Longevity

When the Pharisees came to Jesus, according to Matthew 19, asking Him about divorce, He taught
them about the sanctity of marriage, and He was quite clear about God's view on the topic. He said:
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

The Bible teaches us about the concept of marriage representing Christ and His bride, the Church. So, as we consider the love that our Lord as for us as members of His body, so we can apply those principles as foundational in the building of a strong marriage.  God has provided tools so that we can build properly and Biblically, so that the love He intends for a couple to express to one another is actually manifested in this God-ordained relationship.

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In the 4th chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon uses powerful imagery that can be applied to the marriage relationship, as couples can be reminded that their unity with the Lord and each other can be critical
in the preservation of that marriage. The passage reads:
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

It's inspiring when people in the public eye, instead of becoming fodder for tabloids about the breakups of their marriages, actually talk about what it takes for a marriage to last.

Recently, according to a Faithwire story, a power couple in country music opened up about the elements of a lasting marriage relationship. The article said:

Country stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have opened up about the keys to the longevity they have enjoyed in their marriage. Alongside carving out quality time together in the midst of their incredibly busy music careers, the pair also noted a crucial aspect of keeping things healthy in their nearly 22-year relationship: prayer.

“As we get older it’s less about the big gestures and more about just spending the time together at home,” McGraw told PEOPLE in a recent interview. “For our 20th wedding anniversary, we stayed home, in our pajamas and watched TV. We loved it.”

But the pair also ensure they steal a few moments between themselves and God before every performance.

Hill, who is touring with her husband, said, "Tim and I share a quick quiet moment together before hitting the stage,” adding, “Always praying.”

Another high-profile entertainment couple have reached another milestone - their fifth child!  According to ChristianHeadlines.com, "Crew Gaines decided to make an early arrival on June 23, 2018. Proud mama Joanna (40) wasn’t too taken aback considering the precious boy was 'a sweet surprise from day one.'”  Chip had tweeted out, according to the article,

And then there were 5.. The Gaines crew is now 1 stronger! 10 beautiful toes and 10 beautiful fingers all accounted for, and big momma is doing great! #blessedBeyondBelief

The Gaines are a couple that have also dedicated themselves to marriage longevity.  A PEOPLE article on the couple reported after they announced on the Today show that they were stepping away from their successful TV show, Fixer Upper, Chip said:

“For us, the most important thing in the world is Jo and I’s relationship followed very quickly by these four beautiful kids. We didn’t want to push it, redline it for so long that we woke up and realized we are at a point of no return. We wanted to take a step back and focus on the thing that was absolutely the most important thing to us in the world.”

“People in our inner circle, I tell them we’re as healthy as we’ve ever been, I just didn’t want to keep pushing this envelope to the fullest extent,” he continued. “We’re really thankful that we had the opportunity to step back and take a break.”

The Gaines recently celebrated 15 years of marriage.

In a culture that is so consumed by celebrity breakup and norms about marriage and family being redefined, it's refreshing when couples declare their love and commitment for one another.  The McGraws emphasize time with one another, as well as prayer, as two of the building blocks for a two-decades-long marriage.

The Gaines speak of priorities - they were willing to lay aside a highly popular television show to help preserve and strengthen their marriage - they did not want to, as Chip says, "push it" too far.

These are inspiring stories, and can remind and challenge those of us who are married or who anticipate being so one day, to make sure that there are essential building blocks in place.  Couples can become so consumed in other pursuits that they don't take the proper time for one another - so it's important that couples practice their commitment - taking the time to be together.

Prayer is a key element, as well - couples who are praying together have the opportunity to grow in love for one another as they pray for and with each other.

And, finally, sometimes you have to contend or protect a marriage against external factors that would threaten the unity of and affection in the relationship.  Setting the right priorities provides a safeguard against forces that can be destructive.

Eyes on the Poor

We are called to reflect the principles of the Kingdom of God, which are rooted in the love of God.  In the Bible, we see God's concern for and provision for the poor - and He uses His people in that mission. Luke 12 says:
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I am thankful for so many local churches and missions organizations that do incredible work in selflessly reaching out to those in need at home and around the world.  In that Kingdom mentality, we can gain a sense of how God wants to love people and provide for them.  He'll use us as His hands and feet, and we have the opportunity to declare, through our generosity, our faith in Christ.  That's the beauty of missions: people can receive hope, even in crisis, and can hopefully be drawn to the Savior.

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The Bible reflects, throughout its pages, the love of God for those who are in need.  For instance in Leviticus 23, there is the concept of the seventh Sabbath, the day after it being the 50th day.  We can
read:
21 And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations
22 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.' "

Summer does tend to be a time when, due to availability of time, people are involved in doing the work of missions.  Through short-term missions trips and Vacation Bible School, Christians are involved in helping others and radiating the love of Christ.

But, the act of doing ministry in communities around the globe is being carried on day-by-day, in many cases unnoticed.  Christians are often mischaracterized as being selfish and heartless, when, in fact, the opposite is true - the work of the Church is carrying on around the world as the message of Christ is being practically lived out.  As it's been pointed out, imagine what the world would be like without the charitable work of faith-based organizations...I contend the body of Christ is a significant part of that.

The Barna Group examined, in a recent survey, how the Church, and Americans in general, regard the poor, specifically, global poverty. Here are a few factoids from a recent survey summary, which states: "Christians, especially practicing ones, are consistently generous not only with their money, but with their hours."

Some examples:

...weekly volunteering is reported by one in three practicing Christians (33%), compared to 27 percent of non-practicing Christians. About a quarter (24%) has volunteered specifically to combat global poverty, as opposed to one in 10 non-practicing Christians (10%).

And, there's this:

...practicing Christians also more often report bringing food to a family in need (75% vs. 55% have done so in the past 12 months), directly donating goods other than money to people who are financially poor (72% vs. 61%) and volunteering to help the poor (47% vs. 27%).

And, of course, in all these categories, practicing Christians (as opposed to those who apparently self-identify without "practicing") outpace the general population.  And, the report notes:

Survey results show in a few dimensions that practicing Christians particularly do not see fighting poverty as a zero-sum game, where either American or overseas children must lose. In other words, there does not seem to be a tradeoff between interest in global poverty and in local poverty: Those who rank global poverty as a priority are more likely to also prioritize local poverty (92%) than those who don’t see global poverty as important (74%). 

The survey also indicates those that believe they can make a difference will make an effort to do so.  The summary states: "Barna observes that people who are hopeful that they can make a difference in poverty alleviation are those more willing to try. A majority of U.S. adults (57%)— 11 percentage points more than in 2011—says that knowing it is possible to end extreme global poverty would make them do significantly more to help bring that about. Among practicing Christians, the percentage climbs to 62 percent."

A follow-up report recently appeared on the Barna website and it explored, among other things, how people regarded whose responsibility it is to care for the poor.  The summary states:

While both liberals (37%) and conservatives (33%) feel the governments in poor nations are crucial in caring for their poor, liberals lean on non-profits (39% vs. 24% of conservatives), whereas conservatives are more likely than liberals to consider churches (7% vs. 2% of liberals) or individual citizens of that nation (12% vs. 6% of liberals) as an authority. Unsurprisingly, practicing Christians in each group are slightly more likely than average to place responsibility on churches (14% of practicing Christian conservatives and 6% of practicing Christian moderates and liberals).

Roxanne Stone, editor-in-chief for Barna, writes in the original survey: "Practicing Christians are the most engaged segment of the population when it comes to fighting poverty,” adding, “Local churches are already doing many things right in discipling Christians toward compassion for the poor. But there is more to do: Fighting poverty—both material and spiritual—will always be the mission of the Church."

I think this is a great jumping-off point to dive into some of the implications of this.  There is a Scriptural mandate to be involved in the lives of others.  And, again, we see Christians who are doing a tremendous job in reaching the poor in their communities.  We know that there are wonderful government programs that can help, but there are things that the Church can do in helping to address some of the poverty-related effects in our communities and around the globe.

There is a complex discussion about where the role of government ends and where the Church's begins, or vice versa.  The one principle that we can see is that we should be sensitive to and looking for opportunities to serve.  Locally speaking, we can help in holistic programs that develop the whole person - this includes encouraging personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, and training to help someone be a functioning member of society.  We can be positioned to not enable an entitlement mentality, but should help provide spiritual and material resources to help someone to develop meaningful life skills.

And, globally, we can look for opportunities to be involved with ministries who are carrying out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, demonstrating the love of Christ, ministering the word of Christ, and helping to provide hope for people in desperate situations.  Through our attitude of charity, we can help to touch lives and teach people about their sufficiency in Christ.

Haunted By the Hen

According to the Scriptures, we are called to be people of the light. Jesus taught that light is not to be hidden, but we are to allow His light to radiate through us.  2nd Corinthians 4 says:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

That is to be our demeanor: our countenance, our approach to life, are to be reflective of the glory of God that has been placed in our hearts.  When we speak, we speak like Him.  As we act, we recognize that we are representing Him.  We, in and of ourselves, cannot measure up.  But, by His grace and the power of the Spirit, we are equipped to be the people whom He has called us to be.  We are called to shine God's light.

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We are called to be compelled by the love of Christ, which infuses and motivates our actions. 2nd Corinthians 5 states:
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

The incident that occurred the other night at a restaurant in Lexington, VA called the Red Hen continues to reverberate, and there has become a national debate about how people are to regard those with whom they disagree.  The White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and a group of family members went to the establishment and after appetizers were served, the owner of the place, who had apparently been called by an employee who did not wish to do his job and serve a customer, took Sanders aside and asked her to leave.  This follows incidents of harassment of other members of the Trump Administration, as well as the Attorney General of Florida, a Trump supporter, in public places.

The flames were fanned by House member Maxine Waters, calling on people to harass members of the Cabinet, comments that were panned by the minority leaders in both chambers of Congress.

And, it's really chilling to think that in America, whether or not someone is served in a restaurant is determined by his or her political ideology.  Perhaps, hopefully, that will not become a trend.

But, people have contended, what about that baker in Colorado - didn't he "deny service" because of ideology?  The answer, in a word, is - no.  The Daily Signal published an excellent piece that explains it.  In it, author Monica Burke wrote:

Jack Phillips, the baker, serves all customers, but cannot serve all events. He declined to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple not because of their identity, because he could not communicate a message that violated his religious beliefs.

He even offered the couple any other item in his store.

Meanwhile, the Red Hen denied service to Sanders precisely because of who she is. They did not refuse to create a custom order that would have endorsed views they disagreed with. They denied her service, period.

But, wait there's more; Burke writes:

The false analogy also reveals the hypocrisy of the left’s position. They accuse people like Phillips, who serves everyone regardless of who they are, of discrimination, but herald institutions like the Red Hen for denying service because of who someone is.

She also included a series of tweets from Robert George, the Princeton professor who teamed up with Timothy George and the late Chuck Colson to craft the Manhattan Declaration. In this case, he declared: "If you want to analogize--even roughly--the Red Hen to Masterpiece Cakeshop, Sarah Sanders has to ask Red Hen to create custom food items for a celebration (perhaps at her church) of the Zero Tolerance policy. And RH has to be willing to...serve her on its premises, sell her off the shelf food items that she can use for any event she likes, and provide custom-designed food items for her for birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and other events that Red Hen's owners don't object to on moral grounds."

I had to think about an exclusionary mindset that has permeated society today. And, unfortunately, Christians find themselves on the receiving end.  From speech codes on college campuses to attempts to force believers to adopt and express positions with which they disagree, people of faith have faced extraordinary challenges regarding free expression, which becomes an inhibition to the spread of the gospel.  But, the fact is, we are called by God, we belong, and our faith is part of the fabric of our society.  We cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated.  

We are called to boldly proclaim our position on who Jesus is and what He has done.  But, we can do so in a compelling manner. We can follow a principle of "disagree, but not demonize."  Leading Christian apologist Greg Koukl talks about "diplomacy, not D-Day," calling it the Columbo effect.  

Now back to the weekend incident:  Can you imagine if the owner of the Red Hen, if she wanted to express her concern about Administration policies, sat down and politely entered into a discussion? Apparently, according to Sarah's father, Mike Huckabee, some of the dinner party were actually more liberal relatives of her husband, who took the restaurant owner to task when she continued to harass them when they went to the dining establishment across the street.   

We can make it our aim to be inviting.  I thought of the hospitality shown toward a recent Meeting House guest, Rosaria Butterfield, who was a liberal lesbian professor who was invited to spend time regularly in a local pastor's home...she was drawn to the love of Christ through that hospitality and now practices it today.  Just as Christ invites all to sit at His table (although all will not accept it), we can adopt that attitude that all are welcome to experience His grace.

Hear

We are living in times in which we need the Word of God to cut through, to bring important
instruction and clarity, to emerge out of confusion over the teaching of God's Word. John 16 says:
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

God's truth is clear, it is absolute, and it is powerful.  We have to be earnest seekers of the truth of God's Word.  We can be challenged to develop a working knowledge of Scripture, so that we can apply it in the circumstances that we encounter and so that we can be discerning in our walk with Him.  The Spirit of God clarifies and confirms the Word, and we can seek to be spiritual hearers, so that we might become accurate and effective doers of His Word.

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In Matthew 13, Jesus taught about the importance of "hearing" spiritually, understanding His truth, which is important for us as we seek to know and walk in the will of God:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear...

Ayla Esler is a little girl who was born deaf - she is one year old and received a special gift recently.  Faithwire references the response that Ayla had to a cochlear implant.  The story says:

In a heartwarming video posted by the Cook Children’s Medical Cener [sic] in Fort Worth, the parents of Ayla Esler watch in awe as their baby daughter hears sounds for the first time after receiving cochlear implant surgery.

The child responded gleefully to the new sensation of sound - the article goes on to say, "Surrounded by her elder siblings and family, Ayla smiles and make sounds of joy, holding her hand up to her ear, indicating that she is picking up on the sounds."  Her mother, not surprisingly, was "overcome by emotion."

The Faithwire story references a report from the TV station, WFAA.  That story explained the process:

A child with a cochlear implant wears a receiver inside his or her ear and a sound processor – essentially a microphone – behind the ear or attached to his or her shirt. The processor picks up sounds or speech and converts it into “a special code” that is then transmitted to the receiver in the ear.

That code is then passed through the cochlea and ultimately to the brain for processing.

The story quotes a viewer, who posted the comment, “Rejoicing with you & your precious family!,” adding, “Ayla’s smile says it all.”

I think there are several lessons upon which we can think related to this story.  For one thing, we can certainly be thankful for what we have received.  Perhaps we can take a moment to recount the blessings that the Lord has shown to us and give Him praise: certainly the gift of salvation through Christ is something for which we can give God thanks.  And, we can pause to identify ways that we have seen Him at work.  We can be thankful for what we have, rather than complain about what we don't.  He is the giver of good gifts, and we can accept His gifts with gratitude.

Also, there's something to be said about the importance of hearing.  Physically, for sure. But, what about spiritual hearing?  There is a profound experience that occurs when we actually discover God's truth for our lives, when we read the Word and the Holy Spirit shows us something that is important - when we "hear" from the Lord.  We can develop spiritual sensitivity - discernment, so that we might be able to know what lines up with the Word of God and what does not.  There are ideas that are floating around that claim to be Scriptural, but when we examine more closely, they are not.  So we need to "hear" what God would teach us and identify concepts that do not line up.

Not Idly By

In a world that specializes in dishonor, we can be careful to show God's perspective toward all
individuals, even those with whom we disagree. 1st Peter 2 says:
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

We can be challenged to look for opportunities to serve, to allow the presence of God to be manifested through us.  Our actions toward all people can communicate a powerful message consistent with the presence of God through us.  We have an important role in the Kingdom of God, and when God grants us an assignment, we can be bold and dependent on His Spirit within, so that we carry out what He wishes to convey.

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God calls us to be on the alert, to be ready to obey Him as He directs us by His Spirit, to respond in the Spirit - willing to be involved in His work. 2nd Timothy 4 states:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

A pastor in Washington state concluded his Father's Day sermon recently by praying this: "Lord...don't let us be content as men to just let life go by, to see the world around us burn. God, instead, help us to get involved."

And, so, as the Chicago Tribune reported, as David George, pastor of the Oakville, Washington, Assembly of God Church, concluded his sermon on "The Value of MENtoring," which the story said was "about how much difference an individual can make in the lives of others," a new adventure was about to unfold.

Later that day, Pastor George, his wife, daughter, and granddaughter went a Walmart over 25 miles away to Tumwater, WA, to make an exchange.  As they stood in the checkout line, he heard the sound of gunshots.  The Tribune reported that a "crime rampage was unfolding."  The article stated:

A man was firing a handgun at the store's locked ammunition case to grab more bullets. He had already carjacked a vehicle that day and attempted to hijack another one, firing shots and wounding people along the way, Tumwater police say. Now he was stocking up on ammunition for more carnage in the store's parking lot.

The shooter then went into the parking lot and tried to carjack another vehicle - the driver resisted and was shot twice.  He then broke into another vehicle, when he was confronted:

At that point, Tumwater police said, an armed civilian confronted the shooter, drawing his handgun, firing and killing the gunman. That same armed civilian then administered medical aid to the carjacking victim until help arrived.

Where was Pastor George?  He was the civilian who took out the shooter!  The Tribune reported that:

He is also an Oakville volunteer firefighter and EMT who happens to be licensed to carry a concealed firearm and is specifically trained to use it against a desperate gun-wielding criminal. A credentialed firing-range safety officer, George said he had received active-shooter training.

The pastor did not publicly reveal himself as the hero in the story until four days later.  He said in a statement, "I was sure it was gunshots I heard...and I was familiar with how I should respond, while considering mine and the public's safety in the setting of this large store."  He was cognizant of his family's safety, as well as those in the store.  The pastor also stated: "I acted on Sunday to protect my family and others from the gunman and his display of deadly intent," adding, "This is in accordance with both my training as an emergency responder and calling as a pastor, husband, father and grandfather."

The pastor's prayer that morning was about involvement, and he asked the Lord to enable him and the men in attendance that Father's Day to not just be content "to just let life go by, to see the world around us burn."  This is consistent with a concept I like to share about being ready and responsive - we can be sensitive as God opens opportunities.  It may not be an opportunity to save a life; fortunately, Pastor George had the training and knowledge to be able to intervene here.  But, our responsiveness could result in someone coming into a divine encounter, including the possibility of coming to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Who knows what God has in store - but He desires for us to walk in that state of willingness for the Spirit to move through us.

No doubt, the world does seem to be burning right now, and we can consider how we can inject the light of Christ by our obedience.  On his website, columnist Erick Erickson stated:

For those who thought James Hodgkinson, who attempted a mass assassination of Republican members of Congress, was an anomaly, it looks more and more like Hodgkinson was a starting point to something violent. "Democratic" socialists stormed a restaurant in Washington to disrupt dinner until the Secretary of Homeland Security fled. Hollywood celebrities have encouraged the kidnapping and raping of the President's child and his press secretary's child. Government employees who work for Homeland Security have seen their home addresses put on the internet and, in some cases, pictures of their family displayed by activists intent on harming them.

This was written before Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant because of her affiliation with the Trump administration; by the way, Sanders responded, as you might expect, with grace and courtesy and did not provoke a confrontation.   And, by the way, her incident is very dissimilar to the Jack Phillips-Masterpiece Cakeshop situation.  This was also written before a leading member of Congress called for more such intimidation - with regard to Cabinet members.  I caught a bit of the MSNBC re-broadcast of Meet the Press yesterday, when Erickson was blaming the decline of religion in America for the increase in incivility.

So, into this world that is burning with fiery rhetoric and the potential for violent conflict, we can consider how we as believers can infuse our culture with grace.  That doesn't call for backing off the truth, but we can set a different tone.

Nine Rules

We can be challenged to not only read God's Word but study it so that we may apply His precepts, His principles into the actions we take. Psalm 119 says:
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

When we think about rules, some people might say that sounds legalistic - but we know that God has certain absolutes - commandments that are found throughout the Scriptures.  To break those commandments is called sin.  Christ gave us the power to overcome sin by applying His truth and His power.  So, as we grow in God's grace, we take His truth and personalize it, not tailoring it to suit our desires, but tailoring our lives, in the Spirit, to follow God's desires.

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In 2nd Timothy 2, we see Paul's exhortation for Timothy - and us - to be strong in God's grace and
not to keep it to ourselves. We can read:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

If you were asked to name the top movies worldwide, according to the box office grosses, as listed on the Box Office Mojo website, certainly you would probably put a Star Wars film or Avengers near the top.  You would be correct.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens is actually #3 behind Avatar and Titanic.  Avatar has grossed over $2.7 billion dollars.  Avengers: Infinity War is at #4, having also vaulted over the 2 billion dollar mark.

But, in the #5 position, one that may not come to mind: until this weekend, the most recent installment in the Jurassic Park franchise - Jurassic World, having grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide.  And, the latest is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is debuting this weekend.

One of the common threads between Infinity War and Fallen Kingdom is one of the lead actors, Chris Pratt.  And, one of the unique characteristics of Pratt is that he talks about God - publicly.

The most recent example of this is at this past week's MTV awards show, a pre-recorded presentation that actually occurred over the weekend.  Pratt was given the "Generation Award," and in his acceptance speech, he shared nine essential rules for life.  The Boston Globe offered this critique:

God, life advice, and bathroom humor all in one speech? Only Chris Pratt could pull that off.

The “Jurassic World” actor accepted the Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards Monday night, and he used the opportunity to offer the next generation nine essential rules to live by.

In digesting these rules, I will say that a couple of them would lose points on family-friendliness. Oh, by the way, Plugged In from Focus on the Family, has announced it will no longer use a ratings system in its reviews of entertainment.  A blog post explains that, "We realize that the family-friendly plugs have been a tool that many of you have utilized to help you make decisions. But because of our commitment to help encourage discernment, critical thinking and attention to the specifics of your family’s sensitivities, we’ve decided to make this significant change."

Now, back to Pratt's rules - the Globe reports that the speech had "more than 1 million views on Twitter as of Wednesday morning."

Let's highlight those that have a direct or indirect spiritual connection, according to Faithwire:

Rule #2: “You have a soul. Be careful with it.”

#5: “It doesn’t matter what it is. Earn it. A good deed. Reach out to someone in pain. Be of service. It feels good and it’s good for your soul.”

And #6 - on MTV! “God is real. God loves you, God wants the best for you. Believe that, I do.”

#8: “Learn to pray. It’s easy, and it is so good for your soul.”

Finally, the ninth rule: “Nobody is perfect. People will tell you that you are perfect just the way that you are, you’re not! You’re imperfect. You always will be, but there is a powerful force that designed you that way, and if you are willing to accept that, you will have grace. And grace is a gift. Like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody else’s blood. Do not forget it. Don’t take it for granted.”

So, there you have it - before introducing the rules, Pratt said: "I’m going to cut to the chase and I am going to speak to you, the next generation,” adding, “I accept the responsibility as your elder. So, listen up.”

That show went out to over 3 million viewers on 10 networks, according to Variety, up 21% from last year, and it was streamed 83 million times.

So, Pratt injected truth consistent with the Scriptures in at least five out of his nine rules - that's really pretty good. He spoke of taking care of the soul, including doing good deeds to others, being involved in service.  He also was very direct about the love of God and his belief in it.  He mentioned prayer - also good for the "soul."  Plus, his final, all-compassing declaration - rule #9 - encouraging the next generation to realize they were "designed" in a certain way and that they should receive grace.

We can consider the principles upon which we live our lives. The Bible can help shape our convictions, and we can be challenged to make sure that we are walking in obedience.  There are three short phrases I want to share.

Got a platform? Use it.  We can consider the areas of involvement to which we have been called - spheres of influence, if you will.  God has strategically placed us in areas of service, which can be areas of proclamation of His truth.

Got a message? Share it.  But what are we going to share?  We can be prepared to share the bold truth about the love of God, who wants to bring people into salvation through His Son.  We can also share from our own life experience.  We can be purveyors of hope in Christ and reflect that in our demeanor and actions.

Finally: Got a lesson? Teach it.  Life experience.  We can consider what God has done in our lives, the effect that a walk with Jesus has had on us, how we have been changed.  We can reflect on instances of His faithfulness and we can be faithful to relate how we have seen Him move.

Pure

We can know, through our study and application of the Scriptures, what pleases God and appropriate
the power to walk in that way. Paul teaches in 1st Thessalonians 4:
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

We serve a holy God and He gives us the ability to adopt a holy lifestyle, based on our new identity in Christ.  We are no longer bound to surrender to human impulses that don't please Him, but we are called to reflect His glory.  We can make and follow through on decisions that are consistent with holiness and can reject the desires of the flesh as we walk in the Spirit.  We are no longer helpless to follow the world, but are empowered to follow Christ.

+++++

Possessing a pure heart, which is possible through our redemption in Christ, can lead to pure thoughts and actions, as we release the power of the Spirit in and through us. 1st Corinthians 6 teaches:
(13) Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released another snapshot on the behavior of teens and the findings are a mixed bag.  A ChristianHeadlines.com story by Michael Foust relates that the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey...

...found the percentage of high schoolers in the U.S. who have had sex plummeted, from 47.8 percent in 2007 to 39.5 percent in 2017. Additionally, the percentage of students who have had four or more partners also fell, from 15 percent to 10 percent.

The story notes that, "The percentage of teens having sex began declining after 2011, when it was 47.4 percent."  And, decline occurred among males and females.

A CBN story about the survey, written by Kayla Root, pointed out that illegal drug use was down - from 22 to 14 percent saying they had used drugs, other than marijuana, the use of which was about the same, at just over a third indicating they had tried it.  The story quotes Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, who had told CNN: "Overall, I think youth are making better decisions, particularly about their sexual behavior and their drug use..."  The article also quotes her as saying:

"At the same time, the rate of violence and victimization they're experiencing hasn't gone down. Bullying hasn't decreased. The proportion of youth who have ever been physically forced to have sex has not decreased. We're seeing increases in experiences of persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and suicide ideation and behaviors, and so that remains a great concern."

And, young people are trending toward more "beverages laden with sugar and caffeine."

At Christian Headlines, Faust also collated the new CDC data with a recent Gallup poll. He writes:

Ironically, the drop in teens having sex has paralleled a rise in the percentage of adults who approve of it. A record 42 percent of adults now believe that sex between teens is morally OK, according to Gallup. That number was 36 percent in 2017.

“Religiosity plays a significant role in Americans' views on teenage sex,” Gallup’s Justin McCarthy wrote. “A slight majority of U.S. adults who seldom or never go to church (54 percent) find sex between teens morally acceptable, while a much smaller 20 percent of weekly churchgoers agree. About one in three adults who attend church nearly weekly or monthly (34 percent) find teenage sex morally acceptable.”

This can cause us to consider a number of concepts.  First of all, is this decline representative of the state of the so-called "sexual revolution?"  Possibly, but 4 out of 10 teens engaging in sex is still way too high.  Perhaps there has been a greater awareness of some of the truths about premarital sex. And, we recognize that abstinence programs still offer a 100% success rate in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the Biblical teaching is reaching the teens or the adults even - one-fifth of weekly churchgoers believe teen sex to be morally acceptable, and over half of adults who seldom, if ever, attend, are OK with it morally, it seems.

We have some work to do with respect to sexual purity.  The Bible teaches abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within.  This is God's way, and it contributes to healthy relationships, inside and outside of marriage.

There is a responsibility of parents, of adults, to teach and model good decision-making, especially regarding destructive behaviors.  Even though the world might have different sexual ethic, we can still hold to the time-honored truths of the Scriptures.

The course of our lives are determined by our decisions, and so many of our decisions have long-term consequences.  And, although we don't have a crystal ball through which we can see the future, we do have the reliability of the Scriptures that teach us that wrong decisions can lead to wrong outcomes and seemingly small decisions made outside the will of God can result in our wandering from that will.  Pausing to consider what could come about, rather than getting caught up in human impulses, can serve us well as we seek to glorify God.

Family Unity

We are called and challenged to exercise compassion, and Colossians 3 provides strong direction for
walking in the love of Christ:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

We have the capacity to exercise compassion toward those with whom we interact.  That involves showing and sharing the love of Christ even with those who are different than we are.  We can show that love with people in need, those who we don't know, those who are not part of our church fellowship or those whom some don't think belong in our community.  We are called to be welcoming so that we can pour out the love of Christ.

+++++

God has ordained the family, and in our compassion, we can seek out ways to preserve the unity and integrity of the family.  Psalm 68 says:
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

So, what's going on down at the border?   The issue of immigration has risen to the top of the news cycle again, and the latest topic of conversation and coverage involves a "zero tolerance" approach to those seeking asylum and those who desire to enter the country illegally.  The approach, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, does call for adults to be detained while awaiting a hearing, and in some cases, for children to be detained separately.

Unfortunately, children who show up at the border are sometimes with their parents, who have brought into the situation in some cases with the hope that somehow they can immigrate to America and cross the border illegally; some children show up unaccompanied, others have been apprehended by traffickers.  It's a complicated situation.

And, the posturing over the issue has become rather complicated, as well, with some criticizing the Trump administration, others defending the President and AG for enforcing a law already on the books.  There are Christian leaders from a variety of backgrounds who are advocating against "family separation."

Jim Daly of Focus on the Family wrote on his blog:

I’ve been following its many twists and turns, straining to gather reliable information and, at times, struggling to separate the fact from the fiction. There is a lot of bad and biased information out there. To be sure, emotions are running high on both sides, a consequence of the very real human concern and the highly partisan nature of our times.

He describes the current situation as a "tragedy," but reminds readers that there are other instances where families are separated.  He also took Planned Parenthood to task for its hypocrisy in a tweet decrying family separation.  Daly writes:

Tragically, children aren’t just being separated from a parent at abortion clinics or the southern border. Each and every day, millions of kids in the United States are living without a parent because of divorce, abuse, criminal activity, opioid or alcohol addiction or any number of other conditions outside their control. It would be a good thing if the same degree of energy we see exhibited for the border crisis was applied to the domestic crisis surrounding the American family.

The crisis we find ourselves in at the southern border has been years in the making, a complex consequence of bad policy, unenforced laws and an inability of politicians to make difficult and often unpopular decisions. It’s also the result of tyrannical and unpopular governments – and the attractive bright light of America that has historically drawn people to her shores.

Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and pro-life advocate, in a piece on the CNSNews.com website, states:

You might say that those being sent to jail have committed crimes and should be sent to prison. And you would be right. But just as it would be wrong to discard the crimes being committed by American women simply to keep them with their children, it is equally misguided to advocate discarding the crimes of those breaking the law to come into this country illegally just so families can be kept together. Tossing the law aside is not the answer. The answer lies in reform, reform of the immigration system and reform of the prison system.

She adds:

Clearly we need immigration reform, and just as clearly, we need prison reform. But the first change I would like to see is a nation that welcomes children across the border of the womb, rather than demanding the right to deny that child the rights he or she is entitled to as a member of the human family.

Unfortunately, we have seen attempts to redefine what it means to be pro-life.  A particularly distasteful article at the New York Times, written by Charles Camosy, said you could not be pro-life and opposed to immigrant children - he called out the organizations, National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List, for not speaking out on the issue.  He also seemed to challenge Focus on the Family and Family Research Council.   I have seen the accusation that those who support the current actions have adopted "pro-choice" language.  This is over the top.  And, there's plenty of such rhetoric to go around.

FRC, by the way, states this:

Obviously, the situation is a tragic one for thousands of children, who are the innocent victims of their moms' and dads' decision to break the law. It's impossible to feel anything but compassion for these kids, who must be dealing with a great deal of pain and confusion.

The piece closes with this statement, "Maybe these new small faces of the immigration crisis will prompt Congress to work across lines and unite in an effort to reform an immigration system that's dividing families and our country."

SBA List issued a terse statement regarding the article by Camosy, identified with Democrats for Life, saying:

“Mr. Camosy claims to share SBA List’s view that abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. Yet, not only does he criticize those who are singularly focused upon restoring the first right, the right to live, he fails to pursue strategies in his party to correct the injustice of abortion. Then he exploits the abortion issue, the intentional taking of a human life by using it as a sub-argument in support of all other issues he believes to impugn human dignity.”

I think there is an unprecedented call from people inside and outside the Church, from a variety of ideological perspectives, to address this situation.  So, hopefully, politicians can put posturing aside and work toward a solution.  Fact is, we can do immigration better - there are multiple issues to be addressed, and a need for enforcement of existing laws.

We remember that we have to balance the rule of law with compassion for people.  As you perhaps know, there has definitely been a Biblical component that has been injected in the current debate.  You have a variety of Christian leaders from a variety of perspectives who have expressed concern and opposition about the current action.  Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy writes at The Stream:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended the separation of children from detained immigrants by quoting Scripture back to his critical “church friends.” For this, he has been widely denounced by religious voices.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,” Sessions said. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”

Tooley makes these observations:

Perhaps Sessions instead should have explained that any separation of families is tragic and grievous in all law enforcement situations. But, he could have added, an implied free pass for illegals accompanied by children would generate wider upheaval and greater tragedy.

Many “church friends” who are immigration activists have themselves long cited scripture when touting policy preferences. They will treat Old Testament passages commanding hospitality for sojourners as if they entailed more permissive immigration policies by the United States.

He added:

In truth, the Bible does not provide direct counsel for U.S. border laws. Christianity teaches all persons are God’s image bearers. That includes illegal immigrants. It also teaches that God ordains civil states to uphold order. The details of policies are largely left to prudential judgment and debate.

And, Sessions is now facing opposition from some members of his own denomination, the United Methodist Church, who have, according to UMC.org, brought "church law charges" against him.  The article states:

Specifically, the group accuses him of child abuse in reference to separating young children from their parents and holding them in mass incarceration facilities; immorality; racial discrimination and “dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standards of doctrines” of The United Methodist Church.

But, there does seem to be consensus, to a certain degree: Family separation should be avoided, whenever possible - at the border and inside the country.  And, I am thankful that we have seen people from a variety of perspectives on the immigration issue attempt to come together.

Finally, some words from Jim Daly of Focus on the Family:

First and foremost, we urge government officials to work together towards a humane and God-honoring solution that best preserves the integrity and sanctity of the family unit while also protecting our borders and assuring the safety of our citizens.

According to the Texas Tribune:

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced emergency legislation Monday evening to keep immigrant families together after they cross the border into the United States.

The legislation follows comments Cruz made on Saturday that essentially called for more resources to adjudicate asylum claims. He also called for keeping immigrant kids with their parents as long as those adults are not associated with criminal activity.

"All Americans are rightly horrified by the images we are seeing on the news, children in tears pulled away from their mothers and fathers," Cruz wrote in a release. "This must stop. Now. We can end this crisis by passing the legislation I am introducing this week."

No doubt, this issue has proven to be quite divisive, and there is plenty of hyberbole and exaggeration to go around.  We have to guard against using these rhetorical devices, recognizing they are enemies of unity.  Daly also says:

Second, we must move beyond shouting snappy soundbites in social media, and understand that it’s not so much what you say as what you do. Focus on the Family is committed to working with leadership on both sides of the aisle, often behind the scenes, both shaping policy and advocating for solutions that serve the greater good and thereby honor God.

Fathers' Strength

The first few verses of Ephesians 6 present a picture of a cohesive family operating according to
Godly roles and principles. We can read:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

God, our Heavenly Father, has a plan for the family.  He has instituted and defined the family, and He desires for families to be strong and devoted to Him. A key building block of the family unit, as we have observed this past weekend, is the father.  Fathers have a unique position of influence and the capacity to lead their households - Godly fathers, Christian fathers, reliant on the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the Lord can have a tremendous effect on their children.

+++++

The responsibility of fathers to pass Godly wisdom on to future generations is highlighted in Psalm
78, which states:
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;

The importance of fathers was a theme in churches across the country this past weekend, and in New Jersey, it gave an opportunity for one man to perform a rather unusual feat of strength.

ChristianHeadlines.com, in an article released prior to Father's Day about how churches would be marking the day, reported this:

Christian strongman Stephen Miller will be spending Father’s Day at The Life Christian Church in New Jersey trying to break the Guinness World Record for “The Human Platform.”

At the Sunday 11 a.m. service, fifty men will walk over Miller as he lies on a bed of nails.

According to the church’s website, Miller and his father, Steve Miller, will be performing “amazing feats of strength, before delivering an empowering message for men and the women who love them.”

Well, he did it.  According to the church's Facebook page:

Today Stephen A. Miller set a WORLD RECORD, Steve Stealth Miller preached a MIGHTY manly message, Roman Oben and D'Brickashaw Ferguson tried to pull Stephen's arms apart, and food trucks filled our parking lots! Maybe it's the sugar rush from all of the ice cream and empanadas, but we're still buzzing!

 The Christian Headlines story had mentioned those two guys:

In one of the events, the Millers “will compete against two former NFL linemen – NY Jets' three-time Pro Bowler, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and NY Giants' Super-Bowl XXXVII Champion, Roman Oben. Steve Miller will use one arm to compete in a tug-of-war match against Ferguson and Oben at the same time. The NFL linemen will then join forces with four other men, in an effort to pull apart the folded arms of Stephen Miller," the church said.

Stephen Miller is a strongman's strongman, I guess you could say.  I take away this reminder:  we need the influence of strong fathers.  A piece copyrighted in 2011 on the Focus on the Family website offered these notes:

82% of studies on father involvement and child well-being published since 1980 found "significant associations between positive father involvement and offspring well-being…" (reference)

Also...

In an analysis of over 100 studies on parent-child relationships, it was found that having a loving and nurturing father was as important for a child's happiness, well-being, and social and academic success as having a loving and nurturing mother. Some studies even indicated father-love was a stronger contributor to some important positive child well-being outcomes. (reference)

And, "In a 26-year-long study, researchers found that the number one factor in developing empathy in children was father involvement. Fathers spending regular time alone with their children translated into children who became compassionate adults." (reference)

The capacity to provide the right influence for children comes from our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  I would encourage you to listen to or download my conversation with Dr. Meg Meeker from last week, who spoke to issues related to that capacity to fulfill that God-given role of father. 

Finally, there has been much in the news recently about "family separation," and there are various opinions, even within the Christian community, about the situation regarding children at the border. But, I think we can all agree that family cohesiveness is important.  Thank God for mothers who are raising children as single parents!  But, the plague of fatherlessness, for whatever reason, including men shirking their responsibility, has had a devastating effect on our social fabric.  We can be challenged to value the contribution of Godly men who are attempting to lead their homes and families and make an indelible impact on their families.

Fulfill the Mission

We are all called and dispatched to do our Father's work, with compassion, developing a heart for
people so that they might come to know our Savior. Romans 10 states:
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

We are all called, we are equipped, and we can go forth with a willing heart and devoted obedience to share the love of our Savior with a world that needs to know it.  We can rejoice in the stories of how God is working in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, and know that is His ultimate intent for every person: that they may come into that saving knowledge of Him.  To that end, He has called His people to be ambassadors for Him.

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In Matthew chapter 9, we see that Jesus is relating His Kingdom plan, calling out laborers to fulfill His call.  The last verse of this passage, verse 38, is the theme Scripture of a missions-sending effort
for a major Christian denomination. Here are the words of Jesus:
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Last week was notable in the Church, as two major Christian denominations held their annual meetings - the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, where over 9,600 people attended and the Presbyterian Church in America, where almost 1,500 came to the General Assembly in Atlanta.

There are notable storylines that have emerged from both of these events, but I wanted to highlight how God is moving through these denominations in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  For instance, the PCA, through its Mission to the World organization, is, according to its website, encouraging churches to "pledge just 1% of their members to global missions."

At the General Assembly, according to its Twitter feed, MTW held a luncheon, at which it highlighted one of the works: "outreach and church-planting efforts of MTW missionaries and national partners among the Sakalava people of Madagascar. Part of the project involves bringing the Word of God to the people in their own unique language and music." Another part of the project is "a business as mission venture that provides employment to Sakalava women."

Mission to the World Coordinator Lloyd Kim has written:

If every PCA church gave 1 percent of its members for longer-term missions service in the next 10 years, that would result in over 2,800 new missionaries. Think of what God can do, will do, with 2,800 new missionaries!

Jesus tells His disciples in His Word to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt 9:38). Would you pray boldly with us for 1 percent?

Meanwhile, over in Dallas, there was a focus on missions, as well.  Outgoing International Mission Board President David Platt said, according to Baptist Press: "The IMB is about a coalition of over 47,000 churches working together to support thousands of anonymous missionaries whose names and places where they work can't even be mentioned in public because they are spreading the Gospel at great risk to their lives. They are the IMB, and I want to report to you on what they are doing..."

He shared a number of brief reports, including:

-- A Muslim people group is hearing the Gospel for the first time in one of the largest slums in Sub-Saharan Africa.

-- Thousands of Iranian and Afghan refugees are coming to know Christ across Europe.

-- One church in a European city started four new churches in the last year. When six people were recently baptized, two were European, one was Chinese, and the other three were Iranian.

Another Baptist Press article, a wrap-up report, stated, "At a Tuesday evening commissioning service, the IMB sent out 79 new missionaries and led messengers in prayer for all 11,700 people groups in the world."

Also, each year, in the SBC host city, a Crossover evangelistic event is held.  The wrap-up said: "The Crossover evangelism emphasis preceding the annual meeting yielded a record 4,229 professions of faith, including 2,339 at the June 10 Harvest America crusade with evangelist Greg Laurie."

God is at work, and it's important that we celebrate how people are coming to know Him and how people are responding to the call of Christ to follow Him in the Great Commission.  Outgoing SBC President Steve Gaines proclaimed, "God's supernatural power is greater than any problem Southern Baptists have.... Stop talking about how big your problem is and start talking about how big your God is..."

We serve a God who does want to do incredible things, transforming those who call upon His name, bringing us into spiritual growth...and bringing others into His family through a relationship with Christ.  We are called to demonstrate the love and character of Christ, so others might be drawn to Him.

Truth is, we are all called to go - that's the Great Commission.  That may involve sharing the gospel in our workplace, our neighborhoods, our cities, or cities across our land - or other lands.  Many will be engaging in short-term missions this summer.  And, there are those who will be called into vocational ministries - a full-time position, perhaps a lengthy stay in another nation of the world.  God is weaving His body into a glorious tapestry, full of people with differing gifts and expressions, that provides a way for Him to show His love and communicate His truth.

The elements for each of us are there, and should be activated: a willing heart, devoted obedience, the power of the Holy Spirit, resulting in productivity for the Kingdom.

Bake a Cake for Everyone

We can be so very thankful that Christ has come to set us free from the power of human desires that run contrary to the will of God.  He can redeem and totally tranform us; certainly, we will be tempted, but Scripture promises we have a way of escape. James 1 states:
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.

We understand that each of us is certainly made in God's image, but we were born into a fallen world, and victims of the fall.  So, in order to experience a relationship with God, we have to accept His sacrifice, which was performed by the death of His Son, Jesus.  He has redeemed us, and we are called not to identify with our sin but with Him; called to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh, set free in His glorious victory so that we might defeat the victimhood brought about by sin.

+++++

We have to understand that we have a capacity to sin, and that we are not to identify with our sin
areas, but identify with the Savior and the redemption He brings. Romans 6 states:
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.

In the not-too-distant past, there were two releases from high-profile directors that explored spiritual themes.  One was Hacksaw Ridge, which told the story of the life-saving efforts of Desmond Doss, who entered the military, would not fire a weapon, but was instrumental, as a medic, in bringing a number of soldiers to safety in the heat of battle - it was directed by Mel Gibson, a Hollywood icon who also did The Passion of the Christ.  Another was Silence from Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese, which, according to IMDB, is: "The story of two Catholic missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) - at a time when Catholicism was outlawed and their presence forbidden."

One of the common threads of these two films is one of the lead actors, Andrew Garfield.  In fact, the Christian Post recently reported on how playing the role of a priest in Silence affected him:

"There were so many things in the exercises that changed me and transformed me, that showed me who I was ... and where I believe God wants me to be," the actor said in January 2017.

"What was really easy was falling in love with this person, was falling in love with Jesus Christ. That was the most surprising thing," he added.

Garfield made a public appearance recently at the Tony Awards.  His award was for Best Leading Actor in a Play, for Angels in America, in which he plays a gay man with AIDS.  The Post reported that he...

...dedicated his win to the LGBT community, stating that they have fought and died for the right to love.

"We are all sacred and we all belong," the actor said.

He added, "[let's] just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked," seemingly in reference to the recent Supreme Court decision that backed Christian baker Jack Phillips and his refusal to make a custom-made cakes for gay wedding celebration.

From the transcript at Broadway World, Garfield stated:

At a moment in time where maybe the most important thing that we remember right now is the sanctity of the human spirit, it is the profound privilege of my life to play Prior Walter in Angels In America because he represents the purity of humanity. And especially that of the LGBT community. It is a spirit that says no to oppression, it is a spirit that says no to bigotry, no to shame, no to exclusion. It is a spirit that says we were all made perfectly and we all belong.

Rolling Stone had reported earlier this year that "Last summer, the Amazing Spiderman actor made headlines after he was quoted as saying that he was a 'gay man … just without the physical act.'" He backtracked from that, but according to this piece, he did address the topic in Out magazine:

"Up until this point, I've only been sexually attracted to women," he told the publication.

"My stance toward life, though, is that I always try to surrender to the mystery of not being in charge. I think most people – we're intrinsically trying to control our experience here, and manage it, and put walls around what we are and who we are."

"I want to know as much of the garden as possible before I pass – I have an openness to any impulses that may arise within me at any time..."

Three things:

Vulnerability to temptation does not equal identity.  The Christian life is predicated on Christ's sacrifice for sin and the daily putting to death of the impulses of the flesh that contradict God's purposes.  There are those who excuse sinful impulses and make an insufficient attempt to embrace who God says they are.  That is why a conference like the upcoming Revoice conference, which has been endorsed by representatives of major Christian organizations, is so dangerous - teaching that a person can be gay-identified and that's OK, as long as he or she doesn't act on those impulses.  The Bible teaches to resist temptation, not to identify with the areas in which one is being tempted.

Garfield said that "We are all sacred and we all belong."  Let's ponder that for a moment.
Yes, we are all created in the image of God.  But, there is a tendency to use the concept of "imago dei" to ignore or excuse sinful behavior.   Everyone does possess that, certainly - we are fearfully and wonderfully made - but we are also capable of rebellion against God.  We were born into a state of rebellion against God and need the redemption that is only possible through Jesus Christ.  While one might consider the human condition, in one sense, to be sacred, we also recognize that we were not born into sinless perfection and that we need Christ to deliver us from our errant human impulses.

Of course, Garfield, while he is to be commended for his spiritual search, he has developed a warped view of the depravity of humanity.  And, he also delivered this line, "It is a spirit that says no to oppression, it is a spirit that says no to bigotry, no to shame, no to exclusion."  As Broadway World pointed out, he closed his speech with the line, "We are all sacred and we all belong, so lets just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked."  So, just moments after talking about the sanctified tolerance of the gay community, Garfield issues a statement of intolerance for the views of Jack Phillips and others who do not wish to celebrate the LGBT experience.  While this sounds "sacred" and spiritual, we have to be on guard when spiritually-coated statements actually contradict the principles of Scripture.  "Spiritual" does not equal "Christian" or "Godly."

The Beauty of VBS

In 1st Corinthians 3, we read about the framework that God uses in order to spread His Word and see
people grow:
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

Jesus referred to God's Word as a seed in the parable of the sower.  There were seeds that were unproductive, seeds that did not grow because of various factors, and seeds that bore varying degrees of fruit.  We each play a part in living and sharing God's Word:  some of us will plant seed, and others will reap the harvest - God produces the fruit, He just calls on us to be faithful.  We can be encouraged that the Word of God, the seed planted in hearts, will not return void, as Isaiah says.

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In Isaiah 55, we can read about the power and the pervasiveness of God's Word:
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

We are now toward the end of the second week of June, and a number of area churches, based on the information in the Faith Radio Vacation Bible School schedule at our website, are holding VBS activities this week.   Still others will be conducting VBS in the weeks to come.

Vacation Bible School is an opportunity for churches to reach out to the children in their communities and to share the life-changing message of Christ.  And, it continues to be quite popular.

The Baptist Press website reports on a new LifeWay Research study about Vacation Bible School and its impact.

60% of Americans attended Vacation Bible School growing up.  The article breaks that down:

Twenty-two percent say they went every summer growing up, while 14 percent said they went most summers. Another 13 percent went occasionally. Five percent went more than once. But 40 percent never went.

The most notable memories, according to respondents are: spending time with kids their own age, learning Bible stories, singing songs, creating crafts, and playing games. 17 percent of those surveyed remember "making a spiritual commitment at VBS."

88 percent said that Vacation Bible School "helped them better understand the Bible."

47 percent of parents with children under the age of 19 say their children have been to VBS. And, 95% of parents report it to be a positive experience.

Jana Macgruder of LifeWay Kids is quoted as saying: "Two-thirds of American parents...are eager to send their children to a church activity where they will have fun experiences centered on what churches care about most: Bible stories, the Gospel and worship." Scott McConnell of LifeWay Research stated, "People still believe Vacation Bible School is good for kids," adding, "Even parents who don't go to church want their kids to go to VBS."

The popularity of Vacation Bible School cannot be denied - the article points out that it was a simple act by two Sunday School teachers in the 1890s: D.T. Miles of Hopedale, Illionis and Virginia Hawes of New York City -- both had the same idea.  Since school was out for summer, they thought it would be good to invite the children to study the Bible and have fun.  The rest...is history.

This really brings to mind one of the takeaways from this information: Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most impactful.  There will be places for intricacies and high-level planning, but God will work through minimalist endeavors, as well - we just have to be open to the move of His Spirit. Through the years, VBS has become more and more successful, which of course involves more use of church resources, volunteer participation, and quite a bit of organization.  But, the idea is really, really simple, and really inspired!

This survey data paints a picture of a truth from the book of Isaiah: God's Word will not return void.  Summer after summer, for over a century, seeds have been planted and people have fond memories of what they experienced in VBS.  Who knows what our society would be like if this incredible program was not being carried out?  

So, to everyone who participates as a parent and/or volunteer, the message is clear: VBS matters.  It is an effort by the Church to reach children in the community; and perhaps, if you reach the children, you can reach the adults as well.   VBS has been a significant contributor to the spiritual fabric of our culture; it is needed and it is effective.

A Sandwich

We have to be discerning that our thought patterns and our words are not governed by the world, but
by the Word of God. 1st Peter 4 says:
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

There is an abundance of information and ideas floating around our culture today, and much of it is not Biblical; in fact, it is in direct contrast to the teachings of Scripture.  We have to make sure we embrace what is good, according to the heart of God, and reject ideas that may on the surface sound good, true, and right, but are rooted in a philosophy that does not line up with Scripture.  We have to make sure that our worldview is centered on the foundation of Christ.

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We are called to speak in a manner that reflects the character of Christ and our knowledge of the truth of God. Titus 2 states:
6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

It's. A. Sandwich.

That's it - and a really popular one at that.  Sold at a restaurant that does more business in six days a week than many do in seven.

But, the Chick-Fil-A sandwich, as we know, has become a political tool, and the chain, founded on Christian principles, an object of scorn.

The CEO of Twitter should have known better, right?  According to FoxNews.com:

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Sunday came under fire for tweeting about spending money at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Los Angeles over the owner’s views on gay marriage.

Dorsey tweeted a screenshot of his purchases and savings made by using the fast-food restaurant’s mobile app, prompting a backlash from LGBTQ community and the media.

Former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien tweeted out, "This is an interesting company to boost during Pride month, Jack," to which Dorsey replied, "You’re right. Completely forgot about their background.”

The article went on to say:

But the latest remark sparked another round of backlash, this time from more conservative social media users, who questioned what the CEO of Twitter meant by “their background.”

“’Background’ meaning they employ 41,000 people, many of whom are the most pleasant fast food employees in the country, serve delicious food at good prices, and at amazing speed? That background?” wrote journalist Jeryl Bier.

“You mean their late CEO being a Christian? Apparently that is something bad/terrible, having faith, running a decent business, never discriminated against anyone, for the ‘tolerance, acceptance, and inclusivity’ crowd,” wrote another user.

Interestingly enough, O'Brien was a speaker at the Leadercast event in 2012, which was presented by...wait for it, Chick-fil-A!!  A PRNewswire release stated:

NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien and best-selling author John Maxwell are among the featured speakers during this one-day leadership training event being broadcast live via satellite from Atlanta, Georgia, to hundreds of cities across the world.

That was just months before the Chick-fil-A Apprecation Day, during which customers showed their solidarity with company head Dan Cathy's stated viewpoints on traditional marriage.

The Fox story used the word, "shame," to describe the treatment of Twitter's Jack Dorsey.   Of course, Dorsey made headlines recently for "liking" a particular article, according to IJR.com, which reported:

Last week, Dorsey shared the piece, whose author argued the U.S. should be more like California and eliminate Republicans' political power. The writer, who published the story to Medium, claimed conservatives “deserve” to be cast into the “political wilderness.”

The article said that he responded to that criticism:

He claimed he viewed the author's “provocative” language as metaphorical but nevertheless saw the piece as a “strong analysis and thesis of competing economic systems in the past (labor) and today (energy).”

OK, whatever - keep an eye out for Twitter, because it has been taken to task for censoring certain content, especially conservative and Christian content.

Well, maybe the head of Twitter has fallen back in line from having strayed from acceptable viewpoint.  You see, there are people out there who want to tell you what to think, what to say, and a ready to jump on you when you don't hold to the viewpoint that they deem to be correct.  There is no room for critical thinking; it's tow the line or pay the price.

It's called virtue shaming or virtue signaling, and it originates from people who believe that their viewpoint is the acceptable one for society to embrace.  Even the virtue shamers have entered venerable institutions, where such time-honored traditions as the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, honoring the military, and the singing of "God Bless America" have been somehow deemed to be unacceptable by some at the Southern Baptist Convention.  Too nationalistic, it seems - don't exalt government over Christ, separate church from state.  Never heard of that being a problem before.  The Vice-President of our great nation, a born-again Christian who boldly proclaims Christ, is viewed to be someone who "sends the wrong message."  So, what is the right message?   And, is it Biblical?   Should we no longer honor our governmental leaders?  Does a government leader relating policy accomplishments that are favorable toward Christians detract from the denomination's Gospel witness?  I don't think it's an either/or.  We should be devoted to living and sharing the Gospel and be participants in shaping culture through participation in the political process.

Why was a resolution that cautioned against the so-called "social justice" message not brought to the floor of the convention, even in a revised state?  Or one that reinforced the Biblical notion that homosexuals can change - especially since that was a truth included in the message given by Steve Gaines, the outgoing President of the Convention?

Now, there were some good resolutions that were approved, including strongly worded resolutions on the contributions of women and the denunciation of abuse in the Church.   The Convention also reinforced previous statements regarding race and immigration.

By and large, we have to recognize that the world should not determine how we think or speak.  We have to be devoted to speaking in line with Biblical truth.  We can be challenged to allow God's Word to be the determinant for our belief system, to develop our personal theology based on our own study of the Scriptures, and to be bold to proclaim His Lordship over our lives.