The Biggest Stage - a Platform for God's Purpose

We have each been called and chosen by God in order that we might know His love and express that love to the world around us.  In Colossians 1, we read:
21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

+++++

The Bible reminds us in 1st Peter chapter 2 that God has raised each of us up as believers in Jesus Christ to testify to His greatness.  We can read, beginning in verse 9:
9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
With that mindset - having been called out of darkness into His light - we can think about how God desires to display His glory through us.

That appears to be the mindset of some of those who will be participating in the Super Bowl this Sunday.  A Baptist Press piece highlights the faith displayed by members of the New England Patriots.

Four-time Pro Bowler, special-teams star Matthew Slater acknowledged the recent controversy over deflated footballs and negative media attention was "unfortunate." But he noted his faith helps him keep a positive outlook.

He said, "Football is temporary...It's going to be over for all of us at some point. But I think when you look at a relationship with Jesus you understand you're living for eternity and if you can't get excited about that, I don't know what you can get excited about."

Devin McCourty, the Patriots' starting free safety, who has also played in a Pro Bowl, said striving to be "rooted" in God's Word and his Christian faith gives him a "great foundation" to lean on daily. Playing in the NFL or in a Super Bowl shouldn't define a person, he said.   He said, "It's a blessing.... It's a great opportunity ... [to] take advantage of the opportunity but still know who you are as a person."

Then there's a piece on the Gospel Coalition website featuring Seahawks assistant coach Rocky Seto.

In an interview for that website, Rocky asked, "Could we emphasize that Jesus is better than anything this world has to offer and that he is the greatest treasure in the entire universe?” He added, “Jesus is better than the Super Bowl.”

Seto worked with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll at Southern Cal, but Carroll did not hire Seto to come to Seattle.  After he was let go by SC, Carroll offered him an entry-level position as quality control coach.

Seto said, “That really bothered me,” adding. “I was thinking to myself, How come I wasn’t brought up originally? And in my mind, I went from my dream job to what I used to do 10 years ago.”

He wanted to decline the offer, but hours of prayer helped humble him. He accepted.  A week later, his father-in-law, who lived in Seattle, suffered kidney failure.

The piece points out that if Seto had declined, he and his wife would not have been by his father-in-law’s side during the next several years of dialysis treatment.  Seto would also not have helped introduce a tackling technique to football last year that he and Carroll believe will significantly decrease concussions—an innovation they believe will be their greatest contribution to the sport. And this Sunday, Seto would not have a chance to win his fourth championship.

Seto said "If it was up to me...I wouldn’t have chosen to leave SC and come up here, but God knows better."

He relates that, “You can see how the Seahawks provide identity for so many people. What’s cool is that God has opened up a platform through winning to talk about Jesus Christ, the greatest treasure of all. Why do we want to win? I know the brothers on the team, they want to win to glorify God and tell more people about Jesus Christ.”

There are some great lessons for each of us as we think about those who have been called to be part of what I would say is easily the most-viewed sporting event of the year.  For one thing, these individuals have certainly been given a platform to spread the light of Christ.  Through the game of football and the way they conduct themselves on and off the field, they show that they know Christ and are serving Him.

We can also reflect on the hand of a sovereign God, who works according to His purpose.  The specifics of that platform are determined by the Lord, who places us in certain situations so that He might work through us by His power.  There may be places where He has ordained for us to be or people whom He has called us to be with.   As we submit to the guiding hand of the Lord, we can trust in Him to work mightily according to His will.

And, we can also recognize the importance of the priorities that these aforementioned people have set.  As the coach said, "Jesus is better than the Super Bowl" - you can fill in the blank for whatever applies to you.  The fact of the matter is that if we place Him as the first priority of our lives, if we seek Him first, He will order our steps and show us what's truly important.  We can trust the Lord to give us the wisdom to hear from Him and to enable us to follow His direction.

Engaged In Your Work

There is a calling on each of our lives, and we can concentrate on reflecting the character of Christ, so that people will be drawn to Him.  1st Corinthians 10 provides this encouragement:
31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,33just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
There is a difference between pleasing other people by compromising our own beliefs and pleasing God by relating well to other people. Our ultimate aim is to please God in all that we say, think, and do, and in whatever sphere God has called us - our family, our work, our church life, our recreation, whatever area - we have the opportunity to show that Jesus lives in our hearts.  By being reliant on the Holy Spirit, we have the access to His direction as well as His power to do according to God's will in the situations we encounter.

+++++

In Colossians chapter 3, we can read some verses that can help us adjust our attitudes as we rely on the resources of the Lord and adopt a perspective of seeking to bring Him honor in all that we undertake:
17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Later in the chapter, we read this:23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
On this Survey Thursday, I want to point to some research from the Gallup organization about the topic of employee engagement. Gallup defines engaged employees as those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.
The polling organization reports that less than one-third (31.5%) of U.S. workers were engaged in their jobs in 2014.  That sounds quite low, doesn't it?  Well, the silver lining is that the average is up nearly two percentage points from 29.6% in 2013 and represents the highest reading since 2000, when Gallup first began tracking the engagement levels of the U.S. working population.  However, a majority of employees, 51%, were still "not engaged" and 17.5% were "actively disengaged" in 2014. So, over two-thirds of employees are characterized as not engaged in their work.
The 2014 employee engagement average is based on Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted from January to December 2014 with over 80 thousand employed adults.  It states that the 1.9% increase in engagement from 2013 to 2014 represents 2.5 million employees nationwide. Gallup categorizes workers as engaged based on their responses to key workplace elements it has found to predict important organizational performance outcomes.
The survey also indicates that millennials are the least engaged group, at 28.9%. The percentage rises as you move upward in the various age groups.  A group called the traditionalists have a 42.5% level of engagement, and Gallup speculates that could possibly be because the few who work do so by choice and enjoy their jobs.

Although the economy is improving, workers in the millennial generation may not be getting the jobs they had hoped for coming out of college. Gallup's employee engagement data reveal that they are particularly less likely than other generations to say they "have the opportunity to do what they do best" at work. This finding suggests that millennials may not be working in jobs that allow them to use their talents and strengths, thus creating disengagement.

Gallup does speculate that the engagement levels could be rising because of improving economic factors or a greater level of motivation by management in encouraging employee engagement.

While these findings do tell a less-than-encouraging story about the American worker, they can help believers reflect on our own workplace story.  What does the Bible teach on how we are to conduct ourselves regarding our work?

Well, for one thing, we're told to do everything "heartily," according to Colossians 3.  While we have earthly employers whom we are to respect, we also have a heavenly "employer," if you will, whose expectations for us include to demonstrate the character of Christ.  If we are doing our work, that we recognize as an assignment from God, with a half-hearted attitude, that is inconsistent with the nature of the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts.

We also recognize that we are called into the workplace to be a witness for the Lord, so there is a high standard for our behavior.  If we project an attitude of disengagement, if our work is sloppy, if our relationships with other employees are combustible, or if we are engaged in degrading water-cooler conversations about our fellow workers, then we have to evaluate our state of connectedness to Christ.   I believe He has placed you at work to be engaged, to do your best according to the unique abilities that He has given to you, and we can be motivated to work with an attitude of bringing glory to God.

One Nation (No Comma) Under God

In Luke chapter 12, Jesus warns against the presence of small factors that could have a large effect. He says, beginning in verse 1 "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
He goes on to say in verses 6 and 7:6Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

I really believe it is in the small actions and attitudes, perhaps seemingly insignificant, that can play a huge role in determining the trajectory of our Christian walk.   Without become obsessive, I believe that attention to detail, self-discipline, I dare say, self-control - these are very important components of the fulfilling and productive life.  We can be challenged to check our hearts and guard against small thoughts that can enter in, grow, and become destructive.  What we accept or tolerate in our lives that do not line up with God's purpose can consume us in a detrimental way, if we're not careful.
 

+++++

There's a passage of Scripture in Zechariah chapter 4 that illustrates for us the hand of the Lord in the life of a nation and of a leader, as well as his attention to detail in following the Lord's commands:
9"The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.10For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."

The Pledge of Allegiance is one of those time-honored rituals that most of us have memorized and are more than willing to recite when the occasion arises.   But, the senior opinion writer for the website, AL.com, Leada Gore, contends that we may be saying it wrong.

When I read the headline to that effect on yesterday's "Wake-Up Call" feature, I thought, "here we go again."  I figured it has to be about those two words, "under God," that were added in 1954.   Another AL.com piece, by Angela Levins, quoted President Eisenhower, who authorized the change on Flag Day, June 14:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Apparently, there have been some NBC decision makers who seem to have a case of forgetfulness regarding those two words in the pledge.  Todd Starnes of Fox News reported that an astute reader pointed out that NBC has once again omitted God from the Pledge of Allegiance.  The omission happened during a commercial promoting the network’s upcoming spy thriller called “Allegiance.” The promo used the phrase, “One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

That is the way the Pledge was published in 1892 in "The Youth's Companion," according to the Levins piece.  It could have been written by Frances Bellamy for a Columbus Day celebration or by the editor of the "Companion," James Upham.

In 2011, NBC was caught omitting "under God" from the Pldege in a promo that ran during its U.S. Open golf coverage. Starnes reports that NBC was forced to apologize after it happened not once, but twice.

He quotes a tweet by Sherwood Baptist Church pastor Michael Catt: “Why does mainstream America not trust media? Simple, you can’t get Pledge of Allegiance right, why trust you to tell us anything else? #NBC."

And, in 2013, Rev. Al Sharpton did not utter those words during a "Lean Forward" promo on MSNBC.

Now, back to the AL.com piece about saying the Pledge wrong.  It wasn't what I thought.  Ms. Gore reminded readers that there's no comma - and therefore no pause - in between one nation under God.

She references a debate in Utah last year when the State Legislature was debating a bill to honor the date when the phrase "under God" was added to the pledge.

Someone pointed out that one lawmaker, Sen. John Valentine, said the pledge differently than others.

Valentine doesn't pause - it is one nation under God.

"There is no comma," Valentine said. "We are one nation under God. We are not multiple nations, not multiple parts, but one nation under God."

So, it wasn't about the phrase, after all.  Whew!  But, Senator Valentine correctly used the lack of a comma to make an important point about our country.

It is impossible to ignore the influence of the Divine in the foundation of our nation.  And, not some non-specific deity, but I believe that the God of the Bible was involved in the events leading to the establishment of our great nation.   I believe that He was and continues to orchestrate events in response to dedicated, praying people.  He has not forgotten our land, but if we expect to continue to experience His hand of blessing, we must return to the principles upon which the country was founded and align ourselves with His will.  It is important that we are standing in prayer for America!

This matter of the comma can also remind us of the importance of small things.  Take out the comma and the emphasis of the phrase changes.  Ecclesiastes 10 addresses how something small can have an adverse effect: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."  James writes about how the tongue, a small object, can have a huge effect on our lives.  As authors Bruce and Stan remind us, God Is In the Small Stuff!  There may be small adjustments that we can make, in our heart attitudes or perhaps our practices, that can play a huge role in refining the course of our life.  Just as a comma removed or added can alter the meaning of a sentence, small, maybe seemingly insignificant actions or attitudes can be instrumental in our spiritual walk.

Taking Someone's Place

In Romans 5, we can read about the enormous sacrifice that Jesus made, even when we were apart from Him, when humanity lived in a status of being separated from God:
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Jesus demonstrated His sacrificial love, putting our needs above His own, when He gave His life on a cross.  He told His disciples in John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
God's love, expressed through Christ, motivated Him to lay down His life, enduring humiliation, pain, and shame, and a cruel death on a cross, so that we may be brought into relationship with Himself.  And, that type of love can be motivational for us, as well, as we adopt that sacrificial attitude, allowing that love to flow through us, denying self, so that He alone can be glorified through us.
+++++
In 2nd Corinthians chapter 5, we read this passage:
20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Raif Badawi is a blogger who operates a website called Free Saudi Liberals, which sought to encourage debate on religious and political matters, according to a piece on the Christianity Today website, which reported that in May of last year, the government of Saudi Arabia sentenced the 31-year-old Muslim to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes - that's 50 lashes a week for some 5 months.  Last Thursday, for the second week in a row, a medical commission postponed his scheduled Friday flogging on health grounds.

The CT report said that seven of the nine members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have asked the Muslim nation to whip them instead.  Vice-chair Robert George and his colleagues, in a letter addressed to Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States that, “Compassion, a virtue honored in Islam as well as in Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths, is defined as ‘suffering with another...,’ adding, “We are persons of different faiths, yet we are united in a sense of obligation to condemn and resist injustice and to suffer with its victims, if need be."  The letter does state that Badawi has already received 50 lashes.

The commissioners stated, "If your government will not remit the punishment of Raif Badawi, we respectfully ask that you permit each of us to take 100 of the lashes that would be given to him...We would rather share in his victimization than stand by and watch him being cruelly tortured.  If your government does not see fit to stop this from happening, we are prepared to present ourselves to receive our share of Mr. Badawi’s unjust punishment.”

Katrina Lantos Swett, the Commission's chair and also a signatory, had previously condemned the attacks in a statement released earlier this month as a “cruel and barbaric act... unfortunately, business as usual in the Kingdom.”

Saudi Arabia is one of the US State Department's eight "countries of particular concern," ranked 12th on Open Doors’s 2015 World Watch List and ranked ninth on a Freedom House study on internet freedom, a metric some have argued is vital for religious freedom.

The thought of taking punishment for someone else, even for someone of a different faith perspective, is a challenging and admirable one at that.  Dr. George is known for his devotion to religious freedom, in the U.S. and around the world, and this offer signifies that commitment.   And, other Commission members have stepped up, as well.

This offer can remind us of the sacrifices that many are making around the world for their own religious freedom and the sacrifices of those who speak out for them.  Many are risking their lives to preach the gospel and to be followers of Jesus Christ.  Those rights need to be protected, even in the midst of vigorous persecution.  

And, these proposed actions can remind us of Someone who took our place when we were facing eternal punishment.   Jesus became our substitute on the cross - He endured the shame, humiliation, pain, and death so that you and I might have life.   We stood condemned before God, sentenced to death because of our sin.  But, Jesus stepped forward, qualified to pay our penalty, and died on a cross.  He was raised to new life, raised in victory so that we could share in His triumph.

The question can be asked:  for what or for whom are we willing to lay down our lives?  I would hope that each of us would examine our hearts and determine that we would be willing to face persecution and even death for the sake of the gospel, for the glory of God, because we love Jesus. And, with an attitude of humility and sacrifice, we can think about what we would be willing to give up on behalf of someone who is in need - perhaps God is calling us out of our comfort zone into a new level of compassion and commitment to the needs of others, so that Jesus might be seen in us.

Better News? Really?

In the middle of a world that is filled with bad news, we possess the best news of all, and if you have experienced the new birth, having been born again through Jesus, you can have a hopeful and faith-filled outlook, because God is with you and in you!   The good news is that even though we are sinners and were separated from God by sin, we can be set from from sin's power through salvation in Christ.   The hope for the world is that Jesus loves everyone and died for all.

2nd Corinthians 5 offers some insight:
14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all          things have become new.





It's the best news of all - you can have a new life!  It doesn't come from human ingenuity or our own effort, but through the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ.  He died for everyone - that means you and me - and offers us the ability to walk in victory over sin and to experience His love and His presence each and every day.  It is truly good news, and in Him we can have hope!

+++++

We have been invited to experience good news, that Jesus came into the world to die for our sins, to offer us salvation from our sins, and to allow us to be partakers of His nature.  He has effectively dealt with the sin problem that keeps us bound and separated from God.  1st John 2 says:
1My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship is a powerful tool that God is using to bring children to Jesus Christ.  Through their Good News Clubs in schools across the nation, the 5-Day Club programs during the summer, and a host of quality resources, CEF is bringing truth to children.  In 2013, CEF reached some 15.6 million children with the gospel in almost 190 countries, according to its website.

So, what news could be better than what is being shared in these Good News Clubs and other CEF ministries?   Well, in Churchville, NY, as ChristianNews.net reports, in response to the CEF Good News Club held after school at an elementary school there, professing atheists from the “Better News Club” have launched a similar program to counter the gospel offering.

The Better News Club is now offering the program Young Skeptics to elementary school students. The website for the group states, "The organization was created first as an alternative to the Good News Club, a Christian evangelical group who enters public schools to proselytize to children and, according to their own materials, declares them all sinners in need of salvation."

The Better News Club people say that they see the Good News Club as “a form of psychological abuse, akin to telling small children they’re flawed or evil, and must subscribe to a dogma in order to avoid eternal punishment.” According to the permission slip for the Young Skeptics, the program serves as “an educational club dedicated to helping our kids find answers themselves, through critical thinking and problem solving.”

As previously reported by ChristianNews.net, a summer camp hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship in Portland, Oregon likewise came under fire last summer for teaching children that each person is a sinner in need of the Savior. Those who opposed the group asserted that CEF does not present “Jesus loves you” mainstream Christianity, but is rather “hardcore evangelical fundamental.”

CEF Vice President of Ministries Moises Esteves responded to the Portland situation, telling local television station KOIN, "Listen, the message of the gospel, the teaching of the core Christian tenets of the Christian faith that have been taught for 2,000 years in the Bible is what we’re teaching...There’s nothing new here.”  The ChristianNews.net article states that CEF says that it is not teaching anything outside of the basic and fundamental truths of the gospel—and that mankind must understand the bad news to know why the good news is so good.

The world we live in today, in a sense, is one in which significant numbers of people do not accept truth - and looking back through the ages, we recognize that there has been, and will continue to be, hostility toward the gospel message.  We have to be prepared for that, and also recognize that the Holy Spirit is at work, dealing with the hearts of people to cause them to be more receptive to the gospel.  God will use us to share the very, very good news - the best news of all.    

It is true, we are sinners!   All of us - one of the aforementioned articles says that Protect Portland Children, which seeks to speak out against CEF’s message and influence parents not to allow their children to attend its events, has a profile photograph of a child holding a sign that reads “I am not a sinner.”  That's Biblically incorrect!!  Talk about dangerous to children!  The awareness of our own sinfulness is a catalyst for our accepting Jesus as Savior and experiencing redemption and true freedom in Him.

So, if you're going to claim to have "Better News," then you need to be prepared to back that claim up.  The Good News Club, who has the best news of all, actually has answers for the challenges we face in life.  And, while, yes, just as Jesus taught, we are all sinners - thankfully, He offers a way out of that state of separation from God in our sin, through the new birth!   What does the "Better News" crowd offer?

Where is the hope in the atheist or "skeptic" message?   Seems to me that children would be left with a sense of hopelessness - and the lack of the true love that Jesus offers. 

I guess that the "Better News" somehow says that being free from submission to God is a good thing, but only through a relationship with Christ, can you experience true freedom, the ability to not be bound by the weight of sin, the ability to live a life of love and joy.  A life not dependent on human fallibility, but on God's ability!

I think it's important to a believer to recognize the superiority of the Christian message, without having an attitude of superiority in sharing it.  We do possess the best news of all, and we are called to live it and share it in a way that draws people to Christ.  The best news is that we are sinful, and God has provided us a Savior to redeem our lives, to give us a new start, to actually inhabit our hearts and lead us daily.  We can be recipients of the greatest love of all, the love that motivated Jesus to die for you and me!

Making the Call...and Calling on the Lord

No matter what we are facing this day or will face in the days to come, we know that Jesus is more than enough to enable us to handle the circumstances that come our way.  1st Peter 4 states:
12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

We are promised the joy of the Lord - every day, even when the enemy tries to steal our joy and to turn our eyes away from the sufficiency of Christ.  The fiery trials will come, but we know that God will use those trials to produce in us a greater measure of His character.  If we rely on Him in the midst of our adversity, we can experience the growth that He desires to bring about.  When circumstances work against us, we can know that God is for us, and that He is working within our hearts and will manifest fruit to His glory!

+++++

Despite our claims or positioning to the contrary, we are essentially frail human beings, certainly in need of a Savior.  2nd Corinthians 4 says:
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.8We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

In August of 2013 on my radio show, I interviewed a gentleman who had written a book entitled, "Making the Call: Living With Your Decisions."  You see, Lance Easley was a banking executive who had been a referee in a limited number of high school football and college basketball games, according to Dan Wetzel's recent piece on the Yahoo! Sports website.   When the NFL referees went on strike, Lance signed up to be a replacement.

On a Monday Night Football telecast, Seattle was in the midst of an improbable comeback against Green Bay.  But, unlike this past Sunday's NFC Championship game, Russell Wilson's pass brought controversy.  You may remember, both the Seahawks receiver, Golden Tate, and Green Bay's receiver, M.D. Jennings had their hands on the ball.   Lance was there and signaled touchdown, because of simultaneous possession.

It was certainly not a popular decision.  Wetzel writes:

A man who joined the Marines out of high school, who spent years in sales, who as a ref sought the big moments of making big decisions suddenly felt fear, felt helplessness, felt like the most mocked and hated man in America. He felt besieged.

He wasn't used to such a thing, hadn't built up years of thick skin and coping techniques needed to live in the public eye. He was a nobody and liked it that way. Modern connectivity makes everything spin faster. He lacked any of the infrastructure (agent, publicist, lawyer) around him to handle it, like a scandal-ridden politician or Hollywood star would have.

 "I was completely under attack," Easley said.

As life progressed, Lance started speaking about, as Wetzel puts it, "surviving life inside a modern storm of overnight celebrity and controversy. He figured talking about it would be a good thing. It led to a profound book, 'Making the Call: Living With Your Decisions.'"

Easley put together a four-point survival plan, D.E.A.F., to help tune out all the critical noise that comes from bullying. It was meant to be self-empowering.

• Don't be a victim.
• Embrace the stress and pressure.
• Adopt a good attitude, it's the one thing you can control.
• Form a foundation of strength to handle the storm.

Lance Easley has now come forward to say that he is suffering from PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Since June of last year, he's been on medical leave from his job.  Financially, things are tough.  He's separated from his wife of 28 years.

According to the story, in July 2014, his doctors felt unable to control the situation and wanted to be able to watch him more closely as they changed his medicines. Under their advice, he said, he entered the Vista del Mar Hospital, an acute psychiatric facility in Ventura, CA.  He transferred a week later to the Balance Treatment Center, a mental health rehab center in Calabasas, CA, where he stayed through August. Upon release, he went through near daily counseling on an outpatient basis. He relapsed in November, he said, and returned to Balance Treatment for three more weeks and, at the time of the story, was an outpatient again.

And, Lance has hope...he is quoted as saying, "I know I'll recover," adding, "I know it. It's just going to take time to get thru it."

The Yahoo! Sports piece states that Lance Easley has support - there's a grown son, as well as friends and family who have stuck with him. He says the NFL remains available for help. He said he's done Bible study over the phone with former coach Tony Dungy and broadcaster James Brown.

I don't know how Lance Easley and Dan Wetzel connected, but I believe that it has taken quite a bit of bravery for Lance to speak out on his plight.   And, there are a number of reminders that we can take away from the story.

First, pray for Lance Easley.  Here is a man who was thrust into the spotlight, made a tough decision, and unfortunately, there were unintended consequences.  While he may have weighed the decision to try out to be an NFL replacement referee, the magnitude of his nationally-broadcast controversial call could really not have been anticipated.   When we see a brother or sister in need, the first thing we can do is pray for him.  And, I hope that Christians across America have read this story and done the same.

That being said, I think that this can be a reminder that mental illness is real and the church has an opportunity, and I would dare say, an obligation to speak to the issue.  I'm reminded about Pastor Rick Warren, who walked through the aftermath of the suicide of his son, who had been suffering through a mental illness.   Upon his return to the pulpit of Saddleback Church, Christianity Today reported that he preached a series on "How To Get Through What You're Going Through." Warren noted, "God knows what it's like to lose a son."

He ended by promising his Saddleback congregation that their next major ministry focus would address mental illness within churches. He told the congregation, "It's amazing to me that any other organ in your body can break down and there's no shame and stigma to it," adding, "But if your brain breaks down, you're supposed to keep it a secret…. If your brain doesn't work right, why should you be ashamed of that?"

Finally, I do believe that because of his relationship with Christ, Lance Easley has hope.  Driven by that hope in Christ, he is taking steps to recovery.   He has friends and family - even high-profile believers associated with the sport of football.  We can be reminded and challenged in our own lives, when things are falling apart all around, to turn to the Savior, who offers the strength to work through our difficulties and to stand in the midst of them.  On the Goodreads.com website, Max Lucado is quoted from his book, You'll Get Through This:"

“You'll get through this. It won't be painless. It won't be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don't be foolish or naïve. But don't despair either. With God's help you will get through this.”

Reinforcing the Pro-Life Perspective

We can regard children as a gift from the Lord, and as a society, we can be challenged to realize that God has ordained all life, even from the womb.  Here is what Psalm 127 says:
3Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

It is so unfortunate in our culture today how so many mothers, to whom God has given the gift of children, discard those children and allow their lives to be taken before they are even born.  But, it is a good thing that the truth is being spread, by dedicated people who have a Biblical, pro-life perspective, who speak that truth outside abortion clinics, who participate in prayer, who counsel at pregnancy help centers, and stand for a Biblical perspective of life.  As we rejoice in our Creator, we can consider how He would want to use us as ambassadors for life.

+++++

We can testify to the greatness of God, our Creator and recognize that He is the One who ordains our lives. In Isaiah 44, the prophet writes:
2 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not,      O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.




Later in the chapter, we read:7And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.8Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' "

Today was a glorious day in Washington, as multiplied thousands participated in the annual event known as the March for Life, expressing their support for pre-born children.  And, on this anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, the U.S. House of Representatives was set to take up a bill that would ban abortions after around 20 weeks gestation, the point at which scientific research has shown that a child in the womb can feel pain.

A WORLD News Group website report stated that House Republican leaders decided to call off the vote, "in response to concerns raised by several female Republican lawmakers, most notably Reps. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina and Jackie Walorski of Indiana. The lawmakers’ objections centered on an exception in the bill that allowed victims of rape or incest to obtain a late-term abortion only after reporting the rape or incest to law enforcement."

The report says that Ellmers had initially indicated she would not support the bill because of the reporting exceptions and how that might damage the Republican Party’s image in the eyes of women and millennials, but she said on Facebook earlier Wednesday evening that she would vote for the bill after all. “I have and will continue to be a strong defender of the prolife community,” she wrote.

The vote’s cancellation brought a heated response from conservative, pro-life leaders, including Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Moral cowardice at the expense of the vulnerable unborn is both wrong and pathetic,” he tweeted.

The Daily Signal points out that this bill passed in the House in 2013 without controversy over the exceptions. Furthermore, polling about this legislation specifically mentioned how the exceptions would work. It points out that a Quinnipiac poll indicated that 60 percent of Americans, including 59 percent of women, said they would support such legislation.

It quotes National Journal as saying that, "Rep. Renee Ellmers repeated her critique from the GOP’s retreat in Hershey, Pa., last weekend that voting on abortion bills so early in the session would turn off millennial voters.

Ironically, according to the Daily Signal, the Quinnipiac poll found that 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds backed the 20-week ban on abortion.

And, I would say the House would be the easiest hurdle to passage of this bill.  The Senate has been lining up sponsors, and with the infusion of pro-life Senators, that would mean the chances of the bill passing both chambers would be enhanced, even though the President has said that he would veto it.

Fans of pop music are delighting to a new song from former American Idol winner and new mom Kelly Clarkson.  The beat of her new song, "Heartbeat Song," is actually her new baby River's heartbeat slowed down before she was born, according to a quote from a radio interview referenced by the Daily Signal.  

As the publication relates, On the same day as “Heartbeat Song” released, two national pro-life groups, released a collaborative video calling attention to the “Heartbeat” court cases being heard in federal appeals court the following day. The two cases, heard back-to-back on one day recently, concern recent laws passed in Arkansas and North Dakota—restricting abortions based on when a baby’s heartbeat is detected.

Matt Lockett, Executive Director of one of those groups, Bound4LIFE, is quoted as saying, "For these two events to unexpectedly happen at exactly the same time should make us all ponder for a moment.” He added, "For ‘Heartbeat Song’ to come along, set to the heartbeat of her baby in the womb, just as two important Heartbeat laws are being defended in court—it’s either an extraordinary coincidence or a confirmation. I take it as a great confirmation that God is drawing our attention to the sanctity of life in the womb.”

Definitely something to think about.  But, a couple of disclaimers here, provided by Billy Hallowell of The Blaze:  While Clarkson revealed that the heartbeat was used to tease the song, she did not definitively say that it is used in the track, though that was People Magazine’s takeaway.  Also, he points out that, "While Clarkson included River’s heartbeat and likeness in promoting and teasing the song, the lyrics do not appear to be overwhelmingly pro-life and the subject matter the song is speaking to seems more about having fun than it does praising motherhood.  

So, I'm not endorsing her song and she's apparently not endorsing the pro-life message or movement. The Blaze story states that Clarkson has not publicly aligned herself with any pro-life groups in relation to the release of the song, nor has she said that song is intended to be interpreted to be an anthem for that purpose.

But, the song could have the positive effect of calling attention to the heartbeat of a pre-born child...

All in all, on this 42nd anniversary of the legalization of abortion in America, we can think about several things.  There's a great emphasis on the sanctity of life today, and Sanctity of Human Life events in January can be a wonderful catalyst for stimulating discussion and causing us to think about God's gift of life, God as our Creator, and how we can be involved in promoting a culture of life. But, and as Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Bible Study reminded us last week on The Meeting House, that is a topic that should be discussed year-round.  

Today, I've called attention to two areas of research regarding the nature of life in the womb - one is that unborn children feel pain at about 20 weeks' gestation, which provides a basis for legislation to prohibit abortion past that point.  In this case, the pro-life perspective is supported by science. Another way to say it is that science is not contradictory to the Christian worldview perspective. Scientific discoveries can be used in order to lend credibility for our arguments for design.   

Then, there are those cases about the fetal heartbeat.  Ultrasound technology has offered wonderful proof about the development of a child in the womb and the presence of a heartbeat.   This information can be very persuasive in helping a woman make an informed decision about her child's life and to actually make the right call - for life.

So, today, rejoice in our Creator, and stand with the thousands in Washington and across America who are standing and speaking for life.

See What's Inside

In Colossians 1, beginning with verse 26, Paul writes about...
26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
In this passage, as well as a passage in Ephesians 3, as well as in other verses, Paul refers to a "mystery." But, just because something is a mystery, that doesn't mean it cannot be solved or at least more facts can be discovered.  God is not withholding truth about Himself from His children, but we also cannot discover the wonders of this mystery without seeking Him diligently.  The mystery is wrapped up in the power and presence of the indwelling Christ, who has made it possible for human beings to come to know Him and to experience the living God in our lives.

+++++

In Ephesians 3, the apostle writes about a "mystery" in Christ, that we can now discover through reading God's Word and allowing the Spirit to illuminate our minds.
8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places...

YouTube has certainly become a method through which you can be entertained - you can view your favorite artists' music videos, or see a trailer for a film you may want to see.  You can see all sorts of animal tricks.  And, if you missed the State of the Union last night and really want to see it - you can view the White House channel's split screen coverage with the President's message side-by-side with graphic content.  You can see the official Republican response from Senator Joni Ernst, or the Tea Party response from Representative Curt Clawson.  Or, even response from other lawmakers, such as Presidential hopefuls, Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Or, the Libertarian response from a man named Arvin Vohra, vice-chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

There are some contributors to YouTube that can make money by allowing ads to be placed on the front end of their videos.  According to a story on the Yahoo! Finance website, YouTube allows certain content creators to monetize their videos through their “YouTube Partner Program,” which means ads will play before or around a video, and the content creator will be paid through an AdSense account.

The article states that some of the top earners include Taylor Swift, EMI Music, and the WWE. The number one earner, however, is a woman who makes videos of herself unboxing Disney toys -- and according to OpenSlate, she made $4.9 million in 2014 from YouTube ads alone.

The channel is called, DisneyCollectorBR, and it features hundreds of videos of well-manicured hands opening Disney toys and an accented voice describing what’s inside of the packaging.  But, you never see the owner's face - and as Yahoo! Finance says, "...her identity is a mystery."  It reports that, "The New York Times tracked down a 21-year-old woman living in Westchester but couldn’t confirm that she was truly DisneyCollectorBR, and Buzzfeed believe she’s an older woman living near Disney World in Florida."

Apparently, this type of video that features "unboxing" has become a trend on YouTube. Popular videos include the unpackaging of a pair of $700 Louboutin heels to opening a pack of Bic pens. DisneyCollectorBR’s unboxing videos get millions of hits -- her “Play Doh Sparkle Princess,” video has been watched over 178 million times and counting. Her channel has somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-1/2 million subscribers! Billions of views!

These videos are, as the TODAY website puts it, "mesmerizing toddlers."  The channel features videos with toys, bright colors, a sing-songy voice - what's not to love, right?   Well, I can imagine that voice might get pretty annoying, and the musical score - well...

I was trying to make a spiritual connection here, and instead of exploring a track of pure materialism and creating demand for products, I wanted to talk about the concept of "unboxing."   There is a certain excitement that can be produced in discovering what we have sought.  In this case, the viewers know basically what's inside, but maybe there's a certain thrill of seeing a package opened and seeing the components or maybe viewing those components at work.  Perhaps the exhilaration of "knowing."

The apostle Paul in Ephesians 3 writes about the revelation of a mystery.  In Colossians 1, we discover that is wrapped up in the power and presence of the indwelling Christ - Christ in us, the hope of glory.   We can be challenged to seek out the mysteries of Christ - we learn and grow as we discover more about who He is and what He wants to do in our lives.  

While we acknowledge that God is not hiding His revelation from us, we can only begin to progress in the fullness of the Christian life as we intentionally seek out His precepts.  We only gain knowledge as we expose ourselves to more of Him and allow Him to express His presence through our lives. The Lord is calling us to unwrap or "unbox" His truth, to see what's inside, and to discover the joy of abiding in Him.

Blue Monday - Or Not?

God is calling us to place Him in the position of Lord and King of our lives - as we make our relationship with Him a priority, He promises us joy in His presence.  Here are some words from Psalm 16:
8I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.10For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We can acknowledge that God is with us, and that fact in itself has enormous implications for our spiritual life.  If we believe that He is with us and He lives in our hearts through our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can know that we are recipients of His love and can have fellowship with Him.   We can experience the joy of the Lord - which can be described as deep satisfaction, even the pleasure and excitement of walking with God.  He is calling us to enter in to that incredible relationship!

+++++

The cares of this life can burden our hearts, and as the Bible teaches, they can actually prevent God's Word from bearing fruit in our lives.  But, God is calling us to release those burdens to Him.  1st Peter 5 says:
6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Yesterday was a significant day across the nation - a Federal holiday established to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  And, in Alabama, it marked the inauguration of Governor Robert Bentley and other constitutional officers.  The kids were out of school.  Indeed, I think you had a number of Alabamians who were too busy to be blue, on what has been recognized as "Blue Monday" - the third Monday of January.

A Fox News story called attention to the mix of factors that contribute to what is believed to be the most depressing day of the year for many:  Wintry weather. Post-holiday debt. Failed New Years resolutions. And everyone back in the office after taking time off.

According to the piece, the origin of “Blue Monday” dates back to a 2005 campaign by Sky Travel. The company enlisted former Cardiff University lecturer Cliff Arnall to develop an equation to find out what day is the most depressing of the year.

The equation uses six factors: weather (W), debt (d), time since Christmas (T), time since failing our new year’s resolutions (Q), low motivational levels (M and N).

Scientists have disputed the equation.  The Fox story refers to an article on the Canadian CTVnews.ca site that included some comments from neuroscientist Dean Burnett, who says the "Blue Monday" concept is a PR stunt based on pseudoscience.  The travel company did want to encourage people to take January vacations, according to the article, which says that:

Media, the public, and even other companies latched onto the idea. A U.K. group started a website dedicated to "beating Blue Monday." Another group, bluemonday.org, encourages acts of kindness on the date.

Scientists, however, say there is no evidence that Blue Monday causes any more sadness than other specific days of the year. Burnett has been outspoken on the topic, publishing multiple blogs in The Guardian dedicated to dispelling the myth.

Burnett blames slow January news cycles, general post-holidays discontent, and "confirmation bias" for the term's endurance. He is quoted as saying that, people, "feel down at this time of year, and the Blue Monday claim makes it seem like there are scientific reasons for this." He added, "It also breaks down a very complex issue into something easily quantifiable and simple, and that tends to please a lot of people, giving the impression that the world is predictable and measurable."

Though a particular day may not be "the most" depressing, the Canadian Mental Health Association does recognize that people tend to be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder at this time of year.

The disorder, the association says, can range from mild winter blues to a serious condition that can interfere with daily life. And contrary to popular belief, it does not only strike in winter. Though less common, some people also suffer from summer depression.

Burnett says he objects so strongly to Blue Monday because of how it leads to misunderstandings about clinical depression and genuine mental illness.

So, if you're feeling blue on this day after "Blue Monday," I want to provide some words of encouragement for you today. (Of course, in legitimate cases of depression, where sadness has become pervasive and chronic, then it may time to seek out some assistance.)  We do recognize that one day does not a clinical condition make.

First of all, I want to share that God is our source of joy, and He calls us to delight in Him.  Joy is one of the components of what Galatians 5 describes as the "fruit of the Spirit," which is produced as we are connected to Christ.   Nehemiah tells us the joy of the Lord is our strength, and we can experience His authentic joy as we spend time in His presence and enter into worship of Him.  God's Word and His Spirit will refresh us and worship can be a source of renewal for our hearts.

Discouragement is a tool that the enemy will use to steal our joy, but God will lift us up as we trust in Him.  Perhaps you have experienced failure in your life; maybe not in the area of New Year's resolution, but personal mistakes or inadequacies that you are feeling.  We have to recognize that the enemy will attempt to weigh us down in our humanity, but God wants to lift us up in His divinity.   Regarding whatever weighs us down, God is calling us to cast our cares upon Him, being reminded that He cares for you.

We can attempt to gain a greater sense of the love of God.  Remember always that God loves you - He sent His Son to give His life for you and He desires to bring us into relationship with Himself. Read about His great love in His Word and apply that to your own life.  And, reflect on how you have seen His love expressed toward you.  God's love can provide healing and restoration and the knowledge of His presence can produce refreshing in your heart.

Following a Greater Love

There is a verse in Micah chapter 6, verse 8 that, if people would take it to heart, would provide strong, correction action to the way that we respond to one another.
8He 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?

So we know what is good and right, because God has shown it to us - His Word provides the principles. We are called to "do justly" - I think that means to not only know what the right thing is, but to do the right thing.   And we're called to "love mercy" - to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful, according to Luke chapter 6. God gives us the ability to look at others and show mercy, which triumphs over judgment, according to James chapter 2. We place ourselves in a humble position before God, and He will give us the capacity to walk as He walks and to see others as He does.

+++++

In John 15, Jesus talked about the power of sacrificial love, and one of the actors in the movie, Selma, used one of these verses as he discussed the love in action displayed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I'll discuss that later.  We read in verses 12-15:

12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Today, America has the opportunity to pause, to reflect, and even to serve, in commemoration of the birthday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  In our area, there has been a heightened emphasis on the contributions of Dr. King, with the film, Selma, having been released nationally just over a week ago.

And, you had members of the team responsible for the film in Selma yesterday for a series of events, including an event at the legendary Edmund Pettus Bridge. where John Legend and Common performed the Golden Globe-winning song, Glory, according to a report on the AL.com website, which states that following the performance, actor David Oyelowo, who plays Martin Luther King Jr. in the film, appeared on stage to end the night with a prayer that praised the acts of those involved in the Civil Rights movement and encouraged the youth in the audience to continue the fight for equality.

It's not the first time that Mr. Oyelowo and prayer have been linked regarding the Selma film.  In an interview with him on the Christianity Today website, he mentioned praying before 2 critical scenes:

The day that we were going to be doing those scenes, there were 500 extras there in the church. And I decided—or I asked—if it was okay for me to pray with everyone just before we go into it. It was going to be the first time I was giving speeches as Dr. King. And so I prayed.

Just after I prayed, everyone was really fired up, and we were about to go into the scene. Ava, our director, was just about to call action—and all the lights suddenly went out.

An electric storm started, which meant that they had to shut the generator off in case it electrocuted anyone. We had to break for lunch early. We all went outside, and the sky turned pink and purple with a double rainbow. There are people who had lived in Atlanta for years who said they'd never seen the sky do that.

So we came back—it was in the evening. We'd seen this sky, we'd lived through what felt like a spiritual event, and then we shot those speeches, which as you can imagine, was far more charged than it would have been otherwise.

In a Crosswalk.com piece, writer Jeffrey Huston wrote that, "It seems you can’t have a conversation with anyone involved in the making of Selma– the dramatization of the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – without them attributing its existence to the result of a Higher Power at work."

One example was the provision of a pulpit for the scene depicting Dr. King's speech at the State Capitol in Montgomery. Huston writes that Production Designer Mark Friedberg was reflecting on how he wasn't happy with the podium being used as King's lectern. "So we put the lectern up there," Friedberg said, pointing to the capitol steps, "and… I didn't like it. I wrinkled my nose, and I couldn't figure out why. It occurred to me it shouldn't be a lectern. It should be a pulpit." So Friedberg and his crew walked one-hundred feet to the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and talked with Reverend Cromwell Handy to see what they may have. Handy smiled, telling Friedberg that just two days prior not only had they discovered the church's old pulpit deep in the corners of the storage basement but that "it should be up there because that is the pulpit Dr. King delivered his speech from 50 years ago." Stunned by how his "random" artistic inspiration led to the actual pulpit Dr. King stood behind for this very speech, Friedberg said they all just looked at each other, smiling with the realization that there was a force at work "clearly bigger than any of us."

For Oyelowo, he relates that he has seen God's hand at work since he first read the script nearly eight years ago in July of 2007.  He told Huston, "I felt God tell me that I was going to play Dr. King – and in Selma. Unfortunately," he adds, chuckling, "the director at the time didn't agree with me." Raised a Baptist who, as he specifies, "became a born-again Christian when I was sixteen," Oyelowo is no stranger to listening for God's voice. “There was something that I just couldn’t shake once I had read that script,” he recalls, “and then I just had that knowing. I know that Voice. I know God's voice in my life, and I just couldn’t shake it from that point on."

There has been plenty of discussion of the film and its content, and it is drawing attention not only to this area, but in a greater sense to the history of the civil rights movement, and that's a good thing. And, as Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Bible Study and I discussed the other day, the spiritual element of the activity of the civil rights movement is incorporated in the film.   I contend you cannot separate the spiritual from the events of that time.   Even today, you will find that a number of commemorative events are being held in churches.

Dr. John Piper, in an insightful commentary on the film, also contends that the movie lets the religious roots shine through.  And, he leaves the reader with the inspiration that the story "stirs up dreams of a life that counts."  He writes:

This was the main impact on me. When I think about the needs and sorrows and injustices of the world (thousands of peoples perishing unreached by the gospel, millions of babies killed in their mothers’ wombs, global slavery and human trafficking, ethnic and racial hatreds around the world), the thought of an easy, comfortable, secure life of coasting to the end, feels overwhelmingly unattractive to me.

So I pray that this story of courage and sacrifice and conflicted righteousness will stir you and me to an unwavering commitment not to waste our lives.

So, some brief thoughts on this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  For one thing, we can each examine our own lives to make sure that we are in alignment with God's plan for us.  David Oyelowo believes that he was being led by the Lord to pursue a cause, a calling, to play Dr. King on film.  Dr. Piper encourages us to not waste our lives.   There are causes greater than ourselves, and perhaps the Lord is calling you to be involved in a special, intentional way.  There may be a call for perseverance in the pursuit of a call, but we can be diligent and assured that God will give us strength.

Also, I think we can be challenged to think more spiritually, or Biblically, concerning the events of our lives.  Prayer is a chief component, and I believe that we can gain a greater measure of God's power as we take a moment, or more, to surrender our pursuits to the Lord.  We may be following God's call for us, but if we're not coating our activity with prayer, then we may be missing out on the maximum effectiveness that God would intend.  So, the challenge is to walk Biblically in all that we undertake.  As Oyelowo says in the Christianity Today piece, American Christians should watch Selma..."Because you see someone who doesn't just talk about their faith; you see someone who walks it out, with sacrifical love. The Bible says, Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

He says:

That is not only what Dr. King did ultimately (in being assassinated); it's what he did for those 13 years that he led the civil rights movement. Every day he sacrificed seeing his kids. He had to endure death threats. He had to endure ill health. He often went into the hospital for exhaustion, because he was constantly putting himself on the line for others. That's what the Bible tells us to do.