By Name

We have been called by name, and God has plenty to say about our new identity in Christ; we can also learn much by considering God's names. Isaiah 43 says:
7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, "It is truth."

God is known by so many names: He is Elohim, our Creator.  He is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider and Jehovah-Rophe, our healer.  He is Jehovah-Nissi, our Banner, reminding us that He watches over us. And, He is Jehovah-Shalom, our peace.  His names have meaning - and His names for us have meaning, too.  He has called us children of God, new creatures in Christ Jesus.  He has declared us righteous and holy, and empowers us to live in that manner.  What God declares, we can embrace personally for us.

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God has called us by name, and He has described us as His children.  Names are important and can remind us of our identity in Christ. There's an example of a name-changing experience in Isaiah 62:
1 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name.
3 You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God.
4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, And your land shall be married.

Just an odd story for your Friday from Buncombe County, North Carolina, home to a lake that is simply called Beaver Lake.   According to WYFF4.com, a 67-year-old woman named Betsy Bent was paddleboarding on the lake when she encountered - imagine this - a beaver!!  Someone had pointed this story out to me in the local newspaper, as well as the alliteration present within it.

And, it certainly is odd - Warden Billy Jenkins said that the animal knocked Betsy off the board and bit Betsy on the legs and hands.  She said that once the animal latched on to her leg, it would not let go.  A fisherman came to Ms. Bent's aid, but it attacked again.  She needed stitches and rabies shots. It was likely that the animal did have rabies and was out in the daytime because of illness.

Bent said that she thinks it was just a bizarre incident and she plans to go paddleboarding again.

I agree - it is a weird incident, with plenty of alliteration to get your attention.  You could write a story called, "Boarding Betsy Bent and the Bizarre Buncombe County Beaver Bash."  Not so funny for Betsy, though, but she's not going to let a pesky beaver keep her off the lake.

Could there be anything spiritual you could gain out of this story?  Well, perhaps.  There was a name attached to the lake.  And, the name carried a meaning.  Not that a lot of beavers came out in the daytime on Beaver Lake, necessarily, but there was that possibility, I suppose.

A name can telegraph an action, or a possibility.  God changed the name of a man named Abram to Abraham, designating that he would be the father of many nations.  Jesus referred to Simon as Peter, designating him as a "rock."   So, names are important to God.   He has endued the name of Jesus with mighty power and His name is above all names.  When you speak the name of Jesus, that should be more than just a passing reference - we can speak it with reverence and awe.   Jesus instructed us to pray in His name, and by so doing, we can connect to the resources of heaven.

In this age of political correctness, we have redefined names and concepts from the Scriptures. What the Bible calls sin, human beings can refer to as "lifestyle choices."  Our sinfulness becomes a malady that people seek to cure, rather than a sin from which we need to be delivered.   The depravity of human nature and the truth of our own departure from God's truth becomes deviation that we can blame our environment for, or our parents, or any number of causes - incorrectly.  And, we can be challenged to recognize Satan, the enemy of our souls, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, who is named in the Scriptures and identified by his characteristics.

Was there a beaver in Beaver Lake?  Just ask Betsy Bent.  Are there names in the Scripture that give us insight into who God is and how He operates?  Absolutely - and embracing those concepts can help us to be effective in living according to His ways.  We can learn more about God by thinking about His names.

Playing with Fire (Water)

We are called to be godly examples, to live our lives in a manner that pleases Christ and edifies other people. Romans 14 says:
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Our dogma can be destructive - Paul writes that everything is lawful, but not everything is profitable. In other words, we can act in a manner that we believe is perfectly OK for us, but if it could be damaging to another person, then our liberty has become harmful to someone else.  God calls us to be people of character, called to live pure lives, and recognizing that we are living for Him.  We can be challenged to not model behavior that could provide harm to another if he or she adopt that same pattern.

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1st Corinthians 8 challenges us to submit our choices to God:
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Perhaps by now, you've heard about the removal of the senior pastor of a large, multi-site congregation in South Carolina because of alcohol abuse.  It was announced at the church on July 10 that Perry Noble had been removed. Baptist Press reported on the statement by the board of directors and pastor advisory team, which said, in part:

"Perry's posture towards his marriage, increased reliance on alcohol and other behaviors were of continual concern."

The story reported that the church leaders said, "While this is the most difficult and painful decision we have had to make, unfortunately it was necessary," church leaders said of "some unfortunate choices and decisions" Noble had made. The leaders statement also said, "Because Perry chose not to properly address these ongoing issues and didn't take the necessary steps toward correcting them, he is no longer qualified, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and the church's bylaws, to continue as a pastor at NewSpring Church..."

Noble founded NewSpring in 1999 in Anderson, SC, and made a statement of his own, which was posted at the church's website. He said, "I'm really sorry and ask you to forgive me," adding, "In my opinion, the [B]ible does not prohibit the use of alcohol, but it does prohibit drunkenness and intoxication. I never had a problem drinking alcohol socially, but in the past year or so I have allowed myself to slide into, in my opinion, the overuse of alcohol. This was a spiritual and moral mistake on my part as I began to depend on alcohol for my refuge instead of Jesus and others."

ChristianHeadlines.com published a story that included this quote from the deposed pastor: ""Let me be very clear, neither [my wife] nor I have committed any sort of sexual sin. I have not stolen money. I have not been looking at porn and there was absolutely no domestic abuse." He continued, "I never had a problem drinking alcohol socially," adding, "but in the past year or so I have allowed myself to slide into, in my opinion, the overuse of alcohol."

And, some of the wording of that statement got the attention of Craig Gross, the founder of the XXXChurch ministry, which reaches out to those in the porn industry and people addicted to it.   The article refers to his comments on the Relevant Magazine website.  Gross says, “In case you haven't caught it, let me make it clear: Noble is saying that being consumed by alcohol is NOT AS BAD as having an affair or beating up your spouse. Or looking at porn." He adds, “I don't want to get into a discussion about which sins are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than others. I know that all sin is the same in God's eyes, but, unfortunately, we don't always see with those eyes. We see with human eyes, and our human eyes put more weight on some behaviors than we do with others.” The article states that "The path to take for pastors who fall into sin has to be one of honesty, says Gross, and we, as Christians, need to give pastors space to be honest."  

A Christianity Today story illustrates how addiction affects those in the ministry. It quotes a 2015 survey by Barna Group and Pepperdine University, in which nearly one in five pastors reported that they had struggled with addiction to alcohol or prescription drugs.   But, taking struggles public? Pastors were split: About half said being open about the addiction would have a negative impact on their ministry, while a nearly equal number said being honest about it has had a positive impact. About 1 in 10 said the answer wasn’t that easy.

And, a quarter of adults who attended religious services weekly in 2006 said they sometimes drank too much, a number that rose as church attendance decreased, according to the General Social Survey.

Gross spoke of "space."  So does Ed Stetzer of Wheaton College and co-host of Breakpoint This Week.  He wrote for Christianity Today that "...evangelicals must start dealing with addiction in both an honest way and a redemptive way. Those who are beginning to hold a more open position on the consumption of alcohol should be careful that in their quickness to embrace freedom and liberty, they are not ignoring dangers and even blind to how this can hurt the opportunity to reach our neighbors. He adds, "But on the other side of the issue, even those who have long held a position against any consumption of alcohol at all must start addressing addiction in a way that is more open and transparent. After all, the gospel we proclaim is exactly what brings the freedom we long for, and it should mean that we don’t have to hide anymore."

So, how do you process this information?  Well, for one thing, recognize that there are addictions within the church that affect people from the pulpit to the pews.  God instructs us to confess our sins and to rely on His power to overcome those areas of sin.  If there is a behavior that cannot be controlled and a person has tried to walk in victory without success, then stronger steps need to be taken.  

We see that our leaders are under spiritual attack today, and some have fallen into moral failure, including addiction.  Some, like Perry Noble, have been called out and are seeking help. Others, unfortunately, are not - I would imagine that there are those who are keeping it a secret, either harboring it out of enjoyment, which is a dangerous and vulnerable position, or hating the manifestation, but feeling powerless to do anything about it.

We can recognize that God's Word and the power of His Spirit are available to overcome these addictions that can take hold of a person's life.  And, in an atmosphere of compassion and accountability, a person, even a church leader, can step into the victory that has been bought and paid for by Christ.  He wants to control our life - not an addiction.   

And, finally - a person has to take necessary steps to prevent an addictive behavior from controlling him or her.  A LifeWay survey that was referred to in the Christianity Today article said that about one-third of evangelicals consume alcohol.  Perry Noble, by his own admission, was one of them. 

He also wrote a rather cheeky article earlier this year about buying a lottery ticket and speaking negatively toward Christians who opposed the lottery.   Paul wrote that liberty should not become a stumbling block for others.  We have to take precautions so that liberality and lack of preventive maintenance do not result in some rather dire consequences.  A flippant attitude about various addictions can be misleading or damaging to believers.  We have to realize that addiction is serious and people need to be taught how to resist it and stand strong in the face of it.

Come Sit at the Table

Hebrews 12 reminds us that we are called to pursue peace with others:
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

In this culture today, which is so characterized by polarization, we can be challenged to be the people of peace.  That doesn't mean everyone is going to see eye to eye, but it does mean that God would have us to seek to build relationships that are based on mutual understanding, so that even when we disagree, we can maintain communication, work toward the resolution of any conflict that may arise, and share our Biblically-informed views in a manner that is coated with compassion.

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In Romans 12, we read about how we are called, as believers in Christ, to promote peace:
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The coverage that I am seeing from the Democratic National Convention this week, and even from the Republicans last week, illustrates that we are living in a polarized country.   This week, Democratic speakers, who claim America is great, even took aim at the Republican nominee, who wants to "Make America Great Again." 

Michael Brown pointed out on my radio show recently the polarization that has taken place between the African-American community and law enforcement.  Black Lives Matter vs. Blue Lives Matter. And, people take sides so quickly.  Understanding and communication are necessary elements in the healing of relationships.  Instead of human beings as our enemies, perhaps we need to identify the enemies that threaten our culture and band together to try to reach effective solutions, even when we disagree over the methodology.

The pervasiveness of misunderstanding was on display recently in Johnson City, Tennessee.  There was a group that had organized a Black Lives Matter protest outside, of all place, a Chick-Fil-A restaurant.  Why?  Because a Chick-Fil-A in Houston had taken part in a "Back the Blue" effort.

Only, that never happened.

According to News Channel 11, restaurant owner Darrell Fowler said, “There is no blue lives matter originated by Chick-Fil-A, the back the blue was a campaign out of Houston, Texas for a high school football team." Rally organizer Michelle Fowler said, ,”He actually let us know what back the blue was with Chick-Fil-A, and it actually had nothing to do with police officers, so we did kind of have to change our tone a little bit. We still stand by you know what we are talking about with the police officers not being held accountable for the things that they do, but as far as our understanding with the owner of this Chick-Fil-A in particular, everything is squashed, we are good."  The mood was friendly, and the restaurant handed out lemonade to protestors.   

And, there's this story from Action News 4, which reports on an incident in a Pennsylvania restaurant. A group of policemen went to an Eat N' Park restaurant. Server Jesse Meyers relates the story: "A table goes to sit down and the guy looks over at one of the police officers and was like, 'Nah I don’t want to sit here.' So they got moved completely opposite, away from the police officers."

One of the officers, Chuck Thomas, said that it was obvious the man and woman didn't want to anything to do with the police officers. He is quoted as saying, "I looked over and said, 'It's okay sir. You won't have to worry about it, we won't hurt you," adding, "He looked at me hard again and said he’s not sitting here and walked away." Thomas related that he and another officer thought they should pay the couple's bill and asked Meyers to bring the check.  The total was $28.50, plus a $10 tip.

The officer said, "Essentially the whole goal of it was to let him know that we’re not here to hurt you, we’re not here for that," adding, "We’re here for you. We work for the public. And we just want to better the relationship between the community and the police."

And, there's the report out of Phenix City, AL, where a cashier refused to served two sheriff's deputies at a Taco Bell there.  According to WTVM Television, the wife of another deputy posted about the incident on Facebook. The cashier was terminated and the company who owns the restaurant contacted the Lee County Sheriff's Department to apologize.

The deputy's wife, Tammy Bush Mayo, posted: "This really disturbs me that people have started treating law enforcement professionals in this manner when these same law enforcement professionals put their lives on the line everyday to protect all people, including this woman with a very bad attitude at Taco Bell..."

Three incidents, three flashpoints, all at restaurants.  These are three instances where people have squared off against police.  Where we should regard law enforcement as our friends and allies, because of some events that have produced and exacerbated pain and misunderstanding, polarization has taken place.   When you have people that will avoid each other and not sit down together, I think of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the "I Have a Dream" speech, as he spoke about the "table of brotherhood."

In light of recent incidents that have caused us to think more deeply about matters of race and how we treat one another, perhaps like never before, we can relate to that image of sitting down together, from a variety of backgrounds, possessing a diversity of opinions, and working for the betterment of our culture.  The Bible, I believe, speaks to how we can exist in a civil society that upholds justice, that brings people out of bondage into freedom, that strengthens families and human relationships, that promotes understanding.  But, Christians have to have a place at the table, too.  

Black Lives do matter.  So do Blue Lives.  And, when you dissect those slogans, you can also recognize what has contributed to the adoption of them.   We should want justice for those who believe that they are not receiving it, and we can understand the actions and attitudes that have contributed to a sense of injustice.  We should also affirm those who put their lives on the line daily to protect and serve the public - are there officers who have behaved inappropriately?  Absolutely.  But that should not discredit our respect for all who serve in that capacity.

I believe that it would be pleasing to the Lord for His people to lead the way in inviting people to come to the table of understanding, a place where our views are tolerated and accepted, and where we also seek to come to agreement about how our communities can thrive and move forward.

The Right Place

God is calling us to be alert, to be discerning, to be sensitive to the needs and conditions around us. 1st Peter 5 says:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

The world can sometimes be a scary place.  There are dangers that abound - conflicts between individuals, groups, and even nations.  And, there is a spiritual enemy with whom we have to deal. The enemy comes to destroy us spiritually, to drive us apart from God and place us at odds with other people.  He aims to render us ineffective for the Kingdom.  But, we have the tools to fight - powerful spiritual weapons through which we can resist his schemes and triumph over temptation.

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There's a passage in 1st Peter chapter 1 that speaks to the concept of spiritual alertness:
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."

Cristian Garcia is a Miami native and a linebacker for the University of Florida football team.
ABC News reported that he had picked up a gig working as a security guard at an establishment called 101 Cantina in Gainesville, and last Friday morning, as he was taking out the trash, he witnessed a scene that he felt was untoward.

Garcia noticed that there was a woman pinned against the dumpster who was apparently unconscious, and a man was with her - Garcia believed that an unwanted advance, an assault, was in the process of occurring.

He made the decision to intervene.  According to Garcia, he grabbed the man "by the shoulders" and he was involved in "a physical altercation with him in a nearby alley," according to the story.  He said the man "began to get violent" and threw punches before he slipped and "busted his face on the floor." He said that the man and his friends ran away after the fall.

His co-worker, Leroyea Simmons, filmed the incident.

Garcia says that he appreciates the positive attention he has received for his actions, but implied that the focus should be placed on the gravity of sexual assault.  He said, "The attention has been cool, but a horrible act happened that night."  And - he said this: "God put me in the right place at the right time."

He recommends that if people find themselves in a similar situation they should demonstrate common sense and call the authorities.  Garcia said, "Act cautiously."

The Gainesville Sun reports that Christopher Shaw, a 34-year-old man, was arrested and placed in jail with a half-million-dollar bond.  A police spokesman said he believes this is not the first time he has engaged in this type of action.  The newspaper reported the incident took place about 2:20am.

The article quotes a student who had received a text notification of this act from the university. She said: “I think everyone should be aware that it can happen and they should know the precautions and the steps they can take to avoid the situation and also to contact other people for help."  And, this is in an area where there have been a number of these types of assaults, and is apparently quite a bit of underage drinking.

I really don't know anything about Cristian Garcia's faith walk, but he did speak of God placing him at the right place at the right time.  I think that can be instructive for us.  We need to be so sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit that when He desires to place us in a situation where He can use us, we're there.   But, if He has a purpose for us, we can know that He will be directing us to be in the position to perform that purpose.

And, we need to make sure that we are not in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Sometimes by our own choices we can be somewhere that we don't need to be.  We need to be wise to the potential for danger.  Spiritually speaking, we can use discernment and make sure that we are not in a vulnerable place, a place where we are outside God's will.

But, all in all, we can be alert, ready to take necessary action.  That doesn't mean we're out trying to be a hero in all our situations.  Where there is a need, we can depend on the Lord to help fulfill that need, and maybe even to rescue someone from danger - physically, or spiritually.

Growing Up

In John 3, we find a fundamental teaching of the Scriptures.  A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus, and He taught him about new life.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

To be born again - it's a principle that Jesus taught and the Scriptures reinforce.  The Bible teaches that we are new creations in Christ Jesus.  Romans reminds us that we have died with Christ and have been raised to new life in Him.  Galatians says that He lives in us; we have been crucified with Him and now possess His life.  Colossians is very direct: Christ is our life.  God is dedicated to transforming hearts, and He alone can make that lasting change in a life. As we depend on Him, we realize more fully the significance of that new life that we receive when we made Him our Savior and were born again.

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When we accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives, something amazing happens in our hearts. Romans 6 describes it:
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

OK, so I'm going to use some material in today's Front Room that is from a website that I don't recommend, endorse, or even read regularly.  But, BuzzFeed is appealing to a particular audience, and the plethora of numbers and lists that you can find are, well, quaint.

I was pointed to a recent post by the Deputy Editorial Editor of BuzzFeed San Francisco, Jessica Misener.  It has quite a catchy title, 27 Sure Signs You Grew Up Evangelical.  Now, since I don't really think I'm in BuzzFeed's target audience, some of these "sure signs" occurred in my life after I was, well, grown.

Some examples:

1. You had only one book listed in your Facebook profile’s “Favorite Books” section.

Self-explanatory, but really sort of sets the tone for what is to follow.  Above a picture of Bob, Larry, and Junior from VeggieTales, we find:

2. You can still name all of these guys.

Here's an interesting one:

3. You lost your dad at the grocery store and panicked for a second that the rapture happened.

Then, of course, there's:

5. Your mom listened to James Dobson’s talk radio show.

And, its corollary:  

6. And you listened to Adventures in Odyssey in the car on family road trips.

Other iconic items that she covers are: the books, I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris and Jesus Freak by DC Talk, Psalty the big blue singing songbook, knowing the hand motions to Audio Adrenaline's Big House, and the Teen Study Bible, giving as a birthday present.

Some of the items are a bit sad, such as:

14. You became fluent in all the ways to signify you were *really* praise-and-worshipping.

and

26. You showed someone the Roman Road, even if you totally didn’t understand what it meant yourself.

The writer was obviously relating some personal experience, and there are some really endearing aspects of what has been called the "Christian counterculture" that many of us and our families have taken part in.  

And, Ms. Misener, having participated in those forms of Christian behavior, apparently does not identify as a Christian any longer.  In another BuzzFeed post, called, Why I Miss Being a Born-Again Christian, she writes:

I’m not the only millennial with what author John Jeremiah Sullivan calls “a Jesus phase.” A BuzzFeed post I made aimed at people who grew up going to evangelical youth group continues to be among my highest performing; anecdotally, I’ve talked to scores of people in all walks of life who also used to go on mission trips and know all the words to “Lord I Lift Your Name on High.” Statistically, exiting your Jesus phase is also a real phenomenon: According to polling organization the Barna Group, there’s a 43% drop in Christian church attendance between the teen and early adult years. Statistics show that younger people are currently leaving evangelicalism at faster rates than older people, which many credit to differing beliefs on topics such as same-sex marriage. For me, it was a traditional soul- and spirit-crusher: graduate school.

She went to Yale to study religion and ended up developing a skewed view of the Bible, essentially, in my opinion, believing that what she perceived as flaws discredited the Scriptures from being authoritative and sufficient for her life.

She writes:

Even though I staked my life on an arbitrary historical document for six years, I liked who I was when I was born-again. I woke up each day determined to conquer my “sinful nature,” i.e., my id that was prone to thinking only about myself, and determined to put others first. I was more selfless. I was a more caring and giving friend back then; I listened deeply, instead of waiting for my turn to talk. I prayed for people and made care packages and wrote nice letters and volunteered. With a divine outlet compelling me to focus on something besides self-preservation, I felt free from the prison of ego.

 And, listen to this:

I know — I think — that Christianity isn’t real, but I miss believing it was real. When I got confused in my career, or hurt by a broken relationship, fellow Christians assured me that it was all part of God’s plan to lead me to the right calling or the right person, something that made me calmer and more willing to take risks... 

Wow - where do you begin?  This writer apparently liked who she was when she identified as "born again," but because of lack of understanding or application, or both, she doesn't quite think that the principles of the Bible work for her.  But, the seed is still there, and thinks fondly about those times that she spent - in youth group.

I think that Jessica is representative of many in our culture and really the culture at large.  They have been exposed to the Christian faith, maybe practiced it for a time, but other ideas have made their way into their understanding, so they live a life of self-reliance, perhaps even rejecting the teachings of Christ.

We all have to own it, you know.  And, possess it in a way that withstands the temptation to depart. This is especially true for our young people.  Because growing up in a Christian home doesn't make you a Christian.  Knowing the books, the songs, and the lingo doesn't either.  Being identified as a Christian is important, but identification with Christ is the central element in one's Christian faith.

In trying to define, "evangelical," which I seem to see a lot these days, we have to remember the words of Jesus, "you must be born again," and "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  But, that's just the beginning - we are transformed into new creatures, but then the adventure starts...we are called to grow, to know God more deeply, and to move beyond trying to do good things or revise our nature and recognize that the road to Christian maturity involves abiding in Him and allowing His presence to flow through us.

Trumped

In Romans 15, we read an admonishment by the apostle Paul to his readers - and to us today -
reminding that our hope is not in human devices or ingenuity, but in Almighty God:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

That's a great picture of the body of Christ - people who have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, who are marked by the Lord Jesus, who desire to please Him, to live by His principles, and to radiate His love into a culture that needs hope.  Our Lord is a reliable source of hope for this world, and we are His representatives, called to tell His story and to bring Him honor.  When we are disappointed by events in this world, we can press in to the source of lasting hope.

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In Psalm 42, we can find a passage of Scripture that can remind us of our source of hope, even when we are troubled by internal struggles or external events:
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

The Republican convention is now in the history books, and just a few months from now we will know if Donald Trump will be the President-elect of the United States.   Not surprisingly, results were mixed for his acceptance speech last night - he chanted his standard mantras highlighting what is wrong with our current condition as a nation and promising to fix things.  And, he thanked evangelicals for their support, saying that he didn't deserve it.

The evangelical role in the current election is a subject that has yielded quite a bit of analysis. Leading evangelicals such as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and Jerry Falwell, Jr. of Liberty University addressed the gathering yesterday; however, so did Peter Thiel, who declared himself a gay Republican, the co-founder of PayPal, the company that decided to shun North Carolina because of legislation that affirmed traditional gender ideals.

And, yesterday, it was announced that James Dobson had endorsed Trump - a Christianity Today story covered that, then moved into some coverage of evangelical support of the billionaire Republican nominee.  A few tidbits:

More than 3 in 4 white evangelicals like Dobson are voting Trump this November, according to the Pew Research Center. However, it’s mostly a vote against Clinton, not in support of Trump himself...

The story also reported:

Overall, about a third (36%) of evangelicals are voting for a candidate they like, while more than half (55%) are voting against the candidate they like the least.

That’s exactly what most evangelical leaders (very few of whom supported either Trump or Clinton when the election began) advise.

When faced with two disagreeable candidates, 60 percent of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) board members polled last month said that Christians should vote for the candidate they dislike the least, while 28 percent said to vote for a third-party candidate and 12 percent said to not vote for that particular office.

The CT story also related some information from WORLD:

In World magazine’s last poll of evangelical influencers—conducted in May, after Cruz left the field open to Trump—the 77 respondents appeared to be split down the middle. Half said they would still never vote Trump (51%), but the other half said they could be persuaded if he promised to appoint a pro-life Supreme Court justice or chose a vice president they liked.

Almost all of those who wouldn’t vote for Trump said they would choose a third-party candidate. Forty-six percent of respondents said they’d pick one on principle, even if that person had no chance of winning. Another 29 percent said they’d choose a third-party candidate only if he or she had a real shot at winning.

The top three issues the World panel said they were considering when selecting a candidate were abortion, religious freedom, and Supreme Court nominations. None overlap with the top considerations of white evangelical voters in the pews: terrorism, the economy, and foreign policy/immigration.

The "in the pews" reference is based on a Pew Research poll.

But, what is an "evangelical" in the eyes of survey-takers and the media?  Baylor professor Thomas Kidd tweeted out:

Polls show evangelicals support Trump. But the term ‘evangelical’ has become meaningless.

He refers to a new Washington Post article he has written.  He also wrote a piece recently for The Gospel Coalition, in which he said:

...many of these supposed American evangelicals have no clear understanding of the term ‘evangelical,’ or of the gospel itself. They figure, “I’m conservative [another ill-defined term] and a Protestant, therefore I am an evangelical.” Or maybe they think, “Well, I watch Fox News, so I must be an evangelical.” Or, “I respect religion, and I vote Republican, so I must be an evangelical.”

These vague associations have turned ‘evangelical’ into a term that luminaries like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield would not recognize. And, more problematically, they represent a faux gospel of moralism, nationalism, and politicization. That is a gospel that certainly cannot save.

Aren't you glad that evangelicalism is not a political movement - or at least it isn't supposed to be? And, perhaps that label may be growing more obsolete.  Truth is, we are followers of Christ, we are His disciples, we are children of the Most High King.  Those are just some of the ways that we can refer to ourselves.  But, evangelicals - what does that even mean any more?

And, we can be likewise glad that our hope is not in politics or politicians!  Politicians, because their are human to the core, will fail us.  They will promise and commonly not deliver.   With our current political system, it is difficult for one man or woman to make sweeping changes and to conform with what he or she has declared, and that could actually be a good thing!

I believe that we are called to be involved in politics, to exercise our right to vote, and to speak up on important issues from a Biblical perspective. But, in many instances, we can hold on loosely rather than tightly, lest we become consumed by an unhealthy interest in political matters, rather than in the God whose ways transcend the political system.

Gender Confused

This passage from Psalm 33 can help us to reflect on our Creator God, and the absolute wisdom and power expressed in His creation.
4 For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

In Acts, Paul declares that God made the world and everything in it.  His creation reflects His nature; the Bible says the heavens declare the glory of God.  God has set creation into motion, with a variety of natural, scientific laws that reflect His devotion to order.  And, if He is capable of ordering creation, we can certainly know that He can order our lives.  He expects us to live by His principles, by which we bring Him glory.

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Genesis 2 is very clear with respect to God's creation, His undeniable design, and the absolute nature of gender:
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

The Rio Olympics begin in early August, and the International Olympic Committee has succombed to political correctness in the area of allowing transgender athletes to compete.  A recent USA Today story identifies that there are two such athletes that may be taking part in the games.

A little backstory here: In November, the IOC had a meeting, which led to new guidelines that were announced in January. The story says that, "Under the new guidelines, those who transition from female to male are eligible to compete without restriction and those who transition from male to female are eligible to compete without gender reassignment surgery and with one year of hormone therapy. The old guidelines, from 2004, required surgery and two years of hormone therapy."

The USA Today story also revealed that in May at yet another meeting, members of an international sports federation said that two closeted transgender athletes who competed in their sport were considering coming out publicly before the Games this summer, according to two people who attended the meeting and spoke to the publication.

Will it be Chris Mosier, a transgender male athlete who is quoted in the story?  He competed this summer in the World Duathlon Championships.  Mosier had challenged the IOC’s rules for transgender athletes, which were the same as the International Triathlon Union rules under which Mosier competes.  Or perhaps it would be swimmer G Ryan, who identifies as "genderqueer," and not as a man or a woman. Ryan competed in the U.S. Olympic swimming trials as a female, and prefers “they/them/theirs” as pronouns to be described as a person.

While the USA Today story did not offer in opinion in opposition to the IOC guidelines, over at The Federalist, I found some common sense from Brandon Morse, who wrote:

Women’s and men’s sports are categorically different for a reason. The male and female forms are different in many ways, and both have advantages and disadvantages compared to the other.

In some sports, mixing male and female may not affect the outcome, such as tennis, equestrian sports, or curling, but in many others this is not the case. Men typically outpace women when running, lifting, throwing, jumping, etc. If men can claim to be women and invade a sport that only women are allowed to compete in, then it’s a safe bet men will win. All the accolades, rewards, and recognition will be taken from the women who rightfully deserve them and given to a man who essentially cheated by putting on makeup, injecting himself with hormones, and saying he’s a woman.

And, this concept of changing gender or identifying with the gender other than one's biological one has become more accepted.   LifeWay Research asked 1,000 Americans whether they agree or disagree that changing one’s gender or identifying with a different gender is morally wrong. Respondents also had the option to select “it’s not a moral issue.”

35 percent of Americans say it’s wrong for people to identify with a gender different from their birth sex, while 45 percent disagree. 42 percent say it’s morally wrong to change gender and 43 percent disagree.

14 percent of Americans say identifying with a different gender isn’t a matter of morality, and almost as many (11 percent) say it isn’t a moral issue to alter one’s gender through hormones or surgery.

Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research states: “This reflects a changing worldview,” adding, “A growing percentage of Americans don’t believe in right and wrong. They don’t believe there’s absolute truth—and if there’s no absolute truth, then they’re reluctant to talk about morality.”

54 percent of those identifying as having evangelical beliefs say it’s wrong to identify with a different gender.  Yes, that's it - just over half, meaning that up to 46% - almost half - of evangelicals say it's OK to identify with a different gender or may be undecided on the subject.  61 percent say using surgery or hormones to change gender is morally wrong.

McConnell is quoted as saying: “A majority of Americans reject the view of a creator giving them a gender that shouldn’t be changed,” adding, “We freely change many things about ourselves—we have cosmetic surgery, we use teeth whitener, we dye our hair, we get tattoos. Many Americans view gender as one more thing on that list.”

So, it appears, even in the Church, that the cultural waves have influence our thoughts and opinion about gender, and I believe, subsequently, the beauty of God's design.   When we ignore God's settled truths, then we leave ourselves wide open to developing ideas that run contrary to His principles, which can result in a chaotic society.

Our God is a God of order, and creation reflects that. He has set up certain natural laws that are verifiable through science, that ensure that order.  When humanity attempts to change His absolute order, then we open ourselves up to confusion.   We have to be convinced that His way is best, that He has given us established principles by which we can live our lives, and seek to follow in His wisdom.

Beyond This Realm

The Bible teaches that we have a incredible promise of life with the Lord in eternity.  2nd Corinthians 5 says:
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

This passage, and others in the Scriptures, can remind us that this world - thank the Lord! - is not all there is.  We have the promise of spending eternity with our Lord in heaven.  We can know where we will go when we die and leave this earth - for the Christian, we can have the assurance that we will be with Jesus.  For the unbeliever, for the one who dies without Christ, that person will be in a place of eternal punishment - without God, forever.  Thankfully, God has given us the choice...accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we have eternal life with Him - and abundant life here on this earth!

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In 1st Thessalonians 5, we can see a passage that addresses the sanctification process and delineates, I believe, three distinct parts of our being:
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

There is a story out of Kentucky that has certainly raised some eyebrows because of a photo that has been circulating.

A motorcycle crash took place last Tuesday afternoon near Stanton, according to LEX18 Television, which reported that the only person involved was the motorcycle rider, who was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Saul Vazquez took a photo at the scene.  The photo is said to show the image or outline of a man above the man's body.  Vazquez posted the photo on Facebook from the cab of his truck, and it was shared over 16,000 times in just 10 hours.

The television station reports that lots of people are drawing their own conclusions about the photo, but "either way it's causing a huge conversation on social media."  Vazquez says the photo has not been altered.  As CNN reported, "many commenters" said the photo shows the dead man's spirit leaving his body.

Who knows?  And, I am not in a position to comment on the legitimacy of the photo.  But, it does give us an opportunity to pause and process the occasion Biblically.

I think the phrasing of the CNN statement is interesting - that the picture shows the man's "spirit" leaving his "body."  I have long subscribed to the view that we are a three-part being - we have a spirit; that is our real self, who we really are, the part of us that is attuned to the Holy Spirit, through Whom we walk in the Spirit, as Galatians 5 instructs us.

We also have a soul, which is thought to contain the mind, will and emotions - through our soulish realm, we make choices whether or not to follow the direction of the spirit.  We choose, we experience, we process information, we think - all in the world of the human soul.  And, our spirits and souls have a container - our body, which we have here on earth, but which the Bible teaches is temporary; for we will gain a new body, a glorified body, when we are united with Christ in heaven.

So, whether or not the picture is legit or is interpreted by human imagination, the thought of a spirit departing a body is certainly a Scriptural concept.  2nd Corinthians teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  So what happens after we die?  Our spirit is no longer resident in this world, we are transferred to another one, into heaven to be with our Lord.

We can be challenged to think about a supernatural realm that is beyond, and in actuality, as it's been said, more real than the world in which we live.  We have to be convinced that: life on earth is not all there is, and that there is an eternal destination that we all have.  And, we have the opportunity to choose where we will spend eternity and with Whom.

Finally, I think we can realize that the supernatural is very real.  We can know that the Holy Spirit is with us, and We can identify the operation of the Spirit of God as He works all around us. There are angels, ministering spirits, who go with us.  There is also a devil and his associates who attempt to thwart the work of God, who will tempt us and attack us.  We fight them using spiritual weapons, energized by the power of God, as we are clothed in the armor of God.  This is very real, and we can seek supernatural explanations to natural occurrences.

Listen

The Bible provides solid instruction on preserving or achieving peace and harmony. We can model what it looks like to be in healthy human relationships. 1st Peter 3 says:
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

We are called to pursue single-mindedness - that doesn't mean uniformity; because people are not going to all act or behave the same way.  Even in the Church, we will encounter disagreements - God did not make us all the same.  But the way we resolve conflict and pursue peace can be a testimony to the world how we all can live in harmony.  Not in a window-dressing manner, but pursuing real understanding - sharing from our hearts and listening to the stories of others as they relate their experiences.

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Paul addresses the church at Ephesus about keeping the peace in Ephesians 4:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Our hearts are certainly heavy in the aftermath of the fatal shooting in Baton Rouge this past Sunday morning, when an African-American man was responsible for taking the lives of three police officers, one black and two white.   High-profile incidents with a racial component have become all too common over the past few weeks, and while the debate can divide, the dialogue, if it's meaningful dialogue, can unite.  And, as I've said, the Church can lead the way in showing people what it's like to live harmoniously.

Tim Scott is a man of faith.  He's also a Senator from the state of South Carolina, one of only two African-Americans in the U.S. Senate.  Last week, he delivered a series of messages on the Senate floor.

WORLD Magazine reported on the content.  The article states:

On Monday, Scott spoke on the importance of supporting police officers during this time. And on Wednesday night, Scott shared his own encounters with police in a deeply personal account of how he’s been profiled because of the color of his skin, even as a U.S. senator.

He shared that he had been pulled over seven times during one year as an elected member of Congress. He said: “Was I speeding sometimes? Sure. But the vast majority of the time, I was pulled over for nothing more than driving a new car in the wrong neighborhood or some other reason just as trivial.”   And, he said that  he does not know many African-Americans who do not have a similar story, regardless of income or profession.

On Thursday, according to the story:

In his final address, Scott said while the government can do more, ultimately it cannot force Americans to resolve their differences. He said ending racial strife in America has no simple solution, but listening to one another is a good start.

He said: “I’ll continue to reach out to all my colleagues and my friends who may not look like me, who may have a different philosophy than I do, so that I can understand their hopes, their dreams, and their frustrations,” adding, “Because listening is important and as we look around at our nation, it appears to me that we haven’t done nearly enough listening to each other.”

Scott and Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma are issuing a new challenge they call “Sunday Solutions,” asking families of different races to share a meal together and hear each other’s stories.

And, Lankford recommends that the location should be a home, not a restaurant.

Another WORLD story quoted Scott: “I simply ask you this: recognize that just because you do not feel the pain, the anguish, of another does not mean it does not exist." John Stonestreet, appearing on the WORLD podcast, The World and Everything in It, stated: “What gave me pause years ago was realizing that I also saw this differently than someone who agreed with me theologically on nearly everything."  He was referring to Carl Ellis, an African-American theologian and seminary professor. Stonestreet added: “Just because I don’t have that experience doesn’t mean that experience doesn’t exist. Just because one situation can be explained away, that doesn’t mean that there are no situations in which there is injustice. There’s just a lot of assuming and not a lot of listening right now.”

Again, as believers in Christ, we can model His compassion when dealing with people who have a different racial and cultural background.  And, I think that one of Scott's significant points is that we need to listen.  Listen.  Through the relating of stories, the sharing about experiences, and the emotions produced by them, we can reach a greater level of understanding.  But, if we don't listen, then we don't learn.   And, the knowledge we acquire, combined with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, can lead to a sense of definitive action.  As Ephesians 4 reminds us, we can seek to preserve the unity of the Spirit of God, which results in true and lasting peace. 

Mingling with the World

In the challenges we face, it is important that we possess Biblical convictions, so that we can be prepared to respond in the way that God would intend, even in those times when we are tempted to compromise.  1st Corinthians 2 says:
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.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

As Christians, we have been given the mission to live for Christ, to love like Christ, and to make His name known to all people.  The temptation to compromise our deeply-held values, rooted in Scripture, can be strong, and the moral lines can become blurred.  That is why we need discernment, to know how God would want us to act - we find out by spending time in His Word and relying on His wisdom, that we can discover as we are sensitive to listen.

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In John 3, Jesus spoke words that have enormous implications for our world today:
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

I have talked quite frequently with guests on the radio show about the actions of those who want to force Christians to accept and even endorse the homosexual lifestyle and so-called same-sex marriages.  The Obergefell ruling opened up another chapter in the furtherance of that agenda, and fears were expressed that organizations, including Christian business owners and even ministries, would be forced to change policy and even violate their deeply-held beliefs in order to not merely accommodate but to march lock-step along this agenda.

One of the latest examples involves a Christian dating site called ChristianMingle.   According to a story on the Baptist Press website, in 2013, two gay men filed a lawsuit against site because, at that time, users could only search for potential partners of the opposite sex. The men said that ChristianMingle violated California's anti-discrimination laws by making it impossible for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to use the company's services.

The law, known as the Unruh Civil Rights Act, states: "All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their … sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind."

The lawsuit was settled and now ChristianMingle only asks if users are male and female, instead of asking whether someone is a "woman seeking a man" or a "man seeking a woman." The parent company, Spark Networks, offers other faith-based matchmaking websites, which would also be affected.

Spark CEO Michael Egan is quoted as saying, "Like all other companies, we must abide by the laws that govern our state and nation," adding, "There is no greater agenda at hand here at ChristianMingle than uniting Christian men and women for the sake of finding happy and healthy lifelong relationships."

This overall situation is indicative of the cultural landscape in which we as business people, ministry leaders, and individual Christians find ourselves.  Carrie Gordon Earll, vice president of public policy at Focus on the Family, says, "Early on in their quest to legalize homosexual marriage, advocates assured us that it would not infringe on the rights of others, especially people of faith," adding, "From dating sites and adoption agencies to small businesses, it's clear today that people of faith are being forced to compromise or risk financial ruin."

David Smalley, a gay blogger at the ecumenical website Patheos.com, had a very interesting point of view: "Every atheist, every liberal, and every business owner needs to fight for ChristianMingle's rights to offer the products or services they choose, even if we disagree with their practices or philosophy behind it all." He also said, "There are plenty of gay dating websites. … So guess what … I don't go there. I'm not taking a gay dating website to court, forcing them to allow a straight option. But this ruling sets that precedent."

I think this situation already highlights the need to determine what your standards are and how you will respond when your business, ministry, or church is forced to embrace a lifestyle that is contrary to Scripture.   The list continues to grow - Aaron and Melissa Klein or Jack Phillips, who would not bake a cake for a gay marriage ceremony, Baronnelle Stutzman, who would not provide flowers for a similar ceremony, and others.  They stood on principle, and faced negative ramifications for it.  If you were in their shoes, would you do the same?  ChristianMingle did not allow the lawsuit to go into court, but rather settled...what would you do?

We need to be ready for the opposition and determine how we will respond.  We also need to find compassionate ways to relate the truth of the gospel to those who have rejected God's view of sexuality.  We must be firm in our convictions, but seek ways to minister the love of Christ by building bridges, without compromising the gospel.    

Encounters

We can be compelled by Christ's love, reflecting on how much He loves us, striving to love Him with all our heart, and take steps to walk in love toward the people with whom we interact.  2nd
Corinthians 5 says:
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

The love of Christ is a powerful force, and it is contained within the heart of every believer who has called upon His name.  If we are walking in love, flowing from our love for our Heavenly Father, then we become sensitized to the neighbors and needs around us.  It's more than a gushy feeling; rather, it is a desire to please God and to radiate His character, to look at another person through His eyes and to treat them as He would.  Our challenge is to become one with the Father and with Jesus through the Holy Spirit so that we can experience and spread that love.

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We are called to be conduits of the love of Christ, and as we walk in that love, perhaps through our testimony and the way we conduct ourselves, people will be won to Him. Romans 5 says:
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As Faith Radio gets ready for another Family Faith Night, I wanted to shine the spotlight on someone in baseball who is shining his light for Christ.  In the past, I've talked about former Rays star and 2016 All-Star Ben Zobrist and his strong faith.  Ditto on All-Stars Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Daniel Murphy, who is now with the Washington Nationals.

Sports Spectrum has a piece on the Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt.  This All-Star comes from what is termed an "unusual religious background": his father was Jewish and the grandson of parents who left Germany in the late 1930’s to escape the Holocaust.  His mother was a Catholic, who raised Paul in the church, but he admits it was never a priority or something meaningful in his life.

Team chaplain Brian Hommel describes Goldschmidt as “a good humanitarian” but one who initially approached Christianity with negative perceptions. “He didn’t understand the point of following a belief system when he, himself, was a moralistically good person.”

Goldschmidt explains: “Without ever getting into the Bible and reading, I was making judgments...Just one example: I’m thinking so-and-so is a Christian and I’m looking at the mistakes they’re making. But when you read the Bible, every single person you know on this planet that’s ever walked has made a mistake, and every single person that God used in the Bible was a sinner.”

The story goes on:

Encounters with “sinners saved by grace,” specifically other Diamondbacks’ teammates and their wives in an off-season couples Bible study, led to his relationship with Jesus Christ. The people he encountered and “the way they treated people and the love they showed everyone and their openness,” according to Goldschmidt, was what touched his heart. “It was a slow process, but I wanted to know more about these people; why were they so full of grace and everything that Jesus showed in His life?”

Hommel says: “We just loved on him, and it wasn’t because he was Paul Goldschmidt, the baseball player. That still speaks to him today,” adding, “The idea with the study is just being open and honest." Referring to former Arizona teammate Ian Kennedy, now with Kansas City, the chaplain says, "Whether it’s me or Ian or any of the other couples, we just openly share about our struggles in life, our journey with God, and our relationship to our spouses.”

The chaplain says that Paul is speaking up more about his Christianity in chapel, and Goldschmidt was a star student in an season-long Romans study. As of this June story, Goldschmidt was reading the Bible straight through.  The story says that Paul and his wife, Amy, visit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital so often they have visitors’ credentials to come and go whenever they like. He also speaks in churches and events like “Tales from the Dugout,” a baseball counterpart to a hugely successful Tales from the [PGA golf] Tour, an outreach ministry in Phoenix that has hosted as many as 4,000 attendees.

Paul Goldschmidt is an example of someone who was loved into the Kingdom.  He relates about a meeting on a road trip with members of the home team:

“We were talking about, what is your story? How did you come to know Christ? When that question got asked, I’m thinking someone’s going to say this pastor spoke this verse to me or this guy brought me a Bible and I started reading it. With every single person that was in the room, it was somebody else in their life that had, essentially, loved them.”

I've heard the phrase, "won by love."  Isn't that what we are talking about here?  An encounter with the love of Christ, expressed by a believer who bears His name, can have a dramatic effect. There are three important words here:  encounter - that can refer to a ministry opportunity, an interaction with someone who is used by the Lord to share Christ, a divine appointment or moment. We can seek to be part of those moments.

Another word: express - we can be ready to share the love of Christ at any given moment, allowing His life and love to flow through us.  Because He is in us, we can be effective in expressing the love of Christ.  And effect - the results are left up to God, but in those divine moments, there is the potential for a life-changing experience.  And, the seed you plant, as it is watered and grows, can bear fruit for the glory of God in building His Kingdom.

New Norm, But Not God's Best

The institution of marriage was established by God when Adam and Eve were dwelling in the garden - the relationship was defined as one man and one women, and the Bible teaches that the two would become one flesh.  Ecclesiastes 9 says:
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

Our marriages have the potential to be sources of great joy for us.   But, unfortunately, there are too many cultural trends that can interrupt and apprehend that joy.   That applies to marriage and so many other areas of our lives.  We simply must guard against our joy in the Lord being taken away.   Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the life God intends for us is a life of joy, despite circumstances, despite the internal struggles.  We can hold on to that sustaining joy that He offers.

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In Ephesians 5, Paul outlines the dynamics of the marriage relationship, likening it to the relationship between Christ and His bride, the Church:
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The summary of a new Barna Group survey begins with these startling words: "Cohabitation is the new norm."  Some statistics to support that:

The majority of American adults believe cohabitation is generally a good idea. Two thirds of adults (65%) either strongly or somewhat agree that it’s a good idea to live with one’s significant other before getting married, compared to one-third (35%) who either strongly or somewhat disagree.

The summary points out that:

Most Christian teaching on pre-marital relationships encourages abstinence and other boundaries that tend to exclude cohabitation, and the data reflects these beliefs. Practicing Christians (41%) are highly unlikely to believe cohabitation is a good idea, and the stark contrast with those who identify as having no faith (88%) further demonstrates the acute impact of religious belief on views regarding cohabitation.

Millennials, at 72%, are twice as likely as Elders to believe cohabitation is a good idea.

Unfortunately, almost 6-in-10 of those surveyed say they either currently live together or have lived with a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Now, when parents were polled about whether or not they would want their children to cohabit, 44% of adults would be OK with it, but 40 percent would not. On the strongest ends of the spectrum, respondents were more likely to say “no, definitely not,” at 24%, than “yes, absolutely,” at 16%.

Roxanne Stone, editor in chief at Barna Group, states: “America is well beyond the tipping point when it comes to cohabitation,” adding, “Living together before marriage is no longer an exception, but instead has become an accepted and expected milestone of adulthood."

Stone says that, "Religious leaders will need to promote the countercultural trend by celebrating the reasons to wait."  She says some questions that could be posed are: "What are the spiritual reasons for waiting? How does waiting promote better discipleship? Better marriages? A better family life? These are the questions that young people, in particular, will need answered in order to resist the cultural tide toward cohabitation."

Dr. Juli Slattery, writing for the Today's Christian Woman website in a piece from June 2014, said:

In spite of those who say cohabitation is a wise test drive, the research indicates that living together before marriage may actually increase your risk for divorce in the future. Many experts believe that t.he "squishy" approach toward commitment represented by cohabitation sets a couple up for bailing on marriage when things get difficult. Holding sexual fidelity and the marriage covenant as sacred before God impacts your willingness to work through the challenges of life together.

Research also indicates that couples living together are more likely to experience sexual unfaithfulness, domestic violence, and higher levels of relational unhappiness. If you are living with your boyfriend with the hope to avoid heartbreak, you are likely setting yourself up for failure.

In the piece, she links to a 2008 piece on the Focus on the Family website from Glenn Stanton.

There are multiple concepts that one can draw from these surveys.  Number 1 is marriage is still God's best way, His designed way for one man and one woman to relate in a one-flesh relationship.  The Bible teaches abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage.  Despite the cultural winds that would attempt to redefine the principles of sexuality and marriage, His prescribed way remains consistent.

But, as the Barna Group survey indicates, we know what the Church is up against in attempting to uphold Biblical principles.  And, as the summary can remind us, it can be beneficial to talk about and teach the Biblical reasons to wait.  Marriage is a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the church, according to Ephesians 5, and we do best in walking in that by following wholeheartedly His principles.  The culture will glamorize premarital sex and cohabitation, but in the Christian worldview, we do well to celebrate and promote the elements that make marriage great!

Where Are You Going?

God desires for us to be an example of His love and character, and through the power of the
indwelling Spirit, He gives us the ability to live in that way. Colossians 4 says:
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

A challenge for us each day is to recognize that we are to live as ambassadors of the Most High King. It's a heavy responsibility, but I believe that through Christ, we are up to the task.  People and opportunities will come our way, and we can be sensitive to the Spirit to see and know that God is working and that He has something specifically for us to say or do in a particular moment.  He is active in our lives, and equips us to do His work.

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Paul presents some wise words to Timothy about following the Lord and walking in his call.  In 2nd Timothy 2, we read these verses:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Later in the chapter, we can read:
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

These principles - being ready to share and being watchful, actually come into play in today's Front Room.

It was just released last week, but a new augmented reality app is making a dramatic impact - it has resulted in some rather odd behavior as people use their smartphones to go in search of...Pokemon monsters!

USA Today describes the phenomenon:

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game in which users can hunt and catch Pokémon in real time and in the real world. The game provides a map that is linked to your phone's GPS and camera -- meaning you could find a Charmander in your backyard. It notifies you if there's a Pokémon on your map, allowing you to travel to it and try to catch it by swiping a Pokéball on your phone screen.

The story says that, "The app also indicates where the nearest 'PokéStops,' areas where you can pick up items such as Pokéballs, and gyms, where you can do battle with other Go users."

A Religion News Service story points out that the app causes these virtual monsters to appear on your phone screen.  It states:

The app has become a viral sensation among teens and young adults, overtaking Tinder on Android and on course to beat Twitter in daily users. Millennials are walking around with their phones, finding “PokeStops” and “Gyms” at local places of interest: libraries, parks, art galleries, subway stations, zoos and more.

And, as the article points out, some of the Pokemon are showing up at churches.  And, it goes on to say:

If your church is designated as a PokeStop or Gym, The Wardrobe Door blog now has an eight-step guide to ride the wave.

Unfortunately for churches trying to draw in youth, it doesn’t look like there’s a way to register a location as a PokeStop or Gym yet. But turning your church into a “charging station” for players, like Maine’s Columbia Street Baptist Church did, might do the trick.

The Wardrobe Door article references pastor Chris Martin of the Millennial Evangelical website, who noted how he saw several young guys sitting on the steps of a downtown church because it was a Pokemon Gym.   Martin writes:

...Walking aimlessly around your town square, your city parks, or other places will give you and/or your congregation opportunities to talk to people you don’t normally see.

Pastors, you have plenty of very important matters with which to be concerned, so many of you may not have time to try to catch them all. But, you should care about Pokémon Go, because it may very well bring the unreached to your church’s doorstep.

 But, there are unintended consequences, too, and the app may take participants to places they really don't want to go.  Again, from RNS:

Some players have warned about racism and suspicion people of color may face while exploring their neighborhoods for Pokemon, while others have found the game to help with weight loss. There are reports of armed robbers using the game to lure victims, and a 19-year-old Wyoming resident said she found a dead body while looking for Pokemon.

The Daily Caller reports that, "Frustrated users of the app have now reported Pokemon locations in the center of the Pentagon and the White House, which of course they cannot get to, reports WJLA."

The Daily Caller article states:

Authorities are asking people playing the game to remember it is not an excuse to break trespassing laws, whether at a government building or on private property. Police have noted an increase in emergency calls reporting, “trespassing and suspicious activity events recently due to the new Pokemon Go app.”

So far, I don't know if Faith Radio's studios are a PokeStop or a Gym, and I haven't noticed people wandering aimlessly around our parking lot.  But, this is a phenomenon, and it raises some questions for us as believers.

For one, I appreciate what is being written about the evangelistic possibilities here.  The app is actually bringing people into church parking lots and churches.  And, as The Wardrobe Door encourages, you can be welcoming.   That blog states:

Pokemon Go is providing churches with an opportunity to meet new, unchurched people from their neighborhood. You can form relationships with non-Christians just by walking outside your church.

Don’t miss out on this because it’s not something you are interested in. Paul said he became all things to all people so that some might come to Christ.

Pastors and church leaders can make fun of Pokemon Go and the players walking right outside their doors. Or they can take Paul’s advice and become a gamer to reach the gamers for the sake of the gospel.

An augmented reality app is bringing people to church.  And, apparently these PokeStops and Gyms are based on user submissions, according to RNS.

The app is resulting in some unintended consequences, and I think there is a spiritual issue here about direction.  We have to be so careful what or whom we are following.  What we allow to lead us may actually be leading us where we do not wish to go.  Fortunately, we have God's Word and the Holy Spirit to lead us - to show us God's will for our lives, to guide us with reliable criteria for our decisions, and to equip us with discernment so that we make wise choices.   Real life is not a game, and we have to always make sure that we are being guided by spiritual reality, consistent with God's truth.

A Pillar

There is a passage in 2nd Corinthians 12 that contrasts human frailty with God's strength.
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In order for us to experience the power of the Lord, it's important that we humble ourselves and admit our inferior abilities, in comparison to the unlimited resources of God Almighty. Paul, even though he had some amazing experiences with God, had a thorn in the flesh, and that was a reminder of his humanity, his frailty.  We can accomplish much in the power of the flesh, but those achievements will pass away; truly lasting accomplishments in the sight of eternity come in relation to the life of Christ, expressing His power through us.

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Even the strongest, most accomplished, most determined individual has to recognize that human strength pales in comparison to the strength of the Lord.  In Joshua 1, we see where God spoke to the new leader of Israel, saying:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The annual circus known as SEC Media Days is taking place this week in Hoover, and in the midst of the speculation for the upcoming college football season, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey took a moment in his opening address to honor the late former University of Tennessee head women's basketball coach, Pat Summitt.  According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel:

"Pat was a pillar of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said. "She's on par with many of the great names, may have set the standard for all of the great names that are part of this conference. Her impact is felt every day in the lives of the young people she's mentored. Their ongoing success is living proof of Pat's influence and the truly positive impact of intercollegiate athletics."

He also said, "Pat may be the best example of having graduated every student-athlete, having sought and tried and competed to win every championship, and using the intercollegiate athletics platform to change the world."

High praise indeed.  But, there's something about Pat Summitt that maybe you haven't heard, and Terry Mattingly of GetReligion.org takes the media to task for missing it.   He quotes from a Baptist Press story that stated:

Summitt, coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team from 1974-2012, was a member of Faith Promise Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Knoxville, Tenn. Her pastor, Chris Stephens, told Knoxville's NewsTalk 98.7 June 27 she would "probably pass into heaven in the next few days."

Stephens led listeners in prayer during a five-minute interview, praying, "I knew her as one of Your followers. She brought so many people to church, and there was such a side of Pat that so many did not get to see and know, but I did."

Summitt and her son Tyler were baptized together in 2012, a "special moment they shared that outshines all the others," according to a statement from the Pat Summitt Foundation.

Mattingly writes, "Wait a minute. This religious detail was actually in the official obituary prepared by Summitt's own organization, on behalf of her family? It was right there on the website?"

Yes, the site reads:

She was most proud of one special moment they shared that outshines all the others. On May 5, 2012, Pat and Tyler were baptized together. On this day, they decided together to go public with their faith and professed their love for and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. On this day, they created the ultimate and eternal memory, together.

Mattingly puts this event in context:

It was on On May 5, 2012, during the most tumultuous year of Summitt's life – following her stunning August, 2011, announcement that she was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. The baptism was less than a month after he announced her resignation as coach of the Lady Vols. This also came several years after her divorce, after 27 years of marriage.

Clearly this act meant something crucial to Summitt. It was a statement, in part, linked to what she was going to do next – lead a public fight against Alzheimer's, as long as she could. There would, in her words, be "no pity party" for Summitt.

Man - this is truly amazing, and meaningful for me, a UT graduate.  As Commissioner Sankey said, she was a pillar of the SEC and used the platform of intercollegiate athletics to change the world. Her Foundation's website says one moment with her son outshines all the others - get this, all the others - that is, her baptism. You could say that refers to a shared moment with her son.  But, I would take some latitude here and say that moment truly outshines all the others in her life, because the decision to follow Christ is the most important you could ever make. More important than the victories on the court, the relentless fight for the legitimacy of women's basketball, the 100% graduation rate, the character that she built into the lives of her players!

It was late in life when Pat Summitt made that public profession.  And, it was apparently a meaningful accomplishment; but not really her accomplishment, but what God accomplished in her heart through Jesus Christ.  So, not only can Pat Summitt teach us about determination, character, and so many other excellent traits, but she can remind us it's never too late...never too late to make that decision to follow Christ.  Never too late to dedicate your life more fully to Christ.

The woman who just yesterday was called a "pillar" made the decision that she needed a pillar for her life, and she turned to the Lord.   Even the most accomplished person can come to a point of humility. We can rest on our laurels and relish what we have done in our own strength, but ultimately, we can rest on the Lord and recognize each day that we need His strength.  That can be hard for humans, because we can be given to strong-willedness.  But, Jesus wants to be our rock of refuge, our source of strength.