Lion in the Streets!

I believe that God is calling each of us to a fruitful life, which flows from our remaining centered on the presence of Christ.  Jesus said in John 15:
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches ; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing .
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Life is full of opportunities, and while we are not attempting to work our way into the kingdom or work for our salvation, I believe that the Bible teaches that the life devoted to Christ will be a productive life.   And, we have to guard against those influences or activities that would keep us from being all that He desires for us to be.  For example, there is a plethora of choices available to keep us entertained, and if we become so immersed in those that our view of the circumstances of life becomes distorted, we could retreat into a state of idleness, unable to break free and unmotivated to press in to Christ.   Paul encouraged that attitude of "pressing on"...and we have to guard against retreat in our Christian walk.

Proverbs 22:13 is one of those verses that can serve as a warning to us about giving in to idle live, held
captive by an unproductive state of mind:
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

Proverbs 6 also presents a picture of someone referred to as a "sluggard" in the New American Standard, a lazy man in the New King James, and someone who is slothful in the King James Version.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard ? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest ,
11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

It's been said that it's OK to have things, or possessions, but for things to have you is not good.   That presents a great dividing line for us.  And, I believe it applies to our entertainment choices - what we look to for amusement can ensnare us if we allow those things to divert our attention from the presence of and the work of God.  The word "amusement" is derived from an Old French word amuser, meaning "to stupefy, waste time, be lost in thought”).

And, I enjoy good entertainment.  Through technology, we have the ability to access more options, through our cable television or video streaming services, through our smartphones, and through the wide range of gaming systems and software on the market.  And, this week in Los Angeles, the E3 conference demonstrates for us the importance of the latest and the greatest to manufacturers and consumers.   Sony has unleashed - finally - its new PlayStation 4, while Microsoft has unveiled its Xbox One.   Home computing could take another step forward with its cylindrical Mac Pro.   And, the software manufactures lure gamers with cutting edge graphics and a social media component - so you can now play games and build virtual relationships through the click of a mouse or the pressing of a button on a game controller.

It's quite mind-boggling, and can be quite entertaining, if exercised in moderation.   But, if our amusement leads to the construction of a cocoon around our lives, then it ceases to be funny.   And, as we see from Proverbs 22 about the lazy man, a person can construct an alternative sense of reality - the Scriptures doesn't say there was a lion outside, only that the sluggard says there is.   And, I think that we can become so isolated sometimes that we distort what is going on outside our lives.    Fear of imaginary lions can keep us from getting out and reaching out.   

Contrast the picture in Proverbs 22 with the illustration of the ant, who is self-motivated, highly responsible, and diligent in its pursuits.   The ant is intent on being productive - and I believe the follower of Christ should be motivated to bear fruit for Him.   If we allow entertainment to restrict us to the sidelines, if we're immersed in activities that steal our motivation and cause us to be idle, then we miss what God has in store for us.   We have to stay sharp and focused on what God would intend for our lives.

Read Any Good Movies Lately?

In Hebrews chapter 4, there's a verse of Scripture that relates to us about the power of God's Word - in the pages of the Scriptures, we can see ourselves and recognize not only God's story, but how we fit into His
overall narrative, and how He is actively at work, writing, if you will, the story of our lives:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This verse tells me that God is at work - He has given us His Word, in the Bible, and as we engage with it, the Spirit of God brings to light what is contained in its pages - we begin to see ourselves in light of God's perfect plan, we gain a greater sense of the activity of God around us, and we can see personal applications of the Scriptures to the way we live our lives.   It is quite incredible that God has not only told His story in the Bible, but He wants to bring us into His overall story - where our natural lives intersect with our supernatural God, great things take place and we find our place in His magnificent plan.

There is a great summary of the overall story of the Scriptures found in 1st Timothy chapter 3.   We recognize that God has crafted an incredible story, and He has chosen to include us:
(15) I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Have you read any good movies lately?   No, I didn't misspeak.   There's some new Barna survey information that caught my eye regarding books that have been adapted as movies or television shows, and the results show us that, well, books are still quite popular, especially those that have been or are being made into movies.   Christianity Today reports that The Barna Group examined the demographics of readers of popular books that have become (or are becoming) movies and TV shows, and found the following percentages of readers that are practicing Christians, according to Barna's definition:
Life of Pi: 37%
Twilight: 22%
The Hunger Games: 21%
50 Shades of Grey: 19%
Game of Thrones: 18%
The Hobbit: 16%

Notably, the erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, enjoys the same percentage of readership among practicing Christians as the percentage of all Americans who have read the book, which has at times been described as "mommy porn."

The survey also shows significant crossover between readers of books and the movie or television adaptations of them.

There's also research about the amount of Bible reading among those surveyed.   One in five of all American adults have read the Bible from start to finish. While it might not be shocking to discover well over half (61%) of evangelical Christians have read the Bible from start to finish, it may be surprising that nearly one in six (18%) of people with a faith other than Christianity and about one in eleven (9%) people with no faith claimed to have done the same.

Nearly one-third (29%) of black adults say they’ve read the Bible from start to finish, greater than the percentage of Hispanic adults (22%) and white adults (19%).   Baby boomers are the group with the highest likelihood to have read the Bible from start to finish, with nearly one-quarter (23%) reporting they had done so.

David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, pointed out several implications of the research:

1. Americans are increasingly craving a multi-media way to enjoy their favorite stories. The large crossover between those who have read and seen The Hunger Games, Twilight and The Hobbit suggests that movies and television propel books and vice versa. 

2. Despite the emerging digital landscape, the research also suggests book reading is not dying out. Especially surprising from the data is that young adult readers—generations that Barna Group labels Busters and Mosaics—make up the primary audience for most of the books assessed.

3. Another unmistakable pattern in the research is the power of stories—namely, fiction—in propelling the publishing industry.

4. Finally, the level of engagement with the Bible is enlightening.  While it is not surprising that so many practicing Christians report reading the Good Book all the way through, Kinnaman notes it is surprising that nearly a fifth of people who claim another faith than Christianity and nearly a tenth of people with no faith claim to have done the same.   It suggests Christians should not assume non-Christians are categorically unfamiliar with their sacred scripture.

Meanwhile, Bible engagement is seemingly on the rise in Norway, where it's reported that only 1 percent of the country’s 5 million residents attend church, according to Lutheran leaders. A new Washington Times piece says that a new Norwegian-language version of the Bible has become the country’s No. 1 best-seller, The Associated Press reported.  The Blaze reported that the version has been in the top 15 best-seller list for 54 of the past 56 weeks.

Meanwhile, Norwegians are taking their faith to the stage, too. A six-hour play called “Bibelen,” which means “The Bible” in Norwegian, has been drawing thousands. In a three-month span, more than 16,000 people saw the production, The Blaze reported.

Biblical scholars, say the furor is over nothing — that Norwegians are traditionally quiet followers of the faith who don’t necessarily need to go to church as part of their belief system. But the sales are significant, nonetheless. If nothing else, they show the mindset of the nation.

“Thoughts and images from the Bible still have an impact on how we experience reality,” said Karl Ove Knausgaard, one of the Norwegian authors who helped translate the popular Bible version.

As believers in Christ, we are people of the Book, and our level of engagement with God's Word determines  how are beliefs are shaped and the degree of our practice of His principles.   And, we recognize from the Barna research that people are searching for meaning and are attracted to the power of story.

The Bible contains God's story - the amazing account of a creator God who made humanity to serve Him and have dominion over the earth, a humanity that fell and experienced separation from God, who made a way for us to be reunited with Him through the sacrifice of His Son, who demonstrated the ultimate expression of love so that we could know Him.   And, in reading the big picture story, we also see the stories of people with whom we perhaps can identify.   We also acknowledge that God is writing our story, and as we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we can see how our personal story intersects with the big story of God's sovereign plan.

There Has to Be an Explanation

Psalm 91 reminds us that we are under the care of Almighty God, and He is working in our lives, sometimes in ways we cannot see or understand, but that we can know spiritually:
1He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."3Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.4He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

The imagery that the Psalmist uses here is powerful and illustrates for us that we held in the everlasting arms of Almighty God - we are covered by His feathers, in His wings, grounded in His truth, our shield and buckler.  Now, of course, these are not tangible entities - and that's the point; God works in the realm of the intangible, the supernatural, and His word uses powerful imagery to help us understand that power and the presence of the Almighty.   Even though we do not or cannot see Him, we can still discern the evidence of His hand and attribute events in our lives to the provision and power of the Lord.    He is with us, and He has made it possible to experience His presence daily.

Hebrews 11:1 is a cornerstone Scripture verse, giving us insight into the operation of God and our response to Him by faith:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Verse 3 reminds us that God operates in the supernatural realm, and often we may not can see His work, or it will not be discernable to our 5 sense, but through our spiritual sensitivity, we can know that it is He that is present.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

For the past three days, there has been plenty of speculation in the Huntsville area about a large blob that appeared on radar near Redstone Arsenal on Tuesday afternoon, but could not be seen by the naked eye.
According to al.com, The plume was spread nearly 10 miles wide and a mile high, and lasted for nine hours.   It showed up on different radar screens and was apparently not weather-related.

Well, the mystery began to be solved as people came forward with reports of a white, feathery, fiberglass substance found on the ground in an area near the Arsenal.   And, indeed, the Army began to provide some information with a general statement on Wednesday afternoon. That was made more clear yesterday as officials admitted that the radar blob was caused by the presence of "chaff" which was being used in testing.   This material consists of reflective particles designed to help aircraft avoid detection by military radar.   The statement said that, "This RR-188 (chaff) showed as an anomaly on local weather screens as weather conditions caused it to linger longer than normal."

This instance reminded me that we would like to think that there is always an explanation for what we see, hear, or experience.   And, in the supernatural realm, we admit that there are events that occur that turn our heads and challenge our minds, and ultimately, we can say that it is the work of unseen forces.  We believe that faith is the evidence of things not seen.   We believe that Godly wisdom can help us to interpret what we do not understand.  

When we see things that we can't explain away, then we can recognize that perhaps God is at work in answer to our prayers...or He is just working in and around our lives to show Himself faithful and teach us more about Himself.    While it is a human tendency to try to figure out what is miraculous, sometimes we have to be spiritually astute and attribute amazing occurrences in our lives to a God who cares and who is executing His sovereign plan perfectly.

We also admit that evil is present in the world, and Ephesians 6 reminds us that we are to put on the armor of God and recognize that we are facing evil forces that are working in order to destroy.   We have to appropriate the resources that God has provided, so that we can be ready to face the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.   But, we also know we have powerful allies who work with us at the direction of God - angels, who are called ministering spirits who are sent for our aid and His good.

We have been placed in this world amidst unseen forces.   And, the faith in which we grow helps us to make the connection between the events that occur and what is behind them.   We can learn to identify those "God-moments" in our lives - perhaps when you narrowly miss an automobile accident or encounter an escape from danger - He rescued you, and that could have been an instance of an angelic intervention.  Or, you may have seen the Lord work to strengthen you in a difficult relationship instance.   Maybe you've experienced healing for which there is no explanation, and the medical professionals have seen a dramatic change that is beyond the realm of human comprehension.   I think that the Lord is intervening in our lives more than we admit - think about it, and acknowledge the miracle-working God, great and mighty, presiding over the entire universe, and devoted to expressing His love and power in the lives of His children.

90 is the New 70

The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 3:
(12) I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Our lives are ordained by God, and we make it our ambition to please Him, to bring Him glory.  As we consider His purpose for us, we recognize that the days we are given are to be used for Him.   We are not promised tomorrow, that's for sure, but we also see that if by His will we are granted long lives, then He expects us to use the entirety of our lives to honor Him.  So, we cherish each day as a gift, and no matter how young or how old, we can ask the Lord to draw us closer to Him each day, to grow every day, and to show us how we can honor Him in the opportunities that He presents us.

2nd Timothy chapter 4 contains a Scripture passage that reminds us of the importance of finishing strong.   Paul writes:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

A 90-year-old pilot has completed his birthday quest to fly 90 passes across the U.S.-Canadian border, according to the Niagara Gazette.  John Lawton of Seville, Ohio, went up in his Cessna 172 north of Buffalo on Tuesday and flew a series of figure eights over the Niagara River border, detouring for a few trips around nearby Niagara Falls, which straddles the U.S. and Canada.

Lawton had planned on making the crossings on his 90th birthday on Monday but got about 28 in before the attempt was curtailed by wind. Fellow pilot Claudia Childs, who helped in the planning, says Lawton finished the remaining crossings Tuesday in about 90 minutes.

This is added to a long list of flying highlights accumulated over more than 6,000 hours of flying in more than 40 models of aircraft, according to an Associated Press piece published at Yahoo!

Lawton was involved in developing Lacrosse guided missile systems, collecting snowflakes in flight during lake-effect snowstorms in Buffalo and initiating avalanches by dropping explosives in the Italian Alps. He led a 1968 research team that created the Skadi, an electronic rescue beacon to locate avalanche victims, and has lent his skills to Angel Flight, the Civil Air Patrol and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

In 2007, he received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, given for 50 years of safe flights.

The flight took place near where Lawton had what he calls the closest call of his flying career, a disorienting, dark and snowy flight home from a December 1956 business meeting in Syracuse. It ended with an unannounced landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which had been closed amid an 11-inch snowfall.

It's gratifying that Mr. Lawton is still going strong doing what he loves at the age of 90.   And, it does seem that we're living longer and living stronger than ever before.   When you read about people in their 90's who are continuing to do bold things, I'm reminded of those words of the apostle Paul about finishing strong.

I believe God has sovereignly given us a certain number of days on this earth - and if we hold to the premise that we have been placed here on earth for a purpose, then we can expect God to use us until that final day when He calls us home.   I'm gratified to hear of people after they retire who see that as a gateway to do another form of ministry.   It's so important that we continue to stay active, even after we may leave a particular occupation - and the resource of time is certainly available.

I believe that God intends for us to grow in Him over the course of our lives and to continue to keep spiritually fit and active, as much as possible, when we reach those later years.   I think of Billy Graham, who is approaching age 95 and even though he doesn't get out of the house much, he's still deeply involved with the ministry to which God called him decades ago.   And, he's preparing for that "My Hope with Billy Graham" message that will go into thousands of homes across America in November.    So are pastors and individuals who are being trained to lead small groups, who will gather to hear the message, as well as testimonies from those at the gatherings.   Check out www.myhopewithbillygraham.org for more information.  There's a preparation meeting coming up on June 18th in Greenville at First Baptist Church.

So, as God gives us the days of our life and the strength to carry on, we can have an attitude of seeing every day as a gift and attempting to make wise use of the opportunities He has given to us, even in the final chapters of our lives.

Gee, Whiz...

In Proverbs chapter 10, there are several verses that can teach about the wise use of the tongue, including verse 19, which lays out the potential harmful effects of the abundance of words:
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

And, later in the chapter, we read this:

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

We have to allow the Holy Spirit to shape our words.  This involves having the proper heart toward God - if we are storing up evil intent in our spirits, if we meditate on sinful anger rather than dwell in the peace of God, it could very well be that during a weak moment, our words will reflect this improper thinking.   Or, we may just be careless in what we speak - in a frail attempt at humor, we may speak something that we end up wishing we could take back.  And, while an apology is always appropriate, it cannot completely negate, I believe, the effect of the harsh, hurtful, or haughty words that are spoken.

In James 1, we discover some powerful truth about speaking what is pleasing to God:
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

The news came swiftly enough - the President of The Ohio State University, Gordon Gee, announced he would be resigning down the 1st of July.   In a statement, he basically felt that he had come to a point in his career that he needed to retire.   And, he did not reference the controversy that has been circulating around him the past few days.  

Seems a video surfaced in which this President of a prestigious Big Ten university denigrated the leadership of Notre Dame, with whom he had been trying to work out some sort of football scheduling agreement.  He basically said that they were holy on Sunday, but the rest of the week, specifically Thursday or Friday they were - not.  He referred to them as those (expletive) Catholics.   Of course, later he apologized, and he was placed on a remediation plan.

This was not the first time that Dr. Gee had been a bit loose with the tongue, thinking himself to be humorous.   USA Today provided a rundown of just some of the multiple gaffes that Gee had made over the years.
And, let me just say, sometimes we think we are joking, making a feeble attempt at humor, and it comes out flat and can even be insulting.    Gee apparently thought he had some sort of comedic gift.   According to a Fox Sports Ohio story, when a reporter had asked him about the SEC and others chiding the Big Ten about having 14 teams, he replied: "You tell the SEC when they can learn to read and write, then they can figure out what we're doing."

He disparaged the football schedules of national title hopefuls Boise State and TCU, saying Ohio State did not play "the Little Sisters of the Poor." He likened the complex job of running a university to "the Polish Army."

When asked in March 2011 whether the school had considered firing embattled coach Jim Tressel, a grinning Gee said: "No. Are you kidding? Let me just be very clear. I'm just hopeful the coach doesn't dismiss me." By the way, it should be noted that even though Coach Tressel resigned in the wake of a scandal in which players received cash for OSU memorabilia and tattoos, Gee was at the helm of the university, which landed on probation, so Urban Meyer's undefeated season did not result in a BCS championship birth, instead of Notre Dame.

He had said that the top goal of Big Ten presidents is to "make certain that we have institutions of like-minded academic integrity,"  and added, "So you won't see us adding Louisville."   He also said Kentucky would not be added.

Apparently, this guy was a really good fundraiser for the school and very congenial.   He had been at OSU before and they asked him to come back in 2007, after a 7-year stint in the SEC - at Vanderbilt.

But, he had what became a fatal flaw - his tongue.   That's not uncommon for humans.   The Bible is replete of warnings about controlling the tongue.   See James 3 - it says that the tongue is like the rudder of a ship and it is set on fire by the powers of the enemy.    

The Bible gives us principles that we can use to control our tongue.   We are told to exhibit control in our timing - being slow to speak.   So often, we can fall into the trap of speaking before thinking - engaging the mouth before the brain.  While I have been in situations where I have been convicted about the words I say and wish I could take them back, if we're listening to the Holy Spirit, He will provide a check for us even before we speak.

We are cautioned about the content of our words, to stay away from idle chatter, or meaningless words.   And, we are told to encourage, rather than tear others down.   We are instructed to bring the sacrifice of praise to God - worship and speaking God's Word can be helpful in bringing this potentially damaging instrument under control.   

Our words flow out of the condition of our hearts - Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and we can tell a lot about a person by the usage of their words.   Our words build a resume for us, and the impression that others have of us can be largely influenced by what we're saying - we cannot be too careful, and we have a powerful partner to help us as we seek to please God by the words we say.

Chasing the Storms

In 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, we see that a smooth life is not what the apostle Paul experienced, nor is it always promised to us as believers in Christ.  But, we can know that He is with us, even in the midst of the storms of life:
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed. 
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Paul was not a stranger to danger, and he did not live what we would term a safe and comfortable life - in the midst of doing what God had call him to do, he encountered some hardships - he had a high degree of risk, but the reward was extremely satisfying and eternal.   He laid down his life so that the life of Christ would strengthen him and flow to others, so that God would be glorified.   Sometimes we have to step up or step out, to take risks, but we know that God meets us there and takes us through the difficulties and continues to do His work, for His glory.

In Psalm 57, we see the words of David as he faced danger in his life, being pursued by King Saul.  Hiding out in a cave, he wrote some words of comfort and perspective:
1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me.3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; "Selah" God sends his love and his faithfulness.
5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

Three men who had been featured on the Discovery Channel TV series, "Storm Chasers", lost their lives doing what they loved on Friday night in El Reno, Oklahoma...

Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young were among 13 people who lost their lives in the state that night.   Tim was the founder of TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, to help learn more about tornadoes and increase lead time for warnings.  In 2004, he had told CNN that being near storms was part of the job.

"In order to get directly in the path, you have to be close," he said.  "Actually I'm pretty focused on our safety, certainly, and I'm focused on getting the data and getting the right spot," he said. "You only have one chance to do it."

According to the CNN story of the events of Friday night, at the intersection where authorities said the three storm chasers were killed, crews hauled away a mangled white truck Sunday that had been crushed like a tin can. 

Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West is quoted as saying, "...storm chasers and meteorologists and news stations, that's part of the vital link in getting the word out to people so that they don't become victims...A lot of these individuals have dedicated many years of their lives to going out and assisting and tracking storms, and getting footage and putting themselves in harm's way so they can educate the public to the destructive power of these storms."

If you've watched The Weather Channel with any sort of frequency, you may recognize Mike Bettes.   He was in the network's tornado-hunt truck and it was picked up by a tornado, tossed 200 yards into a field and smashed to the ground.   Bettes said, "I think this was just an erratic tornado. I think the size of it and the speed of it changed very, very quickly...I think the direction of movement changed quickly. And I think there were a lot of people out there that, you know, ended up getting stuck in positions we didn't want to be in."  

Bettes described the experience as the scariest moment of his life: "I saw people in my life, I saw their faces flash right in front of me. And it just seemed for a moment, everything was in slow motion, especially when we were floating," he said. "I kind of felt like I was being lifted to heaven or something. I was conscious through the whole thing and remember the whole thing, but it's still a surreal moment."

It was indeed a scary night, with people on the highways fleeing the path of the storm in light of the destruction that occurred almost 2 weeks prior to that night.   

I have to admit, my opinion of storm chasers was that of reckless adventurers just trying to get as close to the storm as they could to shoot pictures or video, or merely for the thrill.  With the Samaras team, they were apparently dedicated to getting more information so that they could ultimately save lives.   Same with the Weather Channel folks.   And, I began to think about the concept of risk and the Christian life.

You know, the general principle is, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.   Storm chasing is risky business.   And, these guys were obviously aware of that and were committed to safety.   When we are chasing storms in our lives, we sometimes have to get really, really close to what might be dangerous - to our sense of safety or comfort, even to our reputation.  We may have to become vulnerable to other people.  There may be a necessity to speak out in the midst of a difficult situation, and we may risk losing our position or possessions.  We may have to enter into a less-than-desirable confrontation in order to settle a matter.  These could be considered risky pursuits, but we also recognize in order to do the will of God and progress in our Christian life, we have to step out and step up, stare down our fears, and do the right or necessary thing.

Life has a degree of the unpredictable.   The storm in El Reno, Oklahoma will be remembered for its unpredictability - it was termed as a "wobbler".   No matter how many precautions that we might take - and that's good - or how we plan for the future, short-term or long-term, there are going to be those occasions that we do not or cannot predict.   We have to be as prepared as possible, reliant on the Lord and rehearsed in the Scriptures, so that we can have that sense of a firm foundation in the midst of the twists and turns of life.   But, there are flat out going to be events that come upon us suddenly.   And, in those times, we continue to trust that God is sovereign and that He has a purpose for us, even when things don't turn out the way we've planned or think they should. 

There's Still Plenty of Hope

God has called us to proclaim His hope, as we speak His truth and as we live our lives.  In 2nd Corinthians chapter 3, we find a passage that reminds us not only of our call as ambassadors for Christ, but the hope component of our message:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Paul makes the point that the current ministry of the Holy Spirit in the earth is a glorious ministry, and writes in verse 12:   12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech--

In a world that is shifting, with cultural trends seemingly pointing in a direction away from God, we have been placed, called, and empowered to reflect hope, to radiate the character of a God who does not change, and to speak truth, which can provide an anchor in the midst of uncertain times.  In times of crisis, we can certainly bring that message of stability and comfort, but in our everyday lives, interfacing with people whose lives are going well and who may not be sensitized to the presence of God, we can radiate that quiet confidence and hopeful attitude that can make a powerful statement to people around us.

Colossians 1 gives an incredible description of the preeminence of Christ, the preservative role of His church, and the practice of hope to which we are called:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.       21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.  

A new Gallup poll shows that over three-quarters of Americans (77%) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20% say religion's influence is increasing. These represent Americans' most negative evaluations of the impact of religion since 1970, although similar to the views measured in recent years.

A separate question found much more positive views of the potential for religion to have an impact on the country, with 75% of Americans saying they think it would be positive for American society if more Americans were religious.  As we could expect, Americans who attend church regularly and who say religion is important in their own lives are far more likely than others to say it would be positive for American society if more Americans were religious.  Even so, over half - 58% - of those who seldom or never attend and close to one in three Americans who say religion is not important to them personally still say it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious.

So, there is an admission by a significant number of those surveyed that our country would be better off if more religion were practiced.   And, as Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research points out in a column published last week in USA Today and syndicated to other Gannett papers, including the Montgomery Advertiser, we certainly think that America would be better off in the wake of a disaster or tragedy if we were to turn to God.   Highlighting expressions of faith, such as the #PrayForOklahoma hashtag after the Moore tornado or the faith statement of Connecticut's governor after the Sandy Hook shootings, Stetzer writes concerning our faith:

Many are embarrassed by this national identity -- until it is time to grieve. Then, politicians, celebrities and reporters can unashamedly say they are praying for those affected. News networks will show church bells ringing in memory of those lost. Nightly news shows feel the need to broadcast excerpts from sermons delivered by pastors in the area. Journalists interview religious leaders about how God can help us through.

People are continuing to seek God for answers, and the data bears this out.  LifeWay found that after a national crisis like the terrorist attacks of 9/11, 38% said they were more open to matters of faith. More than 30% said a natural disaster would do the same, while 25% said the start of a war or international tension would cause them to be more receptive to religious considerations.

Stetzer writes that even speaking broadly outside of tragic moments, Americans maintain a faith-based outlook. Of the 20% in a Pew poll who were religiously unaffiliated, 68% believe in God and 58% classify themselves as "religious" or "spiritual."  In a 2011 national poll by LifeWay Research, 88% agreed "there is more to life than the physical world and society."

Frank Newport of Gallup, who has been a guest on The Meeting House, is quoted as saying that, "When we put it all together, we get the image of a basically religious American population whose underlying religiousness has not changed a lot in recent decades."

Inspiring indeed, and a reminder for us as the church, the body of Christ, to reflect the character of Christ, to proclaim His truth, and to remain rock solid in a sea change of cultural trends.  We are the proclaimers of this hope!   Wallace Henley, Senior Teaching Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Houston, writes in his book, Globequake: Living in the Unshakeable Kingdom While the World Falls Apart: 

Orthodoxy is "right belief".  Theology is important to help us lock on to pure biblical doctrine.  Orthopraxy is "right practice".   When the two are in balance, there is alignment between belief and action.  The genuine church stands on those two sturdy legs and cannot be brought down by the Globequake.

So, we have to make sure that we are rooted in Biblical truth and living the truth daily, prepared to minister God's love in time of crisis and practicing our faith visibly even when we think others are not paying attention.