God's Budget

There are verses in 2nd Corinthians chapter 9 that give us insight into what could be called "God's economy," and it's predicated on the concept of giving:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

From a heart of appreciation for what God has done for us in Christ, we can participate in the selfless act of giving.  We also regard the resources that we have as being given to us by Him, for Him to use for His purposes.  The work of the Kingdom increases as God's people share from the resources that He has provided, so that His glory might be seen throughout our local communities and around the world.  And, He grants us the capacity to give more as He blesses us for our faithfulness.

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God has given us sound and wise principles by which we can live our lives. In Proverbs 3, we can read:
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

There's a new report that gives some insight into what Americans are spending money on, and there is one startling statistic that a report on the CNSNews.com website calls attention to. That story says: "...in three years—from 2013 to 2016—the average tax bill for Americans increased 41.13 percent."

This is based on a new Bureau of Labor Statistics report, which, according to CNS, found that "The average tax bill for American 'consumer units' increased from $7,423 in 2013 to $10,489 in 2016, according to data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The article points out that these units "spent more on average on federal, state, and local taxes" than they did on food and clothing combined.

The average income prior to taxes was just under $75,000. Take out the tax bill and the average drops to just under $65k.  Just over $7,000 of that went to food and about $1,800 went to clothing. Based on the breakdown of the data, it's hard to say how much went into giving and personal savings, which are two important categories - there is a "miscellaneous" category, which had $959 listed and a "cash contributions" category with just over $2,000.

I did come across a statistic from the National Center for Charitable Statistics website, which stated: "In broad strokes, those with income between $100,000 and $200,000 contribute, on average, 2.6 percent of their income, which is lower compared to those with income either below $100,000 (3.6 percent) or above $200,000 (3.1 percent)." This appears to be 2011 data, though.

For the Christian, we are directed to honor the Lord with our firstfruits, so giving to Him through tithes and offerings is paramount.  Malachi 3 speaks of bringing the tithe into the storehouse.  2nd Corinthians 9 says that God loves a cheerful giver.  Luke 6 says that we are to give and there will be a blessing in store.

So, giving is important. And, we are to be motivated by love for God and His work.

Christianity Today reports on a survey from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, of which Faith Radio is a member.  The study examined motivations for giving.  45% of those surveyed indicated they gave to a ministry because they had been blessed, while 23% believed their gift made a difference.  With respect to their core motivation, almost half said they gave "because of who I am." Almost a-third said they gave because of the ministry asking.

96% of those surveyed said they were likely to support ministries that told others about Jesus; 95% said they were likely to support ministries that made God's Word available to all people.  The ECFA survey also highlighted this about Millennials: "Nearly a quarter of millennial Christian givers (22%) say efficiency and effectiveness are good reasons to support an organization, compared to 12 percent of those over 35..." This age group is also looking for personal involvement along with their financial investment, according to the story, which also highlighted how some organizations that provide support services for ministry organizations have suffered a decline in giving.

So, all in all, these statistics tell a story. Let me go out a limb and say this - the government is an institution intended to be used of God for very specific purposes. But, when you consider generally that people give close to 15% of their income in taxes, and 2% of their adjusted gross income in charitable giving, there is a disconnect. Does this reflect our dependence on government rather than charity? When you factor in religious giving at less than 2%, are we depending more on government than God? That's why I am so appreciative of government employees, who do incredible work, who are giving of themselves through payroll deductions to support charitable organizations. The government has incredible work to do, but the private sector, including Christian ministries, can provide so many services to our communities.

We have to understand that there is a spiritual component to the well-being of the people in our communities. So many issues can be addressed as the Church steps up to be a strong and wise voice. We bring our tithes to the local church in order to fund its work - to provide for the operation and programs, but also to seek to minister through missions: local, national, and international...Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. If we want to see the Lord's work proceed more powerfully, we certainly pray and grow stronger, but our giving also provides the resources for the work of the Kingdom. We need more of God in our culture today; our charitable hearts and actions can help bring that about.

The Real America

In Matthew 22, we find that Jesus is teaching the Pharisees, when a lawyer asked a question:
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

First and foremost, we are called to love God.  That has enormous implications for the way we regard and live our lives.  If we belong to Christ, who loved us first, we respond with adoration and gratitude to the One Who has saved us.  So, we're called to love God fully.  But it doesn't stop there - that attitude of love is to be released in our relationships.  We have a responsibility to be compassionate, to be conduits of Christ's character and to regard others in the same way that He does.

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In Luke 6, we find a passage from Scripture that includes what is commonly described as the "Golden Rule."
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

White supremacists march and attract conflict in Virginia; anarchists perpetrate violence in California.

The extremists are gaining a lot of attention, while the rank-and-file Americans are just attempting to go to work each day, raise their families, and live their lives.

Residents of south Texas are anxious about what their homes are going to be like when they return after the waters subside.

There is all sorts of polarization in our land, but there does seem to a dividing line between the America that is portrayed in the media and the "real" America, which we desperately want to live in, and, as members of the body of Christ, have an impact in.

Scott Rasmussen, the pollster, wrote a provocative piece published at the Townhall.com website.  In it, he stated:

In TV-Newsland, America is presented as a hopelessly divided nation where hate-filled people battle over how they can get the government to give them what they want. Extremists of all political persuasions are presented as reflecting the real views of everyday Americans. It's a scary world in which every symbolic event can be used to demonstrate that most Americans are stupid, racist, socialist or whatever other condescending view the elites wish to project.

Be careful: too much consumption of TV news, including prime-time cable news shows, as well as Internet news sources, can cause discouragement and cynicism.

Now, Rasmussen understands the business model here: conflict sells.  But, he believes that there is a better version of our great nation:

More than 90 percent of Americans don't watch the evening news and experience an entirely different America. It's an America where most people want to work hard, play hard, take care of their families, help their neighbors and do what they can to make their corner of the world a little bit better. When someone falls on hard times, others look for ways to help out.

Now, here's the most important paragraph:

In this real version of America, there are 63 million community volunteers, 27 million entrepreneurs and tens of millions of others who serve their community in different ways. Rather than begging for a dysfunctional political system to bail them out, the vast majority of Americans recognize that these community servants are the people who can actually get things done and solve the problems before us.

While this is not an expressly Christian article, I think it hits on some themes that I like to explore periodically on The Meeting House.  We have to make sure that we are not being taken in by the news and information peddlers that would want to tell us what to think, how to think, and how to respond emotionally to the discouraging news of the day.

The good news, the really good news, is that Christ died not for a better world, but to make better people, with spirits recreated in His image; more accurately stated, to make new people.  And, then He dispatches us to live our lives with a higher calling and to seek to be His representatives in our communities.  Look at the community volunteers - 63 million of them - that Rasmussen is calling attention to; I would say that a significant number would be people motivated by faith.

Just today, I had the chance to attend the kickoff celebration for the Alabama State Combined Campaign, through which state employees can support charitable, valuable work in their communities through payroll deduction.  Faith Radio stands proud to be a member of the campaign, because we believe that spiritual principles, rooted in Scripture, can help bring positive change in the lives of people.

So, we are called to serve - with compassion...and civility.  It's hard to build relationships and effectively minister to people with whom you have polarizing disagreement.  Let me tell you about Foster Friess - you make have heard of him. His organization, Patriot Voices, tweeted out last week:

Join @FosterFriess"Return to Civility Coffee Challenge!" He will cover cost. Sign up at http://fosterfriess.com Share photo #return2civility

He announced he would reimburse $25 to the first 1,000 people to sign up and share their story of meeting with someone with whom they disagreed last Friday.

In 1974, Friess formed a financial firm called Friess Associates.  In 1978, he announced a new Chairman of the Board, according to the Turning Point USA website:

In October of 1978, Foster says, “I did one of those ‘born again’ things and invited Jesus to become the ‘Chairman of the Board; of my life,” a decision to which he credits all subsequent successes, including those which saw the firm grow to a $15 billion portfolio and his personal relationships restored.

He serves on the Advisory Council of Turning Point USA, and according to the profile, he and his wife Lynn...

 ...gain their philanthropic inspiration from Galatians 6:2: “When we carry one another’s burdens we fulfill the law of Christ,” and Matthew 25:35-40, “When you do it for the least of my brethren, you do it for Me.” From supporting families of disabled children in Jackson, Wyoming, to assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian earthquake, Lynn and Foster engage in a wide scope of philanthropic activities.

So, he is calling for civility. Who did he invite for a cup of coffee?  He chose a Missouri state senator named Maria Chappelle-Nadal.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on the meeting:

The Missouri state senator made headlines recently after she wrote on Facebook that she hoped for the assassination of President Donald Trump. Democrats and Republicans have called for her to resign, despite Chappelle-Nadal’s apologies for the post.

The article continues:

Friess, a Wisconsin native, was struck by her comments and wanted to get to know her better, according to an employee.

On Sunday, he said that he forgives her for the comments that she made. The two pointed to the idea of forgiveness as a value that doesn’t get espoused often enough. Like much of the common ground the two unlikely friends found, it comes from a background in their respective faiths.

He also commended her for her "courage" to apologize.  The Senator is calling each member of the Senate to ask for forgiveness.

What a great example - demonstrating compassion and civility.  We can be civil without compromise - and we can be challenged to reach out to people with whom we disagree; and by the way, disagreement is not "hate," which seems to be a mantra of the media.   We make better communities as we see people for who they are - made in the image of God, be willing to be used of Him, and to be known for our spirit of compassion.

God's Plan in Crisis

In Psalm 27, we find the writer in crisis mode; he is besieged and looking for God's hand:
3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

When we face adversity, when trouble and crisis enter our lives, we can be motivated to seek the Lord more wholeheartedly, desiring to see Him in the difficulties.  Even when it's hard to see, we know that He has a plan, and He desires to derive glory from our trying situation.  With that confidence, we go forth with prayer in faith, to practice what He has called us to do.  We rely on the Spirit to show us His desired steps for us, and trust Him to empower us to follow His will.

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As we follow the plan of God and pursue Him with prayer, we can rely on Him to empower us to walk by faith. We do have to resist fear that would hold us back. Isaiah 41 says:
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

In a time of crisis, we look for God at work while we continue to look to God to work.  Whether it's the devastating flooding in Texas or the aftermath of a terror attack in Barcelona, we know that God is responsive to the prayer of His people.

I came across a story on the Mission Network News website about God at work in Spain, where a series of terror attacks occurred recently.  The MNN site stated that...

...a vehicle drove into a street of tourists in the heart of Barcelona and killed 13 people. Not long after that, another terrorist vehicle attack and stabbing in Cambrils killed one more and injured six just after midnight Friday morning. A driver of a hijacked car was also found stabbed to death just outside Barcelona. In total, 15 people were killed and more than 100 injured in this series of terror attacks.

12 suspects had a hearing last week.

The story states that Rebecca Lampaya, Spain Field Leader with the ministry, Operation Mobilization, "says the Barcelona attack hit extremely close to home for OM’s ministry there." She said, “We don’t have an OM team in Barcelona…but we have a team just very close, about 25 kilometers south of Barcelona. It is very well connected with public transportation, so our team goes to Barcelona probably a couple of times a week.

She said that the OM team had been walking through the affected are the day before the attack in Barcelona. She related that if there had been some sort of "change of plans," they could have been on that street when the attack took place.  Also, OM had held an evangelistic conference not long ago in Tarragona and had ministered in a park in Cambrils.

Lampaya relates:

"The day before the outreach, we went to talk to the mayor of the town, we went to the city hall, [and] we asked them if we could pray for them. But they said, ‘No, please pray for the town of Cambrils.’ So it’s very interesting, it was like, ‘Okay, we’ll pray for the town of Cambrils’, and after a month, this is happening.”

She relates that, "we are still digesting and trying to see what is the plan of God in this area.” The story states that, "It has stirred the local churches to action." Lampaya adds, “Right now, the churches are praying and sending messages of comfort to the families that have been affected..."

Rebecca relates that the biggest prayer need is to see the spread of the gospel in Barcelona, Cambrils, and all of Spain.  She also encourages prayer for unity for the churches in Barcelona.  And, furthermore, as she states:

“Spain needs [Gospel] workers. Spain is a country that evangelicals are a minority, so sometimes when you have this kind of attack, it won’t help very much when we are trying to recruit workers to come and work in Spain because of what happened last Thursday. So I think it would be interesting to pray that whoever God is calling to work in Europe…that they will take the courage to come and work in countries like Spain, no matter what happened before. It’s true that it can happen again because Europe is a target of these kinds of terrorist attacks, but I think it’s important that people who God is calling to reach out to nationals, to those who are in need of understanding what the Gospel means, that they will come no matter what they hear on the news.”

What is the plan of God - that is a question that the Operation Mobilization team is grappling with. And, I think it's an important question for all of our lives.  Sometimes we may not know, but we can pray for His wisdom, and for Him to use His people in the spread of the gospel, in our communities and around the world.  

From Rebecca Lampaya's report, you can recognize that prayer is a key element in the furtherance of God's plan. In a crisis situation such as the one that has unfolded there in Spain, the enemy would want to use those events to inhibit the plan of God, and prayer can be a powerful tool to break down the barriers.  

We recognize that the practice of faith brings fruit for the glory of God. In this situation, Satan would want people to share less, this gives an opportunity to share more.  The enemy would want to break churches apart, but God wants to bring them together.  The enemy would want fewer Gospel workers and would use fear to accomplish that end; God wants more laborers to go into the harvest, responding in faith.  When we commit to following God's plan to to pray for His will to be done, we can walk in obedience as He directs.

Response

In the midst of crisis, there is opportunity for the Lord to be exalted, and He will use His people to minister with His compassion. 1st John 3 says:
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.

We are seeing and hearing the stories of people who are suffering in Texas, as well as other areas around our world.  In a troubled world, we, as the Church, the body of Christ, have the unique opportunities to bring hope and tangible relief.  In the middle of adversity or outright crisis, we can turn to the Lord and trust Him, if we are the ones in trouble, or help others to look for Him, if they are in need.  Ultimately, He can provide peace and answers as we are directed to seek His face.

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There's a passage in 2nd Corinthians 1 that is highly relevant, when we see the reports coming out of Texas and the human suffering that is occurring there:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

The images that are emerging out of the Houston area are indeed chilling.  A story earlier today from the Mashable website contained the estimate that 11 trillion gallons of water have been unleashed on the state of Texas. The article also includes a prediction that another 16 trillion gallons could fall on the state.  The National Weather Service tweeted out, "This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced."

A Samaritan's Purse story said that up to 50 inches of rain could fall by Wednesday.  The website quotes ministry President Franklin Graham, who said: “My heart continues to be heavy for the good people of South Texas as they begin to deal with the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey—and the flood waters are still rising in many areas,” adding, “We have pre-positioned Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief trucks and materials outside Dallas and will be moving into the hardest hit areas as soon as we are given the all-clear by the state authorities. We hope that over the next few months there will be thousands of volunteers who will want to come and help those whose homes have been damaged by this destructive storm.”

The story reports that more than 1,000 people have been rescued, "mainly from rooftops." That number has swelled to 2,000.  The ministry organization is activating churches to partner with them to reach out to the victims:

We’re reaching out to partner churches, from Victoria, where our first disaster relief unit made its first deployment in 1998, all the way to Houston. Once we identify the areas of greatest need, we will secure host church locations and begin deploying volunteers to physically and spiritually minister to homeowners.

Luther Harrison of the organization stated: "When people come home, let’s have the church be there, walking with them, hand in hand, supporting them, showing them Christ’s compassion." Samaritan's Purse is working hand-in-hand with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, which is involved in bring hope to people through Christ.

Southern Baptists are gearing up.  A Baptist Press article includes a statement from Frank S. Page, SBC Executive Committee president and CEO: "Our prayers go out to the people of Texas in the massive flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. Our Baptist disaster relief units will be the first on the scene to minister in a variety of ways. I call on Southern Baptists to pray and be ready to assist through giving and going. God bless Texas."

J.A. Medders, lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Tomball, TX, writes on The Gospel Coalition website: "I see Christlike instincts cresting and rising in our city." He relates:

Civilians are assembling their kayaks and big ol’ Texas-style trucks to save their neighbors. Sacrifice in a time of severe weather.

Church buildings—like that of Houston Northwest Church led by my friend, pastor Steve Bezner—are becoming staging-areas for relief. The body of Christ is opening her arms to help her neighbors.

His church has assembled a response team with people eager to help, who have "boats, trucks, chainsaws, trailers, cookies, muscles, time, and prayers ready for those hit hard by Harvey." Medders also shares that:

Like many churches across the city, our members are checking in with each other, opening their homes, offering to help however they can. They are serving each other, sacrificing for each other; they are ready to love their neighbors. These are the kinds of instincts you hope to see. Apathy and disinterest are demonic in a time of disaster.

Medders suggests three ways to respond: pray, give, and serve.  Regarding prayer, he writes:

Let the pictures you see online serve as kindling for your prayers. The Father is listening. The Son is mediating. The Spirit is helping. When you see a picture, stop and cry out to heaven. Father, help them. You said faith can move mountains, so, Father, move this storm.

In his article, he references verses from the first chapter of 2nd Corinthians.

In this ongoing disaster situation, we can certainly evaluate our response.  And, we can be reminded that even in affliction, God is at work.  There are those who are seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to provide relief and perhaps even provide a rescue.  When there is trial, the Church can open up its heart to be a shelter.

We can approach crises from a macro and a micro sense - God certainly wants us to be mindful of the needs on a grander scale, and be ready to respond Biblically, with compassion, if He calls us to be involved.  But, there are crises that may affect our lives, members of our families, as well as those in our communities.  It is good to be sensitive, as the Holy Spirit leads, so that we can represent Christ well in providing comfort in time of adversity.

Last

In Revelation 17, we see the conflict of the ages, a conflict between the Antichrist and the One True
Christ, our Savior and King:
12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

How awesome is that!  We see a decline in this world, and the conditions are ripe for the rise of the Antichrist, who will claim to take the place of God, who will wreak havoc on the earth.  The nations are aligning in order to help facilitate this rise.  But, just as this has been foretold in the Scriptures, so the victory of our King has been proclaimed!  We have to make sure that we are on His side, called by His name, saved by His blood, so that we can be counted with Him, ruling and reigning with Him throughout eternity!

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1st Corinthians 15 gives insight into the future that is promised to us as believers in Christ. God's Word shows us exactly what will occur in the end times.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

From time to time, we hear about religious-themed fare that will be lighting up television screens. And, ChristianHeadlines.com just ran a piece about an upcoming show presenting a variation on themes that we find in the Scriptures, in Biblical prophecy.

It's called Good Omens and, according to the article, it "tells the story of an angel and a demon who end up becoming friends and working to protect humanity from the Antichrist, according to RelevantMagazine.com."

Michael Sheen of 30 Rock will play the role of the angel, "named Aziraphale, who was assigned by God to guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned and ate the forbidden fruit." The "10th Doctor" of the Doctor Who series, David Tennant, is cast in the role of the demon, "named Crowley, who possessed the snake who drew Eve into temptation."

The article says that:

The storyline of the new series goes that Aziraphale and Crowley were left on earth for millennia and have developed a kind of friendship. The two ultimately unite in an attempt to protect humanity from the Antichrist.

The show is a comedy, and as such takes liberties with the biblical account of the end times, as mostly seen in the books of Daniel and Revelation. But nevertheless, it promises to raise interesting questions about the apocalypse and the end of the world.

The Christian Post reports that Good Omens will be a six-part miniseries and will premiere on Amazon Prime, later on BBC.  It is based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett.  Gaiman is the script writer for the adaptation.

And, in a follow up to a commentary from February, it's been announced that two religious-themed television series are perhaps on the way soon, according to Deadline:

Written/exec produced by Patrick Walsh based on A.J. Jacobs’ bestselling book The Year Of Living Biblically and executive produced by The Big Bang star Johnny Galecki, By The Book centers on a modern man (Jay R. Ferguson) at a crossroads in his life who decides to live according to the Bible.

Written-executive produced by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, The Gospel Of Kevin stars Jason Ritter as Kevin, a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by God with a mission to save the world.

I would dare say that none of the series would warrant an endorsement from me, but it is interesting that television producers are exploring themes with a faith element.  And, stay away from the AMC series, Preacher.  Suffice it to say that the plotline deals with a fictitious bloodline from Jesus, and a recent episode has received well-deserved criticism for a graphic scene - read the Newsbusters account, if you dare.

And, the Good Omens angle, while not Biblical in its approach, does illustrate a long-held fascination with the last days that is seen in entertainment.  And, the popularity of dystopian stories in books and movies reinforces that contention.

So, what do you make of that?  Well, there are a couple of things that are relevant to us:

One is that the Bible does give an accurate portrayal of the end times.  Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies about his first Advent, or first coming to earth; so we can be convinced that what is written in Scripture about the second coming can absolutely be trusted.  If we believe the Bible is true, then we can be convinced of that scenario coming to be...

And, as my friend Jimmy DeYoung reminds us, the stage is being set for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. As he points out, the actors are in place.  We can acknowlege that the nations are being aligned; world events are coinciding with what the Bible says will occur.

So, while TV producers and filmmakers are grappling with how to entertain the consuming public with Biblically-tinged themes; all people should be considering how the timeline of the last days will affect them.  There will be a day when Jesus will return and take His Church to be with Him. Every person will stand before a holy God in judgment and asked what he or she has done with His Son.  The signs of the times can propel us to examine and to embrace the hope that is available for the believer in Christ.

Sinners

In Romans 3, the apostle Paul lays out the problem of sin and the antidote, which brings hope for all humanity. In verses 10-12, we can read:
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

Later in the chapter, we find these words:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

We are all sinners - that is clearly identified and established in Scripture - but, the story doesn't end there.  Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin, which leads to death.  And, He offers us forgiveness through the cleansing blood that He shed for us at the cross.  Our sins can be covered and the capability to sin, while still present in the flesh, is removed in the Spirit.  So, in order to accept the free gift of salvation, we recognize our need for a Savior and call upon the name of Jesus, who desires to save us and reconcile us to God.

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It is helpful for us to recognize our state as sinners, so we can appreciate the presence and availability of a Savior who forgives us and gives power to overcome.  John 16 provides some insight into
recognizing sin:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Scott McConnell, Executive Director of LifeWay Research was on his way to a Nashville Predators game and, according to a Christianity Today article, saw a group of people "preaching at people on the street outside the hockey arena, calling them sinners."  Some even regarded "the title with enthusiasm," the article says.  McConnell began to wonder how many people think of themselves as sinners.

Well, there is a new survey inspired by that occurrence - and 67% of Americans responded that, yes, they are sinners - and only 5% are happy with it.

The LifeWay study found that there are three categories of viewpoints on sin:  There are those who say they are sinners and are working on being less of a sinner - a third of Americans fit into that category. Just over one-fourth say they're sinners and depend on Jesus to help them overcome their sin.  Then there are those that either say sin doesn't exist or they are not sinners...that's a total of just under one-in-five.  15% prefer not to say if they are sinners.

A couple of subsets in the survey:

• Americans with evangelical beliefs are more likely to say they rely on Jesus to overcome their sin (72%) than those without evangelical beliefs (19%).

• Nones—those with no religious preference—are more likely to say sin does not exist (32%). Ten percent of nones say they are fine with being sinners, while 27 percent say they work on overcoming their sin. Six percent say they depend on Jesus to overcome sin.

The CT article also referred to a study last year from LifeWay Research.  Some findings, according to this recent article:

In that study, two-thirds (65%) agreed that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. More than half (57%) said it would be fair for God to show His wrath against sin.

You could say that an encouraging sign is that people do acknowledge the existence of sin.  That is a necessary element in coming to salvation - to ADMIT that you are a sinner.  To deny this truth makes it more difficult to see one's need for a Savior.

But, the question someone must ask himself or herself deals with what a person is doing to change. One could rely on human effort to "do better," and one-third of people want to apparently do that. But, a smaller number declared that they are depending on Jesus.  The answer to the question of sin and effective life change is related to a person's status with God through Jesus Christ.

You also have to ask what a person considers to be sin these days - there are the "big ones," where there are actually legal consequences for participation - you know, murder, stealing, lying, etc.  But, there are so many areas of behavior that some may not consider sinful - one might think that an outright theft is sinful, but what about padding an expense account to take money that doesn't belong to you? What constitutes a lie these days might depend on situational ethics; in other words, a lie is in the eye of the beholder.  In an age in which absolutes are tossed into the wind, people will come up with different definitions of right and wrong.

That's why we need an anchor, a compass for our behavior.  And, that's what God's Word actually serves as.  If we want to know what is right and wrong - we can play by God's rules and embrace His standards.  And, not only that, if we want to reduce sin in our lives, His Word and His Spirit give us the power to do so - the Spirit of God has been sent to convict us of sin, i.e., to show us where we are missing the mark; and He gives us the tools to turn things around - if we confess and repent of our sins, receive forgiveness, and rely on the presence and principles of Christ.  There is sin in the world; there is sin in our lives - we need the power of God!

Counsel

There is a sad narrative from 1st Kings chapter 12.  Rehoboam has become king over Israel, and we
read:
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, "How do you advise me to answer these people?"
7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

This actually led to Israel becoming divided.  Rehoboam rejected good, wise, and experienced counsel, to his detriment.  We have to make sure that we are seeking Godly wisdom - going to the Word, our source of truth and direction; and then, as He leads, if necessary, talking with others who you trust in order to make a good decision.  And, we can be prepared to be used of the Lord - as He has directed us and we have obeyed, we can be willing to share our experience to help someone else.

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The book of Proverbs offers some insight and criteria for good, or wise, counsel.  Consider this verse
from Proverbs 11:
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Or, these verses from Proverbs 19:
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.

Ah, the trials of an American President.  Donald Trump continues to face a relentless torrent of bad press, whether it be due to the Russia investigation, rhetorical missteps, or the latest response to the Charlottesville conflict.  And, it can be sometimes painful to watch as the President appears to shoot himself in the foot, the foot that has been inserted all-too-often in his mouth.

It all goes to show that imperfect people are sometimes called to do seemingly impossible tasks. Certainly, you or I are not perfect, and there probably have been times when we haven't felt quite up to the task.  But, the God who raises up and deposes "kings" or leaders is still on the ultimate throne, and He is certainly not through with Donald Trump.  And, if someone is discouraged by his prose, perhaps he or she can find encouragement in some of the policies he has enacted.

The Charlottesville situation presented a real challenge for the President.  Initially, on the day of the conflict between white supremacists and counterprotesters, he took to Twitter to condemn both sides. On Monday, after his response was deemed insufficient, he directly criticized these white supremacist groups in a prepared statement. Tuesday, he went off-script, or rather, invented a script and once again returned to the "both sides" position - that there was responsibility on both sides.  And, the expectation became that only the white racists should be criticized, even though there were elements of left-wing extremist groups who showed up in Virginia that day.

The dangers posed by groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter, who showed up in various cities over the weekend, according to Conservative Review, chanting derogatory and threatening slogans about police officers, are certainly fair game for a national discussion. But, to try to criticize the left-wing protestors appeared to downplay the so-called "alt-right" demonstrators, so perhaps separate discussions need to occur.

We are seeing "advisers" to the President, members of various boards, who have been resigning in the wake of Charlottesville.  And, there are those who are watching the President's evangelical advisory board, comprised of a number of church leaders, many of whom have been very strong in decrying racism.  One board member resigned recently - A.R. Bernard, pastor of New York City's Christian Cultural Center.  According to The Atlantic:

“It became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration,” the pastor of New York City’s Christian Cultural Center wrote in a statement. He had been quietly backing away for months, he wrote. Trump’s reaction to Charlottesville seemed to be what it took to make Bernard’s decision official.

He is the first - and only - to leave this group since the President took office, the article points out, even though James MacDonald had stepped aside last fall.

Bernard, in an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid, said that “I don’t think he’s racist. I think he’s ill-advised. … His vacillation … from one position to another simply indicates to me that he never established a set of core values that guides his thinking and a moral compass.”  Bernard is an African-American pastor, and another black pastor, Mark Burns, took a different approach, telling Reid, according to the story:

As long as evangelical leaders have “a seat at the table,” he said, “it is our spiritual obligation to be a voice of God to the ear of the president of the United States.” And, he added, “I believe God has called me to this.”

Much of the Atlantic article was devoted to comments from Tony Suarez, described as "a pastor who serves as the executive vice president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference." He called “the racism and hate being spewed by the alt-right and white supremacists … an insult to Christianity and our country.” The article states that, "Many other members of the advisory council put out similar statements."

While critics believe that the evangelical council is "willing to explain away anything Trump does, even when he creates controversy and potentially exacerbates painful situations," as the article puts it, Suarez related that there is open, even frank communication between council members and the White House:

“If I’m invited to a table … where I’m given the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless, share my convictions, and share my heart, then I need to go,” he said. While journalists and evangelical critics pointed out that members of Trump’s business councils resigned in protest of his Charlottesville comments, Suarez said he didn’t understand why pastors would do the same. “Why would I abandon someone now? I wouldn’t do that to someone in my congregation,” he said. Business leaders answer to shareholders, but pastors have a calling to speak from a faith perspective. “If there was ever a time that we need to give counsel and advice,” he added, “it’s right now.”

Today, I want to consider the role of an adviser, in the context of who we seek advice from, and who we give advice to.  The Bible addresses the concept of a "multitude of counselors."  When we are seeking advice, we have to keep certain criteria in mind - is it someone who is wise, someone who is experienced, and someone who can be trusted. Someone whom we can take into our confidence and know that the information we share will not be spread.

Now, let's flip the script and think about how we can be good advisers to another person.  We have to make sure that we demonstrate Godly wisdom, that we have working knowledge of various subjects. We can develop expertise in certain subjects so that we can give learned advice to someone.  Our life's experiences and what God has taught us in and through certain situations can provide a basis for giving good advice to another.

And, if a person comes to us, we need to make sure that we are a good confidant - not spreading information about someone to others.  We need to make sure we positioned as a person who can be trusted.  For instance, most of President Trump's faith advisers are not prone to go out and criticize him publicly, and that shows a degree of mutual respect.

We also have to make sure we are available when someone seeks us out, and willing to make an investment into the life of someone else.  We can take what God has entrusted to us in the form of wisdom and experience and use that knowledge to help someone in need.

Breaking Things and Breaking Anger

In Hebrews chapter 12, we read God's warning against allowing bitterness to fester:
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

Anger is a destructive force, and long-term anger can lead to long-term spiritual, emotional, and even physical damage to us.  So, we can take the necessary steps to rid ourselves of this menace; incorporating, as I will refer to in The Meeting House, elements of prayer and God's Word, developing healthy responses to the stimuli in life that frustrate us.  God wants us to be whole and to respond Biblically to the challenges we encounter.

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In James 1, we read about the destructive force of anger:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

I came across a piece on the New York Times website recently about a new phenomenon called, "anger rooms."  This was not the first time that the Times had a story about these place where people can go and express their anger by slamming, breaking, and destroying property - all for a fee, of course.  Another story ran in 2016, before The Wrecking Club in Manhattan opened in March to give people a place to go to vent their rage; other "opportunities" include the Rage Room, based in Toronto and the older, Dallas-based Anger Room.

The website, Good Money, states:

Research on the psychological effects of this bizarre activity is scant — anger rooms exist more as a novelty than anything else — but the attraction and growing popularity seems to be governed more by a primal instinct (unsurprisingly) than a practical desire to decompress. However, that hasn’t stopped the Dallas outpost from headlining its homepage with “Relieve Stress & Anxiety.” This particular location has, according to the Times, seen three Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton mannequins “utterly destroyed.”

(The "Times" reference is to the New York Times.)

I don't generally delve into the realm of psychology, but it does seem there is evidence in that field that doesn't necessarily support this concept. Bernard Golden describes the Dallas experience in Psychology Today:

Customers are provided the necessary protective equipment such as a helmet, goggles and gloves and their “weapon” of choice–a bat, a pipe, golf clubs or any object that can exert destructive power. Employees as well as donations provide the objects. And, they offer a choice of music to listen to while engaging in this novel “sport."

But he says that, "Such an experience may provide immediate satisfaction. However, I strongly feel the need to voice my opposition to adding it to the menu of strategies for the constructive management of anger."  He adds:

Research, however, has ultimately concluded that repeatedly engaging in such activities might best be described as “rehearsal," thus making one more prone to engage in such activities.

There is a quote in the Good Money article from Ricks Warren, a psychologist and professor, not to be confused with pastor Rick Warren, who said in an interview with the University of Michigan:

“Initially, people probably do feel better after smashing things, and this may be because endorphins are released because it can be a good workout. But research shows that people get even more angry dealing with anger through aggression. There is an outdated Freudian catharsis model that has been promoted by therapists which encourages ‘getting it out.’ This model has been disproven repeatedly.”

The Biblical Counseling Coalition has a piece called The Angry Heart.  In it, you can read this:

The typical angry response comes from something you wanted and didn’t get, or you are angry about something you got and didn’t want, but in both cases, you have never dealt with the anger biblically.

Feelings of anger are generally (wrongly) handled in one of two ways: blowing up (screaming, ranting raving, hollering, hitting, breaking things, driving too fast or recklessly) or clamming up (quietly internalizing the emotions, seething). Those who clam up are more prone to depression.

The antidote to what is called, "sinful anger," is laid out in the article, which says, "The heart change begins when you acknowledge before God that you struggle with sinful anger; simply confessing it to God." This is followed up by renewing your mind "by studying what Scripture says regarding anger." It goes on to say:

If you are accustomed to blowing up when you’re angry, you must learn to enact new responses that will direct the energy of anger toward fixing the problem instead of using your anger to hurt people and objects.

If you typically clam up or bury your anger, you must begin to appropriately verbalize what has caused you to become angry and then take steps to correct the problem. At first you may find it difficult to respond appropriately to anger, but it will become easier as you grow in your understanding of the righteous responses to anger and as you continue to practice the right responses.

Wayne Mack and Julie Ganschow are credited in the article.

The Bible has the tools we need in order to deal with what is termed "sinful anger."  And, not surprisingly, these resources include prayer and the Word.  We live in a society that is all-too-often marked by anger, by unhealthy responses to what are perceived as "violations."  But, we have to make sure that we are dealing with these issues in an effective manner. God's Word shows us the way to neutralize the harmful effects of anger.

The Fourth Day

In Job 38, God is stating very clearly His preeminence to Job, and is relating instance of His majesty
in creation. Here are just a few questions He poses:
31 "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Think about the Scripture in Psalm 19 that says that the heavens declare the glory of God.  Genesis 1 refers to the creation of the sun and moon, two heavenly entities that are being talked about greatly today.  The majesty of the heavens reminds us of the greatness of our God - and our response to this Great King is to humble ourselves before Him and worship His holy name.  We can also recognize His amazing capability to show His faithfulness as He works in our lives.

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In Genesis chapter 1, we read this about the sun and moon, created by God on day 4; some of these verses were referenced by a scientist from whom I will quote:
14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.
16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

This is the day of the total eclipse of the sun - from west to east, people have seen the sun covered by the shadow of the moon, an amazing display in the heavens.  And, we can think in a fresh way about this celestial body that we might tend to take for granted.

As Jason Lisle of the Institute for Creation Research, which brings you Science, Scripture, & Salvation Saturday evenings at 6:40 and the Back to Genesis feature around 2:30 p.m. on weekday, states on the ICR website:

The sun and other luminaries in the sky were created on the fourth day of the creation week. Genesis informs us that the purpose for these lights in the sky is (1) to separate day from night, (2) to help us mark the passage of time, and (3) to give light upon the earth (Genesis 1:14-15). A fourth purpose is revealed elsewhere in Scripture—to declare God’s glory (Psalm 19:1-6).

Lisle also point out a fifth purpose for the sun and moon: "A fifth purpose of these two heavenly lights is given in Genesis 1:16—to 'govern' the day and the night. The Hebrew word rendered as 'govern' or 'rule' means to have power or dominion. The sun can be said to have 'power' over the day because it defines the day and overpowers all other luminaries during the day. The moon 'governs' the night by outshining all other nighttime luminaries."

We also can think about how the sun in unique positioned - by the design of our Creator - to help sustain life here on earth.  Lisle states:

...it is clear that the sun is designed for life to be possible on Earth. Some stars have superflares that release enormous amounts of deadly radiation. Fortunately for us, the sun doesn’t. Solar flares are mild. The sun’s temperature and distance from Earth are ideal for life. By contrast, hotter stars produce far more ultraviolet radiation that would have harmful effects on living tissue. And cooler stars emit far more infrared “heat” for a given amount of visible light.

Even the position of the sun in the galaxy seems optimized for life and for science. If the sun were close to the galactic core, harmful radiation could be a big problem. If the sun were on the outer rim, half of the sky would be nearly void of stars, making it harder to measure seasons or to investigate the universe. Strangely, the sun is depleted in lithium by a factor of 100 compared to other similar stars. We have not yet discovered the reason for this, but perhaps it will turn out to be yet another feature of design—an intriguing possibility for the Christian.

The uniqueness of the sun is underscored by Danny Faulkner of Answers in Genesis, who states that
"While the sun has many characteristics similar to stars, the Bible never refers to it as a star. This suggests that the sun may have some unique characteristics."

He also points to an "important and unusual" property of the sun: its stability. Faulkner writes:

Astronomers have spent some time looking for stars similar to the sun, because such stars might be conducive to sustaining life on any planets that orbit them. Astronomers have found a few solar twins that have the same temperature, size, mass, and brightness as the sun, but nearly all of them are variable. That is, they vary in brightness. 

But what variation there is, according to Faulkner, "appears to be related to magnetic activity, which can harm life."  He goes on to talk about sunspots, which are caused by magnetic activity, related to solar flares.  He states,  "During sunspot maximum the sun frequently produces energetic flares that bathe the earth in an extra dose of particle radiation that can wreak havoc on earth and damage cells in living organisms. We can only imagine how destructive the radiation would be on planets orbiting other stars."

Again, God has made provision:

By God’s gracious design, the earth has a protective magnetic field that prevents the sun’s flares from disrupting life. The particles racing from the sun interact with the magnetic field, which deflects most of the particles. Yet we are periodically reminded about such imminent danger when the flares overload the ability of the earth’s magnetic field to protect us. Astronauts on the Space Station must enter protected sections of the station after a solar flare.

So, today, while there is a renewed focus on the sun and the celestial dance with the moon, we realize that we don't worship the sun, but we worship the God Who made the sun, the moon, the earth, and the stars - the Creator of the universe.   The dazzling display can be a reminder of God's greatness, a signature to behold.

We can also be reminded and appreciative of the world God has made for us - not too hot, not too cold.  Also, according to another article by Faulkner at the Answers in Genesis website, the earth has just the right mass (to hold the right atmosphere), the right composition - ingredients necessary to sustain life.

And, while we rejoice in the Lord about this earth that He has made and upon which He has placed us, we can also reflect on His handiwork in the world to come - as Jesus taught, He has gone to prepare a place for us; what a wonderful eternal home God has in store for us!  And, we recognize that if God could create and manage the entirety of the universe, certainly He can manage the intricacies of our lives.  How arrogant to think that we can handle things better than God, our Creator!

Good Stories

In Psalm 71, we read the declaration of the Psalmist that he would tell the story of what God has done in His life:
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

We can be challenged to reflect on how God has expressed Himself to us, and as we recognize His salvation brought to our hearts and His faithfulness to us, it can certainly overflow from our life to another.  That is the radiance of the gospel, the reality of the presence of Christ that can be seen through us.  God has written and continues to write an amazing story of faith through us, and He has done it so that He receives the glory and so that we might demonstrate hope to a desperate world.

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In 2nd Timothy chapter 1, Paul talks about the power of a good story; the story of redemption that
Christ has brought to us:
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began...

It's going to be a rather active time on the big screen for faith-based or -related films, and coming up on today's edition of The Meeting House, a conversation with Michael Spurlock, a pastor who was sent to a struggling church outside Nashville that was on the verge of being shut down.  But, then a group of Burmese refugees arrived, and the combination of these visitors and the land on which the church sits provides a compelling story line for All Saints, which is in theaters next Friday.  John Corbett and Cara Buono star as Michael and Aimee Spurlock.

ChristianCinema.com has a listing of some of the fall theatrical releases, and it's quite an impressive lineup. Because of Gracia stars Moriah Peters, who is married to Joel Smallbone of For King & Country.  The plotline is described here: "Grácia is a girl with charisma, intelligence and conviction, but she's not as put together as Chase and his best friend O.B. might think. A dark past gives her a unique connection with Bobbi, a misunderstood classmate who has a pushy boyfriend and disconnected father."  Ben Davies, who was one of the four leads in Courageous, Macey McLain from I'm Not Ashamed, and John Schneider from The Dukes of Hazzard and October Baby, are part of the cast.

Then, two weeks later, it's A Question of Faith, the plot of which is described as this: "A devastating car accident affects three families, eventually bringing them together to rediscover their faith and God's mercy."  T.C. Stallings, lead male actor of War Room,  spoke with me at NRB this year about the film, which also includes: Kim Fields of The Facts of Life, Richard T. Jones of Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?, and Christian musical artist Jaci Velasquez.

October brings a film called Generational Sins, in which, as Christian Cinema puts it: "Two estranged brothers are brought back together by the death of their mother."  But, the Hollywood Reporter website notes that the film has quite a few expletives. The article states:

'Generational Sins' features expletives and references to child abuse and alcoholism: "We live in an R-rated world, and covering up the darkness won’t bring it into the light," says executive producer Thurman Mason.

Then, coming to the big screen is the film adaptation of the book, Same Kind of Different as Me, which stars the lead actor from one of the top 5 Christian films in history, Heaven is For Real, according to Box Office Mojo. The synopsis says, "International art dealer Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear) befriends a homeless man (Djimon Hounsou) to save his struggling marriage to Deborah (Renée Zellweger), a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the most remarkable journey of their lives."

The Christian Cinema piece also refers to Devon Franklin's latest project, The Star, an animated rendering based on the Christmas story as seen through animals' eyes.  There's also Mary Magdalene, which stars Rooney Mara in the title role and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus.  Chiwetal Ejiofor plays Peter.

After the first of the year, MercyMe's lead singer Bart Millard's story is explored in the latest from the Erwin Brothers, I Can Only Imagine.  

Also, this fall, the Fathom Events schedule is filling up: the Erwins worked with Pastor Greg Laurie for the documentary, Steve McQueeen: American Icon, which explores the faith journey of the so-called, "King of Cool," during the later years of his life.  Also, Kirk Cameron is back with Revive Us 2.  According to ChristianCinema.com, Ben Carson, Francis Chan, Ravi Zacharias, and Joni Eareckson Tada are part of the lineup, a "family gathering" to discuss matters of spiritual revival. Also, be watching for Liberty University's production, Extraordinary, a marriage reconciliation story, and Mully, which is a partnership with Focus on the Family, about a wealthy man devoted to helping Kenyan orphans.

Oh, and by the way, The Case for Christ, which is now out on DVD, made some impact on the movie box office, with over 14-and-a-half million dollars, according to Box Office Mojo.

We need hope - I believe there are many in America who feel that the culture has lost its way - I would project that is certainly a sentiment in the Church, but in light of recent tragedies in our world, you might say there is a pervasive sense of hopelessness.

Enter the neutral ground of the local cinema.  Some who wouldn't walk through the doors of a local church might enter a theater.  Some come to be entertained, others might be looking for something deeper.  As the Church, we can be challenged to look for ways to bring hope to people. 

We also recognize that God can speak through so many vehicles.  Right now, He is using technological advances in order to share His truth, and that includes the burgeoning Christian film industry.  The quality concerns have continued to be addressed; I think one of the significant challenges is how films that contain a strong faith message can gain a greater viewership among general audience.

I think that the proliferation of faith-based films also speaks to the power of a story.  And, there is an application for us - our story can bring hope to another person. Our testimony is simply sharing what God has done in our lives.  He has saved us and brought us into a relationship with Himself through Jesus; and out of that relationship He has expressed and continues to produce an incredible story of His faithfulness.  His power working through us can touch the hearts of those who are seeking meaning and satisfaction in their lives.

Matters of Life

In Jeremiah 1, we can see some exciting truths about God's hand in our lives:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Our lives have value because God has formed us; He is our Creator and He desires to bring us into new life, the new creation, in Christ Jesus.  We can also see that not only has He formed us, but He has given our lives purpose.  Jeremiah the prophet was set apart, as God points out, and even though the prophet regarded himself as too young to speak out for God, He reminded Jeremiah that He had been called, ordained to speak His truth.

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In Proverbs 24, we see some words about our responsibility to protect, preserve, and uphold human life:
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

It is good to know that the issue of the sanctity of life continues to be a significant political matter in our country.  And, just a note: those who are Christian and pro-life have the opportunity to demonstrate that in so many ways, from not only the pre-born child in the womb, but for the way that we show love toward other people.  In an age where incivility and disrespect reign, we have the unique opportunity to show compassion toward others, even with those whom we disagree. Responding to hostility with hostility is not the way of the cross - we have to show that we value the lives of our fellow human beings.

But, with respect to the life issue, specifically toward abortion, there is some interesting data that Christianity Today has reported on with respect to white, evangelical women and last fall's election. According to the story...

...unlike any other age group, millennial evangelical women were more likely than their male counterparts to vote for Trump, according to the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) provided to CT by Ryan Burge, politics researcher and blogger for the site Religion in Public.

In last year’s election, 73 percent of white evangelical women under 35 voted for Trump compared to 60 percent of white evangelical men of the same age.  The article goes on to say:

Of course, there’s the pro-life movement, which has undergone a resurgence in recent years thanks to the leadership of young women, according to Penny Young Nance, president of Concerned Women for America (CWA) and author of Feisty & Feminine: A Rallying Cry For Conservative Women.

Despite a few female evangelical leaders speaking out against Trump, Nance mostly saw women voting according to their conservative values—and they’ve been happy with the results.

The article quotes Kelsey Gold, a recent graduate of Liberty University and coordinator of the Young Women for America outreach.  She says: "Most of us don’t condone the rhetoric that Trump uses, but most support his policies."  She also is quoted as saying, "Since the Women’s March, Christian conservative women are realizing their voice isn’t being heard,” adding, “The voices that claim to speak for all women really didn’t.”

The article does point out that, "Voting patterns among evangelicals of color are a different story, but one that can only be captured in broad strokes due to the limitations of exit poll surveys." It quotes a LifeWay Research study that "found that evangelicals of color sided with Hillary Clinton (62%) nearly as strongly as white evangelicals sided with Trump (65%)."

The Democrat party is struggling with the life issue as well.  The party supports abortion and party chairman Tom Perez had basically said that pro-lifers were not welcome in the party.  In a recent press release, the Susan B. Anthony List mentions that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Luján has "faced backlash from abortion activists over his recent assertion that there will be no “litmus test” on abortion for the Democratic Party."

After The Atlantic had reported that a DCCC spokesperson had indicated "no interest in working with Democrats for Life of America," SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser made these comments: 

“Spokeswoman Meredith Kelly’s statement that the DCCC flatly refuses to work with Democrats for Life contradicts the comments previously made by her boss, Rep. Luján. It is further evidence that Democratic Party leaders are likely stringing pro-lifers along, using them for their votes without intending to back away from their extreme position on abortion.

“The Democratic Party cannot wave this deepening crisis away with facile platitudes. One-third of rank-and-file Democrats consider themselves pro-life. An even greater number of Democrats support banning late-term abortion after twenty weeks and oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. 

So, with life continuing to be a dominant issue in the world of politics, what can we as people of faith - and life - take away?

First of all, I think this is an issue that will not go away.  And, it was a dominant issue in the Presidential election.  Even though people, including evangelicals, take issue with some of the statements that Donald Trump has made and the imperfect way that he handles the Presidency, his policies have been spot-on regarding the life issue. One might regret voting for Trump, but you still have to go back to last fall and consider the alternatives - and the life issue, especially related to the Supreme Court, I believe, drove those who voted for him.  

As it's been said, if you don't get the life issue right, it affects the way you regard other issues. Regardless of party, protecting the most vulnerable among us - the unborn - should be a paramount concern.  With the Democrat party wrestling with how to treat pro-lifers, it is an indication that this is an important issue.  

This continues to be a contentious issue, and there is room for vigorous and reasoned debate in the culture.  But, at the end of the day, we have to be careful that we stake out our position and speak the truth, but that we do so in order that the lines of communication continue to be open, so that hearts can be won.  Unfortunately, the response is all too common these days to shut down and silence the opposition - that is not constructive.  The people that cry about "hate" too often show hostility in how they respond to those with whom they disagree...as the faith community, we have to show a better way.

The Call

Ephesians 4 lays out how the body of Christ has the potential to function together. The chapter starts out with these words:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Later in the chapter, as Paul talks about speaking God's truth in love, he writes that we:
15 ...may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

God desires for us to humble ourselves before Him and to know the essence of our calling in Christ - yes, we have been called into a relationship with Him, and then are called to be His disciples, using His gifts for His glory.  It's important to seek to know the will of God, which comes as we are immersed in the Word of God...we can then depend on the Spirit to show us how we are to walk and how to use our unique gifts and skills for a Kingdom purpose.

+++++

In Ephesians 2, we read about the dynamics of our new life in Christ and the calling we have that He desires for us to fulfill:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Residents of Alabama have waded into electoral politics as of late, with two Republican candidates vying to replace Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate will be facing one another in a runoff next month. Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore will square off against former Attorney General Luther Strange.  Moore took 40 percent of the vote yesterday, with Strange, the incumbent, took 32.  The winner of that contest will face Democrat candidate former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones in December.

And, it seems day after day, citizens of the U.S. are re-living and attempting to decertify the election that took place in November, in which Donald Trump scored an upset victory.  And, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, is not going to go away anytime soon, it appears.

An article on The Atlantic website points out that coming out soon will be two books related to Clinton: What Happened, "Clinton’s personal account of the election," and Strong for a Moment Like This, which is a book of devotionals written by her longtime pastor Bill Shillady of the United Methodist City Society; seems he wrote devotionals for Hillary and sent them to her during the 2016 campaign.  And, as Shillady said at a recent photo shoot for the book, the former first lady wants to...preach.

Emma Green states in the Atlantic article:

Scattered bits of reporting suggest that ministry has always been a secret dream of the two-time presidential candidate: Last fall, the former Newsweek editor Kenneth Woodward revealed that Clinton told him in 1994 that she thought “all the time” about becoming an ordained Methodist minister. She asked him not to write about it, though: “It will make me seem much too pious.” The incident perfectly captures Clinton’s long campaign to modulate—and sometimes obscure—expressions of her faith.

Green also points out that, "After long months of struggling to persuade Americans that she is trustworthy, authentic, and fundamentally moral, Clinton is lifting up an intimate, closely guarded part of herself. There are no more voters left to lose. In sharing her faith, perhaps Clinton sees something left to win, whether political or personal."

Seems that Hillary Clinton has apparently wanted to talk about matters of faith, but has received criticism for it.  I would contend the lack of trust for Clinton compounded with the liberal/progressive social policies, such as abortion on demand and so-called "same sex marriage," resulted in a disconnect with many in the faith community.

The article follows what could be considered a religious tug-of-war in the soul of Hillary Clinton. As Green points out that during the campaign, "Clinton did not revive her decades-old rhetoric about 'spiritual renewal' and '[filling] that sense of emptiness with the Word.' Instead, she spoke neutrally about kindness, love, and respect."

Now, there has been some controversy over Shillady's book.  ChristianHeadlines.com reports that the devotional he sent to Clinton the day after the election could have been plagarized.  The article says that the devotional is taken word-for-word from a piece from Matthew Deuel, pastor of Mission Point Community Church in Warsaw, Indiana, which likened Good Friday to a day when "everything fell apart." And, of course, this can build hope when one reflects on the resurrection.  Shillady has reportedly apologized to Deuel.

But, this very concept has raised further questions.  It is widely being reported that Shillady has compared Hillary's defeat to the crucifixion and her return to politics as a "resurrection."  The Washington Examiner, reporting on an e-mail obtained by CNN, states that Shillady said:

"Even though Jesus told his followers three days later the temple would be restored, they had no idea of what that Sunday would be. They betrayed, denied, mourned, fled and hid. They did just about everything BUT fell (sic) good about Friday and their circumstances," Shillady added, comparing Clinton's return possible return to politics to Jesus Christ's resurrection.

"Sunday is coming. Death will be shattered. Hope will be restored. But first, we must live through the darkness and seeming hopelessness of Friday," Shillady finished. "My sister Hillary. You, our nation, our world is experiencing a black Friday. Our hope is that Sunday is coming..."

Really?  Well, that's an interesting side note.  But, let's get back to the concept of Hillary Clinton entering the ministry.  The thought that occurred to me is, "what if she missed her calling?"

According to the website, AmICalled.com, "As Spurgeon surveyed the religious landscape of his day, he came to the conclusion that many churches were failing primarily because the men leading them weren’t called by God to be pastors."

He also stated this:

That hundreds have missed their way, and stumbled against a pulpit is sorrowfully evident from the fruitless ministries and decaying churches which surround us. It is a fearful calamity to a man to miss his calling, and to the church upon whom he imposes himself, his mistake involves an affliction of the most grievous kind.

I would submit the reverse can be true as well - you might even say a void is created when the right person doesn't submit to the call of God.  Author John Bevere writes on the Messenger International website:

Each of us has a calling placed on our lives. Some have gone into business who were called into ministry. Some have gone into ministry who were called into business, government, or education. There is no universally right answer to the question of your calling, except that we are all accountable to run the course God has marked out for us.

When we seek Him, we will discover what we were created to do. And then the choice is ours—we can ignore the calling or we can live it to the fullest.

In his piece, Bevere quotes Ephesians 2:10, about our being God's workmanship.

Bevere writes about a man who had been called to start a church, but he failed to do so; he stopped because of difficulty and went back to the business world.  He even had a professional artistic rendering done of a proposed building.  As Bevere says: "The man clearly saw God was serious about this assignment, needing someone to faithfully build His house. And he knew the Lord had given his assignment to someone else because of his failure."  And, he ended up attending a church that was meeting in a building that was what he had envisioned, pastored by another man.

How tragic!  I think this can be a wake-up call to each of us to make sure that we are walking on the path that the Lord has ordained for us.  And, He doesn't leave us in the dark - as Bevere says, we can discover what He has "created" us to do by seeking Him.  If we want to know the will of God, the first step is to go to the Word of God; for contained within its pages are principles for life, through which God will show us His specific plan.

Perhaps God has given you a dream, or inspired ambition - He has gifted you with a talent or skill that He would desire to us for His glory.  We can determine our call as we identify our uniqueness and ask Him to show us how He would want to use us.

Once we are convicted or convinced that God has shown us how He wants us to walk, then we rely on Him to enable us to follow our call.  We are called first and foremost into a relationship with Christ and then to obey His principles; but we can also recognize that we have a responsibility to follow the leadership of the Spirit to fulfill what Bevere calls our "assignment."

We can truly walk in a "no regrets" life.  Yes, when we stand before God, we know that He will determine our eternal destiny based on whether or not we have received His Son.  But, obedience on earth has a direct relationship with standing and responsibilities in heaven.  And, even before we leave this world, we don't want to get to the end and realize that we have missed opportunities that He has provided.