Breaking News: Actors Attend Church on Easter

In 1st John chapter 1, the writer encourages us not to keep what we've experienced to ourselves - our
relationship with God should, I think, be evident to those with whom we interact:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

John had first-hand experience with Jesus - he had walked with Him, and had seen Him do incredible things.  But, you know, we also walk with Jesus - not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.  And, He has placed His Spirit in our hearts as a testimony of His presence, a confirmation of the new birth which we have experienced.  God is doing incredible things in the earth today, and we can approach life with a sense of expectation of how He will show up today.  When He does, we can be careful to give Him the glory.

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We can always be enthused about the opportunity to share what God has done in our lives and what He is doing.  The power of a faith story cannot be underestimated.  In Luke 7, we see Jesus speaking to two of the disciples of John the Baptist:
22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

It wouldn't necessarily be considered news that a couple attended church on Easter Sunday - why, I would dare say that millions of Christians did it less than two weeks ago.

But, when Hollywood power couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck do it, well, that's a different story.  Let's rewind just a bit: after starring in the role of Christy Beam in the faith-based film, Miracles from Heaven, Garner made the decision to start attending church - again.

The film depicts the real-life story of Christy's daughter, Annabel, who had been suffering from a debilitating stomach disorder, which was corrected as the result of her fall 30 feet into a hollowed-out tree.  As she lay unconscious after the fall, she relates that she visited heaven.

Garner doesn't doubt the young girl's account.  She said, according to the TODAY Show website: "Nobody who meets this child, with her sincerity and her frank honesty and faith, would ever think for a second that this child is making anything up or is being sensational," adding, "She is just true to the bone. That's just who she is.”

That article also relates what she said in an interview with Good Morning Texas: “When I did move to L.A., it wasn't something that was just part of the culture there in the same way, at least in my life. But it didn't mean that I lost who I was...”

The story also says that:

While shooting the movie, Garner said she was encouraged to talk to her three kids about faith and religion.

“There was something about doing this film and talking to my kids about it and realizing that they were looking for the structure of church every Sunday,” she said. “So it was a great gift of this film that it took us back to finding our local Methodist church and going every Sunday. It's really sweet."

And, husband Ben has also been attending.  A story on AOL.com from late March said:

The couple was photographed getting into their car together after attending the church service. Their outing comes after Affleck revealed on Facebook that he had completed treatment for his alcohol addiction and thanked his "co-parent Jen" for supporting him during his struggle.

That brings us to Easter Sunday.  The New York Post's entertainment section, Page Six reported:

Just three days after their divorce filing went public, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck put on a united front for Easter.

Affleck, 44, and Garner, 45, attended services together at the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades on Sunday. The estranged couple beamed at one another and were flanked by their three children, daughters Violet, 11, and Seraphina, 8, and son Samuel, 5.

The pair, who announced their separation in 2015, remain amicable, with Affleck still living on the family property. A source told Page Six, “He’s still at the house. They strive to be the best parents they can be. There’s a strong mutual respect for each other, which you don’t typically find with couples divorcing.”

I am thankful for this kind of coverage, and when you consider the influence that an A-list star can have, perhaps it can encourage fellow actors and fans to follow suit.  How her faith informs her approach to policy issues, though, might raise some concerns.  LifeSiteNews reported that:

Hollywood is using a film with pro-life themes to fund abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

On April 8, the makers of Juno are hosting a live read of the movie’s script as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood. The Los Angeles reading will feature an all-female cast, including original Juno stars Ellen Page and Jennifer Garner. The hit 2007 movie followed the story of a teenager who gives up her baby for adoption following an unplanned pregnancy.

The article points out that the director had told Entertainment Weekly, that he wanted the reading to “resolve one point of debate” about the film: that it was about choice, not life.

And, Townhall.com points out that Garner has been known as politically liberal, but she breaks with some in Hollywood, saying she'd like to work with President Trump on the issues of early education for the rural poor.  The article says:

“I’m looking forward to helping him make good on what they saw as promises, a mandate from him, that he was going to make their lives better,” the actress told The Washington Post.

Garner acknowledged that she stands out among her friends in her desire to engage the new administration, many of whom “want to turn their back to this administration.” But to her, political preferences take a back seat to her advocacy efforts.

“If he’s willing to help the poor kids who got him elected, then let’s do it. They certainly think he’s going to,” she told the Post.

The actress visited D.C. recently to meet with political leaders and to address the National Governor's Association.

Jennifer Garner, like the President, received news coverage for the simple act of attending church on Easter Sunday.  And, as I said before, I hope these stories can inspire people to think about not only going to church, but impressing faith principles on their children.

Yes, I was concerned that an actor who has gained some standing in the Christian community would appear at a benefit for the nation's largest abortion provider.  It does remind us that some people whom we hold up to be faith examples do not always do what we would like for them to do. But, you know, each of us needs to check ourselves to make sure that we are associating ourselves with organizations and causes that are consistent with our own faith proclamation.  Our associations can communicate quite a bit about our own faith perspective and practice.  And, I have been known to reject guests from The Meeting House because of their associations.  Keep in mind, also, that none of us have arrived, and we may have blind spots in our own spiritual lives that need to be addressed.

Finally, the Garner story reminds us of the power of a faith story.  She connected with what the Beams had been through, and it affected her life - now, it has the chance to affect others; it may even preserve her marriage.  It certainly can affect her children.  Our willingness to share what God has done in our lives can impact the hearts and minds of those with whom we share it.

Together

In Matthew 16, there is a fascinating exchange - Jesus asked His disciples two questions; one was, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"  They related the answer, and we now pick up with
the next question in verse 15:
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Peter gave a correct assessment about the identity of our Lord.  Jesus said this was given to Peter by His Father.   He also said that on this rock He would build His church, a church that would be strong against the power of the enemy.

God has a specific, glorious purpose for the church.  For one thing, we are a testimony of Jesus to the world - we are to come to know Christ better, to grow in Him, and in so doing, we can be strengthened in order to be a reflection of His glory.  The church is a visible, tangible expression of the character of our Lord.

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From the second chapter of the book of Acts, we see a model for the activities of the early church:
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

We hear a lot about church attendance these days.  It seems that story after story identifies the practices of various age and demographic groups; the rise of the so-called "nones" - those without religious affiliation has become a major trend.  There is quite a bit of attention that has been focused on the Millennials.

But, what is it that attracts people to go to church, anyway.  Gallup released a survey, taken in March of this year, that identified some of those motivating factors.   There were seven reasons measured - I will go through them in countdown form.  These are the results from those identifying these areas as a "major factor:"

38% - A good choir, praise band, cantors or other spiritual music

49% - Social activities that allow you to get to know people in your community

Now, 36% also said each of those were "minor factors."

54% - Dynamic religious leaders who are interesting and inspiring

59% - Lots of community outreach and volunteer opportunities

64% - Spiritual programs geared toward children and teenagers

75% - Sermons or lectures that help you connect religion to your own life

And at 76% - Sermons or talks that teach you more about scripture.

Then, there's this morsel from the survey summary:

The poll also asked the 35% of Americans who are lapsed worshippers -- those who attended a church, synagogue or mosque at least monthly growing up but who seldom or never attend today -- to rate the importance of nine different factors explaining their absence.

There is no overarching reason why former churchgoers no longer attend. Preferring to worship on one's own tops the list at 44%, and just over a third say not liking organized religion is a major factor. These suggest not an antipathy to religion per se so much as a dislike of the group format.

The summary relates some of the conclusions that the survey identifies are:

Belonging to a church, synagogue or mosque provides people with important social benefits that Gallup research shows improve personal well-being. While social benefits are clearly important to majorities of those who worship regularly, what most motivates them to attend is learning more about the tenets of their faith, as well as connecting that faith to their lives.

So, there you have it - no pressure on those who are called to deliver the Word each week, right? According to this survey, people are drawn to sermon content, and over half rate the personality of the preacher as a major factor.

I want to look at that model for the early church.  The first component that you notice in Acts 2 is that the people "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine." The authority of God's Word is an important building block. Jesus asked the disciples whom they said He was; Peter answered that He was the "Christ, the Son of the Living God."  Our Lord responded by saying that "upon this rock, I will build my church."  The foundation of our churches should be a knowledge of who Jesus is, and we discover this through exposure to and absorption of the Word.

But, our motivation for church attendance should not be to be entertained or to, as the Scriptures say, "have our ears tickled."  Continuing steadfastly in doctrine means that we allow God's truth to shape us, rather than our trying to fit God's words into our own preconceived ideas.  Where there is conflict between what we think and what God says, well, you know what the solution is!

Community seems to be less of a factor according to this poll.  But, that wasn't apparently the case with the early church.  They were active, they saw God show up in their midst; they had a commonality, they met one another's needs, and they were "continuing daily with one accord. in the temple."  It seems that Christian practice wasn't something reserved for one day a week, but there was a consistency in their walk.  Now, over 4-in-10, according to this survey, prefer to worship alone and a little more than a third do not like organized religion.  But Hebrews 10 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  Consistent individual time with God is certainly important, because God calls us, I believe, to learn, grow, and serve together, as one body, united by His Spirit, in spirit according to His purpose.

He Provides

1st John 5 gives us some encouragement when we come to the Lord in prayer.  He responds to the prayer offered in faith, in humility, aligned with His will.  He answers our prayers because He loves
us, and a passage in that chapter says:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

We can have confidence in God, and we have to guard against thinking we have all the answers and all the resources to make our lives work.  He wants us to depend on Him - and when we humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging our need for Him, then He will show up in phenomenal ways.  But, we have to realize that we don't have the answers and that our human devices are inferior to the power and provision of Almighty God.

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In Mark chapter 10, a blind man came to Jesus - in dramatic fashion.  We can read:
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."
52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

GracePoint Church is located in the Valparaiso, Indiana area.  The Chicago Tribune says that the church started in 2009 with 24 members, and the congregation has grown to around 750.  The church is meeting at an elementary school, but plans to renovate a former furniture store as a permanent location.

The church faced a deadline back in February, when pastor Ken Lamb informed his congregation that the church was short of funds in order to meet a financial deadline.  The newspaper article says: "Church officials needed to provide $300,000 to their lender before the bank would release the funds for the project. The money was due in a matter of days and the church didn't have it."

After the first service, a man donated half the amount, and then after the second service a woman said that she possessed a gold coin that she was willing to offer as a "guarantor for the lender. If the church raised the money, the coin would be returned to her."

But, the next day, she announced she had changed her mind and told Lamb, according to the story, "God had been good to her and she had to give the coin to the church outright." The article states:

The 1866 Double Eagle gold coin was stamped with "In God We Trust," and coin experts said it was the first year the motto appeared on $20 coins. It was a proof coin, meant for collectors and not commerce, though many may have been spent or melted down over the years. Of the original 30 coins in the batch, experts said that maybe half of those are still in existence.

The woman told Lamb her late husband was a coin collector and the coin was the first one he found.

"It's just weird because I began to not trust" as the church neared its deadline without the money it needed, Lamb said, "and this is the first $20 gold piece stamped with 'In God We Trust.'"

Heritage Auctions anticipates selling the coin tomorrow for $300,000.  The company was able to wire the church $150,000 to meet its financial obligation.

A CBN News piece on this story said this:

GracePoint's story is a reminder of the Luke chapter 21 story of the widow's two mites where Jesus praises the woman for giving two small coins to the synagogue. "She out of her poverty put in all she had to live on," he said in verse four.

Its headline read: "'Widow's Mite' Saves Church."

It is a pretty amazing story, and provided a reminder to Pastor Ben Lamb and his congregation - it can also be a reminder to us.  When you have a need, perhaps a financial deadline, maybe a health concern, a relationship that needs to be mended - it's simple, but profound: trust God.  That was the message carried by that coin that was given to the church.

Sometimes we want to telegraph how God provides for us.  We work out our plans and maybe it occurs to us that He may want to be involved.  But, He will provide in creative ways, ways much bigger than our limited human wisdom.  For some reason, those coins that showed up in the mouth of the fish comes to mind - taxes were due, and He provided.  Jesus taught people who were hungry, and He provided through a little boy who brought five loaves and two fish - Jesus multiplied that simple offering.  

So, we come back to the question that Jesus asked of the blind man in Mark chapter 10: What do you want Me to do for you?"  There is a Biblical principle that if we come to God in humility, with faith, and ask according to His will, He not only hears us but He will answer our prayers.  The answer may not come in the form that we might think it will, but we can be confident that we serve a God to Whom we can bring our needs and concerns.

Starting the Conversation

In Colossians 3, we see the contrast between our life in Christ and the cultural trends and activities that lead to death.
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.

The choice is very clear, and it is stark:  we can choose to embrace the attitudes and activities of this world, we can participate in calling right what the Bible calls wrong, or tolerate areas of sin in our hearts and minds.  OR, we can recognize that Christ is our life, and allow the abundant, freeing life of Christ to flow through us, so that we can experience and enjoy our capacity to walk in triumph over the ways of the world that would hold us captive.

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Because we believe in the Lord Jesus, we regard Him as our Redeemer - sin keeps us from enjoying a right relationship with God, but Jesus died on the cross, taking the punishment for our sins, so that we can share in that victory. He came to right what was - and is - wrong. 1st Corinthians 6 describes a sinful state:
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Pop icon Katy Perry told Vogue magazine recently that she "started a conversation."  And, I would encourage caution when you hear those three words - not across the board necessarily, but it does seem that some people who want to start conversations are wanting to force others to change their hearts and minds.  That's not a conversation.

So, we're in this conversation these days about sexuality and people finding new ways to twist the Biblical standards that we find in the Word.  The hottest conversation is about transgenderism, you know, the practice of saying that you were born into the wrong body, that you were "assigned" the wrong gender.  You had Bruce Jenner, former Olympic star, who now goes by the name Caitlyn and has attempted to change his biology, on prime-time cable last night - I didn't catch the whole thing, but what I did see featured Jenner exhibiting concern for the "youth," you know, those who are so conflicted.  He, like so many, it seems, think that youth struggling with gender issues are miserable for what is being done to them; I would contend it is because of what they are doing to themselves by embracing a harmful and unbiblical mentality; so, I 'm concerned, too.

I'm concerned when Katy Perry, who should know better, according to USA Today,  in a speech accepting the Human Rights Campaign National Equality Award, referred to her hit song, "I kissed a girl and I liked it..."

"Truth be told, A) I did more than that, but B) How was I going to reconcile that with a gospel-singing girl raised in youth groups that were pro-conversion camps?" she continued. "What I did know is that I was curious, and even then I knew sexuality wasn't as black and white as this (ruffled Rasario) dress. And, honestly, I haven't always gotten it right, but in 2008, when that song came out, I knew that I started a conversation that a lot of the world seemed curious enough to sing along, too."​

The article starts out by saying:

Katy Perry's religious upbringing is an essential part of the pop star's mythology. The daughter of evangelical Christian pastors, Perry was sheltered from the modern world until she was a teenager, she explained in her new Vogue cover story.

"(I wasn't) allowed to interact with gay people,” she said, recalling "some generational racism."

So, the conversation is continuing, and we have to be concerned with where it leads.  The so-called LGBT advocates have a desire to normalize their behavior, those who follow the Bible continue to say it is not normal behavior.  And, because Christians believe in approaching people with whom we disagree with the compassion of Christ, we can continue to be motivated to reach out in compassion, present the truth, pray, and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.

That is one takeaway from these stories today - people are being influenced by the Perrys and Jenners of this world, and that's unfortunate.  And it can be discouraging.  But, we also recognize they are not our enemies.  2nd Corinthians 10 tells us the nature of our battle, and the opponent in our battle - it's not flesh and blood.  Unfortunately, they have become casualties, hopefully temporary, but have been captivated by radical ideas that are not only contradictory to the Scriptures, but dangerous to the soul.

In their attempt to be compassionate, there are Christian leaders who have shied away from confronting sins surrounding the LGBT agenda.  One in particular told women struggling with gender issues that there was nothing "wrong" with them. The fact is, there is something wrong with all of us, with the world, as Greg Koukl pointed out on The Meeting House program recently.  We are all born into sin, in desperate need of a Savior.  Jesus came to right what was wrong.  In dealing with sinfulness, Jesus didn't say, "hey, you're OK," no, he said, "Go, and sin no more."  Sin is no longer a death sentence; Jesus offers an invitation into life - but we have to come on His terms. Experimentation with ideas and practices that do not line up with His truth is not an acceptable path to the abundant life.

Activated

God wants us to lead fruitful lives.  And, a contributing factor is the presence of and application of
the Word of God - if it is planted in our hearts, then we grow, we bear fruit for Him. Psalm 1 says:
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

The words we listen to and absorb into our consciousness will produce results - that's why we have to be so careful about what we expose ourselves to.  Words that don't built up can harm our spirits, and if we are dwelling on those negative impressions, that can weigh us down in our walk with the Lord. God's Word will instruct us and encourage us; it will also convict us so that we can repent from our sinful ways and pursue His holiness more wholeheartedly.  His Word is a reliable guide through the perils of this world.

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We can be reminded that our words are containers - they can be used to build up or tear down.  The words we think on and speak can help us grow spiritually or inhibit our spiritual growth.  In the
parable of the sower in Mark chapter 4, Jesus is outlining four places where the seed, God's Word, is sown - beside the road, on stony ground, among the thorns, and on good ground,  He says:
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

This much-ballyhooed ad starts out in a regular fashion - a fast-food employee standing presumably in a restaurant. Then things get interesting: the actor says: "OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?"

This ad then reportedly would activate Google Home devices, which would take the viewer to the company's Wikipedia page.  Fox News.com reports:

For years, the first sentence of the Whopper page read, “The Whopper is the signature hamburger sold by the international fast-food restaurant chain Burger King and its Australian franchise Hungry Jack’s.” But a few days prior to the ad’s release, it was altered to include the burger's ingredients, reading, “The Whopper is a burger, consisting of a flame-grilled patty made with 100% beef with no preservatives or fillers, topped with sliced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, and mayonnaise, served on a sesame-seed bun.”

Of course, Wikipedia is a source where readers can go in and edit material.  And, some people thought they would be rather clever and began to edit the page in a less-than-flattering manner. Gizmodo reported on some of the edits, which described the burger as being made with "rat and toenail clippings," or with "cyanide" as one of the ingredients.  Another edit said the burger caused cancer.

So, the online vandals were out, and Wikipedia was definitely not "all in" for the campaign.  In fact, BK may have violated a rule that says editors cannot insert ads, according to Fox, which says that, "Wikipedia is demanding that Burger King 'apologize to our editors and readers' as well as admit any wrongdoing and agree to comply with the sites rules going forward."

And, Google was definitely not happy with the campaign, either.  A strange little cat-and-mouse game ensued.  USA Today stated that, "Wikipedia subsequently locked the Whopper page from new edits. And by Wednesday afternoon, Google had deactivated the ad's ability to trigger Home devices." Gizmodo said Google's adjustment took less than three hours.  But the King was not to be undone; USA Today said:

By substituting the voice saying the command with a woman's voice or a different male voice from the man seen in the ad, the new spots again activated Google Home devices. When USA TODAY tried the ads Thursday morning, Home once again started listing Whopper ingredients, courtesy of Wikipedia.

In a terse editorial comment, Gizmodo stated: "As if it weren’t creepy enough that a major corporation is triggering smart home devices to feed their owners idiotic ad copy, that same corporation is also editing an online encyclopedia in order to better use it for marketing."

USA Today stated: "For Burger King, the ad served as a way to tap into the growing ownership of home speakers with AI-enhanced digital assistants such Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri — and of course, to generate some buzz. The company on Wednesday saw three times the activity on Twitter as it did the previous day, it said in a statement to USA TODAY."

And, have you noticed?  Another burger chain is encouraging a Google search in its advertising. This time, according to CNET.com, it's Mindy Kailing telling viewers to search for "that place where Coke tastes so good."  That presumably is McDonald's, although its name is not mentioned in the ad. When you Google that, you'll find a listing of stories about the ad!!

Well, it's all part of advertising - you have to be creative and attempt to stay a step or two ahead of the competition.  And, if you can leverage social media or the Internet, it can certainly be a plus!

I think that the BK ad flap has some things that can inspire us today.  First of all, recognize the obvious - that we are involved in an increasingly technological society.  Words and images that once were heard just on the radio or seen on a page in a newspaper or on a TV screen can be transmitted in a variety of ways.  Faith Radio can now be heard on 8 broadcast facilities, but we also are on the Internet, and you can access us on a smartphone through the website or through our app. Radio shows were once recorded, or "taped," but you really weren't able to listen to them again very easily.  Now, interviews from The Meeting House can be accessed online.  You can read these comments on the Internet.  And, you can even see video excerpts of on-location conversations,

Now, can you tell Google Home, Alexa, or Siri to search for Faith Radio in Alabama?  I think you should try it - let us know what you discover.

Let's think spiritually about the power of words.  Burger King leveraged the ability to tell Google Home what to do.  Those words activated a response.  So, think about this - what words activate you?  Words have power.  Encouraging words can help to motivate and affirm us, while discouraging words can bring down our spirits.  Sometimes words can produce a less-than-holy response in us, maybe even cause anger or anxiety.  We cannot guard ourselves from such words, but we can work in tandem with the Holy Spirit to not allow harmful words to trigger ungodly behavior or impulses.

We can also think - how can we allow God's Word to activate us?  God's Word, placed in our heart, can produce fruit for His glory.  His words are described as seeds - as they are treated carefully, as they are cultivated and watered, then the harvest will come.  We have to make sure our hearts are good ground in which the Word can be planted, so that it can accomplish what God intends.  Our study of and meditation on God's Word can cause us to grow in Christ and to exhibit the result that He wants to bring to pass.

Strategic

In Psalm 73, we see words expressed by the writer about pursuing the things of God and regarding Him as our source:
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Our love for God and desire to live holy lives should really permeate all that we engage in.  Our call is to come into a relationship with Christ and bring Him glory, so that in our conduct, people can see Him.  That's consistently in our everyday behavior and it may very well be in a specific cause, or assignment, that He calls us to pursue.  Consider that you have been placed in strategic positions so that you can be a person of influence for Him - in your family, in your workplace, and in your church family.

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The Bible teaches us that we are to honor God wherever we are, whatever we do - and that includes bring Him glory in our occupation, with the people with whom we are called to work.  Colossians 3
says:
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Many in the evangelical Christian community have felt an affinity for the point of view that has been advanced on the Fox News cable channel.  And, really, you have to admit that there are really two Fox News - s...the news reporting side and the editorial side.  My perception is that a good deal of the network's programming is devoted to coverage of news stories, but then you have the programs that are characterized by telling people how to think about the news - those would include Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and...until this week, Bill O'Reilly.

In an unexpected and ironic juxtaposition of events, the departure of O'Reilly over allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace, which he denies, coincided with the release of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.  There is one journalist on the list, and she is also a former Fox News host.

Her name is Gretchen Carlson, and her confrontation of what she regarded as a toxic element of the corporate culture at Fox after her firing from the channel was not lost on news reporters and commentators over the past couple of days.  In the short biography found on the TIME website, Katie Couric wrote of Carlson, "Gretchen Carlson's very public stand against Fox News blew the lid off a corporate culture that seemed to perpetuate sexual harassment—from the executive suite to the anchor desk," adding, "Her resolve led to the downfall of one of the most powerful men in media, Roger Ailes."

Couric also wrote, "Now Gretchen is shining a light on the fine print in employment contracts that force victims into arbitration and secret settlements, leaving the public in the dark."

It is important to note that there have been different characterizations of Roger Ailes and his approach to women.  Some have described a "toxic culture," according to the Hollywood Reporter, while others early on came to the defense of the now-departed Mr. Ailes, according to the same site.  One lady who believed Ailes early on, Greta Van Susteren, said she "regretted" that defense now that she has departed - that's according to Deadline.com.

So, the head of Fox News and arguably the face of the cable channel are gone.  So are Gretchen Carlson, Megan Kelly, and Greta Van Susteren.  CNN and MSNBC are out to build audience.  Tucker Carlson moves into O'Reilly's slot next week and The Five moves to 8 p.m.

I don't think that you can liken Fox to the Titanic just yet.  And, while there have been internal management struggles, the content, by and large, has been fair and favorable toward people of faith, and you have some people at the channel who are devoted Christians, so I can hold out hope that matters important to Christians and our worldview would be dealt with evenhandedly.

I'll share a few names and talking points here momentarily.  But, first of all, congratulations to Gretchen Carlson for making the TIME list.  Her devotion to the Lord has been well-documented, and after her departure from Fox News, she took a moral stand against behavior that she had observed and found to be offensive.  The Fox website published an excerpt from her 2015 book, Getting Real, just after it was released, in which she writes:

One thing I noticed right away was that Fox was the first place I’d worked where it was okay to talk openly about faith on the air.

I was pleased, of course, but it also made sense to me. For me faith has never been an abstraction, but a real part of my life. I don’t think of faith as a political talking point or a matter of debate, as it is often portrayed. Faith is a meaningful part of the culture, and where our culture is headed is a pretty important topic.

I don’t mind that people call me a culture warrior for my stance on faith issues, even though it is often meant in a derogatory way. I think if you believe something, you should say something. That’s the code I live by. But the most important thing I have to say about faith is that it’s real, and being a person of faith makes me more real.

A CBN News profile says:

Carlson, who was raised Lutheran, said her Christian faith helped shape her into the woman she is today.

"As a journalist you're supposed to ask a lot of questions. It's the one thing I don't question in life, and I feel so blessed that I don't," she said about her faith.

This year, at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, there were three Fox News hosts in attendance - one was Sean Hannity, who is working with Kevin and Sam Sorbo on a faith-based film called, Let There Be Light, to be released this fall.  There's also Lauren Green, who has written a book called, Lighthouse Faith.  A publisher's note found on the Fox and Friends website says:

Fox News Religion Correspondent Lauren Green uses her wealth of stories, vast network of contacts, and her own extensive study of theology to take the reader on a unique journey of spiritual discovery. With few female authors writing in the field of theology, Green provides an important perspective to all who wish to move closer to not only a deeper relationship with God but an understanding of what makes that possible.

And, you have someone whom I will regard as the contender for "Mr. NRB," currently held by Bob Lepine, who MC's a number of different events each year.  But, Todd Starnes was the moderator for three public policy sessions, sharing the stage with James Dobson, the Sorbos, the Benham Brothers, and David Limbaugh. Starnes has written, The Deplorables' Guide to Making America Great Again.

Other Christians at Fox News include Fox and Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt, who has written a children's book called, Take Heart, My Child: A Mother's Dream.  A CBN News article told part of her faith story:

When she's not on the air, Ainsley spends time with her one-year-old daughter, Hayden, for whom she wrote the book.

She says the Bible was the inspiration for the title.

"Because of the scripture, 'Take heart, I have overcome the world," Ainsley explained, referring to the verse from John 16:33.

She goes on to say: "I feel like I can take heart because I know that He's in control, and I want Hayden to know that she can take heart. God is in control. I will never let her go. I am always here for her, and I will love her unconditionally, the way that God loves me."

Earhardt also relates that she is free to share her faith on Fox.  So, no matter what the future of the news channel may be, there does seem to be a Christian presence, which I would hope would have a positive influence on the content.

So, today, on this Famous Friday, when I look at God-instances among popular people, it's important that we continue to be reminded about developing good sources of news content.  You may not agree with everything you see on Fox, but it's helpful to know that you have people strategically placed there who are carrying the banner of faith.  Always, always, make sure the sources you trust are consistent with your worldview.

There is also an element of conduct here, as we return to the recent departures of high-profile people at Fox News.  As a Christian, you are a witness in the workplace.  Men should treat women with respect and honor, we should seek to maintain a positive environment on the job, doing our work as unto the Lord.  How we conduct ourselves with our co-workers is a reflection of Christ - it's a high standard, but we can be confident that we have the Holy Spirit, who goes before us.

I also want to explore very briefly the importance of pursuing a cause.  After her departure, Gretchen Carlson took a cause upon herself - it has opened doors to share her experience and to perhaps bring greater awareness to what is proper and what is not in the workplace.  This is a cause, I think, that could possibly be considered to be consistent with her faith perspective.  Perhaps God is strategically placing you in a position where you can call attention to a cause, to speak out, to organize an event, to make contacts, in order to pursue a godly outcome.

Free Exercise

Paul challenges his associate Timothy to be bold in proclaiming God's truth.  In 2nd Timothy 4, we read:
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.

The religious climate in our world can include difficulties in sharing the gospel message.  There will be restrictions, some enacted by government, others put into place by individuals or groups.  Hostility toward people of faith is quite significant.  But, into a world that can sometimes be hostile, Jesus represents the message of hope.  The cross and the empty tomb demonstrate to everyone that a loving God has reached out to fallen humanity to save and redeem, to bring each person into a relationship with Himself.

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There is a great lesson for each of us found in the 8th chapter of Acts, remind us of opportunities that may arise to reach out to people who are different than we, even those who would practice another religion:
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

We see later in the chapter that Philip "preached Jesus to him," and the eunuch believed in Jesus and was baptized.

The Pew Research Center has released the findings of study of almost 200 countries, measuring restrictions on religion, including those carried out by the respective governments.  After a two-year decline since a report of 43 percent of countries registering "high" or "very high" in the amount of overall restrictions in 2012, the number is up to 40 percent for 2015, according to a story from Religion News Service on the ChristianHeadlines.com website.  

The article states:

Of the 198 countries Pew surveyed, 25 percent reported “high” or “very high” levels of government restriction, up just slightly from 24 percent in 2014. And 27 percent reported “high” or “very high” numbers of acts of religious hostility by individuals, organizations or groups, a jump from 23 percent in 2014, according to the data.

The results were broken down by region, with the Middle East-North Africa region having the "highest percentage of countries registering government harassment or use of force against religious groups: 95 percent."

Europe had the largest increase; 53 percent of the countries in that region reflected a rise in government harassment or force between 2014 and 2015.  Overall, 89 percent of countries in Europe experienced harassment or force, second only to the Middle East-North Africa area.

Some of the activities contributing to the rise in Europe include the influx of refugees to the continent, as well as religion-related terror attacks.  The RNS story stated:

Muslims in France and other European countries faced violence by groups or individuals after those attacks, and the report noted a considerable uptick in social hostilities against Muslims in Europe in general, from 58 percent of European countries experiencing such hostilities to 71 percent, according to Pew. Those numbers rose less significantly for Christians (from 38 percent to 47 percent) and remained high for Jews (71 percent to 73 percent).

Regarding specific countries, "Egypt had the highest levels of government restrictions on religion in 2015, and Nigeria, the most social hostilities toward it."

I think a takeaway that readily comes to mind here is that, while we may disagree with the religious practice and perspective of others, we should always be mindful to be respectful of their right to embrace it.  Now, when religion becomes a basis for violence against others, authorities will need to get involved, and we need to be sensitive to those threats from people who use religion to do harm in the form of terror.  But, by and large, while should be firm in our religious convictions and grounded in God's Word, we can also be compassionate toward those who hold to different views. 

There was no mention of the United States in the RNS article.  But, a map from Pew was included showing that the U.S. is in the "moderate" category regarding government restrictions.  And, we can expect that governments will attempt to place restrictions on religion, either out of ignorance, misunderstanding, or under pressure from groups that feel threatened by our religious freedom.  That is not unexpected, and we can continue to be bold in the Lord, even though there will be those who will try to, in the name of tolerance, place limits on our expression in the public square.

Finally, Christians can be intent on building relationship structures through which the gospel can be shared.  We can be challenged to evaluate our interaction with people of different beliefs or no faith, recognizing that those people are candidates for a relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can be sensitive to the divine appointments that God may bring our way in order to speak His truth.

Truth

Jesus pointed to the source of truth as He taught in John 8:
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

There is a desire in our culture today to identify what is true - you hear phrases such as "fake news," "alternative facts," "fact checking."  But, so often, in a media-saturated culture, truth is defined and related according to the agenda or ideology of the messenger.  We need to have reliability in our lives; we need to trust the sources we use for information. That's why God's Word is important - He gives us direction, and He provides discernment, so that we can determine what is consistent with truth; not subjective truth that can be manipulated, but objective truth that can be stable.

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Before he sentenced Jesus to death, the governor Pontius Pilate asked an enormous question.  We
pick up the narrative in John chapter 18:
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

What is truth?  Is truth, real, absolute truth, relevant today?

In 1966, TIME Magazine released its iconic cover that featured the words, "Is God Dead?" written in red against a stark black background.  Now, in a variation of that graphic appearance, the magazine has released an issue that features a similar cover question, "Is Truth Dead?"

That question previews a cover story in which the publication questions the truthfulness of no less than the President of the United States.  But, a number of Christian theologians have taken that cover concept to explore some aspects of truth and its place in our society today - you can see their comments in a story on the Baptist Press website, taken from the The Pathway, a Missouri Southern Baptist publication.

Owen Strachan of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary boldly declared, "Truth is not dead..." He relates, "...we who preach Christ have the means of salvation and surety. I believe in days ahead that many will disagree with us, but that our promotion of absolute truth, a coherent worldview, and a Savior will prove irresistible to many left in the wilderness by postmodern education."

The article continues:

That TIME magazine would follow up their talk of God's death with talk of truth's death is no surprise, Strachan added. "The two 'deaths' are directly related. If God is not with us, then we have no foundation for truth."

David Baker, pastor of First Baptist Church in Belton, MO, told The Pathway: "People were alarmed. They were shocked," referring to the cover in 1966, adding, "I remember it. I was 16 years old when it came out. I remember my pastor addressing it the Sunday after it came out.

The article points out that, for Baker...

...it is only natural that, little more than 50 years later, TIME is publishing a cover design that questions the existence of truth. After having questioned the existence of God, TIME, as well as many people in American society, has removed the only foundation for absolute truth.

The article states that John Greever, an adjunct professor of theology at Missouri Baptist University and pastor of First Baptist Church of Fenton, MO, claims the cover is "actually behind the times...since some experts have actually pronounced the death of postmodern skepticism about truth."

What comes next? Greever says: "What comes after the degradation of absolute and objective truth is tyranny and oppressive thought.... That's why we have protests. That's why we have shouting matches. It's no longer about what anyone's viewpoint or perception or perspective is, but about whether or not they conform to the common narrative of life or thought."

There were some instances given in the article: the oppression of Baronelle Stutzman, the Washington florist who declined to provide products for a same-sex wedding, a Missouri counseling student who was kicked out of school because he did not wish to counsel a same-sex couple, the recent flap in North Carolina over accommodating transgender individuals.

The article quotes J. Alan Branch, professor of Christian Ethics at Midwestern:

What TIME really means by 'Is Truth Dead?' is that they want abortion on demand, legalized euthanasia, legalized pot, and abandonment of sexual restraint," Branch told The Pathway. In other words, he acknowledged, they're simply promoting their own brand of truth -- a "truth" based on a liberal, progressive ideology.

Well, one of the apparent threads here is that there are people, organizations, and media outlets who are attempting to define and redefine truth according to their own philosophical agenda and attempting to force those who disagree to go along.  For the Christians, there is one source of absolute truth, and our ideology, our theology, should line up with the principles we find in the word of God.

Truth is certainly not subjective; rather it is objective, based on the teachings of God's Word. As Owen Strachan said for the article, ""People now speak, even in conservative circles, of exclusively personalized truth: 'My truth.' 'Your truth,'" adding, "Truth today is no different than an item on a fast-food menu; you can take it or leave it."  That can cause us to think that truth was never intended to be personalized.

There are so many big and broad questions here, but we have to consider who is determining what is true - if it is according to human wisdom, it is fallible.  But, if it is according to Godly instruction, it is firm.  The Bible, illuminated by the Holy Spirit becomes our compass by which we lead our lives.  He has promised to direct us in the way we should go, and we need His wisdom in order to make reliable decisions.

Care

In the pursuit and application of Biblical principles concerning finances, generosity is certainly a key component. We can read the words of Jesus in Luke 12:
31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Today is sometimes called Tax Day, or the day when our tax returns are due.  I think the topic of generosity is quite appropriate for today. We recognize that the government allows us to reduce our payment of taxes by deducting our charitable contributions - I think you could say that this shows that the role of faith is still recognized in the tax code.  And, face it, some of the dollars that we pay in taxes each year go to help support people in need.Today, we can take a moment to think about the needs of those around us and how God would use us to demonstrate the love of Christ, to show a tangible expression of His presence.

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In 1st John 3, we encounter a wonderful picture of how the love of God is to operate with respect to
our culture at large:
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

The release of a framework for a budget for the upcoming fiscal year from the Trump administration ignited discussion about the role of government in caring for those less fortunate - at home and abroad.  A piece on The Atlantic website, again by Emma Green, who is a regular contributor on matters of faith, featured this explosive paragraph:

With billions of dollars worth of cuts to federal social services likely ahead, the wars of religion have begun. Bible verses about poverty have suddenly become popular on Twitter, with Republicans and Democrats each claiming to better know how Jesus would think about entitlement spending. While conservatives tend to bring religion into public-policy conversations more than liberals, the valence is often switched when it comes to the budget: Liberals eagerly quote the Sermon on the Mount in support of government spending, while conservatives bristle at the suggestion that good Christians would never want cuts.

The statement is clear: "If government steps back, religious organizations may need to step up."

But how much?  Green said that she "spoke with roughly a half dozen scholars from a variety of ideological backgrounds who study religious giving, and they were all skeptical that churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based organizations could serve as an adequate substitute for the government in providing for the needy and vulnerable." But I would contend that doesn't means they should not try - she quoted David Campbell, a political-science professor at the University of Notre Dame, who put it, “No religion is on the sidelines when it comes to caring for the poor.”

The article quotes Michael Tanner of the libertarian Cato Institute.  Green writes:

For his part, Tanner imagines a world where government no longer crowds out private giving, as he claims it does now. “What’s translated as ‘charity’ in the Bible is ‘agape,’ which literally means love,” he said. “We do have a responsibility to help the poor and those in need. That means taking care of them yourself—giving money yourself, giving your time, your efforts, not someone else’s.”

And, there is certainly potential for people of faith to make a greater impact in addressing the social needs of our culture.  Even though, as it is pointed out, it can be challenging to identify how those who are not affiliated with a particular religion are or will be involved in charitable giving.

But, religious people have a tremendous propensity to give - you might say it's in our spiritual DNA as Christians.

According to the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University, donations to congregations, denominations, mission board, and TV and radio ministries account for roughly one-third of all annual giving in the U.S.

Based on a national survey, Duke Divinity School professor Mark Chaves found that 83 percent of congregations have some sort of program to help needy people in their communities. The median amount congregations spent on social-service programs was $1,500. Mary Jo Bane, a professor at Harvard University, is quoted as saying, “Religious congregations do a lot,” but, as she adds, “the scale of what they do is trivial compared to what the government does. Especially if you think about the big government programs like … food stamps and school lunches, or health services through Medicaid, what religious organizations do is teeny tiny.”

Here are two statements I would like to make: #1, I believe that the Bible teaches that we are to care for the poor; we are called to be in the work of charity - of caring for those in need.  That is a clear teaching of Scripture.  You can see God's heart in the principle, found in Exodus 23, that every seven years, the land would not be harvested, and the products would be left for the poor.   What form our charity takes can be varied, but there should be a component of compassion, but also of responsibility - people should not be left on the receiving end, but should also be taught to care for themselves.

The second statement is at the heart of the debate that was set up in the paragraph I quoted earlier - while we are called to care for those who are less fortunate, it is not necessarily a Biblical concept to support an ever-increasing government to bear that burden.  You could say that if there were more church involvement, there would be less need for the government to step in.  So, if you believe that the role of government should be diminished - and I believe, as it's been said, that the Biblically-prescribed role is to preserve order and punish evil - then you have to evaluate whether or not you should support programs that contribute to that state of dependency.

I am thankful that our tax dollars contribute to providing social services; but, ideally, the Church is called to fulfill more of that responsibility.  The character of Christ can be seen as we take tangible action to love as He loved, and to give of ourselves, so that others might be strengthened.

Searching

Jesus has risen from the dead, and that has enormous personal implications for each of us.  Romans chapter 6 says this:
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.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him...

Today, we think together about the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid.  He had declared at the tomb of Lazarus that He was the resurrection and the life.  He was raised from the dead by the resurrection power of God, and those who call upon the name of the Lord in salvation can also be raised up.  We were doomed to eternal punishment, but Jesus took that upon Himself; we had dead spirits in need of regeneration, and now our spirits have been made alive in Him.  Because He is alive, we can be confident that we have been raised up with Him and will live with Him forever.

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From a passage in Hebrews, we can gain a sense of the victory that Jesus has won for us through His death and resurrection. This is from the 2nd chapter:
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Step with me, if you will, into the field of archaeology, to a place where excavations and explorations have been taking place.  An article on the National Geographic website from last October said that:

Researchers have continued their investigation into the site where the body of Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been buried, and their preliminary findings appear to confirm that portions of the tomb are still present today, having survived centuries of damage, destruction, and reconstruction of the surrounding Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City.

Fredrik Hiebert, National Geographic's archaeologist-in-residence, is quoted as saying: "I'm absolutely amazed. My knees are shaking a little bit because I wasn't expecting this,” adding,"We can't say 100 percent, but it appears to be visible proof that the location of the tomb has not shifted through time, something that scientists and historians have wondered for decades." We're also told that "researchers confirmed the existence of the original limestone cave walls within the 19th-century Edicule, or shrine, which encloses the tomb. A window has been cut into the southern interior wall of the shrine to expose one of the cave walls."

The article points out that, "Since at least 1555, and most likely centuries earlier, the burial bed has been covered in marble cladding, allegedly to prevent eager pilgrims from removing bits of the original rock as souvenirs."

Of course, we know what's missing here, right?  No bones, no mention of a body.

Just last month, a follow-up story on the National Geographic website indicated that the team, from the National Technical University of Athens "warns that additional work is needed to prevent the shrine and surrounding complex from experiencing significant structural failure." 

The NTUA "now proposes a 10-month, six-million-euro project that will involve removing the fractured stone paving surrounding the Edicule, grouting foundation rubble and degraded mortar, and excavating more than 1,000 square feet of floor to install new sewage and rainwater drainage around the perimeter of the rotunda."  The site has certainly been through its share of upheaval - while it is not certain this is the absolutely burial place, there is evidence consistent with the Biblical account of the burial of Jesus in a tomb in the region owned by a wealthy man.  

A Roman temple was erected on the site in the second century, razed by Constantine in the fourth. He built a shrine around the tomb that was partially destroyed in the seventh century by Persian invaders and destroyed in the eleventh by the Fatimids.  The church was rebuilt later that century, and the edicule was altered and restored in the 16th and 19th centuries.

And, unlike previous claims of the so-called tomb of Jesus, there is no mention of bones in the tomb.

In other news concerning the search for evidence regarding Jesus, last night, the History Channel aired a documentary about a search of significant places for the DNA of Jesus, according to a USA Today article.  Pastor Joe Basile was chosen as the Biblical expert for the documentary...

After being interviewed and chosen as the Biblical expert for the show, he spent 25 days with Busby and a film crew going to holy sites from Spain and Italy to Israel and the shores of the Black Sea.

By extracting and analyzing samples of holy relics at each site, they hoped to retrieve a sample of DNA that possibly belonged to Jesus or a member of his family.

It's fascinating that secular media outlets are continuing to air programs about Jesus - and even though you will have those who adopt a skeptical approach, the very fact that the topic is being discussed indicates that people are curious, and perhaps provides an opportunity for Bible-believing Christians to point to the Jesus whom we see described in the Bible and whom we have experienced in our hearts.

I think there are several takeaways for us today, this day after Easter Sunday.  First of all, the tomb is empty!  The Bible is clear about that - Jesus appeared to hundreds after His resurrection, and there is no plausible explanation why that would be the case, outside of the fact that He rose from the dead. While Thomas would not see unless he saw the nail scars in His hands, we can believe by faith that the Bible is true and the evidence is clear - Jesus is risen!

Now, what does the empty tomb mean for us?  Well, it signifies for us that the redemption process is complete.  Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and paid the punishment for them.  Then, he defeated the power of sin and death.  Because death has been defeated, we can enter into new life that is eternal, sealed for us for eternity.   The empty tomb communicates to the world that Jesus is alive, and because He lives, everyone can have hope in Him!

Fit to a "T"

Today, we can observe the power of a transformed life, made possible and available by the death of Jesus on the cross. Romans 5 addresses the significance of this powerful act of obedience, obedience unto death:
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Until Jesus died on that cross, humanity could not be truly reconciled to God.  Since the Garden, humanity lived in a state of separation from God.  But, Jesus, by dying on the cross, took away that separation brought about by sin, becoming sin for us so that we might experience His righteousness, right standing with Almighty God.  Someone had to pay the price - and because Christ did what He did, we can be spared the eternal punishment that is in store for all who reject God.  Praise His holy name!

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Jesus died for us, so that, when we acknowledge that substitution He performed, we can also experience death - to self, to the flesh, to our old live - so that we may enjoy the new life He has promised.  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.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

On Good Friday, we can reflect on the fact that God can change a life.  He does it by giving us a new heart.  It's a glorious, supernatural work that can only be accomplished because of what Jesus did for us on the cross and through His resurrection.  Our sins were put to death, and He was raised to new life so that He might give new life to those who receive Him as Savior and Lord.

There's a man who experienced God's touch and transformation named Lawrence Tureaud. According to a story on the CBN News website, he's 64 years old, "has had his share of struggles, successfully battling a T-cell lymphoma cancer diagnosis back in 1995. Today, he is cancer-free and is praising God for helping him get through the storm."  He's described in the story as an "(i)conic actor and ex-wrestler."

The article quotes from a Fox News story, in which the , "“My faith was tested like Job. That’s the message I try to tell other people, just because you believe in God, serve God, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, people gotta realize, it don’t mean things not gonna happen to you,” adding, “I believed in God when cancer come to me. Now, when I speak, I speak with authority because I’ve been there.”

But, you don't probably don't know him as Lawrence - he is known as "Mr. T."!!  He's a competitor in the latest season of Dancing With the Stars.   He is quoted in the Fox story as saying after a recent taping of the show: "I answer only to God. I got so much, got gold…Rolls Royce [but] I didn't forget God. Every day I pray."

The article continues:

Mr. T, who said he will donate his entire "DWTS" salary to help the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Shriners Hospital's for Children, told Fox News the biggest lesson he's learned from the Bible: "Stay humble and be concerned for the less fortunate… I take food down to the homeless. I don't call up the press and say, look at me! My mother told me, son, if nobody else know, God knows. I do it for his glory."

The CBN story notes:

It’s no secret that Mr. T is a Christian, as he has been vocal about his faith in the past. He’s the son of a pastor and has routinely explained the important role that Christianity plays in his life. In fact, he told HuffPo Live back in 2015 that he once turned down $1 million to appear in a beer commercial simply because he didn’t feel quite right about it.

According to the story, 

"...‘I won’t do it,’” the actor told the outlet at the time. “First, it was $700,000 and then they moved the price up. Why? Because of what I stand on.”

This is Good Friday - when we commemorate the day on which Jesus showed His love for each of us by giving His life. He has stood for us to the point of death, and he calls us to stand for him.  One takeaway from the Mr. T. story is that it is so important to know what you stand on.  And who you stand for.  Jesus gave it all for us, and we can be motivated and empowered to surrender completely to Him.

I think that Mr. T. can also inspire us to think that when your faith is tested, you can rely on the power of God.  And, there will be tests - God will call us to difficult assignments, as I talked about earlier this week. Because we are humans, we are candidates for suffering - but we are also candidates for strength.  We can display the grace of God even in those times when we face adversity.

On this Good Friday, we can reflect that the work of the cross is internal - and can be seen through our external actions.  Jesus paid the sin debt, but by rising from the dead, He also paved the way for those who call upon His name to have new life, to experience His resurrection power. So, we have a new heart, and as we grow in the Lord, we recognize that we see life and its circumstances through new eyes.  If we surrender to the love of Christ, it will be demonstrated in our external actions.

Stressed?

We can become so stressed out over so much in our world today - it could be our family relationships, our jobs, the overall condition of our nation, and much more...Philippians 4 directs us to pray:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Anxiety, worry, fear - they're all part of a family of sins, if you will.  They can make us feel stressed, even desperate.  Worry can produce physical manifestations and it can short-circuit our walk with Christ.  So, we can take the words of the Psalmist to heart: "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)"  When anxiety comes and our hearts are troubled, we can draw closer to God and experience his peace.  We can confess our anxiety, so that we can release the antidote.

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We can release the grace of God in our lives as we are humble before God.  That can relieve the stress we may encounter. 1st Peter 5 says:
(5b) Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Well, perhaps you've seen the happy news - I heard about a survey the other day regarding stress and Alabama. When you Google search those words, the association becomes clear...a new survey conducted by WalletHub shows that, according to a report on the Yellowhammer News website, "Alabama is the most stressed state in the country. According to their findings, Alabamians have, on average, less access to mental health care, lower credit scores, and poor sleep habits."

There were four dimensions of stress measured in each state, as well as D.C., across the nation, and in this survey:

In the composite, Alabama ranked fifth in work-related stress, second in money-related stress, fifth in family-related stress, and sixth in health and safety stress.

Average it all out, and there's your #1 ranking.

Overall, across America, the survey found that, according to a Fox News report on it:

While WalletHub found that Americans today are overall the least stressed they’ve been in a decade, they’re more stressed than they were in 2015. Fear of violence, plus stress over the election outcome, the current political climate, and the uncertain future of the nation all ranked as top stressors in 2016, according to the report.

WalletHub also did a stress survey last year, identifying the most- and least-stressed cities across the land. Mobile, Alabama placed 2nd, just behind Detroit.  Birmingham was third.  The summary article stated:

In the U.S., stress affects more than 100 million Americans, or nearly a third of the population, for whom the leading source of stress continues to be money, followed by work, family and relationships. By one estimate, workplace-related stress alone costs our society more than $300 billion per year.

Some takeaways today as we consider this very important topic.  For one thing, Jesus spoke clearly to the topic of anxiety.  He taught in the Sermon on the Mount to not worry about temporal things of this world, and summed it up by saying to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. Philippians tells us to not be anxious, but to present our requests so that we can have peace.  In 2 Timothy, we are told that we do not have the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and soundmindedness.

We recognize that worry is a sin, and Jesus died for it.  A CNN article from 2013 quoted from a Barna Group survey: "The survey said that 60% of Americans admitted that they’re tempted to worry too much or procrastinate; 55% said they’re tempted to overeat, and 41% said they’re tempted by sloth, or laziness." The book, Our Favorite Sins, by Todd Hunter, who has been a guest on The Meeting House, was used in correlation to the survey.  When we worry or are fearful, we exhibit a lack of trust in God, and He wants to deliver us and show Himself faithful to us.  Our fearfulness can disappear in light of His faithfulness.

The Bible provides a strong antidote to anxiety and stress - 1st Peter 5 teaches we can cast your cares on Him.  We do that by casting down those mental strongholds that the enemy would try to erect. We counter worry with the truth of the Scriptures. And we bring our anxieties and fears to the foot of the cross.

Anger Taking Flight

In Galatians 2, we read a Biblical fact about our new nature in Christ and significance of His sacrifice:
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

This week, we are mindful of what Jesus did during the final days of His life.  He demonstrated to His disciples that His blood would be shed and His body broken - for them.  He had taught on the importance of carrying one's cross, and indeed He would give His life on a cross - again, for them, for us.  He was sent by God to perform an unenviable, yet worthwhile, task:  to give His life so that those who give their hearts to Him might live eternally with Him.  He surrendered to death, and calls us to die to self so that we might live in Him.

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In 2nd Corinthians 4, the apostle Paul lays out the importance of responding properly to the circumstances of life.  This certainly applies when the assignment might be considered unpleasant.
(14) He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

It seemed to be just another day on the "friendly skies."  A plane full of passengers on the runway in Chicago, ready to depart for Louisville on a Sunday afternoon.  Then, the announcement came: the airline needed to transport a flight crew that would be joining another flight in Kentucky.  The airline began to offer people vouchers and an overnight stay to fly out the next day.  The initial offer: $400, then $800.  No volunteers.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that a United Airlines official came on board and announced that four people would be chosen by computer to give up their seats.  A couple was chosen, then a doctor from Louisville.  That's when the heightened tensions exploded.  The newspaper stated:

The video, posted by Audra D. Bridges at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, is taken from an aisle seat on a commercial airplane that appears to be preparing to take flight. The 31-second clip shows three men wearing radio equipment and security jackets speaking with a man identified as Elizabethtown doctor David Dao seated on the plane. After a few seconds, one of the men grabs the passenger, who screams, and drags him by his arms toward the front of the plane. The video ends before anything else is shown.

 A United spokesperson confirmed in an email Sunday night that a passenger had been taken off a flight in Chicago.

"Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked," the spokesperson said. "After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.

"We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities."

This has become an embarrassing incident for United Airlines.  The company's CEO, Oscar Munoz, stated: "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation."   The security officer who apprehended Dao has been placed on leave pending a review.

Another Courier-Journal story quotes an aviation attorney, who explains the rationale behind what may have happened:

Ladd Sanger, a Dallas-based aviation attorney who represents clients in lawsuits against airlines, said that kind of case can be hard to win in court since “the legal side is heavily weighted in favor of law enforcement and the airline.”

Based on a combination of federal aviation regulations, the federal Airline Deregulation Act and the contract of carriage airlines attach to their ticket purchases, Sanger said airlines are essentially permitted to refuse to board someone on a flight or to remove someone from a plane.

The contract of carriage is “incredibly one-sided” in the airline’s favor, Sanger said. And once a person has boarded an airplane, they are required by federal law to comply with the flight crew’s instructions.

Bridges, who filmed the incident, told the newspaper that "Dao said he was a doctor and needed to see patients the next morning. Bridges said passengers were 'shocked and appalled' by the incident, and thousands of people on social media have expressed sympathy for Dao and outrage over the way the situation was handled.

The Courier-Journal  has received some heat now because it published some unflattering information about the doctor.  CNN reported that:

And just like that, an internet-wide conversation on air travel protocol and corporate responsibility gave way to one about journalistic ethics, with a chorus of reporters denouncing the unflattering coverage of someone who'd never sought the spotlight in the first place.

Columnist Matt Walsh relates some valid thoughts on the matter in a piece on The Blaze website. After establishing that this whole thing could have been avoided if the airline had handled the matter before boarding, he criticizes the passenger, er, "victim"'s, behavior:

He was only dragged off the plane because he refused to walk off of it like a sane person. And he wasn’t done there. He came running back on board and started clinging to the seats as if they were trying to drag him off the aircraft and feed him to a pack of wolves waiting outside. Honestly, is this rational behavior on the part of an adult? Is there no valid criticism that can be levied against the kicking, screaming grown up in this case? Would any of you ever act that way in public? I hope not. I wouldn’t. Unless they were trying to kick me off the plane while it was 30 thousand feet in the air. But not if it’s on the ground and the worst thing that happens is that I’m a few hours late getting home.

So, United handled this badly. The guy handled it badly. And now the whole country has handled it badly. Great job all around. Let’s all give ourselves a round of applause.

I don't know what criteria were used here, but a CNN article quotes an airline spokesman:

When no one volunteered, the airline was forced into an "involuntary de-boarding situation," airline spokesman Charlie Hobart said.

United weighs a number of factors to determine which passengers would leave the flight, such as connecting flights and how long the delay will leave the customer at an airport, Hobart said.

United employees explained the situation to the man several times, Hobart said. When he refused they followed Department of Transportation protocol and called local law enforcement to forcibly remove him from the plane.

Let's think together about several aspects of the story.  First of all, how to respond generally when things don't go your way.  The airline certainly mishandled the situation, but this passenger clearly overreacted to the action.  Think about how you would have reacted.  Some might have taken the voucher and booked another flight - I would think that there may have been other flights to Louisville that evening.  But, sometimes in the heat of the moment, we allow our fleshly impulses to get the best of us.  I think we can be challenged to examine our own behavior when we encounter customer service personnel who are just trying to do their job.  Our overreaction to adverse circumstances do not affirm the presence of Christ within us.

Another element has to do with how we respond when we are specifically chosen to do unpleasant things.  While being bumped from an airplane might not rise to the level of being termed, "suffering," it is certainly an inconvenient assignment.  Spiritually speaking, though, there will be times in our lives in which God will call us to perform a task or endure a circumstance that we simply will not want to experience. But, we remember that He always has our good and His glory in mind, and the suffering we encounter can produce His desired result.  We have to say, "not my will, but Thine."  Jesus was called to an unpleasant assignment - to face shame, humiliation, and death - punishment not for what He had done, but for what we had done.  He demonstrates to us the proper way to respond to call of God.

Finally, I think this story demonstrates to us that we have to make sure we uphold a good reputation. This is the second time this doctor has made headlines.  If you are going to make the newspaper, I would say do something good, that benefits humanity and brings glory to the Lord.  The Louisville newspaper brought his past indiscretions back up because, as one of their editors is quoted as saying, it had been covered in the community when it occurred.  And, now, even though the airline really looks bad, this man's reaction doesn't look so good, either.  Our wrong responses may even be captured on video.  The written or published word is permanent, video material on social media is, too.  This makes it all the more important to make sure that we are involved in activity that is consistent with our Christian witness.