Stepping Up

In the second chapter of Philippians, Paul wrote about the importance of not being self-absorbed,
but focusing on the needs of others:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

...then the passage highlights how Jesus laid down His life, humbling Himself before death.  We can become so self-absorbed sometimes; looking out for ourselves, placing our needs above all others, allowing ourselves to be so blinded by selfish ambition that we fail to see the needs of the people around us.  We can trust the Lord and be conditioned to step up when we see injustice, when we encounter hurting people, when people are less fortunate and need encouragement or even material resources.  As we place our eyes on Christ, He enables us to see the world and its inhabitants through His eyes.

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Jesus, before He gave His life on a cross, talked about "taking up" a cross - to live a life of humility
and sacrifice. He taught in Matthew 16:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Two names for you today: Destinee Mangum and Caleb Edwards. Somebody stood up for them and those brave heroes are no longer alive.

Destinee is 16 - according to a CNN story, she was riding a train in Portland the other day when a man started ridiculing her and her Muslim friend; both were wearing hijabs.  Another man stepped forward to rebuke the one who was making the rude comments.  An argument ensued, then a fight...then three men were stabbed, two of them fatally.

Those who intervened were a 53-year-old military veteran, Ricky John Best. 23-year-old Teliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche was also stabbed.  Both of them are dead.  21-year-old Micah Fletcher was hospitalized with a "visible neck wound."

These are the heroes - no one should be publicly shamed because of their appearance, or their nationality, or the way they choose to live their lives.

Eight people died in Brookhaven, MS, over the weekend.  A gunman, apparently spurred on by a domestic dispute, went from house to house, three total.  According to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Caleb's brothers Jordan and Austin were visiting a cousin's house when the rampage came their way. They had been alerted, but the armed man brutally shot his way into the house and took the lives of 11-year-old Austin and 18-year-old Jordan, who, according to the story "died a hero."  He was shielding Caleb, who was grazed above his eye during the incident.

These two stories paint a picture of heroism, of self-sacrifice, of people who were willing to "get their hands dirty," who placed themselves at risk for the sake of another.  While both these stories, occurring within days of each other, certainly enrage, we can also be thankful that there were those who were willing to give of themselves.

Jesus told a story of a man who had been attacked and left on the side of the road.  A priest and a Levite saw the man and "passed by on the other side."  Another, a Samaritan, took care of the man's wounds on site and brought him to an inn for care.  We hear a lot about this man, known for ages as the "Good Samaritan."  But, think about these two men who did not want to become involved.  For whatever reason, they were not moved with compassion; perhaps consumed with their own self-preservation or their busy schedule.  This can provide caution for us - to not become so self-absorbed that we are insensitive to the needs around us.

Jordan Edwards, in a moment of danger, with death staring him in the face, was not self-absorbed. Neither were Ricky, Teliesin, and Micah.  I don't know if any of these men had a faith component, or relationship with Christ.  But, they were certainly, in that moment, driving by something bigger than themselves.  We can ask ourselves: in the moment when we are called to step up, do we have the inner motivation to actually do it, to sacrifice something or perhaps even our lives for the sake of another?  We possess the Holy Spirit, who will give us that motivation and empower us, but we must be willing to activate His power.

Finally, we think about the One who modeled the true meaning of sacrifice, our Lord Jesus.  He was willing to suffer intense pain, humiliation, and shame; He gave His life for the sins of the world; He laid down His life so that each of us could have eternal life.  Now, He calls us to lay down our lives - to surrender completely to Him, to experience death to self.  And, I believe He will direct us to walk free of self-absorption so that we will be ready to answer His call - to sacrifice, to humble ourselves, and to bring honor to His name.

Agents of Shield

Psalm 3 was written in a time when David's kingdom was in peril - his son, Absalom, had taken over his father's throne, and David was on the run.  Talk about opposition!  But, David was confident in
the Lord, and wrote:
(1b) Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

The "shield" he is referring to here is not one of human effort.  When we are facing trouble in our lives, natural wisdom or earthly means are not what we need.  If we are surrendered to the Lord, we can know that He is right there with us - walking with us...and in us.  In our times of opposition, He gives us strength, He lifts our heads, He enables us to see those times of challenges through spiritual eyes and gives us the resources to stand.  He is our help and He builds His shield around our hearts.

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In Matthew 10, Jesus is teaching about not only opposition that may occur, but the Spirit who goes
with us when we face it:
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

It was called HERO, but the ordinance passed by the Houston, TX City Council was far from heroic - it was a brazen attempt to provide special rights for people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  That would include access to public restrooms, according to a Baptist Press story that provides an update on new legislation relative to the ordinance.

The real "heroes" surrounding the ordinance were local pastors who rose up and fought the ordinance every step of the way.  The story relates that (then-Mayor Annise) "Parker and then-City Attorney David Feldman thwarted a repeal effort and the pastors sued. During the pre-trial investigations, attorneys representing the city served the subpoenas which requested material in 17 categories including 'all speeches, presentations or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by or approved by you or in your possession.'"  The request for sermon material was later withdrawn.

Oh, by the way, that ordinance is no longer in effect.  According to the Houston Chronicle, in July 2014, the Texas Supreme Court "ordered the city to either repeal the law or place in the ballot. By a 12-5 vote, City Council opted for the latter, officially unleashing two dueling campaigns." Tweets included in the story show that there was over 62% of the voters opposed to the ordinance.

This year, in the Texas Legislature, Senator Joan Huffman authored a bill that "protects clergy from government overreach in civil investigations. No governmental agency can force religious leaders to turn over their sermons or compel clergy to testify about their sermons according to the bill."

At a signing ceremony over a week ago at Grace Church, one of the area churches whose pastor's sermons were subpoenaed, Governor Greg Abbott said, "You will be shielded from any other efforts from any other government official anywhere in the state of Texas from having subpoenas trying to pry into what you are doing here in your churches..." He called the congregation members "freedom fighters," saying, "You realized that when subpoenas were issued on your own pastor, when you had to fight against your own government right here in Houston for your freedom -- your freedom of religion..."  Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shared about their own Christian testimony in the service, and Patrick "cited several Bible verses to encourage the congregation to seek God's wisdom and then ask for the courage to act upon it."

On this day after Memorial Day, this is a great reminder to us about the men and women who have given their lives to defend the U.S. Constitution and the freedoms contained within, which includes free speech and freedom of religion.  Texas lawmakers have reinforced those freedoms for pastors within their state, shielding them from having to relinquish sermon material to overreaching governmental officials who do not respect pastors' free speech and religious expression rights.

This type of action taken by the Houston city officials could have had a chilling effect on pastors' sermons regarding policy issues.  Thankfully, the shield is in place now.  And, there are implications for each of us.

Jesus taught that there may be occasions when we are facing officials because of our faith.  And, He reminds us that we have a powerful friend who goes with us, the Holy Spirit.  He will give us His words and His confidence when we face tough situations.

And, we should always rely on the Spirit to speak through us, no matter what we might encounter. When we consider the power of the tongue and how it can be such a destructive force, we can surrender to the constructive resources of the Holy Spirit to teach us to speak in accordance with God's truth.

Finally, we have the Lord as a shield - now, we are not shielded from opposition or even persecution. Jesus promised that those who desire to live godly will be persecuted.  But, we have the promise that He will shield our hearts, He will shape our words, and He will empower us to be courageous in the face of danger.

Not Singing the "Blue"s

God is calling us to be obedient to Him, to recognize His call to be faithful to His ways.  In Isaiah 1,
we read:
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land...

I believe that the Bible teaches a principle of cause and effect, of sowing and reaping.  There are blessings that come as the result of obedience.  Now, God doesn't guarantee us a life free of suffering; in fact, suffering can be used in our lives to bring about greater fruit for the Kingdom.  As we are motivated by the Lord to deeper faithfulness, that will bring glory to His name - that is the ultimate aim of our lives - to conform to the image of the risen Christ in us.

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In Proverbs 3, we can read some wise words about being faithful to God:
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Well, our wonderful Family Faith Night #1 with the Montgomery Biscuits and Faith Radio is now in the rear view mirror, with Jasmine Murray, a finalist in Season 8 of American Idol, performing in a pre-game concert.  #2 is on the way June 24 with Calling Glory...you can register to win tickets and our Grand Prize of 2 Owners' Suite tickets and throwing out a first pitch by going to FaithRadio.org.

During the leadup to that night, it occurred to me just how many former Idol finalists are actually in our music archives at Faith Radio - Danny Gokey, also from Season 8, is there; in fact, he was in Montgomery last December for A Montgomery Family Christmas.  There's Mandisa, who is currently in the Meeting House Top 10 with Unfinished.  How about Colton Dixon, who was in Dothan for the Will Graham Celebration.  And don't forget Jason Castro, Phil Stacey, and probably some I'm leaving out.

Of course, with talk of Idol returning, perhaps as soon as this fall, don't forget there's another talent-rich competition, produced by Mark Burnett, a show on which Anthony Evans was once a contestant and for which he became a consultant.  Yes, that would be The Voice, which crowned another champion this week.  That would be Season 12 of the show.

His name is Chris Blue.  He's a worship leader in Knoxville, TN, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church.  According to a story on the Faithwire website, Chris told the Knoxville News Sentinel he tried out for the show after his fiancee, Stephanie Dunkley, was diagnosed with bone cancer.  The story states:

After her diagnosis, Dunkley underwent a bone cancer transplant to save her life. It was at that moment, a light bulb went off.

“When everything happened with my fiancée and her story, I realized that life was just too short,” Blue said.

“And after God was kind of pushing me to go forth, and I was declining and saying ‘No. This can’t be …’ I asked that He would just confirm, and He did, and when He did, I would say that really did help push me and helped me overcome the fear and just do it.”

The article links to Chris' Instagram page, where he wrote:

...I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS REAL!!!! faithfulness rewards!! Life has had its struggles and the obstacles have had their days of victory but we NEVER quit!!!! Did we @aliciakeys and now I can finally call myself and to every person that believed prayed and loved from the beginning!! My fiancée parents siblings and ALL OF YOU!! We are champions!!!!

The Faithwire story also relates, "Through the season, Blue has opened up about his relationship with his fiancé, Dunkley and expressed how winning would mean would mean the world to her. After his blind audition, he told of how she flatlined during her treatment and it was then and there he realized he would “never let her go” again..."

He plans to use the prize of a $100,000 and a record deal to give Stephanie, who is based in London, the "wedding she deserves."

And, Chris has debuted in the number one position on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart with his version of Tamela Mann's "Take Me to the King," a song he performed on the show's May 15 episode. The original was in the top slot for 25 weeks in 2012 and 2013 and becomes the first song with more than one version in the #1 position on the chart, dating back to 2005.

I quickly typed in some thoughts relative Chris' story.  First of all, we can remember that suffering can produce motivation.  When we or someone close to us suffers, it can either cause us to withdraw from God and become bitter...or, and this is much more productive, we can allow that suffering to motivate us to rely on God more wholeheartedly.  Chris' fiancee Stephanie's suffering propelled him to compete in The Voice, at the direction of the Lord - Stephanie's plight helped him open his eyes and ears.

Then, we recognize that motivation can produce faithfulness.  We see ourselves becoming more faithful, and we see God meet us with His faithfulness at the point of our obedience.  But, we cannot shy away - once God has stirred our spirits and spoken to our souls, we can respond to His call.

Finally, our faithfulness produces glory to our King!   It seems that Chris wanted to honor His Lord, and you can see that evidenced in His story.  Our participation in whatever activity should be with the intent of making God famous, not trying to be famous ourselves.

Literally

In the first chapter of the book of 2nd Peter, we see these bold statements, which can teach us to rely on Scripture;
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Believe it!  That's the message...and in a shaky, shifting society with designer philosophy and designer theology, we have to have something upon which we can build our lives.  God's Word promises and produces the stability we need.  When we are tempted to drift and place our hope and trust in the things of this world, we can remember to draw near to God and find solace and security in His Word, inspired and infallible.

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In 2nd Timothy 3, we can read Paul's absolute declaration about the authority of Scripture, which can
inspire us to rely on God's Word, the Bible:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If we don't regard the Bible as God's literal Word, then we leave ourselves vulnerable to embracing ideas that contradict His ways.  We cannot pick and choose what we like about the Word of God and then structure a personal theology into which it would fit.

It comes really as no surprise that less than one-fourth of Americans believe the Bible is the literal Word of God, according to a new Gallup poll.  The survey summary says:

Fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is "the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word," similar to the 26% who view it as "a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man." This is the first time in Gallup's four-decade trend that biblical literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism.

So if just about a fourth fit into each category, what about the other half? Well, they say, "the Bible is the inspired word of God but that not all of it should be taken literally."  Huh?

Ever since 1984, when 40% of Americans believed the Bible to be God's literal Word, the percentage has been declining.  And, what is even more concerning is the number of Christians who believe the Bible is inspired but not literal.  In the category of "Protestants and other Christians," only 35% believe God's Word to be "actual," 51% say it is "inspired."  And, even 12% believe it to be a book of stories and fables.  In the Catholic space, 21% believe the Bible to be God's actual words, 58% see God's Word as "inspired," with 19% viewing it as a storybook.

The summary makes this statement:

Americans in all age groups still largely accept the Bible as a holy document, but most of these downplay God's direct role in it. That could mean people are more willing than in the past to believe it is open to interpretation -- if man, not God, wrote the Bible, more can be questioned. And that, in turn, may have consequences for where Americans come down on a number of morally tinged issues. The country may already be seeing this in growing public acceptance of a variety of behaviors that were once largely frowned on from a Christian perspective -- ranging from gay marriage and premarital sex to out-of-wedlock births and physician-assisted suicide.

Again, this doesn't come as a surprise, and offers at least a partial and plausible explanation for cultural trends that we see.  If we believe God's Word is given "by inspiration of God," as that phrase is used in 2nd Timothy 3, then it should follow that we recognize that it was written by His Spirit, of course, using human scribes.  When we depart from that belief, we leave our approach to the Word of God up to personal interpretation - and what sections do we choose to agree with, and which ones do we dismiss...how do you decide?  I contend that it's an "all or nothing" proposition - either He breathed the whole thing into being and should be believed in its infallible entirety, or we in essence reject His truth.  There's no middle ground for this 50% in the Gallup poll to inhabit.

Now, there will be disagreements about what God is actually saying thorough passages and verses; and we can respectfully disagree about certain principles and statements.  But, I believe our approach should always be governed by the perspective that this is God's literal Word; i.e., we don't dismiss the parts we dislike or disagree with - we can disagree with each other about His premises, but we can't choose to disagree with Him about His precepts.   We have to be prepared to back our position on various issues and topics Biblically - if we have an idea that we are believing and/or promoting, can we back it up with a clear teaching of Scriptures?

Finally, we can examine our lives and determine whether or not our lives are built on the strong foundation of Biblical truth.  There may be areas in which our ways do not line up with His ways. We may say that we believe God's teachings, but our practical, daily living tell a different story.  Our reliance on Scripture is reflected in our everyday obedience to Christ - we are called not only to hear the Word, but do it.

Middle of Nowhere

In Luke 16, we see that Jesus is teaching a powerful principle of the Kingdom of God. We can read:
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

Wherever God has called us, whatever He has called us to do, no matter how seemingly insignificant, He expects us to be obedient and faithful to Him.  This activates His faithfulness; He will meet us at that place.  Even if you may think that you are in a spiritual outpost, God has not left you stranded - He wants to manifest Himself through you.  He has a purpose for your life, and He is expressing Himself so that you can testify to what He has done.

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As we see in the the fourth chapter of the book of Acts, Peter and John were devoted to doing the work of the Kingdom of God and seeing the Great Commission fulfilled.  There were those that
wanted to stop their work, and we read:
18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

There's a story from North Alabama that has received some national attention, and it can really illustrate for us the power of communicating our story, what God has done for us.  You have to go back to 1995, when a man named Joey Hanner, a trucker, was at a point where he was about to give up on his marriage, and on church, too - that's according to a story that appeared on the Baptist Press website that originated from The Alabama Baptist.

Joey and his wife went to church that day, their 12th wedding anniversary, even though they were too mad to remember.  The story goes like this:

During the altar call, Hanner and wife Connie both separately ran down the aisle, only to look up from tearful, broken prayers and see the other one kneeling there too.

"We both got saved that day," Hanner said. "God healed me and He got me out of my truck and into ministry."

Well, his life has certainly been heading in a different direction; 6 years ago, he took over as pastor of a church near Gadsden called Union No. 3 Baptist Church - this church began to take a high-speed journey into the world of evangelism and discipleship.  After attending a conference in North Carolina, Hanner came back and asked his congregation, numbering around 130 at the time, an important question...he said, "I asked them to stand if they had been discipled one on one before and only two people stood up." That began a strong push for discipleship in the church - and there are plenty of candidates.  You see, Union No. 3 has baptized 900 people over the last six years and the average Sunday morning attendance is up to 700 in two services.  And, hundreds have been discipled one-on-one in the church since then.

Hanner related about how the church has matured, saying, ""When you cross those borders, when you begin to really get into God's Word, you get to the point where you will go anywhere, say anything and talk to anyone for the sake of the Gospel."

The story continues:

...Dan Garland, director of pastoral ministries and church consulting for LifeWay Christian Resources, said he recommended Union No. 3 Baptist to be featured in a video at the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 13–14 in Phoenix, Ariz.

"I was impressed with the number of young men who are being discipled at the church," Garland said. "We're talking about a church in the middle of nowhere ... and some people drive more than a half hour to be a part. It's a great church and God is doing amazing things there."

There is plenty to ponder in this story about the church that Garland describes as being in the "middle of nowhere."  You may feel that way in your spiritual journey right now - in a spiritual wilderness, not quite having your bearings.  Well, Joey Hanner has gone to the middle of nowhere and has experienced God's faithfulness.  Wherever you are today, obedience will make the difference; right where you are.  As you are faithful to him, perhaps in what seems like little, that will trigger God's abundant faithfulness.

This story also can remind us about the simple work of the Kingdom and fulfillment of the Great Commission. The Bible says that the person who wins souls is wise.  Jesus called us to go and make disciples.  We can ascertain how God will use to us spread His message, and to a large extent, it's wrapped up in His people sharing what Jesus has done in their lives.  At Union No. 3, 50 people from the congregation go out on Sundays and Thursdays into the community.

I also think that we cannot diminish the importance of water baptism. It is a glorious representation of the inward work that God has done in the life of a believer in Christ.  In following Jesus in believer's baptism, we demonstrate who He is and the work of redemption that He has performed in our hearts.

Death's Advance

Even though all people will face death at the end of their time on this earth, the believer in Christ has
a glorious hope awaiting him or her. 1st Corinthians 15 says:
55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death has a different outcome for the Christian vs. the non-Christian.  Believers in Christ can see death, the passage from this world, as a gateway into the next - our permanent home with Him. However, those do not believe in Him have no hope for the afterlife, and they will spend eternity in a place of separation from God, enduring eternal punishment.  They don't cease to exist nor cease to be conscious - hell is a place of unspeakable torment.  But, heaven, the destiny for all who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, is a glorious place where we shall forever be in His presence.

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The certainty of eternal life once we leave this world is underscored in the first four verses of 2nd
Corinthians chapter 5:
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.

Thousands of concertgoers at a venue in Manchester in the United Kingdom last night had no idea that it was coming - and, then the unthinkable happened...a bomb detonated in the foyer of the arena during a concert featuring pop star Ariana Grande. The BBC reports that 22 were killed and 59 injured. Prime Minister Theresa May called it an "appalling, sickening, terrorist attack."

The report says that the attack was carried out by a "lone male suicide attacker," who "set off a homemade bomb." A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Eyewitness accounts described "seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped the concertgoers."  As the BBC stated: "It is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005 in which 52 people were killed."

President Trump, in Israel as part of his first foreign visit, stated from Bethlehem, according to ABC News: "So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life...” He said, "I won't call them monsters because they'd like that term. They'd think that's a great name."  He extended condolences to the victims - the injured and the dead - and the victims' families, adding, “We stand in absolute solidarity with people of the United Kingdom.”

He also stated: "“We cannot stand a moment longer for the slaughter of innocent people and in today’s attack it was mostly innocent children,” adding, “The terrorists and extremists and those who give them aid and comfort must be driven out from our society forever."

This came days after the President addressed 55 Muslim leaders, saying, according to analysis on the Family Research Council website: "There is still much work to do," adding, "That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians... There can be no coexistence with this violence. There can be no tolerating it, no accepting it, no excusing it, and no ignoring it."

In a message directed at terrorists, the President said: "If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned."

No matter what you may think about the President, he did capture the essence of an important message to send to purveyors of terror worldwide and called on governmental leaders to join him, to join us, in the fight against radical Islamic terror.

One could say that death is no gentleman - even when it does not come suddenly, the process can be devastating.  I think of our friend, Carmen Falcione, who was a significant spiritual leader for the Montgomery area, who had endured the onset of an aggressive form of cancer which eventually took his life.  But, Carmen, like others that have experienced the pain of passage from this life, is facing the joy of being with His Savior.  And, that's another thing about death...

For the believer, death is the transition into a glorious afterlife with the Lord.  Even though loved ones and friends on earth may look at death as a thief; and though we may miss them, they have departed this life into a better one.  Those who have died in the Lord, as it's been said, are more alive today than when they were with us.

I don't know how many concertgoers who lost their lives in Manchester had pondered the topic of their eternal destiny.  I would dare say that no one was expecting to die that night.  But, we never know when our last moment on earth will occur.  That is why we have to be ready - for those who believe in Christ, we know that we will spend eternity with God in heaven.  But, for the unbeliever, he or she has chosen to be separated from God in hell.  It is the choice of every person.  God has set up the system, if you will, and He gives each of us the free will to decide.  I think it's so very important to settle the matter, because one never knows when the time will come, tomorrow is not promised to us.

The Greatest Show

The Bible presents a stark contrast between the temporal and the eternal, and we read in 2nd Corinthians 4:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Bible is clear: for the believer in Christ, this world is not our home.  We know that this world is passing away, and we will be living forever in a another world that is far more glorious than the one we inhabit.  We have already been declared citizens of that world, and aliens and strangers in this one. When we become discouraged, we can remember that one day, the cares of this world will be eliminated, and we will live in the glory of eternity, with our Lord face-to-face.

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The apostle Paul recognized that his life was coming to an end, and in 2nd Timothy 4, he offered this
perspective:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

It was the last time - after 146 years of providing engaging family entertainment, the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus had its last performance last night outside of New York City.  A USA Today report says that the circus "traces its lineage back to showman P.T. Barnum’s traveling museum in the 1800s."

The story says that:

The move came as circuses and animal-performance shows across the country have struggled with declining attendance, shrinking attention spans and shifting social pressure brought to bear by activists who have argued the animals are sometimes poorly treated.

After the elephants were removed from the shows last year, ticket sales declined sharply.  And even though the circus won a judgment of over $15 million dollars in a lawsuit against it filed by animal rights activists, apparently the activists are taking a victory lap.

At last night's performance, according to the article, Alexander Lacey, the big-cat trainer said, "It’s so important that you carry on supporting all those people that do dedicate their lives to these animals. Support good, well-run circuses. Support good, well-run zoos. Support good, well-run public parks that look after these animals.”

Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, which has owned the circus since 1967, also addressed the crowd last night. The USA Today story referred to an earlier interview, in which he had said: “The competitor in many ways is time,” adding, “It’s a different model that we can’t see how it works in today’s world to justify and maintain an affordable ticket price. So you’ve got all these things working against it.”

The article notes that the circus shows had "lost their appeal toward the end of the 20th century," according to Feld, and notes, "When the Feld family first acquired the circus, the show was just under 3 hours. At the end, the show was 2 hours and 7 minutes. The longest segment — a tiger act — clocked in at 12 minutes."

The ending of this American institution brings a touch of sadness, I would imagine, for many.  And, this gives us the occasion to consider a few things:

One is the contrast between the temporary and permanent.  This circus lasted 146 years - that's really amazing.  But, it came to an end - changes in cultural attitudes, economics, human attention spans - all contributing to the decline.  And, we have to be willing to accept the changes that come into our lives, and recognize that God has His hand in the changing.  We also recognize that all that is in this world is temporary.  We are to fix our eyes, according to the Scriptures, on what is eternal, permanent, unshakeable - we will be spending eternity in a permanent place that will never pass away with a Lord that will never leave us.

Also, I think that there are extremes embraced by animal rights organizations and environmentalists do not reflect the Biblical perspective of creation care. We have been placed on an earth created by God, and humanity is placed on this earth in order to be responsible caretakers. The way we relate to animals is certainly a component of that, and we should uphold the highest possible standards in our care of them.

Finally, this whole business of human attention spans is certainly worth noting.  We have been programmed in this culture, I believe, to consume and appreciate the short, the instant-gratifying.  To keep and hold someone's attention these days is a greater challenge, it seems, because there is so much competition for that attention.  The circus experienced that, and it has become a challenge for the church, as well.  We have to recognize that while our message has not changed, the methodology of delivering it may need to adapt.

Standing Strong

In the face of adversity, in a world that sometimes will display hostility or at least a lack of understanding of the things of God, we can stand strong in the grace and power of our Lord.  2nd Timothy 3 says:
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them...

We are called to stand - firm in the Lord, grounded on His firm foundation.  He has given us powerful resources so that we might be empowered to take that strong stand - in the face of temptation, opposition, or persecution.  When we are harassed by human rivals or spiritual enemies, we know we have His armor, we have the Word of God, and we have the Helper, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who lives in us, who will speak and act through us as we disavow human strength and rest in Him.

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Believers in Christ have been given the power to stand strong in the face of temptation, and to
withstand the pressures of this world. Galatians 5 reminds us, in verse 1:
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

We have a great hope in Christ, and we can stand in His grace...later in the chapter, we can read:
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

I never watched Home Improvement, starring Tim Allen as Tim the Tool Man.  Same for Last Man Standing, which has been a staple of the ABC Friday night lineup and has lasted for 6 seasons.  But, I've liked Tim Allen in the Santa Clause movies, as well as my personal favorite, Christmas with the Kranks.  And, of course, he's the voice of Buzz Lightyear.

I've learned a bit about Tim Allen that makes me like him even more.  Tim has been in the news recently.  The sitcom he has headlined, Last Man Standing, is going away.  Cancelled. Deadline.com reports that the show was "ABC’s second most watched comedy this season with 8.1 million viewers in Live +7, only behind flagship Modern Family (8,7 million). It was the third most watched ABC scripted series overall behind Grey’s Anatomy and Modern Family.

The Daily Wire website reports:

After six seasons, the ABC broadcast network is contractually required to cover the cost of producing the show. Until now, Last Man Standing had been produced and paid for by 20th Century Fox TV before being licensed for broadcast to ABC.

The story continues: "To no one's surprise...and although 20th Century Fox had agreed to reduce its fees, without even bothering to negotiate something that would allow them to hold onto this hit show, ABC abruptly canceled it, using the fig leaf of cost, singling out Tim Allen's high salary."

Deadline describes the show: "With a central character who is a political conservative and devout Christian adhering to traditional American values, the blue-collar comedy appeals to viewers in the Heartland..."

Uh-oh.  That's a red flag right there.  And, so far, over 350,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to bring back the show.

And the views of the character Allen plays, Mike Baxter, seem to parallel Tim's own views. The Blaze states:

Allen himself has been an outspoken conservative, and during a March appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Allen told Kimmel that Hollywood was very intolerant of anything outside of the liberal scope.

“You’ve gotta be real careful around here,” he said, referring to Hollywood. “You get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody believes. This is like ’30s Germany. I don’t know what happened.”

Allen also told former Fox News host Megyn Kelly in November that “hypocritical” anti-Trump celebrities are the real political bullies.

“What I find odd in Hollywood is that they didn’t like Trump because he was a bully,” he told Kelly. “But if you had any kind of inkling that you were for Trump, you got bullied for doing that. And it gets a little bit hypocritical to me.”

The article reports that Allen tweeted out: “Stunned and blindsided by the network I called home for the last six years..."

And, there's something that has been reported about Tim Allen that you may not have known.  The Q Political website states:

Tim Allen believes in God. And if you meet him in person, you’ll quickly learn that he’s unashamed to tell you so.

But Allen doesn’t claim to be a perfect Christian. In fact, he admits that many of his life’s deepest struggles are what caused him to turn to Christ.

The story recounted how Tim's father had been killed by a drunk driver when he was 11.  Allen actually spent two years in prison for cocaine possession.  The article says that he has shared, "For years, I just did not like this idea of God, church,” adding that he was “still a churchgoer, but constantly a cynic.”

But, there was a change since he turned his life over to Christ, the article contends, quoting Allen: "I always do ask — whoever put me here; The Builder — what did You want me to do? I just want a relationship with Whoever built me. This is too much; too weird that it happened by accident. I don’t believe that I happened by accident.”  Other websites, including Beliefnet, Christian Cinema, and Faithwire have featured stories exploring Allen's faith journey.

One of the takeaways here is that nothing on earth is permanent.  This television show appeared to have a strong following; its status didn't change, but how it was regarded apparently did.  We have to guard against being too comfortable in current circumstances.

This saga concerning Last Man Standing can help us to think about standing for Christ; and we may be the last man or woman in our orbit who is doing so.  We are called to allow our "light to shine" for Christ - sometimes that may put us in a tough position, but we can be confident in God's grace.

There is great concern over the portrayal of Christians in the entertainment industry.  There was a link from that Q Political story to a video in which Allen worked a reference to Christ into a Last Man Standing episode.  You see, what Hollywood, I believe, does not understand is that faith is part of the fabric of so many people's lives; but it may not be or likely is not part of theirs.  So they are not comfortable in portraying it.  Sometimes, it may come out stilted or uncomfortable - so perhaps they dismiss it.  But, when faith is portrayed as a natural part of someone's life, it adds a component of reality.

We can consider how faith is integrated into our own lives.  Our Christian faith is more than a "check-box," and it's certainly more than a compartment - the spiritual, I believe, should inform every area of life.  There is not to be a separation between the sacred and the secular.  We are spirit beings; our spirits have been renewed by Christ, and His life is our life; so in all our exploits, all things, we are called to seek the glory of God.

Who's Leading Us?

There is a chain of influence that can be readily identified - those whom we allow to lead or influence us will shape they way we live, and as people look to us, our example will influence them.  We don't
want to be a "weak link," and we have to be careful to guard ourselves, a point Paul relates in 1st Corinthians 15:
33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

The Bible talks about testing the spirits.  And, with all the choices we have, it's important that we take great care to guard our hearts, so that the purity of our devotion to Christ is not corrupted.  Because how we are influenced will affect how we influence other people.  Who or what we submit to will dramatically alter the course of our lives.  We have to be responsible with what we accept into our consciousness, so that we might adhere to Biblical truth.

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As we consider Godly influence, let us consider the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5:
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Questions of leadership are always important to consider; we can look at ourselves and determine the quality and application of our personal leadership skills - because you can likely find someone whom you are called to lead.  We can also evaluate how well we regard and are following those whom God has placed to lead us.

And...today, I want to consider who we choose to lead us - politically and spiritually.  The American Culture and Faith Institute, led by George Barna, has put together a fascinating survey on how various leaders are regarded.  These studies focus on the SAGE Cons - defined as the "spiritually active, governance engaged conservatives."  According to the study summary:

In RightView™ studies SAGE Cons are identified as adults who are registered voters; conservative on political matters; have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior; are active in pursuing their Christian faith; and are actively engaged in politics and government. They represent about 8% to 10% of the national adult population, which constitutes a segment of some 20 to 25 million individuals.

There are actually three list of leaders generated from the survey data: national political leaders, national spiritual leaders, and leaders of change.  It's not surprising that the same person tops the latter two lists.  But, first, let's have some of that political data.  And, keep in mind that this survey was taken in January and February of this year.

In the list of political leaders, Vice-President Mike Pence led the way, with a 98% favorability rating, followed close at hand by HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson at 97%, Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee at 94%, President Trump at 91%, and Ted Cruz at 85% in favorability ratings.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions was at 79% favorable, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan at 73%.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell only garnered 44% of these SAGE Cons - his favorability and unfavorability scores were the same - 44%.

On the list of ministry leaders, Franklin Graham was the overwhelming favorite at 97%.  Barna actually received a 77% rating, with 21% saying that they did not know whether they considered him favorable or unfavorable.  There were a lot of "don't know"s on the list.  Tony Perkins got a 66% favorability score, with 33% in the "don't know" category; similar to Gary Bauer, with 64% and a 32% "don't know" number.  Just over a third viewed James Robison favorably, but his "don't know"s were in the low 60's.  Jack Graham, Jim Garlow, and Samuel Rodriguez were relatively unknown to the general population of SAGE Cons.

Now, to the overall "leaders of change" list.  In this survey, "SAGE Cons had the opportunity to name any leaders that came to mind as having fostered positive cultural transformation in 2016."  The top of the list - and it's not even close - with 66%...Franklin Graham.  Next, it was Dr. Ben Carson, with 38%, followed by Trump at an even 30 and Pence at 27.  In the next tier, in the teens, it was three Faith Radio programmers: James Dobson, Ravi Zacharias, and Tony Perkins, who was tied with Mike Huckabee at 16%.  Jim Daly, Eric Metaxas, and Mat Staver also made the list, in single digits.

Who would you have placed on the list?  The summary also notes that: "Perhaps surprisingly, many of the high-profile leaders regularly promoted by the major media did not appear on the list constructed by Christian conservatives."

So, what are some takeaways for us today?

First of all, while this list is by no means exhaustive, it can cause us to examine whom we regard as trusted spiritual leaders for us.  I talk often about having reliable sources to teach us, to train us in the ways of the Lord, to help shape our thinking spiritually.  Faith Radio has a stellar, qualified speaker lineup of trusted sources who present sound and solid Bible teaching.  I would encourage you to consider making our lineup a starting point and maybe even expand your consumption of the teaching.

What are some characteristics of a "change agent," to use a phrase from Christian author Os Hillman? We have the capacity in Christ to bring about change in our own lives and in the lives of the people around us.  We have to examine whom we are influencing and in what way.  Hopefully, through our adherence to Scripture and our Godly example, we are leading others to walk with Christ.

Two important questions: who's leading us and who are we leading?  There is a continuum here - what or who influence us will affect how we lead, which will affect those who follow...and so it is spread.  We have to make sure we are a strong link in the chain, devoted to the ways of the Lord.

WannaCry?

The enemy will attempt to lure us into doing his bidding, to follow his destructive path - when we yield to temptation, we have to remember that Jesus has paid the ultimate price to redeem us and
gives us the tools through which we can walk in forgiveness. Romans 6 says:
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.

Sin brings death; surrender brings life.  The enemy will taunt us, speaking his lies into our minds; he will also tempt us, attempting to get us off course in our pursuit of righteousness.  We have to be aware of what he is doing, and that involves being well-versed in what God has done through Christ. We belong to Him; we have identified with Christ in His death, so that we might experience being raised to new life - a life characterized by triumph over sin, growing in grace, and drawing closer to Him.

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Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin - He has done it by becoming like us, but walked through life as a perfect human being.  He did not sin, so He could be the sufficient substitute for all humanity.
Hebrews 2 says:
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

You have probably heard about it by now, and I hope you haven't experienced it.  Late last week, the WannaCry ransomware attack was launched, affecting computers worldwide.  The website, TechWorld, explains how it works;

WannaCry works by encrypting data on a computer that has been infected. It then tells the user that their files have been locked and displays information on how much is to be paid and when - payment is taken in Bitcoin.

Like most malicious campaigns, this type of ransomware could arrive as an email attachment or as a download on your computer. For your system to become infected, you'll have to click on or downloading the attachment or file, which causes the program to run and infect your computer with ransomware.

The article says that users with older versions of Microsoft Windows were most vulnerable.

USA Today reports that researchers have identified a possible culprit:

Experts at the global cyber-security firm Symantec found that earlier versions of the ransomware known as WannaCry were found on computers that also bore evidence of the cyber tools used against Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as banks in Poland and Bangladesh's central bank— attacks that all were linked to North Korea.

Also, a researcher at Google singled out an identical code used both in the ransomware and used by the Lazarus Group, a team of hackers tied to North Korea, noted Symantec.

And, this group with a Biblical-sounding name could have stolen its cyber tools from the U.S. National Security Agency.  Again, from USA Today: "U.S. homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said Monday WannaCry was not a tool developed by the NSA to hold ransom data, but he did not address if the vulnerability was based on stolen NSA cyber tools."

The spread of the attack was curbed by a 22-year-old using the name MalwareTech, according to Forbes. By registering a domain set up by the hackers, he inadvertently found a killswitch that stopped most infected Microsoft Windows computers communicating with the criminals behind the outbreak.  Of course, now he has received plenty of media attention, with outlets attempting to do stories on him.

Another Forbes story contains a warning from MalwareTech:

And while MalwareTech confirmed the malware was still out of action Saturday, he warned the attackers will likely alter their code to remove the somewhat bizarre error and restart their ransomware campaign imminently. "This sample may have been stopped, but I'm 100 per cent sure they will learn from the mistake and try again monday. people need to be prepared," he added.

There is a practical matter of security as we consider the implications tied to this story.  It's important that all your computers have updated virus protection.   And, when you receive an e-mail from an unknown source that requests that you click on a link, don't do it.  And, according to Forbes, "victims have been advised not to pay the $300 ransom requested by the hackers, who've threatened to wipe PCs of those who don't cough up in a given timeframe."

But, in the spiritual realm, the whole concept of ransom has new meaning.  You know, since the Garden, humanity had been held hostage by the power of sin, captives of the enemy.  The hearts of all people were and continue to be infected by sin.  Someone needs to pay the ransom, if you will. We can try to do it ourselves, but the payment is insufficient.  Jesus has come to pay the ultimate price for us, to release our souls from Satan's bondage and to bring us into His glorious love and truth.  He defeated the power of sin and death - He, in a sense, activated the killswitch over it and has led us in triumph through His death and resurrection.  Jesus has completed the override of sin's power.

But, the enemy will entice us - curiosity can get the best of us, just as it did in the Garden, when he attempted to subvert God's perfect plan for Adam and Eve.  He places "links" in our lives that can lead to destruction.  If we click, if we buy in, we enter into his destructive schemes.  We have to be discerning - to know when we are tempted and to withstand the false promises of a better life that he does not have the capacity to provide.  We need a Savior Who has taken our place to enable us each day to walk in victory; if we stumble and fall, we may "WannaCry," but He provides forgiveness and restoration.

Fluid Science?

In Hebrews 4, we can read that the Word of God is alive, it is active, and will work in our hearts to
produce fruit to the glory of God:
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

God's Word, in partnership with the Spirit of God, will illuminate our path, and will illuminate our hearts.  We are told that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.  He teaches us, and leads us in the way of the Lord.  When we compare our attitudes and behavior to the standards of the Word, as the Spirit convicts us, we can find that our ways are exposed to Him and we can make corrective action by His power.  God's Word is absolute reliable!

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In Psalm 119, we can read about the authority and reliability of the Word of God.  Here is a section
from that Psalm:
32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

The so-called March for Science took place recently, and it was just another in the seemingly endless string of protests against some real or perceived element of the current Administration.  The "March" was co-chaired by Bill Nye, also known as "The Science Guy."  But, wait, as sociology professor George Yancey, who has been a guest on The Meeting House program points out on Patheos.com, Bill Nye "is not a scientist. He’s an entertainer with one earned degree, a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He tries to act like a scientist, but often fails miserably to pull it off."

He takes Nye to task for dismissing the beliefs of others - he has done this in the debate on climate change.  Yancey writes:

...Nye is never shy about criticizing others’ lack of appreciation for science. But good science is done carefully. It is not a rush to judgment. Real scientists generally do not make the sort of pronouncements Nye sometimes makes because we are aware of the limits of our knowledge. Science is the constant striving to understand reality. We move closer to that understanding, but we never get there.Someone who really cares about science would understand this. I can expect my students to make the common mistake of talking about “settled science.” I should not expect that from someone who wants to be the spokesman for science.

And, Nye seems to have an obsession with gender fluidity, as he relates in his new Netflix series, Bill Nye Saves the World.  On the Washington Examiner website, Becket Adams states that: "viewers today are now treated to Nye's theories on gender fluidity and whether there ought to be a cap on the number of children that couples in developed countries should be allowed to have."  And, Adams reveals that:

Disney and Netflix officials said Friday they're not sure why references to chromosomes and gender were removed from a 21-year-old episode of "Bill Nye the Science Guy," which is available now for online streaming.

Disney dismissed the edit as a "clearance issue," whatever that means.  But, the article said that the Washington Free Beacon had reported that a key section of an episode was no longer available on streaming. The episode included this language:  "See, inside each of our cells are these things called chromosomes, and they control whether we become a boy or a girl,"and, "See, there are only two possibilities: XX, a girl, or XY, a boy."

Well, that certainly conflicts with Nye's shaky science about gender fluidity he is pushing on the new show. And, we of course know about Nye's dogged defense of the theory of evolution, which he debated with creationist Ken Ham on a stage, as well as at the Ark Encounter.  On the Answers in Genesis website, Ham wrote about his "encounter" with Nye:

Nye also claims that the exhibits inside the Ark encourage visitors to “trust faith over science.” Actually, our exhibits show quite conclusively that observational science in the fields of geology, genetics, and anthropology confirm biblical history concerning man, animals, and the Flood of Noah’s day. In reality, it’s Bill Nye who has the blind faith to believe that somehow life arose by natural processes. And his evidence? That DNA, including its information and language system, arising by natural processes, came about to the fact that “we’re here.” And Nye, who claims creationists are undercutting people’s “ability to engage in critical thinking,” wants to stop all children from being able to think critically about science. Instead, we are just to accept his word and his religion that life arose by natural processes. And Nye calls this “science!”

And, again, faith in God and belief in the validity of science are not mutually exclusive; I would contend that the study of science can lead to a greater appreciation of the work of the designer who is the Creator of the Universe.  Our application of critical thinking skills to the challenges of our world today can also help us to understand the ways of God.

You might say everyone's an expert these days. And, people are often driven by an agenda.  We can't just make up a story or concoct a theory and then attempt to manufacture or manipulate the evidence to prove it.  We start with the evidence and allow it to take us where it leads.  That is how great Christian apologists Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel came into a saving knowledge of Christ. The evidence of God's existence and the death and resurrection of Christ are so compelling; we have reliable truth that is found in God's Word, and we do well to build our lives on its foundation.

Again, I say: check your sources.  I am growing tired of these so-called "news" stories that try to push a certain agenda or outcome, using anonymous sources.  We saw this unfold yesterday afternoon - the overarching storyline: President Trump colluded with the Russians to steal the election.  The Washington Post, using these loquacious sources, built a story about the President discussing highly classified information with Russian officials.  Later, the National Security Advisor, Secretary of State, and a Deputy National Security Adviser, who were all in the room, disputed the story.  As National Security Advisor McMaster is quoted as saying on Real Clear Politics: "Their on the record accounts should outweigh anonymous sources. I was in the room. It didn't happen."

I think this also teaches us a lesson about handling Scripture - don't make up your story and then attempt to use Bible verses to back it up...this is how we get errant ideas and doctrines.  Start with the Bible, and allow its words, God's Word, to lead you into His truth and discover His heart.

Proven Fighters

In Psalm 18, we find a passage that can serve to remind us of the strength we have in the Lord, in
Whom we can have hope:
(1b) I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Like it or not, but we have been called to the battlefield, spiritually speaking.  We have a powerful Savior, our Advocate, who stands with us, intercedes for us, and gives us the amazing capacity to fight against the enemy.  Recognizing this, we have to make up our mind to stand against him and to recognize that sometimes we may have to go it alone.  But, it's always better to have allies with us, and so we can be challenged to find people who will pray with us and fight with us, in order that Satan's schemes may be thwarted and God might be glorified.

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The Bible tells us that we have powerful resources in order to be effective in spiritual warfare; in fact, the Bible itself is a weapon - called the "sword of the spirit" in Ephesians 6.  Earlier in that chapter,
we can read:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

One of the developments in the Middle East that has occurred recently is a decision to provide weaponry to a group of people known as the Kurds.  According to The Clarion Project website, the President "has decided to supply weapons to the YPG, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units."  The site goes on to say, "The YPG is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq and Syria."  The story says that the U.S. is working with the SDF.

Turkey is not happy about this development.  The site reports that "Turkey views the Kurdish forces as terrorists and a threat to Turkish sovereignty. Turkey previously threatened U.S. troops in areas near Turkey’s border with Syria."

The Clarion story concludes by saying:

The U.S. views the Kurds as crucial to the takeover of Raqqa, Syria, ISIS’ de facto capital, as they have proven themselves to be one of the most organized and effective fighting forces against ISIS to date. The Kurds assured the U.S. they intend to exit Raqqa after the battle is won and leave the governance of the city to their Arab partners.

In the heart of the turmoil in the Middle East, there is this ethnic group that has the potential to be a powerful ally.  Marginalized in Northern Iraq by Saddam Hussein, the Kurds have been fighting for their own nation for some time now.  Author Stephen Mansfield did an interview for The Meeting House program several years ago about this group, in association with the book, The Miracle of the Kurds: A Remarkable Story of Hope Reborn in Northern Iraq.

Mansfield wrote in a piece on the HuffPost website that Saddam "declared war on the Kurds of his nation" and "killed more than a million of them, many with Sarin and mustard gas, some of which burns in Kurdish flesh still." He writes, "Mercifully, it was the atrocities of Saddam that finally moved the West to act on the Kurds’ behalf."

He says that the Kurds "declared themselves a democracy, passed a law that offered foreign investors sweeping incentives, and began fashioning the 'Kurdish Miracle' now celebrated the world over." He writes, "In a land that once grieved some 4,000 villages destroyed by Saddam, there are new and stunning hospitals, schools, restaurants, five star hotels, parks and airports."

In calling for a Kurdish independent nation, Mansfield writes:

Ranging over 15,000 square miles, a Kurdish nation would be much larger than Israel, a lynchpin of U.S. policy in the region. She would also be a valuable ally — a pro-democracy, pro-U.S. and majority pro-Israel people in the belly of the Middle East. Her more moderate version of Islam — women have recently sat upon the Supreme Court in Kurdistan and there is a “Christian Department” within the region government — is a version the U.S. will want to encourage in the decades to come.

So, here you have it - the potential for the rise of a powerful Mideastern ally, and a group of people that can provide some inspiration for us.

One lesson we can contemplate today is that you have to be forthright in fighting the enemy. The Kurds are surrounded and for years they were a punching bag for Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein, but as Mansfield writes, in face of ISIS, "Only the Kurdish fighting force, the Peshmerga, stood their ground and proved themselves worthy. Yet until recently they have had to go it largely alone in this fight, much as they have for most of their modern history."  So, there is another component of spiritual warfare: sometimes you have to go it alone.  When you find yourselves surrounded by people who do not want to fight, you may have to take up the full armor of God and move forward; and it may give you a chance to lead.

But, we can be reminded in that in a dangerous world and dangerous spiritual conditions, we all need some good allies.  People to stand with you, to provide encouragement, and to be a source of good prayer cover in the battles you face.  You can be challenged to assemble a strong team in order to move forward in the things of God.

Finally, the story of the Kurds helps us to remember that there can be hope on the other side of atrocity.  Because hope is not dependent on the physical surroundings - where there is the presence of Jesus, there can always be hope.  The persecution or opposition may not be removed, but we can possess the proper attitude and activate the Lord's power in order to withstand.

Direction

In 2nd Peter 1, the writer provides some insight into the character that Christ wants to develop in our lives:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue...

God is calling us to walk in life - eternal and abundant, bringing glory to Him.  He wants us to demonstrate godliness - internally and externally.  He wants to bring forth virtue from us as we seek to exemplify Him in the way we walk and the way we approach life.  He wants to bring us into wholeness and to be complete in Him.  All in all, Jesus wants to express Himself through us, as His ambassadors; we represent Him, and we have to make sure that we do that well.

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In Romans chapter 5, Paul lays out a progression that indicates how life experiences can contribute to the development of our character - in Christ:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

We are aware of political differences on our nation's college campuses, and attempts to create "zones" in which areas of speech deemed unacceptable to the prevailing winds can be expressed.  As I reported earlier this week, Colorado has put into place a law that would guarantee free speech to students on public college and university campuses.

But, the trend continues among students who want to shout down or silence a point of view with which they disagree. One of the more recent occurrences transpired at Bethune-Cookman College, which invited Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to speak. Todd Starnes of Fox News reports that graduating seniors "turned their backs to the education secretary and continually interrupted her remarks with a chorus of boos and curses." He writes, "The verbal assault became so severe that the university’s president interrupted DeVos’ speech and warned students that if 'this behavior continues, your degrees will be mailed to you.'" That apparently didn't quell the crowd, but the president didn't follow through on this threat.

According to Starnes, DeVos was gracious afterwards, issuing a statement that said: "One of the hallmarks of higher education, and of democracy, is the ability to converse with and learn from those with whom we disagree,” adding, "I have respect for all those who attended, including those who demonstrated their disagreement with me.”

But, by and large, this year seems to be shaping up to be a kindler, gentler year on the graduation speech circuit. USA Today reports that, "Most college and university graduation speakers contacted by USA TODAY said they would not address the elephant in the stadium. And mention of the president and party politics has been conspicuously absent from the speeches that already have been given."

Former NASA astronaut Kathryn Thornton, who "may speak about space exploration at Sweet Briar College in Virginia," said, "If they invited a politician to speak, they’d get what they expected. Since they didn’t, I’ll take that as a direction;" she said she would avoid politics.

Anthony Esolen, an English literature scholar who will speak at Hillsdale College in Michigan, is quoted as saying, “Anybody whose commencement speech could be put on the editorial page of a newspaper doesn't understand the job,’’adding, “Leave the shifting sand dunes of the day far behind.’’

The founder of the website, GraduationWisdom.com, is quoted. That site actually lists speakers for a number of college. One thing I noticed, of the people there I had actually heard of, most of them are not who I would consider conservative, much less Christian. And, The College Fix reported last year on the Young America's Foundation survey of graduation speakers, finding that liberal speakers outnumbered conservatives by just under 4-to-1. That contrasts, though, with "six-to-one in 2015, five-to-one in 2014, four-to-one in 2013, and seven-to-one in 2012."

So, empirical evidence would suggest that, outside the realm of Christian schools, a dose of godly wisdom might not make its way to graduation ceremonies, at a time at which students really need to be reminded of it. And, at high schools, we have seen the periodic censorship of a student's message because it contained a faith component.
First Liberty Institute released a report last year called Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America. Several graduation prayer cases were mentioned including this one:

Angela Hildenbrand, the valedictorian of her class, wanted to say a prayer during her graduation ceremony from Medina Valley High. A fellow student from an agnostic family filed a suit to prevent Hildenbrand from praying. The federal district court judge issued an order prohibiting Hildenbrand from using words like “Lord,” “in Jesus’ name,” and “amen.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the ruling and allowed the prayer. On June 6, 2011, Hildenbrand gave her speech, which included a prayer.

Like never before, students need to hear that God wants to be in their future, even if they may not think they want Him to be.  And, that's what we can know and pray for - even though someone may not know what he or she faces in the future, we know Someone Who does.  And, we need to know that He walks with us.

We are in a time in which we have to keep our focus on God; and that goes for those who are making that transition - from college to the workforce or whatever the next step will be; from high school to college; from job to job, church to church, community to community.  Members of our military are preparing to transition to their next assignment.  Words like "calling" or "assignment" can be very important as we consider God's plan for our lives.

And, even though there are attempts to remove God and Biblical principles from our public discourse, we still have to admit that those principles are effective for life.  One might speak of "character development," as the speaker at my daughter's college graduation did.  Well, when you think of character, you don't generally encourage people to be rude, condescending, lazy, to lie or steal, or want to commit acts that are prison-worthy.  No, in an ordered society, character usually involves positive qualities, such as honesty, responsibility, treating others well, working hard - does the Bible perhaps speak to these?  Absolutely!  When it come right down to it, to exemplify the character of Christ should be the highest goal or priority of our lives.

Wise

Godly wisdom, consistent with the words of the Scriptures, is beneficial in so many areas.  And, His wisdom is superior to human wisdom.  God wants us to connect with Him in our spirits and in our
minds. In Proverbs 8, wisdom is actually personified, and we read:
12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

Listen to some of these words: prudence, knowledge, discretion, counsel, understanding, strength. These are powerful components that are available to the child of God.  As we develop the ability to think critically, we can more deeply appreciate His ways.  We can appropriate Scripture- or Spirit-infused logic in order to know Him better.  He wants us to use our minds to learn more so that we might experience spiritual growth.  A new study shows that educated Christians are just as or more devout, compared with those with lower education.  We are on a journey, an adventure, of learning, and we can approach matters of life from a Biblical worldview.

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God calls us to engage with Him in so many ways, and that includes attuning our minds to His truth, allowing His Spirit and His Word to renew our minds, or recalibrate them.  We are not called to be
mindless, but mindful of the things of God. 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.

Verse 16 tells us we have the mind of Christ.

It is unfortunate that there has been a narrative floated out there that Christianity and science, or Christianity and reason are mutually exclusive - you know: brain off, faith on.  There are some who think that the truly enlightened, the "intelligentsia," do not need to lean on religion, especially Christianity.

Well, there's a Pew survey that has just been released that appears to debunk, or at least contradict that flimsy theory. Emily McFarlan Miller at ReligionNews.com reports on this study.  First of all, among the general public, here are some findings:

Fewer than half of college graduates, or 46 percent, say religion is “very important” in their lives, compared with 53 percent of those who have completed some college and 58 percent of those with no more than a high school education, according to Pew. College grads also are less likely to say they believe in God “with absolute certainty” and pray daily.

But Miller contends, "there are exceptions."  She states, "Christians — the majority (71 percent) of American adults — don’t seem to fit the pattern at all." The study shows, according to this story, that 70 percent of Christians who are college graduates indicate a high level of religious commitment, when all factors are combined - that includes: attending services at least once a week, praying daily, saying religion is very important, and believing in God with absolute certainly.  73% of those with some college and 71% of those with a high school education or less fit in the "high level" category.

Over half - 52% - of Christians who are college graduates attend church each week. 45% of the "some college" group and 46% of those with a high school or less are in that attendance category.

And, as Miller points out: 

Fully three-quarters of college graduates still are affiliated with some religion, not much different from those with some college (76 percent) or high school (78 percent), for example, according to Pew. College graduates also report attending weekly religious services at similar rates as Americans with less education.

The study also indicates that 11 percent of college graduates identify as atheist or agnostic, vs. 8% with some college and 4% with a high school education or less.

So, again, a person who is highly educated does not necessarily throw his or her practice of Christianity out.  I would contend that there is no contradiction whatsoever between education, science, and reason and Christianity, despite what people who believe they are "enlightened" might say.

Now, I would say that what passes for higher education these days, as we hear about on college campuses, is nothing more than godless indoctrination.  And, students in these cases seem to have turned off their minds and have left critical thinking by the wayside.  But, if one is willing to think critically about matters of Scripture, which teaches morals, ethics, law, and so many other areas that are important, he or she can reach a conclusion that the Bible is certainly applicable in so many areas.

There are those who would say that believing in Jesus is illogical, that religion is something that is mythical, just giving a person something to believe in.  I think we have to recognize there is a supernatural element to our faith - walking in faith is counterintuitive to human logic.  But, God does want us to use our minds; I would say that Scripture- or Spirit-infused logic can help give us understanding about His ways that is so far beyond human comprehension.  We are not called to disengage from our minds; rather, to renew our minds to truth.  So, we can be people of faith, but also people of thought, making sure we are thinking in the right direction.

Vulnerable

Each day, we have the choice - are we going to live in a manner consistent with the crucified Christ in us or are we going to give in to the desires of the flesh? Paul gives specific instructions in Romans 6:
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

The nature of sin is to reign, to captivate, to overpower, and to hold you in bondage.  The enemy of your soul is intent on activating the power of sin in order to destroy you.  But, we have a powerful advocate who lives in our hearts - the Lord Jesus - who meets us in our weakness and vulnerability and offers us His strength.  We have been born again and given a new nature; sin and death have been defeated (past tense), but each day we have to decide whether or not to give in to the schemes of the enemy and the lure of the flesh or to give over our choices and desires to the One who desires to make us whole.

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In James 1, we read about the progression of sin - it begins with our own human, fleshly desires - our
areas of vulnerability:
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

At some point, you look at the furor about gender and say, "something's gotta give."  That's the contention of Dr. Michael Brown, a former Meeting House guest and regular contributor to The Stream website.

In a recent piece, he referred to an interview with Kim Kardashian, conducted by Ellen DeGeneres. That probably says all you really need to know - gay activist talk-show host meets reality-show star who has a stepfather who now thinks he's a woman and has attempted to conform to that.  What a crazy mixed-up world we live in.

And, Kim's not OK with her stepfather's change.  Dr. Brown points out that Kim told Ellen: “I’ll always love her. That was my stepdad for so many years. She taught me about character growing up, and I just feel like I don’t respect the character she’s showing now.”

Welcome to the twilight zone. And Brown points to a report on the Pink News website: “Kim Kardashian hits out at ‘untruthful’ stepmother Caitlyn Jenner on Ellen.”

As Brown writes:

Well, here’s a breaking news alert. Bruce (or, Caitlyn) Jenner was not Kim Kardashian’s stepmother. Not ever. You can believe that Bruce Jenner is now a transwoman. You can decide to refer to him as “her.” You can even say that “Kim Kardashian’s former stepfather is now a transwoman named Caitlyn Jenner.” But don’t recreate the past and say that Bruce Jenner is Kim’s “former stepmother.”

And, Bruce does have two biological children. Brown writes: "If Bruce Jenner fathers two girls named Kendall and Kylie, then has 'sex-change' surgery and becomes a transwoman, he does not become Kendall and Kylie’s mother. They already have a mother, named Kris, and Bruce is their father, not their mother."

It's a mad, mad world, isn't it?

The Jenner girls have a father. Even a compromised father who attempts to change his gender is still the father! Brown writes in conclusion:

No amount of activist pressure or semantic doublespeak or deconstruction of reality will alter this simple fact.

This is another reason why I still believe that LGBT activism will ultimately defeat itself. The cultural madness can only go so far before something snaps.

Isn't it interesting?  The LGBT activists say you can't change sexual orientation, although you hear stories of people who have done it, many through the help of the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. But the same people are OK with someone attempting to change his or her gender.  You can't have it both ways.  Biblically, you are born with a gender and you could make the case that with that gender comes an orientation, an expectation for behavior consistent with that gender.  Even though there may be sinful propensities that manifest themselves, the standards are there.

There are two areas I want to address very briefly:

One is that a departure from God's ways can lead to all sorts of confusion and negative emotions. We need clarity in our lives, and a relationship with Christ can establish clarity in our hearts and minds. When you depart from His path and yield to temptation, you enter into the world of willful sin, which is consistent with death, not abundant life.   The path that so many are on today in trying to subvert God's standards in the area of sexuality is a path to destruction.

Also, let's talk about our own propensity to sin.  Those who embrace homosexuality, or who struggle with same-sex attraction, or who don't think their biological gender is the right one, are dealing with serious issues.  But, sin is an equal opportunity entity.  Your vulnerability may not exist in these areas, but I would say that we all have areas in which we are weak - prone to sin, prone to yield to temptation.  We all need the redemptive power of Christ to transform our hearts and enable us to renew our minds to think in a manner consistent with our nature in Him.  We have to be aware of our weaknesses, so that we can release the strength of the Lord.