Dealing in Truth

The Lord desires for us to be people of truth - allowing God's truth to control our lives, and being
dedicated to speak the truth - in love. Ephesians 4 says this:
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.

Pilate asked Jesus, "what is truth?"  And, that's a good question for each of us today.  Because truth is not a concept that is determined by individual opinion.   We should be devoted to speak what is true, to live our lives with honesty, and to recognize the Bible as the source of all truth, foundational principles upon which we can build our lives.  We are called to think about what is true, and we should earnestly seek to be people who are reliable and dedicated to doing what is right, as defined in the Word of God.

+++++

The apostle Paul taught Timothy to seek truth and to speak truth, and those are good instructions for us today.  In 2nd Timothy 2, we read in verse 14 that Paul directs Timothy, in reinforcing what he has
taught...
...charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

He continues to exhort his associate, writing...
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

There is another bakery story in the news, and as bizarre as it is, it really can challenge us to make sure that we are dealing in truth.  The story is out of Austin, Texas, and the Austin Statesman reports that:

Austin-based Whole Foods Market on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against an Austin man who claims he purchased a cake from the retailer that included a slur against gay people.

Whole Foods also released its security footage video from its North Lamar Boulevard flagship store that it says contradicts the man’s claims that the store included the slur on the “Love Wins” cake he ordered.

In the countersuit, Whole Foods says the man “intentionally, knowingly and falsely accused Whole Foods and its employees of writing the homophobic slur… on a custom made cake that he ordered from WFM’s Lamar Store in Austin…"

The story says that the company contends that the store employee only wrote "Love Wins" on the cake, and that the slur was added after the customer left the store.  The article reports that Whole Foods says that, "We stand behind our bakery team member, who is part of the LGBTQ community, and we appreciate the team members and shoppers who recognize that this claim is completely false and directly contradicts Whole Foods Market’s inclusive culture, which celebrates diversity."

And, here's a tasty little tidbit here, according to the article: 

“Whole Foods Market has a strict policy that prohibits team members from accepting or designing bakery orders that include language or images that are offensive.”

OK, let me get this straight: Whole Foods, the model of inclusion, directs its team members to deny service to a customer if that customer orders something that is "offensive."  Isn't that what cake bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein did - they decided not to bake a cake for something they found offensive, that violated their deeply held religious beliefs.   And, they were ordered to pay $135,000 because of it.

The fact is, there are going to be instances where people, due to their convictions, are offended. It's part of the human condition - we are going to disagree about various issues. And, those who base their viewpoints on the authority of God's Word have just as much of a right to allow themselves to be governed by our convictions as those who do not share our viewpoints.

That's what the current row about transgender bathrooms is about.  The state of North Carolina decided that it needed to protect the privacy and safety of the overwhelming majority of its citizens, so it passed a commonsense bill to regulate who goes into gender-specific bathrooms - that "offended" people, and major players in the corporate culture are threatening to take their business elsewhere.  We who agree with this legislation face the risk of being "branded" as being haters and bigots, called names, and treated as second-class citizens.   And, now retail giant Target has announced it has taken the debate a step further, granting a special status for transgendered people, while offending the scores of people who believe that they should have appropriate privacy in the restroom, without the threat of someone from the opposite sex sharing the room; and that's not to mention granting access to people who are intent to do harm to women. Target is a private business; that's their right - and we as Christians, as people of conviction, can determine the best way that God is calling us to respond to that decision.

But, we have to be careful that the "war" aspect of our activity, our social consciousness, does not outweigh the "win" aspect that Christ has called us to fulfill.  While we may be in conflict over ideas, we have to make sure that we are not seen as "hating" gay people.  We have to examine our own hearts and allow God to shape our attitudes.  We are called to love all, just as Christ loved us.  And, by extending the love of Christ, we can demonstrate that His love truly wins, and the experience with that true love, even a collision with it, will result in change.  But, we can't change those who need to know the Lord if we are at "war" with them.  And, back to the Whole Foods thing - it appears this man was trying to create a crisis with the slur on the cake...we have to be careful that we do not abide with a "crisis" mentality at the expense of a "commission," a Great Commission, mentality.

Essentials

God wants to bring us to a place in Him where His holiness is manifested in and through our lives. In
1st John 3, we read:
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

We are called to believe on Him and be saved, and we are directed to believe in His principles.  As we consider the essentials of the Christian faith and allow them to drive our lives, we will see our lives line up with the identity that is described in the Scriptures.  A growing Christian, I believe, is characterized by the degree to which his or her beliefs line up with actions.  Belief and behavior are related - what we believe about who we are in the core of our being will ultimately govern the way we behave.

+++++

The image is clear from John chapter 15...Jesus said:
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.

We derive our spiritual life from the life of Jesus, the vine to whom we are each connected.  And, He teaches us later in the chapter:
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Last week, a referred to a new Pew Research study release about how religion affects everyday life.  I wanted to return to that survey and discuss a list that is found in the data - a list of essentials.  The Pew people wanted to examine a link between what people view as "essential" in their lives and the degree to which they actually act in accordance with what they say is important to them.

This supplemental survey, according to the summary, asked U.S. adults whether each of a series of 16 beliefs and behaviors is “essential,” “important but not essential,” or “not important” to what their religion means to them, personally.

Among Christians, believing in God tops the list, with 86% of those identified as Christians saying belief in God is “essential” to their Christian identity.   Which means you have about 1-in-7 who don't think that believing in God is essential as a Christian.  Hmmmm...

Moving on: 71% of Christians say being grateful for what they have, 69% say forgiving those who have wronged them, and 67% relate that always being honest are essential to being Christian.  63% - just under two-thirds - believe that praying regularly is an essential component of their lives as Christians.  Just over a third say that attending religious services is essential. 

At the bottom of the list, 18% say that living a healthy lifestyle and/or resting on the Sabbath are essential, and 14% say buying from companies that pay fair wage is essential.

The Pew summary also says that:

The survey shows a clear link between what people see as essential to their faith and their self-reported day-to-day behavior. Simply put, those who believe that behaving in a particular way or performing certain actions are key elements of their faith are much more likely to say they actually perform those actions on a regular basis.

For example, among Christians who say that working to help the poor is essential to what being Christian means to them, about six-in-ten say they donated time, money or goods to help the poor in the past week. By comparison, fewer Christians who do not see helping the poor as central to their religious identity say they worked to help the poor during the previous week (42%).   The survey also indicates that Christians are more likely to live healthy lives or behave in environmentally conscious ways if they consider these things essential to what it means to be a Christian.

So, there are two questions I want to mention that each of us can examine.  One is, what do we consider "essential" in the Christian life?  And the other is, do our actions line up with what we regard as "essential?"

While that listing of essentials from the Pew survey does seem to be rather works-based, still we recognize that our outward expressions flow from our inward beliefs.  Our list of "essentials" should be based on and compatible with the principles of the Scriptures.   For instance, the principle of accepting Jesus as Savior is not only an "essential," but a pre-requisite for calling oneself a Christian.

And, that can be seen in the fruit we bear - remember that Jesus said that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we will bear fruit; i.e., our actions will line up with our beliefs.  And, if they don't, well, maybe we didn't believe it.  If we believe Jesus lives in us, then we can acknowledge that His nature resides in us, and He has declared us to be holy and righteous - He shows us what that means and empowers us to live in a manner consistent with that identity.

The Air I Breathe

There's a Scripture passage about rejoicing in the Lord, found in Psalm 126:
(1b) When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad.

We can rejoice in Him because of the great things He has done...and that joy in our hearts can produce laughter.   Humor, laughter, joyfulness - there are all components that the Lord offers to us that can help when we are feeling disappointed or brokenhearted.  God wants us to take the issues of life seriously and to think critically and Biblically about our approach to various topics.  But, I also think that He has provided laughter as a gift and desires for us to have, as Proverbs 17 says, merry hearts.

+++++

In Proverbs 17, we can read:
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

It was a very serious show yesterday on The Meeting House.

We are living in challenging times, and it's important that Christians who are rooted in a Biblical worldview perspective develop a Biblical way forward.   Applying truth to difficult issues: helping hurting families, the sanctity of life, defending our faith - those were all on yesterday's agenda.

Today, I want to insert a little levity.   Now, when you get into the realm of humor and satire, you might find some material that won't set really well with you, but at least it can make you think...a little.

So, enjoy today's headline from The Babylon Bee: "'What Has God Ever Done For Me?’ Asks Man Breathing Air."  The story goes like this:

Sources confirmed Tuesday that local freethinker Jared Olson called into question the “absurd” idea that God had ever done anything for him, all while inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide in a complex process well beyond his mind’s capability of understanding in its entirety.

“The idea of ‘god’ is really just holding us back,” Olson opined, addressing the other members of the philosophy club at Edmonds Community College, as the membrane across his larynx vibrated to modulate the flow of air from his lungs, making his speech audible to the people listening, whose intricate ear structures then instantly transformed the invisible sound waves into abstract thought in their brain’s nervous tissue.

Olson went on to pursue the line of reasoning even further, claiming that mankind has science, medicine, and mathematics to thank for its continued existence rather than any sort of all-powerful creator, for which there is “absolutely no evidence.” According to eyewitnesses, he made these claims as the surface his feet rested on continued to spin around the earth’s core without any input from him, all while the only known habitable planet on which he stood rocketed around the center of the galaxy in perfect formation at the unfathomable rate of 490,000 miles per hour.

I mentioned another Bee story earlier this week about a worship leader who was "tragically caught in an infinite loop between the bridge and chorus of Chris Tomlin’s hit worship song How Great Is Our God."

The story "quoted" one of the musicians, who told reporters, “This is our third worship leader who’s been sucked into a PCBV (Perpetual Chorus-Bridge Vortex) in the past year.”

And, there is the story of a small group that was characterized by "awkward silence:"

City Hill Redeemer Church’s newest weeknight small group held the kickoff session of its new in-depth study of awkward silences Monday. The newly-formed group, every member of which appears to be shy and hesitant to answer questions or vocalize prayers, is reportedly looking forward to a six-week study of long, uncomfortable pauses.

The inaugural class focused on Colossians Chapter 1, which, after reportedly asking if anyone would like to read it and being greeted by a lengthy period of suffocating quiet, was read aloud by group leader and Associate Pastor Stan Parker.

Now, I am not endorsing all of the content of the website.  I appreciate the concept, but I do think that it could be regarded as too strong in criticizing, even in fun, Christian leaders and personalities with whom the editors disagree.  That's the danger in humor - you never want to denigrate someone in a manner that is harsh or harmful.   Satire is definitely a skill that I do not possess, nor want to possess.

But, while on the topic of Christian satire, I do think we can address the importance of humor.  The Bible speaks of possessing a merry heart.  Jesus encouraged His disciples to "be of good cheer."

We can certainly take ourselves too seriously sometimes, and a little levity can be good for us. But, be reminded that humor can be a tool to edify, but it can also be a tool to tear down, so we have to be careful in the way that we use it.   And, sometimes we get stuck in our spiritual ruts and need to take another look and perhaps see how absolutely absurd we look in some of our so-called religious practice.  God can use a well-intentioned, humorous perspective and use it to correct our course.   When we are burdened, laughter can be powerful in lifting our spirits.

The Return of Linsanity?

Near the end of his life and ministry, the apostle Paul is emphatic in his charge to Timothy in 2nd
Timothy chapter 4:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

There is the notion of readiness here - Paul tells Timothy essentially to be ready at all times to preach the word.  He also reminds him that the truth will not always be received in the right way.  We are called to be faithful, no matter what opposition we encounter - sometimes that opposition will be direct human effort, other times it will be negative external circumstances.   But, we can depend on the Lord to shape our perspective, to give us clarity, and to produce strength in our spirits.

+++++

As the book of Hebrews nears its close, we find these words in chapter 13:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Don't look now, but Lin-sanity is back.

That's right - but can you name the team for which Jeremy Lin plays?

He is with the Charlotte Hornets, and he scored 21 last night in a winning effort for Michael Jordan's team to bring what is called Buzz City into a 2-2 tie in their opening round against Miami with an 89-85 victory, according to Fox Sports.

According to a story on the CNSNews.com website, Lin had received wide acclaim during his 2012 season with the New York Knicks. Coming off the bench, Lin led the team on a seven game winning streak and into the playoffs, igniting what fans called “Linsanity.” The Knicks lost in the first round to the Miami Heat.

The story cited two recent tweets: in one, he quoted Psalm 37:5: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. After his team's victory last Saturday, Lin tweeted #PraiseGod.

The CNSNews report quotes a Forbes story, which relates that Lin has over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube with over 50 million views. The 27-year-old player has over 3 million Facebook fans, and the author, Mark J. Burns, says that, “according to MVPindex, which calculates athletes’ follower counts, engagement and online sentiment into an index score, Lin currently ranks in the top five among NBA players, with the likes of James, recently-retired star Kobe Bryant and 2015 MVP, Stephen Curry.”

On Instagram Lin is one of the top 30 most-followed NBA players.

Burns writes that faith plays a key role in Lin’s popularity: “There’s a ‘Christian element’ to a lot of what Lin posts, whether it’s a faith verse, a moral cause he supports or a particular value he strives to exhibit in his daily life.”

Jeremy Lin was also featured in a 2013 documentary called, Linsanity.  A Plugged In review of the film says:

Linsanity shows what Jeremy himself believes was a miraculous happening—how an undrafted basketball player went from being cut by two NBA teams and sitting on the bench of a third, to a player in February 2012 who in his first five NBA starts scored more points than any other player in the modern era and created a legitimate public frenzy.

This inspiring documentary takes viewers back in time to get a bit of perspective. For instance, during his senior year, Jeremy helped his Palo Alto high school team win the state basketball title in stellar fashion. And yet none of the major colleges came a courtin'. It was said Jeremy didn't fit the mold. So he took advantage of his one offer and went to Harvard, not exactly a school known for its hoops success. At Harvard, Jeremy's story should have ended if life had played out in typical fashion. Quite frankly, it almost did. Which may be the whole point of the movie. As Jeremy says repeatedly, "I know God orchestrated this whole thing." It's obvious that Jeremy's faith comes before basketball, and yet helps him find purpose in the sport as well.

Admittedly, I had lost track of where Jeremy was in the NBA.  According to NBA.com, he departed New York for Houston, and then went to the Lakers before coming to Charlotte last season.

Plenty of inspiration you can gather from this young man.  For one thing, his story is one of perseverance.  He was unrecruited out of high school, except for Harvard.  And, he was undrafted out of college.  But, he kept playing - kept doing what he was called to do, and believes that God was orchestrating it all.  That's a great word for us - we may not be receiving recognition, we may not believe we are where we need to be, but if we keep trusting the Lord, we can be assured that He is working His plan according to His time.

There's also the element of being prepared when we are called.  Lin was a benchwarmer for the Knicks until his number was called and the rest is history.   We have to make sure that we are pursuing our vocation with passion and develop our skills, trusting in the Lord, so that when our number is called, sort of speak, we can respond in faith and with excellence.  And, remember, there is no such thing as insignificance in the Kingdom of God.

Where God Leads

If we have experienced freedom in Christ, we can rejoice and abide in that freedom that He gives.
That freedom gives us insight into who we really are. 2nd Corinthians 3 says:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Spirit resides in the heart of every believer in Christ, and His inner work will set us free from the power of sin to operate in our lives.  Yes, we will still sin, and we can receive God's forgiveness, but we discover the ability to conquer those areas of sin as we appropriate the resources that are given by the Spirit.  We can see more clearly what God wants to do in our lives and can get a sense of the new identity, the new image, we have in Him.

+++++

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, and we can proclaim the message of His deliverance through word and action. Psalm 40 says:
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.

Another translation of verse 9 uses the word, "deliverance," as in "good news of deliverance."

She was referred to as the underground railroad's most celebrated "conductor."  Her nickname was "Moses." A piece from Christian History magazine on the Christianity Today website says that Harriet Tubman was raised in slavery in eastern Maryland but escaped in 1849. It goes on to say:

Tubman was not satisfied with her own freedom, however. She made 19 return trips to the South and helped deliver at least 300 fellow slaves, boasting "I never lost a passenger." Her guidance of so many to freedom earned her the nickname "Moses."

Tubman's friends and fellow abolitionists claimed that the source of her strength came from her faith in God as deliverer and protector of the weak...

The article stated that Tubman "said she would listen carefully to the voice of God as she led slaves north, and she would only go where she felt God was leading her. Fellow abolitionist Thomas Garrett said of her, 'I never met any person of any color who had more confidence in the voice of God.'"

Religion News Service reports that the Washington bureau chief of The Atlantic, Yoni Appelbaum, tweeted a story recorded by the abolitionist’s first biographer, Sarah Hopkins Bradford. As the story goes, according to the article:

Sometime after Tubman escaped to freedom, she learned her parents, still enslaved in Maryland, were in trouble, according to Appelbaum. She staged a sit-down hunger strike at the New York office of abolitionist Oliver Johnson in order to secure the $20 she needed to rescue them. The Lord had told her to, she reportedly said.

“Well, I guess the Lord’s mistaken this time,” Johnson said.

The story says that Tubman contended that the Lord was not and she declared she would sit there until she got it.  Supporters slipped $60 into her pockets while she slept, and she was able to lead her father to freedom.

Applebaum, noting that she wanted 20 dollars, noted that now she will be on all of our $20 bills.

The RNS story also reports that at the end of her life, Tubman was active in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Auburn, New York. According to her obituary in the Auburn Citizen, the last words she uttered were also ones of faith: “I go to prepare a place for you.”

So, this is the woman - RNS says that:

The move will make Tubman the first African-American, the first woman in more than 100 years and the first unabashed Christian to be portrayed on a bill.

Now, one might contend that men like Washington and Lincoln were Christians, as well, but the point is well taken.  The evidence here points to someone who was outspoken about her faith and dedicated to the voice of God.

I think there are several aspects of the story of Harriet Tubman that can be applicable for our lives today.  One question we can ask ourselves is: How will you be remembered?  Yes, we are living for the present, but we are also crafting a legacy.  Our lives can be a statement for others to follow and regard.  We can also consider the degree to which faith is or will be a component of the sum total of our lives.

Harriet Tubman displayed a confidence in hearing the voice of God.  A blow to the head while a teenager, according to RNS, resulted in her ability to experience what were termed "visions," and more, which she believed to be from the Lord and helped in leading people to freedom.   We may not receive the type of vivid experience that Tubman apparently had, but we can know that God speaks - He speaks through His Word and He gives direction by His Spirit.  A good challenge for us is to make sure we are listening and discerning His instruction for us.

Finally, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom from slavery.  But, she didn't go to her new home and enjoy her freedom privately - she demonstrated her love for other people by risking her life to help deliver hundreds of others.  We can be inspired to lay down our own desires for the betterment of others.

No Free Lunch

Jesus has come to satisfy the longing that He has placed in each of our hearts.  He is the bread of life and gives us living water. In Matthew 5, in the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches:
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Jesus will meet the needs of our hearts, and He has placed on us a responsibility to demonstrate to the world how our needs have been met.  We can have tangible fruit from our lives and lips that shows that Jesus resides in us, and we can depend on Him to open up divine appointments, through which we can share the love and life of Jesus.  Our satisfaction in Him can be a powerful and contagious force that can deeply impact lives.

+++++

We are called to share the hope of the world, the Lord Jesus, who satisfies our spiritual hunger and
thirst. In John chapter 6, we read:
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
28 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

It began with some parents of high school students in Middleton, Wisconsin, who wished to provide food for their kids at school - along with some spiritual nourishment in the form of Bible study.  What has come to be known as the "Jesus Lunch" has grown from less than 40 students to 10 times that amount - about a fourth of the student body, according to the Christian Examiner website.  The gathering grew so large that it was moved to Fireman's Park, adjacent to the school.  It meets on a weekly basis.

Now, the school wants to shut it down.

Recently, Middleton High School Principal Steve Plank and Middleton-Cross Plains District Administrator Don Johnson sent a letter to the parents claiming the lunchtime religious discussion is a violation of school policy on numerous levels, among them the use of school facilities for a religious club during school hours, the presence of unauthorized visitors to the campus, and food safety regulations.

The parents have retained an attorney, Phillip Stamman, who told local television station WKOW, "Just because a public entity leases to a private organization or a private citizen, that public park does not become a private entity, so the First Amendment Right still applies."

And, a follow-up Christian Examiner story reports that this past Tuesday, protestors showed up, with students calling for "separation of church and state" and shouts of protest about white Christians being divisive at the school. The students who protested, the Wisconsin State Journal claimed, were supported by the atheist Freedom from Religion Foundation.  FFRF also offered some sweets to students.

FFRF said it was invited to the gathering by a student at the school who claims to be Christian, but who reportedly feels like the event violates the Constitution. According to FFRF, the organizers of the "Jesus Lunch" provide lunch, hand out Bibles and engage in proselytization, "all contrary to the wishes" of the district.

"Jesus Lunch" organizers say there is no problem with their use of the park and no infringement on any constitutional principles. Students are not required to attend, accept food or Bibles, or even to hang around to listen to discussions about religion and the Bible. The normal 3-5 minute presentation of biblical truths that normally accompanies the lunch was called off on Tuesday due to the protests.

WND points out that students at the school may even go to eat at local dining establishments.  But to go to a public park where they may be exposed to religion is not OK?  The WND report said that the superintendent tried to block the students and parents from entering the park.  And, police were brought in, but their stated intent was to keep the peace and allow people to exercise their First Amendment rights.

Based on a discussion with Middleton's city administrator, the Christian Examiner contends that, "the question remains open as to whether the district (a government entity) can legally restrict free speech and religious liberty on the grounds of a taxpayer-funded public park when the event is organized by students on their own lunch hour."

I think there is room for an agreement here, but it seems the principal and superintendent are intentionally fanning the flames.  The event seems to be popular, I don't see any evidence that the parents or students are trying to restrict attendance demographically, or even based on religion - it's a public gathering.  So, what's the problem?  It seems that this "free lunch" has come at a weighty cost.

Could be that you have school officials who have become so intimidated by those 5 little words by Thomas Jefferson, "separation of church and state," that anything that appears to be religious and could attract a lawsuit or even a bit of bluster from the neighborhood atheist bullies causes them to take unconstitutional action.  This incident reminds us that a right rendering of the phrase implies that religious people should be free to assemble or live out their faith without the heavy hand of government trying to shut it down.  And, of course, there should be no state church, which apparently was Jefferson's point.

Yes, there should be a "wall of separation" - between overzealous officials who take advantage of Christian people and attempt to restrict their freedom of speech and freedom to assemble.

A "wall of separation" - between believers who want to act on their Christian principles and a government that would want to discriminate against them by forcing them to make decisions that would be contrary to their deeply-held beliefs.

A "wall of separation" between officials who are trying to protect the rights of all their citizens and corporate leaders who threaten officials who do not buy in to their intolerant agenda.

But, constitutionally, where there should be a proper wall of separation, we also recognize that there should be no separation between those who profess Christ and those who need to hear His truth and observe His love.   We are called to live in a manner that is distinct from the world, sure, but we are never to live our lives in a bubble where our faith is not easily observable.   The "Jesus Lunch" grew because parents wanted to nourish their kids physically and spiritually - and the students spread the word and invited their friends.  Isn't that the way the gospel is supposed to work...come and find the bread of life - here, with us?  

Fully Integrated

We have been chosen by God to demonstrate to the world who He is.  That may seem like a rather daunting task; and it's really impossible without the release of the power of the Holy Spirit.  In
Deuteronomy 7, we read:
6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;
8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

We have done nothing to deserve the grace of God.  He has chosen us, and even though these verse were written to the children of Israel, we realize that because of Jesus, we are part of His covenant people.  We are special to Him, greatly loved and designed to be set apart for His glory.  He calls us to integrate His principles and His power in manifesting His character.  We are Christ's ambassadors, and He desires to show us - and others - His love in amazing ways.

+++++

I want to spotlight 2 verses from 1st Peter chapter 2 that speak to our identity in Christ and how that
impacts the way we are to live:
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.

There's also verse 9, which tells us:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...

One of the bedrock principles upon which the radio show, The Meeting House, is built, is that our Christian worldview perspective should influence or even infiltrate the totality of our lives.  We are not called to compartmentalize secular and sacred; rather we are to allow the principles of Scripture to guide our decisions and shape our lifestyles.

So how well are religious people doing in that "infiltration" department? A newly released Pew Research study addresses that topic area. The survey summary says that "people who are highly religious are more engaged with their extended families, more likely to volunteer, more involved in their communities and generally happier with the way things are going in their lives."

To correlate those generalities with specific numbers, nearly half of highly religious Americans – defined as those who say they pray every day and attend religious services each week – gather with extended family at least once or twice a month, contrasted with 3-in-10 Americans who are less religious who gather as frequently with their extended families. 65% of highly religious adults say they have donated money, time or goods to help the poor in the past week, compared with 41% who are less religious. 40% of highly religious U.S. adults describe themselves as “very happy,” compared with 29% of those who are less religious.

But, in other areas, there is less of a difference between the highly religious and those who are not as religious.  Those areas include interpersonal interactions, attention to health and fitness, and social and environmental consciousness. The survey shows that highly religious people are about as likely as other Americans to say they lost their temper recently, and they are only marginally less likely to say they told a white lie in the past week. When it comes to diet and exercise, highly religious Americans are no less likely to have overeaten in the past week, and they are no more likely to say they exercise regularly.

Regarding the practice of prayer, the survey reports that "while relatively few people look to religious leaders for guidance on major decisions, many Americans do turn to prayer when faced with important choices. Indeed, among those who are highly religious, nearly nine-in-ten (86%) say they rely 'a lot' on prayer and personal religious reflection when making major life decisions, which exceeds the share of the highly religious who say they rely a lot on their own research."

Also, three-quarters of adults – including 96% of members of historically black Protestant churches and 93% of evangelical Protestants – say they thanked God for something in the past week. Two-thirds, including 91% of those in the historically black Protestant tradition and 87% of evangelicals, say they asked God for help during the past week. Only one-third of religiously unaffiliated Americans say they thanked God for something in the past week, and one-in-four have asked God for help in the past week.

We have placed a special emphasis on prayer as of late on Faith Radio, and prayer is such a powerful component of the Christian life.  When we face decisions or disappointments, trials or triumphs, we can come before the Lord in prayer, and depend on Him to work in all areas of life.  That is the infiltration of our Christian faith into the totality of our lives, the holistic practice of the Christian faith.

While the Pew survey does show that there are some areas where people of faith are distinctive, there are others where we could show some improvement.  The Bible speaks strongly to the areas of controlling anger and telling the truth.  We are to care for our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit, so the Bible speak to health and fitness, where highly religious people aren't as distinctive. The Scriptures even teach us how we are to be responsible with the environment.

The challenge we have is to make progress toward a "fully integrated" life, spiritually speaking. It starts with our personal prayer and devotional life with God, but we don't leave it there. Participation in church activities is an important component, but the inner life of faith requires that we take the church experience and live it out in the world.  What we learn from the Lord in the incubator of our time with Him, we are to apply to the decisions we make and the way we exhibit His character.   We worship Him one-on-one, but we also worship Him as one life displayed before the world.

Not a God

In Colossians 3, we can read that we belong to God, but we are also warned against putting anything
above Him.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

We have new life in Jesus Christ, and we are hidden with Him - He is our Lord and Savior, and He calls us to surrender our lives to Him.  Because we are hidden in Christ, we have access to the power of God in order to put to death those things which vie for our attention, the activities that would distract us from living to the glory of God.  Whatever we prioritize before Him becomes an idol; it essentially is a false God to whom we pay homage, and we do so to our detriment.

+++++

In Exodus 20, we find the Ten Commandments, and the very first one provides a foundation for
living in a manner that honors the Lord:
2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 You shall have no other gods before Me.

And, the second deals with idolatry:
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

This case really made it into a Federal court?

And it garnered a 16-page ruling?

Really?

It seems that a prisoner had requested to have Pastafarianism recognized as his religion, which would entitle him to Pastafarian literature and trappings, according to a Religion News Service report. For example, Pastafarians sometimes wear colanders on their heads.

The "deity" in this so-called religion is the Flying Spaghetti Monster, referred to as “His Flying Noodliness." The U.S. District Court of Nebraska ruled on April 12 that Pastafarianism is satire, not sacred, and that anyone who thinks it is a religion has made an error “of basic reading comprehension.” The ruling said, in part, “The FSM Gospel is plainly a work of satire, meant to entertain while making a pointed political statement. To read it as religious doctrine would be little different from grounding a ‘religious exercise’ on any other work of fiction.”

And, they needed a real court to tell them that?

The report says that the website for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster states, "Some claim that the church is purely a thought experiment or satire,” adding, "The Church of FSM is legit, and backed by hard science. Anything that comes across as humor or satire is purely coincidental.”

Now, this "religion" of Pastafarianism was actually created in 2005 as a means of protesting the Kansas State Board of Education’s decision to include “intelligent design” — the notion that the universe is so complex it must be the work of some unknown designer — in its science curriculum.

This little blurb has some lessons to teach us.  For one thing, I think it shows how some people will resort to making fun of something with which they disagree or do not understand.  In this case, they didn't agree with the Kansas school board decision about intelligent design, so they responded less-than-intelligently. Social media is teeming with less-than-diplomatic comments about the legitimate beliefs of others.

And, a late-night television program is facing criticism for a parody of the movie, God's Not Dead, that it performed the other night.  Charisma News reported on a recent sketch in which Saturday Night Live did a parody of the popular Christian film franchise, demanding that a baker in the skit say, "God is gay." The sketch features a baker who is faced with a lawsuit after refusing to bake a cake for a gay couple, much like the real-life battles of Aaron and Melissa Klein. The baker must defend why God is straight, with several descriptions of God's sexual desires.  According to a Fox News piece that quoted from a Hollywood Reporter story, actor Pat Boone, one of the stars of God's Not Dead 2, said that the skit was "anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and 'outright sacrilege.'"

Well, it's likely your god is not the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but there may be something that you treat as god over your life that inhibits your relationship with the one true God.  When God said that we were to have no other gods before Him, that was not merely a suggestion - it was a command that results in a more fulfilling life.   So, we have to ask ourselves if there is something, someone, or a group of things or persons that we put in the place of God and in fact create idols.   Failure to exalt God into the most high position in our lives carries detrimental consequences.

So, Pastafarianism has lost in court, but what ideas are winning in our own consciousness?

NOT YELLING

In James chapter 1, we read about some principles that can be helpful when we are encountering
opposition in our lives. First of all, let's take verses 5 and 6:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Now, let's drop down to verse 12:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Then, it's verses 19 and 20:
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.

Three principles here: rely on Godly wisdom, not on our own.  We are blessed when we endure temptation.  And, we are to stand against anger.   They're related, you see:  if we are trusting in God's wisdom, I believe He will give us peace.  His peace - and His strength - are available to stand in temptation. Plus, we can adopt that posture in whatever circumstances, not reacting in anger, but responding in faith.

+++++

In John chapter 16, Jesus exhorts His disciples to take advantage of His resources when we face tribulation:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Once upon a time, before our weather was available on a multiplicity of sources and brought to us via the Internet, you would have your National Weather Service official forecast that would come over one machine with a printer.

The forecasts were delivered in a cold, hard format with ALL CAPITAL LETTERS - until recently.

According to a piece on The Stream website, the National Weather Service (NWS) has finally announced it will no longer be sending out weather reports using all capital letters — a feat that’s only taken the bureaucracy 20 years to complete. A NWS press release on the change in weather bulletins said, “Better late than never, but the slow change was not for lack of trying."

The change was announced in that press release that said, “FORECASTS WILL STOP YELLING AT YOU.” For decades, NWS weather reports were sent over the wire in only capital letters because the teleprinters they used only allowed bulletins to be written that way.

The article points out that in the Internet age, "something written in all capital letters is generally meant to convey anger or alarm. It’s the way you yell at someone over the Web, and NWS will finally change over all their old equipment so they can use lower-case letters. And it only took 20 years."

The press release says that, “The National Weather Service has proposed to use mixed-case letters several times since the 1990s, when widespread use of the Internet and email made teletype obsolete." It also states that, "Meteorologists will still be able to use all upper-case typeset for 'weather warnings to emphasize threats during extremely dangerous situations.'" Plus, "Certain forecast products with international implications, such as aviation and shipping, will continue to use upper case letters, per international agreements that standardize weather product formats across national borders,” according to the weather service.

What a relief!  No longer will the official forecasts be YELLING at us.  Now, I have to admit, I still will use caps in my subject lines, so if you get an e-mail from me, that will be part of the equation. But, one has to certainly be careful about tone when you are dealing with e-mail.

And, that is one of the first takeaways.  I am definitely an e-mail person - so if you want to contact me, that's generally the way to go.  But, it is difficult to convey tone sometimes in a written format.  I think that's where a smiley face or some other emoticon can soften the blow if you're dealing with information that could be taken the wrong way.  And, I will concede at times a personal conversation may be more effective in communicating in the way you would intend.

It's all about communicating effectively, and we recognize that we are representatives of the Kingdom of God, so message - and method - are important.  The right things said in the right way can make the right connection. But, if we are strident in our approach and even express ourselves with a tinge of frustration or outright anger, that short-circuits what we're trying to get across.

Culturally speaking, it's easy to become angry with the way things are these days.  The furtherance of secularism, the helpless feeling that our moral perspective is not being heard, the outright inability, it seems, of political leaders to get things done, can all produce a sense of anger and frustration.  We can be challenged as believers to offer a better approach - sure, we have a right to be concerned, but our Lord told His disciples that there would be tribulation, but to possess "good cheer."  That is not a flippant, uncaring attitude, but it is a sense of deep, fulfilling joy resulting from the hope that is within us.

Challenges To the Bible - At the Library!

The Lord wants to us know Him better and to follow in His principles.  Part of our spiritual growth involves being able to appropriate what He has taught us and what we have heard through those who
teach the Bible to us. Isaiah 30 says:
20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

We can know the way to walk through this world - God has not left us here to fend for ourselves; no, He desires to see us skillfully apply the principles that He has taught to us.  The Bible contains the wisdom of God and instruction in walking in His ways.  We can find out more about who He is and how He desires for us to walk.   And, the Word of God provides a foundation for an orderly society and can shape our common morality.

+++++

In 2nd Peter 1, we read about the potential that we have in Christ - to walk in His truth and to know
Him. We read, starting in verse 2:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Every year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books, according to its website. It says that it does this, "in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The ALA condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information."

The website goes on: "A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness."

The top book that has been challenged: Looking for Alaska, by John Green, for the reasons of "Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group."  50 Shades of Grey came in second, followed by I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, for the stated reasons: "Inaccurage, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group."  Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin is fourth, and the fifth most-challenged book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

So, I'm confused here, does the ALA really think these books should be made available without restrictions?  That's what it sounds like.  All 5 of these listed "unsuited for age group" as a complaint. Three of them had complaints about the "religious viewpoint," as did the #6 book on the ALA's list...The Bible!  Yes, because of religious viewpoint.

James LaRue, director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, is quoted on the Religion News Service website: “I think the value of the Top 10 list is it’s an index of complaints, and so it says, ‘What are the things we fear in our culture?'” He noted that the “persistent mistaken belief that separation of church and state says that you can’t find a Bible — or really any religious scripture — in a public library or school library, and that’s just wrong." He added, "I think it’s important for people to understand the job of the library is to provide information and provide access to a number of different views. We’re not endorsing one or trying to tamp down others. We’re just opening our doors and inviting people in to satisfy their curiosity."

He mentioned that, "There’s almost a little retaliatory feel to people speaking up against the Bible because they want to go on record as being opposed to Christian opposition to LGBT (issues) or Christian opposition to Islam."

A Christianity Today article quotes Andrew Hood, director of communications at the American Bible Society: "The Bible—the most-translated and best-selling book of all time—has informed centuries of literature, government, philosophy and social behavior,” adding, “To exclude it from public libraries and schools would be to diminish access to the most influential book of all time." The article points out that, "While five books on the ALA’s list cite 'religious viewpoint' as a reason why they made the list, the Bible is the only book where that is the only reason cited."

As we move into some more analysis, I think it's helpful to recognize that the Bible is more than a collection of stories or rules for living.   In a macro sense, the Bible is a prescription for an orderly and moral society.   What we call right and wrong, in many instances, can be traced back to God's Word.  Taking the life of another person, or telling a lie, or stealing someone else's belongings - these are all universally accepted prohibitions that are found in the pages of the Scriptures.  If you reject the moral code found in the Bible, then society is leaving it up to the whims of human beings.  "Your truth is different than my truth" is not a sound basis for the structure of a culture.

And, interestingly enough, people find these books on the ALA complaint list unacceptable because they violate a common sensibility, right?  So how did we acquire that?  I would say that the objections to this so-called literature are consistent with the Biblical values that are ingrained in our society.

Finally, God's Word teaches us how to experience His life and walk in godliness.  We learn about God through our careful study of Scripture and we can actually come to know Him as we allow the Word to take root in our minds.  For our individual lives, we can experience an orderly and fulfilling life as we apply His principles to our thoughts and actions.

Rising Up

In Proverbs 29:18, we find this powerful verse:
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

The King James Version says that, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

You could describe vision as a concept of seeing where we are going.  Or, in the spiritual sense, it's where God wants to take us.  We have been placed on this earth with a purpose, and God desires for us to come to a saving knowledge of Christ, and then to follow Him in obedience.  That obedience involves keeping God's Word and following the Holy Spirit - we can gain a sense of what God wants to do in us and through us, developing an ability to follow and fulfill the desires He has placed on our hearts.

+++++

From a passage in Habakkuk chapter 2, we can be inspired to develop a God-honoring vision, and to
trust Him to bring it to pass in His way, in His time.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

A Detroit public school received national attention recently because it was on the receiving end of the "biggest, most generous giveaway ever" from the Ellen DeGeneres show.  According to a Detroit Free Press article, Spain Elementary-Middle School in Midtown Detroit received more than $500,000 in donations, facilitated by the talk show host, in partnership with Lowe's.  She also set up a GoFundMe page with a $5 million goal.  And, Justin Bieber is getting in on the act, pledging to donate a dollar from each ticket he sells to his suburban concert on April 25 to the school.

One of the teachers said that the financial assistance couldn't have come at a better time. Even though it's a performing arts school, Spain no longer has drama or band classes because of budget cuts.  And city inspectors in January found 16 code and ordinance violations, including mold growing under busted wood flooring in the gym. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ordered city inspections of every district school after teachers across the district staged several sick-outs to protest conditions inside the buildings.

The school may be experiencing some physical revitalization.  And, Midtown is experiencing some spiritual revitalization.  Just last Sunday, the Detroit Church began to meet at that very school, and the effort to bring the love of Christ and the Word of God to the city hub, which is experiencing some growth, but there is also poverty, a homeless population, and longtime residents who struggle, according to another Detroit Free Press article.

The new church plant is a collaborative effort that is being helped by six big houses of worship: Kensington Church in Troy; Grace Community Church in Detroit; Oak Pointe Church in Novi; Ward Church in Northville; Evangel Ministries in Detroit; and 242 Community Church in Brighton.
Those mostly suburban churches have invested $250,000 in the new Detroit Church and are lending their time and expertise in getting the congregation started.

Those six churches were part of an initiative created five years ago to help Detroit by Baptist, nondenominational, and evangelical congregations called Everyone A Chance to Hear (EACH). For years, they've thought of ways to help plant churches in Detroit and hope the new church can be the spark to bring the message of Christianity to those who might be looking for a new worship experience.  A staff member at Kensington told the website that the leaders of the six churches are encouraging their members to donate to Detroit Church and even join, which is a rare move that shows their commitment.

Pastor Sonny Smith, who is African-American, says that "What I'm attracted to is a church that mirrors a representation of the church we see in the Book of Revelation," adding, "The Bible says, 'Before God's throne you have every tribe, you have every tongue, every kindred together as one worshipping.' "

Smith says, "I feel like this city is on the precipice of being an example to the entire world of different ethnicities, diversities, class, education coming together. Who better to lead that than the church? ... Detroit needs to see a church like that."

I mentioned the Everyone A Chance to Hear, or EACH initiative.  The mission statement is impressive:

Mission Statement: Working together as a body of believers, we will give everyone in the Metropolitan Detroit area a chance to take the next step in their journey toward Jesus.

Lord willing, this will be the widest and most effective ongoing evangelistic campaign in the history of Michigan. The goal is not simply to give every person multiple chances to connect with the message of Christ; but also . . .

• To see tens of thousands come to faith in Christ . . .
• To see churches and church leaders working together as one body . . .
• To see substantial growth in our existing churches . . .
• To see momentum in the planting of many new churches in our region . . .
• To permanently alter the spiritual landscape of Southeastern Michigan . . .
• To make a statement to a watching world: Detroit IS rebuilding, and JESUS is the foundation of our comeback!

It quotes from a 2010 Time Magazine Annual Edition:

Opening sentence: “Detroit has become an icon of the failed American city.”

Closing sentence: “The world is now watching Detroit with interest – and waiting to see if it finds a way to rise from the ashes.”

EACH says that, "That ‘way’ has something to do with the Lordship of Jesus in this region."

From my observations, there are several elements that are inspiring here:

One is that there is a vision.  Those that are part of this effort have a desire to see spiritual transformation in the inner city of Detroit - they have allowed God to create in their hearts a desire to reach people with God's love and the message of the gospel.

You can see that there is a strategy.  Churches have come together and have done more than just talk, they have been engaged, looking outside of their local congregations and focusing squarely on what God wants to do through this new church plant.

Just a note:  yesterday, Franklin Graham encouraged those in attendance at Decision America to make a pledge.  The pledge has two main elements:  a pledge to God and a pledge to our country.  From the Decision America website, you can read:

In our pledge to God, there is: 

I pledge to honor God at home—by living biblical principles, striving for purity in or out of marriage, and pursuing godliness in all my relationships.

There is also...

I pledge to honor God in public—by standing for biblical principles and serving those in need.

And...

I pledge to honor God with my vote—supporting, where possible, candidates who will uphold biblical principles, including the sanctity of life and the sacredness of marriage.

And, in the pledge to our country, the components are:

1. I pledge to pray fervently and faithfully for America.
2. I pledge to be registered and to vote in every election—local, state, and federal—supporting, where possible, candidates who uphold biblical principles.
3. I pledge to engage in my community with God’s truth and prayerfully consider running for office.

So, Frankin Graham has introduced a vision and strategy for prayer and action.  And, there are two other areas that we find in the founding of that church in Detroit, that is also a component of what Franklin Graham related to the crowd in Montgomery yesterday.  There is spiritual sensitivity.  The Detroit Church is part of a movement to lift up Jesus in the Midtown area of the city - and they see that the presence of Jesus is the way for the city to rise from the ashes.  Franklin Graham says America is in trouble and the only answer is Jesus Christ.  He is calling for collaboration...the body of Christ coming together in unity; he is calling thousands of believers together, in city after city.  The churches in Detroit are collaborating, working together to see spiritual transformation in the city of Detroit.  

So, let's think together about vision, strategy, spiritual sensitivity, and collaboration.  These are elements of God's game plan that can make an impact on people who need to know Him.

#16

God is inviting us to draw near to Him; where we have strayed from His path in thought or action, He wants to restore us. Hosea 6 says:
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

We serve a God who desires to bring healing and restoration in our lives.  There may be those areas where we suffer brokenness - and sometimes brokenness is necessary in order to bring renewal - but, we can depend on Him to do His work in our hearts, to build us back up, to reconstruct our lives stronger and more satisfying than ever before.  As we surrender to the hand of God, as we humble ourselves, we recognize that put ourselves in a position to experience a deep work of the Holy Spirit.

+++++

Today's Scripture from the Decision America prayer guide is from Psalm 51:
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

The request is: "Pray for revival in our cities, our states, our nation, and all nations."

Today, it was the 16th scheduled Decision America prayer rally in Montgomery, Alabama.  Yesterday, in anticipation of our coverage of today's events, we spent some time watching the Mississippi rally - after which, Franklin Graham posted this on Facebook:

It was great to pray with the people of Mississippi today on their Capitol steps in Jackson! God held off the rain and over 6,500 people who care about this country came out to stand together at our Decision America Tour prayer rally.

I thank God for courageous governors like Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and legislators who are willing stand strong for what is right, even when it means coming under fire. Gov. Bryant is right, the media for the most part, is feeding the frenzy of misunderstanding, anger, and negativity about his state’s new bill that protects people of faith. Similar battles are going on in lots of states, including North Carolina, so pray for our governors and our legislators to have the boldness and wisdom they need. Pray for our nation as secularism and progressivism tries to push America farther and farther away from God and morality. There’s no question, our country needs God’s favor and His blessing.

And, there you get a glimpse of the heart of the Decision America tour.  The tour website posts statistics about each state, and includes some Barna data regarding the spiritual condition.  In Alabama, 70% of the people would be described as "Casual Christian," 23% as "Captive Christian."

I had posted earlier a description of those terms, as related by the Barna website, reported by Yellowhammer News.

The lives of Captive Christians are defined by their faith; their worldview is built around their core spiritual beliefs and resultant values. Casual Christians are defined by the desire to please God, family, and other people while extracting as much enjoyment and comfort from the world as possible.

The big difference between these two tribes is how they define a successful life. For Captives, success is obedience to God, as demonstrated by consistently serving Christ and carrying out His commands and principles. For Casuals, success is balancing everything just right so that they are able to maximize their opportunities and joys in life without undermining their perceived relationship with God and others.

Stated differently, Casuals are about moderation in all things while Captives are about extreme devotion to their God regardless of the worldly consequences.

The group states, "Captive Christians consider Casuals to not be genuine followers of Christ."

The profile of Alabama also relates that 1 in 5 people in the state live below the poverty level, and it includes the names of our Governor and 2 U.S. Senators.

There has been a 30-day prayer guide leading up to today on the Decision America website.  Some of the requests, going back to last week, include:  Praying for Christians to be salt and light to Alabama through humble hearts, acts of service, and the sharing of the Gospel, praying for wisdom for individuals in leadership as they make decisions for communities and the nation, praying for strength for God’s people to uphold justice and stand against sin in the world, and praying for peace and calmness in the streets and neighborhoods of Alabama.

I thought it was interesting that one social statistic - about poverty - is included.  And, I contend that the church has the means and the responsibility to help to address that issus.  I came across a Probe Ministries piece on wealth and poverty.  It cites 4 reasons for poverty: oppression and fraud; misfortune, persecution, or judgment; laziness, neglect, or gluttony; and a the culture of poverty.

Regarding that last item, the article says that, "Poverty breeds poverty, and the cycle is not easily broken. People who grow up in an impoverished culture usually lack the nutrition and the education that would enable them to be successful in the future."

But, there are solutions: it points out that in the Old Testament, there were two means to help the poor: through the gleaning laws, where unharvested crops were left for the poor, and through the tithe, which provided funds for the church and the poor. The piece also says that in the New Testament, the church had a role in helping meet the needs of the poor.

The article states:

These verses concerning the gleaning laws and the tithe seem to indicate that both the government and the church should be involved in helping the poor. Ideally, the church should be in the vanguard of this endeavor. Unfortunately, the church has neglected its responsibility, and government is now heavily involved in poverty relief.

And, it says:

Poverty is as much a psychological and spiritual problem as it is an economic problem, and it is in this realm that the church can be most effective. Although salvation is not the sole answer, the church is better equipped than the government to meet the psychological and spiritual needs of poverty-stricken people. Most secular social programs do not place much emphasis on these needs and thus miss an important element in the solution to poverty.

I believe one of the benefits of spiritual revival is the addressing of social wrongs.  And, an overarching product of revival is to address spiritual poverty.  Looking at those Barna statistics, there is noted evidence of spiritual poverty - 93% claim to be Christian in Alabama, but 7-in-10 are not living a Christian life that lines up with the Scriptures.   So, there is work to do, but the Holy Spirit is willing and capable.

So, we start with our own hearts - we can identify those attitudes and actions that do not line up with God's standards.  We can depend on the Holy Spirit to convict us where our lives need improvements.  And, then, we can be confident that through the instruction of the Word and the power of the Spirit released in our lives, He will institute course correction.   Where we are Casual in our Christian walk, we can move to Captive.  Jesus wants to capture our hearts and move in and through us to reflect His nature.

Inappropriate

We can certainly find ourselves alarmed at some the offensive behavior in which people engage. The Bible promises that sinful times will come as we approach the return of our Lord.  In 1st Timothy 4, we can read:
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

There's the charge to each of us - we are to believe and know the truth.  The truth teaches us what pleases God and what does not.  God's truth provides an anchor, a moral compass, a sense of "true north," when there is confusion over what is right and what is wrong.  His Word can bring clarity to our lives, and show us a way to live that is honoring to Him and satisfying to us.  And, if we are staying true to Him, we can have security in times that are troubling.

+++++

We often talk about some of the geopolitical signs of the last days, and I'm intrigued at the information that Jimmy DeYoung brings to my radio show.  But, in 2nd Timothy 3, we see more
signs of the last days, but in the form of sinful activity:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

It's being called an...epidemic, and Alabama has been termed "ground zero" for what I would term a major moral issue.  And, please be aware, this material I'm about to discuss will not be appropriate for young children.

And, the behavior is not appropriate for children or adults.  Unfortunately, it involves children AND adults.  A former Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Education has called Alabama "ground zero" for inappropriate student-teacher relationships.

He came to that conclusion after the consulting firm he now chairs conducted a study on such relationships nationwide.

Yellowhammer News has the story, which ran on March 31 and states:

The Alabama Department of Education is tracking the number of investigations they’ve conducted of inappropriate sexual relationships between students and teachers. As of March 22, that number was 10. That number may not include investigations that occurred in last two to three weeks.

Between 2014-2015, the Department of Education investigated nearly 100 cases. In, 2013 the state investigated 35 cases. In 2012, that number was slightly lower at 27. In 2011, the number was 25.

The consultant has declared it an epidemic.

The article includes material from a WBRC television story, which quotes consultant Terry Abbott of Drive West Communications, who is quoted as saying "We can’t pretend this isn’t a problem anymore. In some ways when you look at the rate of these cases per population, Alabama is the epicenter of that problem. Too many districts in Alabama and elsewhere have no policy prohibiting secret electronic communication between teachers and students..."

A survey from 2014 conducted by Abbott’s firm revealed that 40 percent of the cases nationwide involved secret communications from teachers to students. From August through October of 2015, Abbott’s firmed tracked 253 cases of illegal student and school employee relationships. Of that number, 76 were school coaches.

There was an attempt to even bring some action through the Alabama Legislature, which would have provided training for teachers, but that effort met with opposition.

Yellowhammer reported some heartbreaking incidences:

The Decatur Police Department arrested a 42-year-old teacher for having inappropriate physical contact with at least two students under the age of 19. And, a 37-year-old algebra teacher at Central High Freshman Academy in Phenix City was also charged with having inappropriate physical contact in with one of her students. And, earlier this year a former Alabama high school teacher avoided charges against her because she decided to marry him.

WBRC reports that a statement from the State Department of Education said the department is working hard to make Alabama classrooms safer. A spokesperson pointed out that steps have been taken to further enforce existing laws and regulations.

The guardrails are seemingly off, and while it's nearly impossible to completely shut down this type of behavior, this is indicative of the moral challenges that are present in our culture.  Electronic media has helped to foster this behavior - communication leads to action, and when the lines are blurred or obliterated between an authority figure and those over whom a person has been given authority, then you can expect that some illicit behavior may occur.

There are several thoughts I want to share here.  One is very practical - it's important that students are are educated to recognize when inappropriate advances are taking place.  And that students are taught what is and what is not appropriate communication or activity with an authority figure. That's something parents can play a part in. And, since there are strong elements of electronic media, the lines need to be clearly set between student and teacher.   

But, there's a broader view of the landscape.  We are living in a highly sexualized society.  And, everyone has to have his or her guardrails up.  When you read of moral failure on the part of authority figures, even those in the church, that can challenges churches, schools, and other institutions to make sure there are proper boundaries.  And, people have to set boundaries with those of the opposite sex, and even go overboard into preserving the correct distance in order to avoid compromising positions.  

On the website for the magazine called, Ministry, Dan Serns writes about an interview he had read with Chuck Swindoll...

...where he talked about the importance of boundaries for spiritual leaders. He said we often want to respond to needs and, as a result, we don’t use good judgment. He mentioned that sometimes when he was talking with women they would say “You seem distant,” to which he would reply, “If you would like to feel closer to someone, we have ladies who are spiritual leaders in our church that we can arrange for you to talk with.”

He cites standards from Saddleback Church.  Although these are directed at spiritual leaders, they could be instructive for anyone.  There are 10 "Thou Shalt Nots."  They include:

Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.

Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.

(Those do not apply to unmarried staff)

Others include:

Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.

Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them.

Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex.

And, here's one that deals with what could be an entry-level activity:
Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards, or letters from the opposite sex.

And, of course:
Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.

The guardrails are off, the boundaries are softer than ever, but God's word is unchanging.  He has a plan for our relationships, and healthy relationships are maintained in an atmopshere of respect and order.

Everybody's Got a...

What a loving and and powerful God we serve! He is the One who can transform our hearts, give us victory over sin, and express His life through us. Ephesians 2 says:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Jesus is the One who can satisfy the craving of a hungry heart.  He promises us that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.  That's a promise on which we can rely.  But, in order to experience His fullness, it's imperative that we empty ourselves of our own selfish ambition and relinquish control of our lives, surrendering to the hand of and the will of a mighty God.  We were created to reflect the glory of God, and He wants our days to be full and meaningful, truly "glory days" in His presence, that we can look back on and rejoice.

+++++

God is the One who is able to complete us, through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  We were crafted
in His image, but born into sin - but God has provided the antidote. Colossians 2 says:
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The song goes like this:

Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days

Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days

This is just one example of the cynicism that we find in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen.  Witness "My Hometown," which laments the decline of an industrial city.  Or, the lyric, "Everybody's got a hungry heart."

I think that's part of the appeal of "The Boss" - not only has his music captivated fans, but there is a gritty reality that appears in some of his songs.  Springsteen proclaims that "tramps like us, Baby, we were born to run."  Well, run is what Bruce has done - running away from a commitment he made to perform a concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.  And, as Dr. Michael Brown reminded him in a recent "open letter":

When you booked the concert in Greensboro, the laws in North Carolina were just as they are today: In public facilities, people had to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that corresponded to their biological sex.

Why, then, did you agree to come in the first place? Why cancel the concert when things today are just what they were six months ago?

He said, "I appreciate your sincerity, but I question your judgment."

Why is this an issue?  Well, it all started in Charlotte, where overzealous members of the city council passed a bill showing favoritism toward transgender people, to the extent of allowing people to use the bathroom of the opposite gender to their biological one.  The legislature of the state was swift to act, passing HB2, which CNSNews.com states: "overrides all city ordinances relative to the bathroom and locker room issue and states that people must use the bathroom designated to their sexual identity on their birth certificates: men use men's facilities, women use women's facilities."

One of North Carolina's more well-known residents, whose father has a highway named after him in Charlotte, spoke out against The Boss and his refusal to meet his obligations to concert goers in Greensboro.   The CNSNews story referenced Franklin Graham's Facebook post of April 9, which says:

Bruce Springsteen, a long-time gay rights activist, has cancelled his North Carolina concert. He says the NC law ‪#‎HB2‬ to prevent men from being able to use women's restrooms and locker rooms is going "backwards instead of forwards." Well, to be honest, we need to go back! Back to God. Back to respecting and honoring His commands. Back to common sense. Mr. Springsteen, a nation embracing sin and bowing at the feet of godless secularism and political correctness is not progress.

I’m thankful North Carolina has a governor, Pat McCrory, and a lieutenant governor, Dan Forest, and legislators who put the safety of our women and children first! HB2 protects the safety and privacy of women and children and preserves the human rights of millions of faith-based citizens of this state.

Franklin Graham has also had harsh words for PayPal, which he says "gets the hypocrite of the year award! This company says they’re not coming to North Carolina because the legislators and Gov. Pat McCrory have passed a law to protect women and children against sexual predators by not allowing men to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms." He goes on:

Congressman Robert Pittenger made a great point yesterday: “PayPal does business in 25 countries where homosexual behavior is illegal, including 5 countries where the penalty is death, yet they object to the North Carolina legislature overturning a misguided ordinance about letting men in to the women’s bathroom? Perhaps PayPal would like to try and clarify this seemingly very hypocritical position.”

As The Boss says, "Lay down your money and you play your part / Everybody's got a hungry heart." And, unfortunately, the money trail these days in America runs on the side that is opposite of God's design, but on the international front, the promise of greater economic benefit seems to override human rights concerns.

There is music by Bruce Springsteen contains a sense of restlessness that we find within the culture. And, there is sense of unease is expressed in some of the drastic, even non-sensical actions that are taken by those, who are under a delusion of greater enlightenment and believe that the rejection of God's design and His principles somehow contributes to a more effective society.  Clearly, that is not the case.

Franklin Graham speaks of going back to God.  "Back to respecting and honoring His commands," he said.  And, the joy and satisfaction of following Christ is far superior to, as The Boss says, "boring stories of glory days."   We need to experience our own "glory days" - days where people seek to glorify God, when lives had meaning and purpose, when people upheld God's standards and abided by a morality that was consistent with the Scriptures, rather than the moral fluidity that we encounter today.

And, gender fluidity is a symptom of the moral relativism that is so prevalent.  Yesterday, I mentioned the concept of "cisgender," as that "privilege" poster indicated at the University of San Francisco. The definition of that term is: "a person whose gender identity, gender expression and biological sex all align."  That would be the Biblical model.  And, each of us can accept ourselves for the way God has wired us.  We know that we were created by God, fearfully and wonderfully made, but we also were born into sin, in need of a Savior.  Christ's presence can complete us and show us who we are and who He has meant for us to be.

***- song lyrics from Google Play