Forgotten Man & Remembered God

Psalm 24 says this:
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is the King of glory ? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is this King of glory ? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.  What we see through our eyes becomes imprinted upon our minds, and those images can propel us to draw closer to God or pull us away from Him.   We have to be careful to guard the gateways to our minds, and allow the King of Glory to permeate our thinking, so that we can reflect His glory!


The painting is called, "The Forgotten Man", and it pictures a man sitting on a park bench in front of the White House, surrounded by 43 U.S. Presidents.   The current President, Barack Obama, is standing on the Constitution, while James Madison is trying to persuade him not to.   The painting features discarded dollar bills and scraps of paper with constitutional amendments written on them. 

Artist Jon McNaughton has uploaded a video of him painting the canvas, and according to the International Business Times, he says:   "For a long time I didn't know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial. This man on the park bench represents every man, woman, and child who is an American... he hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity...But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed by the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters."   He went on to say:  "I don't place all the blame on Obama. On my website I try to explain what each president has done...The thing I like about the painting is that it does get people talking."

McNaughton is also known for a painting called, "One Nation Under God", depicts Jesus surrounded by characters from American history plus Satan. Some of the characters are actual people (such as Ronald Reagan, James Madison) and some represent types of people, such as a handicapped child, a news reporter,  a professor clutching Darwin's Origin Of Species, and a judge weeping over Roe vs. Wade.

Jon McNaughton uses the power of imagery to communicate his views, and whether you agree with him completely, he has people talking.  Images can be powerful tools, and God desires for us to implant images in our minds that can serve to remind us of His truth and His glory.   If we are viewing images that are not pleasing to Him, then there are negative implications in our walk.   When I read the book of Exodus, and how God gave His people tangible reminders of His presence, such as the tabernacle and its decor, the adornments of the priests, and the powerful symbolism of the sacrifices that were established, it shows me how important that it is to keep reminders of God in the forefront of our minds, so we can remember to praise Him and live for Him - each day.    

Dickens at 200

1st Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

We can examine each of our actions with the question: does it glorify God?   We were created to bear fruit, so that we might call attention to the presence of Jesus in us.

Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

He was not considered to be a devout or orthodox Christian - he was outspoken against what he perceived as the excesses of religious people and even embraced Unitarianism for a time.   But, he also wrote one of the greatest expressions of spiritual truth found in literature - A Christmas Carol.  Yes, today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.  According to Stephen Rost in Christianity Today:

Dickens respected the Bible and Christ and sought to instill in his children the same reverence. Near the end of his life he wrote to a reader: “I have always striven in my writings to express veneration for the life and lessons of Our Saviour; because I feel it; and because I re-wrote that history for my children—every one of whom knew it from having it repeated to them—long before they could read, and almost as soon as they could speak. But I have never made proclamation of this from the house tops.”

In fact, in 1934, Dickens' last published work was released: The Life of Our Lord.  Rost writes:

The Life of Our Lord most clearly expresses Dickens’s religious disposition. He respected Christianity’s founder, Jesus Christ, who practiced what Dickens so desperately wanted to find in humanity.

A Christmas Carol is a remarkable tale of redemption, and while it is not specifically a Christian story, there are many spiritual principles that are woven through it.   Dickens had a fascination with the moral and spiritual elements of society, but it's hard to tell whether or not he actually embraced Christ.

Dickens was an artist with a gift - and you know, God has entrusted some who don't know Him with the ability to demonstrate to us spiritual truth.   And, as we recognize how God has gifted each of us, He will call us to use those gifts for His glory.   You may have the ability to write or speak, to paint or sing, or even to construct or sew.   All of those, and so many more, are intended to be used for His glory.   So don't doubt that somehow God has given you a talent...He is a God of unlimited creativity, and He desires for it to flow through us, His children.

Vying for Your Attention

Psalm 101 says this:
1 I will sing of lovingkindness and ^ajustice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises. 2 I will ^bgive heed to the ^cblameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the ^dintegrity of my heart. 3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes...  Thousands of influences compete for your attention each day & we can choose to think on God or on the multiple impressions that distract.  It was a spirited contest last night - talented artisans were engaged in a titanic struggle - a high-stakes fight to the top.   And the football game wasn't bad, either.   Yes, the ad wars sometimes seem to get more attention than the players on the field - and with a star-studded lineup and some glimpses of creativity...along with plenty of money - this became a larger-than-life storyline.   Celebrities included Clint Eastwood, Matthew Broderick, and Jerry Seinfeld, along with dogs, polar bears, and babies.   And, there was an unfortunate emphasis on the risque, such as the ads from a certain Internet company whose ads rank near the bottom of USA Today's AdMeter.   Oh, and by the way, according to that publication:

...the research gurus at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire...have been analyzing Super Bowl ads for more than two decades. They've found that spots with sexual imagery take a 10% hit in "likability" vs. ads without racy images.

"As a basis of comparison, imagine if you were a comedian and you knew your audience felt sexy jokes were 10% less funny than regular jokes," says Chuck Tomkovick, the marketing professor who oversees the study. "You'd tell them very judiciously."

While some of the biggest Super Bowl advertisers have spent millions on ads that exude sexual imagery, most viewers actually prefer to see ads with kids or animals. "The more you put sex in an ad, the less it is liked," Tomkovick says. "It's like using Botox but not having it work out."

And, Hollywood movies skew strongly toward less family-friendly fare:

According to The Numbers, a box office website, Hollywood released 205 R rated movies in 2011 but only 184 in 2009, and 193 in 2010. Yet, the average R-rated movie in 2011 made only $10.8 million in 2011, compared to $12.6 million in 2010, and $14.9 million in 2009.

In comparison, G-rated movies averaged $34.6 million in 2011 when 18 G movies were released, $56.6 million in 2010 when nine G movies were released, and $19.9 million in 2009 when 15 G movies were released.

"That means G-rated movies can make up to three or five times as much money as R-rated movies," Dr. Ted Baehr of Movieguide pointed out. "They also far outperform R-rated movies on DVD and Blu–Ray."

As Christians, we have to be aware that material that violates our values and contradicts the character of Christ is prevalent in our culture.   And, the enemy of our souls wants to use those and a host of other messages to distract us, to draw our attention away from the things that are most important - such as God and His Word, His presence, His love for us, and how He desires to be glorified in us, just to name a few.  And, we see that as an important mission for Faith Radio, to provide a media alternative that can help strengthen you in your walk with Christ.   

Life in the Fishbowl

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.

Tomorrow morning in Indianapolis, the Bart Starr Award will be presented by Athletes in Action, voted on by NFL players, recognizing one of their own for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.   This year, Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher will be the recipient.

Other finalists were Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

Fletcher started the London's Bridge Foundation in 2003 to help underprivileged children in his hometown of Cleveland and other cities, including Washington. He is also involved in other charitable projects.

On the Campus Crusade website, you can read London's testimony.   Having accepted Christ in 2004, he says:

I was tired of living the life that I was living. I knew I couldn’t do this on my own. I felt a fulfillment inside that I had been searching for.

I was very nervous of how my new faith would actually affect me on the football field. I had always played the game with a hate. I felt I had to go out and play with this anger to be successful.

As a Christian, I am thinking, I can’t really play with hate, anger and rage and still be successful. I’m the middle linebacker of the Buffalo Bills and I am known for [being] rough, tumble and physical. How am I going to do this and serve Christ in a manner that is pleasing to Him?

It’s amazing -- not only did my life improve, but also my game improved. Training camp is the toughest part for a football player. But I never got tired and I was staying up until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. reading the Bible. I was gaining more knowledge and growing in my relationship with Christ.

I spent years chasing things I thought would bring me everlasting joy and happiness: chasing Super Bowl rings [I was fortunate to be a part of a Super Bowl with St. Louis in my 2nd year] or a multi-million dollar contract; or a new house, cars and jewelry.

None of those things did for me what Christ did in an instant.

I grew up in a home where my grandmother had us in church. It was more of a routine to go.

I would hear people talk about how Christ changes you, but I was skeptical. Then I felt that on the inside, it was a tremendous thing. I was living in the darkness for so long.

When I accepted Christ, my eyes were open; I wanted to shout and tell the world. I called and told my best friend -- all the friends that I knew -- that I had received Christ. I wanted them to really experience the joy that I felt.

London's testimony and the presentation of the Bart Starr Award can serve to remind us of the enormous pressure that athletes are under.   We can pray that he and other Christians stay strong.   With the overactive media and the blogosphere these days, there are people who would be overzealous to find certain athletes in compromising positions.   I'm sure someone would love to find something on somebody like Tim Tebow.

Or take, for instance, Josh Hamilton, who's scheduled to speak in Houston at a men's event tonight.   His name was trending on Twitter and Google because of a non-specific "relapse" involving alcohol.  You see, Josh was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol - he's turned his life over to Christ, had a high-profile relapse a couple of years ago, and this past week, had 3 or 4 drinks in a local bar due to a family situation.  If you or someone you know has been addicted to substance abuse, you realize the difficulty in staying clean and realize how potentially devastating this series of events is.   In a press conference earlier today, Josh said:

I needed to be in a different place. I need to be responsible, period. And I was not responsible. Those actions of mine hurt a lot of people who are very close to me.


"As far as baseball and the Rangers, they've shown nothing but support to me and tell me they'll continue to support me. ... I can not take a break from my recovery, my recovery is Christ, my recovery is an everyday process. When I take that one day off it leaves me open for a moment of weakness, it's always been that way.

"For everybody I have hurt ... fans, kids, people who have addictions who look up to me, I apologize to you. When you're doing this you don't mean to hurt anybody. As I know, it hurts a lot of people. I have a lot to look at as far as things going on, inside, they aren't bad things, not things that are worrisome as far as me running back out going to drink. It's about getting to the point where I understand, I can't take a break. Again, how hard I play on the field is how hard I need to take a relationship with my Lord.

Amazing how many Christians were tweeting out calls for prayer and support for Josh Hamilton today - this doesn't signify that he has had a dramatic departure from his walk - he sinned, he has repented, and God has forgiven him; hopefully, he has learned.   And, I'm glad the cameras aren't on and the bloggers aren't blogging when I have my sinful moments - we all need the Lord, and while He watches, and while others watch us to see if we're truly who we claim to be, it's only by His grace and strength that we can walk the walk.   So, you go, Josh Hamilton - people are praying for you!

The Groundhog Effect

Romans chapter 6 gives us some great encouragement: 11b. ...reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Yes, it is Groundhog Day, no doubt one of the most quirky observances on earth - a day when millions of Americans have their eyes fixed on a town in Pennsylvania, where a small furry animal comes out of his hole and is regarded as some sort of prognosticator.   Yes, it's an endearing little tradition, complete with an Inner Circle for Punxsutawney Phil that cares for him and his bride, Phyllis, in the town library.   According to Groundhog.org, President Bill Deeley of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club summoned the creature to come forth - it was a bright sunshiny day in Pennsylvania, therefore Phil saw his shadow and there will now be 6 more weeks of winter - case closed!!

Because of a movie starring Bill Murray back in 1993 called "Groundhog Day", where Murray plays a weatherman sent to cover this event and enters some sort of time trap, reliving the day over and over again, with some humorous and even dark effects, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has entered common use as a reference to an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or seems to.
^\
In the military, referring to unpleasant, unchanging, repetitive situations as “Groundhog Day” was widespread very soon after the movie’s release in February 1993.  A speech by then-President Clinton in 1996 specifically referred to the movie and the use of the phrase by military personnel in Bosnia.  It's also reportedly been used by military members to describe any day of a tour of duty in Iraq.



<sup>In some ways, perhaps our lives can take on that appearance of a "Groundhog Day" - same old routine day to day, and maybe even the same practices that we can't quite seem to shake or overcome.   We enter into a repetitive cycle of sin, guilt, confession, and a mental attitude to maybe not do it again - but we do it again, and again.   We are trapped in our own shame, and need to break free, but we don't know how.   


There is good news for those trapped in a cycle of sin and guilt - through the power of God's word and His Holy Spirit, He can give us hope and equip us with the tools we need in order to live an overcoming life.   When we feel stuck in our spiritual walk, God's truth will set us free.   When we encounter the same old struggles, He gives us the ability to do something different!    There is hope in the battles we face.</sup>

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

In Ephesians 6, Paul asks for prayer, and in verse 19, we read that he's asking the people of Ephesus to...
for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

With the anticipation building toward Super Bowl 46, that's XLVI - the use of Roman numerals to designate each game has drawn some attention.   Mike Tanier of the New York Times has written:

Indianapolis has not just been invaded, but annexed...In Monument Circle, the center of downtown, 20-foot-high Roman numerals on a 7-foot riser dwarf the passing cars and obscure the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument from street view. The N.F.L.’s fascination with Roman numerals is one of the league’s most bombastic traits, but the commitment to classical pretense pays off when the league builds on an epic scale. Park a giant “46” in the middle of a city, and passers-by scratch their heads. Erect a hulking “XLVI” into town central, and watch everyone stop to take pictures in front of it.

The fascination with these numerals actually resulted in a story with the headline, "Roman numerals are Greek to kids", pointing out that today's students might know LOL or OMG, but XLVI would be a stretch.

Roman numerals are definitely a throwback - you can see them inscribed on various historical buildings and monuments in the U.S., and they are a reminder of a massive empire that ruled when Jesus Christ was born.   The New Testament was written against the backdrop of the grandeur and brutality of the Roman Empire.   And, we acknowledge the the Bible shows us how to interact with God, with people, and with the culture at large.

We can choose to allow the culture to unduly influence us, or we can seek to make a mark on the culture, as Paul did in the tug-of-war that he had with citizens and with authorities.  He saw himself as an "ambassador in chains" - he was called to challenge and impact the culture as an ambassador, but he was subservient to the authority of the state, and imprisoned, which by no means diminished his effectiveness, since he wrote a significant portion of the New Testament from prison.   Rather than allowing culture and authority to crush him, he used the opportunities that God gave him to effectively communicate truth.  

Recognizing the cultural context of God's Word can help us to identify with and understand some of the challenges facing the writers of the Bible, and can by a tool the Holy Spirit uses to enable us to more effectively apply His truth.   To me, the attention given to Roman numerals has caused me to think about how Paul dealt with the culture, and can provide direction for us.

When I Look at the Heavens...

Psalm 8:  3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?  I thought about that Scripture last night after I read a tweet by Louie Giglio and went outside to gaze at the western horizon and see not only a crescent moon, but a bright body underneath, identified as the planet Jupiter.   In fact, the stars just seemed unusually bright last night - a clear, crisp night to enjoy the beauty of creation.   Today, I was reflecting on this enormous God, great and mighty, who created the universe - the stars and the galaxies, the heavens and earth.  
In his new book, Indescribable, written with Matt Redman, Louie says:

“The glorious darkness that so accentuates the lights of heaven lifts us upward and draws us into its chorus. The longer we look up, the freer we become, lost in the wonder and mystery that surrounds us, lost in praise of the One who set each star in place.”

Every star, the wonders that we behold - crafted by a magnificent, and orderly God...and He has placed earth strategically in the midst of it, with the unique capability of sustaining life.   From Answers in Genesis, we read:

• Ratio of electron to proton mass (1:1836)...if this was larger or smaller, molecules could not form.
• Electromagnetic and gravitational forces are finely tuned, so the right kind of star can be stable.
• Our sun is the right colour. If it was redder or bluer, photosynthetic response would be weaker.
• Our sun is also the right mass. If it was larger, its brightness would change too quickly and there would be too much high energy radiation. If it was smaller, the range of planetary distances able to support life would be too narrow; the right distance would be so close to the star that tidal forces would disrupt the planet’s rotational period. UV radiation would also be inadequate for photosynthesis.
• The earth’s distance from the sun is crucial for a stable water cycle. Too far away, and most water would freeze; too close and most water would boil.
• The earth’s gravity, axial tilt, rotation period, magnetic field, crust thickness, oxygen/nitrogen ratio, carbon dioxide, water vapour and ozone levels are just right.

There is so much evidence of design in our universe, and random chance processes, embraced by the evolutionists, are incapable of explaining them.   The heavens tell an amazing story of a great God who, by His power, in His wisdom, made the universe, and created you and me, knowing each of us by name, and who sent His Son to redeem us and bring us into fellowship with Himself.