Do You Wanna Be Like...?

We are called to follow the example of Jesus, in the manner in which he walked in His earthly ministry.  He gave His life, so that we might be raised up in Him, and through that resurrection
power, we can behave in a manner that is consistent with His character. 1st John 2 says:
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.

The Bible teaches us about what pleases God, and in our flesh, our own human strength, we cannot emulate the teachings of Jesus.  But, in the power of His Spirit, as we allow the life of Christ to flow through us, we can be effective in living out His truth.  Every day, we can make the decision to die to self and live unto Christ or to exalt self, which is a path contrary to His teachings.  We have the capability, and we can trust God to cultivate in us a desire to follow Him.

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Paul was confident in his walk with the Lord, and encouraged his readers to follow His example. 1st Corinthians 11 says:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

Are you like Bill?  Do you even want to be?

Yes, there is a relatively new Facebook meme that features a simple stick figure.  It started out as "Be Like Bill," but now you can customize it for yourself.

According to the BBC, the original post said: "Bill is on the internet.  Bill sees something that offends him. Bill moves on. Bill is smart. Be like Bill."

The British report says that:

"Be like Bill" urges the meme that is clogging up Facebook timelines with tongue-in-cheek advice about the correct way to behave online or how to handle other questions of modern etiquette.

Bill is far too polite to tell you straight out not to do something. Instead he leads by example. But the message is clear and often very funny.

The images first started appearing online late last year, but have surged in popularity in January, spurred on by a dedicated Facebook page simply called "Be like Bill" - which now boasts more than 1.25 million likes.

BBC Trending talked to the man behind the page, Eugeniu Croitoru, a Moldovan who lives in Milan and writes the cartoons with colleague Debabrata Nath, if he was anything like Bill. He is quoted as saying: "No, Bill is much better than me." He said: "The idea is very simple. 'Bill' can be anyone who is smart and has common sense and doesn't do annoying things. You'll also notice Bill can be someone who makes fun of himself and jokes about others too occasionally."

I wasn't impressed with the "Be Like Bill" Facebook page - the first post I saw a few days ago contained profanity.  The custom generator liked to from the TIME Magazine website featured some off-color stuff, too.  But, if your heart is set on customizing your own "Be Like Bill" meme, I would think that you can find something to your liking.

Now, there are reports that the test through which you can get your own meme may pose some security risks, including the possibility of exposing your computer to malware, which the Snopes website disputes.  It says that outlets who provide detailed online security reporting, "...haven't issued any warnings about 'Be Like Bill' or the popular comic generator. No widespread reports of adverse outcomes have substantiated news affiliate speculation, and the bulk of 'Be Like Bill'-themed reports focused on the general ability for malware to spread through apps, not any reports definitively (or anecdotally) related to that meme specifically."

USA Today reports that the Better Business Bureau is looking into possible privacy violations.

It's no surprise that there are the "Be Like Jesus" memes that have arisen.  For instance, do a search for the hashtag, #BeLikeJesus, on Facebook and you'll find a few.  One says, "This is JESUS.  Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus died on the Cross and rose again.  Jesus is loving, patient, kind, truth, hope, forgiving, almighty.  Jesus is the way.  Be like JESUS."  That's from Living Word Baptist Church in Odessa, TX.

On a simpler note, you have The Love Movement's meme:  "This is Jesus.  Jesus loved you even before you loved Him. Jesus wants you to love God and to love your neighbor.  Jesus forgives you. Be like Jesus."

Then there's the handwritten one that was posted multiple times:  "This is Jesus. Jesus gave up his life for his friends.  Jesus loves you.  Be like Jesus."

So, this self-improvement meme is out there - maybe you've seen it, maybe you've actually generated your own.  It's all in good fun, but it can raise an important question - who do you want to be like? All Christian counterculture references aside, to be an imitator of Jesus is a worthy goal and should be the aim of our lives.  Paul said basically to "be like me," as he followed Christ.  Certainly we cannot pay the penalty for our own sins, much less the sins of humanity, like Jesus did.  But, we are encouraged to follow in His footsteps - 1st John reminds us that Christ is our example.

So, even though WWJD is a thing of the past, and the "Be Like Jesus/Be Like Bill" takeoff is probably not going to make a major splash, the principle is a sound one:  we should make it our aim to allow His life to be expressed through us.  We can read about His character and demeanor, we can study and know His truth, and we can be energized by the power of His Holy Spirit.   We can't do it in our own strength, but in the power of God.

Those Who Labor Among Us

We are all called to be part of the body of Christ, as believers who have accepted Jesus as Savior. And, He desires for each of us to walk in our respective callings.  In the book of Ephesians, chapter 4
we read:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...

If we are operating in the call of God in our lives and walking in obedience, God is glorified through His people.  And, there is a certain Biblical responsibility to help each other walk according to God's ways.  That includes encouragement for those who hold spiritual leadership - they face a unique set of challenges and our prayers and support can help them to stand strong when they encounter spiritual attacks.  As we recognize their calling and affirm it, that can make a difference in their effectiveness in ministry.

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In 1st Thessalonians 5, Paul lays out some elements of how the body of Christ is supposed to work:
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

Longevity.

Having an effective leader at the helm of an organization, including a church or ministry, can bring stability.  And, if a church's pastor has left not only the church, but doing ministry overall, then that can have a devastating effect.

A new LifeWay Research study examined reasons why pastors left the ministry for reasons other than retirement.  Executive Director of LifeWay Research and co-host of Breakpoint This Week on Faith Radio, Ed Stetzer, said in a Christianity Today report on the survey, "Almost half of those who left the pastorate said their church wasn’t doing any of the kinds of things that would help," adding, "Having clear documents, offering a sabbatical rest, and having people help with weighty counseling cases are key things experts tell us ought to be in place."

The survey included 734 former senior pastors who left the pastorate before retirement age in four Protestant denominations: the Assemblies of God, Church of the Nazarene, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and the Southern Baptist Convention. The survey indicates that trouble began early - 48 percent of the former pastors said the search team didn’t accurately describe the church before their arrival.  The article goes on to say:

Their churches were unlikely to have a list of counselors for referrals (27%), clear documentation of the church’s expectations of its pastor (22%), a sabbatical plan for the pastor (12%), a lay counseling ministry (9%), or a support group for the pastor’s family (8%). Almost half say their church had none of these (48%).

56 percent of the pastors said they clashed over changes they proposed, and 54 percent said they experienced a significant personal attack. Almost half - 48% - said their training didn’t prepare them to handle the people side of ministry.

Almost two-thirds, 63%, spent more than a decade as a senior pastor, and eventually moved on, with 52% going to a ministry role other than senior pastor, but 29 percent into non-ministry work. Of those who left the pastorate, 40% said they left because of a change of calling, with 25% citing church conflict. Other issues included: burnout, personal finances, and family issues.

The article also compared this data to a survey in March of last year surveying current pastors.  In some cases, the responses were similar - for instance, an overwhelming number of both current and former pastors mentioned that they felt "on call" 24 hours a day.  Not unexpectedly, the former pastors surveyed said, by a significant margin, that they believed their church placed unrealistic expectations on them and that they felt isolated on the job.  Former pastors said they did not feel as free to say no to unrealistic expectations and a lower percentage felt that the congregation provided genuine encouragement to their families.

I want to share several takeaways with you today as we consider the results here:

One is: Be sensitive to the needs of your pastor.  In one sense, we do put our pastors on a pedestal, in terms of respect and honor; but in another sense, if a church fails to see that they are real, fallible people with real families and real needs, even real trials, there could be negative ramifications to the well-being of the leaders and the health of the congregation.

We can also adopt the methodology to not be swift to engage in conflict.  Church leaders will act out of their own experience and calling and if we expect them to do things in the same manner as their predecessor, likely they will not meet expectations.  Serious prayer, restraint from acting impulsively, and an attitude of helping a pastor succeed can be beneficial.

And, I want to zero in on this one: Recognize that there is a dynamic of spiritual warfare concerning God's servant-leaders.  The enemy wants to take out those who are attempting to help a congregation grow spiritually.  Because of their position, our leaders are vulnerable to spiritual attack - we can pray for them to stay strong and pray for God's protective hand to surround them.  When any of us are bearing fruit for the kingdom, and I pray we all are, we are taking territory from the enemy, and we need to make sure that we are taking the necessary steps to make sure we are covered in prayer and girded in God's strength.

Bad Bet

Romans 13 addresses the relationship of the believer to governments, and reminds us that one of the ways to ensure that we are subject to earthly authorities is to be subject to God's authority:
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Christians should be known not simply as a voting bloc, but a force of God's love in the earth.  We have been entrusted with God's irresistible love, and by demonstrating His character, we can be effective ministers of the truth of God.  God's love, delivered in His way, can result in the change of hearts, and that can lead to a change in the culture.  We should have a healthy relationship with our authorities, and we can strengthen that by behaving in a manner that is consistent with Christian character.

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In these verses from 1st Peter 2, we can see clearly the call of the Church and the Biblical role of
government:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

Next week, the Alabama Legislature goes back into session, and after last year's debacle in trying to get lawmakers to come to an agreement about how to fix the state's revenue woes, exhausting one regular session and two special sessions, our lawmakers will once again consider how to operate government responsibly in Alabama.   Be aware - you will hear talk about using gambling as a fundraising tool for the state.  But, also be aware - it's an immoral, deceptive, and ineffective solution.

Last week, in a Front Room commentary, I highlight that gambling is poor stewardship, it also takes advantage of poor people, and it is poor public policy.  I highlighted John Piper's recent piece highlighting seven reasons that a person should not gamble.

One proposal that you will hear about is to make Alabama, one of the last seven states to not have a state lottery, join the ranks of government-sponsored gambling.  John Stonestreet, in a Breakpoint commentary recently, quoted Jordan Ballor of the Acton Institute, who cited polling data that confirmed lottery critics’ worst fears: He said, “The poorest among us...are contributing much
more to lottery revenues than those with higher incomes.”

In fact, one poll found that “people who played the lottery with an income of less than $20,000 annually spent an average of $46 per month on lottery tickets. That comes out to more than $550 per year, and it is nearly double the amount spent in any other income bracket.”  Those in the $30-50,000 per year bracket had the second-highest average, of $24 per month. Bailor says that state-run lotteries are a “betrayal” of the citizenry. They're highly-regressive taxes on those least able to afford them, and, Ballor adds, though lotteries are usually promoted as a way to pay for education and other human needs, “revenue is often diverted for new purposes through legislative and bureaucratic chicanery.”

And, it is highly probable that some in the Legislature will attempt to expand casino gambling in the state as a revenue-raising measure.  The organization, Stop Predatory Gambling, headed by Les Bernal, who has been a guest on my radio show, offered a blog post about the regressive nature of casino gambling.  The piece cited findings from the Center for Thrift and Generosity at the Institute for American Values, a New York City think tank with a focus on addressing America’s personal debt crisis.  One of the respondents, Cornell University economist Professor Robert Frank said, "Legalized casino gambling encourages people to pin their hopes on games of chance that are stacked against them,” adding, “Those who are determined to gamble will find some way to do so, but why lend government’s imprimatur to predators’ efforts to exploit people who can least afford to bear the inevitable losses?”

The article states: "Research increasingly shows that the costs of casino gambling far outweigh any economic benefits derived from its legalization."

David Frum, in a CNN piece, writes:

How heavily does gambling weigh upon the poor, the elderly, the less educated, and the psychologically vulnerable? It's difficult to answer exactly, because U.S. governments have shirked the job of studying the effects of gambling. Most research on the public health effects of gambling in the United States is funded by the industry itself, with a careful eye to exonerating itself from blame. To obtain independent results, the Institute for American Values was obliged, ironically, to rely on studies funded by governments in Britain and Canada.

But here's what we can conclude, in the words of the Institute:

"[S]tate-sponsored casino gambling ... parallels the separate and unequal life patterns in education, marriage, work, and play that increasingly divide America into haves and have-nots. Those in the upper ranks of the income distribution rarely, if ever, make it a weekly habit to gamble at the local casino. Those in the lower ranks of the income distribution often do. Those in the upper ranks rarely, if ever, contribute a large share of their income to the state's take of casino revenues. Those in the lower ranks do."

Frum also points out: "The industry as a whole targets precisely those who can least afford to lose and earns most of its living from people for whom gambling has become an addiction. The IAV report cites a Canadian study that finds that the 75% of casino customers who play only occasionally provide only 4% of casino revenues. It's the problem gambler who keeps the casino in business."

So, as you hear this talk about relying on an unstable source of income that places a financial burden on those who can least afford it, you can be motivated to pray for our leaders to exercise wisdom that is consistent with a Biblical worldview that reinforces our state's values.  The moral of the story for us today is to keep the story moral.  Our lawmakers simply should not rely on immoral means to fund state government.

But, I certainly wish that we, as the Church, would go on offense.  I would pray for Godly people to be placed in strategic positions to positively influence the operation of government.  I think of Franklin Graham's call for people of faith to consider running for office.  It seems that we are spending way too much time trying to defeat bad legislation, when, if we had the chance, we could be involved in promoting good, solid legislation that enhances our institutions and provides a good moral foundation for our families.

I believe that the Biblical role of government includes reinforcing good and punishing evil - and stronger families, injected with the influence of the Scriptures and the power of the Spirit, can make for a more stable, orderly, moral climate.  So, those in leadership should be devoted to strengthening the family and not passing legislation that could weaken this precious commodity.

A Night to Remember

God has entrusted to us various gifts and talents that we can use to serve Him and will provide
opportunities to serve Him and encourage others. 1st Peter 4 says:
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This provides a wonderful picture to us about how we, who have been recipients of the grace of God and brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ, can demonstrate that grace.  We can recognize the open doors that the Spirit provides in order to bring glory to God and spread His light, and depend on Him to give us creative ideas in order to do effective ministry.  God is at work, and He will use His people to bring honor to His name.

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In 1st Thessalonians 5, we can read verses that can direct and inspire us to be people of encouragement. For instance, there's verse 11:
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

And verses 14 and 15 say:
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

What a guy - is there a celebrity out there who defies description like the former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida, who had a brief, but captivating run in the NFL, but who could not muster any staying power in the League?   His star, I should say, his light, is still shining, and there's another one of those Tim Tebow stories that is out there.  And, oh, by the way, if per chance, Tim Tebow were still with the Patriots, you think he might have found a way to gain two yards to get into the end zone for a 2-point conversion to tie Denver in the closing seconds Sunday?   But I digress...

Last year, according to the People magazine website, during Valentine's Day weekend...

...the Tim Tebow Foundation sponsored 44 simultaneous prom events in 26 states, as well as two locations in Uganda and Kenya. More than 7,000 people with special needs dressed in tuxes and gowns for their first prom experiences. More than 15,000 volunteers made the events happen around the globe. At the end of the night, each of the participants was crowned as a king or queen of the night.

Tebow himself went to two locations, taking photos with people and shining shoes.  There is a picture in that People report that shows Tim kneeling before one of the attendees, shining his shoes - what a great expression of humility!

It's called the Night to Shine, and this year, there will be more proms!   More than 200 proms in 48 states and 8 different countries.  The article reports that guests will arrive on a red carpet, including photographers, who Tim calls "friendly paparazzi." Inside, guests will get corsages and boutonnieres, visit hair and makeup stations, participate in a karaoke room, and dance.  And, the Foundation provides the financial support, decorations, gifts for each participant, and step-by-step guidance.

Tim Tebow is quoted as saying - and this is on the People website: "Every time I think about it, I'm so humbled and amazed by the way God has continued to grow Night to Shine," adding, "I can't wait for February 12th; it's my favorite night of the year."

Erik Dellenback, the executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation, says: "We hope that the movement of Night to Shine not only transforms the way we think about Valentine's Day, but also launches or enhances ongoing special needs ministries within churches around the world...And provides a place where our honored guests can be celebrated and loved throughout the year."

Tebow adds: "As a foundation, we are so passionate about people with special needs, and this event is a great time to tell them how much they are loved by God and by all of us."

The closest proms to the Faith Radio coverage area are Rivertown Community Church in Marianna, Florida and Connect Church in Daphne, Alabama.  Learn more through the Tim Tebow Foundation website.

These are the type of stories that we as a culture really need to celebrate, and Mr. Tebow is no doubt committed in making news in a positive way that is consistent with his Christian faith.  You may remember that before his latest stint in the NFL, Tim was on ABC's Good Morning America as a contributor, and hosted the "Motivate Me Monday" series, spotlighting individuals and their stories of triumph, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

So, our takeaways for today:  We need good stories; we need God stories.  We grow through Bible study and theological elaborations, and we are inspired by hearing how God has worked in a person's life and provide a source for each of us. And, God stories that are told in the culture can certainly bring hope to hearts.

Tim related about his passion for special needs people and uses these proms to send a message about their value and worth.  We can be reminded that even though a person might be categorized as "special needs," that doesn't mean that they are any less valuable than anyone else.   God does not make mistakes - and even though in the natural, one might say that a disabled person has a "design flaw," we must be reminded that all of us have our flaws.  But, that does not make us any less valuable in the eyes of God.  All of us are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Finally, we can celebrate this creative way to do ministry, and rely on our Creator God, the God of creativity to inspire our hearts.  Perhaps hearing how Tim Tebow has used his unique platform can motivate someone else to use his or her gift and talents to bless someone else.   Is there a need in your community?  Undoubtedly!   God may be preparing or directing you to find a way and develop a strategy in partnership with the Holy Spirit to address the needs of people around you.

Decisions and Definitions

As we approach the issues that are confronting our nation and the upcoming selection of leaders, we need incredible wisdom, and we acknowledge the One who is the source of reliable and infallible wisdom.  Proverbs 1 says:
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

God does not want us to be obsessed with politics, but I believe that He does desire for us to speak into the political process.  We don't look to politicians as the answer, but we can depend on Him to express His answers through selected leaders who take their role seriously.   We can ask the Lord to indicate to us the persons for whom He would intend for us to vote, seeking to be well-informed and prayerful as we approach that decision.  And, in whatever decisions we have to make, we can go to the source of Godly wisdom and ask God for direction.

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In Daniel chapter 2, we see a passage that reminds us of God's hand in human affairs, an important concept as we approach the upcoming elections:
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

One week from today, voters in Iowa will be going to their various caucus meetings to select delegates who would be pledged to vote for Presidential candidates in both major political parties. It's the first such event in the nation, and after the litany of polls that have been released for months on end, it's going to be interesting to actually see what the real votes will indicate.

One month after than, on March 1, voters in 2 of the states in the Faith Radio coverage area  - Alabama and Georgia - will be going to the polls.  And, two weeks later, on March 15, Florida voters will be making their Presidential preferences known.

There is much that has been made about the evangelical Christian vote in the upcoming election. And, while I do believe that it's vital that Christians make their voices heard in political matters, we should not be reduced to a voting bloc.

But, it is interesting to see some of the analysis of the evangelical votes.  For instance, there's a general analysis by Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore, in which he has said, according to Roll Call:

“I would say that Ted Cruz is leading in the ‘Jerry Falwell’ wing, Marco Rubio is leading the ‘Billy Graham’ wing and Trump is leading the ‘Jimmy Swaggart’ wing,” Moore said, meaning that Cruz has largely followed the classic Moral Majority model that was the face of the conservative movement — he has received endorsements from figures such as Focus on the Family founder James Dobson — while Trump “tends to work most closely with the prosperity wing of Pentecostalism” which tends to believe that God would financially reward believers.

I admit that's a generalization, and it bears noting that Dr. Moore has been very critical of Donald Trump.  We can be reminded that there are different streams of belief, even among Christians, and those threads affect our approach to political matters.   Brietbart says that Rubio in fact has sent out a campaign e-mail touting Moore's contention.

The article points out that, as an example of Rubio’s outreach to the “Billy Graham” wing, earlier this month the presidential hopeful announced a religious liberty advisory board that includes Rick Warren, the founding pastor at the influential Saddleback Church. Rubio has also released a video ad with him speaking personally about his faith and how it affects his daily life. In it, he said: “the purpose of our life is to cooperate with God’s plan."

The article goes on to point out that:

The notion advanced by the Rubio campaign that the role of a presidential candidate is not merely to persuade voters why the candidate should be selected to head the executive branch, but is also to provide religious leadership to evangelical Christians in the way Billy Graham has for more than seven decades, appears to be at odds with the recent public messages of Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham and head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

The piece mentions Franklin Graham's "Decision America" initiative, visiting all 50 states, and that Graham does not plan to endorse a candidate.

Well, a CNN story has broken down the evangelical vote into 7 different types, along with examples of each one.  Here are some excerpts - I don't necessarily agree, but it does provide some food for thought:

1 - The old guard (James Dobson, Tony Perkins, John Hagee)

They are hawkish on foreign policy and want politicians who won't give ground on issues like same-sex marriage, abortion and religious liberty.  Advantage: Cruz

2 - Institutional evangelicals (Rick Warren, Russell Moore)

These evangelicals head megachurches, charities, seminaries and umbrella groups such as the National Association of Evangelicals. They tend to back candidates who, while sharing their core values, stand a solid chance of winning the presidency. Institutional evangelicals rarely endorse politicians but can make their preferences known in other ways. Advantage: Rubio

3 - Entrepreneurial evangelicals (Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, Jerry Falwell, Jr.)

These evangelicals may not share many theological beliefs, but they all appreciate a good business model. They are evangelists who have built television ministries reaching millions of Americans, and Pentecostal preachers who have turned storefront churches into thriving congregations. Others include Jerry Falwell Jr., who grew the family business, Liberty University, into one of the country's largest Christian colleges. Advantage: Trump

4 - 'Arm's length' evangelicals (John Piper, Tim Keller)

..."arm's length" evangelicals dominate some the most dynamic movements within conservative Christianity. They consider it foolhardy for candidates to use their faith as a footstool to higher office and are reluctant to fuse the sacred sphere of religion with profane politics. Advantage: Rubio

5 - Millennial evangelicals (Eric Teetsel, Jordan Sekulow, Johnnie Moore)

They've grown up in the shadow of old guard evangelicals, but they're more attuned to the country's religious pluralism than their forebears. Advantage: too soon to tell

6 -  Liberal evangelicals (Jim Wallis, William J. Shaw, Jimmy Carter)

According to Pew's survey, 13% of evangelical Protestants identify as liberal, a number that inches up slightly among younger millennials (17%). Many African-American Protestants also hold evangelical beliefs but rarely vote Republican. For that reason, they are not a force in GOP primaries, though a few have endorsed Trump.  Advantage: Democrats

7 - Cultural evangelicals

Cultural evangelicals say they're "born again" but don't go to church.

These evangelicals were raised Christian but don't go to church or consider religion that important in their lives. Still, when pollsters ask about their faith, they call themselves evangelical, much like nonreligious Jews still identify as Jewish.  Advantage: Trump

So, there you have it, what one analyst at CNN, Religion Editor Daniel Burke, has to say.  I am not necessarily endorsing this perspective, but using it as a springboard to perhaps gauge our own political philosophy and how that is shaped by the Scriptures.

Some takeaways for us today:

The first is that politics matter.  I believe that we are called to be a voice on the selection of leaders and matters of public policy.  We have been given a unique right to participate in a republic where citizens - "We, the People" - can actually be part of the process.   I believe that we should take interest in politics, but we should always make sure it's in the proper place.

Because, more than anything else, hearts matter.   We know that Christianity is more a definition of demographics or a subset of the voting public.  We are called first and foremost to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ and allow His principles to guide us.  As God has changed our hearts, we are to demonstrate the heart-changing, life-changing, presence of a Savior.  The answers to the woes we face in our culture cannot be solved by politics, but through the changing of hearts, energized by the gospel.

Finally, prayer matters.  We should be involved in praying for our nation - this is an important election that is coming up, and we can be inspired to call upon the Lord for His man - or woman - to be placed in the Presidency, as well as other offices across our land.  God is the One Who, according to the book of Daniel, raises up and deposes leaders, and we can unite our hearts with Him, asking Him, calling on Him fervently to do a mighty work in our land.

Momentum

In Isaiah 40, we are challenged to reflect on God our Creator, full of might and majesty, the One who
has created you and me, fearfully and wonderfully, and given us value:
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

The Lord God is our Creator, and on this day when thousands are gathering to celebrate life and decry a tragic Supreme Court decision placing a governmental stamp on the taking of pre-born babies' lives through abortion, we can reflect on how special each of us are, that God made us, full of biological and emotional intricacies - He has given us our lives. and He sent His Son to die for each and every one of us, so that we might know Him and live with Him eternally.

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We choose to worship God, the author and the sustainer of life, the One who has ordained every living human being - who are we to play God and attempt to take the life of another, including a pre-
born child? In the New Living Translation in Acts 3, Peter is chiding those who took the life of Jesus:
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

Life - it is the winning cause; life triumphs over death, light can overcome the darkness!

In snowy Washington, DC today, it's the annual March for Life, commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the dreadful Supreme Court decision allowing legal abortion in America.  And, there are all sorts of signs that the pro-life movement is gaining momentum.

Yesterday, at the Evangelicals for Life gathering in the nation's capital, co-sponsored by Focus on the Family and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Focus President Jim Daly, according to The Christian Post, said that evangelicals in the pro-life movement need to go on offense.  He stated in a panel discussion, along with David Daleiden of the Center for Medical Progress:

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/jim-daly-evangelical-pro-life-charmaine-yoest-155575/#6UbvFQX7io3hP2Z2.99

"That's what I love about what David's done with the videos, what many people in the movement now are going to say, 'hey, we've got great news.' Let's find some ways to continue to reduce the number of abortions, let's find ways to get more people adopted," continued Daly.

"We have many tools at our disposal and the biggest one is the culture is moving with us … Momentum is on our side. Now let's not make it more complicated by being ugly. Let's use the love of Christ to keep that momentum going."

Also on the panel was Charmaine Yoest, President of Americans United for Life, who said:

"I do feel like there has been an under the radar offense that has been very aggressive and we've been able to be very strategic in how we've been pursuing an agenda that [is] a stealth agenda," said Yoest.

"We're going to do things that we can do that are right in front of us. A lot of times people get frustrated because they want to see a big change and yet we're able to affect big change by moving it to the ground that's right in front of us."

Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a pro-life champion in Congress, wrote in the Washington Examiner:

...the pro-life movement is stronger than ever and making serious, significant and sustained progress.

At the state level the gains have been historic — 282 pro-life laws have been enacted since 2010 including laws to stop dismemberment abortions, require a 72-hour waiting period, and informed consent. All of these measures save lives.

Earlier this month, Congress sent the president landmark legislation to end taxpayer subsidies for Planned Parenthood. The Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 rolls back much of Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood. Special thanks to Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, Chairman Price and others in leadership for crafting this lifesaving legislation. In the last year alone nine powerful, pro-life measures have passed the House, including the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

The pro-life movement is advancing, yes, there is momentum, and hearts are changing toward the pro-life column.  I cited earlier this week the Knights of Columbus/Marist poll, which shows, according to the Knights of Columbus website:

The survey found that more than 8 in 10 Americans (81 percent) would restrict abortion to — at most — the first three months of pregnancy. This includes 82 percent of women polled and nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of pro-choice supporters.

Additionally, 77 percent of Americans, including 79 percent of women and 71 percent of pro-choice supporters, say that laws can protect both a mother and her unborn child. Only about 1 in 5 (17 percent of Americans, 15 percent of women, 23 percent of pro-choice identifiers) disagree.

The poll also found most Americans see abortion as both ultimately harmful to women and morally wrong.

Today, as we continue to celebrate Sanctity of Life month, we can reflect on the life that God has ordained for each of us.  Every human being - each and every one, born or pre-born - has value and we should respect the creation of God and recognize His supreme hand in ordaining life. You have value - and God loved you so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for you so that you might have eternal life.

And, as pro-life people, we can rejoice in how the cause is advancing.  Yesterday, Dave Sterrett, author of the We Choose Life resources, discussed how the younger generation is flocking to the message of the sanctity of life.  Thousands are braving a blizzard in Washington today to demonstrate that they choose life, and they are dedicated to battling and overcoming the darkness that would seek to take life.  It should be our goal to seize the momentum, to recognize that life supersedes death and the light penetrates the darkness.  We can see this landscape in spiritual terms and know that God is on our side as we seek to uphold His view of life.

Bible-Minded

There is a passage in Psalm 19 that speaks to the power and the authenticity of God's Word, reminding us about the high regard that we can possess for the Scriptures:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

These verses illustrate for us the state of mind that we can have as we apply ourselves to spending time in the Word of God.  For example, verse 7 says our souls can be converted and we can become wise.   Based on this passage, we can be convinced of the purity and authority of God's Word and rejoice in what He has said and what He continues to speak to our spirits as we read and study His truth.  We can be motivated to hold God's Word in high esteem and develop a desire to make it a priority.

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Hebrews 4:12 can encourage us regarding God's Word and the power that He will give us as we seek His truth:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This week's topic for Survey Thursday is an annual study conducted by the Barna Group, in association with the American Bible Society, measuring Bible engagement in the top 100 cities across America.  As the Barna website describes it, "The annual 'Bible-Minded' cities report, based on interviews with 65,064 adults over a 10-year period, shows how people in the nation’s 100-largest media markets view and use the Bible."

The summary also states:

Individuals who report reading the Bible in a typical week and who strongly assert the Bible is accurate in the principles it teaches are considered to be Bible-minded. This definition captures action and attitude—those who both engage and esteem the Christian scriptures.

Not surprisingly, all 10 of the top 10 cities are in the Southern region of the U.S.  Chattanooga had been the #1 city for three years in a row, before dropping to second last year.  It's back in the top slot now, with 52% of its population qualifying as "Bible-minded."  Last year's top city, the Birmingham/Anniston/Tuscaloosa, Alabama area, dropped to second, with 51%.

The remainder of the top 5: Roanoke/Lynchburg, Virginia, Shreveport, and the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee. Those are followed by Charlotte, Little Rock/Pine Bluff, Knoxville, the Greenville/Asheville area, and Lexington, KY.

On the other end of the scale, the city of Providence, Rhode Island, was the least Bible-minded city last year, but surrendered the slot to the Albany/Schenectady/Troy, New York area, with only 10 percent of residents qualifying as Bible-minded. Boston moved into second and Providence "dropped" to third. With all the talk of Iowa and evangelical voters with the caucuses coming up, interestingly enough, Cedar Rapids was fourth among the least Bible-minded cities. Buffalo rounded out the bottom 5.

The rest of the bottom 10: Las Vegas, San Francisco, Hartford/New Haven, CT, Phoenix/Prescott, and Salt Lake City.

Kudos to Chattanooga, the home of Faith Radio programmers: Precept Ministries with Kay Arthur and Prophecy Today with Jimmy DeYoung, who are based in that city.

In discussing this survey, we can be challenged in our own interaction with the Scriptures.  There are two components of the data:  reading the Bible in a typical week and asserting the Bible is accurate. You could perhaps say we are talking about study and belief, which leads to application.

I think it would be interesting to know how different people study the Bible.  Many people set out on an annual journey to read the Bible in a year, or read the New Testament in a year.   There are a host of Bible reading plans out there - some are designed sequentially, others are chronological.  Some focus on speed, if you will - trying to get readers through the Word in a year.   Or, you may be more oriented toward depth, spending time reading, studying, and even meditating on a particular passage of Scripture each day.  There is no "one size fits all" plan, but I think that a measure of intentionality is necessary when reading God's Word.

I would recommend obviously setting aside a time each day to spend time in the Scriptures.  And, recognize that the words you see are more than just words on a page typed in black or even red. Hebrews says the Word of God is living and active.  I believe the Holy Spirit will illuminate God's Word and we can depend on Him to teach us as we carefully absorb the Scriptures.   There may be occasion when He will use a particular verse or specific verses to speak into a situation that you're facing, or to bring you greater understanding of Himself as you study the Word.   That's what's so incredible about the Word of God - it is relevant to you right where you are, today.

Powerball and the Practice of Stewardship

In Isaiah 65, there is a reference to how the pursuit of riches can be detrimental to our lives. In the New American Standard version, we read:
11 "But you who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain,Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."

As believers, we are not called to trust "Fortune," which I would describe as the unhealthy, unbiblical pursuit of material gain.  The New Living Translation uses the word, "Fate."  We don't have to live trusting in the false hope of chance, but we can place our trust in the certainty of God's faithfulness. We can have our confidence in the Lord, and walk in His stewardship principles.  As verse 12 points out, our refusal to exercise sound judgement and responsibility leaves us vulnerable to being drawn outside of God's will for our lives.

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The apostle Paul, in 1st Timothy chapter 6, points out that having an unhealthy attitude toward money is harmful to us spiritually:
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We have a winner!   3 of them, actually.   Yes, last week, it was announced that winners who bought tickets in Florida, Tennessee, and California had been selected in that latest Powerball lottery jackpot, the largest in history - at $1.5 billion dollars.   CNN Money reported on the family in Tennessee who stepped forward and went on the TODAY show before they even reported it to the state.

Another CNN Money story states that Powerball players spent an estimated $2.6 billion on tickets since the last jackpot was claimed in November. To win the grand prize, the ticket must match all five numbers (in any order) and the red Powerball number.

I believe that we are in the midst of a sluggish economy - there are reports of less-than-optimal revenues during the Christmas season and the woeful performance of the stock market in the past few weeks, and $2.6 billion has been taken out of the economy - not invested in goods and services and punishing people who really cannot afford it.

That's the insidious nature of the lottery, and really gambling in general.  People spend money on games of chance, with a false hope they will strike it rich.

The Atlantic, in an article entitled, "Lotteries: America's $70 Billion Shame," reported that Americans in the 43 states where lotteries are legal spent $70 billion on lotto games in 2014. That’s more than $230 for every man, woman, and child in those states—or $300 for each adult.

According to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, lotteries took in $70.1 billion in sales in the 2014 fiscal year. That’s more than Americans in all 50 states spent on sports tickets, books, video games, movie tickets, and recorded music sales.

The Atlantic piece goes on to say:

But it’s the poor who are really losing. The poorest third of households buy half of all lotto tickets, according to a Duke University study in the 1980s, in part because lotteries are advertised most aggressively in poorer neighborhoods. A North Carolina report from NC Policy Watch found that the people living in the poorest counties buy the most tickets. "Out of the 20 counties with poverty rates higher than 20 percent, 18 had lottery sales topping the statewide average of $200 per adult," the North Carolina Justice Center reported.

John Piper quotes some of the stats from the Atlantic article in a recent post.  He says there are seven reasons that you play the lottery or gamble your money in any way.  I want to walk through those briefly:

1. It is spiritually suicidal.

He quotes another version of those verses I stated from 1st Timothy chapter 6 about the love of money.

2. It is a kind of embezzlement.

Piper notes, "Managers don’t gamble with their Master’s money. All you have belongs to God. All of it. Faithful trustees may not gamble with a trust fund. They have no right..."

3. It’s a fool’s errand.

He says "The odds of winning are nearly 176 million-to-one."

4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.

Piper references the International Business Times, which says lotteries are “just another form of gambling (without any of the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas, of course). The ‘house’ controls the action, the players will all eventually lose.”

5. It preys on the poor.

Piper writes, 

The lottery supports and encourages “yet another corrosive addiction that preys upon the greed and hopeless dreams of those trapped in poverty. . . . The Consumerist suggested that poor people in the U.S. — those earning $13,000 or less — spend an astounding 9 percent of their income on lottery tickets. . . making this ‘harmless’ game a ‘deeply regressive tax’” (ibid).

6. There is a better alternative.

Piper notes, "If the $500 a year that on average all American households throw away on the lottery were invested in an index fund each year for 20 years, each family would have $24,000. Not maybe. Really. And the taxes on these earnings would not only support government services, but would be built on sound and sustainable habits of economic life."

7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.

And you have state lawmakers considering establishing a lottery and perhaps other forms of expanded gambling in Alabama to boost revenue for the state - are you kidding?  They need to be prayed for and contacted.  Otherwise, voters should say to those who support such a thing (to quote from a gambling and real estate magnate who is running for President), "You're fired." 

In summary, there are several main points:

For one thing, gambling is an example of poor stewardship.  If all we have belongs to God, why would we support taking His money and using it in such an irresponsible manner.   Even a non-believer is wasting his or her resources that could be used for other purposes.

Also, gambling is an example of taking advantage of poor people.  As believers we are called to help and minister to the poor - so if we support taking money out of their pockets, when people cannot afford it, we are not helping, we are supporting a methodology that does not follow a Scriptural model.

And, finally, as it's been pointed out here, gambling is poor public policy.  It does not place money into the economy and it has no guarantees to generate the kind of revenue it is counting on.

What's On the Inside

In 1st Samuel 16, we read that Samuel went to the house of Jesse at God's instruction, in order to identify a King over Israel, to replace the disobedient Saul.  As Samuel inspected the sons of Jesse, he came to one of them and said that one of them, Eliab, was surely the chosen one.  God replied to the
prophet:
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

In our world today, there is a great amount of concentration on outward appearance, and time and expense are devoted to make someone look more appealing.  Plus, we can work so much on the image we project, making sure we act the right way, drive the right car, live in the right house, and so forth.  I believe God is fine with us having things and projecting a sharp image, but if our concentration is more on the image of self rather than the image of God, we have our priorities backward.  We can devote ourselves to improving our walk with God and strengthening the inner person.

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We can place so much attention on outward appearance; what people see - but Jesus drove home a point in Luke 11 about paying attention to what is in our hearts.
37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.
38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.
40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?...

Near the coast of Taiwan, rising 55 feet above the surface of the land, there is a large structure in the shape of a high-heeled shoe.  The BBC reported on the project, which is made out of over 320 tinted glass panels and measures some 36 feet wide and was constructed at a cost of $686,000.

It's not a statue, no, its purpose is to be a...church!

It is the creation of local government officials in the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area, which is a prominent tourist area in Taiwan, which decided to build it last June.  A representative told the BBC that the church will not be used for regular services, but pre-wedding photo shoots and wedding ceremonies.  She said, "In our planning, we want to make it a blissful, romantic avenue… Every girl imagines how they will look like when they become the bride."

The aim is to attract women, according to the article. A government spokesman said, "There will be 100 female-oriented features in the church like maple leaves, chairs for lovers, biscuits and cakes." He added, "It will be tailored to women, especially female tourists visiting the area."

The shoe is actually intended to honor the memory of a local girl who in the 60's, according to local officials, suffered from a disease, resulting in both of her legs being amputated, leading to the cancellation of her wedding. She remained unmarried and spent the rest of her life at a church.

There's a cartoon in the piece that shows Cinderella standing beside the huge shoe, saying to a group of women, "Come find your spiritual glass shoe and live happily ever after."  Wow - doesn't that say a lot?   Because there are people that are searching for a spiritual experience that can be exhilarating and bring permanent bliss - to "live happily ever after."  It's a reminder to us that the promises of God can result in true, lasting happiness, joy unspeakable, and a forever that is beyond our imagination - it is more than just some fairy tale, it is spiritual reality.

This story also brought another thought or two to mind.  For one thing, while the outside is at the same time magnificent and gaudy, we don't really know what will be going on inside.  This structure will not be used for worship, but what if it were?  Would the outward adornment override the inward activity?   We have to make sure as believers that we don't emphasize gimmickry rather than the presence of Almighty God.   We can use cleverly designed, even creative methods to draw people to our church, but we have to make sure we are offering the living water of God's Spirit once they attend.

Finally, I think about how outward adornment can override inward activity in our personal lives. Who are we really?  Are we the image we project to people, perhaps an image of a "together" life, a satisfied existence, the expression of a social class or income level?   But, we can be challenged to consider how the outward appearance could mask what's going on in our hearts.   The greatest treasure is to know Jesus and allow Him to have His way in our hearts.  He can teach us what it means to live "happily ever after."

Pastor King

God paints a vivid picture for us in 2nd Corinthians 5, declaring us to be new creations in Christ.  Our new life enables us to be people of peace, because we have been reconciled to God:
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

We are told that we are Christ's ambassadors.  We have a distinct responsibility, and we have been empowered for the tasks at hand related to that.   Because of what Jesus has done in our hearts in bringing us to God, we can powerfully testify to how He has come to bring reconciliation.  As the Church, we can be on the front lines and proclaiming how because Christ has come, we are one with Him and have the potential to be at peace with one another because of the activation of the love He has poured out upon us.

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It is God's nature to bring peace - He is a reconciler and a restorer, desiring to bring people together with Himself and with one another, and He calls us to be partners with Him in doing that.   If we are right with God, then we can enter in to right relationships.  Ephesians 2 says:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

There is much you can say about the role of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in our culture:

Change agent.

Orator.

Leader.

Influencer.

But, one thing that we can also remember about Dr. King is that he was also a pastor.  There's a piece by Rick Warren at the Pastors.com website, in which he says:

People forget that, first and foremost, Martin Luther King was a PASTOR, He was not a politician. He was a Baptist minister of the Gospel, and a pastor of a local church. Everything he did to promote freedom, justice, and racial equality flowed out of his understanding of God’s Word. I have read hundreds of his sermons and they are rich biblical content.

In the article, which was written last year to coincide with Dr. King's birthday, Pastor Warren points out that he spoke at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's death. He also related 10 quotes from Dr. King, two of which I'd like to share: One is, “The purpose of life is not to be happy, nor to achieve pleasure nor avoid pain, but to do the will of God, come what may.”
Another is, “The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

The role of Dr. King as pastor was also highlighted in a recent Baptist Press story, which featured quotes from Montgomery 1st Baptist pastor Dr. Jay Wolf and Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions Executive Director Dr. Rick Lance.  The piece said that the Montgomery Bus Boycott "occasioned advice to pastors by King that some Southern Baptists say they still take to heart."

King, in this 1958 book "Stride Toward Freedom," recounted the struggle in Montgomery, then asked, "Where do we go from here?" Pastors, he concluded, were an important part of the answer.

"The important thing is for every minister to dedicate himself to the Christian ideal of brotherhood, and be sure he is doing something positive to implement it," wrote King, then pastor of Montgomery's Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. "He must never allow the theory that it is better to remain quiet and help the cause to become a rationalization for doing nothing. Many ministers can do much more than they are doing and still hold their congregations."

Jay Wolf told the publication that "biblically-oriented pastors" took such advice to heart, noting that his predecessor, longtime First Baptist Montgomery pastor J.R. White, spoke "powerfully against the sin of racism."  Pastor Wolf said that Rev. White "pushed against the dark currents of his day with Christ-centered truth that eventually prevailed."  He added that Dr. King's call for pastors to be "moral and spiritual guardians within a community" remains "a compelling standard for a pastor's ministry."

Rick Lance, according to an SBC LIFE story referenced in the Baptist Press article, was touched by news of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham in 1963, in which 4 African-American girls around the same age as he lost their lives. He is quoted as saying, "Early on in my ministry, I tried to lead my churches to open their doors to all people," adding, "Some resistance remained to such efforts, but in the main, my church families began to see people as individuals of worth created in the image of God. They became more receptive to people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. This was no small victory for Southern Baptist churches in the Deep South."

Terry Turner, pastor of the predominately African-American Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas, and former president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, highlighted to BP the relevancy of Dr. King's comments. He said that white pastors must preach "to convert any prejudiced hearts that possibly exist within their congregations while black pastors have to preach against racism to comfort their congregations from the evils of racism they experience weekly."

Turner is also quoted as saying: "America has ... perpetuated the shame of racism by not teaching every person to love every people group as their own and has kept the races divided. The process of integrating the church must be intentional."

So, on this Martin Luther King holiday, we can think together about some important concepts.  One is the potential influence of the pastor.   All of us can reflect on the importance of pastors to us, and we can be appreciative of their contribution in leading our churches, as well as providing leadership in our community.  In response to the call of God, I believe that there is a strategic placement of pastors to represent Christ and to be His voice.

I also want to hearken back to Rick Warren's critique of Dr. King's content: "Everything he did to promote freedom, justice, and racial equality flowed out of his understanding of God’s Word."  These are important concepts, and all of us do well to embrace what God has to say about the impact of His truth in building relationships, even across racial lines.   All of us are Christ's ambassadors and we can seek ways for God to use us to speak and demonstrate His truth.

Finally, we can strive to do what Dr. Lance mentioned - to "see people as individuals of worth created in the image of God..."  When we embrace and celebrate the differences that do exist and not allow cultural differences to divide, reaching out to one another with the love of Christ, we provide a powerful witness for how He wants His people to operate in the world.

Anyway

A great passage from Matthew 16 that we do well to take to heart highlights the importance of denying self and developing a sense of self-sacrifice, properly shaped by the Lord:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

There is a distinct contrast between human and godly wisdom, between human ambition and the desire to please God.  In our flesh, according to our human nature, we look to the things of self - how we may please ourselves; but in the Spirit, we look to the things of God - how we may please Him. In His Word, Christ gives us instruction that can shape our understanding and point us in the proper direction - and He gives us the power to carry it out.

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Jesus is calling us to walk according to His Word, rather than in the ways of the world, and the contrast is seen in 1st John 2:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The quarterback controversy that has affected the Washington Redskins NFL franchise seems to be over, with former Jimmy Hitchcock awards speaker Kirk Cousins emerging as the starter for the team's playoff run this year.  His backup became Colt McCoy, and #3 - was RG3, Robert Griffin III, the highly-touted dual-option quarterback who faced plenty of difficulty adapting to the pro game.

So, recently it was time for the former franchise player to clean out his locker.  But, he didn't leave the compartment bare - there were at least two items left.  Bob Barnard of Fox 5 DC posted a picture, which showed a picture of a poster, on which were displayed, according to Fox News Insider, a letter referring to “The Paradoxical Commandments” by Dr. Kent M. Keith. The report also says that according to ESPN, this display appeared under a framed verse from Philippians 3:13, along with the headline: “I can do all things.”

NBCSports.com published the text of the note, or the poster:

“People are often unreasonable, irrational & self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of self, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends, and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest & sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest & sincere anyway.

“What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity & happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often by [sic] forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it’s between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

The article points out that, "Despite an explanation that the note was hanging in Griffin’s locker all year, it seems to have been left in a prominent place. Making the note more conspicuous is the fact that the rest of the stuff in the locker is gone."

These Commandments have sometimes been attributed to Mother Teresa.  The Paradoxical Commandments website does state that she had put the Commandments up on her wall in Calcutta, with 8 of the original 10 "Commandments."  On the Internet, there is another version that mentions the "final analysis," and that is similar to the version that RG3 posted in his locker.

Well, I'm not sure of the inspiration for these Commandments, or what exactly the message that Mr. Griffin wanted to send using them, as well as the framed Scripture.  But, I am intrigued by the use of the word, "anyway," and that's what I want to key in on.

We are not called to follow the way of the world.  And, the world operates by a set of values that is opposite to the teachings of Scripture.   1st John 2 warns against the worldly desires that can derail us in our lives in Christ.  The world would tempt us to become selfish and only look out for ourselves.  The Word shows us that we are to become self-less, just as Jesus denied Himself and laid down His life for us.

You could say it's counterintuitive.   Because as humans, we can become so committed to self-preservation.  But, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves.  We are called to take up His cross, which signifies self-sacrifice, and to follow Him.   No matter what the world would dictate to us about how we are to act, what we are to feel, how we are to regard other people - Jesus calls us to love...anyway. When we are wronged or feel as though we are wronged, as the Paradoxical Commandments open up - we are to forgive anyway.   We can resist temptation and conformity to the world and walk in victory over desires that are contrary to God's nature - anyway.

Resolved

The promise of God's faithfulness can be a driving force in our lives, motivating us to grow in Him. Psalm 32 says:
7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

God provides for us incredible wisdom through His Word, and we have the promise of His personal instruction by the Spirit.  Not only do we study and meditate on His principles, but as we gain more knowledge and understanding, those are synthesized by the Spirit to give us power for living a life that reflects the nature of Christ in us.  Our growth from exposure to God's truth and the fellowship of His people can be reflected in the way that we act each day, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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As we commit ourselves to spiritual growth, we recognize that the integration of God's truth can
produce action for His glory. Consider the words of 2nd Timothy 3:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When considering topics surrounding the new year, I prefer to use the word "reset," rather than another r-word with the same first 3 letters.   That's right - resolution.

There is statistical evidence that shows that many, if not most, people, don't keep them anyway.

A 2013 YouGov Omnibus survey showed that just six days after January 1st, 11% of Americans had already broken at least one resolution while 22% had cheated a few times but were generally going well.  It pointed out that the resolutions that were broken first are the most popular ones made: losing weight and doing more exercise.

A U.K. Daily Mail study showed in 2012 that January 9 was the day most people will give up their New Year's resolutions - just nine days after they were made.  Three-quarters of 3,000 British adults surveyed admitted they were no longer confident they would stick to their promises for the rest of the month.

And, Forbes quoted from University of Scranton research, suggesting that just 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals.

LifeWay Research conducted a study recently that shows that 57 percent of Americans report making health-related New Year’s resolutions in the past, while 52 percent say they’ve addressed their relationship with God.

Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research, says, “We don’t hear a lot of talk about it, but a relationship with God is still something people want,” adding, “They have time at the holidays to think, and they realize what they didn’t do last year — things they value but are not living out. So they start the year with an aspiration to change.”

Other leading areas include use of time, at 43 percent, relationships with a family member (42 percent), finances (37 percent), work (33 percent), and relationships with a friend (31 percent).

The survey shows that Americans with evangelical beliefs are among the most likely to make New Year’s resolutions about their relationship with God: 72 percent say they have made resolutions regarding God, while 56 percent have addressed their health.

McConnell says, "For an evangelical, faith should be integrated into every area of life.” He adds, "Not every resolution will be about having a relationship with God, but their relationship with God should be affecting what they do in other areas.”

Some thoughts related to this survey now...

First of all, it's gratifying to know that a significant number of people wants to work on their relationship with God.  We should be devoted to spiritual growth.   But, the vague concept of being "closer to God" is merely a starting point.   The Bible can show us and the Holy Spirit will direct us in actually living that out.

Spiritual goals can perhaps fit into two categories - Christian activity and Christian application.  Walk with me here.  I would put Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, small group study, and other faith-based actions in that "activity" category - this involves using the tools and opportunities that God is provided to strengthen our spiritual walk.

Then there's the application category, which really involves more of a long-term approach.  Doing Christian things are important, and we grow through our exposure to God's Word and spending time in His presence and in the presence of other believers.  But, we have to make sure that His truth is being integrated into the way we live.  That flows from a consistent walk with the Holy Spirit.

For instance, do we want to display Christ's love to a specific area or even a specific person?  Once we have identified that area as being a growth spot, then we can rely on the Spirit to walk with us and through us to express His nature.  We can become more conscious of how God wants us to act.

Or, maybe you have an area, like health or finances, where you need to integrate God's power in order to maintain the discipline to act and persevere in those areas.  As McConnell says, "For an evangelical, faith should be integrated into every area of life."

To See Things Differently

Jesus taught about the importance of seeing and hearing spiritually, and His Word is an important e
lement of actually doing that. He says in Matthew 13:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear...

God has provided us a way to walk free from spiritual blindness and to experience the wonder of His truth, to come to know Him better, and to view life from a different perspective; His perspective. When worldly wisdom would tell us one thing, God offers us a new viewpoint - He shares His wisdom with us.  We can make it a goal to be able to see spiritually, to be led of the Spirit, to know His ways, and to walk in them faithfully.

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Ephesians 6 outlines the components of our spiritual armor, through which we can stand against the strategy of the enemy to damage our relationship with God.  The final 2 pieces are found beginning in verse 17:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

There seem to always be some great innovations emerge from the annual Consumer Electronics Show, and this year's event featured a number of high-profile developers and manufacturers that have come up with all sorts of ways to make your life more connected, if not easier.

The ZDNet.com website offers a look at some of the highlights.  One of the most intriguing comes from the Toyota Research Institute, which has assembled a team to integrate artificial intelligence and create a vehicle incapable of causing a crash regardless of the skill or condition of the driver, as well as to provide access to autos to people that otherwise couldn't drive, and more.

Under Armour and HTC have partnered together for the HealthBox, which includes a fitness band, scale and heart rate tracker tied together by UA Record.   Samsung has developed the Family Hub, which is a refrigerator that connects to other devices throughout the home. There's even a camera inside the refrigerator that will allow you to see what's missing while grocery shopping.

And, Daqri has a Smart Helmet, which is a wearable machine interface designed to be the next-gen safety gear in various work environments - it's an augmented reality device. As the article points out, it's getting to market ahead of Microsoft's HoloLens and has time to find real use cases.

I was curious about HoloLens, so I referenced more material, such as an Information Week story that said that the HoloLens "headset recognizes the wearer's vocal communication, eye movement, and hand gestures to help facilitate interaction between the virtual world and the real world."  It sounds a little like the failed Google Glass product, but the article points out that:

While HoloLens is designed to project images in midair and on surrounding objects, Glass was designed to perform the functions of a smartphone. Like a phone, Glass could support apps, provide directions, take photos and videos, and perform Internet searches. It didn't offer much functionality that a smartphone doesn't, and as a result consumers perceived Glass as a redundant, more expensive version of their handheld devices.

There are some spiritual ideas that can arise from the study of these types of innovations.  I'm intrigued that there is an emphasis being placed on enhancing what you see - augmented reality is the proper name.  The Daqri Smart Helmet and the Microsoft HoloLens are designed to change your perspective and bring assistance.  

The Bible refers to a helmet in Ephesians chapter 6, the helmet of salvation.  The Smart Helmet is a safety device, so there is an element of protection there.  The Biblical helmet of salvation is designed to protect our minds from the schemes and suggestions of the enemy.   When an assault is launched on our thinking - and we recognize that Satan will work in that arena - we can reject those thoughts because of the power of God and the knowledge of who we are in Christ.

Power...and knowledge - and I think about that phrase that, as I recall, was on my old high school ring - "knowledge is power."  That's true for the believer.  God is our shield and our refuge.   And, we can reject the deception that the enemy would bring more effectively as we integrate spiritual information.   That information is contained within the Scriptures.  The absorption of God's Word into our consciousness through careful study, memorization, and visualization can provide a powerful barrier that can benefit us spiritually.

So, we can and should celebrate innovation and creativity.  Technology provides a host of wonderful tools for enhancing our lives.  And, we also recognize in the spiritual realm that we can see things differently as we unleash the supernatural power and wisdom of God to enhance our walk with Christ.

Righteousness Exalts a Nation

The apostle Paul wrote during the period of the Roman Empire, which is noted for its absolute authority and even its harsh rule. But, he still wrote in 1st Peter 2:
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

And, of course, that doesn't mean that we, as citizens of a Constitutional republic, cannot petition our leaders and express our opinions.  But, we are to have high regard for authority, and, as 1st Timothy 2 says, to pray for them.   We are citizens of the United States, and I am proud to be one of them, but I also serve an even higher authority - I am a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and God calls me, and all of us, to do good, to follow Christ, to honor Him, and to act as He leads.

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God wants us to be wise in Him, and to live according to His principles.  That can enhance our individual lives and contribute to a more righteous society, if significant numbers of believers are taking that to heart. Here are 2 verses from Proverbs 14:
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Well, apparently there is a judge who has decided that he has had enough of the increased secularism in America. Speaking to a Roman Catholic high school in New Orleans recently, this jurist reminded the audience that the U.S. Constitution does not require the government to be neutral on religion.   According to a piece on the WORLD Magazine website, he said: “To tell you the truth there is no place for that in our constitutional tradition,” adding, “Where did that come from? To be sure, you can’t favor one denomination over another but can’t favor religion over non-religion?”

This is no low-level judge, either.  It is Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who pointed out that government neutrality in religion is not “common practice,” noting that activist judges began imposing their own rules. The article writer, La Shawn Barber, pointed to one example: the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman of 1971, where the justices came up with a three-part test to determine whether a law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  She says that one could argue they made law with this case instead of interpreting the Constitution.

Scalia said if people want strict prohibition against government endorsement of religion, let them vote on it.

On The Washington Times website, writer Wesley Pruden quotes Scalia from that New Orleans speech:

"God has been very good to us," he said. "That we won the Revolution was extraordinary. The Battle of Midway [the turning point in the Pacific in World War II] was extraordinary. I think one reason God has been good to us is that we have done him honor. Unlike the other countries of the world that do not even invoke His name, we do him honor. In presidential addresses, in Thanksgiving proclamations and in many other ways. There is nothing wrong with that, and do not let anybody tell you there is anything wrong with that."

Not surprisingly, Scalia did not mince words in writing his dissent to the high court's decision affirm a right to so-called same sex marriage.  He was stunned by the majority's willingness to subjogate the rights of the people.   Mollie Hemingway at The Federalist quoted from his writing (emphasis from article):

Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The opinion in these cases is the furthest extension in fact—and the furthest extension one can even imagine—of the Court’s claimed power to create “liberties” that the Constitution and its Amendments neglect to mention. This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves.

He took the majority to task, writing: "the majority focuses on four 'principles and traditions' that, in the majority’s view, prohibit States from defining marriage as an institution consisting of one man and one woman. This is a naked judicial claim to legislative—indeed, super-legislative—power; a claim fundamentally at odds with our system of government..."

Hemingway writes that Kennedy "...and four other justices on the Supreme Court discovered — Kennedy struggled mightily to explain where or how, precisely — a new fundamental right to same-sex marriage. That meant, as Justice Antonin Scalia put it, that 'every State violated the Constitution for all of the 135 years between the Fourteenth Amendment’s ratification and Massachusetts’ permitting of same-sex marriages in 2003.'"

So, what is a Christian believer to do?  We've been talking about how to respond for months now, and the issues at hand concerning gay marriage and religious freedom are not going away anytime soon. In fact, as Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore referenced in his order to probate judges last week not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, 2 Federal circuit decisions and a lower court have already said the Supreme Court Obergefell decision did not apply outside the 4 states involved in the case.  And lawmakers in one of them - Tennessee - have filed legislation that declares, according to The Tennessean: "Natural marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman as recognized by the people of Tennessee remains the law in Tennessee, regardless of any court decision to the contrary." It goes on to say, "Any court decision purporting to strike down natural marriage, including (a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision), is unauthoritative, void, and of no effect."

Well, I think our most powerful weapon is prayer.  We can pray for leaders, and also pray for God's mercy on our nation, in which we have leaders who have departed from the Biblical foundations upon which this country were founded.   And, there are opportunities to join in united prayer that are or will be available to believers, such as the nightly "Reset Our Generation" virtual prayer call and Franklin Graham's Decision America Tour, at which participants are asked to pledge to seek God and to do His will, perhaps even considering running for office.

Participation is also a key ingredient in charting a Biblical course.  We can choose to vote for leaders who line up and reinforce our deeply held convictions.  You can vote in the upcoming primary election on March 1st - not only will there be a selection of Presidential nominees in the respective parties, but voters in Alabama's 2nd District also have a Congressional race where there are multiple Republican candidates.   Are you following it?  It's important who we send to Washington, as well as to the Capitol in Montgomery.  By the way, the State Legislature begins to meet in early February, and there most certainly will be legislation calling for expanded gambling - is that really what we as people of faith want to see in our state?   Should our legislators approve legislation that calls for behavior that clearly violates Scripture in order to raise revenue?  Now is the time to pray and act, contacting your legislator to firmly ask him or her to oppose any gambling legislation.

And, finally, regarding the marriage issue, we have to be conscious to practice the principles that contribute to strong marriages.  The institution of marriage is being challenged, and each of us who are married have the potential to provide evidence that reinforces the strength of the institution and contributes to a relationship that reflects the love of God.  Marriage - one man and one woman - is God's standard by God's definition, and we do well to uphold it.