Together in Battle

There are battles that we face each day, and we can be confident that we are not alone, that God goes with us, and we can take great care to rely on Him. We also see that the Bible teaches that He brings people into our lives for us to encourage. Galatians 6 states:
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

The law of Christ, referred to in verse 2, is predicated on God's love for us and our love for each other. Even the law is given in order that men and women may be right with God and to live in right relationships with fellow human beings. We can appropriate what the Lord has provided so that we can be strong in our own battles and so that we can walk alongside others who are struggling.  In humility and with a servant's heart, we can offer ourselves to be used of Him.

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In an age of conflict and division, Christians are called to chart another course, to demonstrate love for and even responsibility for other people. In Genesis 4, we see the story of two brothers, Cain and Abel - we pick up in verse 4:
(4b) And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,
5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

One of the great lessons of Memorial Day is that we are all involved in spiritual battles, and we need each other.  We think about those who have risked and given their lives for a cause greater than themselves, and we recognize that they did not go into battle alone.

The film, My Brother's Keeper, had a limited theatrical run not long ago and is now available in home video.  It stars T.C. Stallings, who has an amazing story of his own - you may be familiar with him from his work in the films War Room, Courageous, and A Question of Faith. 

My Brother's Keeper was shot in the Columbus area and the filmmaker, Ty Manns, lives in Phenix City. Local television station WTVM spotlighted the movie around the time of its release.  Manns said that the story is "somewhat based on my father’s experience when he returned home from Vietnam..."

Stallings said, regarding his character, “The movie does focus on the struggles he has with PTSD, but then there’s also the struggle of faith..." The article notes that Stallings, "is not a military veteran, but did extensive research on PTSD for his role as decorated war hero Sgt. 1st Class Travis Fox." He said, “That’s how I got some of the mannerisms I would show, listen to soldiers talk about how [PTSD] felt, what their dreams were like. You listen to some of the people, real people, and you just want to do it justice..."

Manns served 24 years in the Army, and his last stop in the military was at Fort Benning in 2003.  His father served and his two sons are currently in the military, according to the NowHabersham website, which relates that Manns had a long-term desire to make movies. 

WTVM reports that Manns...

...was 10 years old when his father came home from war and it got so bad that their mom packed up the kids and left.

“We watched his lifestyle, we saw it spiraling out of control,” Manns said about his father back from war. “They couldn’t afford professional counseling, so they went to see the pastor.”

His dad, a war hero, eventually became a pastor himself. Manns said that turn to God is a key part of his latest film.

“The faith had to be [in the film] because it was the faith that saved our family years ago,” Manns added.

The stories of bravery during times of war fuels the celebration of Memorial Day, and we can remember the boldness that God gives to each of us to fight the battles we face.  On so many occasions, we have internal struggles - resisting temptation, or being healed and restored if we have succombed to it. Like it or not, we live in a world where the spiritual enemy is present, and we need to rely on the resources, the weapons of our warfare, that God gives. 

The title of that film, My Brother's Keeper, speaks powerfully to a phrase used in Scripture. Cain asked the question in Genesis 4, and the Bible goes on to show that the answer is "yes."  We are not designed to go through life alone; we are placed in the family of God, the body of Christ, so that we can draw strength from one another.  We can be agents of encouragement as we take that responsibility seriously.

Don't Care?

The possession of hope in Christ will produce a sense of diligence and urgency - we should be, as the Bible tells us, contending for the faith, as we can read in the book of Jude:
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

God calls us to pursue a walk of righteousness and holiness, to know Him better and to reflect His presence in our lives.  We are navigating our way through a world that is full of rejection of our Lord and for His people. That should enable us to seek out opportunities and seize those opportunities so that Christ might be proclaimed and fruit produced for His glory. The gospel is still a source of hope, even though there are those that related in a recent survey that they "don't care" about the existence of God.

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We are called to be diligent in our pursuit of the gospel, not wooed by a laissez-faire attitude that is not productive. 2nd Peter 1 relates a sense of intensity, when it says:
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The departure from time-honored Biblical principles is being seen all around us, and it can motivate believers to continue to hold on to and share the teachings of Scripture.

George Barna has continued his excellent work of documenting trends in the Church and the culture through his position as Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.  The Center has released more information in its American Worldview Inventory series, which reveals an indifference among the millennial generation regarding the things of God.

The youngest millennials will be turning twenty next year, with the high end currently being 36 or 37. The lead statistic in articles about this survey on CBN.com and The Christian Post: as CBN puts it, "43 percent of Millennials stated they either don't know, don't care, or don't believe God exists..."  That contrasts to 28 percent of Boomers, the group born between 1946 and 1964.

There are other generational differences.  The Christian Post states that...

...nearly half of all boomers believe that when they die, they will go to Heaven only because they confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior, compared to only 26% of Gen X and 16% of millennials.

Gen X are those born between 1965 and 1983.  Also, the Post points out that concerning the builders, the generation born between 1927 and 1945: "A staggering 90% of builders believe you treat others as you want them to treat you, while less than half of millennials agree."

CBN points out that:

The CRC research shows that some of the biggest differences are in definitions like success in life, abortion, evolution, Biblical practices, reincarnation, karma, horoscopes, according to Relevant Magazine. Millennials and Gen X beliefs align more closely to one another, while Boomers and Builders hold more similar beliefs.

The Christian Post relates:

Commenting on the study, George Barna, CRC director of research, said that Gen X and the millennials have “solidified dramatic changes in the nation’s central beliefs and lifestyles,” adding: “The result is a culture in which core institutions, including churches, and basic ways of life are continually being radically redefined.”

The Post reported that the researchers wrote, "...this radical spiritual revolution has created a generation seeking a reimagined world without God, the Bible, or churches..." This is indicated, even though "a majority of Americans call themselves Christian, ranging from 57% of millennials to 83% of builders."

Spiritual ideas are not necessarily religious nor Christian.  It's cool in some circles to embrace spirituality, but Christianity demands surrender to Jesus and His principles, whereas a more vague "spirituality" can be styled by the person who practices it.  But, the upside of being a Christian far outweighs worldly, human-centered ideas - here on this earth and in the afterlife, which is by no means certain for many younger people these days.

But, there is cause for optimism.  The CBN article featured quotes from Nick Hall of the PULSE Movement, who said, "There's all sorts of opinions about all sorts of things, all sorts of ideas and yet there is one thing that changes everything, and so I am seeing people praying, fasting, and really believing that, man, no matter what happens, we know that God is in control and we need to trust Him now more than ever."  The Christian Post quotes Jacob Bland of Youth for Christ, who said, “Teens today are facing crises like never before, but it’s often in the darkness that light shines the brightest,” adding, “To enter into a disciple-making relationship where you're introducing a kid to an unconditional love that maybe they've never even considered, showing them the goodness and love modeled in Jesus — there's a lot of hope in that.”

There is a challenge for faithfulness. God wants us to be faithful to walk in His ways, to be grounded in the Word and dedicated to sharing the love and truth of Jesus Christ.  Some may not care, and it seems like almost half of millennials fit in that category; but that does not exempt us from caring about them.

Shredding

Jesus paints a wonderful picture in John 15, letting us know that as we remain in communion and communication with Him, we will see Him do amazing things in our lives. He says to us:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

We can consider whether or not we have a veracity for God's Word.  If we regard Christ as our Savior and all-sufficient One, we will allow Him to have His way in our lives, and the Bible gives us the principles by which we can live a fruitful life for Christ.  By His Spirit, He wants to fill us and flow through us, so that His nature may be seen in us.  His life becomes our life, we are, as 2nd Peter says, 
"partakers of the divine nature."  We have access to eternal and abundant life through Christ. 

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At the conclusion of the forty years that the Israelites spent in the wilderness, Moses encouraged the people to recognize the spiritual food that they had been given. In Deuteronomy 8, we read these words from the Israelite leader:
2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 

3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

That last phrase is probably familiar to you - remember Jesus spoke those words to the devil in the wilderness, a reminder to us about how valuable and powerful the Word of God is to us in dealing with the challenges we face.

We are about to embark on the summer months, and while there are many who are looking forward to a vacation at some time during the next few weeks, especially coming out of the COVID pandemic, there is a youth minister in Texas that has definitely put a unique spin on the summer for his youth group.

It's at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, and pastor Will Standridge has challenged his students to a 66-day journey, exploring the 66 books of the Bible. 

Baptist Press reports that Standridge had a group that had a hunger for God's Word, and had questions, especially about the Old Testament.  The article says:

He wanted to choose a plan that was more of an overview where students could see how the two testaments connect in the big picture.

Standridge said, "I want the students to see that the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is one grand story all preaching the name of Jesus..." The youth pastor had heard about this method of Bible reading from Clayton King at a training event, who "spoke about a plan to 'shred' through the Bible in 66 days with small groups of students."  The 66 days start tomorrow, and the participation has already exceeded expectations, with 20 students having signed up as of the time the article was written.  And, there's some grace: if students don't finish the prescribed book for the day, they start the next day on the next book.

But, this Bible reading activity is not just an end unto itself, not merely something to do, or some sort of gimmick; Standridge has a clear motivation; the article says:

A passion for God’s Word was something Standridge said he wanted to bring to his students. Seeing all of the stories of students leaving the church or “deconstructing” their faith after turning 18 really inspired him to examine the role church youth groups played in these trends.

Standridge said he believes a lack of open and honest conversations with students while studying Scripture could play a factor in students’ leaving the faith.

“I think a big reason a lot of students don’t seem hungry (for the Word) is because they’re not in environments where they feel like being hungry for those things is allowed,” he said. “I think for so long we’ve just made this very incorrect assumption that students don’t come to church to learn, they come to church to hang out, and that’s just not true.”

About his students, Will Standridge says, "As we go into the summer they aren’t as much interested with what fun things we’re going to do, but they’re interested in what can we do to grow in our faith."

So, as you make your summer plans, perhaps this story can be inspiring for you. Perhaps you can consider if and how spiritual growth is part of your agenda for the summer.  And, ideally, we should be growing, moving forward, each day - trusting God and allowing Him to do His work in our hearts. 

Jesus talked about abiding in the Word of God.  He is the vine and we are the branches, so through our connection to Him, we are promised that we can bear fruit for His glory.  Jesus talked about the Word of God being seed, producing fruit - in the right kind of soil, that is. So we can also consider if our hearts are right, prepared for the work of the Lord.  

The word "shred" is an interesting one; I think it connotes really digging in, making a concerted effort, to, as what you'll find online suggests, "tear in" to the Word of God - as we open the Word with veracity and open our hearts with diligence, we can know God's Word and grow in Him.  

All We Like Sheep

Jesus described Himself as the "good shepherd," and when we are in need we can consecrate ourselves to Him, so that we might know His power. In Mark 6, we can read:
34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.
36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."
37a But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."

Here we see the contrast between human wisdom and heavenly wisdom.  Jesus, we are told, was "moved with compassion."  His disciples wanted the people to feed themselves, the intent of Jesus was to feed them.  The views of the situation were quite different, and can be a reminder to us - when we are tired and desperate, we can go to our shepherd, our good shepherd, who brings His wisdom into a situation and provides for us according to His will.

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Even the great shepherd David recognized the importance of regarding God as his shepherd, as we read in the 23rd Psalm. In Isaiah 53, we see insight into the human condition:
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Maybe you have seen it on social media - a video of a sheep who had become wedged inside a ditch.  A boy reached in and extracted the sheep from its predicament.  Newsweek described the video and an odd twist:

A sheep getting trapped is nothing unusual, but moments after it was freed the animal proved it may not have shared the same intelligence as other members of its flock.

When it was let loose, the sheep jumped away before it landed itself, almost with pinpoint precision, back into the same trench, just a few yards away.

The article said that the video had been viewed "tens of millions of times." It related that Brady Boyd, Pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs had shared it with his over 16,000 followers, with the comment: "Every pastor knows this to be true. We help the sheep get out of the ditch only to see them jump back into trouble."

The website, Not the Bee had a brief commentary on this series of events.  This is a site that actually publishes stories of real-life occurrences that might be considered too bizarre for real life and might find a home at the satire site, The Babylon Bee, if it were not real.  The Disrn website, also operated by the Bee, has now merged with Not the Bee. 

The video, from Allie Stuckey's Twitter feed, was embedded in the story. And, writer Joel Abbott said: "The moment that sheep got free, he immediately imprisoned himself again," adding, "You and I do the same thing every day with our shortcomings, addictions, and habits."

The good news? It's right here, as the writer points out:

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." - Jesus

There is the powerful analogy in Scripture, and it's no coincidence that Jesus referred to Himself as the good shepherd.  As the old hymn says, we are indeed, "prone to wander."  We think we have all the answers, but human wisdom is fallible, God's wisdom is perfectly reliable.  As His followers, we can be diligent to submit to Him.

We can also be confident that God will not abandon us when we fall.  In fact, in our brokenness, we can know His strength and healing.  When we make the wrong decision and perhaps get ourselves in hot water, we can call upon His name, we can call out to the rescuer.  We may have to face the consequences of our self-reliance, but we can experience the fruit of His abiding presence.

We can be purposeful, then, to walk in God's wisdom.  The Bible says that when we lack it, we can ask of Him - human wisdom will certainly lead us astray, but God's wisdom will enable us to walk in His way.

Message on a Mask

The presence of Jesus can be released through the behavior of His people - if we have believed on Him, we can know we belong to Him and can surrender our lives so that we become living witnesses for Him. Romans 13 states:
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.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The way we reflect what is within is to allow the love of Christ to be expressed outwardly. We can strive to live authentically for Him, not just saying that we are Christians, identifying ourselves as part of His family, but really living like it, seeking to glorify God in the way that we act.  The Bible speaks about "putting on" Jesus  - we can be clothed with compassion, living out His very nature, following His commands, so that people can actually see the presence of the Lord through the way we live.

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The Bible tells us what a well-dressed Christian will be wearing, and it doesn't have to do with fashion, but with the practice of our faith - Ephesians 4 says:
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The debate over masks has certainly become a prevalent storyline in our overall journey through COVID.  And, there is a fashion element that has emerged - you've seen all sorts of creative designs and the use of a mask to carry a message.

Lydia Booth is a student who wanted to wear her message on a mask at school.  According a picture from the Alliance Defending Freedom posted on Faithwire, she wore a black mask with the words, "Jesus Loves Me" in pink.  The Faithwire story says:

Lydia Booth told the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) she simply liked wearing the mask to show her faith in Jesus. She also said, “It makes me feel like I’m protected by Jesus.”

She says she believed others would “think it’s a great mask, and that Jesus is a great God, and a great Savior.”

But, school officials balked at it, said Lydia couldn't wear it because it violated a school policy. Lydia's mother couldn't find that policy in the school's handbook; it didn't show up in the dress code.  The policy had to do with wearing masks with, as the story says, "political or religious messages."  Strange, it certainly didn't seem that it was being enforced.  

Except on Lydia's "religious" message.  So, according to the story:

ADF reminded the school system that they “can’t pick and choose which messages students are allowed to express and which they aren’t. And they certainly can’t single out religious speech for worse treatment than other types of speech.”

And, Lydia's message mask is making an impact; another student wanted one. The article says: "Another friend’s older sister, after hearing about the case, decided to read the entire Bible."  Lydia received two "heartwarming and encouraging notes," according to ADF.

According to ADF's website, the organization filed a lawsuit, which appears to still be active, as of the end of last month.

We can each consider how we could perhaps be used of God to get His message across.  Lydia chose to use the message on a mask.  There are scores of other ways, as well. We just have to make sure that our faith, and how we practice it, line up with the fashion.  For instance, a bumper sticker or magnet with a Christian message will appear hypocritical if your behavior behind the wheel doesn't line up. And, a Christian who wears a Jesus T-shirt or jewelry, or a Christian mask, should ideally make sure that his or her behavior reflects the message being worn.

The Bible tells us, in essence, to "wear" the presence of Jesus, to "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ. That means we "put off" the ways that are not pleasing to Him and radiate the love of Christ. We can make it our ambition to really be clothed in Him, allowing His love to flow in and through us, so that people can see the Savior to whom we belong.

Chuck Norris' Mom is 100! No Joke!

The Psalmist reminds us of the necessity of modeling and speaking the principles of Scripture to the next generations. In Psalm 78, we can read these words:
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

The consequences of failing to do this is found in Judges 2:10, which says, after that death of Joshua, "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel."

Jesus is alive and working by His Holy Spirit, and He moves through the hearts of His people. We certainly have to be diligent to follow Him, to keep His word, and to leave a testimony behind of His faithfulness.  We can strive, under the Spirit's power, to bear lasting fruits that shows the work of God in and through us. 

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Faith in Christ is something that can be passed down and passed on - we are each responsible for receiving Christ ourselves, but past generations, such as parents and mentors, may influence a person's faith in Him. Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy 1:
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Last year, the famed actor and professing Christian Chuck Norris turned 80 years old.  That's no joke. But, an ABC affiliate in Utah, coinciding with the occasion, related some Chuck Norris jokes - of which there are many - including:

Chuck Norris doesn’t climb trees. He just pulls them down and walks on top of them.

Chuck Norris doesn’t actually write books. The words assemble themselves out of fear.

Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. He simply decides what time it is.

It's also not a joke to announce that on May 4, Chuck Norris' mother had her 100th birthday! He wrote a tribute on WND.com, saying:

Wow! I looked at her a few days ago and said, "You're a centenarian!" She replied in jest, "I'm not a centipede!"

Chuck relates his mother, Wilma Norris Knight, was "raised in abject poverty," was made a ward of the state at age 8 and suffered from a disease which hospitalized her for two years.  Then, the Great Depression came; the entire family worked the fields.  At age 16, she married, but he later left, which forced to raise her three sons, of which Chuck was the oldest, by herself.  Norris relates:

Mom has been an example of perseverance and faith her whole life. She is the last survivor of her 11-member biological family. She's also endured the deaths of her two husbands, a stepson, two grandchildren and my younger brother Wieland in the Vietnam War. She's had cancer repeatedly and has gone through roughly 30 different surgeries for a host of issues – and yet she's still here to tell about it.

He also testified to his mother's devotion to prayer, saying:

My mother has prayed for me all my life, through thick and thin. When I was born, I almost died from complications. When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood a few decades ago, she was back home praying for my success and salvation. She even prayed for me to find a woman to change my life, and it worked.

God brought his wife, Gena, into his life.  He concluded by saying:

I love you, Mom! Happy 100th birthday! And Happy Mother's Day, Mom and Gena! I thank God for you both every day! And I thank you for helping God to make me all I can and should be.

Remember, never underestimate the effect of a godly woman. That last paragraph helps me call to mind a milestone last November, when my late mother turned 98, just months before departing this earth earlier this year.  And, it is no secret that I have been affected in a positive way in my walk with Christ through my wife's influence and prayers. Christian men should demonstrate the necessary affirmation for the women in their families and certainly in the Church.

We should always recognize those who have been an influence on you.  Perhaps a word of appreciation would be in order.  And, we can certainly learn about ourselves as we consider how those who have intersected with us have made an impact.  

The Bible speaks of making an impact on the next generation. I have heard it said that today's young people would be positively affected by learning from past generations.  The mother of Chuck Norris had experienced poverty and abandonment, yet she persevered and has lived a long, full life - and she's not done yet!  Our times are in God's hands, certainly, but we can also take necessary steps - including walking in Godly wisdom, as was discussed on the radio show the other day, in order to maximize our time that He gives to us.

Inerrant

The Bible is totally sufficient to give us the answers that we need in order to live our lives for Christ. We can be confident in its reliability, and Paul is quoted in Acts 20:
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Whole counsel - to me, that means believing and applying the entirety of Scripture. If we believe that the Word of God is inspired and inerrant, that means we don't leave something out or think that God neglected to say something to us.  We can be convinced in our own minds that when we come before the Lord in study and meditation of His Word that we can partake of His wisdom - we don't get to choose what we think is right or what we agree with; we have to accept all that He says.

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We can rely on what God has to say to us, and we are not free to use the Bible as a book of selective reference, choosing what we want to believe and rejecting what we don't agree with. 2nd Timothy 3 states:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible instructs us to embrace the whole counsel of God.  That means we cannot pick and choose what Scriptures we want to believe, or make a decision about what parts are inspired and which are not.  We have to guard against selective obedience in the Kingdom of God.

That's why embracing Biblical inerrancy is so critical.  If we believe 2nd Timothy 3 that all Scripture is inspired by God, then we are accountable to know and obey God's Word.

And, in a recent survey, just over half of Americans believe that the Bible is without error.  Baptist Press reported on the 2021 State of the Bible survey from the American Bible Society, stating:

Biblical inerrancy is professed by 55 percent of Americans, with even a greater portion of those surveyed, 71 percent, confessing that Scripture is the Word of God.

But there's more...and the news doesn't seem to get any better.  The article says: 

Comprising those who believe the Bible is God’s Word are 26 percent of respondents who said the Bible should be “taken literally, word for word,” 29 percent who said “some verses are meant to be symbolic rather than literal,” and 15 percent who said the Bible has “some factual or historical errors.”

The survey results indicate that people are looking to the Bible for answers; Baptist Press stated:

ABS said 54 percent of Americans believe the Bible contains “everything a person needs to live a meaningful life,” 23 percent of Americans turned to the Bible as a source of comfort during the pandemic, and 38 percent relied on prayer and meditation to cope.

In its report, the Society said, "As we explore Scripture Engagement trends, church participation, stresses, and comforts over the past year, it is clear that, though things have recovered somewhat from last year, they may never be exactly as they were pre-COVID.”

The American Bible Society website states that...

...despite the troubles we are experiencing, there are signs of hope and great opportunity when it comes to the Bible:

• This year, 95 million American adults are exploring Scripture, many for the very first time!
• The Church has a great opportunity to help connect these new Bible explorers to the Bible and its message of hope.

That is certainly true.  And, it is encouraging to see, it the midst of a difficult season, that people are going to the Word for answers.  But, we have to be confident in the authenticity and the authority of what we read.  Even though 71% of Americans believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, only 55% say that it is inerrant.  So, then you begin to wonder, "well, what parts have error?"  This would presumably license someone to pick and choose what he or she wants to believe.  When considering the entirety of Scripture, the whole counsel of God, we can conclude that God is clear on His principles and there is no latitude to credibly pick and choose what we want to believe. 

To select the parts we want to believe or to quote the good parts and neglect the hard parts makes us an inconsistent disciple.  Society is full of people who only refer to Scripture when it makes their own point. We have to go to God's Word for answers, and follow what we discover. 

Promising to Be Bold

We are each called and equipped to speak truth into our culture. In Acts 28, we read about Paul's proclamation of God's truth:
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,
31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

The apostle Paul definitely shook things up, and even faced times in which his life was in danger. But, he was faithful to live and proclaim God's truth.  Likewise, we have been given the boldness to speak out in this world, to speak with compassion and confidence, so that people may experience the love and truth of God. We have been empowered and gifted for this purpose - as Christian men and women, in order that He may be exalted in our midst. 

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In Mark chapter 10, we find that Jesus was addressing the expressed desire of James and John to have special positions in the Kingdom. Jesus responded by saying:
42 ..."You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Yesterday, I pinpointed some areas in which the fruit of revival is occurring.  Another area has to do with Christian men either coming in to a relationship with God or coming back to Him.  This was seen through the Promise Keepers movement of the 1990's and now is being expressed through the renewal of the PK movement - even though last year's large stadium event in Dallas was cancelled due to COVID, over a million men reportedly connected with a virtual event.  PK has since given men opportunities to allow God to work in their marriages through another online effort.

But, this year, thousands are expected to gather in Dallas - at AT&T Stadium, in order to seek and worship God and hear from a number of high-profile Christian speakers, in order that men might get their relationship with God right and that they would step into the position of leadership in their homes, churches, and communities that God intends.

But all are not in agreement with the Promise Keepers movement and message.  Mike Freeman of USA Today is one of them, writing a blistering op-ed recently, with the headline, “Opinion: Don’t use Dallas Cowboys’ name, AT&T Stadium to mainstream anti-trans hate."

The Daily Citizen reported on the comments that PK chair Ken Harrison made in a recent interview, as well as Freeman's response.  Harrison had said, "Christian men are not standing up for what’s right. I mean, you think about how quickly we went from homosexual marriage to men putting on dresses, being called women, and playing on women’s basketball teams. Where are the Christian men?” The Daily Citizen article says that Harrison was given a chance to respond, and he did, saying:

“Look, today’s culture is blurring the lines when it comes to sexual identity,” Harrison wrote in an email to USA Today. “Both Promise Keepers and I subscribe to a Biblical worldview when it comes to male and female, and that’s one of the religious freedoms we celebrate in our nation. Sometimes we agree with culture, and sometimes we don’t.”

Freeman was not impressed, saying, "By allowing this conference to happen at one of football’s meccas, and by AT&T allowing it, they are helping to mainstream hate speech..."  Memo: calling out sinful behavior is not "hate speech."  That is a convenient, uninformed way to respond to those with whom you disagree - slap a label on it and shut the other person down. And, then deny him or her the right to communicate their opinion, such as denying access to a venue. Harrison says: “The irony of defining my words as hate speech is that is exactly the opposite of what we teach. All people everywhere are welcome to come to our rally to celebrate and be unified around the fact that God forgives the sins of all who believe in Jesus.”

As Bruce Hausknecht, who wrote the Daily Citizen article, states:

Christians should always be ready to stand up for the Bible’s definition of male and female, and to lovingly but firmly oppose transgenderism as not in keeping with God’s design for men and women. But that doesn’t mean that Christians hate people who are struggling with their biological sex, as Freeman insinuates. The call to biblical manhood that organizations such as PK proclaim simply calls for men to stand up for God’s truth in the public square, as well as in their homes.

The 2021 Promise Keepers Men's Conference will be held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas July 16 and 17.  Speakers include Nick Vujicic, Jonathan Evans, A.R. Bernard, Samuel Rodriguez, and more; you can learn more at PromiseKeepersEvent.com. A local Dallas church, Gateway Church, just purchased 10,000 tickets to the event.

Let's consider a few things - First of all, it's been pointed out that the most loving thing you can do for a person is to point out where he or she has departed from God's ways.  Jesus was skilled at pointing out the sin of the people with whom He interacted.  And, His Spirit resides in the hearts of believers to show us our sin.  He also gives us the boldness to speak truth to our culture, always, as Ephesians 4 directs, in love.

Now, let's think about the role of men in our culture and how Promise Keepers reinforces that. Because of the detrimental actions of some men in our society, men and manhood have been villianized.  Such is not healthy for our culture - we need men to step up and be leaders, not in a domineering way, but in a position of humility before God, with an attitude of servanthood, just as Jesus demonstrated. 

Men should also affirm the incredible work of the women around us. And, that is certainly beneficial to the Church. I have been blessed to interview Godly women throughout the years who function in their God-given roles in the Church and present incredible truth. God has given us roles to fulfill and gifts and talents to use in order to bring Him glory.  And, men can allow that affirmation to begin in their homes, as they seek to love their wives in the way that Christ would intend - I am thankful to be married to a Godly, beautiful, strong woman who loves the Lord and is dedicated to serving Him, to love and honor me and our children, to serve the children she teaches, and to be a gift to the Church.  Men should always be intent on keeping our promises to the women around us. 

Revival's in the Air

The Lord is calling us to know Him better and to know and discover His ways, so that we might walk a 
path of holiness and righteousness, bringing honor to His name.  Isaiah 57 states:
13b ... he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain."
14 And one shall say, "Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people."
15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

This passage gives us some insight into positioning ourselves for revival, so that God would have His way in us and do what He intends.  We block the work of God by selfishness, but we allow Him to work through humility.  Contrition is an element that is mentioned in verse 15: we have to be willing to confess and repent of our sins, to recognize where our ways have not lined up with His, and surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit. 

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God calls us to draw closer to Him - in our proclamation and our practice - so that He is extremely evident in us. Hosea 6 speaks of revival, which we desperately need in our country and the Church:
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

Author, speaker, and teaching pastor Robert J. Morgan, who has been a guest on The Meeting House program on several occasions, shared some sobering, yet encouraging, words about a unique and challenging time in the history of our nation in a piece for Decision Magazine.  He described an America that, "grew economically and wrangled politically," but as that occurred, he says, "the light of Christianity dimmed. French rationalism seized the colleges, which became hotbeds of atheism. Church attendance plunged. John Marshall, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, feared the church had declined too far to be saved."

Sound familiar?  This time period Pastor Morgan described was in the latter 18th Century, during the early days of our nation; days in which the President, George Washington, had written the governors of the 13 colonies and included this prayer:

"I now make it my earnest prayer that God … would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific [peaceful] temper of mind which were characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion [Jesus Christ], and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.”

That was written in 1783, and expressed sentiment that many did not share.  So, as Morgan points out...

That’s when the Lord sent another great revival—the Second Great Awakening. It began in the early 1800s on college campuses in the East and at Kentucky Camp Meetings in the West. Thousands came to Christ in a massive revival that birthed the modern missions movement, launched the spread of Sunday schools, filled America’s pulpits with Biblical expositors and sent hundreds of itinerant evangelists into the untamed frontiers.

He points out: "The United States of America came into existence between two of the greatest revivals ever recorded. We have a God who still sends seasons of refreshing on His church around the world."

Is it happening?  Please allow me to present some evidence.  A few weeks ago, I reported on a church in Tennessee that baptized over a thousand people between the week before Christmas and Easter Sunday.  Yesterday, I aired a conversation with Sean Dunn of Groundwire, which saw well over 100,000 people come to Christ in the year 2020 and has a goal to more than double that this year. You also heard about a movement called The Whosoevers, which is ministering across America and internationally, using creative events including music, speaking,...and skateboarding, in order to share the gospel.

That Decision Magazine edition that had the article from Robert Morgan also featured Sean Feucht, whose "Let Us Worship" events have been held across the country - from California to Minnesota to New York to Washington, DC, where an estimated crowd of some 35,000 gathered on the National Mall for prayer and worship.  Feucht is quoted in the Decision article as saying:

“I’m praying for an awakening and a revival in the nation, but more important, I’m praying for an awakening and a revival in the church. I’m praying that we would start living the Gospel message, that we would take a stand for righteousness and truth, not back down, not try to be politically correct, but that we would live according to the Gospel. …

“We need a revival of the simple Gospel message in America. It is not complicated, it is not difficult, it is not hard. It is the Gospel message of Jesus Christ that’s endured for thousands of years and still works today.”

CBN.com, in a recent feature earlier this month, states:

Feucht and his "Let Us Worship" team have traveled across the country over the past year and he's pointed out that they have no plans of stopping.

He recently shared the "summer of revival" tour schedule where he is looking to lift up the name of Jesus in 34 cities, within 15 states, over the course of 87 days.

And, just this past weekend, an online event called the "National Senior Sendoff" occurred, featuring a number of speakers and musical artists.  The website says:

The feeling is inescapable: something new is about to happen.

If you’re a student, that “something new” can be a catalytic season for your relationship with Jesus Christ. The next season of life will be so formative, and having a strong gospel community can build a foundation of faith that will follow you for the rest of your life.

The work of the Lord is moving forward, in-person and online.  People whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by the coronavirus pandemic are looking for hope, looking for answers. God is able and God is available in order to provide what they are searching for.

We hear quite a bit about revival - but what does it look like?  There is a desire, a yearning, to know God better, to enter into repentance so that our lives reflect the inner work of God in our hearts. In order to experience revival, we have to set aside our selfish desires and allow the Lord to change us. We can strive to put Him above all else.  Revival is more than an event, more than an experience, it's entering into the presence of God and allowing Him to enter in to every area of our lives, so that He permeates our very being.

An Orchestrated Reunion

We live in a time when people do not show proper love and respect to one another, yet, in the body of Christ, we can walk in Christ's love and be thankful for the people God brings into our lives. Ephesians 1 states:
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him...

We can recognize and be thankful for the people in our lives with whom God has blessed us. We can reach out to them with the love of God and receive the blessings that God expresses through them. We can show respect and care and realize that He can keep us encouraged and focused on Him through other people.  We can trust God to fulfill His purposes through the relationships into which He calls us, and rejoice as we see Him work.

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Paul had entire groups of people, local churches, to whom he wrote letters, people to whom he was appointed to communicate. Philippians 1 provides such an example; he wrote:
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ...

Ally Cole is a university student who grew up in Maryland.  She was adopted from an orphanage in Jenin, China when she was six years old, and decided to attend school in Virginia.

Ruby Wierzbicki is from New Jersey - she was adopted from the Jenin orphanage when she was four.  She is also a college student.

The two girls were adopted just one week apart.  

And, recently, they had a reunion - on the campus of Liberty University, according to the school's website. 

CBN.com reported on how the young ladies came together at the school; the article says:

Earlier this month, sophomore Ally Cole and freshman Ruby Wierzbicki were headed to class on the campus bus. Cole saw an empty seat near Wierzbicki so she sat down and the two started chatting.

During their conversation, the students discovered that they were both adopted from an orphanage in China, in the city of Jinan, and within one week of each other.

Wierzbicki and Cole compared childhood photos from 15 years ago on their phones to confirm the surreal discovery.

Ruby believed that the hand of God brought the two students together, saying, "There are people I've talked to about this and they've said, 'What a coincidence.' But we think that this is 100% God," adding, "There's no way that two people who were in the same orphanage in a different country can somehow end up at the same school at the same time and have it not be God."

Abby said, "I think God is so amazing for doing all of this. I think of it as a blessing because not a lot of people who are adopted get to know a whole lot about their past, but (we) got to do that by sharing our photos and talking about it."

Remember this: we serve a sovereign God, who orchestrates the events of our life for His purposes.  Through these instances, He shows Himself to be God.  He is full of love for us and we can depend on His wisdom and preeminence by surrendering our lives to Him.

We can also be thankful for those people whom God brings into our lives.  Paul demonstrated that thankfulness on several occasions in his writings, and we can reflect on how God has divinely placed people into our lives at just the time that we needed them - not by accident, not by coincident, but in cooperation with His plan.  We can be careful to depend on God to bring about His divine appointments and assignments.

You know, we don't always know how He is working, but we can be confident that He is working.  We can trust God to bring people into our lives to whom we can minister, and through whom we can find encouragement. 

Product of the Community

The Bible teaches us that we belong to Christ and that we are not of this world; so even though we are placed here, our allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, to a higher authority, and we are called and empowered to live in Him. 1st Peter 2 states:
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.

The question becomes, "who or what am I allowing to influence my life?"  We can surround ourselves with Biblical teaching and seek God consistently or we can choose to allow the world to have an impact on us.  If we allow worldliness into our consciousness and place a greater emphasis on pleasing this world than pleasing God, we run the risk of our spiritual life running aground and not bearing fruit. We have to choose our influences carefully - people and information - so that we can be built up in our faith.

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How and with whom we spend our time can have a profound influence on our growth in Christ. In speaking of the hope of the resurrection, Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15:
31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Your life today is reflective of the influences that you have had throughout your past.  Some of those influences are good, others are bad; some have been accepted, others rejected.  But, we are where we are in part because of the people whom we've met.  And, it can be a stark reminder for each of us to make sure that we are being positive influences on others, especially those who are young.

A young man grew up not too far from where I grew up - Cartersville, GA, up I-75 from Atlanta.  And, a recent Baptist Press article explored how his influences impacted him.

He was active in his local church growing up. His middle school and high school pastor testified to his fairly regular church attendance. The article contains a picture of him being baptized when he was around ten years old. His high school football coach was well-known as a Christian leader in the community. His position coach was also a "strong Christian," according to one of the deacons at the church. The deacon was a local parks and recreation coach, his son was a friend, and the boys traveled on sports trips, and, of course, youth group trips. He says: "Sports helped us form bonds with his family and others..."

But, his spiritual life took a downward trajectory during his latter years of high school and first year of college. He told Sports Illustrated that enrolling early in college may not have been the best thing for him to do and added, "I made some decisions … first year being on my own, got this freedom now. … I made some decisions, not good decisions..."  He connected with an associate pastor in the area where he was in college, attended a Christian retreat, and his life, as the BP article notes, "shifted." As his high school coach said, "As you grow in your faith, there is a defining moment where you’re mature in it. That’s what happened..."  

Oh, and about this young man from Cartersville, Georgia - he has become more outspoken in his faith and has taken a huge step in his athletic career - he will likely be the starting quarterback this year for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars; you see, Trevor Lawrence was this year's #1 draft pick after a stellar career at Clemson, playing for a coach who is likewise outspoken in his faith, Dabo Sweeney.  

The afore-mentioned pastor is quoted in the SI article as saying: "Faith for him brings peace and context into his life. It bleeds into every part of his life." The article relates:

Lawrence is not shy about discussing his faith. In fact, he wears it. On his wrists are a half-dozen personalized rubber bracelets, each a different color with its own message. There is one representing a church band, two more portraying Bible verses and another recognizing Clemson’s 2018 national championship. This is where faith and football merge.

Baptist Press also points out Trevor's charitable work, stating, "Early in the COVID shutdown, Lawrence and his then-fiancé Marissa Mowry (also a Cartersville native) received permission from the NCAA to begin a relief fund for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic in their hometown and upstate South Carolina."  Last month, he and now-wife Marissa "announced they would donate $20,000 to Jacksonville-area charities after Jaguars fans bought items off the registry for their future quarterback."

Trevor has been blessed by God and is using what he has been given in order to serve others. The Baptist Press article quotes his high school coach, Jody King, who now coaches at Cedartown High School in Georgia: 

"To whom much is given, much is required,” King told the Cartersville Daily Tribune Tuesday (April 27) in paraphrasing Luke 12:48. “[Lawrence] understands that and is grateful for that. That’s one of the things I always preached to my teams [in Cartersville] and to my new team. One of our core values here is gratitude.”

We can ask the question, what have I been given?  We have been created by God and, if we are born again, brought into the Kingdom of God for a purpose.  We have certain gifts to use and opportunities to respond to.  We can consider how we are glorifying God through what we choose to do. 

There's also a matter of influence - who has influenced us and who we are influencing. As that Baptist Press article related, Lawrence is a product of the community in which he grew up, and it is clear that people poured into his life. Granted, not all of our childhood influences or even influences later in life are good. We have to choose what and whom we follow and be sure to live a life that reflects Christ so that we can impact those with whom God brings into our lives. 

Errors in Trans-lation

The Bible provides encouragement for us to make sure that we are grounded in Christ and that our lives are built on His foundation. Jeremiah 17 reminds us:
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.'

So, there is the key to a satisfying life - trusting in God and putting our hope in Him.  The world is full of false promises and fruitless illusions, that will not produce peace and joy in our hearts. God calls us to be rooted in Him and in His principles, realizing that true growth and spiritual maturity come as we are devoted to His ways.  Human wisdom will deceive us and lead us astray; God's wisdom will provide us with reliable direction by which we can stand confident and firm in an unstable world.

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We have ideological and philosophical cancers in our culture today, which are spreading and infect hearts and minds. That's not my analogy, it's the apostle Paul's; he writes in 2nd Timothy 2:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
17 And their message will spread like cancer.

Across the country, state legislatures are passing laws that would prevent males who identify as females from competing against females in school sports.  This comes as the federal government is continuing to push an agenda that considers "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected groups under Title IX, which was designed to, ironically enough, protect females!  Not presumed females.

Alabama is one of the states that has passed such a law, which was signed by the governor.  And, it seems that weekly, more states are being added to the list.  

Interestingly enough, a Morning Consult poll from several weeks ago finds significant support for what are called "trans females," who are actually biological males, competing against biological females.  The survey summary says:

In a Morning Consult survey conducted April 16-19, 40 percent of U.S. adults said they support allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports at the collegiate level, while 42 percent opposed their participation. Opinions about transgender participation in high school girls’ sports and professional women’s sports were virtually the same.

It goes on to say, "Nearly 1 in 3 Americans...said they 'strongly oppose' allowing transgender women to play sports against other women in college."

There are those that say allowing boys to compete in girls' sports is "fair," but is it fair to young ladies who have been training to compete in certain sports to have to compete against boys who may have a competitive advantage?  The polling data shows that the majority of Americans believe that biological males who identify as women have that advantage; the summary says:

While Americans are fairly evenly split on whether transgender women should be allowed to play women’s sports, most believe that transgender women have a competitive advantage over cisgender women, or those whose gender identity matches the one they were assigned at birth. 

Fifty-six percent of adults agreed transgender women generally have an advantage, compared with 21 percent who disagreed with that notion.

There's that phrase: "assigned at birth."  Well, who assigned someone's gender?  The doctor, a nurse, the parents, or perhaps the Creator, whose Word says that from the beginning He created male and female - you can't say a person's gender is "assigned," unless you are referring to God Himself.  By the way, someone has invented the ridiculous term, "cisgender," to describe someone whose gender identity matches his or her biology. 

The article also mentions that states who pass this legislation may run afoul of the NCAA, which had released a statement "supporting transgender participation in college sports and warning lawmakers that it will only hold events in locations that are 'free of discrimination.' Under NCAA rules, transgender women are allowed to participate in women’s sports after undergoing one year of testosterone suppression treatment."

Beth Stelzer, founder of a consortium called Save Women's Sports, who is referred to in the article, "said lawmakers need to prioritize fairness in women’s sports over the potential short-term economic impact of losing NCAA events."

And, while we're using new terms and phrases to reflect a more enlightened age, to redefine the word, "mother" as "birthing people" is also problematic.  According to FoxNews.com, a Missouri Congresswoman, Cori Bush, as well as the National Abortion Rights Action League used that phrase the week before Mother's Day.  U.S. House members pushed back at an attempt recently to establish a "gender-free rules package;" the article notes:

In an effort to be inclusive to those who don't identify as a specific gender, the rules package strips all mention of gender-specific pronouns and terms such as "man," "woman," "mother" and "son."

The attempt to placate a small swath of the population has led to language madness and odd policies. And, dominant media culture plays along.  This poll gives us an idea about what real Americans are thinking, yet it would have perhaps been unfathomable even a decade ago that sports participation would be governed by one's declared "identity" rather than his or her actual gender. 

We have to remember to live in the world of reality.  Sometimes that will mean withdrawing from exposure to media, especially social media.  The headlines can produce headaches and detract us from the fresh truth of God's Word.  On today's Meeting House, May Patterson provides encouragement to seek the Lord and draw near to Him.  Our devotion to truth helps us stay grounded in an unstable environment.

Who's Watching?

It's Paul on trial, as we find in the latter sections of the book of Acts - a series of trials, actually, and while there were those who accused him according to their interpretation of the law, he declared his intent to maintain a good conscience within. He declared in Acts 24:
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Because we know Christ, we can be led of His Holy Spirit.  He has given us a conscience, which gives us the ability to discern right from wrong and to give us wisdom in order that we might make good decisions. We can pay attention to the indwelling presence of the Spirit in our hearts and train ourselves to know when He is directing us. Through the Word of God being activated inside, we can seek to live according to its principles. 

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In John chapter 16, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit - he says:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

On yesterday's program, I made mention of an invention that seems to be well-intentioned, but that could be regarded as a bit invasive, reminding us that while we love our technology, we should be aware of privacy concerns.

The Washington Examiner reported on a device called the "Halo," made by Amazon.  Tim Carney writes:

The retail giant owned by the world’s richest man last year began offering a $65 device you could wear on your wrist to judge you on your tone when you speak to others. It would also measure your heart rate and other measures.

“Halo” was quite the fitting name for this device, which tells you whether you’ve been good or bad. Presumably, if you yell at the referee or scold your children too much, Bezos awards you devil’s horns instead of a halo.

Now, Amazon has released an Alexa with a screen, a "motion tracker." Carney writes, "The latest Amazon Echo doesn’t merely listen to you. It watches you with a camera. And follows you as you walk around."  He adds:

A privacy violation? No doubt! But have you considered the convenience of being able to keep streaming CNN while assembling your salad — or while getting enough steps to keep your Halo from judging you?

CNET.com, about this new Amazon Echo Show 10 says, "People who are creeped out by cameras might have a hard time liking the Echo Show 10. While all the display's data is processed locally on the device and you have the option to turn off motion and physically shutter the camera, it's still a strange feeling when an inanimate object, well, animates."

But, what if we could see ourselves and the way we interact with others, the way that perhaps a Halo or Echo does?  We may not want personal information to end up in the wrong hands, but I would submit that some self-awareness, which could lead to self-control, could be beneficial.  While the Halo may presume to help someone watch his or her tone, we have access to something far more reliable.

Well, we do have an inner guide, a conscience, activated by the Holy Spirit, who will prompt us when our tone is off or when we don't walk in love or violate Scriptural principles, and that's good - when we choose to listen.  The Spirit will convict us of sin and give us the capacity to correct our shortcomings.

We can even learn to "see" ourselves, in a sense, as God sees us.  It's not a camera, but He can give us the realization when we behave in a manner that does not line up with His ways. We can also, through the Word, develop a sense of who we are in Him.  And, we can learn to see others through the eyes of God's love.  Through Him, we can learn more about what it truly means to be holy, not because of ourselves, but because of the presence of Christ in us.  

Through and After the Fire

There will be difficulties we will encounter, even as believers in Christ. Our walk with God does not exempt us from trouble, but He sustains us in our trouble. 2nd Corinthians 4 reminds us:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

This reflects the proper attitude of a believer in crisis.  Yes, there will the storms of life, the fires that we encounter, yet we know God goes with us.  We don't ignore our pain or live in a state of denial - instead, we embrace that we are struggling and allow God to give us His strength, so that we might know His love more deeply.  And, He manifests His love through His people - we are called to be sensitive to needs and allow the Lord to use us to stand with those who struggle.   

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Peter reminds the readers in 1st Peter chapter 4 that tribulation will come, and we can respond by rejoicing. We can read these verses:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

In times of tragedy, the goodness of God will bring people together.  And, when others are hurting we can reach out to lend a helping hand.

Such was the case of a bivocational pastor in Lenoir City, Tennessee, which is just outside of Knoxville. The Tennessee Baptist publication, The Baptist and Reflector, ran a touching story recently that was also found on the new national website launched by The Alabama Baptist, called, The Baptist Paper.  

In early April, Kenny Palmer, who is a bivocational pastor and a deputy for the Loudon County Sheriff's Department, was informed by a dispatcher one night that his house was on fire. Fortunately, his wife and their youngest son were not home. Their oldest son was with him. Kenny said, “Everything we owned was gone in a moment...” And, he related that he thought, "What do we do now?” But he said, "I knew God would take care of this." One of the losses was, as the article says, "the Bible that he had been given when he was ordained as a deacon and the one he has used since he was called to preach."

But, that's only part of the story - the community, including the family of God, came along side the Palmer family; Kenny relates, “It is a testament to God to see how people have supported us with money, clothing and prayers. God really showed up.”

The article relates that Phil Holmes, director of missions for the Loudon County Baptist Association said, “Several of our churches are taking up special offerings for them. Our association leadership also offered them a sizable donation to help them back on their feet...," adding, "We have seen a very strong outpouring of the love of Christ to bless this amazing family...Thank you to all who donated clothing, gift cards to restaurants and other items while they are staying in a hotel, and thank you for your prayers for the Palmer family.”  Even while the fire was in progress, area pastors were reaching out to their fellow servant, according to the article.

And, God has opened up doors for Kenny Palmer to share his testimony of God's faithfulness during this time of difficulty on local television stations. 

Regarding the support he has seen, Palmer states, “It has been very humbling,” adding, “The Lord will use whoever and whatever to bless His people. He has done that and it has been amazing.”

First of all, as we reflect on this story, it begins with the tragedy.  We will all have adversity enter into our lives.  How we allow it to affect us is key.  Pastor and Deputy Palmer chose to trust God even when he lost his earthly possessions in a fire, yet, he and his family saw the heavenly outpouring of God's faithfulness. 

The tragedy, the fire, was just the beginning of the story. The Palmers' house was burned down, and that could have been regarded merely as a devastating loss, with the family left to pick up the pieces. But, then God showed up.  And, that is also instructive for us - we don't have to draw our own conclusions and get caught up in a human response.  We can trust God and look for His hand, which was certainly all over this situation.

The response of compassion kicked in. And, that is the beauty of the work of the Church - where we see a need, we are called to meet that need. By so doing, we show the world the love of Christ. And, that response gave Kenny Palmer a greater story to tell, as he had the opportunity to relate God's work.

We can recount how God has been present during our times of challenge, and there is the further story to be told of what God did after it.

Simple Gifts

In a tender speech to the elders at Ephesus, the apostle Paul poured out his heart and encouraged those to whom he spoke to be charitable. He proclaimed in Acts 20:
32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " 

As recipients of God's grace, we recognize that He is enough and that He is our provider - we are to not desire what others have, but to be dedicated to work that provides not only for our own needs, but for the needs of others.  The Christian faith has a strong element of giving, predicated on our God, who gave His Son, who gave His life, so that we might have life, and has provided us an abundant life so that we can develop an attitude of being content in His provision and willing to share.

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Jesus invites us to come before Him in humility - like children, we can surrender to His abundant love. Matthew 19 states:
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Ira Miller is a 104-year-old man who lives in West Virginia.  He cross another milestone back in January when he celebrated his birthday.  But, there's another milestone that he has reached - he has packed 1000 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, the initiative of Samaritan's Purse in which shoeboxes full of small gifts are sent to needy children all over the world.

That's according to CBN.com, which reported recently:

For years Miller has devoted his time to packing Christmas boxes for children through Operation Christmas Child. He started packing the shoeboxes at his small church in West Virginia. The congregation usually assembled 35 boxes a year, but in 2016, Miller packed 21 by himself.

Then in 2017, Miller was gearing up to celebrate his 100th birthday and the idea arose for him to pack 100 boxes in honor of his centennial.

His daughter, Debbie Welch assisted him in reaching that mark. Ira says, “I hope [the children] are blessed and realize that God looks after them and that there’s still hope for them..." He is also quoted as saying, "The Lord has blessed me and I still want to do something for the children who don't know the Lord," adding, "I return all my thanks to Him." His grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also part of what has become a family tradition.

And, as CBN relates: "On his 100th birthday, Miller and his family decided to keep track of how many shoeboxes he packed. By the time he turned 104-years-old on Jan. 27, he had reached 1,000 boxes, The Garrett County Republican reports."  And, that's just since he turned a hundred, according to an Instagram post included with the CBN story.

And, the total numbers are in for this past year's Operation Christmas Child effort - 9.1 million shoeboxes were collected in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, according to another CBN.com story.  7.8 million of those were collected in the U.S.  Franklin Graham heads the ministry, and is quoted in the article as saying: "This has been a difficult year for many children around the world...More than ever, they need to be reminded that God loves them and He hasn't forgotten them. I thank God for the incredible team of volunteers who serve year-round to share the hope of the Gospel with children—one shoebox at a time."

More than 570,000 volunteers were reportedly involved in the effort, including 270,000 in the U.S. There were over 4000 collection sites across America, and the story notes, "The new concept of a touch-free, curbside drop-off system for people donating shoebox gifts was introduced which allowed donors to safely contribute to the cause."

Operation Christmas Child has been so effective for a number of reasons.  For one thing, it's simple. Participants pack a shoebox full of toys, school supplies, and other items.  We humans have a tendency to complicate things; Franklin Graham and his team have made things simple. 

Operation Christmas Child also helps to foster cooperation - families can get together and acquire the gifts and assemble the boxes.  Churches organize around the effort and become partners in an effective missions effort.  It's a ministry to children, which appeals to people of all ages who get involved.

It also gives a person an opportunity to play his or her part in the Great Commission.  These boxes get the attention of kids, and when the point is made that this shoebox gift represents the greatest gift that has been made available to anyone - the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ - it resonates with the children.  

We can ask ourselves: where are we serving?  How are we spreading God's love?  Here is one avenue to allow God to manifest His love through someone. 

Surfing Through Adversity

One can look at Proverbs 31 and be challenged, perhaps, or trust in the Lord to produce the characteristics and attitudes that are reflected there. For instance, on this Mother's Day, we can gain a sense of God's equipping for our moms:

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all."

Not only do we see certain capabilities that God makes available - to speak with wisdom, to be sensitive to the needs of a household, to be active in doing God's work.  But, we also see how children and fathers can be affirming toward the mothers in their midst.  Children - that means all of us - with mothers, can be complimentary and respectful.  And husbands can be careful to "praise" their wives, as well. In our families, as we are dedicated to bringing praise to God, we can look for ways to praise each other, including our moms.

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There is great advantage in life when we consider the principles of Scripture and show respect to our mothers and fathers.  Respect for parental authority can produce healthy attitudes and actions. Ephesians 6 echoes the Ten Commandments, which are found in Exodus 20, stating:
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

We can rejoice that God has given us the components through which we can live a life that honors Him, an abundant life even though there may be challenges. We have impedances along the way, yet in our weakness, God is strong.  For instance, the apostle Paul had a "thorn in the flesh," which helped Him to realize God's strength in His own life.  While there may be physical struggles and scars, there are also the spiritual and emotional wounds and losses.  But, through all of them, God is faithful, and He will use our pain to draw Him closer to Himself.

You are probably familiar with the story of Bethany Hamilton: her story is told in the book and movie, Soul Surfer.  She lives life with an impedance: she has only one arm.  She has been and continues to pursuing being a competitive surfer and when she was much younger, she lost that arm in a shark attack.  

At age 31, she is a wife and the mother of three children, the most recent arriving in February. The Movieguide website includes some Instagram material in this section:

“Mom life. Not always smiles. The balance. The ups and downs. The the most beautiful gift but also so incredibly challenging…Sleep deprivation. They cry. They stretch us mentally and emotionally. I cry. But then they smile and coo and nurse sweetly,” Hamilton wrote.

However, Hamilton is grateful to God for the “challenge and joy” of raising children.

“Thankful for this life and the beauty of motherhood. Thankful for my family, friends, my husband and boys,” Hamilton wrote. “Grateful to God to have this beautiful challenge and joy.”

And, as the article notes, she has implemented, as she says, “tricks and adaptations," which "are getting better with each child.” She also related on Instagram, "I use my feet to help with diaper changing, lots of pillows with nursing, a baby carrier all throughout the day and tricky styles of holding to keep baby’s head up.” One key, according to Bethany is to “keep moving forward, have lil breaks and keep it positive!”

This Sunday is the day set aside to honor mothers, although it's a practice that should ideally be done consistently.  We can certainly appreciate the high call that God has given to those who are mothers and realize that not only is the call there, but the ability is, as well.  Guests recently have addressed the incredible equipping that God makes available to those who are called to be mothers, specifically, and how He provides the capability to fulfill that call.

Bethany Hamilton, in addition to demonstrating the heart of a mom, also shows the mechanics of a mom.  There are certain skills that are helpful in raising kids, and she is doing it with only one arm, which is totally amazing.  But, there will be things that could hold all of us back in fulfilling what God has directed us to do - we can depend on the companionship, power, and wisdom of the Lord to sustain us and to flow through us in order to bring Him honor.

Praying By the Numbers

The 2021 National Day of Prayer has, as its theme, “LORD pour out Your LOVE, LIFE, and LIBERTY.” The theme Scripture verse is 2nd Corinthians 3:17 NKJV, which says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  

Throughout our nation, people are coming together and joining their hearts together to call out to the Lord.  We certainly need the mercy of God for our nation, and we can cry out for a move of God, that He would, as the theme suggests, pour out those three elements.  We know that a loving God desires to bring people into a saving knowledge of Christ and to give them eternal and abundant life.  And, true liberty - freedom in Christ - poured out in our hearts can transform our lives.  He has set us free and we are free to come together and unite our hearts so that He may be glorified.

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God invites us to come into His presence, to seek His face, and to humbly call out to Him. 1st John 5 can fortify our expectation. In that chapter, we see these words:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

This is the day set aside to observe a National Day of Prayer, an American institution that was originally set aside in 1952, directing the President of the United States to set aside such a day.  That's according to the National Day of Prayer Task Force website, which says that in 1988, Congress passed and President Reagan signed the authorization for a National Day of Prayer, to be observed the first Thursday in May. 

This is the 70th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer.  The theme is "Lord, Pour Out Your Life, Love, and Liberty."

The Presidential Prayer Team has partnered with the National Day of Prayer to offer opportunities and encouragement to pray on this special day.  Last year, the Team partnered with George Barna and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University for a survey on some of the dynamics of the practice of prayer in America; I want to revisit some of that information.

According to a summary on the Prayer Team's website, 45% of adults in America "claims to pray every day." Also, as the summary states, "An additional one out of five (20%) prays at least once a week, but not daily. Almost as many (17%) pray irregularly, with 15% saying they never pray."

The level of involvement and awareness of matters of government and politics is actually stronger for people who pray. The survey found that "Those in the general public who pray regularly are more likely than those who do not to pay “a lot” of attention to news about politics and government. Among people who pray at least once a week, 30% pay a lot of attention to such news compared to just 21% among people who pray less often or never."

Why do people pray? This survey offers some insight. In the general public, people pray because for a number of reasons - here are some of the principal ones:

• 64% of those surveyed say they "believe it is a meaningful way to communicate with God,"
• 57% say "prayer is central to their personal relationship with God,
• and 57% responded that it is one of their ways of worshiping God,
• 55% stated "it helps them to cope with challenging situations," and
• 53% say that "praying gives them reason to hope for a positive resolution to difficult situations."

And, who do people pray for? The survey summary relates, "Respondents in the general public were asked which, if any, of six entities they pray for in a typical week. A majority of adults say they usually pray at least once a week for three of those six: other people they know (75%); the country (61%); and the military (53%)." The other areas are: the President, other governmental officials, and people with whom they disagree.

Almost 4-in-10 of those surveyed said that "God hears and answers all prayers," while only 2-in-10 say that He hears all prayers but will respond according to His will. 

According to this poll, a total of 85% of American adults pray, with almost two-thirds praying at least once a week.  Prayer is not a spectator sport, we have to be in the game, as participants - it's not intended to be casual activity, but consistent in its practice.  James describes the importance of "fervent prayer."

So, we can be challenged to be engaged when we pray, anticipating that God will respond according to His will.  He is not some sort of magic genie who answers everything we ask, no matter how selfish, but He is a loving God who calls us to come before Him with reverence and awe, presenting our requests and confident that He hears. We can be specific with what we present.  And, we can be responsive - giving Him praise for His love, goodness, and faithfulness, and taking action when He directs us.