Beyond Profession and Into Practice

In John 14, Jesus talks about faith and the practice of it. If we profess faith in Jesus, then we can be challenged to practice that faith. Here are His words:
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Profession - and practice.  Those are critical elements in our life in Christ.  If we have called out to Him and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we have the certainty that we have been born again.  We have the assurance from Scripture that we have the Holy Spirit within us, empowering us to keep His Word and bring glory to His name.  We can also know that He has made it possible to communicate with Him and to present our requests to Him according to His will.  Christianity is more than a series of religious exercises or rituals - it is a vibrant relationship with the living God.

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We are called to practice our faith in a manner that brings honor to God, and the Bible is our instruction manual, teaching us what pleases Him. James chapter 1 offers some insight into the importance of visibly practicing the faith we profess:
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.

A new study released around Easter this year shows that over 60 percent of those surveyed in the world claimed to be religious.  There is an analysis on the British website The Independent that includes 7 charts about religiosity worldwide.

The piece quotes the WIN-Gallup International poll of more than 63,000 people in 65 countries. It says that in the country-by-country data there are two glaring omissions: Africa and The Middle East. The author surmises that it's safe to assume that, were they polled, the vast majority of those peoples would consider themselves religious — you'd expect something in excess of 90%.  I think that's a fair assumption.

Here are the 7 things that author Zachary Davies Boren points out:

1 - There are twice as many religious people as non-believers.  Based on those Gallup findings, those who are non-religious, including atheists, comprise 33 percent of the world - just over half of their religious equivalents.  And, as the author reminds us, bearing in mind which parts of the world were omitted, this is a very conservative comparison.

2 - China is by far the most atheist country.  Among countries in the survey, the most religious country is Thailand, where 94 per cent belong to a faith and just 1 per cent are atheists.

3 - Religion is dominant on every continent.  Western Europe and Oceania are considerably less religious than the other continents, but in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, religion is well more than double the size of any of the alternatives.

4 - Older people are, surprisingly, less religious.  That's right, and according to the study, people in the 44-54 age bracket are the least likely to be religious, the most likely to be atheist.  And, people in their twenties are most likely to identify with a religion, and so are a high proportion of those under 25.

5 - Housewives are the most often religious, the full-time employed the least.  Housewives (at 76%) are followed by retirees and then students.

6 - Wealthier people are less religious.  The survey shows, according the Independent article, there is a marked drop-off in religiosity between middle income individuals and upper-middle individuals.
In the middle-income bracket, only 8 percent identify as atheist, compared to 25 percent in the 'medium high' range.

7 - And so are people with more education.  Four out of five people without an education identify as religious, and that falls to 3 in 5 of those who attended university.  Also, as with age and income, the last bracket (post graduates) is slightly more religious and less atheistic than the second-to-last.

According to the summary of that survey from the WIN/Gallup International organization, as far as the most religious countries, Thailand is followed by Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Morocco, Fiji, and South Africa - all with over 90% claiming to be religious.  Just 30% of the citizens of the UK however consider themselves as religious and 70% of Russians and 56% of Americans describe themselves in the same way.

In, China 61% of people claim to be convinced atheists, approximately twice as many as any other country and 29% say that they are not religious compared to just 7% who are religious. The number of people claiming to be atheists was next highest in Hong Kong and Japan. The Swedish prove to be the least religious in the Western World with 78% saying they are either not religious or convinced atheists.

In Israel, 65% of those asked said that they are either not religious or convinced atheists compared to just 30% who say that they are religious. Meanwhile in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza) the population is considerably more religious with 75% saying that they are religious compared to 18% who say that they are not religious.

There are some considerations we can have as we think about this data:

Of course, we know that many claim to be religious, but the important thing is not the faith we say we practice, but how we practice our faith.  We may identify ourselves as Christians, but we have to make sure that we are passionately following Christ and desiring to bear fruit for His glory.

We identify with the Christian religion, but the true test of that faith is the inward desire to be in relationship with Christ and the outward expression of His presence through our lives.

This survey can also provide some encouragement that there are many around the world who profess to be part of a religion.  And, while this survey doesn't break down which religion is being adhered to, we can be reminded that we have brothers and sisters in the Lord who are following Him. 

In countries where there is plenty of religion, but not religious freedom, we know that Christians are being persecuted because of their adherence to the name of Jesus.  We recognize that we are part of a worldwide body of Christ, sent into the world to testify to His glory and to spread His love and truth.  We are on mission, commissioned by the Lord Most High.

Making the List

Regardless of his age, Timothy was charged to set a godly example. The apostle Paul shared this, as recorded in 1st Timothy 4:
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

In this case, Paul was telling Timothy that what might be perceived as a shortcoming should not hinder the godly example that he had the potential to set.  Age may or may not be a barrier for you, but there may be an area that you feel would lessen your capacity to influence someone else - it could be your social status, your ability to express yourself, even the thought that your past somehow disqualifies you from being a strong example for Christ.  If you are called by His name, forgiven by His blood, and raised to new life, you can testify to His presence in you.

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Jesus taught a valuable lesson about leadership and influence in Matthew chapter 20:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The Facebook post read, "They have GOT to be kidding with this. No, really, they MUST be kidding."  And, the writer had just made the list from Newsmax of what it regards as the "Top 100 Christian Leaders in America."   That would be Eric Metaxas, who placed number 41 on the list.

You have to keep in mind that this is not a list of the top 100 "evangelicals."  A number of faith traditions are represented in the list, and in many cases, the publication, which has print, online, and video components, got it right.  I would not consider some to hold mainstream Christian beliefs or to be even be part of Christianity at all.  But, the #1 name, I think, is dead on: Franklin Graham.  

The website, BillyGraham.org, says this:

As president of two global ministries, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham reaches millions of people with the hope of Jesus Christ, as he obeys biblical commands to take care of the world’s orphans, widows and the poorest of the poor.

The authors of the Newsmax list mentioned the new challenges—and opportunities—Christian leaders face in a digital world, writing that, “accepting Christ and committing sin against Him are both done sitting at a computer screen today.”

In his role as head of BGEA, Franklin Graham has ushered his father’s 65-year-old ministry into the digital age. Through BillyGraham.org, social media and web streaming, God is using BGEA to reach places Billy Graham could never visit personally, including many parts of the Middle East.

And, recently, through the Internet ministry, Search for Jesus, the Association reached its 6 millionth decision for Christ, from the nation of Jordan.

In its opening comments to the introduction of the list, Newsmax says:

Entertainment and sports stars are not usually considered religious leaders, but today their influence often exceeds that of pastors and televangelists. Reality TV producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have resurrected the Christian entertainment industry with their hit series "The Bible" and "A.D. The Bible Continues."

That's a pretty broad statement, but no doubt, the Burnetts have made an impact and have carried the Christian message into prime time with the "A.D." series - they are #3 on the list.

Not surprisingly, Billy Graham is in the top 10, at #5.  Rick Warren follows at 6.  Voices you hear regularly on Faith Radio in the top 100 include Tony Perkins and Charles Stanley, both in the top 50. John MacArthur and Chuck Swindoll were also on the list.

There's another list that I have become aware of - that's the list of those who have signed a pledge to defend the institution of marriage, found at DefendMarriage.org.   Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel was one of the co-drafters of the "Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage."  I talked to him following the oral arguments on marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Todd Starnes, in reporting on the document for FoxNews.com, stated:

“We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross that line,” read a document titled, Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage. “We stand united together in defense of marriage. Make no mistake about our resolve.”

“While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross,” the pledge states.

Franklin Graham has made this list, too - the list of notable signers of the Pledge.  So do Dr. James Dobson and James Robison.  NRB President Jerry Johnson is there.  So is Bishop Harry Jackson and Samuel Rodriguez.  Pastors Jim Garlow, Robert Jeffress, and Ed Young are there, too.

I am sure other pastors and Christian leaders stand in spirit with those who are published on the website.  Rick Scarborough of Vision America Action is quoted on the website:

"I am speaking as a minister to the moral and biblical ramifications of this expected ruling. This would be a decision as incorrect and as tragic as Dred Scott. Because of the trends and cultural shifts that we have witnessed in culture over the past 40 years, we have all known that this day would likely come and Christians would be put at odds with the culture and the courts.

“I believe we are there. We are approaching a Bonhoeffer moment in America.

“Outrageous penalties are now being assessed against people of faith and conviction who haven’t changed their position on marriage. Rather it’s the courts that have changed the definitions, the rules and laws that now govern us. They are ruling against Nature’s Law and Nature’s God. Christians are being declared the lawbreakers when we are simply living by what we have always believed, and by a set of laws that the culture historically has agreed to."

Even Supreme Court justices appeared to have reservations about making sweeping changes about the institution of marriage.  In oral arguments yesterday, you had quotes like this, according to the Christian Examiner website:

To an attorney supporting gay marriage, Chief Justice Roberts said, "You are not seeking to join the institution. You are seeking to change the institution." He added that changing the definition of marriage would leave the definition of the institution of marriage inoperable.

Justice Kennedy is quoted as saying: "This definition has been with us for millennia, and it is very difficult for the court to say, 'Oh well, we know better.'"

And, then you have Justice Breyer, who, as the Examiner points out, normally sides with the liberal half of the court. He said the current case proposes that the court reconsider what has been "the law everywhere for thousands of years." Breyer said the plaintiffs want "nine people outside of the ballot box" to require states to change their laws.

But the report said that Breyer seemed sympathetic to the plaintiffs' case, as did Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Christian leaders are gearing up and continuing to state strong, unwavering support for the institution of marriage, which was ordained and defined by God.  In essence, it cannot be redefined by a court, even the highest court in the land.  This list of leaders is instructive and inspiring.

In thinking about these two lists, I want to point out three things:

Recognition is nice, but reliance on God and resolve to do His will are the important things, regardless of who sees it.  We do not live for the praise of men, but to offer our lives in praise to Almighty God.  So, whether or not what we do is seen by anyone else, we know that God does see.

We can also be reminded that we do want to be people of conviction.  The Newsmax list is someone's or a group of someones' opinion, and open for debate, not necessarily to be taken that seriously.  The pledge to defend marriage, well, it's deadly serious and can have enormous implications for how we approach that issue.  I want to be known as someone who stands for what he believes.

And, we can also think about what it means to be a leader or to be influential.  Obviously, people on those lists, including those who are on both lists, have a voice and a life - it's important that we recognize that we are communicating to others about the God whom we serve in the way that we live. You may not serve in an "official" leadership position, but that doesn't mean you're not a leader - you can lead in your family, in your church, in your workplace, etc. simply by how you conduct yourself.

Marriage on Trial

We live in a world where people make up truth for themselves, when what is right in God's eyes has become wrong in the eyes of some, and what God condemns, others condone. That's why it's important, as always, that we stand on the firm foundation of truth. Take heart from these words in Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we feel weak or overwhelmed, when our deeply held beliefs are threatened by the tides of culture, we can continue to be strong in the Lord.  And, remember, people are not our enemy - there are philosophies and perversions that are being spread by the enemy of our souls, the devil, who is corrupting the minds of those who do not adhere to the truth of the Scriptures.  We have to make sure we are not seduced by the enemy's lure and rely on the resources of Almighty God to withstand the onslaught.

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Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees on the issue of divorce. His response, found in Matthew 19, reinforced God's view of the wonderful institution of marriage:
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

In those three verses, Jesus dealt with gender identity and the definition of marriage.  Those that attempt to integrate religion into the debate on marriage between same-sex partners have to skip over that passage, as well as the passage in Genesis 2, to which Jesus was referring, where God defined marriage.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two questions concerning so-called "same-sex marriage."  Because of the importance of the case, there were two-and-a-half hours scheduled, 90 minutes greater than the usual one hour time frame.

According to a Baptist Press article:

The high court is considering two questions in the case: 1) Does the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution require a state "to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?" and 2) Does the 14th Amendment require a state "to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?"

The case to be heard today is out of the Sixth Circuit.  The article provides this analysis:

In its 2-1 opinion, the Sixth Circuit panel acknowledged the legalization of gay marriage appears inevitable. In spite of what seems inevitable, the majority said states are permitted by Supreme Court precedent to define marriage. It is better if state voters or legislatures instead of judges determine an issue that has traditionally been in their purview, the majority explained.

Ken Connelly, legal counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), told Baptist Press that the Sixth Circuit opinion "gets it right on almost every issue." He is quoted as saying that, "Same-sex marriage is not a fundamental right, which is something that the other side likes to argue," adding, "It;s not deeply rooted in the history or tradition of the country. And frankly, the opposition is trying to shoehorn same-sex marriage into the fundamental right of marriage. But the fundamental right of marriage that the court has always understood the definition to be is the relation of husband and wife, man and woman."

As Jennifer Marshall of the Heritage Foundation points out on The Daily Signal website:

More than 50 million Americans have voted for laws affirming the definition of marriage as one man and one woman (representing more than 60 percent of those voting on the matter). But courts have not respected the constitutional authority of the American people and our elected representatives to make marriage policy.

Only 11 states have redefined marriage democratically. In the 37 states that currently recognize same-sex marriage, 26 have been forced to do so by courts.

Marshall spoke over the weekend at the March for Marriage in Washington, DC.  She posted some of her comments in that Daily Signal article.  After highlighting the plights of Aaron and Melissa Klein, Baronelle Stutzman, and Kelvin Cochran who were punished for standing for marriage, she said:

Marriage existed before this government, and before any government. Marriage brings together the two halves of humanity, for the future of humanity.

No Court can undo that.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard from those desiring to redefine what God has ordained, as well as those who would uphold this sacred institution.

In the latest edition of the Faith Radio Ministry Magazine, in a piece entitled, "Our Statement on Marriage," Faith Radio Board President Mark Williams states, regarding homosexuality:

God’s opposition to this lifestyle is so pronounced and so unequivocal that, for Christians, the issue is a settled matter where there is no middle ground.

I wrote in the Magazine that:

Traditional Biblical marriage is an expression of the plan of God. Gay marriage is a severe misapplication of God’s truth.

So, how do we respond?   Again, from Mark Williams:

As we wait for the Supreme Court to rule this summer, there is no need to fret or cower from what we know is truth. We should make our voices heard and pray knowing that none of this catches God by surprise. At Faith Radio, we will persist in presenting the biblical arguments in favor of marriage that is exclusively heterosexual. We will also pray and trust God with the results. He knows the results and we can trust Him with them.

So, today, echoing and correlating with those comments, regarding to the arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court and issues surrounding so-called "same-sex marriage," there are three words I want to share:

Pray.  It is important that we pray for the justices on the Supreme Court, that the truth that they heard today about the institution of marriage would permeate their hearts.  Pray that they would not put themselves in a position to compromise this sacred institution.

Stand.  We can continue to stand for God's truth about marriage, realizing there may be adverse circumstances because of our Biblical views.  But we can trust God to continue to give us strength and joy, knowing that we are aligned with His principles.

Prepare.  We hope for the best in the Supreme Court's decision, expected this summer.  But, if the outcome is that gay marriage will be legalized in all 50 states, then I believe we have to begin to think how we will respond to it.  Churches and businesses will need to develop a gameplan, in accordance with the Holy Spirit, Whom we can trust to give us direction.  

I Wish My Teacher Knew

In John 15, Jesus gives a description of being in fellowship with Him.  We can recognize that because we have accepted Him as our Savior, we are connected to Him; we are walking together with Him. In verse 5, He says:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Then in verses 7 through 9, we see these words:
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Later in the chapter, Jesus talks about being His friends.  Think about it:  we have been brought into a relationship with Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, the One Who sent His Son, so that in Him we might have new life and eternal life.  We can maintain a connection with Him as we call on His name and pour out our hearts to Him - we don't have to be afraid or ashamed, because He has called us His children, and we belong to Jesus.

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We can keep a right heart and a proper attitude toward God, who knows our hearts and wants us to come before Him in fellowship and communion. Here are some thoughts from 1st John chapter 3:
19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

I have a teacher story to share with you today, but first of all, I'd like to celebrate some recognition that my wife has received - this past Saturday night at the Alabama PTA Convention, she was recognized as the elementary Teacher of the Year.  I am very proud of her, and having observed her love for teaching, her dedication, and her creativity, I believe that she is deserving.  She sees teaching as a calling from the Lord, and she does it with the passion He provides to her.  So, congratulations to my Beth for this award!

Now, here's a story about a teacher in Colorado who learned some things about her students.

Kyle Schwartz is a third-grade teacher in Denver, Colorado.  She's been an educator for three years, and she wanted to become more sensitive to the needs of her students, according to a piece on the ABCNews.com website.   She is quoted as saying: "Ninety-two percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch," adding, "As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my students' lives and how to best support them.  I just felt like there was something I didn't know about my students."...

She gave them an assignment called, "I Wish My Teacher Knew."  She said, "I let students determine if they would like to answer anonymously...I have found that most students are not only willing to include their name, but also enjoy sharing with the class.  Even when what my students are sharing is sensitive in nature, most students want their classmates to know."

Kyle shared some of the notes on Twitter using the hashtag #IWishMyTeacherKnew, encouraging fellow teachers to employ the same lesson with their own students - responses came in from all over the world.

Kyle related that some of the answers were heartbreaking, such as the first one she tweeted out, in which the student said that, "I wish my teacher knew I don't have pencils at home to do my homework."  There was a student who could not always bring back a signed reading log due to the mother not being around a lot.   Another student's father was deported 6 years ago.

She says that, "After one student shared that she had no one to play with at recess, the rest of the class chimed in and said, 'we got your back.' The next day during recess, I noticed she was playing with a group of girls. Not only can I support my students, but my students can support each other."

The article reports that Schwartz related the importance of building community in the classroom. She hoped the lesson could help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably.

There is some encouragement that all of us can take away from this story:

For one thing, we can certainly be sensitive to the needs of the people around us.  God will orchestrate divine appointments with people with whom we can share the compassion of Christ.  So often in our busy lives, we can concentrate so much on ourselves.  There will be open doors for ministry that come our way, and we can enthusiastically step through.

I also thought about the importance of being able to share our hearts and the importance of pouring out our hearts before God.  Certainly He knows what is in our heart, but there is something that is comforting and freeing in knowing that God is with us, in our times of great need, or when things seem to be going well, or any other time.  As we talk with Him one-on-one, we gain a sense of His perspective and we reinforce the communion that we have in His presence.  And, He calls us to confess our sins before Him and experience the forgiveness of Christ, our Advocate.

So, today, recognize that God knows what's in our heart, and we can tell Him...anything.  Call out to Him, knowing He will not reject you as you approach Him in love and humility.  We don't have to wish that He knows anything about us - He is deeply interested in all that concerns us.

Our God, Who Restores

We serve a God Whose nature it is to restore.  We can rejoice in our God of restoration, and throughout the pages of the Scripture, we can see His heart - after the fall, He worked to restore humanity to Himself.  He called out to Israel to come before Him.  He sent Jesus to forgive our sins
and to give us new life, to bring us redemption. God's restorative nature is seen in a passage from Joel chapter 2:
23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you-- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.
24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
25 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The
consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.

We can be thankful that God has dealt wondrously with each of us - He has given us the opportunity to accept Jesus as our Savior, to enter into salvation and to experience His redemption.  When we make choices that are not pleasing to Him, we can know His forgiveness and be restored to Him.

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In Hosea 6, we can read a passage that can reinforce for us a view of God as the One who restores:
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

I came across a story recently about a 25-year-old woman who desired to have an abortion, but after taking the mifeprestone abortion pill, had second thoughts, according to an article on the ChristianityToday.com website.  She Googled "abortion pill reversal," and found a website called, AbortionPillReversal.com.  She called the 800 number and talked to someone who told her about a relatively new procedue involving the use of progesterone.  It worked.  She is the mother of a 4-month-old son.

This new reversal process has now been used in the saving of 89 babies, according to the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), which has issued a statement favoring the procedure.  The Association has some 2500 members, and so far, over 200 physicians are providing the service to women.

Americans United for Life has been involved in drafting informed consent legislation in Arizona and Arkansas, requiring abortion providers to give pregnant women extensive information about their pregnancy, including the possibility that a chemical abortion might be reversible.

The AAPLOG statement, issued by Mary Davenport and Donna Harrison, states, "Many women are ambivalent about their abortion decision, and there is increasing evidence that many abortions are coerced. These women welcome the opportunity to reverse their initial decision, and should be given accurate information about this process."

Of course, Planned Parenthood is opposed to the use of the procedure - one of its physicians calls it "junk science."  And while it is true that there has been one study about it, co-author Dr. George Delgado told the UT San Diego newspaper, according to Christianity Today, “I don’t think there’s any reason to stop what we’re doing now, which is connecting women who have changed their minds with doctors who are willing to help them. As we go along, we can do more comprehensive studies.”

Former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson supports the procedure. She says that, "I’ve met several of the women and their babies who have gone through the abortion pill reversal process. It’s just a beautiful thing...," saying that Planned Parenthood offers no hope for those who have taken the abortion pill and felt regret.

The thought of reversing the cruel act of abortion is certainly a hopeful one.  And, so far, there is evidence of lives changed because a seemingly permanent decision was followed by another decision born out of regret.

There are several things that come to mind in light of this story:

I am reminded that the trajectory of our lives is determined by the choices that we make.  Some of those choices are irreversible, made in a moment, with sometimes life-altering consequences.  But, thank God, sometimes there are opportunities to actually reverse our decisions or mitigate the consequences.  For instance, this new abortion reversal procedure affirms and preserves life - it can certainly be regarded as a gift of God.  And, it brings hope where there was none.

You know, God specializes in bringing hope in hopeless situations.  When we have made poor choices and we find ourselves in a desperate state, we can turn to the Lord.  He may not reverse what transpires as the result of our errant action, but He can certainly show us a new direction as we trust in Him.  Where we have messed up, He can work through us to clean up.

Finally, forgiveness is a gift that God wants us to experience.  When we sin, we know we have an advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, who wants to deliver us from the power of that sin and to enable to walk in the forgiveness that He has extended by His blood, shed on the cross for you.  We can know peace in the place of guilt and shame.  He can cover our past mistakes - we don't have to be held in bondage by those actions.  There may be consequences and we may possess scars, but He can mitigate the pain and bring restoration to us.  The moments of our lives are permanent; they only occur once, but we serve a God who can take what seems permanent and rearrange it for His glory.

To the Ends of the Earth

We can acknowledge that we are part of a bigger picture, God's work being orchestrated on the earth, a testimony to His love for humanity.  And, each of us plays a part.  Consider the words of Proverbs 19:
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.

That's right, we can plan out our lives, we can become consumed in the quest for success, we can even map out what we will do for God.  But, unfortunately, that is not the approach that is prescribed in Scripture.  The Lord wants us to seek His face; He wants to speak to our hearts and direct our steps.  He desires to show us our role in His plan.  He invites us to get involved in the magnificent work that He is doing in the world today and to use our giftedness for His glory.

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I want to return to Matthew 24, where we see the signs of the end times. Jesus referred to the true and false teaching that will be spread in the last days:
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

A recent survey report states that there are just over 6900 languages in the world.  Care to venture a guess as to how many of those languages have a Bible translation?   According to a newly released study by the Barna Group for the American Bible Society, less than half have a completed Bible or even a Bible portion.   And, what is amazing is that almost 3-in-4 Americans believe that the Bible has been translated into every language.  Only 21% of those surveyed recognize there are still languages in the world without a Bible translation.

Nearly all Americans—98%—believe people should have access to the Bible. And indeed, most people in America not only have access to the Bible, but they also own a Bible. Nearly nine in 10 American households report having at least one Bible, with the average household owning four copies. Of course, ownership does not equal readership; three out of five Americans say they want to read the Bible more (60%).

The Barna survey summary states that more than half of the world’s languages still do not have a completed Bible translation (57%).  Believe it or not, three in 10 active first languages do not have even a translation begun in that language (31%). An additional one-quarter have only segments of Scripture completed, with more portions in the translation process (26%).

But, the good news is that there are worldwide efforts to translate the Bible into native languages. There are certainly challenges.  Jack Popjes, former CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators in Canada, wrote in a blog post about some of those:

One is that some of these translation programs are staffed by expatriate linguist/translators working together with nationals who have little or no education, speak only their own language and have no idea what the Bible is about.

Another is that some translators work in languages which have never been written, and others work in communities that have a long tradition of literacy in their own language.

Some translators work in isolated valleys, or distant islands, or in inhospitable regions of the world where there are no physical amenities like clean water, electric power, easy communications or transportation. Others work in or near cities where all these services are taken for granted.

Some translators work in areas of the world where the Bible is appreciated and respected, while others work in countries dominated by non-Christian world religions with adherents that are strongly antagonistic to any religion other than their own.

Also, there are some translators who work right in their co-translators’ community, while others work with co-translators who are living outside their country.  Some work together face-to-face, other collaborate via e-mail and Skype.

You could say that progress has been made, but there is still plenty of ground to cover in the area of Bible translation, of spreading God's Word around the world.   From this Barna survey and the comments on Bible translation from Jack Popjes, here are some takeaways:

The Bible is still seen as an important book, but it has to be used.  98% believe that everyone should have access to it, and 9-in-10 Americans own one.  And, people want to read it more.  But, Bible ownership does not translate to Bible obedience.  Bible study doesn't necessarily mean that God's Word is hidden in our hearts.  I regard our approach to the Bible like a muscle - if we use it, it will build up and grow stronger.  If we don't, well, it's still there, but does not function to nearly its capacity.  So, we can revere the Bible, but if it's not used properly, it will not perform its maximum purpose - to help us grow in Christ.

Many still need to hear God's Word.  Again, there is plenty of emphasis on Bible translation, and while modern technology can help in the spread of God's Word, in a number of cases, where there is no written language, translators have to go in and actually learn the language orally before teaching the Bible.  It's a tedious process, for sure.  But, it shows that God is using dedicated individuals to get His Word into the hearts of people who need to come to know Him.  He wants to get His Word into our hearts, so that can know Him better and grow in Him.

Look to the Skies

Jesus communicated to His disciples about the signs of the end times, using the example of a fig tree. In Matthew 24, He said:
32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors!

God goes to great lengths to communicate His truth to us.  He has given us His Word, spoken through the prophets and devoted disciples who were faithful to follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit.  The cross and the resurrection communicate powerfully to us that God loves us and desires for us to come into a relationship with Himself through His Son. And, as Jesus taught in Matthew 24, there will be signs of the end times.  He wants us to be people of discernment, who are dedicated to looking for and listening for what He wants to get across to us.

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In what is known as the Olivet Discourse, Jesus shared about the signs of the end times, in response to His disciples. We read in Matthew 24 that He said:
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

He also pointed to signs in the heavens:  the moon being darkened and the stars falling from the sky...

A Norwegian biology teacher named Karstein Erstad was skiing in the mountains outside the coastal city of Bergran when he made an odd discovery. Apparently, there were earthworms that had fallen from the sky - according to a UPI.com story, Erstad first thought they crawled atop the snow from the ground beneath, but then realized the snow was too deep.

He's quoted as saying: "When I found them on the snow they seemed to be dead, but when I put them in my hand I found that they were alive," adding, "In many places, the snow thickness was between half a meter and a meter (1 1/2 feet to 3 feet) and I think they would have problems crawling through the cold snow."

The UPI story states that since the incident, reports have come in from other areas of the country as far away as the Swedish border. Experts suggest the worms may have been lifted into the air by a weather system and blown miles from their original location.

Erstad took a sample to Trond Haraldsen, an environmental expert at the Bioforsk research institute in Norway. He told the Bergens Tidende that, "This is a phenomenon we know from the literature, but it is the first time in my time as a scientist that I have got the message that it has happened on the snow."

Well, I'm not going to suggest that the seemingly falling earthworms are any sign of a Biblically-related apocalypse.  But, the Bible has numerous references to signs in the skies, and things falling from the sky.  Think about what was coming out of the sky during the time of the plagues - a clear sign of God's judgment on Egypt.   In the book of Revelation, there is the promise of locusts, hail, and other instances of tribulation on the earth.

Jesus talked about reading the signs that pointed to the time of the end.  In Matthew 16, we read:

1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red';
3 and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

On the day of Pentecost, after the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, Peter quoted from the prophet Joel in Acts chapter 2, when God said:
19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

A couple of takeaways for us today:

God will use a variety of means to communicate His truth.  And, the Scriptures are clear that there will be signs in and signs from the skies to warn His people of His upcoming judgment and to actually execute that judgment.   We can be thankful that God is not hiding from us what He will do - He is faithful to keep His promises, that we find in His Word.  That can apply to the macro level, with how He deals with the world, and on our micro, personal level; He will operate in a manner that is consistent with His nature, which we read about in the Scriptures.

And, I am thankful that we serve a God of mercy, but the Bible is clear that He is also a God of wrath, who will punish evil.   For the person without Christ, there is a coming judgment and the promise of eternity separated from God.  That can build a sense of urgency within us to see people come into a saving knowledge of Jesus.  There are disturbing signs that we see, prophecy of end times is being fulfilled, and God is sending His message to men and women around the world to repent and to surrender their lives to Christ.

Co-Laborers Together

In the body of Christ, walking with Him and doing the work of the Lord, God has orchestrated special relationships and can give us a sense that we are not alone in our Christian life. In 1st Corinthians 3, we read:
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

God has a special purpose for each of us, and as we seek to walk more closely with Jesus and fulfill His call, He brings people into our lives - people to stand with us, people who will minister to us and strengthen us, and people to whom we will minister.  The ministry of Jesus is to people - people who needed - and need - a Savior.  People who need to be restored to Himself and perhaps to one another. People who need to know the love of God.  We can be conduits of that love to each other and to a world that desperately needs to know our Lord.

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In Romans 16, Paul lists a number of people with whom he had interfaced in His ministry - many of them had provided strength for him and were faithful in the work of the Lord.  He was certainly not alone in his work; God had provided him with co-laborers.  He sums the chapter up with these verses:
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith--
27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

The numbers "3" and "16" will always be associated with a certain former Heisman trophy winner from Florida.  For several reasons.  He used to implant the Scripture reference "John 3:16" on his eyeblack.  He passed for 316 yards in an NFL playoff game during his stint with the Denver Broncos. And, just an aside - he was in Montgomery on 3/16, March 16, of 2012.   This year, on March 16, he was trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles for a return to the NFL.

You see, Tim Tebow loves Jesus.  And, he has demonstrated the love of Christ in numerous, visible ways throughout his life, including his involvement in building a hospital in the Philippines through his foundation.   He also is regarded for his media work, and has been serving as a co-host on the SEC Network and a correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America.  

He loves football, and even when hired by the SEC Network, he restated his desire to be an NFL quarterback - you have to respect his determination, but I'm sure there are experts who say he should give up the quest.  His tryout with the Eagles was widely panned.  Well, guess what, Tebow has a contract.  With Philadelphia.  But wait, didn't the Eagles just acquire Tebow's former Heisman rival Sam Bradford?  And, there's Tim's former Jets teammate Mark Sanchez.  And former USC QB Matt Barkley.  Could head coach Chip Kelly be in the mix for his former Oregon recruit Marcus Mariota? Talk about a quarterback glut.

What really struck me was that Tebow was heading into a locker room where Bradford and Barkley are professing, visible Christians.  And, then I came across a piece about Mark Sanchez.  Seems there has been a transformation in his life - a piece on the MMQB.com website related that his longtime trainer carried out an intervention in the struggling quarterback's life to try to give him some direction.  And, this morsel is great:

But there is also a serious side to Sanchez, who credits a renewed reliance on his spirituality for giving him perspective and direction. He began attending services led by Miles McPherson, a former NFL player who is now the pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego. Sanchez and his mother spoke daily about faith. In March, at the suggestion of former Jets teammate D’Brickashaw Ferguson, he attended the Pro Athletes Outreach conference for Christian athletes.

“When you lose what you love, you see what this whole thing is really about,” Sanchez says. “There’s more to life than football. And it’s hard to see that when you’re playing and things aren’t going right and you are trying so hard and preparing so hard, and it just doesn’t work. That’s a tough feeling. People ask, ‘What’s it like getting back?’ It was such a long road, but it was a ton of rehab, a ton of working out, a ton of family time, and a ton of prayer.”

This is from the I Am Second website about Mr. Bradford:

“The minute you start to think that you’re first and your plans matter more than God`s is the minute your life starts to go the wrong way.” Oklahoma University’s starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, gets nervous every time he hits the field, always recanting plans and plays in his head, but never forgetting that he works with a team and that God is always with him.

This is from the I Am Second website, about Mr. Barkley:

For now, however, the junior at the University of Southern California has a platform in which the spotlight is shining on his every move, including his faith in Christ. A faith that has been keeping him at the school in the wake of a coaching change, NCAA sanctions against the school, and the temptations of the NFL. A growing faith that is making a difference at his school and in the lives of others.

I don't know what the significance of having 4 quarterbacks with a spiritual component in the locker room in the offseason at Philadelphia might be.  But, it's an intriguing possibility.  Wouldn't it be great to hear some of the conversation when or if those 4 get together?

I will say this, regarding some takeaways from this story:

Tim Tebow is the type of individual who elevates the people around him, and his faith is a driving force for that, I believe.  He's the kind of guy who can bring character and a faith perspective into a situation.  Well, imagine Tebow times 4.   There's some potential here.  Let's think for ourselves: perhaps you can think of a time, at just the right time, when God has brought the right person or persons into your life for a unique season.  Maybe you have that person or people in your life right now - to inspire you, to hold you accountable, to provide perspective, and to be a Christian influence for you.

God is orchestrating His plan for us, and that plan will involve people.  We are not placed on an island to fend for ourselves; no, we are placed in a world that needs to see Christ, and He wants to draw us into a deeper relationship with Himself.   Not only are we called to love Him with all our hearts, but to love others, as well.  God's purpose for us involves people - we're not called to keep our faith to ourselves!

Finally, there will no doubt be a quarterback competition on the Eagles this year.  Bradford attempting to come back from injury, Barkley trying to recapture the magic from his days at Southern Cal, Sanchez trying to rehabilitate what has been a shaky career, and Tebow trying to fulfill his NFL dream.  All of them with something to prove; determination is an important component.  As we participate with God in His restorative process, it's important that we want to change, that we are willing to do what it takes to see the hand of God expressed through our lives.

Shoring Up the Foundations

Regardless of our gender, we recognize that we have been created in the image of God - every life has value, and it's important that we possess that attitude. Genesis 1 says:
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

The life of every human being has value, and God has gifted each person with great potential to reflect His glory.  If we regard each person in that way, it will give us the motivation to protect life, we will truly be able to love others with the love of Christ, and follow the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.  If we regard each person, male or female, as possessing value, it can enhance our desire to serve them and to humble ourselves before them.  Because we believe in Christ, He has given us the capacity for servanthood, and what a great message that communicates in our culture.

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In the body of Christ, we recognize that God does not show partiality or play favorites - we are all called by His name, regardless of gender, race, and background. Here are some words from Galatians 3:
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There have been numerous reports of limitations of religious freedom among members of our Armed Forces, who are charged with defending our nation and upholding our Constitution.  Speaking of that Constitiution, our second President, John Adams, said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people."

According to the John Adams Center website,  

As Adams and the others saw it, there was a connection between religion, rightly understood, and the ideas of 1776. Adams had no qualms about signing the Declaration, or defending it on the floor of Congress because he agreed that we are “endowed by our Creator” with certain rights. Absent a Creator who was the Author of nature, and who made man in His image, Adams wondered, what could justify the proposition that all men are created equal?

So, isn't it odd that the U.S. Department of Defense released a training course that took the Constitution, the Declaration, and the Bible to task for contributing to "sexism"?  The Christian Examiner reports that:

Under "Historical Influences" that "allow sexism to continue," the DoD E-Learning course names the Bible as containing quotes that "can be misinterpreted as having a sexist influence when brought out of context and not fully understood"; cites the U.S. Constitution for originally including only "white men; slaves and women were not included until later in history"; and, highlights the Declaration of Independence for declaring in 1776 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...."

What?  How?  The Christian Examiner story points out that in the course, developed by the Defense Equal Management Institute, no specific examples are given to document how these founding documents actually contributed to sexism in America, and there is no context for the excerpts that are provided, leaving the participant to accept on face value the negative statements about each as truths. And there is no mention is made about how these documents combat sexism through the principles they contain.

However, the article says that a military spokesperson told The Daily Caller that the content is provided to stimulate conversation about "how these historical documents have been included in discussions about the topic of sexism."

Some good news, according to the Examiner: A note on the DEOMI listing for Course 320 on Sexism, which is labeled as open to the public, states "This course is currently offline and under revision." Also, two other potentially controversial courses, on Racism and Prejudice & Discrimination, both also open to the public, likewise are not available at this time.

Family Research Council is encourage people to sign an online petition, encouraging the Secretary of Defense to get control of the DEOMI.  The petition states:

Although this particular curriculum was removed and placed "under revision," the continued hostility shown toward religion and our founding documents is inconsistent with the mission and mindset of our service members. Our armed forces are asking young men and women to put their lives on the line for our Constitution, yet teaches them through DEOMI to denigrate that same Constitution.

This is yet another example of faith being denigrated in an American institution.  And, while it shows a lack of understanding of Biblical principles and our founding documents, it is not a surprise in this revisional age in which we find ourselves.  Certainly, we have people in authority who do not recognize the role of faith in the foundation of America, and are attempting to strip the expression of faith from the fabric of our nation.  Unfortunately, if you strip out the faith element, the foundation will crumble, and I fear we are seeing that today.

This brings to mind three principles for us to ponder:

It is incorrect to think that that Bible somehow promotes a "sexist" view of gender roles and relationships.   Jesus was kind, compassion, and respectful toward women.  The Bible paints an accurate, uplifting picture of women in the marriage relationship.  And, there are defined roles for women in spiritual leadership which values their gifts and abilities.   As the DoD course says, Biblical references taken out of context can be misinterpreted, and that is true, but it seems that the course begins with a presumption of "sexism."   Have there been deficiencies in the way that women and minorities were regarded?  Yes, and I believe that the Constitutional system and the sense of morality upon which this nation was based were critical components in the correction of inequalities.

It is impossible to separate Biblical principles from the history of our nation.  I think this is key. If we deny the Judeo-Christian ideals that were part of our founding as a nation, if we buy in to the increasing secularization of our culture, that leads to people choosing for themselves what principles they want to follow and which ones to which they do not want to adhere.   If you leave behind the moral compass, a sense of morality rooted in the Scriptures, people will do what is right in their own minds.  The Constitution was connected to morality, the Declaration referred to the Creator, who granted rights, and the overriding authority was the Holy Scriptures.  Take out the authority, and the consequence is chaos.

It is imperative that we realize the seriousness of our situation and pray for our leaders in authority.  Can we still reclaim the Biblical foundation of our nation?  Are we too far gone?  I don't believe so, but there are some sobering indicators that we see.  But, there are still Christian ideals that are practiced in our land - many claim to be Christians, to believe in God, and to read the Bible.  So, there is hope because God's people, male and female, are still here.  Now, recognizing the critical nature of the problems we face, including a declining morality, we can follow the instruction of the Scriptures and pray for those in authority.  I would also say to pray for the release of God's Spirit to do His work through you and me and through the body of Christ, that the evidence of God's hand would be seen.

Responding in the Spirit

We can be confident in the Lord and trust Him to express His life and love through us as we yielded to Him. That's a theme we find in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So, as containers and reflectors of the light of Christ, we trust Him to shine through us.   He has given us His Spirit, we have the very nature of Jesus living in us, and that has enormous implications for the way that we respond to people and events that do not follow the principles of Scripture.  Following His direction, there will be a time to speak truth, but we have to be careful that we do not react in the flesh in a spirit of confrontation and retaliation; rather, we respond in the Spirit, with an attitude of love and devotion to Christ.  By so doing, we get ourselves out of the way and release the power of God into our situations.

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I believe that God is pleased as His people come together, with a common purpose of exalting Him and lifting up the name of Jesus. Romans 15 gives some encouragement:
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

The day was January 6, 1989.  Christian leaders in Montgomery wanted to respond to a film that was scheduled to be shown in a local theater, and so a "Stand Up for Jesus" rally was held at Lee High School.  I found a press clipping from The Tuscaloosa News from that day - it stated information about the rally and that it was not intended to be a protest of the movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ," but an opportunity to praise Jesus Christ in a positive way.  The brief article quoted then-senior pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cortez Cooper, Jr.   The movie was set to premiere on January 20 and run for two weeks.

When I read about an event that took place in Memphis just under two weeks ago, it brought back memories of that Montgomery response.  You see, the city of Memphis was the site of a 4-day convention for the group American Atheists.  While the atheists were doing whatever one does at such a gathering, Christians assembled at the local baseball stadium,  AutoZone Park for a unique event called, "Memphis Exalts Jesus."  ChristianNews.net had a report on that event, and traced the history of it:

The idea for the event came about as two men who did not know each other began to pray and ask God what they should do in response to the atheist convention. Through mutual friends, both of them came to meet each other and realized that they had similar ideas. Others soon joined in to help organize the event, which became known as “Memphis Exalts Jesus.”

“We believe that though our nation’s foundations have eroded, the word of God is being recast, and the Lord is being rejected and replaced by paganism and evil doing—there still can be one last great awakening—one that restores the Lord to His rightful place and sweeps multitudes into the kingdom of God,” one organizer told reports.

The article says that organizer Jan Winterburn told Charisma News, “There has never been an event like it in the city,” adding, “It was incredible. We all entered into to worship and prayer—whether the choirs or speakers were African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or born again Jews.”

It was reported that approximately 4,000 Christians gathered at the stadium.

The ChristianNews.net article says that a spokeswoman for American Atheists explained to reporters that the organization makes the city selection based on locations that the group considers to be under “religious suppression.” The piece reports that President David Silverman commented to MyFox Memphis: “The idea is that people assume that everybody in Memphis is a Christian. But, there are a lot of atheists here and these atheists feel oppressed by the Christian majority."

So, what was on the agenda for this atheist convention? Well, speakers at the event included Lucien Greaves of the New York-based Satanic Temple and Muslim critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and a showing of the film “God’s Not Dead” was presented with live mockery from comedians Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff.  Atheist “activist training” sessions were held as well, with a number of workshops for attendees.

The invitation letter to the "Memphis Exalts Jesus" event stated, "Our hope and deep desire is that there will be a great move of the Holy Spirit that utterly transforms the Church and our community and brings many souls to the Lord Jesus."

By the way, next week in Memphis, Bryan Loritts has organized another Kainos conference, which features a world-class lineup of speakers to discuss multi-ethnic ministry.   The website says that, "kainos is from the Greek word for new, a word Paul uses to describe the coming together of Jews and Gentiles to form the multi-ethnic church."  The site states that: "Our nation is trending towards diversity. The church has no option but to maintain the same trajectory, not so much forward, but backward to her first century roots where the normal was ethnic diversity. A failure to do so will put us perilously close to being irrelevant to the changing face of our society."

So, in Memphis, God is working.  We are privileged to have Bellevue Baptist Church and Pastor Steve Gaines in our programming lineup on Sunday mornings at 10, preceded by Bridge for Life with Bryan Loritts at 9:30.

And, thousands of believers showed their devotion to lifting up Jesus and making a spiritual statement for their community on the Saturday before Easter.

Three words to take with you today:

First of all, unity.  The "Memphis Exalts Jesus" event was a marvelous display of unity, with God's people, regardless of spiritual background gathered to pray and worship Jesus.  As those who do not claim to know God assembled at a local hotel, there was a counter-activity in the spirit realm, enhanced by the unity of God's people.  Next week in Memphis, the Kainos event will attempt to encourage people to overcome the barriers that separate members of the body of Christ and look for ways to bring believers together across ethnic lines.

Another word is response.  The believers who organized the Christian event, much like the event in Montgomery over 25 years ago, were dedicated to lifting up the name of the Lord, not in protest, but in praise.  So often, we want to respond in the flesh and resort to confrontation or retaliation, when God is calling us to use our spiritual resources and release His power in response to occurrences in our communities that are contrary to His Word and His ways.

Finally, there's acknowledgement.  It's important that when we see God work, that we call attention to what He has done, and seek Him for how He wants us to proceed.  When we are involved in a great move of the Lord or a significant spiritual event (such as the one on Easter weekend in Memphis), that can be a catalyst for activity in our own lives, whether it be spiritual growth, or to do more in our churches and communities.  In all things, we can seek to exalt Christ and make His name known.

Decline in Religion: Half-Full or Half-Empty?

When confronted by the officials in Acts chapter 5, Peter and his colleagues responded in this way:
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

We are called to live a life of obedience to the Lord - abiding in Him, according to John 15. Connected to our Savior and reliant on the Spirit of God to practice what we say we believe.  If we are walking in the authentic Christian life, I believe that can make a strong statement to the people with whom we interact.  As we speak truth and radiate the nature of Christ, walking in the love of the Lord, we can truly testify to what God can do.

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In a culture where Biblical truth is not reflected to the degree that we would like to see, we can be challenged to live with a sense of passionate obedience to the direction of Scripture. Here are some words from 1st John 2:
4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Are we seeing a decline in the practice of religion in America?  Tobin Grant, who studies trends in religion for the Religion News Service website says that we are in the midst of what he calls a "Great Decline" in religiosity in our nation.  And, today, in response, we can choose to see the glass half-empty or half-full regarding these statistics.

First of all, I found an article he wrote from December about the rise and fall in American faith practice over the past few decades.  He said that America in the 40's was about as religious as we are today.  He writes:

The war had put a halt on many of the things that increase religiosity, particularly marriage and procreation. Churches, just like other organizations, were slowed by drain on resources and volunteers during the war. The post-war years turned this around. The economy improved. The baby boom ensued. And religion grew.

The 1950s were also a time when America began to see itself as a Christian nation in a cold war with atheistic communism. President Eisenhower joined a church after being elected, becoming the first president to be baptized while in office. In 1954, the phrase “under God” was added to the pledge of allegiance to signify the religious stance of the country.

He said that in the '50's, "Magazines including Life and McCall’s featured issues on religion and a so-called religious revival. Some even labeled it the 'Third Great Awakening.' Sociologists noted the rise in religiosity..."

As we would suspect, religiosity declined in the 60's, in which religious institutions were being questioned.  That decline continued until the end of the 70's, then leveled off.   But, as Grant points out, over the last 15 years there has been another decline in religion - sharper than the one in the '60's and '70's.  He says that church attendance and prayer is less frequent, the number of people with no religion is growing, and there are not as many people who say that religion is an important part of their lives.  But this decline, which he describes as a "Great Decline, " has not been as sharp as the rise in the '50's.

In a more recent article for RNS from early this month, Tobin Grant quotes the latest General Social Survey, or GSS, which shows that since 2012, there are 7.5 million Americans who are no longer active in religion.   He points out three measures that correlate with the statistics regarding the percentage of Americans who left religion increased between 2012 and 2014, reaching its highest level in decades.

Those measures:

When asked for their religious preference, 21% of those surveyed said "none."

Also, 34% of Americans never attend a worship service, other than weddings and other ceremonies. This is a 3.4 point increase from just a few years earlier.

He also relates that the percentage who never pray is also up slightly. Nearly one-in-six Americans never prays.

So, what three words can we take away?

Observation.  While this news may on the surface be discouraging, we can take this diagnosis and consider our response.  Interestingly enough, in the 1940's, there was a decline in religion, but there were not nearly as many ways to communicate religious material or trends in mass media.  When mass media did proliferate in the '50's, there were positive message that were being sent.  Such is not the case today - with the opportunity to transmit and receive material through the Internet, we can be exposed to and influenced by information that contradicts our Christian worldview.  There are a variety of religious ideas that are circulating around the Internet, so it's not surprising that some of these are taking hold.

Optimism.  But, there is cause for hope.  Well, for one thing, we can use the same communication tools to share God's truth.  And, when we see that people are practicing faith less and praying less, we can view that information as a large potential group of people to come to know our Savior.  If people are being repelled by religion, perhaps they can be won by love - the love of God's people and the message of truth.

Obedience.  Finally, we can impact our society by being people who live our lives with authenticity and conviction, obedient to what our Savior has taught us and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus calls us to go - so we respond by sharing our faith.  Jesus calls us to love - so we love with His capacity.  Jesus calls us to walk in His steps - so we obey!  I think a convicted faith can be a contagious faith.  Jesus reserved some of His harshest criticism for the hypocritical religious leaders. That can challenge us to live what we believe and walk with radical obedience to His truth.

Stepping Through Open Doors

The apostle Paul wrote about doors that had been opened to Him to preach the gospel, and we can be attuned to God's Spirit as He provides opportunities to minister, to be a light for the Lord. In 1st Corinthians 16, we read:
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

You get a sense of the orchestration of God's plan in the growth of the early church - Paul refers here to a "great and effective door."  He also mentioned the work of Timothy, who was a close colleague of Paul.  Through the work of dedicated individuals, God spread His message and established the church.

Today, God is continuing to use willing servants to minister His love and truth, to follow the Great Commission and share the message of the gospel.  And, there are pockets of unprecedented spiritual activity, as willing participants are stepping boldly through open doors and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit as He changes lives.

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It is important that we are sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, as He opens doors in order to minister the love and truth of Christ. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 2:
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
There are regular developments in the ongoing story of the alteration of the relationship between the United States and Cuba.  It was reported a few months ago that President Obama announced his desire for a more normal relationship with Cuba. This past weekend, the President met with Raul Castro, the brother of long-time Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Now comes the announcement yesterday that, according to Fox News,

President Obama intends to remove Cuba from a list of countries that sponsor terrorism, the White House said Tuesday.

The president took the formal step of submitting to Congress the requisite report and certifications indicating the administration’s intent to rescind Cuba’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation.

The Republican-controlled Congress has 45 days to vote on supporting or blocking the decision to remove Cuba from the list.

The year was 1968.  The family of a pastor serving a 12-year sentence as a political prisoner in Cuba relocated to my hometown, sponsored by the church in which I grew up.  One of the sons went to my high school and graduated the same year I did.

Just 3 years ago, that young man, Othoniel Valdes, returned to Cuba for the first time.  Othoniel, or Otto, is a church planter with the Tampa Bay Baptist Association.  According to a story on the Florida Baptist Witness website, he travelled to Cuba with a team of Floridians to train pastors and lay leaders in the western part of the nation, the first time a LifeWay Christian Resources team had offered training in Havana. The report says that he was pleased to find Baptist work in Cuba thriving, saying, “Baptist churches are very strong, aggressive and evangelistic. It was impressive."

I found an old Baptist Press article which had been scanned online from 1977.  Otto's father, Benjamin, was quoted as saying:

"Castro is indifferent to the church," Valdez insisted , "If the church doesn't hurt his interest he won't hurt the church. If the church reaches Christ, Castro will not hurt the church." The obligation of the church is not political, Valdez contends, "but to preach the gospel."

The President of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, traveled to Cuba recently.  He reports rapid church growth.  From a story on the Baptist Press website, we can read:

I believe spiritual awakening is when the Lord's presence and power comes upon a section, region, or even an entire country, resulting in an unusual number of people coming to Christ, the church growing, and churches being planted exponentially. Historically, there are even times when the culture is affected dramatically.

Let me tell you the story of what God has done and is doing in Cuba today. In 1960, there were 210 Cuban Baptist churches. In 1990, there were 238 churches. There was a growth of 28 churches in 30 years.

THEN GOD came in power, resulting in a supernatural demonstration of His glory through His church. What happened?

From 1990 through 1993, Cuban Baptists planted 28 churches. In three years, they were able to do what had previously taken 30 years.

In 1992, Cuban Baptists implored a Cuban government official for permission to build new churches to accommodate the growing crowds flooding the churches. The government official asked them, "What is it with you Baptists and your buildings? Can't you pray in your houses?" So, they did. God used this to explode the work of the Gospel across Cuba.

Now, Floyd reports, there are over 8,700 Baptist churches in Cuba - some are convention-recognized churches, others are missions churches, and the overwhelming majority are house churches.

Floyd refers to Kurt Urbanek's book, Cuba's Great Awakening.  In a WORLD article by J.C. Derrick, Urbanek, who is with the SBC's International Mission Board, is quoted as saying that during the last 24 years, the Cuban population has gone from .5 percent evangelical to more than 10 percent evangelical.  Derrick reports that there are more than 19,000 churches operated by Baptists and Assemblies of God, who quotes Urbanek: "Having been a missionary in Cuba for 18 years, I’ve never seen any place in the world where God is moving like Cuba."  And, it's not merely limited to missions efforts by Baptists or Assemblies members...various ministry organizations are involved in that nation.

Now Derrick reports that some evangelicals had expressed concern that the changes in relations "could squelch Cuba's church-planting movement, which is surpassed only by China and two different movements in India." He related, "The worry I heard from several missions leaders is that what happened in Romania or the former Soviet Union could repeat in Cuba—meaning the West shows up in all its glory and 'destroys the church.'"

But Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, is hopeful, saying, "I pray this decision will serve as a catalytic step in unleashing the followers of Jesus to be the church both inside and outside of the island nation.”

There are three words to take away from these reports today:

First of all, I want us think about the word, fervent.  A report on the International Mission Board website says:

Baptists in Cuba are known for their heartfelt worship, deep knowledge of Scripture and zeal for evangelism. But most of all, they’re known as “a people on their knees," says an IMB missionary who has worked closely with them.

”Prayer is fundamental,” says Cuban Baptist leader Daniel González, pastor of Santo Suarez Baptist Church (formerly called "McCall Baptist Church") in Havana. “It’s the beginning, the middle and the end.”

Prayer - "the beginning, the middle, and the end."  And, certainly we can see the results - and not limited to Baptist or Assemblies of God believers.  We can examine our own prayer lives and see if we have a sense of fervency, of unbridled dedication, to see God move.

Another word is opened.  Thinking about what the elder Pastor Valdes(z) said, coupled with what the Baptist leaders were told when they wanted to build churches, there was certainly an opportunity. The house churches apparently became a central focus of the growth.  Believers, with open hearts, continued to seize opportunities and walk through open doors to plant churches and win people to Christ.

Final word today: awakened.  So many people talk about awakening today.  I think we recognize that people need to hear the gospel.  And, the decline of our culture has become so marked that God's people need to sense the trouble that we are in and pray for the power and presence of God to be manifested.  We can pray, we can become sensitive to the Holy Spirit's direction, and we can have a heart to see God lifted up in unprecedented ways as we devote ourselves to Him.

Work Hard. Trust God.

A passage from Proverbs 16 presents a picture of a life submitted to the Lord:
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

God is calling us to a life of surrender - in every area of life.  That's the challenge, that's the goal, and it's important that we have an attitude of humility and submission to Christ.  If our hearts are lined up with the heart of God, that will motivate us to work hard, not in our own strength, not reliant on human effort for a temporary human outcome, but in the strength that He gives, bearing eternal fruit for His glory.  We are one with Him, and He desires for us to move in Him and for His Spirit to move in us.

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We are called, as believers in Christ, to have an attitude to pursue excellence in whatever we do.  I believe that because we want to glorify Him, we will be motivated to do our best. Colossians 3 says:
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

The announcement was made recently that the NFL has named its first female official.  It's Sarah Thomas, who is a 19-year veteran of officiating who has spent 8 years doing Conference USA games, according to a piece on the NFL.com website.

In an interview, she is quoted as saying, "Knowing that the journey an official goes through...pee-wee, high school, if you're fortunate enough to even go to the junior college level, small college, Division I, then of course the National Football League. But you never dream that this would really come true."  She was also the first female official to work a major collegiate bowl game, and had recently done some minicamp practices.

A story on the NBC Sports website quotes Thomas: “I’m here because of years and years of preparation and hard work,” adding “The speed will be an adjustment but the developmental program that we’ve been involved in is a tremendous training ground for officials. I’m honored that I had two years in that program and hopefully that will transition me to the National Football League.”

But, there's a spiritual side to this former athlete from Pascagoula, Mississippi, who played basketball at the University of Mobile and was an All-American Scholar Athlete.  Here's an excerpt from a story appearing on the Mississippi Christian Living website last year, referencing her being the first female official in a major collegiate game and major bowl game:

But none of these firsts would have ever happened without a solid foundation based on Jesus Christ, set by her parents, Donna and Spencer Bailey, in their home and at Arlington Baptist Church in Pascagoula.

“My parents instilled Christian values and principles [sic] to us (she and her brothers Lee and Scott) at an early age, and we attended church regularly and were always involved there,” Thomas said. “Church was very important to us and having Christ in my life has been important in all areas, including being an official. I accepted Christ at age 12 and was baptized by pastor Howard Taylor. I watched how my mother and father handled daily situations over the years, and also my grandfather (J.E. Upton) gave me guidance and told me to give God credit for all He has given me. My Aunt Patsy (Tolleson of Madison) has also been a great inspiration for me and a wonderful listener.”

She says, “I wouldn’t have been able to get to this point without a strong faith," adding, "I have a sense of peace about me. I pray that God will give me a clear mind to do a good job as an official. I also pray God will protect my family while I am gone officiating out of town. God has given me humility, patience and the ability to be diplomatic and to control what I can control and not worry about things I can’t control.”

Sarah is married with 3 children and the family resides in Brandon, Mississippi.

Three words for us today as we ponder this path that the NFL's first female official has taken:

Preparation.  The success of Sarah Thomas in the officiating field did not occur overnight.  She worked on a variety of levels, including 8 years in a major collegiate conference.  She was part of the developmental program for the NFL for 2 years.  She was honing her craft and involved in following a methodical path, and doors opened for her as she continued to be faithful to it.  It's the same for us - in an age of instant gratification, a step-by-step application, being faithful at one level, learning, growing, moving to the next - that is the pathway to excellence.  If we are not faithful to do our best, it short-circuits our degree of success in that chosen pursuit.

A companion word would be perseverance.  How we need that these days - we have to guard against trying to take the shortcut to our goal.  We also have to guard against discouragement when the success we seek does not occur when we think it should.  As believers in Christ, we devote ourselves to trusting God - as Sarah Thomas says, we can control what we control and not worry about what we can't.  Unfortunately, we can get caught up in what we can't control, try to take matters into our own hands, and end up coming up short of where God wants to take us.  So, we pace ourselves under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

A final word for today is prayer.  Sarah says that she prays for a clear mind to do a good job.  This can be a great challenge for us as we seek to do good work for the Kingdom.  We honor God when we work hard and do our best, but the overriding attitude should be that we are seeking to glorify Him and allowing Him to work through us to produce His desired fruit.  So, we can pray that we would move in perfect harmony with the Father, that He would give us the ability and direction to do our jobs well, whatever we set our hearts and hands to do.