Loving Like a Christian

From Romans chapter 5:
 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


We are loved by God - He is our Creator and He wants to be with us, to the extent that He sent His son to pay the price for the sin that separated us from Him.   Out of His great love, He brings us into a relationship with Him through Jesus, and then directs us to love others with that same love.


2 Corinthians chapter 5 reminds us to reach out to others as God has shown His love to us...
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 


(from Baptist Press) Patrick Greene, an atheist cab driver, had said he found the placement of a nativity scene in Athens, Texas, unconstitutional and intended to use the legal system to force a judge to order its removal -- that is, until he began losing his vision because of a detaching retina.   He had to have surgery, but didn't have insurance and was about to lose his job - due to these complications, he dropped the lawsuit.   However, Patrick Greene was not forgotten...

Jessica Crye, a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, Texas, found out, and she called her pastor, Erick Graham, to see if their church could help him.   "Sure we can help him," Graham told her.
Crye began to organize an effort to send support to the Greenes, and Graham explained to the church that they had an opportunity to show Greene the love of Christ.

Greene did not accept the offer of the church to pay for his eye surgery, but eventually agreed to let the church help him with bills and rent.  But Greene said he and his wife would never thought the church would actually follow through and send money.   The money came, and hasn't stopped coming, apparently.    And,  Greene  has changed his mind about accepting help in funding his eye surgery, saying the Christians from Athens have worn down his resistance to outside help. He even set up a website to receive donations, publicly thanking Graham, Crye, and the Sands Springs church family.

Greene said in his entire life, he never has had a Christian treat him the way the Christians in Athens treated him. (Athens is the county seat.)   The so-called Christians that Greene had encountered had refused to pay their fare in his cab because they did not want their money going to the "devil."  They also had also refused to lease him apartments because of his disbelief in God. But they had never loved him, he said.

"No Christian at all that we've ever met in our lives, had ever been nice to us...One of the things Jesus said to was love your neighbor as yourself. These people are acting like real Christians."

Here is a tangible way that the love of Christ is being expressed.   The Christians in Athens decided that even though they might disagree with Patrick Greene, they would continue to show Him the love of Christ.  And, I believe that's our call - to allow the love of Christ to flow through us, to be sensitive to the needs of people, and be obedient to the Holy Spirit as he indicates to us how we can be involved.

Apps and Application

Some encouragement from Psalm 143 now:
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

We can rejoice in the Lord, because He is our source of truth and guidance - He is the One who brings clarity out of confusion, and peace when we are perturbed.   As we study and meditate on God's word, He will make Himself known to us.

Psalm 119 says this:
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Angry Birds Space only came out last week, but it reportedly yielded some 10 million downloads in its first 3 days.

According to the BBC, the new Angry Birds instalment features 60 initial levels and six new characters and has what Rovio calls a "unique twist in a variable gravity environment".

NASA was also involved in promoting the game, posting a video showing an astronaut on the International Space Station explaining the laws of physics using Angry Bird characters.  The space agency called it "an exciting way to get people engaged with Nasa's missions of exploration and discover".

I know next to nothing about Angry Birds, but I do know about the power and popularity of apps - take, for instance, the YouVersion Bible app...in fact, every minute:  there are 40,000 minutes of Bible engagement being logged in, the app is installed on 69 new devices - 1 per second, and over 6500 chapters of the Bible are viewed.    And, there are numerous apps that provide unique and inspiring Christian content.

And, if you want to listen to Faith Radio, we are pleased to be part of the lineup of apps such as TuneIn Radio, through which you can listen to us anywhere in the world.    And, Shazam will help you identify some of the songs that we play here on Faith Radio.

So God has provided us with powerful tools through which we can grow in our faith, including these smartphone apps.   And, we are pleased that you are using Faith Radio as a unique tool through which you can hear God's word taught and enter into worship.  

But, the tools that we have are only a means to an end.   For example, while God uses the apps we download,  His desire is for us to download His truth and apply it to our lives.   So, an app is useful, but application is critical.   We can be challenged to hide God's word in our hearts and be confident that it will produce fruit as we meditate on it and actually personalize it, so we might live the truth.

God is in the Details

God is intimately concerned with the details of our lives.   The Psalmist wrote in the 139th Psalm:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

The Lord knows our hearts, he is very acquainted with all our ways - He even knows our thoughts...and He desires for us to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him, recognizing His wisdom and His sovereignty.   We can be confident that we can trust Him.

In Proverbs 8, we read about the importance of wisdom:
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Today is the birthday of German architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, who is a leading force in post-World War I architecture, whose designs are characterized by a "less is more" concept, with clean lines and open spaces.   According to the Washington Post,

Mies’s self-described ”skin and bones” architecture of fluid minimalism would spread from Barcelona to his Illinois campus, and then back to Berlin. He would go on to design such structures as the Highfield House and One Charles Center in Baltimore, Chicago’s “twin towers,"...and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington.

His crowning achievement, Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he was head of the architecture school, is featured on today's Google Doodle on the 126th anniversary of his birth.   He died in 1969.

Not only did Van Der Rohe use the phrase, "less is more", but also the phrase, "God is in the details", which is a variation on the familiar, "the devil's in the details".   And, I don't know if Mr. Mies was attributing any real spiritual meaning to the phrase, but I believe it can be instructive for us.   Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz wrote, "God is in the Small Stuff", reminding us that He is concerned about the details of our lives...

I think we tend to put barriers around areas we feel are insignificant, in addition to those parts of our lives we just want to control ourselves, and don't surrender those things to God.  

But, I believe as we submit the details of life to the Lord, depending on His wisdom and allowing His Spirit to flood those areas with truth and fresh perspective, then we could experience a greater measure of His peace, and have the potential to be less stressed out or frustrated.   "God is in the details" - for instance, in the Bible, we see the precision with which He gave instructions to his people regarding the construction of the Temple or the duties of the priesthood.   He's a God who wants to be intimately involved in the details of our lives.

A Tale of Two Camerons

From Psalm 105:
1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

God wants us to come along with Him on an incredible adventure, in which we can know and experience the living God, to be directed by His Spirit and carried away in His love.  If we search for Him and desire to grow deeper in Him with a pure and earnest heart, then He promises, I believe, that we can know Him better.

Ephesians 3 says:
17b I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

You may have heard, Kirk Cameron has made a new documentary film, and there's a special premiere coming up tomorrow night at hundreds of theaters across America.  It's called, "Monumental: The Search for America's National Treasure", and it depicts his search for the presence of God and Biblical truth in the foundations of our nation.    He writes on his website: "I'm retracing the footsteps of our Founders from England to America in the hope of discovering our true 'national treasure.' I want to listen to them, to learn from them...Because I suspect our Forefathers knew we were a forgetful people, that someday we would lose our way as a nation. So they left us a map that would guide us back to the source of America's success."

The opening is tomorrow night at 6:30 at the Rave in Montgomery with a live event.   The movie itself will open this Friday, March 30th, and the Rave will be one of just a few theaters nationwide that will be showing it.

Well, there's another Cameron in the news who has been involved in a search, an adventure, if you will.   And, he's in the movie business, too - that would be James Cameron, director of the films, "Avatar" and "Titanic" - and even though his claim to have found the tomb of Jesus a few years ago has been widely refuted, he did have a successful mission recently, taking a specially-designed submarine to the deepest place in the ocean - the Marianas trench.   In fact, today on "Revive Our Hearts", there was a message from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about the last expedition to try to comb the depths of the trench...in 1960 - that mission did not quite make it, but Cameron was successful, going 7 miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

Both Camerons were involved in an adventurous search - Kirk for the some of the deep roots of our nation, and James for the ocean floor at incredible depths.   And, I believe their quests can remind us of the search that God would like for us to embark upon - seeking to experience His presence of the depths of His love, and to come along with Jesus on a life-changing adventure to know His heart and the follow in His ways.

Romans 11:33 says - Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Are You Smarter About the Bible?

God has given us His Word, and we can praise Him because He gives us power and direction as we spend time absorbing His truth into our consciousness.   Psalm 119 states:
12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.   Verses 12 & 14 refer to the relationship of worship, verse 13 tells us we can confess God's Word and be encouraged - that would include praying in accordance with His Word.    And verse 15, highlights an essential element of learning and applying God's Word - meditation, which includes being able to see how the Scriptures apply to us.    So, let's take a few moments to give God the praise for His Word.

2nd Timothy 3 says:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

GSN — formerly known as the Game Show Network — announced this past Wednesday at an advertisers meeting that comedian and game show host Jeff Foxworthy will be the new host of a Bible-based trivia show, “The American Bible Challenge.”

The new show will select contestants based on their backgrounds, and all of the winnings will go towards faith-based charities, according to The Washington Post.

Foxworthy said, “I am excited to be hosting a show about the best-selling book of all time...It will be interesting to find out what people really know, and an opportunity to present the Bible in a fun and entertaining way.”

I am all over this concept, because I believe it will bring the Bible and a knowledge of it to a varied audience. But, you have to ask the question, "how would I do?"   When you consider that the Center for Bible Engagement, an arm of Back to the Bible, found Christians simply do not read the Bible enough. The Center’s study found that only one-third of Americans read the Bible every week, and even fewer, 13.9 percent, do so on most days of the week.  According to the CIA World Factbook, 76.8 percent of the U.S. population is Christian.   And when you consider found that only about 2/3 of self-identified Christians said Genesis was the first book of the Bible, we know we have a long way to go.

Dr. Arnie Cole, Back to the Bible CEO told The Christian Post: "The one thing we've found through all of our studies is that nothing, not small group or church attendance, helps a person grow spiritually like the Bible."

I believe that Bible knowledge is great - being able to reference Scriptures and even quote a few, but there's more:  as we meditate on God's Word, pray Scripture, and seek to apply it in our lives, we become strengthened in our walk and equipped to live out His Word.     The American Bible Society says that 82 percent of Americans say that they rely on something other than the Bible to cope with trauma, and six percent say they rely on nothing at all.   We have to view the Scriptures as sufficient for dealing with the issues and circumstances in our lives.  

Life is Not a Game

Here are some powerful words from Isaiah 43:
11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God...15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."

We are created in the image of God - the Bible teaches us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.   And when we consider our Creator, as we ponder His wonderful works, we recognize that the One who gave us life is worthy to be praised, and that He has created us for a purpose - to bring honor and glory to Him.

The choice is ours, according to Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." 

It's a reality show premise that even Mark Burnett wouldn't develop - a post-apocolyptic, oppressive government recruits two teenagers from each district in its realm, places them in a special-effects-laden arena for a competition shown on national television, with the basic premise that these teens will fight to the death, and one will survive.  And, there you have a very simple setup of a movie that premieres tonight at midnight, "The Hunger Games".   The books are immensely popular among tweens and teens, but Common Sense Media, because of the violence, recommends the movie for those 13 and up.

Regarding her inspiration for the books, author Suzanne Collins, said: 

"Probably the first seeds were planted when, as an eight-year-old with a mythology obsession, I read the story of Theseus. The myth told how in punishment for past deeds, Athens periodically had to send seven youths and seven maidens to Crete where they were thrown in the Labyrinth and devoured by the monstrous Minotaur. Even as a third grader, I could appreciate the ruthlessness of this message. ‘Mess with us and we’ll do something worse than kill you. We’ll kill your children.’

“Other early influences would have to include watching too many gladiator movies, which dramatized the Romans’ flair for turning executions into popular entertainment; my military specialist dad who took us to battlefields for family vacations; and touring with a sword fighting company in high school. But it wasn’t until the much more recent experience of channel surfing between reality TV programming and actual war coverage that the story for this series came to me.”

So, excessive violence and death as sport isn't a new concept - it's woven through mythology and was practiced by the Roman Empire.   And, in our times, we are beset by the culture of death - because, quite frankly, as human beings, that is the nature of man.   The Bible teaches us that because of sin, we are on a path of destruction, and the only way for that to be averted is through the power of the cross - through a Savior who died the most cruel of deaths so that we could have the most exhilirating of lives.   And because of the Holy Spirit in us, living Godly lives and speaking Biblical truth, we have a most exciting opportunity to reverse the death spiral that everyone that doesn't know Christ is on.

Into a culture that has aborted 50 million babies, that has children who will see 200,000 acts of violence on television by the age of 18, that is rushing headlong into a health care concept that could ration care at the expense of those with special needs and the elderly, - the most vulnerable among us, God has sent His people.   Even though so many are desensitized to the violence shown all around us, who have a thirst to consume news of violent acts that drive television ratings, we can practice the culture of life, following the One who has instructed us to "choose life".

And, one further note - I told Jon & Andy Erwin when I saw them recently that I thought it was significant that there life-affirming film, "October Baby", is premiering the same weekend as "Hunger Games" - even though "October Baby" is only on a few hundred screens and "Hunger Games" is on over 4000.   I think that is a microcosm of the enormous fascination with violence today, a prevailing attitude we have to face as we, as Christians, affirm life and value the life that God has given us, recognizing all humanity is fearfully and wonderfully made.     It's not a game - every life is beautiful.   Praise to the One who has given us life!

Will You Be My Neighbor?

Here are some words taken from Psalm 86:
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. 13 For great is Your mercy toward me... 15 ... You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

I believe it's so important for us to know and acknowledge the love of God - even though we may miss the mark, we can recognize that He will restore us, even though we drift away from Him and are not as passionate as we should be, nevertheless He is fully compassionate - loving us unconditionally and calling us to Himself.

There is a powerful illustration in Mark 6 about the compassion of Jesus - He has compassion, unfailing love, for us, and calls us to follow His example and demonstrate His love to others:
31 And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.  

There's a new documentary out - in fact some PBS stations are running it; it's called, "Mister Rogers and Me", and was written by a MTV producer, Benjamin Wagner, who moved in next door to the television legend's Nantucket summer home.   Obviously, Wagner was impressed, in fact, he compared Mister Rogers - Fred Rogers - to a rock star.   Of course, this begs the question, "if a journalist moved in next door to me or my family, or even inserted a camera in my home, what would they see?"   Would they see the compassion of Christ, the civility that I believe that He endorses, or the consistency of character?   

I think it's obvious, Mister Rogers demonstrated a great measure of compassion on-screen - as an ordained minister, he taught truth consistent with Scriptural values and tackled some hard issues from time to time.   And, he was a proponent of civility, quoted as saying: "I got into television because I saw people throwing pies in each others' faces. And if there is anything that bothers me, it's one person demeaning another."  I tell you, if there's one characteristic that we need in culture today, it's civility, choosing our words, speaking in an encouraging way rather than a destructive manner.   And, day after day, so many saw Fred Rogers, who was consistent day-to-day and apparently in person behaved in the same posture as the on-screen persona.    Only the Holy Spirit can give us the incredible ability to model His nature in a consistent way.

So, we celebrate the legacy of Fred Rogers, who, even though was communicating with children on a daily basis, can leave us with some life lessons that we can apply.

What's Your Excuse?

The apostle Paul gave this exhortation to young Timothy in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus... 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.   The Lord calls us to be disciplined in following Him, minimizing distractions, thinking about how we might please Him and serving Him according to the principles He lays out for us in His word.   Just like a soldier or athlete in training, we are called to have a "no excuses" mentality regarding living out our passion for Christ.

From 1st Corinthians chapter 9:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

It is the first day of spring, and while we've been in this relative heat wave for a couple of weeks now, the start of the season does remind us that we can spend more time out of doors, and with Daylight Savings Time, we can do it for longer and later in the evening.   So, if you're inclined to try to up that exercise regiment, this is great time of year to make those adjustments.

Having discipline in our lives is important.  I was inspired by the story of Manohar Aich, who lives in India and is a former Mr. Universe - that is a bodybuilding title also held at one time by Arnold Swarzenegger.   Well, Manohar just turned 100 this past Sunday.   He credits his long life to his ability to take his troubles lightly and remain happy during difficult times.   He had overcome a number of hurdles, including poverty and a stint as a political prisoner.   He also had a simple diet of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, lentils and fish.  He does not smoke and has never touched alcohol.

Manohar is a great example of a disciplined life.   So is award-winning surfer Bethany Hamilton, who will appear on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" tonight.   In keeping with the "No Excuses" theme, the contestants travelled to Hawaii and one of the features of the visit was meeting with Bethany, who lost an arm in a shark attack, but who has displayed faith and determination to continue her surfing career.

The Bible speaks often about a disciplined life.   We can make excuses for not attempting to grow in our walk with Christ, from not having enough time, to not managing the distractions in our lives, to not having a plan of action, a roadmap to spiritual fulfillment.   But, if we are passionate about serving the Lord and deepening our relationship with Him, we can choose to exercise discipline in our our lives and rely on God's Spirit to enable us to keep our promises to Him.

Finer Than Gold

Psalm 19 reminds us of the value of God's Word in governing our lives:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.   God's Word is a source of heavenly wisdom - as we rely on His Spirit and apply His principles, we can face this life with confidence.   As we desire His truth more than the things of this world, we can know that His ways are best for us.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

The price of gold has been falling slightly, but as a result, some investors and even central banks are taking another look because of the more affordable price.  Gold is generally regarded as a stable investment in difficult economic times, and while some perceive that the American economy is improving, albeit slightly, there are still global economic concerns, and gold represents stability.   In fact, gold is considered by some to be an essential element of a diversified portfolio, as Solomon portrays in the book of Proverbs.   (By the way, on Monday's program, Craig Smith will be along - he knows a thing or two about gold...and oil, which he'll be discussing.)

In the current economic climate, those who invest are looking for stability.   And, we realize that the Word of God can give us stability in our hearts as we wrestle with the decisions that affect our lives and as we respond to our circumstances.   That is why the Scriptures describe God's Word as finer than gold - more desirable than the physical precious metal that is so significant.   Because, we need an anchor, we need truth on which to build our lives, wisdom to make quality choices, and strength in order to live a life of purity.

Breathing In Hope

Listen to these words from Psalm 42:
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior...  As a society, a culture, and a nation - we are in need of hope.   There are elements that lead to personal and collective suffocation, a sense that things just aren't right, and we as believers in Christ have a chance to experience God's hope through Christ personally and to transmit that hope to people who so desperately need it.   When we are downcast, we can turn to God, our source of hope.
I am encouraged by the words of 1st Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

A Rasmussen poll released earlier this week expresses generally what other surveys have found, as well - a majority of Americans think that our nation is on the wrong track - two-thirds of people, as a matter of fact.   I think that we are experiencing a sense of suffocation - many encounter it at the gas pump, as higher prices are becoming a way of life - up 7 cents in the past week alone.   There are those who are perhaps facing the loss of a job, or maybe have even seen the loss of a loved one or a friend recently.  

We have plenty of reasons to be disillusioned...the circumstances and pressures of this fallen world can, if we're not careful, suffocate us.   And, material possessions will not bring us lasting and authentic hope - the latest iPad, while a nifty device, can't bring the air we need for our souls.  We need to breathe - we need hope!

And, I think that's why we gravitate to people who are transformational figures, change agents, if you will - I believe that is why President Obama was elected almost 4 years ago...using the slogan, hope and change, he perhaps tapped into the fears of Americans.   And, this election cycle, I believe that people who are bringing a message of hope, sometimes even infused with a Christian worldview perspective, are resonating with voters.  

And in the sports realm, we certainly find ourselves inspired by people who exemplify hope, including the gentleman who will be in Montgomery tonight, Tim Tebow.   He brought his team going nowhere - at 1-4, and led them to 7 wins in 8 games.   Not only does he demonstrate his faith, but he shows a determined and exuberant demeanor.   On the field and off, he has brought hope to so many people, and tonight he will help to bring hope to cancer patients and their families, appearing to benefit the CWFCA, which helps to provide some of the transportation and medical needs of the families of cancer patients - bringing hope in the midst of suffocation.

We need to breathe in God's goodness and consume God's truth, or else we will suffocate.   His presence brings hope to us, and makes us carriers of a bright hope to the world.

Inside Out

Reading from Psalm 24:3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.  God desires for us to come before His throne in worship, and He has made a way through the death and resurrection of Jesus, His Son.   But, because of our sinfulness, we are separated from God - that is why we need a Savior, who can make us right with God and purify our hearts, so we can enjoy fellowship with our Maker.

Here are the words found in Titus chapter 2:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

As I was returning from Birmingham the other night, I had a chance to dine at one of my favorite hamburger restaurants, which we don't have in Montgomery and South Alabama - an establishment that is known for its incredible special sauce.   And, I enjoy sitting down and having a fine juicy hamburger.   I don't know if it's applicable to this chain, but earlier this year, another fast food chain announced that it would be discontinuing the use of the controversial meat product known as boneless lean beef trimmings in its burgers, or BLBT.  

So, now we discover that a ground beef hamburger may have this BLBT in it, also referred to as "pink slime".  And, the US Department of Agriculture has said that starting this fall, schools will be able to choose whether or not they buy hamburger that contains the pink stuff, which is described as being like gelatin.

Last week, ABC News reported that the filler is found in 70 percent of ground beef in supermarkets.

The president of the American Meat Institute is quoted by ABC as saying:

"BLBT...is a sustainable product because it recovers lean meat that would otherwise be wasted."  OK, but before the manufacturer found a way to use it by disinfecting the trimmings with ammonia, it was sold only to dog food or cooking oil suppliers.

So, I don't want to create panic or even mild concern, because after all, "pink slime" is still meat, but it does remind us that outward appearance doesn't give us the whole story sometimes.   And, this is particularly applicable in our spiritual lives.   In fact, Jesus warned against dressing up the outside, when inside our hearts are full of thoughts and motives that are not pleasing to Him.   And, while we may want to display a veneer of holiness and spiritual maturity, it could be that inside there is a far different story.   That is why the Bible deals with the topic of clean hearts so often - because what's in our hearts, no matter how much we try to suppress, deny, hide or ignore it, will manifest itself in our behavior.   So, we need for God to change us from the inside out - so that what others see is the character of Christ within us, not something we conjure up ourselves to make people think that we are somewhat holy.  

Age is Not a Factor

In Psalm 37, David shares about the faithfulness of God he experienced, even from a young age.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.  David saw the hand of God on his life, even from an early age, and I believe that we can be used of God, as children, and even in the twilight years of our lives - there is a purpose, and as we surrender ourselves, to become vessels through which the Holy Spirit can work, we will see the Lord show up in incredible ways in and through us.   In the book of Jeremiah, we see that there was a call of God on the prophet's life for mighty exploits even before his birth...from chapter 1:6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.


There is a 6-year-old girl from Woodbridge, Virginia, who will become the youngest contestant ever in the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning a regional competition in her home state, winning out over 21 top elementary and middle school competitors. Her winning word: "vaquero," a word of Spanish origin meaning cowboy.   Her name is Lori Anne Madison, who is home-schooled, and told a Washington, DC-area TV station,"My parents quiz me. I read lists and I have a really good memory.   Based on incomplete records, the previous youngest contestant is believed to have been 8 years of age.

And, today, I have to think about a young man, who at 8 years old in the 1920's began to sell soft drinks and then magazines door-to-door - he began a paper route at age 12, opened his first restaurant at age 25, and turns 91 today - that would be Truett Cathy, the founder of the immensely successful Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain.  Up until about 2 years ago, he taught Sunday School to young boys - relating to them the importance of faith, responsibility, and character.

I thought today about how sometimes we sell our young people short and don't encourage them to set goals and attempt bold endeavors, especially allowing themselves to be used of God.  And, as parents, we can encourage our children, blessing them and affirming that God wants to work in and through their lives.
Another example that comes to mind: Alex and Brett Harris wrote a book called, "Do Hard Things", which challenges young people to step out and allow God to work through them.   We can be reminded that AT ANY AGE, God can use us if we make the quality decision to serve Him.

Worship on Tuesday - Vote

Col. 3:16 & 17:

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

We are called to be vessels of His glory – and whatever we do, the way we honor God with our lives, the way we relate to our families and those closest to us, the way we behave at work, and even voting – can be an act of worship to Him.

2 Cor 5:18-19

(God) reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

We are His ambassadors, His representatives – and He uses us for His purposes, as we engage in acts of worship toward Him.

Did you carry out an act of worship today when you voted?   Or if you haven’t voted, will that be an act of worship to you?    I mean, we have the incredible right as American citizens to participate in an exercise of liberty by selecting our leaders.   Thiat is a privilege that not many in history have had – think about the Roman Empire; they certainly didn’t vote for Caesars, or even the people who lived under or loive today under absolute dictatorships – they don’t enjoy the liberties we have, and that many have fought to win and preserve.

So, I believe, like all that we do, according to the Scriptures, voting is an act of worship.   And, while some politicians would say that “freedom of worship” is contained within a church building or other place of worship, I believe that our worship transcends any physical walls, and that we can exercise our religious faith in the voting booth.

I wrote a column for Journey magazine recently…it’s in the March edition, in fact.

I jotted down some considerations that could be helpful in making our determinations about whom we will vote.

            Who is this person?   I think that it’s important that we move beyond just a name on a sheet, or the candidate that has the most signs or makes the most impressions in the media.   While there will be millions spent in political advertising, I believe Christians have a higher responsibility to look beyond the media campaigns and find out something about the candidates’ background, their character, and their core beliefs.

          Core philosophy.  This can be somewhat difficult to determine in some cases, which could actually be a red flag.  A person’s core philosophy is revealed through not only their statements, but also their track record.   A pattern of making decisions based on the political twists and turns may indicate that the person is not a reliable representative of our concerns.  Someone might have a clearly defined core philosophy, but it might contradict the values we hold.

          Faith and the decision-making process.   While the U.S. Constitution does not provide for a “religious test” to be applied to selecting leaders, I do think how a person’s faith informs and guides their decision-making is a highly important consideration. If a candidate is seeking Godly wisdom and is intent on making decisions according to principles consistent with Scripture, that can be highly influential to me.

          Policy consistent with Biblical role of government.  I believe that the Bible is clear that government is an institution established by God, responsible to maintain order and to punish evil, according to Romans 13.   The determination of what is good or evil – the moral components of our laws – is found in the Scriptures, including the Ten Commandments.  When government operates outside of the Biblical prescription for effective operation, then it ends up extending its power and allocating its resources in a manner that actually contributes to a less stable society. 

Defense of the sanctity of life.   I believe that the taking of human life, inside or outside the womb, is a violation of Scripture.   We see candidates who advocate a pro-choice, or pro-abortion position, and are strong promoters of that philosophy.  You have people that embrace a dangerous dichotomy – saying they are personally opposed to abortion or want to see reduced numbers of abortions, but still adhere to their belief that a women has a right to choose.  Then, there are people who say they are pro-life, but embrace a “check the box” mentality – paying lipservice to the cause of life, without being advocates.  I gravitate toward pro-life individuals who are champions for the unborn and promote policies that are consistent with the culture of life. I’ve heard it said if a person’s philosophy is consistent with Scripture on life, then you’ll find that person will have a Biblical position on a host of other issues.

Religious liberties.  This is an increasingly emerging issue, and as Christians, we have to be vigilant regarding politicians who would want to enact policies that would supersede our religious liberties.   We have to recognize that Judeo-Christian principles have formed a foundation for our nation, and when freedom of religion and freedom of conscience are being challenged, then the very foundations of our society are imperiled.  There is an underlying philosophy at play, embraced by some in government, that would subvert all rights, even religious liberties, to the will of the state.   We must select candidates who view religious freedom as a paramount principle.

          Leadership track record.  If someone is looking to be “hired” by the voters to do a job, I believe that experience counts. We are selecting leaders to govern, and the best speaker in the world may not possess the skill set to operate in the political realm.  Just because someone might have a political philosophy that aligns with mine doesn’t mean he or she would necessarily be able to translate philosophy into productivity.