In the Mind

We can be challenged as believers to renew our minds and to think in accordance with God's truth.
1st Peter 1 says:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Verse 13 speaks of the "loins of your mind."  God has designed our minds with amazing capabilities, and I believe ultimately, through our minds, we can experience Him and grow in our walk with Christ.  Correct thinking leads to a correct perception of Almighty God, and can lead us into the type of interaction with Him that He desires for us to experience.  If our minds are properly trained, we realize that we have the capacity for true holiness, in a truly right relationship with our Heavenly Father.

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God wants us to activate our minds to His truth, so that we might grow in the knowledge of Himself.
1st Corinthians 2 issues the challenge:
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

And verse 16 says:
16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

There is some new research out that shows that our brains could recognize the existence of God.

According to a recent Charisma News story citing National Geographic, which recently ran a special program called, Brain Games: The God Brain, fascinating new research has uncovered the possibility that believing in God may be hardwired in our brains.

Shaheen E. Lakhan, who holds several doctorate degrees, including an M.D., is quoted as saying: "Psychologists and anthropologists deemed that children left to their own devices would have some conception of God. Some attribute this to our innate sense of detecting patterns in the world (as to discern predators or prey in nature), while others propagate the notion of a 'supersense'—or a cognitive tendency to infer hidden forces in the world working for good or ill."

Those statements are consistent with those of Andrew Newberg, who actively researches "neurotheology."

Newberg conducted several brain studies, evaluating what happens when a person prays or meditates.

A piece at Philly.com quotes Newberg as saying:

...people turn to religion to help cope with difficult physical and mental illnesses. People frequently meditate or pray as a way of keeping themselves calm during procedures. We know for sure that meditation and prayer help reduce depression, anxiety, and blood pressure. They basically alter the physiology of the person and, in most cases, in positive ways. This happens certainly in the moment. But people have also found that a lot of these effects are persistent. We've found that if people did meditation for 12 minutes a day, they had improvements in their memory by 10 [percent] to 15 percent, and had changes in their brain not just when they were meditating, but when they were simply at rest.

The Charisma article begins this way: "Even if you were never taught to believe in God, your brain could still recognize His existence. Such is the premise of Romans 1..."

Romans 1:20 says: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse..."

When you think about it, it only makes sense - our God, the Ruler and Creator of the Universe, has created humanity in His image, so you would think there is a divine connection to the Creator.  That is what this research seems to be pointing toward.  Now, it is up to believers who have discovered the one true way to God, through a relationship with Jesus Christ, to demonstrate to others who He is, so that they might find God the Father.  If there is a predisposition to know God, then through the illumination of that truth in a human heart, one can learn more about to walk with Him.

Also, we can think together about how God works in the human mind.  He has designed and structured our minds to operate in a certain way.  I would submit that the human brain testifies to His existence - with amazing functionality.  We have access to the mind of Christ, and our minds can be renewed as we deposit Biblical truth inside of them.  The mind is the gateway to the human spirit, and our hearts are revitalized as we meditate on this truth...so we have to watch what we place inside of our minds.  The wrong information or the incorrect processing of information can lead to devastating consequences.  But, we can walk in God's victory as we correctly train the minds that He has given to us.

All is Vanity

God has the power to change a life.  Romans 6 really lays out some of the dynamics of the
resurrected life that we as believers can enjoy. Picking up at verse 8, we read:
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Even though someone may look as if he or she has passed the point of no return, we know that Christ died for the entire world - for everyone.  And, even though in our worldly understanding, we may think someone cannot change, we know that in God, all things are possible, and that the presence of Christ flooding a heart, making the old new and making the dead alive, can result in the dramatic change of a life.  That can give us fresh motivation and a reliance on the power of God to heal and transform.

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In Colossians 1, we read about some spiritual truths that apply to each of us as believers in Christ:

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

There was another death of a musical celebrity recently, and I think her passing really speaks a powerful truth about the presence of God and the difference that He can make in a person's life.

Her name is Denise Matthews. She was the lead singer of Vanity 6, a 1980s female singing group. One of her hit songs was "Nasty Girl."   According to a piece on the Religion News Service website, she had a career-changing, born-again experience that included renouncing her earlier ways, which included an addiction to crack cocaine. She said she turned away from drugs in the 1990s and converted to Christianity.

The article says that she told Rolling Stone: “I sing to Jesus for Jesus now,” adding, “This gives me pure joy … worship! I apologize profusely to those I have offended deeply a million times over.”

She died last Monday at age 57. She had been diagnosed with “sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis,” a life-threatening abdominal condition.

Denise had recently attempted to raise money for her medical expenses through gofundme.com.
In an update posted four months ago, she wrote: “I went into the emergency twice this week, boy it is not fun suffering in this body of weak flesh… but Jesus is straightening out all my crooked places in my heart as i go thru this time of pain….i won’t complain!”

There were tweets of condolences that were sent out from two professing Christians from the music industry. Drummer Sheila E. tweeted about her sadness that her “friend in Christ” had died.  MC Hammer included these words in a tweet:  "She absolutely loved GOD unto salvation. Rest in his Glory".

We pray for people to come to know the Lord, and we should.  And, we can pray with a sense of anticipation - fervently - because we know that God can change the human heart.  No matter how far away someone might wander or outright run away from the Lord, that person is not beyond the reach of a Savior.

I hope we guard against the tendency to typecast people based on their behavior.  I am thankful that God did not give up on me, nor does He give up on anyone.  Even the most hardened sinner can be redeemed.  And, that really is one of the beautiful characteristics of our loving Lord - He sees us, He knows us, and...He pursues us!!

So, whenever someone is trapped in selfishness and rebellion against God, locked inside his or her own vanities (pun intended) - God has made a way for that person to be free.  A person is freed as he or she accepts the Word of God and the wooing of the Holy Spirit.  As the heart is tenderized to the truth, we can see God do powerful things.  He knows our hearts, He's greater than our hearts, and He desires for us to experience His love.

Liberty

In times where we find that there are those who would denigrate Biblical Christianity, we can be challenged to be faithful in our devotion to Christ. 1st Peter chapter 3 says:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

As Christians, our faith will be mischaracterized and we may find ourselves misunderstood.  Our love for Christ and devotion to His Word will be branded as intolerant.  Our desire to see people won to the Lord will be ridiculed.  But, that can just motivate believers to try harder, to stand stronger, to persevere with a greater level of passion than ever before.  Jesus told His disciples in John 16 that when they encounter persecution to be of good cheer - ultimately, He will overcome.

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God wants us to be prepared to face the challenges we encounter - that comes through prayer,
dedication to the Word, and anticipation of what we may experience. 1st Peter 1 says:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...

This week, I will be bringing coverage from Proclaim 16, the National Religious Broadcasters International Media Convention.  Many will refer to it as simply "NRB."

One of the threads of last year's event, and what will be addressed this year as well, is the threat of religious freedoms being diminished.   I look forward to providing updates in that and other arenas during the course of my NRB coverage.

I came across a piece on the Baptist Press website which provides a digest of some of the areas where religious liberties are threatened.  The article is an examination of a 2015 year-in-review report by Andrew Walker of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

He wrote that some of the challenges to religious liberty in the coming year will be:

-- A Supreme Court decision on the objection by religious, nonprofit organizations to the Obama administration's abortion/contraception mandate;

-- The election of a new president, whose judicial appointments will "dictate the future of religious liberty jurisprudence for generations to come;"

-- The effort to force Congress to consider "problematic causes" such as the Equality Act, which would establish "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected classes under civil rights law.

Walker said that the Equality Act, introduced in 2015, is "the most sweeping, anti-religious liberty measure" he has seen proposed by lawmakers. He stated that, "Were this bill ever to pass, it would end public debate and designate the beliefs of any individual with a moral and/or religious objection to the federal statute, regarding an entirely new sexual ethic, as discriminatory."

Of course, Walker wrote that the U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage was "no doubt the biggest religious liberty event of the year." He said that the high court's majority displayed an "unscrupulous regard for religious liberty," and the minority strongly criticized the majority's treatment of defenders of traditional marriage.

The decision's effect "on culture and religious liberty cannot be overstated," and its "full scope" remains uncertain because the country is still in the "immediate aftermath" of the opinion, Walker wrote.

Walker described these encouraging developments last year:

-- Unanimous Supreme Court decisions -- Reed v. Town of Gilbert and Holt v. Hobbs -- that protected the free speech rights of a church and the religious free exercise of a prisoner, respectively.

-- The defeat by Houston voters of an ordinance approved by the City Council that would have expanded non-discrimination protections to encompass sexual orientation and gender identity.

We are now over 7 months since that Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage.  How will that affect our lives?  As Walker says, we are still in the "immediate aftermath."  But battle lines are being drawn, even in Congress, where there are some lawmakers who want to force people to accept views and practices of those with whom they disagree.  And, there is the First Amendment Defense Act, which would protect those that have deeply held views and strengthen people's rights to free exercise of religion.

And, that gets us right back into electoral politics.  The leaders we select this year will have the opportunity to make decisions regarding our freedom to live according to our faith.  So, we need to participate - in prayer and in the casting of a ballot.   We can exercise strength of conscience in the leaders we select - and in other actions we take concerning living out our faith.

We do not need to be captivated by fear, and we certainly do not need to be complacent in our practice.  I would even suggest that we examine our beliefs and determine how we will respond if we face harassment or persecution because of our faith.  

And, in the meantime, we are called to uphold a Christian example.  We should be outspokenly devoted to strong marriages and encouraging others to make their marriages a priority.  If we are dedicated to our mates and to living out the God-ordained institution of marriage, that can bring a compelling case to a culture that possesses elements that would redefine it.

Considering God's Prescription for Well-Being

The Bible not only prescribes principles for good conduct, but God's Spirit is with us to empower us
to carry them out. Take, for instance, Hebrews 13:
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

These are powerful statements here, and can remind us of God's mighty power - within us.  He is available to live in content, knowing that He will bring His will to pass in our lives as we surrender to His ways.  We have the assurance that He is always with us.   And, in times that are characterized by fear, we can exert faith to stand strong amidst the challenges we encounter.  We have accessibility to His strength, and we can rejoice in that!

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The apostle Paul demonstrated a dependence on God and an attitude of contentment.  We can see that in Philippians 4:
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

How are you doing?   Feeling allright today?

Maybe things aren't going too well - perhaps you're a bit concerned over personal decisions you have to make,

Our you just might be generally fearful about the future.

On this Survey Thursday, I want to focus in on a recent Gallup survey, which actually took place during practically the entirety of 2015 and encompassed 177,000 respondents. It measured what it calls the Well-Being Index, which, according to Gallup's website, is calculated on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest possible well-being and 100 represents the highest possible well-being.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index score for the nation and for each state comprises metrics affecting overall well-being and each of the five essential elements of well-being:

• Purpose: liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals
• Social: having supportive relationships and love in your life
• Financial: managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security
• Community: liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community
• Physical: having good health and enough energy to get things done daily...

The score for the entire U.S.?  61.7 - a tenth of a point up from 2014.  In school, that would be a "D," close to a failing grade.

Now, there are some positive signs, as the summary of the survey points out:  Those would include "a decline in the uninsured rate, a decline in the smoking rate and an increase in reported exercise. Food insecurity, defined as not having enough money for food at least once in the last 12 months, has also dropped significantly since 2013 to a seven-year low."

Obesity in the U.S. has continued to climb and reached a new high mark last year.  The rate of those working part-time jobs but seeking full-time work has been slow to improve - these "involuntarily part-time" workers exhibit financial well-being that is no better than the unemployed.

And, as the summary points out:

Actively seeking improvement in physical wellness is better than doing nothing at all, but research has shown that those who have high well-being across all five elements of well-being perform better than those who are physically fit alone.

Which states did best?   Hawaii residents had the highest well-being of any state in the nation in 2015, followed by last year's top state, Alaska.  The rest of the top 5 were Montana, Colorado and Wyoming.   Residents of West Virginia and Kentucky have the lowest and second-lowest well-being, respectively, for the seventh consecutive year.

In the Faith Radio coverage area, the survey shows that Florida ranked 12th, Alabama was at #28, and Georgia finished at 41st.

So, here are your 5 elements:  Purpose, Social, Financial, Community, & Physical.

And, you know, God's Word speaks to all of them!!

Regarding purpose, He will give us His joy and enable us to be content.  As we live in His love, devoted to the glory of God and seeking to produce fruit for His glory, He will give us a rewarding life.

God addresses the social nature of our lives - because we love Him, we can depend on Him to bring people into our lives with whom we can interact, to fellowship, and perhaps to reach out to in ministry.

The Bible teaches about the financial components of our lives...God gives us His perspective on money and instructs us on being good stewards of what He has provided for us to use.

With regard to community, I believe that we can be content in our living conditions and be involved in community activities, recognizing that we were placed here to be integrated into lives of others. I believe that we can contribute to the betterment of our communities.

Finally, we recognize that God is concerned about the physical elements of our lives - our bodies are God's temple, and it's important that we take care of them.

You see, the spiritual aspects of our lives can flow into other areas, and the way we respond to others, to our communities, and our mental and emotional health, can all be addressed through the application of God's truth.

The Power of One

In Galatians chapter 1, we can read about how the apostle Paul was devoted to pleasing God rather
than men. He writes:
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

There are people who would wish to fit you into their mold.  Then, there is the potter, our Master, who wants to mold us to fit into His purposes.  There is a tension between pleasing people around us and pleasing our Heavenly Father - we can recognize that, and act according to God's principles, consistent with the call upon our lives to be His servants.  And, if we're dedicating to serving Him, then we can see Him use us to touch the lives of people and love them as He has loved us.

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Colossians 3 can reminds us to use the position or positions to which God has called us to bring
honor to His name:
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.

This past Saturday, U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia passed away at the age of 79.
Religion News Service reports that:

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral will be held Saturday (Feb. 20) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, according to media reports.

The late justice will lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Friday, following in a tradition last observed after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2005.

I had shared about an event in New Orleans at which Justice Scalia spoke. I quoted from a piece
on the WORLD Magazine website, which quoted from the Justice: “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?”

Scalia reportedly pointed out that government neutrality in religion is not “common practice,” noting that activist judges began imposing their own rules.  He 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."

A Baptist Press article says that:

Scalia belonged to a school of constitutional interpretation known as originalism or textualism -- which held that the Constitution's meaning is determined by the intention of its authors, as indicated by their use of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. In contrast, his legal opponents, known as progressivists, believe the Constitution is a "living" document whose meaning can be shaped and altered by modern judges.

Scalia illustrated his view in a 2005 dissent to a death penalty ruling, in which he stated, "I do not believe that the meaning of our Eighth Amendment, any more than the meaning of other provisions of our Constitution, should be determined by the subjective views of five Members of this Court."

Scalia was forthright in his opposition to the 5-4 Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage last year, writing, according to Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist:

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.

So, what happens next?  Rachel Alexander of The Stream provides some analysis:

President Obama has said he intends to appoint Scalia’s replacement — even though since World War II, when a Supreme Court justice died or retired during a president’s last year in office, outgoing presidents have generally not appointed a replacement. Senate Republicans have indicated they may block Obama from bringing a nominee up for a vote. They also have the numbers to vote down a nominee or filibuster it. The influential SCOTUS blog predicts Obama will nominate his far left Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Whether a new justice is appointed to replace Scalia this year or not, several cases on which the court would probably have taken a conservative position by a 5–4 vote may now be decided for the liberal position. When the court splits 4–4, the lower court of appeals decision is affirmed. Cases that could break against conservatives include a challenge to public employee unions, the counting of illegal immigrants for redistricting in Texas and a case concerning religious accommodation under Obamacare for birth control.

However, two other cases in which the lower courts took a conservative position, a challenge to Obama’s executive order stopping illegal immigrants from being deported and a challenge to Texas’s strict abortion law, would be left standing. In a third case, challenging affirmative action in Texas, left-leaning Justice Elena Kagan recused herself because she worked on the case as solicitor general, so the court may strike it down 4–3.

So, there is plenty to keep our eyes on with respect to the U.S. Supreme Court, especially the challenge to the Obama administration's contraception mandate as it applies to non-profit organizations.  And, there is the pro-life abortion law in Texas, as well.   We can be reminded to be diligent in prayer for our decision-makers.  And, again this session, that applies to the U.S. Supreme Court, especially in the absence of Justice Scalia.

Scalia can be an inspiration for us all - with respect to history, he was cognizant of the Biblical principles and the presence of God that have shaped this nation.   He was certainly someone who allowed his deep personal faith to shape his approach to his influential position on the bench.  And, we can be challenged to make sure that how we do our work - as unto the Lord - is shaped by our faith in Christ.

Finally, Scalia is an example of one man who exercised great influence.  He had acquired a reputation for being thoughtful and forthright, whether or not he was in the majority.  As he demonstrated in Obergefell, his originalism was on full display.   That point of view can serve us well as we continue to hold fast to the Constitution, which, despite the challenges, has worked extremely well.  He was one of 9 justices, but I would say he regarded that position as a sacred trust.  We can view our positions, likewise, as places to which we have been entrusted, to be used of God and to carry out our respective calling in a manner that brings Him glory.

Safety and Sensitivity

We live in such a reactionary culture these days - people will say things without thinking or post pronouncements on social media that can be mildly irritating or downright rude.  And, we can become so easily offended and respond poorly, if our emotions are not under the control of the Holy
Spirit. James 1 says:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

There is a human tendency to fly off the handle when someone does or says something that we do not like.  And, we read about or personally observe instances of that sort of behavior on a consistent basis.  Rather than be easily offended and respond in anger, we can abide in the peace of God, carefully considering the words or deeds of another, but being so cognizant of the love of Christ within us that we display a response that reflects His presence in us.

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In Psalm 119, that great chapter about incorporating God's Word into our lives, we read this:
165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.

Verse 165, in the King James Version, says:
165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

So what are students learning on some college campuses these days?  It appears that Insulation from Offense 101 is a core class, followed by Shaming Those Who Disagree 102.  The sensitivity, it seems, has reached epic proportions.

One high-profile individual says that he is offended by things, but adds, "I’m not going to expect someone to stop that from happening, I should simply speak out about it.”

He went on: “Sometimes when people are offended they want someone to come in and say ‘stop that’ to whoever is offending them... There are some people I would wish to offend… The idea that you have to be protected from any kind of uncomfortable emotion is one I absolutely do not subscribe to.”

He has been warned from speaking on college campuses due to political correctness, and makes this point: 

"If people cant control their own emotions, then they have to start trying to control other people’s behaviors. When You’re around super-sensitive people you cannot relax or be spontaneous because you have no idea what’s going to upset them next.”

Now, this is not someone whom you would necessarily expect to say such things - it's British comedian John Cleese, of the legendary comedy troupe Monty Python.  These quotes are from a Big Think video referenced by Breitbart.

Over at National Review, Charles Cooke opens up an article on the concept of "safe spaces" on college campuses:

Read through any contemporary account of American on-campus silliness, and one word will pop out at you from the pages: “safe.” Up and down the country, the term is en vogue. At Yale, students are worried about the effects that insensitive Halloween costumes might have upon their “security.” At Colorado College, enrollees are concerned that the screening of a pro-gay film will put their “well-being,” their “identity,” and their “safety” at risk, if not inflict “violence” upon their bodies. At Wesleyan, undergraduates were so outraged by an opinion column in their university newspaper that they tried to shut it down on the grounds that its editors had failed to “provide a safe space for the voices of students of color.”

Oh, by the way, the protestors at Colorado College were reportedly gay activists!

Cooke was just warming up - he addressed this exclusionary point of view held by those who want to be insulated from ideas and opinions that don't line up with their own.  He writes:

At Mizzou, the protesting students did not hope merely to expel their critics from their private meetings, but to remove them from public ground. At Yale, the shriekers were not asking for a room in which to hold a “politically correct” Halloween party, but for the entire campus to conform to their preferences. When Christina Hoff Sommers visits Oberlin, her detractors do not contend that she is wrong, but that she should not have been invited in the first instance. Put simply, those who have taken to shouting “safe space” are guilty of an egregious category mistake. In pursuit of political power, they have adopted a set of rules that were designed for private groups and attempted to impose them on everybody.

In a Breakpoint commentary, John Stonestreet addressed this concept of trying to "protect" college students from that which might offend them.  He quoted from an article from The Atlantic by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, who note that: “The ultimate aim, it seems, is to turn campuses into ‘safe spaces’ where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable..."  As Stonestreet points out, the writers observe that the campus should be a place where tough questions can be asked without fear or favor, and where students are taught not what to think but how to think. They ask, "...What are we doing to our students if we encourage them to develop extra-thin skin just before they leave the cocoon of adult protection?”

John Stonestreet responds by saying:

It’s a good question we need to ask in the church, too. Censoring everything that makes our kids uncomfortable prepares them for a world that simply doesn’t exist. Christian Smith’s research on the religious beliefs of young people and the pallid “moralistic therapeutic deism” that many of them have withdrawn into suggests that we must not only help them develop a Christian worldview, but a robust Christian worldview, one that’s big enough for the brokenness, the struggle, the challenges, and the tensions of the real world.

Each of us have to hone our critical thinking skills and apply a Christian worldview perspective to address the questions that skeptical non-believers are asking.  And, in grappling with the big issues, we have to think Biblically and be challenged to teach our children to do the same. Unfortunately, there are young people - and adults, too - who have been coddled and taught that they should be insulated from ideas that don't line up with their own; then they take it a step further and attempt to silence those differing views.  It's insidious and characteristic of our culture.

But, when people attempt to silence us, we still cannot afford to adopt a position of being offended and stake out our own separate position in which dialogue cannot occur.  We don't win by taking our toys and going home.  We win - hearts - by engaging in critical thinking, carefully applying Biblical truth to modern challenges, and enunciating that truth in a firm manner, with conviction, but also with compassion.

In the midst of polarization, we can be proponents of peace.  That doesn't mean we soften our deeply-rooted convictions, but I think believers could stand to soften the tone.  We don't compromise the message, but we can customize the messenger.  Paul was able to relate to people of different backgrounds because he made a point to do so.   As believers, we have to make sure that we are not retreating into isolation, but advancing with well-reasoned, workable ideas that are rooted in Scripture.

Proclaiming Our Trust

In 1st Peter 2, we read about our identify in Jesus, and how we are called to practically live that out,
including the proclamation of His truth:
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our lives are to built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.  We are called and chosen by Him and brought into a relationship through which we can please Him, offering up, as verse 5 puts it, "spiritual sacrifices."  As His representatives on the earth, Jesus is calling us to uphold His standards and to communicate with our words and our actions that He dwells within our hearts. We belong to Him, and we are called to, as verse 9 of the same chapter says, "proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."

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Psalm 105 gives some great instruction and encouragement for us as we seek to reflect God's light in the midst of the darkness we face:

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

I believe there is a deep desire among some in leadership to reclaim the ideals and principles upon which this nations was founded.  One of those is the Sheriff of Rutherford County, NC, who wanted to put "In God We Trust" decals on its patrol vehicles.  The ChristianHeadlines.com website quotes a story from The Christian Post, which says that thanks to the funding of a local church, the sheriff's department will indeed be able to do that.

Sheriff Chris Francis did not have the money to provide the decals, but Pastor David Ledford of Fairview Baptist Church in Golden Valley offered to fund the decals for the 50 vehicles in the current fleet, as well as for any that may be added in the future.

The sheriff explained that the purpose of the decals is to show patriotism. He is quoted as saying, "I want to make sure that my deputy sheriffs know what 'In God We Trust' means. And how blessed we are to be citizens in America, to live in Western North Carolina and to be able to support our nation's motto."

In Texas, Governor Gregg Abbott has stated his support for law enforcement vehicles in Brewster County, TX displaying a cross with a thin blue line on their patrol vehicles, according to the NBCDFW.com website.  Abbott sent a brief to Attorney General Ken Paxton recently saying he supports Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson’s decision to allow his officers to display such as cross.

Abbott said in his brief that the U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t prohibit public officials from recognizing their religion.  He is quoted as saying, "To the contrary, the U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized the demographic and historical reality that Americans are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being."

An area district attorney had asked the state attorney general for an opinion on the cross.

And, The Blaze reported on Adrian Garcia, head of the Childress Police Department in Childress, TX, who rejected the Freedom from Religion Foundation's demand to remove "In God We Trust" from patrol vehicles.

The Christian Examiner reported that on the Childress Police Department Facebook page, Garcia has been posting photos of other Texas law enforcement vehicles with the decal.

Regarding Seagraves, he said, "How about this, that's good stuff right there. Good job Seagraves PD," after that city voted to put the decal on every law enforcement vehicle.

"Love it!" he said about a Hutchinson County sheriff's patrol vehicle sporting the nation's motto.

Sheriff's offices in Tennessee and Florida have also been sent demand letters from the atheist group. They too have refused to comply with the demand to remove the "In God We Trust" decals.

And, the Daily Home website has reported on the recent decision by the Sylacauga, AL City Council to allow "In God We Trust" to be displayed on their vehicles.  

As I had mentioned earlier, I believe there is a move in our country to reclaim the Judeo-Christian principles upon which this nation was founded.  "In God We Trust" continues to be our national motto, and it should proudly be displayed.  And, I am thankful for public officials who are boldly proclaiming this deeply-held expression.

This can be motivational for each of us, and we can be challenged to reflect more about our history.  The foundation and furtherance of our country is a direct reflection, I believe, on the hand of Almighty God.  He continues to bless our nation, but if we expect His favor to continue, it's important that we reverse course and acknowledge His providence.  

I also think it is key that law enforcement is leading the way in proclaiming trust in God.  These are the people who protect us, and I think it is great that they are expressing their dependence on Almighty God.  It can be gratifying when people pray for our protectors and affirm the significant role they play in our lives. 

We can show our trust in God in so many ways, and in these troubled times, we can seek out ways to give Him glory.  In the presence of God and in the name of Jesus, we can communicate hope to other people.  Through our words, our worship, and our walk with the Lord, we testify to our dependence on Him - as a country, we certainly need to humble ourselves before Him.

True Love

In the book of 2nd John, the writer reinforces the Biblical concept of love, which is an unselfish expression toward another person, not the selfish view of what "love" is that is perpetrated by the
world.
5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The world is full of deception and if we buy into unscriptural ideas, then we are not walking in the way God would intend.  He calls us to walk in His Spirit and to resist the pursuit of self-gratification and seek the satisfaction that can only come from Him.  That can express itself in our approach to relationships, including our marriages.  It is easy to become self-consumed and to be involved in life away from our homes - and our mates.  It's important that we depend on God to arrange our desires and our priorities so that our marriages do not suffer.

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The Bible teaches us the true meaning of love - love that is consistent with God's nature, that can be infused into our human relationships. Ephesians 5 says:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints...

This weekend marks the celebration of Valentine's Day, which is named after St. Valentine, or multiple St. Valentines, according to the HISTORY Channel website.  One of them was reportedly  a priest who performed secret wedding ceremonies after marriage was banned for men on military service by the emperor.  Another legend says that an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.  Fast forward - today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.

And, Valentine's Day gives yet another opportunity to focus on our relationships, and especially God's love to be expressed in our relationships.  There are numerous marriage conferences that are taking place in the Faith Radio coverage area, including one in Opelika a couple of weeks ago, another next weekend, "Better Together," sponsored by 4 area churches.  Then, in 2 weeks, it's "Together at the Springs" at Shocco.

It's important to teach and model for our young people what right romantic relationships look like, in alignment with God's truth.  No doubt, there are distorted views of relationships that are out there. Take, for instance, what's taken place this week at the University of Utah.  According to the Campus Reform website (caution: offensive content), the campus group, Students for Choice, were due to hand out raffle tickets for a year's worth of contraceptives.  There was also free STD/HIV testing, a “make your own safe sex kit,” and an event titled Sex and Consent: Embrace the Awkward, where the, “Center for Student Wellness wants to remind you to be up front and honest before doing anything.” Closing the week’s events is Planned Parenthood Ambassador training.  There were sessions promoting something called, "reproductive justice (whatever that is)."

The Right to Life at UU group asked for Sex Week to be defunded and relocated off campus. In a letter sent to the Center for Student Wellness before last year’s events, Right to Life complained that Sex Week “encourage[s] sexual partners to view each other as objects used for pleasure,” saying that while the group’s members support educating students about STD’s and unplanned pregnancies, “this message of education is being lost in the immature nature of Sex Week.”

Well, at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, students decided they would counter their campus's Sex Week by offering their own series of events promoting God's plan for sexuality, according to a website called, The Compass.  There, the Newman Catholic Student Community (best known as the Newman Club) and Phoenix Students for Life spent the days leading up to Valentine’s Day spreading the message that true love is possible and you can find it by practicing “right dating relationships.” They declared the week leading up to Valentine's Day as "True Love Week."  They told their fellow students that abstinence is not only possible, but will indeed lead those who practice it to their true love.

The first event of True Love Week was actually Feb. 3, when students handed out fresh roses to fellow students with messages about chastity and abstinence during the annual event promoting membership in campus organizations.  This past Monday, they presented the popular Christian movie “Fireproof."  Tuesday, they sponsored a panel discussion about right relationships.  And, Wednesday, there was a panel discussion on living a chaste life, including individuals from both the university and the religious sector.

I certainly appreciate True Love Week as an alternative to a college campus Sex Week - that concept seems to be a cesspool of perverted ideas of God's view of sexuality.  And, kudos to the Utah students who protest an observance on their campus.

In this culture, it is so important that we are bold in our declaration of God's plan - for life, in all areas, including areas pertaining to relationships.  God's plan is centered around purity for those who are not married, for not engaging in sexual immorality.  And, it's also centered around a devoted, exclusive relationship in marriage consisting of one man and one woman in a one-flesh relationship. We have to be bold to defend these truths.

We also have to be better in our approach to relationships.  If we are convinced that God's way is best, then we can be convinced in our own minds that following His path and recognizing that we are empowered to do so, can bring enormous blessings and satisfaction.

And, finally, we have to be bonded to our spouses like never before.  The pressure is great, but God's love is greater.  We can take steps to walk in love, to make time for one another, to improve in our communication and conflict resolution, and we can recommit ourselves to working and living as a team - it's one-flesh, it's important, and it's in line with God's purpose for us.

A Scourge on Society

It is God's desire for us to pursue a life and lifestyle of purity - that our thoughts and the way we
behave might line up with God's plan for us. In Psalm 101, we can read:
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.

This passage of Scripture can reinforce the notion that right, or righteous, living begins with right thinking.  In order to have that "perfect heart," spoken of in verse 2, we have to refrain from gazing on wickedness - if we are intent on rejecting evil, we have to release the power of good, the power of God, in our minds and in our spirits.  There is great temptation in the world around us, and the enemy would want to lure us away from the purity of Christ through images that he would project before our eyes and in our minds.  We have the resources to resist!

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The Bible instructs us in a very strong way to stay away from impure thinking and acting. 1st Thessalonians 4 says:
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God...

Now, I want to share some material for mature audiences.

There was an online study conducted recently by the Barna Group, including nearly 3,000 adults, teenagers, and pastors. It was commissioned by Josh McDowell Ministry and Cru for an April summit, according to a Christianity Today article.

The study examined pornography’s effect on pastors, churches, the general population, and young people.

One of the general statistics is that 47 percent of men and 12 percent of women in general seek out porn at least once or twice a month. And about 27 percent of Christian men and 6 percent of Christian women actively look for porn during that time.

93% of pastors and 94% of youth pastors said pornography is becoming a bigger problem, specifically for the church, and 75 percent of the laity agree. However, only 7 percent of pastors said their church had a program designed to help those struggling with pornography.

And, it's having a negative impact on students - 7 in 10 youth pastors said that at least one student has asked them for help related to pornography usage in the past year.  Most of those asking for help are boys in high school.

The survey also shows that, according to Barna, “Most pastors (57%) and youth pastors (64%) admit they have struggled with porn, either currently or in the past." It also reported, “Overall, 21 percent of youth pastors and 14 percent of pastors admit they currently struggle with using porn.”

The survey shows that 26% of teens ages 13 to 17 view porn at least once a week. The number jumps to 38 percent of adults who are ages 18 to 24, and drops again to 25 percent of those ages 25 to 30.

On the website for the Set Free Global Summit in Greensboro, North Carolina in April, Josh McDowell writes this on a page that features the heading, "Christianity's Pornography Secret:"

The Internet is shaping the morality of today’s culture. Two decades ago, parents could largely control the information our children consumed during their early years. No more. Incredibly, recent studies show that 67% of young men and 49% percent of young women consider viewing pornography to be acceptable behavior.

In 52 years of working with young people, I have watched this trend grow, and have become convinced that it’s time to take action.

This is striking data, and should be a wake-up call for our culture and for the church.  The use of pornography is a act that is contrary to Scripture and a deterrent to the walk of faith.

Fortunately, there are answers.  This survey is exhaustive in identifying the problem, but Scripture is also powerful and instructive in providing solutions.  This issue is pervasive, affecting leaders and congregations, but we can take God's Word to heart.   The victory is attainable, but the answers are certainly not simplistic.

Some principles that we can think on today; in fact I have 3 words for us:  One is that the Word of God is living and active, and we can use the "sword of the Spirit" as an offensive weapon to pull down strongholds in our minds. God's Word can refine our desires.

Not only can we experience the refining power of God's truth, but we can also replace the thoughts that enter our minds, some that are placed there by the enemy and others that are planted there by our seeking out unbiblical ideas and concepts.   As we pull down those areas that do not line up with Scripture, we can memorize and meditate on God's Word to correct our thinking.

Finally, we are called to renew our minds.  That means we enter into a new way of thinking.  That leads to transformation, according to Romans 12.  We take the initiative to correct those errant thought patterns, and it occurs through truth activated by the Spirit - the solutions, while challenging and complex, are attainable.

Marks on the Skin

We are called to look beyond ourselves and really examine the times in which we live - I believe that we are living in an age spoken of by Biblical prophets, and it's important that we are aware of that
and living in a state of preparation for the return of our Lord. Romans 13 says:
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Anticipation - expectation.  The Bible reminds us of the promise of His coming, and the day He returns for His Church could be any day.  So, there is a sense of urgency with which we can live. As we walk in love for others, it sends a strong message about the love of Christ - each of us has the capacity to be used to communicate that truth that Jesus has come, He died and rose again, and He wants to draw people into a relationship with Himself.

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Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period, excluding Sundays, which ends on Easter Sunday, which will be commemorated on March 27 this year.  There is a religious tradition of placing ashes on foreheads as an act of humility.

As the 'Splainer at the Religion News Service website says:

Clergy all over the world dispense ashes, usually made by burning the palm fronds distributed on last year’s Palm Sunday, making the sign of the cross on the bowed foreheads before them. As they “impose” or “dispense” the ashes, the pastor or priest reminds each Christian of Genesis 3:19: “For dust you are and to dust you shall return.”

Some will attend special church services today, but RNS points out that: "Many churches, ministries and clergy offer 'ashes to go,' which can range from dispensing ashes on subway and train platforms, on street corners and other urban crossroads. Some enterprising Christians even offer ashes in a drive-thru."

Speaking of placing symbols on the skin, perhaps you've heard about a new technological development that can track certain information.

First, to God's Word, Revelation chapter 13.  We read about the reign of the Antichrist and a "beast"
who would terrorize the earth:
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

According to the CBSNewYork website, Software company Chaotic Moon has developed a “tech tattoo” that gets embedded into a person’s arm and can track a person’s financial and medical information.   Eric Schneider, the company’s hardware creative technologist, explained the tattoo can monitor if a person is about to get sick. He also said that people would be able to carry their financial information through this tattoo. He is quoted as saying: “We carry wallets around and they are so vulnerable. With the tech tattoo you can carry all your information on your skin and when you want your credit card information or your ID, you can pull that up automatically through the system."

The tattoos are made with “electro conductive ink” that contain various sensors, and in some cases tiny microchips. The makers say they will last for up to a year.

There is a definite trend that you can read about on the Internet dealing with tracking various elements of our lives.  A CBN.com story from 2014 featured some quotes from Katherine Albrecht, who has examined the potential threat of RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification.

She said, "We're using radio frequency to identify things and transmit information all the time nowadays," adding, "I think what is coming next, though, is what the marketers and developers of this technology call the 'Internet of Things.' This idea is that every physical object would have its own equivalent of an IP address encoded into the microchip."

The article points out that beyond the privacy concerns, Albrecht said RFID technology carries biblical implications.  She is quoted as saying, "There will be a time when humanity will be forced to take a mark, and that mark will be on the right hand or the forehead," referring to Revelation 13:16-18. "It is the number 666; we're told to pay attention and look out for that, and people who do not take that mark, of course, will not be able to buy or sell."

"Some people say RFID will be the mark of the beast because it can be a mark in your hand that you can transmit," Albrecht added.  She went on to say, "If it isn't, and it may well not be; there may well be something that comes next beyond that to become, to fulfill that biblical prophecy, but every one of those steps was getting us closer to that end destination."

Good point.  Because Bible prophecy has been fulfilled through the coming of Jesus to earth, we can rely that what has been foretold by the prophets in the Bible will certainly come to pass.  When you consider the alignment of nations and world events that are consistent with what God's Word says will come to pass, then we can expect that the return of Christ is coming soon.  And, the technological advances continue to pave the way for the operation of a one-world government in the not-too-distant future.

So, in light of the signs that we observe, how are we to live?  I believe that we can have an expectancy about the return of our Lord, first to claim His church, then, following a time of tribulation on the earth, for us to return to earth with Him to establish His kingdom and authority. The question for every human being is: are you ready for that day?  Are you prepared by having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?   

We are entering a season in which people may be thinking more deeply about spiritual matters.  We are entering into Lent today, and in just a few weeks, we will observe Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  It is a perfect time to reflect on the state of our relationship with God, and make sure that we are walking with Him, that we belong to Jesus.

Wrongfully Accused

There's a passage in Romans 5 that can help shape our attitude toward the trials we face, recognizing
that there is a greater purpose which we are pursuing, or that God has ordained for us:
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So, in our trials, we continue to fix our eyes on Jesus, knowing that He is doing a work in our lives. When we encounter difficulty, perhaps even when we face false accusations or manifold conflicts, we can trust in God and ask Him for wisdom and power to walk according to His direction.  He can heal our hearts and repair our relationships, so that He might be glorified in and through our lives.  Our adversity is just part of His refining process, so that we might more effectively display the character of Christ.

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In the section of the Sermon on the Mount called the Beatitudes, in Matthew 5, Jesus said:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

There is a new Netflix series that was released in December, and it has attracted attention to a Wisconsin man named Steven Avery.  The series is "Making A Murderer,” and it focused on Avery's exoneration in a sexual assault case and later conviction for murder.  According to Fox6Now.com,
he was convicted in 1985 in the assault case and, after serving 18 years in prison, he was exonerated based on DNA evidence connecting the attack to another man. He filed a lawsuit against Manitowoc County for wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

Two years later, he was arrested in the death of Teresa Halbach, a young photographer whose charred remains were found on his family’s auto salvage yard.

Avery's twin sons recently did an interview, in which they admitted they were not sure their father had committed the murder of Halbach.

He has a new attorney, Kathleen Zellner, who told WBAY-TV that she’s been following Avery’s case for years, and after questioning him for hours she decided it was a case she had to take.

“When someone wants every possible test done that could be done that would prove their guilt or innocence, that’s when you know they’re innocent,” she said.

The same year Mr. Avery was convicted, Daryl Burton also went to prison.  According to a Christian Today piece, he was convicted in 1985 for murder for the 1984 shooting of Donald Ball at a gas station in St. Louis. Burton said it took over 15 years in prison before he opened his heart to God.

He is quoted as saying:

"For the first 15 years or so I was just trying to do everything in my own abilities. Of course, I was really angry and upset and really frustrated about my situation and being wrongfully imprisoned," he said. "I said, 'Well, I have tried everything but God, what do I have to lose.' I just challenged Jesus — 'If you're real, show me. If you help me, I will serve you and tell the world about you.'"

He was found guilty based on the accounts of two prosecution witnesses who lied in their testimonies. Burton wrote 700 letters to lawmakers, attorneys and activities who were known to helping wrongly convicted prisoners. New Jersey-based Centurion Ministries, which takes cases of the wrongly convicted, helped him in his eight-year legal battle that resulted in his conviction being reversed by a judge in 2008 as his trial was deemed constitutionally flawed.

Burton said he never blamed God, even though he was in prison for over two decades. He says, "I think God used the situation the same way with Joseph when Joseph was thrown in the prison and treated by his brothers in a way that was not right. I never blamed God." Daryl sensed the call of God on his life and now serves on the staff of a large church in Kansas, where one of his areas of interest is prison ministry.

I thought about these witnesses in Mr. Burton's trial lying.  That reminds me of a situation in a trial about which we're told in the Bible - our Savior, when He was being tried, had people who made up stories about Him, but His "conviction" became a necessary step on His way to the cross to purchase redemption for humanity.  Daryl Burton referred to the story of Joseph, who was also falsely accused, but even his time in prison was a step in God's story of his life.

There will be times when we face trials, perhaps being misunderstood, or spoken about unkindly or falsely as Matthew 5:11 says.  When we face the scourge of words said against us, still we can trust in God's unchanging hand and rely on His faithfulness.   We can seek, with the help of the Spirit, to have our reputation restored, to display Godly character, and to live a life that is so concentrated on Christ that our character will be reinforced.    

And, we recognize that God's prescribed journey for our lives is not necessarily the path that we would choose or the path of least resistance.  In order for God to accomplish His purpose in our lives, there will be times of testing, so that we might develop endurance and Christian character. So, we can gladly accept those times of difficulty, recognizing that He is at work.

We also realize that there is a spiritual enemy who we face who will falsely accuse us.  And, we can know that we overcome him by, as Revelation 12 tells us, the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  That Word is God's Word, and when Satan distorts the picture of our true identity in Christ, we can speak the Word of God, just as Jesus did when He was tempted in the wilderness. The enemy will remind us of forgiven sin, of our forsaken past, and when condemnation comes, we can gain a greater sense of our new identity in Jesus Christ.

Character and Wisdom

God desires for us to radiate His character in our lives, to allow the presence of Christ to flow from
our hearts. Colossians 1:27 says:
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

(The "them" here is the saints, those who belong to Christ.)

Reading on:
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Christ in us - what an amazing concept!   God sent His Son, Jesus, so that we might accept Him and allow His resurrection power to raise us up to new life.  And, He has filled us with His Holy Spirit and we can have the assurance of His indwelling presence each day.  His presence will cleanse us and produce in our lives Godly character.  He will lead us according to His truth and grant us wisdom as we depend on Him.

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God is calling us to a surrendered life, and Jesus paints a powerful picture in John chapter 15:
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
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.

Maybe you caught Bryce Johnson's recent interview with the Panthers' Jerricho Cotchery on Unpackin' It, which is heard Saturdays at 11:00am on Faith Radio.  The Christian Post published a transcript of the interview.  Bryce asked Cotchery: "...What has God been personally teaching you throughout this season? What's something that's been on your heart throughout the year?"

Cotchery responded:

That as a Christian everything is always about grace. Not only when you are first saved, but throughout the entirety of your life — your growth as a man, as a husband, as a father, and even as a football player. It's all about grace.

Being undeserving is an understatement, but I am truly thankful for it and appreciate every moment. I thank God for everything that He is doing.

In a piece on the Baptist Press website, Brandon Marshall of the Broncos is described as seeking to prioritize his life by faith, family and football.

"I thank God every day for where I'm at ... for blessing me with these abilities," he said. "I'm thankful for Him because He blessed me with this. I feel like I'm anointed to do this. That's why I play the game, also for my family."

And, then you have Denver Broncos chaplain Luther Elliss, who offers some insight on pro football players and traps they might fall into.  Because he fell into them himself.

In a USA Today story, you can read this:

He didn't blow his $12 million in earnings as a pro football player on the high life of drugs and drink; he just made bad business decisions.

Elliss, who also serves as a transition coach for the NFL and speaks at the league's rookie symposiums, brings firsthand knowledge into the job of convincing players they'll one day lose their Midas touch.

"Everything they touch turns to gold. And usually they're pretty creative, hard workers, so they've been able to overcome things, any obstacle that comes to mind," Elliss said. "And even for myself, we had guys come over and talk to us about finances and gave us the statistics, it was like over 60 percent of the guys end up broke, divorced, homeless, without a job after you leave the game within three years. And I'm like, 'No, that's not me.'"

Elliss calls it the Superman Syndrome, which serves athletes well, but not in life away from the game.

Elliss had been involved in a Christian church plant in Salt Lake City and said about his opportunity with Denver: "I've always had a heart for ministry...And I just thought if I could go back to the NFL, I would want to go back to minister, to love on these guys, and I can also share my experience and help them shape their future."

So, it's good to know that behind the scenes, even in a spectacle like the Super Bowl, you have people of faith who are dedicated to exalting Christ in their lives - on and off the football field.

Just a couple of notes in reflecting on the Big Game:

Character counts.  And, a proven way to developing strong character is to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.  His principles produce His fruit, and a person can have peace and order in his or her life through trusting in Christ daily.  The expression of the presence of Christ can provide a compelling narrative for these guys who have been given such a powerful platform.

And, we can depend on the Lord to give us the wisdom to make good decisions.  Luther Elliss made bad one, he was a victim of the Superman Syndrome.  And, we can all fall into that - thinking that we know more than the One who made us.  God knows who we are, what we are made of, and will lead us into the places where He desires for us to go in Him.   He will position our lives, but we have to be willing to do according to His will.

Cynicism With a Chance of Empathy

In 1st Peter 4, the writer encourages us to have a "fervent" love for one another. He instructs us:
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.

There is a part of human nature, I believe, that tends to skew toward "grumbling."  We are quick to let people know what is wrong, rather than focus on what is good, perfect and godly.  We speak out our troubles and disappointments - and there is a place for that - but, I think that perhaps we can reject our natural tendencies and refresh our spirits and the hearts of others by offering praise to God. We have to guard against spending time in complaining, when we could be calling attention to the grace and goodness of God in our lives.

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In Philippians 2, we find the exhortation to, basically, watch our words:
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Cynicism with a chance of empathy.

I'm not sure that's the point of a recent Twitter hashtag, #realclergybios, which was really a vent-fest that was started by two ladies, who wrote on The Salt Collective website:

Like any professional bio the clergy bios found on church websites include the glossy and shiny. But what would happen if we took away the polish? Besides getting a glimpse into the “odd and wondrous,” the sad, but true hilarity of clergy life, we got an inkling of the varied ways the clergy vocation is lived out...

The article, as well as a piece on the Religion News Service website didn't necessarily reflect a whole lot of "hilarity," rather some deep-seated struggles that would perhaps best be shared in a counseling room or a closed ministerial association meeting.  Making light of the frustrations of the life of a pastor is one thing, but I felt that some of the vents in 140 characters or less that were reflected in these pieces went beyond just poking fun at the profession.

Examples:

"I have 2 Masters degrees but still not sure what I believe."

I'm pretty sure that every extemporaneous prayer I offer comes across as incoherent rambling.

Why does almost every "contemporary" service I've ever seen feel like a time machine to 1984? One word: Boomers. LET IT GO

Interestingly enough, my sampling of tweets yielded what I would regard as a feminist thread and even some references to sexual orientation.

One particular user of the hashtag, who is rather prevalent and with whom I disagree, well, most of the time, tweeted out:  "Check out #RealClergyBios. Then tell your pastors/friends in ministry you love them!"

These short bursts, or outbursts, can definitely remind us about the struggles of those who labor among us.   And, I think it illustrates the insufficiency of social media to express legitimate concerns in a substantive way.   Sometimes there are things that are posted that, while seeming like a good idea at the time, reflect poorly on the person who posted them.  A post on Facebook cannot sufficiently produce the healing that may be needed by the one posting.  And, I don't think our heartfelt needs are adequately addressed in 140 characters on Twitter.

There is a place to express our struggles, but should our unsettledness really be on display where all the world can see it?   Should Christians', especially leaders', "dirty laundry" be hung out there for everyone, including those whom we want to come to know Christ, to see?

I believe the beauty of the gospel includes the elements of brokenness and struggle, but our expression to the world ideally shouldn't end there - we can communicate the message that God has met us in our brokenness and provide hope and healing through Jesus Christ.   

Let's get the social media element out of the conversation. I think society skews toward the negative in general, and we have to guard against being people who have a tendency to complain and be people who reflect grace and peace.  That's not to say we should cover up or internalize our struggles or our pain - definitely not.  But, we can find forums and friends with whom we can walk who can provide us with the insight, empathy, or just a listening ear.   And, we have to search our own hearts to make sure we are reflecting contentment, even when we may face discouragement, and we will.  And, hopefully, we as the body of Christ, will be there for one another, shepherds and sheep.

Relationship, Revision, Response

Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and in Ephesians 1, we are reminded that He is risen from the dead, seated at the right hand of God the Father, far above any other principality and power.  Picking up in verse
22, we read:
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Because Jesus is our Lord and King, we have placed ourselves under submission to His supremacy. That means we trust Him completely with our lives - because He loves us, we can be confident that He wants the best for us, and will bring that to pass in us.  We can completely surrender our lives - following the direction we find in His Word and yielding to the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He fills us, empowering us to walk in God's ways.

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In Colossians 1, we can see a wonderful word picture about Who Jesus is:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

God will use His people - in community - surrendered to Jesus, the Head of the body of Christ, to do amazing things.  And, He will work in large congregations and in small ones.

There was a report released about a month ago about a study conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research - it's the Faith Communities Today report, which, according to a USA Today article, showed that the number of congregations with fewer than 100 in weekend attendance, which are the most vulnerable to collapse, rose to 58% in 2015, up from 49% five years ago.

The story noted that the report is optimistically titled: “American Congregations 2015: Thriving and Surviving.”  The institute's director, David Roozen, who authored the report, wanted to highlight signs of hope that were found in the research.  He asked about innovation, growth and positive change, particularly in the small churches included among the over 4,400 U.S. congregations whose data he analyzed.

Among the congregations with under 100 people in weekend worship, only about 18% described themselves as thriving; 29% declared themselves OK.

Willingness to change is obviously an important factor, and Roozen found that congregations willing to “change to meet new challenges” fell to 62% in 2015, down from 74% a decade ago. He is quoted as saying, "Thriving congregations are nearly 10 times more likely to have changed themselves than are struggling congregations."

There were several innovations mentioned in the article, which spotlighted a few churches from a variety of theological backgrounds, it seems.  I thought that an emphasis on relationship was a key factor in some of the small churches spotlighted.  One pastor took over at a church and began to cold-call past attendees and nurture the people he contacted.  Another church went into the community and did prayer walks, asking people how they could pray for them.  One pastor cited a motto from Disney's The Little Mermaid: “I want to be where the people are … ”

So, relationship is a key word in developing healthy congregations, no matter what the number may be.  In fact, I would submit that the willingness to follow the Spirit of God into relationship - with God and with our fellow believers, as well as the community - is more important than numerical growth.  

I would also submit that the word, revision, could be another key term.  We must be willing to go where God leads us, and that will likely involve change.  The words, "We've never done it this way before," should be used as a positive determinant to propel us to explore new avenues of ministry, rather than a negative barrier that can hold us back.

Finally, we have to have an appropriate response to the call of the Spirit.  It's important to know God's Word and discern His voice as He speaks.  We can respond willingly to His direction and allow Him to fill us with a passion to do His work.

And, these three words: relationship, revision, and response, can be applied in the corporate context, as well as our individual lives, so that we might reflect the glory and the desire of our Lord.

A Perilous Path

There is a passage in 1st Timothy 6 that can challenge us regarding our attitude toward financial
resources:
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
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.

I want to concentrate on verse 7 - the sum total of our lives is not the financial resources that we possess.  I would contend that the way we use the material possessions with which God has blessed us is a component of true spiritual success.  Sure, we may make some money and hopefully provide an inheritance for our children, but the truth is, God gives us resources in order to use for His glory during our time on earth.  It's not the accumulation, but the appropriation of the accumulation, that is important to God.

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The Bible warns us against empty pursuits - the thirst for cash, to gain more material resources, to make more money, and perhaps "hit the jackpot" in life. Proverbs 13 offers this:
7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

Later in the chapter, the Bible says:
11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

In the New Living Translation, Proverbs 13:11 says:
11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

Today, I want to continue my series on the perils of gambling, which is a clearly unscriptural practice.  There is evidence that even those who "win" become losers.  An NBC News story about the lottery quotes Paul Golden, a spokesman for the Denver-based non-profit National Endowment for Financial Education: "The perception is that you're never going to worry about money again. In fact, you're going to have to worry about it more than you ever, ever have before."

Ron Riggio, a Claremont McKenna professor of leadership and organizational psychology who has studied past lottery winners, said: "Everyone believes that money is going to bring them happiness, but there's no real evidence of that." The story also points to research from the University of British Columbia, which found that when people prioritize to have more time at the expense of having less money, they're happier.

The story also quotes Gary Buffone, a psychologist and expert on happiness and money, told the TODAY show in response to those findings: "People who prioritize time over money make more effort to invest in activities that are expected to generate a more stable sense of happiness or enjoyment, such as developing strong social relationships, finding enjoyable hobbies and exercising."

And yes, the article highlighted a winner who had carefully managed her finances and things went OK, but it also focused on a winner who became a loser, who is quoted as saying five years after his win, "Everybody dreams of winning money, but nobody realizes the nightmares that come out of the woodwork, or the problems."

Financial expert Dave Ramsey says on his website:

Perhaps the quickest way to ruin your life is to win the lottery.

Don't laugh. Lots of people think that instantly coming into a few million dollars means life on easy street, money that will be around forever, and no need for responsibility or work.

The truth is very rarely does it work out like that for a lottery winner. Unfortunately, a new study published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making finds that people who feel poor are more eager to spend money in an attempt to get rich (this is a good "duh" moment). One recent report found that families who make under $12,400 spend about $645 a year on lottery tickets.

Dave says that, "When you are feeling the money crunch, the last thing you want to do is spend what little money you have on a super-long shot for money. The odds of winning a lottery are literally about one in 125 million.  He points out:

• You are 66 times more likely to die from a snake bite.
• You are 2,001 times more likely to die in the electric chair!
• You are 2,201 times more likely to die from a hornet, wasp or bee sting.
• You are 1,488,095 times more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the gas station to buy the lottery ticket.

He adds, "Banking on winning the lottery is about as ridiculous as it gets!"  Ramsey also says, "Forget the lotto. Working hard and saving money is the only surefire way to make money.  It works every time unlike the lotto."

So, there's one of our takeaways right there.  The Bible has a prescription for sound financial well-being, and it doesn't involve the "get rich quick" approach that the lottery and casino gambling offer.  

The Bible also teaches that the accumulation of wealth does not purchase happiness.   We are taught to seek Christ as our sufficiency, to set our desires on the things of His Kingdom.  We are instructed not to love money, but to be content in Him.  As it's been said, God doesn't want us not to have things, but He does not want things to have us.  

Finally, it is unconscionable that there are certain lawmakers in our state that would want to use this type of scheme as a fundraising measure for a cash-strapped state government.  As people of faith, it is important that we continue to speak out - you can pray and encourage state legislators to resist the temptation to abandon sound monetary principles and embrace an unstable revenue source.