No More Taboos?

Listen to what 1st Peter 1 says:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."   I was alarmed and amazed by the words spoken by TV icon Mary Tyler Moore in an interview before receiving the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award last night.   According to Zap2It.com:

She broke a number of taboos in her shows, but doesn't think there are many barriers left to break through on telelvision. "Taboos?" she says, "there aren't any taboos anymore."

I think this is disappointing, but very true - and perhaps the remaining taboos will crumble if court action concerning the FCC's policy on profanity is struck down - those that wish to see it revised say the current policy is unclear. 

And, while what is shown on television and depicted in movies does have a strong influence on our behavior, it does present a challenge to us as Christians to not only evaluate what we consume, but also what we regard as "taboo".   I believe that the Scriptures teach moral absolutes - what is right and what is wrong, what pleases God's heart and what does not.  And, as we have been cleansed by Jesus Christ in salvation by virtue of receiving a new heart, so we are encouraged to walk with clean hands and a clean heart - to monitor our thoughts and our behavior, to make sure that everything inside and outside lines up with the moral code that is given to us in the Bible.  That is what holiness entails...

...And in this age of grace, where so many, even within the church, have an "anything goes" mentality in a number of areas - God's absolutes, His holy standards remain.   So, as the standard has been set to be holy as He is holy, we recognize that we must protect our hearts and minds from cultural influences that run contrary to what pleases God and take seriously the call to be a peculiar, a different, a distinctive people, who reflect the nature of God.   Yes, for the Christian there are plenty of what you would call "taboos", leading to what the Bible calls "sin" - and I am thankful that I have a Savior who can cleanse us.

Ears to Hear, Lips to Sing

A familiar, but compelling passage from Jeremiah 29:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

USA Today has this account of last night's "American Idol" auditions from the Houston/Galveston area:

Ramiro Garcia was born with no ears. Doctors told his parents that he wouldn't be able to hear or speak. But surgeries that started when he was 4 revealed that he had inner-ear workings. Today, he's a worship minister in Houston.

He auditions with Chris Tomlin's rewrite of Amazing Grace, called Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). And the judges are wowed.


"I guess we're taking a leap of faith with you today," Jennifer tells him.

Not only does Ramiro have an incredible testimony of God's greatness, which was acknowledged and even showcased last night in the Idol show, but the guy can sing.   After all, he leads worship at America's largest church.  And, there was such a "God-moment" - the simple, but profound lyrics of "Amazing Grace", the seriousness that the playful and sometimes raunchy Steven Tyler displayed, the heartfelt meditation of Randy Jackson, and JLo's comments about taking a leap of faith.   I think it really shows that when God shows up, His presence has the power to transform a place!!   And, perhaps the millions who were watching were touched, as well.   The power of a simple "God-moment" can bring a greater awareness of His truth and His love - witness the Google-fest of John 3:16 when Tim Tebow passed for that number of yards and Focus on the Family followed it up with their 30-second commercial in the next game.   Never discount or minimize the power of God in you...to express His love and His presence.

Check out the video:

What is That in Your Hand?

I want to draw your attention to Exodus 4:2 So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Romans 12:6 gives us a great application in our own lives: "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..."

It was just about a year ago when a homeless man with an incredible voice was discovered by a TV reporter in Ohio - many embraced Ted Williams, who had made some bad choices and had a string of bad circumstances, but people were so enamored with his voice that they embraced him, and helped him.  They offered him voiceover jobs and helped him get into rehab.   Now, one year later, after even a rocky road to being drug-free, he's doing voice work, was offered a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team, and at least appears to have a bit of stability in his life - and he has a house for a home, rather than a box.


Ted has made mistakes, but he has a gift, and if you've heard his voice, you'll agree.  And, I believe that God has given to each of us a gift, and from a Kingdom perspective, we have a purpose to be used for His glory.  And, the pages of the Scriptures show us scores of characters that are not perfect, but were used by Him anyway.   Moses was given a rod that would become a snake, and he was given a companion who would speak, because he just didn't think God could use his voice.   So, the application for us, is "What is that in your hand?"  In other words, what unique talent or ability has God given to you?   Thank Him for it and seeking His face regarding how you can use it for your glory.  Then, be obedient as God opens doors.   


And, I do believe that the Lord has given to each of us a voice - not necessarily in the physical sense, like our friend Ted, but we are called to affirm, to encourage, to do good works that speak volumes - sharing the love of Christ to others.   There will be divine appointments for us to share with others what God has done in our lives, to speak the good news that Christ has come to save, and to perhaps even reach out to people in our neighborhood, church, or workplace, who are in need, or to minister the love of Christ to those who are the most vulnerable among us.   Maybe there's a Ted Williams that you will encounter, who needs to be pointed in the right direction, to be affirmed in his or her worth before God, and maybe to come to a saving knowledge of Christ.   The President talked about income disparity last night, and I thought about those in poverty, and what a wonderful opportunity we have as Christians, as churches, individuals, and families, to address the needs of the poor - maybe even ministering to their physical needs temporarily, but teaching and reinforcing them in life skill and providing an avenue for them to exercise responsibility to become independent of government, but dependent on Christ.   The church can be a strong voice in our culture to address physical - and spiritual - poverty. 

Rescued!

There is good news from God's Word in Colossians chapter 1:
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

They were merely visiting some sites in northern Somalia, doing some humanitarian work - as we know, Somalia is a dangerous place, a frontier where war lords and pirates vie for control.   And, foreigners are not treated hospitalibly - take American Jessica Buchanan and Danish worker Poul Thisted, who were captured back in October.   Well, this past Monday night, the President authorized elite Navy SEALS to be part of a daring rescue effort, as special forces in helicopters penetrated the place where 9 gunman were holding the duo.  They drew fire and explosives were present, but the mission was completed - a breathtaking attempt by our military forces to rescue the hostages.

Oh, and a little information about Jessica:
She is 32 years old and was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pa., in 2007. She was a student teacher in Africa before graduating.  The president of the school said that, "She fell in love with Africa...She was so anxious to get back.”

Her home church, the York Cavalry Temple Assembly of God, put out a message during her captivity that combined her devotion and determination.

"Please pray for Jessica and her family. She is a former student at Valley Forge Christian college and she sold all she owned to become a missionary in Somalia. Pray for her safe keeping and safe return," the church said.   

Indeed, her rescue was an answer to prayer.


I thought of our troops going into a largely lawless region - in Somalia - to save 2 lives.   And, it reminded me that we as believers in Christ have been rescued from the bondage of sin, through which the enemy of our souls held us hostage.   He came to earth - a place that was under the power of sin and death, a fallen world - and Jesus submitted Himself to death so that we might live...it was a dramatic rescue effort, but it was necessary because God wanted to redeem us, to bring humanity back into fellowship with Him.    Jesus defeated that power of sin and death, making it possible for each of us to be released from our bondage, and giving us the ability to live the Christian life as we fellowship with His Spirit.   Thank God!   He has rescued us.

Lighting Up the Sky

From Hebrews 12:2-3:
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

NASA has made this announcement:  "The sun erupted late on Jan. 22, 2012 with an M8.7 class flare, an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), and a burst of fast moving, highly energetic protons known as a 'solar energetic particle' event..."  It's a solar flare, or a solar burst, that occurred Sunday and reached the magnetosphere of the earth earlier today.   The expectation was that northern regions, including parts of Canada, and even Scotland and southern England, that do not normally see the aurora borealis would actually experience the incredible show of the northern lights.   And, there could be a disruption in some forms of mass communications, including satellite and some sophisticated GPS devices.

I have to think about the spiritual parallel of this event.   The spectacular light shows do point to the wonders of the universe that were instigated by our Creator God, and reminds us of the power of the sun - we're just the right distance away from it to maintain so many natural aspects of life as we know it.   And, I do think this occasion can teach us about the nature of disruptions, or interruptions.

There are events in our lives that can disrupt or distract, and they may look appealing, even spectacular, but in the end, they do not satisfy.  While wealth is not sinful and having possessions is not necessarily a bad thing, if they serve to take our minds off the important things that God has ordained, and if we look to ourselves as our provider, rather than God, then they become disruptive.  (Author & speaker Jen Hatmaker will address some of those principles on TMH.)    So, when disruptions come and steal our attention, we have to be careful to continue to keep our eyes on Jesus, reading and meditating on His Word, spending time connecting with Him in prayer, and making up our minds to follow Him daily.   And, while this huge solar flare is only expected to cause minor glitches, in real life, when we encounter distractions, small instances can become bigger patterns that will take us off track.   So, we fix our eyes on Jesus...

The Expression of Hope

Hebrews 6 says this:
3 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.", and at the conclusion of this passage, we read.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

I've had hope on my mind today.   I read a quote from Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the victim of an assassination attempt, who posted a video on her website, saying, in part, "I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover.  I have more work to do on my recovery so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week"   Hope can bring strength...to change, to grow, to heal.

Then she said, "I'm getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country. Thank you very much."  So she resigns, not in defeat, but in optimism for her recovery.

In contrast, Joe Paterno didn't resign when he was asked to in the wake of a horrific scandal at the university that he so dearly loved.  He wanted to coach the remainder of the season; he couldn't - he was abruptly fired.   Not too long after that, he was diagnosed with cancer, and 2 months later, he was dead.   He expressed regret that he had not done more in response to the report that his assistant coach was perhaps involved in deviant behavior. 

Perhaps, perhaps not, despair and regret, two powerful forces, were prevalent in the wake of his losing the job he had held for 45 years, leading Penn State to 409 victories, the most in Division I history.  But, in the end, he became a symbol of a dark moment in university history, but perhaps his incredible legacy will be enshrined with his on-the-field heroics, rather than the off-the-field heartache.   Paterno was someone who instilled hope in student-athletes, and even though his final days were apparently not full of that hope, I know many Penn State fans hope that he is remembered appropriately.   Hope can bring a desire to achieve, to be the best...and despair & regret are enemies of hope.

And, even in the aftermath of some 54 million babies who have lost their lives to abortion since Roe vs. Wade in 1973, an anticipated hundreds of thousands gathered again this year at the National Mall to stand in favor of life, against abortion, with hope for the future that lives can be saved as we become involved.  Hope anticipates a better day even when there is tragedy...

And, that's a good word today for people in a section of Jefferson County north of Birmingham, the Clay area - a beautiful place where I used to live - which was one of many areas that suffered damage as the result of an early morning tornadoes.   I remember areas such as Center Point, Chalkville, Pinson, and Trussville fondly, and know that many are facing loss of hope today - but Christian volunteers are already swinging into action...I'm sure that the a number of faith-based organizations are either on the scene or will be soon.  Christian Service Mission, which was a major player in helping residents of north Birmingham after the April 27 tornadoes, is already mobilizing.  Hope can be expressed through acts of charity...

So, what's the source of your hope today?    In Christ, believers have the chance to experience this hope, and know that God is going before us to express His will and magnify His name.   The power of hope is an unstoppable force, and true, lasting hope is found in the power and presence of Jesus.

Game Change

Here's one of those life-changing moments, from the ministry of Jesus in Mark chapter 10:
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. 

Jesus asked the question of the blind man crying out for mercy, "What do you want Me to do for you?"   He replied that he wanted to see.   This was a game-changer, a defining moment in this man's life - his story intersected with God's story...he stood in the presence of the living God made flesh, and something dramatic, something wonderful happened.


The word, "gamechanger" is applied to one of those dramatic moments that changes the trajectory or the pattern of an event or series of events.  Numerous moments have been termed potentially game changing in the Presidential race.   There was a rather well-known coach who's set up shop not far from here about whom a movie was made, called "Gamechanger".   Google the word and you'll find references to Alzheimer's research, Olympic skiing, and a host of other topics.   


This blind man in Mark 10 was looking for a gamechanger, and knew Jesus had the power to do it.   And, while I believe that we are to abide in Christ, and seek Him daily, there may be occasions when we are trusting Him by faith to do BIG things in our lives - big things that bring Him glory, that demonstrate that He indeed does exceeding abundantly beyond what we ask our think.   Joshua is a great example - he got in the game, God gave him the playbook, and underscored its importance in Joshua chapter 1:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 


He certainly had some game changing moments:  seeing the Jordan River part, experiencing God's victory at Jericho, and learning how to overcome sin following the defeat at Ai.   So, if you're up against a situation that needs a "game changer"...


1 - Get in the game; surrender to Him in salvation and a commitment to discipleship
2 - Absorb the principles of the playbook
3 - Mention your request to God for what is needed
4 - Expect to receive; do what the Holy Spirit directs you to do
5 - Continue to trust Him for opportunities to show Himself faithful
6 - Hold on to those defining moments in the past to encourage you in the present
7 - Acknowledge the answer
8 - Note what He's done and thank Him for how He's worked in your life9 - Give credit to God as you tell others about what He's done.


10 - Exhibit confidence in Him that He will do exceeding abundantly beyond what we ask or think.
11 - Repeat these steps!!



God is in the business of bringing change, and He does not desire for us to stay static, but to grow and experience those life-changing, game-changing moments - again, not for our glory, but for His.