Wise

On this 12th day of July, we go to the 12th chapter of the book of Proverbs to find wisdom about controlling our tongue and telling the truth:
17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

There's a certain U.S. Senator I will talk about on The Meeting House today who is tweeting out a verse from Proverbs every day. Today's verse is contained in that passage; albeit a different translation.  We could use more truth-telling today in our society; James speaks of the power of the tongue and how difficult it is to control.  Jesus said out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A key to controlling our tongue is to release self-control, placing ourselves under the control of the Spirit, allowing Him to speak through us and to restrain us from saying things that do not honor God.

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In the 1st chapter of the book of Proverbs, the writer, Solomon, who had asked the Lord for wisdom,
who was recognized for how wise he was, wrote this about the purpose of the book:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion--
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

If you went to Twitter, as the barons inside the Beltway began their day, you might have come across this Scripture:

Whoever speaks honestly testifies truly, but the deceitful make lying witnesses. Proverbs 12:17

Yesterday, this Twitter feed said this:

Whoever reviles a neighbor lacks sense, but the intelligent keep silent. Proverbs 11:12

OK, it looks like we have a pattern - on Monday, the 10th day of July, a verse from Proverbs 10,
verse 19: "Where words are many, sin is not wanting; but those who restrain their lips do well."

What you have here is a U.S. Senator who is tweeting a verse from Proverbs, it seems, every day.  He even retweeted Franklin Graham posing the question, "What’s wrong with Senator @MarcoRubio tweeting Bible verses? I’d say that it’s the best thing anyone could tweet."  He linked to a recent Politico story that took Rubio to task for these tweets.

The story was written by Yale Divinity School Professor Joel Baden, and Philip Wegmann took him to task in a Washington Examiner piece.  He stated:

Yale Divinity School Professor Joel Baden made a fool of himself Sunday morning in Politico when he complained about Sen. Marco Rubio's habit of tweeting verses from Proverbs. The Florida Republican, Baden complains, was quoting "the most Republican parts of the Bible."

Wegmann continues:

One doesn't need an advanced divinity degree, though, to realize that this is of course preposterous. For an ivy-league professor, Baden demonstrates surprising ignorance.

Because GOP presidents as far back as Gerald Ford have pilfered its passages for speech content, he asserts that "Proverbs is probably the most Republican book of the entire Bible." And conflating the political with the theological, Baden insists that verses in Proverbs look "strikingly similar" to conservative policy.

He points out that "Proverbs doesn't give prophecy, promises, or government policy prescriptions. Instead, the text teaches parables on how to live an honorable and good life. It's an apolitical text written during the 10th century B.C., back when Israel was a pre-partisan theocracy." He said, "Rubio wasn't weaponizing scripture for Republican ends and he was right when he quipped that 'Solomon hadn't yet joined the GOP when he wrote the first 29 chapters of Proverbs.'"

Well, kudos to Mr. Rubio for calling attention to what the Word of God has to say.  Again, we recognize that the Bible itself is not political, but if policy proposals were consistent with Scripture, we would have a far greater handle on dealing with the challenges we face in our nation.  And, as Wegmann and Baden point out, politicians will use Bible passages for political purposes.  But, that shouldn't negate the power of these passages that can show us a way forward.

One might dismiss the use of Scripture as political grandstanding - of course, Mr. Rubio just won re-election to the Senate, so he's not exactly trying to endear himself to some constituency, the religious voter, who probably already supports him.  After all, he was an evangelical favorite according to WORLD magazine's Presidential preference poll of evangelical influencers during the Presidential campaign.  Perhaps, he's calling attention to what many of us already know: the Bible is a book that provides wisdom for how to live our daily lives, and can be used as a blueprint for sound governing - personally or collectively.  It's a book that demonstrates how to be effective leaders, and we definitely need some of those these days.

So, we can be challenged to think upon and appropriate Scripture in our lives.  Proverbs is a part of that framework, and its principles are consistent with the whole counsel of God, inspired by Him and given to us for wise living.  

One further word from Wegmann: 

Religious pluralism and free speech all but guarantee a steady stream of sacrilegious hot takes. Disagreeable not novel, Baden's article isn't new. As the author of Proverbs teaches,"fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions."

In the Name of Love

In 1st Corinthians 9, Paul highlights a key component to reaching people with the gospel, and that is
identifying with them, attempting to build a relationship. He writes:
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

We see here that Paul is emphasizing servanthood, humbling ourselves before others.  Acts of service can communicate a powerful truth about the One Who laid down His life so that we might come to know Him.  He was a proponent of finding common ground with others, not compromising the gospel, but building a bridge through which truth can be shared.  Sometimes a methodology or program can be helpful to provide structure, but we can also recognize that ultimately, humility and love, driven by the Spirit, are powerful in winning people to Christ.

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In John 7, we find that Jesus is at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.  In the midst of this large
crowd gathered, He proclaimed the message of salvation in Him. We read:
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Around a month ago, Bono came to Bonnaroo, and the iconic band U2 headlined its first-ever U.S. music festival in its 41-year history, according to a report on The Tennessean website.  Bonnaroo, by the way, is a massive music festival that takes place annually in Manchester, TN, between Nashville and Chattanooga.  Check out its website and you'll see names in addition to U2 such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Weeknd, and Chance the Rapper.  And, that's just the first line.  Just a side note - 2 out of the 4 top acts have Christian overtones in their overall message.

But, the Christian message had a more direct delivery at a place on the Bonnaroo site called "The Jesus Tent."  It's an outreach of First Baptist Church of Manchester and supported by the local association and state board of missions.  A Baptist Press article quotes David Evans of the Tennessee State Board of Missions, who has served as one of the leaders of the project:

"I can honestly say that I have not found a better, or easier, place on the face of the planet to share Jesus than at Bonnaroo," said Evans, "and I blame the Holy Spirit for that. Before we even get to the tent, the Holy Spirit is at work, preparing the hearts (of the attendees) for what's in store."

The article notes, "The Jesus Tent attracted long lines as participants at Bonnaroo line up for free snacks and other items provided free of charge by local churches." And, this year, according to the article, "there were approximately 200 spiritual decisions, including conversions, rededications and prayer requests."

Baptist Press reports that:

Those who visit the tent are able to pick up the free goodies in a "no-strings-attached" environment. They are not greeted by counselors, nor do they have to sign up for Sunday School.

Rather, the sharing of the Gospel takes place outside the tent, as volunteers fan out into the open fields that surround Great Stage Park. "The goal is not for us to sit in the tent and have people approach us," Evans said. "We want to go out into the crowd and bring our message to them."

According to the piece, Jake Dorak of the church "said the tent's popularity is due, at least in part, to the word-of-mouth endorsements from the campers at Bonnaroo."  There have been between 15 and 19 thousand visitors yearly for the past three years; the tent is open 24 hours a day.

The Tent started in 2001 as an outgrowth of the church handing out bottled water to motorists visiting the event - in the early days, traffic was a nightmare in the festival area.   Traffic patterns were improved, but the church wanted to have a presence with the festival - in 2006, the "More Than Music" tent was launched, and the name was changed to the "Jesus Tent" in 2015, because that's what concertgoers called it, anyway.

Here is another example of Christians seeing an opportunity for ministry, desiring to lift up Jesus in the midst of a large event.  A couple of things come to mind: first of all, think about the simple roots of this outreach - handing out bottled water to motorists; and of course, you can consider how the physical water can be a tool through which people are introduced to the true, spiritual, living water of Christ.  As believers, we have the chance to bring the refreshment of the Spirit to people who are thirsty.  We can be convinced in our hearts that Jesus can refresh us by His Spirit; when we are tired and our souls are parched, we can avail ourselves of His touch.

I also have to think about the rebranding - year after year, as those ministry volunteers staffed the tent, it became known as the "Jesus Tent."  Not the "snack" tent or the "sunscreen" tent - the "More Than Music" tent came to be known for Who was being lifted up.  We can also become known for Who we are lifting up.   We can utilize a variety of tools, but ultimately, it's important that Jesus is seen in us.  And, the Bonnaroo ministry team is not ashamed to be identified with our Lord.

Central Alabama's own Christian music festival is back in Verbena next month - this year's En Fuego event features For King and Country, Tenth Avenue North, Plumb, I Am They, Seventh Day Slumber, and Tori Parris.  Learn more about this free event at EnFuegoInfo.com.

In the Parks

There's a passage in Galatians 6 that can serve to encourage us in doing the work of the Lord. We can
read:
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The Lord desires to stir our hearts to serve Him by serving others - He wants us to take care of one another in the Church, in the body of Christ, but He also desires for us to share His love with those who need to hear and see the gospel.  We can look for ministry opportunity; sometimes in the most simple of platforms.  Where there are people gathered, perhaps that is an open door to do ministry; acts of service can be used as a tool to share His love - and we keep in mind that ministry will often occur in the context of relationship.

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God desires to express His love through His people who are devoted to following His call.  2nd
Corinthians 3 says this:
3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God.
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.

The summer season certainly provides ministry opportunities - I shared last week about a Knoxville-area church that used a Fourth of July parade in order to invite people to come to their church. Across our region, churches are using the ministry of Vacation Bible School to welcome children into their midst.  Child Evangelism Fellowship's 5-Day Clubs are involved in neighborhood outreaches.

And, in national parks across America, there are believers who are seeing the love of the outdoors as an opportunity to provide worship services.  It's called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, and it operates in more than 25 national and state parks across the country.  A recent Religion News Service piece shared some insight into this unique ministry.

The article says that:

The program got its start in 1951 when Warren Ost, then a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, hosted a casual worship service in a Yellowstone bar in response to the religious needs of his co-workers and park guests.

Ost went on to lead the ministry for 45 years, registering it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1971. The program has grown and evolved since then, expanding to include short-term mission trips and other service opportunities.

The ministry has to continue to apply to work in various national parks.

Almost 300 young people between the ages of 18 and 30 are working in the parks in the summer. The story states:

They come from a variety of Christian denominations. The unifying statement of faith is the Apostles’ Creed, which professes belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Applicants are asked to explain their religious background, as well as how their relationship with God impacts their life. They list the three parks they’re most interested in serving at and describe what’s drawing them to the ministry.

Generally, the workers will not only conduct worship services, but they will also be involved as employees, serving in various capacities for minimum wage.

In addition to providing a worship opportunity for travelers to the parks, they will also minister to those who work there. Shelby Cook, who spent two summers in Denali National Park and is now hiking the Appalachian Trail, stated, “We’re getting to know people’s stories. We’re communicating the love of Jesus by showing up for people and being available for people who don’t look like you or sound like you or have a similar story as you..."

Here again is an example of people who have seen an opportunity and work to perpetuate a ministry. There are all sorts of ways to share Christ.  What is important for each of us is to be open to how the Spirit would lead us.  Our God of creativity perhaps will inspire in our hearts a creative idea through which He will make His presence known.

We have to make sure that we are available to Him, then that we are obedient to His direction.  A God-inspired idea will remain an idea until we put feet to it.  It's a matter of wholehearted obedience; being confident that what God has directed, He will provide the resources in order to bring it to pass. And, those resources take the form of personal strength or the tangible or logistical resources that are necessary, or even co-laborers in the work.

So, we can develop openness and obedience; we also can depend on the Lord to create in our hearts a sense of sustainability.  A ministry activity may be a one-time thing, but if He is calling a work to go forward, then we can depend on Him to create a vision and instruction for growth.  Think about Warren Ost's vision to minister at one national park and how that has grown.  God will perpetuate ministry as we depend on Him.

Blessed is the Nation...

I want to pause for a moment and think about the gifts that God has given us and the hand
of God in our lives. James 1 says:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

In Matthew 7, Jesus gives us some insight into the benevolence of our Heavenly Father:
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

This Fourth of July week is a great opportunity to reflect on the goodness of God extended toward the United States of America - this nation was built on a foundation consistent with Biblical principles, and while the path has not been perfect, certainly there has been a significant current of God's hand upon our nation.   And, living in America has given us a strong degree of freedom to practice our faith.  While we relish what God has done in our country, we also can be challenged to give Him praise for how we have seen Him work in our individual lives, and never take that for granted. Spiritually, He has saved us, delivered us, and is sanctifying us.  And, we can take the time to praise Him for the blessings that we have seen Him express toward us.

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In Psalm 33, we see verses that point to the strength of the Lord and His desire for nations to follow
Him:
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

Yes, it is Friday; and that may be a little challenging to wrap your mind around, since we had a Tuesday holiday - that might mean you've had a 3-day work week, or just taken the whole week off to do a little travelling or work around the house.

Traveling was definitely the order of the day for Beth and me, as last week we were in Cincinnati for the CBA event, then journeyed to eastern Pennsylvania, and finally a trip through the Shenandoah Valley.  We woke up on the fourth of July in Knoxville, put on our appropriate attire, and enjoyed the Independence Day parade in the suburb of Farragut, where units ranging from a huge balloon-clad float representing a local church to a display from the Andy Griffith Watchers chapter, which included two old-style police cars. The goodies were a-plenty, including the obligatory candy for the kids, plus popsicles, frisbees, and...here's a new parade favor: AA batteries from a local battery store - hey, why not be practical.  There was plenty of red, while, and blue and community spirit to go around, with a number approaching 100 units lined up.

That local church to which I referred definitely saw the event as an outreach, handing out bottled water, popsicles, and information on their church.  I commend them for being friendly and inviting, seeing the setting as an opportunity to let others know about their church.

The Fourth of July is a consummate day of celebration.  I fondly remember the fireworks that we saw as we travelled Monday night to our hotel in Virginia, near a university named for one of our Founding Fathers.  And, there were fireworks displays across the fruited plain, from sea to shining sea.  This captures just a bit of the spirit conveyed by John Adams to his wife, Abigail, as he wrote that "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America." He continued:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

That was taken from the Massachusetts Historical Society website.

Adams also said this:“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

That is taken from this year's annual Hobby Lobby full page ad. It features the first sentence of Psalm 33 prominently displayed, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." If you want to see how some of the Founding Fathers viewed the hand of God in the life of our nation, you can check it out! Here are some other excerpts from it:

From George Washington: “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

James Madison said: “Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”

And, Thomas Jefferson said, “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

Oh, and Adams said July 2nd should be celebrated.  The National Constitution Center states:

After voting on independence on July 2, the Continental Congress needed to draft a document explaining the move to the public. It had been proposed in draft form by the Committee of Five (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) and it took two days for the Congress to agree on the edits.

Once the Congress approved the actual Declaration on Independence document on July 4, it ordered that it be sent to a printer named John Dunlap. About 200 copies of the Dunlap Broadside were printed, with John Hancock’s name printed at the bottom. Today, 26 copies remain.

That is why the Declaration has the words, “IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776,” at its top, because that is the day the approved last version was signed in Philadelphia.

I think about the free stuff that was being handed out at the Fourth of July parade. The kids loved the candy and popsicles; I thought the batteries were a rather practical idea.  The church saw it as an outreach, so that people might come and experience the gift of life.  But, there are far greater gifts that God has given to us.  We are blessed to live in this nation, where we can by and large practice our faith, where we can pursue God's dream for us.

But, the concept of freedom, as it has been pursued throughout the years, is certainly not free, as it has been said.  So many have given their lives to attain that freedom and still others have laid down their lives to protect and maintain it.  We can thank God for those who have and continue to sacrifice so that we can enjoy this uniquely American way of life.

But, we do well to heed the words of Adams, the one who said that our independence should be a cause for celebration - he said the Constitution was made for a "moral and religious people."  If we strip the morality and practice of faith from our land, then that could lead to chaos.  Adams recognized this.  We are seeing the moral authority of the Constitution being questioned and challenged.  A Supreme Court has "discovered" rights to terminate the lives of unborn babies in the womb and made up a so-called "right" to same-sex marriage.  Those are cornerstone principles that have been violated and led to all sorts of destruction.  In an age in which people are challenging the time-honored traditions rooted in a strong faith in God, we do well to continue to set a Godly example, strengthened by His Spirit. 

American Dream?

We can look into the Scriptures and see how God works in the lives of nations. In Jeremiah 18, we can read this pronouncement:
7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

There is a clear principle here - God gives opportunities for nations to either align with Him or turn away.  We have that choice in America today:  to either turn to the Lord, follow His principles, and experience His blessings, or to turn our backs on Him and encounter His judgment.  Unfortunately, in a nation that was founded on principles consistent with the Bible, we are seeing many who do not acknowledge Him.  We have been a blessed people, I believe, but, likewise, I cannot see that God will continue to bless our nation when we collectively have departed from His teachings on the sanctity of life and marriage.  A reversal of the trend starts in our own hearts and penetrates our communities as the Church steps up to do what God has called it to do.

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The prophet Daniel is a man who loved his nation.  In the 9th chapter of the book of Daniel, we see
him interceding for his people:
18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

We have completed our celebration of Independence Day, a holiday that brings to mind the incredible history of our great nation and gives an opportunity for communities to celebrate what is good about our land.

There has been a theme coined by the now-President of the United States: Make America Great Again. Over the weekend at a special rally, the choir of First Baptist Church of Dallas performed a song built around that theme.  Last year, Christian music veteran Leon Patillo recorded a song of the same name.  And, whether or not you think America needs to be great - again - or if it ever ceased to be great, there is a certain patriotic spirit that can unite us as Americans.  And, for the Christian, when you factor in the role of God in the establishment and furtherance of our nation and consider the need for His blessings, there is, I believe, a compatibility between our Christian faith and American patriotism.

The Barna Group recently released a survey about the greatness of America.  The premise was simple: "What Makes America Great?"  The summary of the survey says this:

The main thing Americans love most about their homeland is the opportunity to live the “American Dream.” Almost one quarter (24%) chose “the opportunity to become who you want to be / ‘the American dream,'” followed by four pillars of the American political apparatus: the Constitution (21%), free speech and a free press (21%), freedom of religion (20%) and democracy (20%).

The breakdown of various components by age is not unexpected: among Boomers and Elders, "the Constitution and Bill of Rights are more revered" than among the Millennials and Gen-Xers. "Freedom of religion is almost twice as likely to be a source of pride among Elders than any other generation." The concept of a “melting pot society” is "almost four times less valuable for Elders. The summary says, "Millennials see the greatness of U.S. technology and innovation at a percentage almost three times higher than any of the other groups."

Evangelicals value freedom of religion at a much higher rate than Americans in general - 53% vs. the overall average of 20%.  That group also values our nation's Christian roots at a rate of 40% vs. the 11% average of all Americans. In an interesting turn, "Evangelicals have a low view of the Bill of Rights (2%) and freedom of speech / freedom of the press (6%)..."

The survey notes that: 

Practicing Christians similarly value religious freedom (34%) and Christian heritage (23%), but share more in the rest of the country’s level of pride about the Bill of Rights (10%) and freedom of speech / free press (13%).

I couldn't help but think of a book I read a few years ago that called Christians to turn aside from the pursuit of the American Dream.  That would be David Platt's Radical.  In an interview with The Christian Post, Platt stated:

I believe that the gospel and the American Dream have fundamentally different starting points. The American Dream begins with self, exalts self, says you are inherently good and you have in you what it takes to be successful so do all you can, work with everything you have to make much of yourself.

The gospel's starting point is completely different. The gospel begins with God, the reality that we were created to exalt his name to the ends of the earth. I am not inherently good. The gospel tells me that I am inherently evil and I need someone else to save me. The self is crucified from the start in the gospel. So from that starting point everything changes. Now it is not what I have in me but about what God provides in me. It is not about my life but the life of Christ. It is not about me making much of myself, it is about me making much of God.

Casting Crowns recorded a song on their debut album called, American Dream, which stressed the importance of a strong foundation.  It's a story song about a man named Jack chasing that dream and coming up empty.  Here are a few lyrics (from New Release Today):

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"

But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end

I'll take a shack on a rock

Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night

It's not getting any better

Looks like he's running out of time

'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands

And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand

But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in

Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands

His kingdom stands

So, what makes America great?  The Barna survey points to the pursuit of an American dream.  I would make the case that the responses of Christians in the survey point to the freedom to pursue God's dream for us. That's what we have to keep in focus - we can rejoice in the greatness of America and be thankful for our country - and we should. Oh, and by the way, we can appreciate those who have fought and continue to serve to make America free.  But, we recognize that we are called to make a better America by sharing the love of Christ and living our lives based on His firm foundation. We don't worship America, but we worship God and practice our faith, something that we are generally free to do in this country.

Manipulated

Romans 8 begins with a passage that can challenge us to focus our minds on God's truth.  The first verse says:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Later in the chapter, we can read:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

It's so important that our minds are focused on the right things - the enemy of our souls would want to manipulate us, to get us off track in our pursuit of the Lord.  He will whisper in our consciousness and bombard us with lies that don't measure up to the truth of the Scriptures - that's why we have to grow in discernment, to know what is true and what is not.  And, we have to be aware he may even use people who will exploit, intentionally or unintentionally, our vulnerabilities.  God's Word and the power of His Spirit enable us to remain strong in the face of dangerous spiritual influences.

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We live in times that call for soundmindedness.  There are influences that abound in the culture, and we have to make sure that we are strong and shield ourselves from vulnerability to manipulation.  1st
Peter 1 says:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...

Some might say the punishment doesn't fit the crime; others might think it takes the series of events that resulted in the termination of the life of a teenager seriously.  Say what you will, but the shocking verdict in the case of a now-20-year-old woman has generated quite a bit of coverage.

Here's the backstory.  Michelle Carter was 17 years old when, according to Fox News, she was apparently involved in persuading her 18-year-old boyfriend Conrad Roy to commit suicide. She was communicating with him through texts and phone calls as he died when "his pickup truck filled with carbon monoxide in a store parking lot in Fairhaven, Massachusetts."

One of Carter's text messages, according to the story, was: "I thought you wanted to do this. The time is right and you're ready, you just need to do it!"

The day of his suicide, she wrote: "You can't think about it. You just have to do it. You said you were gonna do it. Like I don't get why you aren't."

Carter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Friday, and a sentencing hearing has been set for August 3. She faces the possibility of probation and up to 20 years in prison.

The Fox News story states:

Prosecutors said that in addition to bombarding Roy with text messages, Carter also gave Roy advice when he got out of the truck as he was inhaling the gas and told her he was scared. "Get back in," she told him, according to a friend who testified Carter described the conversation in a text message to her about a month after Roy died.

Carter’s lawyer, Joseph Cataldo, argued that Roy had a history of depression and suicide attempts, and was determined to take his life. He said Carter initially tried to talk Roy out of it and urged him to get professional help, but eventually went along with his plan. He also said Carter’s text messages were a form of protected free speech.

A psychiatrist testifying for the defense described Michelle as "troubled" and said she suffered from depression.  The antidepressant she was taking affects empathy and decision-making, according to the doctor.

During the trial, there were texts read that show that Carter did apparently feel some guilt.  She texted a school friend two months after Roy's death: "It’s my fault,” adding, "I could have stopped him but I told him to get back in the car.”  She texted another friend: “I was talking on the phone with him when he killed himself... I heard him die..."  She also texted to another: "I’m the only one he told things too. I should have gotten him more help,” she wrote.

There are several areas that can be discussed as the result of this tragic story:  one is just the rise of teen suicide in our nation, another is the power of suggestion and manipulation.

Fox News reports that a study released a few weeks ago by a Vanderbilt professor, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, showed that at 32 U.S. children's hospitals between 2008-2015, there were more than 118,000 hospital visits in which young people ages 5-17 were admitted "with thoughts of suicide or self-harm."

The study author notes that these results are consistent with statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

According to a brief compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics, cases of suicide not only increased among adolescents and young adults from 1999-2014, but it was among the leading causes of death for those age groups. The CDC suggests suicide is the third leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 24.

Even though the death of Conrad Roy occurred several years ago, there is a fresh emphasis on teen suicide, especially in light of the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why.  A U.S. News and World Report piece quotes from a briefing by the National Association of School Psychologists which was published for teachers. It said, "Producers for the show say they hope the series can help those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide,” adding, “However, the series, which many teenagers are binge watching without adult guidance and support, is raising concerns from suicide prevention experts about the potential risks posed by the sensationalized treatment of youth suicide. The series graphically depicts a suicide death and addresses in wrenching detail a number of difficult topics..."

I talk often about the power of suggestion.  And, apparently, Michelle had some sort of unhealthy influence over this young man, Conrad.  Through texts and phone calls, she manipulated him to end his life and is being held accountable for it.  We have to make sure that we are discerning about the people whom we allow to influence us.  There are toxic and harmful people who, if allowed to have their way, can lead us to destruction.  Young people are especially vulnerable to peers that do not have their best interest in mind.

We also have to make sure that our minds are sharp.  Apparently, both these young people had serious issues that resulted in creating atmosphere for Roy to take his life and for Michelle to encourage him to do that.  In this case, incorrect thinking led to destructive action. The principles of Scripture are powerful to help us renew and revitalize our minds.  We have to put into practice correct and beneficial thought patterns.

Finally, we need to be aware when people, especially young people, around us are hurting. Focus on the Family, on its ministry website, has a section about Teens and Suicide.  It states:

Not every depressed or suicidal person displays obvious signs, which include withdrawal from family or friends, destructive behavior, mood swings or poor eating and sleeping habits. Yet recent studies show that 15 percent of high school students report thoughts of suicide; 11 percent plan to attempt suicide; 7 percent have attempted it in the past year.

And, it stresses the importance of hope:

Teens desperately need to know they matter, especially to their parents. Assure your adolescent that he is of immeasurable value to you and your family. Look beyond his imperfect exterior to see the qualities that you admire. Create opportunities to tell your teen that you believe in him, God has a plan for his life and he is capable of contributing to the world. Seize every opportunity to show him that he is loved unconditionally, and encourage him to simply live one day at a time.

Above all, pray! Remember that God loves your teen even more than you do. He wants to provide wisdom to help your teen, and He wants to restore joy in the heart of your teen.

Non-Retaliation

Jesus demonstrated a counter-cultural, and really counter-intuitive, approach to human relationships. He gives us insight how we are respond when we experience opposition. In Matthew 5, we can read:
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

This calls for the release of spiritual resources, which are available to us in Christ.  God is not calling us to not act on conviction, but I do believe that He is directing us not to be contrary.  In our flesh, we can become angry and consumed by a desire to "get even," to make sure the score is even or settled. But, in the Spirit, He is not keeping score - He wants the Kingdom to be furthered; He desires the glory to go to Him.  We can examine our actions and responses through that mindset; perhaps even asking, "how can God be glorified through me in this situation?"

+++++

It's human nature to retaliate when you are reviled; it's God's nature to turn the other cheek and not respond improperly, in anger. Romans 12 reminds us:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

The Montgomery Biscuits opened the second half of the 2017 season by dropping a game to Birmingham 5-2.  This is a significant series for the home team, because it marks the beginning of new ownership for the team.  During this grand re-opening weekend, there are a number of special features, and Family Faith Night is one of them - tomorrow, Calling Glory will present a pre-game concert at 5:00 - come see Faith Radio at the block party outside the stadium at 3:00.  We'll have pre-game coverage on Faith Radio tomorrow afternoon.

Last night, on the tail end of a rainy, stormy day, the Biscuits drew over 4,000 fans to Riverwalk Stadium, and if the weather holds up, it could be a very popular weekend.

The Biscuits play in the Southern League, which is a group of 10 AA franchises that are affiliated with major league clubs.  The Biscuits are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays.  The New York Mets do not have a team in the League; their AA franchise is the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, which plays in the Eastern League, along with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, which has the same owner as the Biscuits. Why I am telling you all this?

Well, because there is a Mets prospect who is certainly turning heads, and if he were to come into the Southern League, he might be visiting some key cities in SEC Country, where he made a name for himself as the Heisman Trophy winner from the Florida Gators - cities like Birmingham, Knoxville, and his hometown of Jacksonville.  That's right, Tim Tebow might not be setting the woods on fire statistically, but he's apparently making a big difference in attendance in the South Atlantic League, where he plays for the Columbia Fireflies in South Carolina.

The State newspaper in Columbia says this:

Tebow has been a hit at the box office for the Fireflies and the rest of the teams in South Atlantic League.

Tebow’s numbers (. 224 average, 3 HRs, 21 RBI) don’t scream promotion, but given the fact he will turn 30 in August, that might be a big factor in moving him up quicker than normal

Even if Tebow starts the second half in Columbia, it might not be for long. Tebow will eventually need to see how he fares against better pitching in either advanced-A at St. Lucie or with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

The article points out that:

Thanks to Tebow’s arrival and a good marketing plan, attendance for Fireflies’ home games is on pace to shatter last season’s mark.

The Fireflies drew 261,134 in their inaugural season.

Through 35 home games, Columbia is second in the South Atlantic League in attendance behind Greensboro by 79 fans per game. The Fireflies drew 182,364 fans, an average of 5,210 per game.

And, Tebow's a hit on the road. Baseball America says this in an article from May:

But to better understand the Tebow effect on attendance, we looked at Columbia’s road games. When Columbia hit the road in the first month of the season, they played in front of an average of 4,607 fans. When those same teams hosted non-Tebow teams, they averaged 2,399 fans.

Based on the April attendance data, the Tebow effect appears to be roughly 2,210 fans per night. Minor league teams estimate that the average fan will spend $20 per person if they come to the ballpark. That counts ticket sales, concessions and souvenirs. So Tebow is worth roughly an additional $44,200 per night.

If Tebow remains in the SAL all season, that would mean an additional $3.1 million in revenue over the course of 70 Columbia road games. That doesn’t even count the revenue he generates for Columbia.

Well, the Charleston RiverDogs didn't exactly welcome Tebow with open arms at a recent home game, which is too bad, because he probably put more people than normal through the turnstiles. You might even say they came off doing a "reverse" faith night.

According to Faithwire:

First, the team’s mascot, Charlie, sported eye black with “John 3:16” scrawled in white. As you might recall, this is something that Tebow himself did as a football player. The mascot also engaged in “Tebowing” — the term coined to describe how Tebow would often bend on one knee and pray on the football field.

But it didn’t end there. The team also played the “Hallelujah Chorus” every time Tebow came up to bat during the game, the Post and Courier reported.

There was also a photo of Tebow crying after the 2009 SEC Championship Game posted when teammates came to bat.

You think there were complaints?  Enough to cause the Charleston GM to issue a tepid apology:

“While we believe that our promotions were poking fun at Mr. Tebow’s celebrity status rather than his religion or baseball career, our intent was not to offend anyone, and for the fact that we did offend, we are sorry,” he said in a statement to the Post and Courier.

Echols continued, “Of the many promotional pieces that we executed, there were a handful on Friday’s game that some construed as in poor taste, and we made it a focus to remove those elements and celebrate Mr. Tebow the remainder of his time in Charleston.”

 A handful?  "Some" construed in poor taste?  I don't think he won a whole lot of friends by that.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson was also not impressed by the opposing team's treatment of their high-profile visitor. He told Newsday that the actions were "all very minor league. He added, "I was a little surprised that halfway through the season that somebody decided to be cute and pursue that,” adding, “But he’s bigger than that.”

And, as Faithwire notes: "As for Tebow, he’s been quiet about the incident thus far."

So, this goes into the "what were they thinking?" category - certainly you can poke fun at a player, but leave his faith out of it.  Unfortunately, this reminds us that there is a cultural element that does not revere a person's personal faith, and will demonstrate disrespect in an openly hostile way, or just by exhibiting this type of insensitivity.  We see it in so many areas that I discuss regularly on the radio show.

I want to concentrate for a moment on Tebow's response, because it gives us some good lessons. Obviously, he's made an impact on the Mets' general manager - this received attention from the top of the Mets' organization.  Alderson said Tebow was "bigger than that."  This can really challenge us to think about our response when we face opposition or ridicule.  We don't have to respond in kind when we find ourselves in that position, or we don't have to get all defensive when we face criticism.
When someone takes the low road in their dealings with us, we can make it our aim to take the high road, appropriating spiritual resources to enable us to do that.

Also, think about the silence that Tebow exhibited.  From what I can see online, he apparently didn't take to the media to blast the fans - he probably didn't let it get under his skin.  I would say that silence can be a better reaction that attempting to mix it up when we become angry or frustrated, or if we find ourselves in a disagreement.  It can be the things we say that can get us into trouble more than what we don't say.  The tongue is hard to control, according to James 3, but we have the Spirit who can give us the power to do that.

And, just an extra note: keep in mind that Tebow is well-regarded because of his character and his countenance - I believe these flow from his relationship with Christ.