A Tip About Generosity

In Micah chapter 6, the prophet describes accurately for us what mercy looks like.  In verses 6 & 7, we read:
6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?   So, he's asking the question about what pleases God - and then he suggests some religious expressions that could fulfill the requirements.   But, here's a great takeaway from this passage - verse 8: 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

To walk in justice and to love mercy - oh, if we could really take hold of those principles.   It's not how much we attend church or do religious things - yes, our worship is very important, but a true indication about our love of Christ is shown as we exhibit selflessness, as we lay down our lives for others just as Jesus laid down His life for us.  And, each person - everyone...in the workplace, at our kids' school, in a store, or a restaurant, is someone to whom we can show the love of Christ, looking for ways to be merciful.

In 1st John chapter 4, we see how the love of Christ can powerfully work in and through our lives to each person with whom we come in contact daily:
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.


One of the real tests of our devotion to Christ is our generosity, and here's a so-called "pastor" who has failed the test, in a very public way.  A receipt has surfaced on the Internet of a someone identified as a pastor attempting to get around a restaurant's gratuity policy for large parties.  Here's the story, from the RELEVANT website:

A man who identifies himself as a "pastor" decided that the whole "gratuity" thing is stupid. Apparently, the restaurant that he and a party of 20 dined at adds an automatic 18% tip to a total bill (rumored here to be about $200). When the diner found that out, he asked to pay for everyone on separate checks, thinking he could dodge the restaurant's auto-gratuity policy. But, it didn't, and that's when the pastor decided this was a spiritual matter. He scratched out the 18% tip ($6.29) and wrote "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18," and then, to make his point perfectly clear, wrote a big "0" in the tip line. And then wrote "pastor" into his name, thus fulfilling his duty as a gentle shepherd instructing his flock on how to love a dark and needy world.

OK, if you're going to try to drive home your weak point, don't put a clerical stamp on it.  The lack of generosity demonstrated has actually become a focus of scorn and ridicule, apparently especially among atheists on the web.  Contrast this pastor's receipt with one at a Red Robin restaurant recently, where the manager gave a pregnant couple a free meal and informed them by typing in "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC" on the receipt.  I don't know the spiritual bent of this manager, but it can remind us that for the Christian, a simple act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life, and perhaps give you a chance to do ministry in a more extensive way.

Of course, who knows if this receipt was even real or if the person was really a pastor? Nevertheless, this can challenge our thinking...


Our generosity is one of the leading ways that we attract people to Christ, and the converse is true - if we demonstrate selfishness, we are not exalting God.   One RELEVANT reader commented:  "This is wrong on so many levels. Worked in a restaurant for a few years and when the heads went down to pray so did your tip...The best are the ones who leave a track [sic] and no tip."

Think about that next time your church group visits a restaurant.  Now, there is some quantitative evidence:  The Christian Post, in a story that reported on a restaurant waiter who received a tract rather than a tip, quoted a study conducted by Cornell University, showing that Christians tip among the highest of all studied, but at the same time had the lowest percentage of tips among those who were stingy.

According to Daily Finance magazine, Christians gave 17.3 percent to their server. The study found 13 percent of Christians left less than 15 percent which is the standard. The 13 percent was almost double that of any other belief.

Do we regard people who are in customer service as real people to whom we can show Christ's love?  Reggie McNeal, in his book, Missional Renaissance, relates the story of a church that determined to pray for every waiter and waitress they came in contact with.   He encourages people, before they bless their meal, to ask the server how they can ask God to bless him or hear.   What a simple, but powerful witness that could open the door to more meaningful conversations.   And, we are called to be sensitive to doors that God may open.  And, we close those doors by our demonstrations of selfishness.   Everyone - everyone - you come in a contact with is someone to whom you can demonstrate the love of Christ.

The Point of No Return?

In Hebrews chapter 4, we get some insight into the ability we have through Christ to keep from falling:
9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

The concept of falling is one that permeates Scripture - if we stay true to God, we may not always succeed in our endeavors in our own eyes, and we may fall down or fall short, bu we can know that He is faithful and He will give us the resolve to try again, and perhaps next time, incorporating our experience, we will see a greater measure of success for His glory.   So when we fall, confident that we are walking in obedience, we can get back up.

And, we can fall because of disobedience, facing the consequences of wrong choices - but even then, when we stray off God's best path for us - we can know Him as our restorer.   He forgives our sins and corrects our path.   There is not a point of no return as long as we are in this world and willing to confess our sins and press in to the Lord.

The book of Jude, verses 24 and 25, say:
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  I came across some news on risk-takers yesterday...you had a report of a world-record holding surfer and known thrill-seeker Garrett McNamara, who  is believed to have surfed the biggest wave ever, a 100-footer he rode off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, according to Wired.com.

Word of the feat still has to be confirmed by the good folks at Guinness, but the 45-year-old Hawaiian is stoked by the accomplishment.

“Thank you for all your support. It means the world to me,” McNamara tweeted on Monday. “Today was an awesome day and so fun to be out there.”

He already held the title for the biggest wave ever surfed, having nailed a 78-footer at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in Nazaré last year. This record was originally reported to be 90 feet and not the actual 77.7559 feet that was later announced after video and photo analysis. So was this really a record breaker? Whatever the final outcome, that was one amazing ride.

The same website had some news about a photographers that places himself in situations where he is, well, at risk - falling off a building, wrecking a bike, tripping and falling down the stairs - it's done through some skilled, well-timed photography, and the assistance of a rope - something that Nik Wallenda did not have yesterday as he walked a tightrope 200 feet across a highway in Sarasota, Florida. 

Risk-taking can be something that is beneficial to us and highly rewarding, as we face our fears and dare to accomplish some daring feat.   There may be physical challenges that we desire to conquer, or perhaps taking a step out in faith and trust God in some area of our lives - relationships, finances, or just laying aside the safety of our earthly lives to experience more of Him, as well as other areas where the outcome could be positive.  There is a possibility of failure, but that's OK - we can even learn in the times that we miss it.   God will pick us back up again and we can make the most of the experience.

The In Touch website gives this perspective:

Are there times that Christians are to take risks? The answer is a resounding yes, when He is the one asking us to step out of our comfort zone. From the Lord’s viewpoint, there is no uncertainty, because He has control over all things and He will never fail to accomplish His good purposes (Eph. 1:11).

But, taking risks in obedience to God is a much different story than exhibiting reckless behavior - if we give in to temptation, we place ourselves at risk, too - of falling away from Him.   Now, keep in mind, that there is not a point of no return; if we stray - and that's not the best path - He will restore and renew our lives and empower us to overcome the lure of temptation.    So, perhaps God is calling you to step out in a particular area - that's great; remember He is the One who goes with you.   But, if you step out recklessly and do not trust God, you're on your own.
 

The Weapons of our Warfare...

From Ephesians 6, we see that we are involved in a spiritual war - there is evil in this world, and we have powerful resources that come from the hand of God:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore , take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.   It is so easy just to look on the surface and regard all things that occur in our lives from a natural perspective - but God calls us to see through spiritual eyes.    When we do that, we see that there is a clear definition of good - what lines up with God's truth and nature - as well as evil - that which does not glorify God and is of this world, activated by the devil, the enemy of our souls.   When we realize that, and see that the name of Jesus, according to Philippians 2, is the name that is above all name, then we can draw strength from Him and experience the power to walk in victory over the power of sin and evil.

I believe Proverbs 18:10 tells us that as we place ourselves in God's hand and rely on His name, that we will experience His protection:
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower ; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

It was your basic jewelry sales party - about 14 to 18 ladies getting together at a home in Lake City, FL for some fellowship and to view some atractive adornments, until, as the Christian Post puts it:  a man wearing dark-colored clothing entered the room where the party was occurring, pointed a handgun at the women and told them to give him their money and phones.

Thinking it was a practical joke and a part of the party, one of the women pushed the gun away and said, "It's only a water pistol." Lee then yelled at them, telling them he was going to shoot somebody and that it wasn't a joke. The women took him seriously after he showed some of them the bullets that were already loaded in the gun, Hagler told The Christian Post on Monday.

"The boldness of the Lord came up in me," said Hagler. "I stood up and I just pointed to the door that he'd came in from. I said, 'Get out of my house in the name of Jesus.'"

He threatened them again, and she told him to leave once more before the rest of the women in the room began to repeatedly shout the name "Jesus."


The gunman, with a look of astonishment, turned and walked out the door.

Have you ever heard a story like this?   I have - and I think we can be reminded of the power that we have in the name of Jesus and the spiritual weapons that we have at our disposal to defeat evil.   First of all, the name of Jesus is the name above all names and is not to be used as a formula or mantra, and not to be regarded as a mere tool.   But, if we call upon His name, with a humble and sincere heart, I do believe that He is faithful, and it is possible that He will respond in a powerful, even miraculous way.   The Bible is clear that if we ask anything in His name - which includes praying according to His will - He will do it.    We also read that if two are more are gathered in His name, He will be in our midst - and that was certainly the case with this jewelry party--turned-prayer group.

We are also reminded that there is a spiritual war in which we're involved - evil is present, and we are equipped with weapons of warfare - the armor of God, which includes the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.   Through God's Word, we can take every thought captive, rejecting thoughts that do not line up with His truth.   And, I believe that we have the presence of angels that go with us, that can be released into a variety of situations for the glory of God.  

Remember, you are not alone - God is with the child of God, we have the power of His name, a strong and mighty tower, He has given us angelic protection, and the armor of God is available so that we can walk in triumph in Christ!

Don't Try This At...Church!

1st Peter chapter 4 helps to give us some perspective on suffering, and our response to it: 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

Suffering is a fact of life - because we live in a fallen world populated with human beings who sin, we are going to encounter suffering.  We're told that the enemy is roaming the earth seeking whom he may devour - he will bring suffering.   Putting to death the deeds of the flesh and struggling against sin - that will bring suffering.   And, being reviled or ridiculed for our faith will result in suffering.   But, we can be confident that God is working through the pain, through the persecution we encounter - and even in the midst of our suffering, we are called to identify with others who are in need, to communicate hope in our Savior.


In 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1, we see into God's heart regarding those who are suffering:
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater ; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.


A unique chapter in the life of a Pennsylvania church has resulted in its paying of a $10,000 fine and the youth pastor doing community service so that he can avoid a criminal record.   Said youth pastor, Andrew Jordan had a unique idea to teach his young people about the dangers that Christians face around the world...The teenagers were taken in a mock raid, had their heads covered with pillowcases before they were led to a van, which transported them to the pastor's house, where the teens were interrogated in a dark corner of the basement.   According to a report on the Patriot-News website, Pastor John Lanza contends the raid is used as a learning experience to illustrate what missionaries around the world deal with every day because of their faith. 

One youth was injured in the "raid".  The mother of a 14-year-old girl who was “kidnapped” and frightened during the March raid triggered the criminal case by calling police. 

Dauphin County authorities charged Glad Tidings Assembly of God of Lower Swatara Township and youth pastor Jordan with simple assault and false imprisonment after a grand jury probe.  In addition to the community service, Jordan will also pay a small fine.

The district attorney, Fran Chardo, said: It was an appropriate punishment for what they did. And I’m confident they aren’t going to do it again.”

“They’re not bad people,” Chardo added. “What they did wasn’t malicious. It was just foolhardy.”



There are far better ways to prove a point - this one youth pastor took great lengths to give this illustration.  And, persecution is serious business - just think about the American pastor who was arrested and will spend the next 8 years in a brutal prison in Iran, or the 10 church leaders arrested in Eritrea.

I believe the church is called to identify with people in their hardships - I think of World Vision's "30-Hour Famine", which is designed to help young people appreciate the hunger that is so common in many parts of the world.   Or, the stories of people who spend the night on the streets, in cardboard boxes, to appreciate the plight of the homeless.    We can become so adapted to the 4 walls of our homes - or churches - that we don't recognize what is going on around us - in our cities and in our world.   And, I believe we are called to step up and step out - to go to an extent to love people that are somehow different than we - either in culture, socio-economic background, or living conditions, just to name a few areas.   And, we may be driven to our knees to pray for those who are persecuted, or to travel to other parts of the world to reach out and help lift people up.  

You don't have to stage a mock raid in order to drive the point home - God has placed us in this world not only to serve Him and grow personally, but also to impact the lives of those that He points out to us.

What Difference Does it Make?

In 1st John chapter 2, the writer presents an overview of why we sin and what tempts us: 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts ; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.   It's a critical component of our walk with Christ - knowing why we do what we do; the "whys" behind the what.   Examining our hearts to determine our motives can be incredibly helpful as we pursue holiness in our thoughts and actions.   As the Holy Spirit pinpoints those areas of love for the world and selfish desires, He enables us to experiencing His cleansing power - a repentant heart and confession of our sins to Him are steps in that cleansing process.   When we mess up, we can't just say, "oh well, what difference does it make?" and move on, living our lives in the same manner - we have to take seriously the thought and motive behind the action, so that we learn and grow.

James chapter 1 illustrates for us the progression of temptation and sin in our lives:
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God "; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin ; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

The good news is that God has provided a way out when we are tempted.   1st Corinthians 10 says:
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man ; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

The high-profile, high-tension committee hearings on the Benghazi, Libya consulate attack on Wednesday has yielded a phrase that perhaps will be played over and over again, analyzed and - of course, politicized.

Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was being questioned by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who was taking the Administration to task about the stories being circulated about the nature of the attackers and their motivation.   We all know the story - initially the attacks were blamed in this little-known, poorly-produced video that portrayed Mohammed in a negative light and characterized as a spontaneous occurrence by an angry mob.   The evidence is quite compelling that the deaths of 4 Americans in Benghazi was the result of a well-planned terrorist attack.   Here is the exchange:

JOHNSON: "...we were misled that there were supposedly protests and then something sprang out of that, an assault sprang out of that and that was easily ascertained that that was not the fact and the American people could have known that within days...And they didn’t know that.”

CLINTON: “With all respect, the fact is we have four dead Americans was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they’d go kill some Americans...What difference at this point does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator.”

The media has been abuzz about those words, "What difference does it make?"   Former ABC White House correspondent, now with CNN, Jake Tapper said that quote may appear in the 2016 campaign, used by Republican and Democratic opponents alike, if the enormously popular Mrs. Clinton seeks the presidency.

For the Christian, that line can challenge us regarding our motivation for taking certain action:  we have to examine what makes us do what we do, so that we can learn the lessons God wants to teach us.   For example, when we speak rudely or harshly, when we react in anger in a particular situation, we have to think, "why did I do that", accept the corrective action of the Holy Spirit, and rely on Him to empower us to not do the same thing again.   If we do not tell the truth in a situation, or embellish a story to make ourselves look good, we have to question: is that is really what God wants us to do?   So often we act erroneously, then we try to massage the narrative, and we go out and commit the same offense again - or something worse.   

We have been given power and authority over the power of sin...but, we do not exercise that power because we tolerate the sinful desires that operate in our hearts.   And, we can miss the mark, put some spin on it, not even recognize what we do is wrong, and slip into that pattern, without the power of repentance to short-circuit that power.   We do it all the time and never learn from our errors.   "What difference does it make?" - the "what" is very important, but the reasons "why" are critical, as well - we can be challenged to be truthful with ourselves, examine our hearts, and take God-inspired steps to eradicate sinful thoughts and actions from our lives.

Out of Sync

In 2nd Timothy 2, the apostle Paul encourages young Timothy to teach people what's important:
(14) solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness

So many distractions in the world today - and we have to be diligent, laser-focused, on what's important - following Christ's teachings, holding fast to the word of God.   It's telling that Paul refers to wrangling about words and avoiding empty chatter.   If we're not careful, we can sacrifice the meaning for the mundane and become distracted in our pursuit of the things of God.   May we be passionate about upholding His truth and being an effective witness, displaying His character in the world.

Jesus talked about the way that we can rely on the Holy Spirit to show us the truth and to illustrate to us what is accurate and important.  We read in John chapter 16:
13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth ; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak ; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

Washington is preparing for another multitude to gather on the National Mall, as a predicted 600,000 people are going to be assembling for the annual March for Life.  That's the prediction from the Washington Examiner, which, for those keeping score at home, would rival the number of people that turned out for President Obama's second Inauguration.

“We're expecting a big crowd,” said Jeanne Monahan of March for Life, quoted by the NBC affiliate in Washington. “We've seen lots of markers that would show that. Our hotel block sold out a month in advance of what it's ever sold out, and we've had more media requests than ever before, so we expect really record-breaking crowds.”

And, while we cannot accurately predict the crowd or even know how many showed up, since the capital police do not provide estimates, one thing you can be sure of - there won't be nearly the coverage in the mainstream media for this significant event.   And, while some are trumpeting the latest poll that shows that 7-in-10 Americans do not favor overturning Roe v. Wade, you also cannot ignore a similar percentage favoring some restrictions on abortion.    

It's an issue that you cannot ignore - I believe it was Bishop Harry Jackson who has described the life issue as the one which trumps all others.  It's been said that if you get the life issue right, perhaps you will have a Biblical position on a host of issues.    So, while the media ignores the event and evangelicals could face a tendency to get caught up in the crowd size rather than the cause, we have to remember to not get lured by the distractions.

In a time where more attention is focused on Beyonce rather than budgets or Benghazi, the message of the right to life and the truth of God's Word can get lost in the cultural soup.   And, as the whole measure of attention focused on whether the young singer lip-synced her performance of the National Anthem shows, I think, a lack of concern for what's important.   Honestly, does it really matter?    I don't think there was any dishonesty or deception here - it's actually proven to be a common occurrence.    It's so easy to get distracted - that's why rely on the Holy Spirit to show us what's important - in our lives and in the culture, so that we don't get caught up in the unnecessary.

The Most Important Person in the Room

The greatest leaders are those that demonstrate humility and compassion.   That's the word of Jesus to His disciples James and John who were concerned about position and power.   In Mark chapter 10, He said:
(43) ...whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant ; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

This is not to say that we are not to serve the Lord - for we are told to humble ourselves before Him and abide in Christ.   This gives us some insight into Biblical servanthood - first of all, we are not condemned for  having a vision for accomplishing great things, but we have to approach our lives and actions with humility - not seeking power and prestige, riches and rewards, to call attention to ourselves, but to empty ourselves before the Lord and before others and allowing Christ to express His life through us.   He submitted Himself to the point of death for us, and He calls us to die to selfish desires so that He might be exalted through us.

In John 13, shortly before His death, Jesus presented an amazing example of servanthood AND leadership:
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord ; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 
CBN News posted an interesting piece yesterday about the lineup for the inauguration, pointing out that out of 7 musical arts on the bill, 2 were evangelical in nature.  The Lee University Festival Choir from Cleveland, Tennessee led off the festivities - composed of some 200 or so singers from a mix of choral ensembles at the school.    Also on the program was the beloved Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, with nearly 300 strong and with six Grammys and five Dove Awards under its belt.  The choir was selected last summer by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.  

Even though Passion founder Louie Giglio withdrew plans to give the benediction after critics complained about one of his past sermons on homosexuality, his childhood friend Andy Stanley was the keynote speaker at the pre-Inaugural worship service.  And, the National Prayer Service yesterday featured the pastor of the largest United Methodist congregation in America, Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection.

Christianity Today said that Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church, suggested the president should be called "pastor in chief"  for his leadership following the Sandy Hook shootings. He acknowledged the president’s influenced and prayed that Obama would “continue to leverage this influence for the sake of our nation and the sake of the world.”   Hamilton also made mention of Obama's oratorical skills, saying he should have been a preacher.  In his sermon, Hamilton used the life of Moses as a template - isolating 3 characteristics: humility and compassion, vision, and perseverance.  

In both sermons, there was a theme of servanthood - and faith.   Hamilton said:  "...in order for America to have a future, we will first need to find a deep and abiding faith in God. It is this faith that calls and compels us to humility and compassion and concern for the nobodies. It is this faith that helps us discover the kinds of visions that are worthy of our great nation and worthy of the sacrifices we can make. It is this faith that sustains us when we feel like giving up, a faith that comes from trusting in the words of Jesus who said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Stanley posed the question, based on the example of Jesus in John 13, as he washed the disciples' feet: 
“What do you do, when you’re the most important person in the room?".  The answer: "You leverage that power for the benefit of other people in the room."   Then, he said to the president: “Mr. President you have an awfully big room.”  

You might say that this example doesn't apply to you - that you're not important or significant...but wait a minute, if Jesus is in you, and He is ALWAYS the most important person in the room, then that gives you a special role and opportunity.   If you are reliant on Him, you will be able to demonstrate servant-leadership, exuding humility and compassion, for the sake of the people around you.  We underestimate the strength of Jesus in us, but it's very real, and can be very compelling.   After all, He said that if He is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself.   So, humble yourself, lift up Jesus, remember that He has an abiding purpose for you as you abide in Him, and be sensitive to the leadership of His Spirit, who will use you in a variety of situations for God's glory.

Of Rights and Respect for Life

Job, in the midst of his suffering and self-examination, recognized that the right to life is determined by God:
14 What then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him? 15 "Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb ? 16 "If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it.

I think that this passage of Scripture, and others that are similar, support the fact that God creates and ordains life - period.   And, who are we to attempt to take the position of God and determine which pre-born child lives or dies, no matter what the circumstances of his or her conception?   So, as we submit to the giver of life, we promote a culture of life - where unborn children are allowed to live, and where the hearts of men and women are not disrespectful to the rights of others to live.  We see violence in our homes and our streets and lack of civility toward others - these are symptoms of heart issues surrounding the lack of respect for life, given by God.   We can be challenged to be people of influence, to be used by the Holy Spirit to help turn hearts toward Him.

In Psalm 139, we find the Biblical foundation for the right to life that God has given to each of us:
13 For You formed my inward parts ; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

The Inauguration festivities have now concluded, having extended well into the early morning hours.   The cleanup has begun, and now Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is strapping himself in for what promises to be a challenging second term.

I think that the Inaugural Address offered no real surprises or really very many meaningful lines, but it was, in a sense, an unveiling of the progressive agenda that many have suspected for a long time and a clear enunciation of the driving political philosophy.   There are those that expected a policy-driven speech, but that wasn't the setting yesterday - this was a time to enunciate the personal agenda behind the policy.   Obama described the American experience as a "journey", and indeed he believes that we have evolved to another stop on that trip - without reservation embracing a breathtaking assortment of rights for many - all driven by his view of what is called, "equality", which in the progressive mind involves a degree of manipulation - of resources, in attempting to level the playing field of income, as he perceives it, of redefinition, changing the laws to embrace gay marriage, apparently, as well as to secure, and in a sense, remaking government based on some sort of new paradigm.   Most would call that progressive, others would say liberal - and in the speech, he attempted to place a God-stamp on his agenda.

Missing, of course, was any declaration of rights for the unborn, which we celebrate today as we decry the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, which has opened the floodgates to the taking of some 55 million lives.    Frequent Meeting House guest and former Congressman Bob Beauprez says this:
Abortion -- and those children who were never born – exist in a place that is primarily out-of-sight and out-of-mind.  Although legally protected, abortion is among the few unspeakables in American society.  Thus, comprehending the impact on American society is even more difficult.  In a sense, it is hard to understand that which you never see. 

Consider for a moment, however, that the consequences of Roe are deeply into the second generation.  About 30 million of those aborted children would by now be of child bearing age themselves.  New families would have been created resulting in an additional 20 million or more children based on normal demographic statistics.  

So, in just a macro-population sense, the forty years since Roe v. Wade has eliminated a population roughly the size of California, New York, and Florida combined from American society.   If those lost to abortion, including the lost second generation, were a nation, they would be about the size of Germany – the 16th largest country in the world by population and the fourth largest economically.       

America appropriately agonized after the loss of innocent life in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado.  Mothers, fathers, citizens and leaders are still struggling to reconcile those and other tragedies. As a society, we also need to reconcile the tragedies involving the people we never meet, with the faces we cannot see, that happen every day.

But, we can't expect this Administration to really address that, for the rights of pre-born children have been trumped by the mythical "reproductive rights", which is one of the sacred tenets of the so-called progressive agenda.  And, Biblically, you can't put a God-stamp on that, even if you try...If you're talking about equality in the eyes of God, you can't ignore life that is the gift of God.  

Those who recognize the truth about the sanctity of life have a great responsibility and opportunity to embrace life and to be a force for good, consistent with His truth.   Thousands will be flooding the nation's capital later this week to celebrate human life and to repudiate the erroneous notion that somehow the pre-born are less than human - it's a dangerous path to try to assume the place of God and determine who lives or dies.   We can be challenged to be in prayer for our leaders and for those who are directly involved in pro-life ministry, that they would continue to be a strong and compulsive voice for life.  

A Letter and a Cry for Justice

In Hebrews chapter 12, the writer speaks of the unshakeable Kingdom of God, in contrast to the things of this world that can be shaken:
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.   God does not call us to become comfortable or complacent - and He will shake our lives so that we might rest on the unshakeable foundation of the Word of God.    His truth can make us uncomfortable, but in becoming ambassadors of Christ and agents of change in this earth, He will challenge us in our hearts and call us to meaningful action.   In His desire to make Himself known to the earth, He will call and equip us to minister in a turbulent society, where there are many who would ignore His principles.   We can ask God, the "consuming fire", to consume us with desire to speak and act according to His ways.

In John 16, we see how the Holy Spirit was sent as our Helper, who has come to make us uncomfortable, so that we can know and abide in God's true comfort and compassion:
(7) I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.


This is always a significant week on the calendar, which has been enhanced by the addition of the Presidential Inauguration.   For the holiday set aside to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., coincides with the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade.   And, I think the two occasions coalesce around the issue of justice - Dr. King spoke out and acted for civil rights, and the Supreme Court essentially denied the right to life for millions of unborn children.

So, this week gives us a reason to think more deeply about these issues and to contemplate how we can join the Lord in advocating for true justice consistent with the Biblical model.  There are a variety of issues and approaches, but I think a good word for today concerns whether or not we will be comfortable with the way things are, so that we can be a force for justice in our society.

Dr. King had one particular approach to injustice, which he justified in his famous "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", written in 1963 to a group of 8 white clergymen in the Birmingham area who believed that King's was the incorrect method - the ministers advocated court action rather than non-violent street protests, which lead to public confrontation.   The Christian Post put it this way: they agreed that rights were being denied to the black community, but also believed that demonstrations on the streets were "unwise and untimely" and urged African-Americans to withdraw from them.

In response, King wrote, "It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative.

"I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."  He said that, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."

Just 2 years ago - in Birmingham - a group called Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A. – which includes leaders from Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal, Orthodox and evangelical churches – said in a one-page letter that though virtually all church bodies have made formal statements against racism, many have failed to go beyond "spoken commitments."

A particular section in their response is quite challenging:  "Too often we have elected to be comfortable rather than prophetic. Too often we have chosen not to see the evidence of a racism that is less overt but still permeates our national life in corrosive ways," they lamented.

So, the question for us, as individual Christians is: how comfortable are we?   Regarding our own hearts, do we tolerate sinful patterns in our own lives and allow our hearts to be seduced by desires that are not pleasing to God?   Do we act in unbiblical ways toward others?   And, from a societal level, do we lament the way things are, complaining but remaining complacent?    Or, is God calling us to be a voice for truth, a voice of justice in accordance with that truth?   Is there something that you and I can do to be a visible expression of the compassion of Christ?

Propogating God's Word

In Joshua chapter 1, as he faced the challenges of assuming the mantle of leadership in succession to Moses, the Lord spoke to him:
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua had God's words, God's Law, reflecting God's heart.    And, throughout the ages, the Bible has been inspired and crafted, giving us direction for our own lives.   It has stood the test of time - the Word of God is absolutely reliable, it is living and active, and it is highly instructive for our daily lives.   God's Word in the heart of a believer in Christ makes for a powerful combination.    If the Word is written on our hearts, we grow in our relationship with God, we have a greater degree of faith in the truth of God, and demonstrate to the world around us the character of Christ.

Psalm 119 can help us reflect on the power and reliability of God's Word:
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!

This past Wednesday was Religious Freedom Day, and a Christian organization called World Changers Florida celebrated the occasion by distributing Bibles in public schools.    They had been stopped in Collier County in Southwest Florida a couple of years ago, but the school district said, "no" - World Changers went to court and they received a favorable ruling, so they were in that county distributing Bibles yesterday and the day before in Orange County, which is the Orlando area, which also allowed it last year.

Diego Rodriguez, attorney for the Orange County school district is quoted by MyFoxOrlando.com: "We'll have the passive distribution of bibles which essentially provides for a place for individuals that have petitioned the district, to place bibles on a table or stand."


In a blog post, Greg Harper of the World Changers organization makes some excellent points:

Could a young man or woman’s education be complete without exposure to this most important of books?  In a survey conducted by The Gallup Organization for The Bible Literacy Report 2005, forty of forty-one high school English teachers said, “Bible knowledge confers a distinct educational advantage on students”.

Yet, in a parallel survey of 1,002 teenagers only 8% of teens reported that their school offered an elective course on the Bible.  So what happened?  Under relentless legal pressure our public schools have removed any reference to the Bible from the classroom.  In effect school officials have compromised student education in the mistaken belief that they were reducing exposure to legal action.  Actually the Supreme Court has held that public schools may teach students about the Bible as long as such teaching is “presented objectively as part of a secular program of education.”

He also quotes some of our Founding Fathers about the importance of the Bible:

President Thomas Jefferson, “I have always said and will always say, studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make us better citizens”.

President George Washington, “It is impossible to rightly govern without God and Bible”.

President Andrew Jackson, “The Bible is the rock on which this Republic rests.”

And, oh boy, the secularist/atheist axis was rather vocal toward this.   Let's see, you have the American Atheists, Freedom from Religion Foundation, ACLU, and Central Florida Freethought weighing in about the action, some of them asking for permission to distribute their own materials.   Now, here's what's important to note - World Changers' reaction:

When it was pointed out on the blog that David Silverman, President of American Atheists, had charged Orange County with showing favoritism by allowing the distribution of Bibles in the county high schools and saying that their organization would proceed to try to distribute books by Madalyn Murray O'Hair on atheism, Greg Harper responded:

"Has Mr. Silverman been denied access by the school district? If not, how can one allege favoritism? It would unconstitutional for the state to show favoritism or animus toward religion. From our perspective all are welcome. The Word of God has stood the test of time."   "All are welcome" - apparently, that's a provision of the consent decree, and it doesn't bother World Changers, because, "The Word of God has stood the test of time."

Hey, face it - we are living in a society where there is a significant number of people that either do not acknowledge God or outright reject Him.   There is a marketplace of ideas and even spirituality out there.   Should we be alarmed?   Yes, but not in an intimidated or confrontational manner.   We can be confident of the truth of the Word of God - it is totally reliable and we serve a God who is totally faithful - there is more than ample evidence to support the truths of the Scripture.   We can assertively move forward with sharing the Word of God, and seek to be more equipped to defend its content.   That's why the SALT conference this weekend is so important, and that is a critical role of the ministry of Faith Radio - to help you grow in the knowledge of God, so that you can live it and share it in a manner that glorifies God.

The Day of the Double Lives

In 1st John chapter 1, the writer, a disciple of Jesus, speaks of what we might term the "reconciled life":
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.   Verse 6 uses the phrase, "If we say..."   There is a tendency to create or craft a persona, an image, that may or may not be in alignment with our true identity in Christ, or that may mask internal strife and struggle that we don't want others to see.   Who we project may not be who we really are, and if we are living that type of double life, it leads to insecurity and as James says, instability.    God calls us to live authentic lives, pursuing the lives and being comfortable with who He has made us to be.   And, where there are struggles and sins, we can activate the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can live less disconnected lives and experience the peace of God.

The apostle Paul writes about living an authentic life in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
(1) since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

There's great anticipation - tonight, if viewers can actually find the Oprah Winfrey Network on their cable TV boxes, they will see an interview with famed, then disgraced bicyclist Lance Armstrong - banned from the sport for life, denying that he used illegal substances to boost his athleticism, taking his multiple accusers to task who said otherwise.   So, now he comes clean on semi-national television...stunning and intriguing.   Lance is, in a sense, trying to reconcile his double lives by an act of confession.

It is quite common to see competing narratives in the lives of high-profile people.   Take the new evidence mounting concerning Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, who warmed the hearts of football fans by playing his heart out after the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend just hours, or days, apart.   One sports site, Deadspin, says Manti's girlfriend never existed, the university says that Te'o was the victim a cruel hoax, he has made his own statement - either, as he says, he's discovered that part of the life he was living wasn't true, or, if some have said, he was in on it to boost his Heisman hopes or create a bigger-than-life story, then the double life game is over.   Whatever the case, the public, who responds positively to stories of hope amidst adversity, ate it up, and was duped.   

These stories can challenge us as believers to make sure that our lives reflect authenticity.   I'm intrigued by a Christian Post story quoting actress and new mom, Megan Fox, who tells Esquire magazine in some detail about her Pentecostal upbringing, her frustration with fame, and how church is become more important to her.   She's quoted as saying:

"What people don't realize is that fame, whatever your worst experience in high school, when you were being bullied by those ten kids in high school, fame is that, but on a global scale, where you're being bullied by millions of people constantly."

And she's apparently not satisfied with the image that she has crafted or that has been crafted for her:

"I felt powerless in that image. I didn't feel powerful. It ate every other part of my personality, not for me but for how people saw me, because there was nothing else to see or know."

There is a life that God has ordained for us, built on truth and being submissive to Him - if we live in a manner that is different from His intentions for us, then we run the risk of being most miserable.   The real story is what's going on in our hearts and how accurately we are living in accordance with the new creation that we are in Christ - we can construct a persona, we can spin stories, but ultimately, what's important is being committed to Christ and true to ourselves.   We have to rid ourselves of the driving force to please people and project an image, and allow the presence of the one true God to permeate our thoughts and actions.

Spiritual, Religious, & Christian

The Bible teaches that our faith will be expressed in our practice.   That's a dominant theme in the book of James.   Here is what chapter 1 says:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

There are three words I wanted to concentrate on briefly:  spiritual, religious, and Christian.   Someone might say he or she is "spiritual", but that could even mean those people believe in something or someone beyond themselves or some sort of mysticism, but polling data shows that the "spiritual" person is not better off - there's no real effect on mental health.   A religious person puts faith into practice, but may not actually have a relationship with God or Jesus Christ.   Believers in Christ have all 3 - we can walk in the Holy Spirit, practicing our faith effectively, and enjoy a relationship with God through Jesus.   And, we experience the abundant life that He promises to us - not rooted in vague spirituality or in sanitized practice, but in a dynamic experience with the living God!

In 1st Corinthians chapter 2, we are challenged to view our lives from a spiritual point of view through the direction of the Holy Spirit:
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.   According to a WORLD News Service piece found on ReligionToday.com, British researchers say people who say they are "spiritual but not religious" are more likely to have a wide range of physical and psychological problems.  Professor Michael King of University College London surveyed more than 7,400 people and divided them into categories.  35 percent described themselves as "religious," 46 percent described themselves as "neither religious nor spiritual," and 19 percent were in the "spiritual but not religious" category. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, "Members of this final group were 77 percent more likely than the others to be dependent on drugs, 72 percent more likely to suffer from a phobia, and 50 percent more likely to have an anxiety disorder. They were also 40 percent more likely to be receiving treatment with psychotropic drugs, and at a 37 per cent higher risk of neurotic disorder."
Christianity Today reports that according to CNN, the new study supports previous American research onthe topic, including past studies by Tanya Luhrmann, a Stanford University psychological anthropologist who found that "organized religion provides three outlets that benefit churchgoers' well being: social support, attachment to a loving God, and the organized practice of prayer."

"'When you become spiritual but not religious, you are losing the first two points and most spiritual but not religious people aren’t participating in the third,'” Luhrmann told CNN. “'It is not just a generic belief in God that works; it is specific practices that work.'”

So, it isn't very effective to have a vague, generic spirituality, according to the research - you have to put what you say you believe into practice - the "religious" element, I presume.   A spirituality that is consistent with the Bible exercises a dependence on the Spirit of God - more than just an acknowlegement of something or someone out there, beyond ourselves, but demonstrating our trust in Christ by the practice of our faith.

And, according to Gallup, that works. An analysis of more than 676,000 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index interviews conducted in 2011 and 2010 finds that Americans who are the most religious have the highest levels of wellbeing. The statistically significant relationship between religiousness and wellbeing holds up after controlling for numerous demographic variables.  


The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index comprises six sub-indexes. The most substantial differences between the very religious and nonreligious groups are in the Healthy Behaviors, Work Environment, Life Evaluation, and Emotional Health Indexes. Differences between the very religious and nonreligious on the Basic Access Index are smaller, but statistically significant. The one exception is the Physical Health sub-index, which is slightly higher for nonreligious Americans than for very religious Americans.

For the Christian, we are promised abundant life, we are told that God has given us a sound mind - we have the mind of Christ, and we can know the peace that passes understanding.   Our faith can be expressed by the way that our minds operate - if we are trained to think according to the word of God, we can experience the peace of God, and our lives will reflect the fruit of the Spirit.