bible, welcomes the ASLV.

“This project has been long and for this to come to completion is a celebration,” Randolph said in written comments. “We are thrilled that the Deaf can have options of Bible translations that best fit their language and needs. We celebrate with them. We rejoice with them. We praise God with them.”

With the completion of this multi-year, multi-decade task, we can certainly celebrate that the deaf can receive God's Word in their own language - essentially, those who cannot hear will be able to hear, spiritually speaking, the Word of God, so they may know His truth more fully. 

Paul asks the question in Romans 10, "How can they hear...?"  You know, Jesus faced some people in his earthly ministry and calls out to people today who simply cannot hear, because they will not hear, because their hearts are not open to understanding Him. We can pray for God to open ears to hear what He is saying, and in partnership with the Holy Spirit, obey Him in playing a part to fulfill the Great Commission, in praying for souls to open up and boldly speaking His truth.

Finally, the work of Deaf Missions in providing this new translation is an example of diligence - it wasn't a task that would be completed instantly.  In this day of short attention spans and instant expectations, these individuals - over 50 of them - were diligent to complete what God had called them to do.