Reversal

When we depart from following God's laws and upholding His creative order, there are consequences for our rejection of His ways - that is the story that we find throughout the Old Testament, as God continued to hold out His hands to restore the people of Israel who had rebelled against Him. In His mercy, God sent a Savior, a Messiah, to show His people the way to Himself. Isaiah chapter 1 says:
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

He was a Navy SEAL and made a drastic decision - he attempted to change his gender.  He became a spokesperson for the presence of LGBT people in our military.  But, he made a turnaround.  That's according to a God Reports article, which stated:

But then Chris Beck came back. He found healing in Jesus for the childhood traumas that plagued him behind the public’s eye and led him to “destroy” his life.

“It was a mistake. It wasn’t right,” he says on Shawn Ryan’s podcast. “It’s something that never should have happened. I’m not a female, was never a female. A male can’t be a female.”

His comments mark a stark contrast with declarations on CNN in 2012: “No one ever met the real me. I would put nail polish on. I could have, you know, a pair of my sister’s shoes on,” Beck said. “It was like a reset; it was like a vacation for me. So I had my vacation away from Chris.”

Chris grew up on a farm - his father was a stern taskmaster who assigned Chris burdensome chores - chores his sister did not have to do. Out of that envy, he began to cross-dress.  He also encountered sexual perversity at the hands of a pedophile.  The article relates:

Aside from the childhood traumas, he sustained PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Through the Veterans Administration, he was prescribed opioids and antidepressants.

He encountered "gender dysphoria." 

He seemed to be a model SEAL - the article says: "At SEALs, he gave, in his own words, 150% all the time, earning wide respect and sometimes resentment. He participated in seven combat deployments and six non-combat deployments. He fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, often using cutting-edge technology in new ways that led to new strategies (such as aiming mortars with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to see forward targets). His nickname: Caveman."  Back issues became a catalyst for Chris to be involved in technology for the military. 

Then, Chris Beck moved into retirement.  The article says:

Retirement presented the opportunity for him to explore things he’d denied himself, so he would not run afoul of military doctrine. At the time, the military adhered to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for homosexuals and other paraphilia.

The combination of all factors was the cocktail for him to try transgender, but the decisive blow was a VA psychologist who was supposed to help him. Recommended by a combat buddy, the psychologist had impressive credentials and had helped others with PTSD.

But, the psychologist seems to have not helped Chris; he recommended that he write a book about his experiences. Chris also attempted to change his appearance through treatments and surgeries.  As Chris became more well-known, his inner life was a mess. He decided to reject the trans lifestyle.  God Reports states:

He had two divorces. He got frozen out of Pentagon development projects and consultation. He let his contracts slide. He went from a high-flying lifestyle to unemployment.

He started studying to earn a master’s degree in mental health – to help fellow veterans and to help himself. But he became disillusioned when he realized that psychology had been taken over by woke ideology.

The article says:

He found God. “I wear the armor of God,” he says. “I wake up every morning, I read my Bible for an hour. We are created in the image of God. This body that I have was given by the grace of God. I think we need to stop all this damage.”

And, he warns parents about taking their children to drag performances, saying: “If you’re a parent bringing your kids to these drag shows, you’re messing you kid up...You think you’re being all compassionate to the drag queens… They’re giving kids the same pharmaceutical they used to give to pedophiles in prisons to chemically castrate them. That’s criminal.”

Chris tried to become Kristin, and he has rediscovered whom God has made him to be.  The presence of Jesus can provide stability for our hearts and minds and enables us to stand against the misguided ideas of this world.  A penalty for rejecting His ways is instability, and when you have people who have embraced unstable, unreliable ideologies, the consequences for our society are dire.

We can look to God to show us who we really are - we should never try to be someone or something else, but content within our own skin, people created in the image of God.  We can reject the notion, and teach our kids to reject it as well, that we were born in the wrong body or someone "assigned" us the wrong gender.  And, when we chase unfounded ideas, we can return to the timeless truths of the Scriptures, upon which we can build our lives. 

What is Mel's Passion?

The gospel changes lives, and I believe that exposure to the gospel has the potential to result in a positive outcome, because the Word will not return void. That is a concept found in Isaiah chapter 55, which says:
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

It is the highest-rated Christian-themed film in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo, and it's not even close. Grossing over $370 million domestically and over $612 million domestically, The Passion of the Christ depicted, in realistic, graphic detail, the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The director of that film is one Mel Gibson, who was recently appointed by President Trump as an ambassador to Hollywood.  And, a while back, Gibson announced that he was planning to do a sequel of The Passion - now, due to circumstances in his life, he believes the time has come.  

A recent Faithwire story noted that Gibson had lost his home in Los Angeles due to the destructive fires in the area. In an interview with Raymond Arroyo, he said: “It was an odd mixture of sadness and a kind of a weird realization and blessing because they are just things,” adding, “Yeah, I’m going to miss some stuff. There was some valuable stuff, some personal stuff, but I feel like I’m being stripped down and prepared for something else. I feel like the Almighty is preparing me to do something big.”

Gibson went on to say: “You seek first the kingdom of God and you will always be ok," and noted,
“Honestly, I see it as a blessing and a purification. Yeah, you lose. Yeah, it’s going to be murder getting the insurance. It’s going to be a real cluster-buster. [But] I got a lot of faith… [and] not in our elected officials..."

The Faithwire article related:

Gibson says now is the perfect time to begin preparing for a new role in “The Resurrection of the Christ” – the sequel to the 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ” featuring Jim Caviezel as Jesus.

“Society is devolving…We need a reminder of the most basic things that form our civilization…Civilization (is) being threatened,” he said.

Gibson added, “I believe it’s not in my timing. Man, I thought, it’s too late. It’s been 20 years. I thought 20 years may have been too late, but now it’s perfect. And I have had all this taken and now it sort of frees me up to not worry about that stuff and just move ahead and do what I am being called to do. And I am being called to do it.”

Gibson also appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast recently, according to Faithwire, where, as the article notes:

Of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Gibson said, “I think, if you ever hit on that subject matter, you’re going to get people going because, of course, it’s a big subject matter.”

“The idea was that we’re all responsible for this, that His sacrifice was for all mankind, and that for all our ills and all the things in our fallen nature,” he continued. “It was a redemption, so, you know, and I believe that.”

Rogan was described in the article as "agnostic," but apparently he doesn't have a problem talking about topics related to faith.   Rogan stated:

“Christianity is the one religion that you’re allowed to disparage,” he said, going on to describe Hollywood as teeming with “progressive, open-minded leftist people” who are open to other religious beliefs but view Christianity as “negative.”

The article went on to say:

He went on to say he believes in the truth of Scripture, in part because the disciples were willing to die for their faith. “Every single one of those guys died,” he said, “rather than deny their belief.”

“Who gets back up three days later after He gets murdered in public?” the actor asked rhetorically, referring to the resurrected Jesus. “Buddha didn’t do that.”

Rogan then turned the conversation toward evolution, asking the “Braveheart” star and director for his views on creation.

“I don’t really go for it,” Gibson said of the evolutionary theory, later adding, “Anything left to itself without some kind of intelligence behind it will devolve into chaos.”

There are a couple of things I'd like to consider.  One has to do with the importance of recognizing God's timing.  The idea of making a sequel to The Passion has been floated by Gibson and Caviezel for a few years now, but it has not taken off - yet.  Even out of a negative set of circumstances, God will bring his outcome.  We may have the right idea, but we have to wait for God's timing - after all, as Scripture teaches, His ways are higher than our own. 

And, we need to acknowledge His ways.  At one time, there was talk that Gibson and Caviezel wouldn't work again in Hollywood.  That certainly has not been the case.  Even though in some entertainment circles, Christianity is disparaged, yet, you continue to see evidence of Biblical messages being embraced by Hollywood.  You see high-profile entertainers making faith statements.  The evidence of God is all around us.  And, when we consider that He is our Creator and life should be lived to His glory and not our own, it communicates about the power of His truth. 

Reasonable

We are nearing the conclusion of January, which has been set aside as Sanctity of Human Life Month - it's a great time to reflect on our Creator and the value of all life, even those yet to be born. I think of the passage in Jeremiah 1, in which God reinforces the call He has placed on the prophet's life:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

For years - and it seems to have become more prevalent following the overturning of Roe v. Wade - there has been a move to characterize the pro-life movement as somehow extreme because we dare to say that a baby in his or her mother's womb is a living human being.  

But, while you have politicians who believe that abortion should be available throughout the entirety of a woman's pregnancy and stand against proposed laws that would provide restrictions on abortion, that is out of step with the American people. 

And, again this year, a Marist Poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, indicates broad support for legal barriers to abortion.  A press release published by the Knights on the organization's website states that the study findings...

...show that 67% of Americans support placing legal limits on abortion, and that 60% support limiting abortions to at most the first three months of pregnancy. This survey, conducted by the Marist Poll and commissioned annually by the Knights of Columbus, also found that, for the second consecutive year, 83% of Americans support pregnancy resource centers, which offer support to mothers both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born. Additionally, the poll found that 62% of Americans believe healthcare professionals with religious objections to abortions should not be legally required to perform them, while 82% of respondents believe that laws can protect both the mother and her unborn child.

The website also indicates that 57% of those surveyed oppose or strongly oppose the use of tax dollars for abortion in America, and that number increases to 73% regarding using American tax dollars to fund abortions abroad.

The poll also measured attitudes toward abortion "exceptions:" in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mothers' life.  Only 12% believed there should be no exceptions.  

Overall, according to the Knights of Columbus website, 36% of those surveyed consider themselves pro-life, with 62% viewing themselves as pro-choice.  Yet 67% of Americans - so you could say that would include a significant number of pro-choice individuals, would favor some sort of restrictions.

I think that's telling - it shows that even Americans who are not necessarily pro-life believe there should be limits.  Why is that, if abortion is such a good thing?  Well, I believe that while you have large numbers of people who make their declarations about a so-called "woman's right to choose," or "reproductive freedom." But, deep down, there is something about the process that makes even those who support these ideologies uncomfortable.  This is why pro-life politicians should not back down from identifying the full-term, no restrictions crowd as the true abortion extremists.

But, there is certainly a need for education: about the nature of the unborn child, about the nature of the abortion process itself - surgical and chemical.  And, as a society, we should increase consideration of the sanctity of a human life, regardless of the circumstances of the pregnancy.  

And, we can continue the faithful work to affirm life - to protect babies, and to care for the souls and physical needs of women who are abortion-minded, which is why pro-life ministries are so important. Because a change in heart can produce a change in attitude, as those who love God and love life minister with compassion.

A Public Servant, not a Savior

The Bible is clear that the Lord works to place people in positions of authority in order to carry out His will.  Now, that does not exempt us from allowing God to use us in that process - including prayer and casting a ballot, since we have that God-given duty and responsibility as American citizens.  And, citizens of heaven. The book of Daniel, chapter 2, says this:
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

It was only 10 days ago when Donald Trump took the oath of office for the second time to become the 47th President of the United States.  And, Christians were influential in putting him there.

To review, the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, where noted Christian researcher George Barna is the Director of Research, issued a post-election survey report, which said:

The one segment that has gotten virtually no attention from the media are Christians. Simply put, among self-identified Christians, President Trump won a 56% share of their vote.

The report also noted, “...Christians represented 72% of the voters who turned out,” and the Center indicated that segment's turnout in favor of Mr. Trump “...made the difference in the race.”

But, Christian turnout was lower than it had been in 2020.  The report said "...the pre-election research by CRC predicted turnout among Christians would fall below their 2020 levels. While that prediction clearly was fulfilled, its potentially devastating impact for the Trump campaign was blunted by the even lower levels of turnout among the Harris campaign's target segments."

Two days after Election Day, the New York Times ran a piece by two experienced religion writers, who stated: "...as Mr. Trump’s sweeping re-election victory brings them to new heights of power, they believe his return is more than an electoral mandate: they believe it is a divine one." They go on to say:

Mr. Trump has repeatedly invoked a religious anointing since he survived an assassination attempt in July. And when he claimed victory on Tuesday night, he did so again.

“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” Mr. Trump told supporters. “And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness.”

The article was laced with a variety of biased statements and cherry-picked quote to try to characterize the new Administration as some sort of Christian power trip.  Take, for instance, this paragraph:

While politicians have often invoked God or cited passages from the Bible to make their case, the country is entering a new landscape, one where Mr. Trump is not only the leader of the Republican Party but also the de facto figurehead of conservative American Christianity.

Well, I hope not.  Trump has a history of decisions that are favorable to the Christian community, including a video message at last Friday's March for Life, where Vice-President J.D. Vance was an in-person speaker.  But, he was not elected to be a Christian leader, and certainly not a savior. 

BBC ran an article in late November, with the headline, "'Anointed by God': The Christians who see Trump as their saviour."  News flash: that is true, but it does not and should not mean that Trump is a spiritual leader.  I think based on the book of Daniel, you could make the case that all leaders are at least "appointed" by God and blessed with a tremendous opportunity to lead and hopefully exercise godly wisdom.  They may even be called, "anointed," but they have to take advantage of His power. 

Now, regarding this "savior" mentality, here is some material from the BBC article, including comments from Franklin Graham:

“Church attendance is not going to go up next week because President Trump has been elected - but what I think it does mean is that legislation that we might have seen coming down the road that that would make it very difficult for people of faith will not come,” he says, referring to the idea of more progressive legislation around, for example, abortion and gay and trans rights.

“He will protect people of faith, he will protect religious freedoms in this country. I don't talk about just Christian religious freedoms… [but] all people of faith.”

Nashville businessman Peter Demos, who has been a guest on The Meeting House on Faith Radio multiple times, made this statement in a Christian Post op-ed piece:

While I deeply appreciate his policies, achievements and boldness in confronting challenges, Christians must maintain a clear distinction between political leadership and spiritual authority.

He goes on to say:

Trump has shown commendable leadership in areas such as defending religious liberty, appointing conservative judges and promoting values that align with Christian principles. These accomplishments merit recognition and support. However, viewing Trump as a divinely-anointed savior figure conflates his role as a political leader with spiritual authority — a dangerous and unbiblical misstep.

Demos offered a four-point prescription to provide the correct focus:

1. Keep Trump’s role in perspective: Trump is a political leader, not a spiritual one.

2. Look towards Christ as Our Lord and leader: Keep our ultimate hope and focus on Jesus, not on earthly rulers.

3. Hold leaders accountable: Expect Trump and his entire administration to uphold Christian principles while expecting them to make mistakes. They are human after all. 

4. Pray without ceasing: Pray for Trump, his advisors, and our nation, asking God for wisdom, guidance, and protection from Spiritual Forces of Darkness (Eph 6).

The results of the 2024 election, especially regarding Christian turnout, show there is much work to do regarding motivating believers to be involved in voting.  But, it's more than just a matter of turning out on Election Day - we have to practice a Biblical viewpoint on civic engagement.

For instance, according to Barna's CRC research, the Spiritually Active Governance Engaged Conservatives, the SAGE Cons that he has identified and studied for years, registered a 99% voter turnout, same as 2020.  Two-thirds of those who possess a Biblical worldview - the Integrated Disciples, as they're called - turned out with a 3-point rise.   

I believe there is a relationship between spiritual involvement and what we would call "political" involvement.  But, we must always allow the Bible to govern our political decisions and actions.  Otherwise, we run the risk of losing focus.  

Regarding the President and his Administration, we should always be diligent to pray for them and never to worship a governmental leader.  The President will have so many who will be desiring his attention, who would like to influence him to carry out their agenda.  If he is a man who truly believes God has spared him to lead our country, then we should always pray that he show himself to be pursuing that calling. 

Active Faith

The Bible teaches us not only how to come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it teaches and empowers us to behave in a manner pleasing to God. The Bible is more than just words on a page - it is an active document that produces responsible action for all who would read and apply it - no matter what age. Hebrews 4:12 states:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word of God is alive and will produce living fruit in our lives as we sow it in our hearts.

No matter what age - in fact, it's very important to get the Word into the hearts of children.

Brock Eastman is someone who believes that and acts on it.  I met him for the first time on an icy day in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Winter 2021 Christian Product Expo. You see, he portrayed a character named Dr. Fizzlebop.  Later, the "doctor" and I did a Zoom call from his video "lab."  He authored a book called, Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop: 52 Fizztastically Fun Experiments and Devotions for Families.  He has written a number of books and has been a writer for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines from Focus on the Family.

Well, Brock is still involved in sharing Biblical truth with young people, albeit in a different capacity - he works with the David C. Cook publishing company and is the brand director for The Action Bible.  

That's according to CBN.com, which says that:

A popular retelling of the Bible in comic book form just hit a major milestone, selling more than three million copies in the United States.

“The Action Bible,” first released in 2010, continues to dominate Amazon bookselling charts, remaining in the top 100 among all books.

Eastman is quoted in the article, which states:

“What strikes people that read ‘The Action Bible’ is just the beautiful, full action-packed [presentation] and our illustrations that really bring the story to life,” he said. “And we like to think about … bringing the Bible to life in a different way.”

Eastman continued, “For this generation, specifically, who is involved with graphic novels, this Bible appeals to them because they like that kind of, ‘Oh, I can see the images of the story moving,’ and there’s a narrative, like a paraphrase narrative of the Bible story that’s easy to understand and sounds like a conversation.”

I guess you could say is a "graphic novel" is a comic book, or like a comic book, only bigger. How big, in the case of The Action Bible?  830 pages and 230 stories from the Bible. 

CBN notes: 

As a dad of four kids himself, Eastman said, “The Action Bible” does two important things: it seizes upon the interest of youths in graphic novels while also delivering hope to youths who desperately need it.

And, as the article points out, this is especially important to Generation Alpha, defined as those born between 2010 and 2014.  Eastman says: 

“Something like ‘The Action Bible’ that has these graphics that the kids … are drawn to, telling this narrative of this beautiful story of redemption, of hope, of stories and the characters in the Bible that are just like them — people who struggled with things, who had fear but overcame it with courage because they were empowered by God,” he said. “These fantastic stories that kids are connecting to. They’re like, ‘I see myself in that story and I can be that.’”

While this Bible for younger readers has sold 3 million copies in the U.S., it has also acquired an international audience, translated into 180 languages; and Brock is quoted as saying that The Action Bible has sold over 1.1 million copies in the last four years around the world, in addition to the 3 million copies it has sold in the U.S. since its release.

And, Brock notes, "There’s a lot of careful effort put into not only the language and the words, but also the imagery that took those pages and basically … brought them to life..."

I believe we're in the midst of a Bible renaissance, with promising sales figures from 2024 being released recently, and research indicating a increased interest in Scripture.  But, another Bible in the house won't directly contribute to the knowledge of God.  An unread Bible cannot produce spiritual fruit.  We have to consider how we are absorbing God's Word.

Parents are in a unique position in that there is a magnificent amount of content available for younger readers.  Reading with children or recommending Biblical material for them to read can be an effective way for them to get the Word of God deep in their hearts, and that perhaps can lead to meaningful conversations - teachable moments - which can spur them to act on what they have read.

The Bible, in Deuteronomy chapter 6, speaks of teaching the words of God "diligently" to children. Our diligence can be contagious, and as we model Christ and demonstrate our love for Him, it can have an impact on generations to come.  

Remember, the Bible tells us that God's Word is "living and powerful." Some other translations use the word, "active."  The Bible is a book of action, and as we interact with the Word of God, we can find that our actions reflect the presence of the Lord in us. 

True Champions

Because we know Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him, we can depend on Him to give us the ability and the opportunity to share and declare that faith. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, asked for prayer that He would boldly proclaim the gospel, taking hold of his role as an, as he puts it, "ambassador in chains." Picking up in verse 17 of that chapter, we can read:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Another chapter that God has written in His amazing move on college campuses across America has to do with the recently-concluded College Football Playoff.  A few months ago, there were reports of a sweeping revival on the campus of The Ohio State University, and what God has done in the lives of players for the Buckeyes football team have come into clearer view, with the team winning the national championship.

As Sports Spectrum related earlier this week:

Numerous players from last year’s team opted to put off the NFL Draft for a shot at a national title. Among that group are each of this year’s team captains — receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end Jack Sawyer and linebacker Cody Simon. Many of those players also made it a goal to share the Gospel with as many people as possible.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Sawyer said Monday in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. This is exactly what we had envisioned when we all decided to come back. To go out and do it this way and end on this note, we just thank God for giving us the ability to go out here and do it.”

“The Lord did something special on this team,” Simon said after being named the Defensive Player of the Game. “We’re just so thankful.” When asked moments later about the “spirituality” of this team, Simon said, “It brought us all together.”

The article said that: "In August, Egbuka and Henderson were two of the players who shared their testimony at an on-campus faith event that was attended by nearly 2,000 people. Egbuka said earlier this season on the Sports Spectrum Podcast that he felt God challenging him to use his platform this season to glorify the Lord and not himself." He said, "That was one of my prayers, just to be bolder this year with my faith, "adding that, “It’s nothing I can do. It’s all about the blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ, He really came in and saved my life.” Henderson, in a Sports Spectrum Podcast, said: “My purpose is to be here and to continue to lead others to Him, to continue to grow closer to Him, and spread His Word to others and lead others to Him, to Jesus, and to the Kingdom..."

Then, there's quarterback Will Howard, about whom Sports Spectrum related: "One of many Buckeye leaders who are guided by their strong faith in God, Howard gave thanks to the Lord immediately after the game, which he played with Proverbs 3:5-6 written on his wristband." The article says:

“First and foremost, I’ve got to give the glory and the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he told ESPN’s Molly McGrath. “I wouldn’t be here without Him. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, my family. … I can’t believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye.”

And, the article stated:

Following each of Ohio State’s postseason wins, Howard made a celebratory post on Instagram that included a Bible verse in the caption. He chose Psalm 118:24 after the Buckeyes’ semifinal win over Texas: “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Over on the other sideline, Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard is someone who had made faith statements, as well.  Another Sports Spectrum article noted:

“I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to play in this game,” Leonard said as the first words of his postgame press conference. “I wrote on my hand Proverbs 27:17, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so shall one man sharpen another.’

“I think, like I said throughout the week, [Notre Dame] and Ohio State were the two teams who praised Jesus Christ the most, and I think that we strengthened each other in our faiths through coming to this game and competing against each other. I’m happy to see Godly men come out on top, no matter what the circumstance is. I’m very happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows, as well.”

It also said:

After his first-quarter TD run, with the TV cameras pointed at him, Leonard pointed to a wristband on his right wrist, which listed his favorite Bible verse: Matthew 23:12. It reads, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Leonard also sported a wristband with a cross on his left wrist, to go with the “Proverbs 27:17” written on his left hand that he mentioned in the press conference.

An op-ed piece by Jessica A. Johnson that ran in the Columbus Dispatch this week noted this:

This season, a revival occurred within the Ohio State University football team, which forged a resilient faith within a solid bond of brotherhood.

I knew something was different in a special way about this 2024-25 squad when fall camp began last August and players showed up rocking custom-made “Jesus Won” t-shirts.

The senior leadership of this team that included TreVeyon Henderson, J.T. Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka boldly proclaimed their faith in Christ, sharing testimonies in interviews and on social media.

But, these players - on both teams - were seeking a temporal victory on the field, but the victories in their hearts have made an eternal difference.  Those who play sports and see it as a platform for representing Christ are true champions.  Their mindset is different; their attitude is to glorify God, and win or lose, they are devoted to bringing Him glory.

Fact is, I believe that a Christian should be excellent in all that he or she does.  And, this thirst for excellence certainly manifests itself on a football field, a basketball court, or a baseball diamond. But, for those of us who don't participate in organized sports, we still have a responsibility to glorify God in the "platform" that He has given to us. And, we can ask ourselves how well we are representing Him in our homes, our churches, our workplaces, and through the interactions we have each day.  Do we show respect and kindness for our fellow human beings?  Do our decision reflect His principles?  We can rely on the Spirit of God to express His nature through us.

A Steady Diet of Scripture

News of Bible sales being up last year is certainly encouraging news, and a leading Bible app has reported a record year in "app installs and daily use." It is important that we are reading and studying God's Word, and the local church can play a significant role in that. Psalm 119 states:
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments.

Lifeway Research reports in an article on its website that...

...Almost all U.S. Protestant pastors (99%) say they encourage those in their church to read the Bible on their own using at least one of seven methods, according to a Lifeway Research study. On average, pastors say they use around five ways of encouragement. Less than 1% say they don’t use any or are unsure.

How is this done? Interestingly enough, as the Lifeway Research article states:

The most likely ways a pastor will work to spark individual Bible reading among their churchgoers is by providing free Bibles to those who need one (93%) and reminding them during sermons (92%).

Almost 3/4 of pastors surveyed say that Scripture is read during their services, which is "in addition to the passages used in the sermon."

Almost 6 out of 10 pastors say they make a printed Bible reading plan available to their churches, while over 1-in-3 offer a plan digitally.  

The use of some of these methods to encourage Bible reading is up from 2016 - as Lifeway Research reports that these include: "providing a free Bible to those needing one (up 7 percentage points from 86%) and reminders in sermons (up 6 percentage points from 86%)."

Dwayne Miloni is a North Carolina pastor who is quoted in the article; he has worked with a Bible publisher to create a Bible that offers a plan to read through the Bible in a year. He says: "As we’re preaching and teaching, it would be so much better if we knew our church members were reading and studying the Word of God on their own,” adding, “How much more glorious would the assembling of God’s people be if every day of the week our people were engaging God’s Word?” His church reads through the Bible together, and he relates: “It not only increases their knowledge of God but deepens their relationships...It helps a church grow closer to God and one another.”

I think we can ask the question: how do we discipline ourselves to spend time in God's Word on a consistent basis?  Then, once we get there, is there a systematic way in which we absorb the teachings of Scripture?  That is why having a plan is important.  Faith Radio, through our free app, offers a Bible, audio Bible, and Bible reading plan that you can use that will provide a template through which you can read God's Word.

But, a Bible reading plan is just the beginning - it's important that we study the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.  Perhaps a study Bible can be a valuable tool so that you can ponder some of the content of the Scriptures and read corresponding verses and passages.  Memorizing and meditating on Scripture can also help us to grow in our relationship with the Lord. And, the teaching of God's Word is a vital component, too - we can expose ourselves to the Word in our local churches - and Faith Radio offers you a lineup of quality Bible teaching each day.  

Just as our physical food can provide the necessary nutrients we need, our spiritual food, found in the Bible, can contribute to strength and growth in the Lord.  As we embark on a new year, we can consider how God might be leading us to deepen our walk with Him.