Her Winning Ways

One of the challenges of this life is to recognize the hand of God as He provides opportunities for us to serve Him and to serve others - and as He sustains us in the midst of the adverse circumstances we encounter. In 1st Peter 5, we read:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

If we are walking in a state of humility before God, we can be sensitized to the direction of the Holy Spirit, who will accomplish His purposes as we are willing to be used by Him.  As humble people, we can recognize that God is with us, and will manifest His presence in our lives as we are devoted to seeing Him and seeking Him.  In our adversity, we can be confident that He has a plan for us, to draw us closer to Himself and to strengthen us in our spirits.

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We can be confident in God's faithfulness, and know that even in tough times, we can experience the love of God. 2nd Corinthians 4 says:
(16) Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

There was a heartwarming story on the WORLD Magazine website recently about a set of circumstances that took place in Alabama.  It was centered on a 17-year-old young lady Kaitlynn Campbell, a student at Hayden High School, north of Birmingham.

After hearing her sing at a school assembly, the school's guidance counselor gave Kaitlynn a pamphlet about the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant and coordinated a community-wide effort to prepare her for the event.   In a competition against 41 other women from across the state, Kaitlynn was chosen as the winner.

The story says that she will advocate a platform focused on child abuse and neglect as she prepares to compete for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.  Shelly Roach, a stylist who helped Campbell fix a botched hair coloring job, told AL.com. “She has lived her platform for many years.”

You see, at the time when Kaitlynn was first contacted about the pageant, she had already been in foster care for eight months, moving between a group home and foster homes. Campbell’s social worker helped the counselor, Karron Standridge, solicit and organize area donations, including money to pay the competition’s various fees, borrowed formal gowns, make-up and manicures, photo sessions, and pageant preparation tips.

And, of course, Shelly helped out with the hair - and so much more.  According to AL.com, while working on Kaitlynn's hair, Shelly learned of the adversity in her life and decided to help more. She talked with her husband of two years, Bryan, and they decided to take her in.  Bryan is quoted as saying, "After I met Kaitlynn, I saw what (Shelly) saw and an opportunity to help this young woman, adding, "After a period of prayer, we felt like we were led to do it." Over a week ago, Kaitlynn Campbell was scheduled to move in with Bryan and Shelly. 

Shelly says: "Our goal in all of this is that we want what is best for Kaitlynn."

AL.com quotes Kaitlynn as saying that she has tried to "make the best out of everything" that's come her way. She said, "I've worked with my circumstances," adding, "It has been hard. It hasn't been easy, but it has been so worth it. It has just been an incredible journey ever since. Things have fallen together perfectly, God has just been in this whole journey all through the way.

Kaitlynn adds, "I'm excited to able to represent the state of Alabama and to be the voice for the kids that are going through hard times...I'm excited to be able to use my platform as a stepping stone to change the world."

You think God was at work here?  What an inspiring story!   And, there are some principles here we can apply in our own lives.  I think an overriding concept is that opportunity is all around us - we have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to direct us.   Shelly heard the story and wanted to help more.  She and her husband prayed about being involved in becoming foster parents for Kaitlynn. God provided the opportunity, and they stepped forward into what He was orchestrating.

And, how about Kaitlynn's opportunity?  This was a young woman who acknowledges that God was in her journey.  It has not been an easy road for her - she was, as AL.com points out, a ward of the state as she competed for this statewide crown.  But, despite her negative circumstances, she recognized the hand of God.   In our personal journeys, we may not experience ease and pleasure, but that's not the life to which He has necessarily called us - He promises to be with us, and to manifest His presence and joy in our lives in the midst of adversity.   And, we have the promise of eternal glory with Jesus as we trust Him in this life.  And, when we encounter His blessings, we can be careful to give Him praise for His faithfulness.

2 Designers, 1 Musician, and Controversy Over Gay Parenting

God is calling us to walk in radical obedience, filled with compassion, even for people with whom we don't see eye-to-eye, who may embrace a faith perspective different than ours. 1st John 4 says:
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Later in the chapter, we are warned against hypocrisy:
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

We have to make sure that our attitudes toward other people line up with the prescription in God's Word.  When we encounter people who hold to a different point-of-view or faith practice, or lack thereof, we can take the position of being firm in our faith convictions, but also being willing to approach them in a non-combative way.  We have to be willing to speak at the right time in the right way, under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

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According to Ephesians chapter 4, we are instructed that:
(14) we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart...

Recently, I featured a conversation with Daniel James Devine of WORLD Magazine and WORLD News Group that provided some details of a recent study that indicated that children raised by same-sex parents do not fare as well as those raised in a traditional household.  His story contained profiles of 4 individuals who share that type of background.

Well, those 4 people, who were willing to tell the story to Daniel, have not faded away into the background.  They have teamed up, along with 2 others, to write a letter to Italian fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana, thanking them for speaking up for the rights of children to both a mother and a father, according to a report on the Catholic News Service website.  You see, a controversy has emerged recently between the designers and those who disagree with their position.

You see, Dolce and Gabbana are homosexuals, and were considered a couple until 2005, according to another report on the WORLD website, which points out that they have focused their two recent collections on families and mothers in particular, sending a pregnant model and models with their children down the runway.  And in an interview with the Italian fashion magazine Panorama, the duo supported traditional families.

They reportedly said, “The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed,” adding, “We oppose gay adoptions.”

Now, Dolce did call children born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) “children of chemistry, synthetic children.”  In response, legendary musician Elton John used Instagram to call for a boycott on the designers, whose apparel he formerly wore. He called the comments “judgmental” and started the hashtag “#BoycottDolceGabbana.” John has two sons through IVF with his partner David Furnish.  Sir Elton said, “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic,’” John said. “Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana again.”

I think that Dolce's comments about in vitro fertilization did cross a line, but should not detract from the overall premise of their comments about traditional families.

According to CNS, the Italian designers responded that they were just stating their personal views rather than judging people. In a statement, Gabbana said, "We firmly believe in democracy and the fundamental principle of freedom of expression that upholds it." He stated. "We talked about our way of seeing reality, but it was never our intention to judge other people's choices. We do believe in freedom and love."

Back to the letter from the 6 people raised by same-sex parents who are courageously speaking out: Their letter was published on the blog, askthebigot.com, whose main author was raised by her mother and her mother’s same-sex partner. She converted to Christianity in high school, and now writes about being raised within a same-sex home, and about how voices like hers are almost always silenced by the powerful gay lobby.

The letter reads that, “Every human being has a mother and a father, and to cut either from a child’s life is to rob the child of dignity, humanity, and equality.”  Each of the signers plan on penning a letter to the United States Supreme Court, which is set to rule on gay marriage this summer, and said that the comments from Dolce and Gabbana provided inspiration.   I think this is a great reminder that the debate over same-sex marriage encompasses much more than merely, "who you love."  There are enormous implications for children and the atmosphere in which they are raised.

I want to return to Gabbana's statement about freedom of expression.  He said that he and Dolce, "talked about our way of seeing reality but it was never our intention to judge other people's choices." There are those that not only disagree with their viewpoints, but apparently do not think their viewpoints should be shared, and are, like Elton John, wanting to punish them for expressing their opinion.  How sad that our culture has degenerated to this point.

But, it is encouraging to recognize that all those who are gay do not buy into the radical homosexual agenda that wants to silence opposition to the lifestyle.  According to a WORLD article that referenced Daniel's piece, one of the signers of that letter, who was profiled in Daniel's article, Robert James Lopez, is openly bisexual and earned a place on the Human Rights Campaign’s blacklist for his belief that children should be raised in traditional families.  Lopez is quoted as saying that he believes his upbringing left him missing a parent, confused about his sexuality, and struggling in healthy relationships with the opposite sex.

For us as believers, we have to be willing to engage in dialogue about God's truth regarding sexuality, holding firm to that truth, with a non-combative tone.  We recognize that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and our approach to other people, even those with whom we disagree, can be powerful in communicating the love of Christ, which can overpower and change a person that is confused or struggling.

Avoiding Overindulgence

In Titus chapter 2, the apostle Paul is teaching those who are older within the church to model sound Christian behavior for those who are younger.  Here's a portion of that overall passage, directed toward the young men...
6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

We are called to pursue a pattern of good works.  We can identify what those works look like by searching the Scriptures and discovering what behaviors please God.  And, if our attitudes skew toward overindulgence, we have to recognize those tendencies and bring them under the submission of the Holy Spirit.  God has given us the tools that we need in order to live that submitted life unto Him and to exercise Biblical restraint, under His control.

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In 1st Corinthians 6, we read a passage of Scripture that can provide perspective into the care of our bodies and the importance of self-restraint:
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
We recognize that the Bible gives us a template for living, including a set of principles by which we can live a healthy life.   The body, created by God, is considered to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. So, we wrestle not only with our outward behavior, but also what we ingest into that temple.

There are actually Biblical principles at play in a new report from a website called, BadCredit.org.  It is a study of over 100 metropolitan areas across America. The site says that:

We culled data from the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s the credit-reporting bureau Experian to analyze four factors for 105 metropolitan areas:

• Percentage of citizens considered “obese” (those with a body mass index greater than 30)

• Percentage of citizens considered “heavy drinkers” (adult men having more than two drinks per day and adult women having more than one drink per day)

• Percentage of citizens who smoke every day

• Average debt per consumer (excluding mortgages).

According to a report on the Montgomery Advertiser website, here are the top 10 cities who have difficulty practicing self-restraint:

10. New Orleans, La.
9. Salisbury, Md.
8. Shreveport, La.
7. Montgomery, Ala.
6. Baton Rouge, La.
5. Bismarck, N.D.
4. Scranton, Pa.
3. Mobile, Ala.
2. Great Falls, Mont.
1. Lafayette, La.

The Advertiser piece points out that even with the high ranking, Alabama received a positive nod: The report recognized that while many cities in the South have an obesity problem, Montgomery and its neighbors have collectively lost one million pounds since 2007, due to the Scale Back Alabama program.

Michael Briddell, the city's health czar and head of the River Region Obesity Task Force, points out that, "It's important to know that the (seventh ranking) is not obesity alone..."  He said that for an area with eight colleges, universities and trade schools, other towns without similar demographics might not face the same numbers the Montgomery area does with the percentage of citizens claiming to be heavy drinkers.  He also surmised that Gov. Robert Bentley's proposed increase in tobacco tax might lower the number of people who smoke in Montgomery.

He said that, "We have city policies to help city employees to quit smoking...We know ... it saves dollars and lives."

Here are Montgomery's numbers:
33.2 — percentage of citizens considered obese
7.3 percent — percentage of citizens claiming to be heavy drinkers
16.2 — percentage of citizens who smoke every day
$29,213 — average amount of consumer debt

The BadCredit.org piece leads off with this paragraph...It says:

In a nutshell: Americans love to consume, but living of life of excess — especially with your finances — can lead to trouble. These 20 metropolitan areas lead the nation in overindulgence.

This study, for my "Survey Thursday," can really help us to discern best practices, as outlined by Scripture.  One of the guiding principles that we can evaluate regarding what we consume can be: does my consumption of this product glorify God and demonstrate that I am treating my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit?   If we are overindulging or indulging in something that is harmful to us, then we need to rely on the power of the Spirit to bring those urges under control.   Three of these four areas in the survey deal with what is put into the body and have been rightfully stigmatized, though I would submit that public policy that would promote alcohol use is definitely the wrong direction.  If governmental officials are actually endorsing or enabling bad behavior, then there needs to be a change in direction.

The other area deals with violating a Biblical principle of spending more than you make - a common Scripture on the topic of debt is found in Proverbs 22:7, which says that, "The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender."  Debt can be certainly overwhelming, and applying sound Biblical principles can help us eradicate debt and get ourselves on the road to responsible financial management.   It is commonly reported that financial woes are a leading area that wreck marriages and can certainly cause great tension in the husband-wife relationship.   When you consider that families in the Montgomery area have an average amount of consumer debt of over $29,000, that is a strong indicator of a serious need to exercise restraint and wisdom.

So, all in all, the Bible teaches us to stay away from harmful behaviors, which can essentially become idolatry for us.  By exercising self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, we can live a life that is under the authority of the Spirit, a life that pleases God and results in peace with Him and with ourselves.

Over a Cup of Coffee

There is a passage from Colossians 3 that can serve to remind us to seek to glorify God, to call attention to the presence of Christ in our lives. We begin with verse 15:
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

This is a great template for each of us, as we are called to pursue peace - recognizing that no matter what our background, if we call on the name of Christ, we are part of His body.  And, so we live in a manner that pleases God, filled with His Word and seeking to encourage one another.  We bear His name, and our actions are to reflect His presence within us.  Twice in those three verses, Paul tells us to exhibit an attitude of thankfulness.  We submit to Christ, grateful for what He's done, and grateful for the opportunities to testify to who He is and who He is in us.

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The apostle Paul encourages us to seek to glorify God in all that we do. Here are some of his words from 1st Corinthians 10:
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
There is a popular concept of going to a coffee shop or a restaurant and having an informal conversation or even a business meeting, to get away for a few minutes in a comfortable environment.

Chances are that if you do this, you might drift to the home of the familiar green-and-white logo. And, if you go into certain Starbucks stores this week, you may have the opportunity to be forced into a conversation about one of the hot-button topics of our time.

Starbucks has announced its "Race Together" initiative.  The company website, referring to its Chairman and CEO, said that:

Howard Schultz voiced his concerns with partners (employees) in the company’s Seattle headquarters and started a discussion about race in America.

Despite raw emotion around racial unrest from Ferguson, Missouri to New York City to Oakland, “we at Starbucks should be willing to talk about these issues in America,"

Schultz said. "Not to point fingers or to place blame, and not because we have answers, but because staying silent is not who we are."

Partners were not silent. For more than an hour, at an all-hands meeting at the Starbucks Support Center, partners representing various ages, races and ethnicities passed a microphone and shared personal stories.

“The current state of racism in our country is almost like humidity at times. You can’t see it, but you feel it,” said one partner.

The press release added that over the past three months, more than 2,000 Starbucks partners have discussed racial issues at open forums in Oakland, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York and Chicago.

And, now, you too can participate in the discussion.  Starbucks has announced that partners in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Oakland and Los Angeles have voluntarily begun writing “Race Together” on Starbucks cups. And they are reportedly being joined by the employees in all Starbucks stores in the U.S.  And, partners in Starbucks stores may also engage customers in conversation through Race Together stickers available in select stores, and a special USA Today newspaper section arriving in stores later this week.

So, be warned - you may be forced to start a discussion about a very sensitive topic when you get that cup of coffee.   As John Hayward opines on the Brietbart.com website:

This sounds like a strategy to beat Starbucks’ stock into the dirt; maybe the hidden agenda is to drive customers away so they can shut down a few of the stores they threw up in their over-expansion frenzy and write off the losses. Even the act of handing customers a cup with race messages hand-written on them is going to make people feel uncomfortable, which is presumably the point of the exercise. It would be bad enough if these slogans were pre-printed on the containers, but hand-writing them turns it into a personal assault from the barista upon the customer – he or she is calling you out.

If the baristas begin verbally hassling customers in an effort to “start a discussion on race” with people who just want a cup of coffee and a danish to get their busy day started, this initiative will end up putting a thousand videos on YouTube, few of them flattering to Starbucks. Some of the customers are going to be more than merely annoyed by ambush confrontations over this “emotional issue.”

And, as we learned from the recent Selma events, does a conversation about racial issues get extended to sexual orientation, which is a subject that Starbucks has been less-than-silent about?  

Well, I actually believe that companies can have a social consciousness.  Unfortunately, as we've seen in the hundreds of friend-of-the-court briefs that companies have filed before the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of gay marriage, we see many in the corporate world who have decided to support the assault on traditional marriage, even though, as Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council is quoted as saying in a Brietbart piece on that subject: “These companies are acting irrationally. They are pandering to the 1.6% of the population that is homosexual while alienating the 61% who say they do not want the court to impose a redefinition of marriage on all fifty states."  A Huffington Post listing of 379 companies who have filed these briefs includes Starbucks.

I applaud the efforts of companies who realize that they have a platform and are using it to impact society for good to the glory of Christ.  Think, Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby.  How about Forever 21 and Tyson chicken?  There were 10 such companies that were profiled on the CNN Belief blog a few years ago.   

But, you don't expect to walk into a Chick-Fil-A restaurant or Forever 21 and have a political discussion with the customer service person.  But, you know there may be situations in the business context, where a conversation has been engaged in that can lead to spiritual matters.  

This situation with Starbucks and its "Race Together" initiative brings to mind several concepts for us as believers.  For one thing, I do think it can reinforce that each business or company has an opportunity for influence.  It may be something small, but the way you interact with customers can be a indication of your worldviews and your approach to them.   And, if you are dedicated to running your company on Christian principles, that does have some bearing on how you respond to the people with whom you do business.   I think Starbucks in this case is taking it too far in forcing conversation, but they apparently do see an opportunity for dialogue.

And, within the workplace context, we can also recognize that we have a chance to be ambassadors for Christ.  Things do get sensitive in the workplace, and we have heard instances where employers and employees do see the work environment as an excellent opportunity to share truth, and where they have sometimes been in trouble as a result.  So, we have to be sensitive, but we can also be intentional on how we share our faith in the workplace in the context of relationship.

Finally, in our culture, we do need to have conversations on racial matters, and the church should be leading the way in speaking out on race relations.   A greater understanding of and greater level of fellowship with those who are different than we are can promote unity within the body of Christ.  The civil rights movement had a strong spiritual component, and in these days where there is tension over the issue of race, we as Christians can help provide good perspective and promote Godly wisdom being injected into the discussion.

Sound Principles in an Age of Deviancy

In 1st Corinthians 15, we read this passage that can remind us of the victory we have in Christ:

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We have a message of victory to share with the world - where there is sin, we can know the overcoming presence of the Lord.  For the person who rejects Christ, that person can know reconciliation with Him.  For the man or woman who is confused, God's Word can bring clarity and His Spirit can provide the way to peace.  God's way is a way of freedom, of order, of unconditional love, of experiencing the true love of a Savior who can provide us with the strength we need to navigate the challenges of this world, which would get us off track from a relationship with God.

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In the 1st chapter of the book of 1st Timothy, the apostle Paul elaborates on the purpose of the Law, which points out what is sinful and what is not, what pleases God and what does not. He writes:
(9) ...the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

In His Word, God identifies what does and doesn't please Him. And, Paul states in verses 15 and 16:
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Yvette Cormier was a member at a Planet Fitness location in Midland, Michigan.  She was in the locker room one day and a man walked in - a man apparently dressed as a woman!  You would think this would raise some concern by the gym management, but when Yvette complained, her membership was revoked.  After all, Planet Fitness has a "no judgement zone" policy.

Let's dig a bit deeper here.  A piece on Matt Barber's BarbWire.com website, written by Gina Miller, references a report by a local television station, WNEM in Saginaw:

It’s a business that sells itself on being non-judgmental, but Planet Fitness is losing members after it allegedly revoked the membership of a woman for complaining.

Yvette Cormier, a member at the Midland location, said she had no idea what that meant until a week ago.

“I was stunned and shocked. He looked like a man. He did not look like a woman,” Cormier said. Cormier is talking about a transgender woman who walked into the woman’s locker room while she was getting undressed. She said she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“This is very unprofessional. This is very scary,” Cormier said.

Not knowing why the person was in the women’s locker room, Cormier said she immediately complained to the front desk and eventually to corporate offices.

“They told me the same thing, that he was allowed in there because that’s the sex he wants to be,” Cormier said.

… Cormier lost her membership for violating the company’s no judgement [sic] zone policy.

Astounding! Miller goes on to write that:

The radical homosexual movement has shown that it will not stop its evil campaign to force on society the mainstream acceptance, and even celebration, of abominable sexual behavior. What began several decades ago as a not-so-humble effort to get homosexuals “out of the closet,” has turned into a full-blown crusade to viciously crush any opposition to all aspects of in-your-face displays of sexual degeneracy.

She points out that Planet Fitness is not alone in its acceptance of such deviancy, saying that, "Many, if not most, of the big companies have implemented policies of workplace acceptance of “out and proud” homosexuals and so-called 'transgenders,' people who are under the delusion that they are the opposite sex. At the expense of the rights of the vast majority of employees in these companies, men who dress like women are allowed to come to work in such grotesque costume and even use the women’s restroom, and employees are not permitted to object to this blatant lunacy."

We're seeing that municipalities are attempting to provide special rights for these individuals who want to thwart common decency and flaunt their so-called gender identity.  The city of Houston is currently in litigation because not only did its City Council pass an ordinance that would "protect" such individuals and allow them to use the bathroom of the gender that they think they are (or at least say they think they are), but city officials denied citizens the right to put a recall referendum on the ballot.  Recently, Charlotte, NC turned back such an insidious ordinance.

In a column on the USA Today website, talk show host Steve Deace points out that:

The "right side of history" evolves fast. Today's lunacy is tomorrow's new normal. That's because the debate over homosexuality and sexual morality has never really been about "tolerance." This is really about using whatever means necessary to compel people to believe and practice what you believe. In giving Cormier the boot, Planet Fitness is celebrated for the very acts for which Christians are attacked.

That's why there's no intellectually honest answer to the question how come Planet Fitness can decide whom it wants to do business with on moral grounds, but a Christian baker or florist cannot.

The hypocrisy here is breathtaking, but that's par for the course with political correctness.

What do you make of this?   Well, for one thing, and I think it's instructive for each of us, Jesus Christ came to save sinners.  I know that sounds simplistic, but it's so true for our society today - we are seeing a proliferation of deviant behavior that is being accepted, and the answer is for a changed heart, and a changed identity, through Jesus Christ.    Anne Paulk of the Restored Hope Network was a guest of mine from NRB 2015, and she related about how those who wish to accommodate their own sexual sin, even those who claim to be Christians, are missing out on an opportunity for redemption.   Jesus did not come to accommodate any sin, but to provide freedom from the sin that so easily entangles us, according to Hebrews 12.

In this age of tolerance, we recognize that that endgame for the Lord is not accommodation, helping people live with a misinformed gender identity, for instance, but for eradication - and I believe that applies to any sin.  When we recognize the identity that is offered to us through Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that He gives us the power to overcome ALL that is not pleasing to Him.

We have to be so careful in the church that in the name of being compassionate that we are refusing to tell people the truth - that's not to say that truth should not be shared in the context of relationship, but the most loving thing we can do is to tell someone that redemption and healing is possible by the power of the cross.

Content, Conviction, and Compassion

God desires that we show the world that we are full of hope, devoted to Him, and expressing His character. Romans 15 says:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Because Jesus lives in our hearts, we can go forth with the knowledge that He is with us and that He has brought His hope into our lives.  He desires to express His nature through us and to show the world that there is a hope in Him.  In our approach to other people, we are called to demonstrate that He is good; not that we are good in ourselves, but His presence in us can cause us to live a life that is compassionate toward others.   We can be resolute in the content of our speech while making sure that we are radiating hope.

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We have been called by God to radiate His nature, to be people of conviction who act in compassion. 1st Peter 2 reminds us:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Daniel Murphy plays second base for the New York Mets.   His comments following the visit to the team by Major League Baseball's Ambassador for Inclusion have attracted some attention, but can be instructive for a civil society.  The Daily Signal has a report.

You see, this "Inclusion" Ambassador is a former major league player who is gay - his name is Billy Bean.  He is not to be confused by the ultra-successful general manager of the Oakland Athletics, who also happens to be named Billy Beane, but with an "e" on the end.  After his visit to the Mets' clubhouse,  the NJ.com website published an interview with Daniel Murphy. Here are some of his comments:

He is quoted as saying that he is “is ready for a gay teammate, “ and the reports stated, “Murphy, a devout Christian, said he would embrace Bean despite a divergence in their beliefs.”

Murphy said about Bean, "I disagree with his lifestyle,” adding, “I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn’t mean I can’t still invest in him and get to know him.”

Murphy went on to say:

Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven’t been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality … We love the people. We disagree [with] the lifestyle. That’s the way I would describe it for me. It’s the same way that there are aspects of my life that I’m trying to surrender to Christ in my own life.

What was Bean's reaction?  Well, it may surprise you, because its not your basis agenda-driven vitriol that we sometimes see from certain officials.  The Daily Signal reported that Bean himself wrote in an MLB.com column he “appreciate[d] that Daniel spoke his truth.” Bean continued:

I respect him, and I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it’s a start. … Inclusion means everyone, plain and simple. Daniel is part of that group.

As the writer of the Daily Signal piece, Katrina Trinko, points out:

What we’re seeing here is a dialogue: Bean and Murphy are both being honest about their views. They’re also both clearly trying to be considerate and respectful of the other’s views.

That’s what our society needs.

Americans are divided on a host of controversial issues—from abortion to wars to vaccines to, yes, same-sex marriage. The way to work together and live in harmony isn’t to pretend we all agree. It isn’t to silence those who have controversial positions.

So, I guess that we can expect further dialogue on this matter, right?  Well, not if the Mets have their way.  They apparently want Murphy to stick to baseball and refrain from sharing his faith.  As Trinko writes:

On Wednesday, an ESPN story headlined “Murphy now to talk baseball only” appeared. The story’s first line was “New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy will no longer address his religious beliefs and will stick to baseball, a team spokesman said Wednesday.”

She asks, "Where’s the tolerance?" adding, "After all, he didn’t make his comments out of the blue. Bean’s visit was publicized. Murphy wasn’t just randomly talking, but was reacting to a specific event."

Well, I think this is a great template for responding to people with whom we disagree.  Murphy first of all was willing to go public with statements consistent with his faith.  He was not intimidated into silence, but he spoke boldly, with conviction, but also with a sense of compassion.

Murphy dissected the difference between loving a person, no matter his or her behavior, and taking a Biblical stand on sinful behavior.  And, he went a step further - he shared his own struggle with sin in his life.

Now, Daniel Murphy has a choice - the reports are that the Mets have silenced him on faith matters. That ESPN story quotes Bean as saying, "I'm not here to change anybody or tell them that they're wrong. This is our country. We're allowed to be who and what we want." Really?  So, why is there a report now that Daniel Murphy can't share about his faith, which is a privilege that other players in the league have traditionally enjoyed?   Just Google Daniel Murphy and you will see a host of stories on his personal faith - is all that now disallowed by the team?  Perhaps it is an errant report, or perhaps it is just an indication of the climate in which we live, but it's important that we are firm in our convictions and devoted to living our lives in the way that would exalt Christ.

The Exit of the Elephants

The apostle Paul wrote about his own inward struggle against sin in Romans chapter 7:
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Jesus has come into our lives to bring us salvation and to enable us to experience freedom from and victory over the power of sin.  It is very easy to accommodate sinful desires and patterns in our lives, and God has offered to us a better way - He gives us access to His power and resources so that we might break free from the power of indwelling sin and experience the liberty of the new nature, united with Christ, so that we might honor Him in our thoughts and our actions.

+++++

The Lord wants us to develop a determination to eradicate areas of sin from our hearts, so that we might experience a greater measure of Christ's life. Hebrews 12 says:
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

The circus has been a fixture of American life for years - and perhaps you have delighted in the amazing feats of daring artistry, or the way that the plethora of animal acts can astound and entertain.

Well, it was announced recently that the Ringling Brothers circus has decided to eliminate the elephants from their shows.   A CNN Money article reported that Ringling Bros. announced it will gradually reduce the use of elephants in its shows, and all will be retired by 2018.

As the article points out, it's the end of an era for the animal that Ringling calls "a lifelong symbol" of its circus.

Elephants have for years played prominently in the circus' shows and its advertising. They triumphantly enter the ring, then perform a synchronized dance routine.

But Ringling Bros.' treatment of the pachyderms has also come under scrutiny.  It has been repeatedly criticized, picketed and even sued by several animal rights groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States.

In 2011, the circus was fined $270,000 by the USDA for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Ringling Bros., is quoted as saying that, "No other institution has done or is doing more to save this species from extinction, and that is something of which I and my family are extremely proud." He added, "This decision was not easy, but it is in the best interest of our company, our elephants and our customers."

Ringling Bros. said it currently has 13 elephants traveling for its shows, and about 40 are at its 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida, created in 1995 by Ringling as a facility for the care and study of Asian elephants, the variety it uses in shows and an endangered species.

But, the "elephant in the room" regarding these majestic beasts is apparently the treatment that elephants are subjected to in order to bring them into submission for the purpose of the performance. 

There are questionable techniques that have been implemented, and apparently Ringling decided that the result was not worth the ethical cost.  

I think circus goers will miss the elephants - after all, they have become a fixture, really, a symbol, of the circus culture.

Well, it's not too much of an analogous stretch to think about how sometimes we need to eliminate things from our own lives that while we may regard as being beneficial, yet, they are really detrimental to our spiritual walk.  We tolerate the "elephants in the room," those things that we know are there, that we accommodate without effectively dealing with them.

Author and speaker Jill Briscoe writes about the concept of the "elephant in the room":

Do you ever have your devotions when there is something you are really worried about, yet you never get around to talking to God about it? Even though it dominates your thoughts, you manage to avoid addressing it with the Lord. It's funny, isn't it, that you can have a long devotional time, finish, and be as worried as you were when you started. Why is this? How do we manage to talk to God about the world and this life without ever mentioning the elephant in the room?

She asks:

But then, how can the elephant be in the Throne Room in the first place? The answer is he's there because I bring him with me! Yes, I do. You wouldn't think an elephant would fit through the Throne Room door, would you? But the front door is large enough for any old elephant, and he comes in because he refuses to stay outside. There I am clutching my Bible, prayer journal, calendar of Bible promises, a book about faith, and a map so I can pray for all the missionaries in the world, and there he is looming as large as life! The most amazing thing is that even though the animal sort of dominates the landscape, I manage to have my prayer time AS IF HE ISN'T THERE! In fact, at the end of a seemingly balanced time with God, (you know, like we've been taught: praising first, confessing next, praying for others, and then praying for myself) I get up and leave with the elephant in tow just as I came, pretending he's been invisible to all those heavenly beings (who we learned in Sunday school have eyes all over them!). In other words, it's possible to have a huge problem that you know only God can throw light upon and help with, but you won't allow yourself to LISTEN to what He wants to say or be enlightened and encouraged by Him.

So what do we tolerate in our lives?  Perhaps something with which we've grown so comfortable that we just regard it as part of us and fail to do anything about it.  Perhaps we feed and care for that area of sin - it's on our mind, but we are too accustomed to it to really allow the Holy Spirit to take it away. Maybe we just flat out like it!   The Ringling Brothers have been keeping the elephants going for years, even though they apparently have had to take drastic measures to keep the huge animals under submission.  Maybe there are those drastic measures you are taking to hold on to sin, to accommodate those areas that bring private pleasure, but do not contribute to our spiritual growth.  What are the elephants that are residing in your room, in your heart? - God wants us to bring those areas under the submission of the cross.