Light

We can depend on the Lord to show us the way we are to walk and to open our eyes in order to see and know where He is leading. In John 12, Jesus teaches:
35 Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

We are called to seek His face and to walk in obedience to Him, as He grants us His light.  He also calls us to bring His light into the places to which He leads us.  We have a divine purpose, and He wants to express that through our actions.  When we grasp that we are His children and that we possess His nature, then we can be confident in knowing that He goes with us and will enable us to shine His light, even in the darkest places.

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We possess the glorious light of our great and mighty God, and He is providing ways and opening
doors so that we can reflect that light in our hearts. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:
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.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

You may not know the name Gianna Simone, but if you've seen the movies, God's Not Dead 2 or I Can Only Imagine, perhaps you have seen her on the screen. She also has a role in the recent film, Unbroken: Path to Redemption.  Maybe you've seen her in Star Trek Into Darkness or Mother's Day.  Gianna has performed in a variety of movie roles, in faith-based, as well as secular films.  ChristianHeadlines.com says this:

That means she’s bringing her incredible faith to Hollywood sets where many of the people present are nonbelievers. And from where she sits, being a Christian in Hollywood doesn’t carry the same stigma it once did.

The article says:

Growing up in Boston, she was both physically and emotionally abused as a young girl. She had nowhere to turn but to her father, who was dealing with his own struggles at the time and in no position to help.

Even though she didn’t know it, God was already at work. She began working out at a local gym at 13 years old, her first step toward breaking free.

The story continues;

The powers that be eventually moved Gianna into foster care. But the owner of the gym, Kathy DeMarco, became a mentor and guiding force in the teen’s life. Kathy was the one to introduce her to church. And even though faith didn’t take root until later, this exposure sowed the seeds of Gianna’s salvation.

Kathy passed away, and Gianna was sent to what she describes as a "place for troubled girls" after trying to take her own life.  She was assigned a roommate, who had her own issues.   Even though Gianna was not a Christian, she shared with her about the love of Jesus.

Then, in a sharing time, the roommate announced she had given her life to Jesus.  The Christian Headlines article, quoting from a Lifezette story, says:

“She said, ‘To be honest, I don't feel anxious or miserable anymore because last night I gave my life to Jesus,’" the actress recalls.

At that moment, Gianna knew God was real and gave her life over to Jesus. And Anne later told Gianna she knew God sent the actress to her room to save her.

The article continues:

Gianna’s faith has only grown stronger and deeper since then, transforming her into the bright young woman she is today. It’s something she’d never try to hide or keep secret.

"There's no downside in believing in God," she says. "I'm loved, and somebody died for me."

That piece also quotes Gianna from the Pure Flix website:

“Jesus is so much a part of me. No matter where I work or what I choose to do, I always try to be my authentic self and God is so much a part of that,” she explains. “In how I treat co-workers, directors, casting directors, crew, and strangers. I maintain this way of living by knowing who I am and Who I depend on- especially when it comes to the purpose He's given me.”

And, just an aside that is consistent with Gianna's declaration.  Chris Pratt, who has made numerous statements about God in public, was featured in a recent Fox News story:

The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt denied rumors that Hollywood is anti-religious, but rather “kind of pro whatever is authentic to you.”

“I think that there's this narrative that exists out there that Hollywood is anti-Christian or anti-religious, but it's just not the case,” Pratt told The Associated Press. “They are kind of not anti-anything.”

By the way, People magazine announced a couple of months ago that Chris had a "church date:"

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger were spotted stepping out on Friday night for a casual date in Los Angeles.

“They went on a church date,” a source tells PEOPLE, adding that after the service at Zoe Church ended, they headed to Beauty & Essex for dinner where they shared dishes like the Tomato Soup Dumplings, Thai Shrimp, Tuna Poke and Filet with their group of friends.

OK, whatever - so, Pratt's a big star and has really been able to speak about God without negative consequence, which is good.  But, the entertainment industry still has a ways to go before it affirms Christian values and provides viewing and listening choices that are decent for families.

But, it's encouraging that there are those, like Gianna Simone and even Pratt, who want to shine their respective lights into the industry.  And, that is expressed not only in the work she chooses, but in the way she chooses to treat those with whom she works.  We can choose to reflect the presence of Christ in us by how we interact with the people around us.  Those that observe us everyday are the ones who stand the greatest chance of being impacted by Christ in us.

Both Pratt and Simone mentioned the concept of authenticity. We are called to act in accordance with the identity granted to us in Christ.  He enables us to discover who we really are and to act without pretense. We can be challenged to allow the reality of the risen Savior to live and love through us.

Finally, we can fine-tune the concept of being in the world but not of it.  Jesus doesn't take us straight to heaven when we are saved.  That indicates that there is certainly a mission for us here on this earth.  We have to discover that purpose and bring His light to the places in which and the people to whom we are called to minister.

A Thread of Compassion

There are masses of people who are searching for truth, and we, as Christ's ambassadors, can be conduits who hold fast to His truth and communicate it with compassion. Mark 6 states:
32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.
34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

People sought out Jesus because He represented hope to them and He told them the truth - when this group saw Him withdrawing, they sought Him out.  And, look at His response: He was "moved with compassion."  He saw them as sheep who did not have a shepherd.  Many wander today, without a firm foundation, with no hope for their lives, with no truth that can be an anchor for them.  The teachings of Jesus offer answers, His presence offers joy and satisfaction, and people can come to know His love as they see it lived out by His people.

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Elements of the demeanor of the Christian are found in Ephesians 4 - we can read:
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

The 2018 midterm elections are coming up soon, and I trust that you are registered to vote and that you are considering your choices - a number of statewide elective offices in Alabama are up for election or re-election, including the entirety of the Alabama Legislature.

And, while we look forward to 2018, there are still studies that take us back to 2016 and that statistic that has been widely publicized that over 8-in-10 white evangelicals voted for Trump.  This has been sliced and diced and even weaponized by some in the Church, causing division among some, which is an unfortunate by-product of a selection based on the choice between two flawed individuals, a choice with which many Christians were not satisfied.

A new survey by the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group demonstrates that people of faith are certainly not monolithic, and that a greater degree of church attendance will yield a more compassionate approach to other people in a variety of areas.

It should come as no surprise that the views toward racial minorities among those who voted for the President improve relative to church attendance. For instance, the summary says:

Specifically, favorable feelings toward black people increase from 48 percent among Trump voters who never attend church to 73 percent among those who attend more than once a week — a 25-point increase. Similarly, favorable feelings toward Hispanics and Asians increase from 63 percent and 60 percent, respectively, among secular Trump voters to 72 percent and 80 percent, respectively, among churchgoing Trump voters.

The language seems to presume that all Trump voters were white, which is certainly not the case.

And, the attitudes toward religious minorities change relative to church attendance.  The summary states:

Trump voters’ attitudes toward religious minorities, including Jews and Muslim Americans, also warm according to church attendance.

For instance, very devout Trump voters are 17 percentage points more likely than nonreligious Trump voters to have favorable feelings toward Jews (85 percent vs. 68 percent).

This is consistent with the Biblical mandate to love everyone - while we may disagree on religious viewpoints and practices, we certainly can affirm the person who possesses those views.

The survey illustrates a concern for ethnic diversity among people of faith. The summary says:

Eighty-three percent of Trump voters who attend a religious service more than once a week say it is “very” or “fairly important” to accept people of diverse racial and religious backgrounds to be “truly American,” compared to only two-thirds (67 percent) of nonreligious Trump voters — a 16-percentage-point difference.

There are a number of policy issues examined in this survey - immigration is covered, and it is an issue that doesn't seem to be as important to regular churchgoers, as opposed to those who don't attend, even though, "nonreligious Trump voters are nearly 20 percentage points more likely than churchgoing Trump voters to oppose a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented, to want a border wall, to support making the legal immigration process more arduous, and to believe illegal immigration drains the economy." On the border wall, though, based on the language, it has to do with the degree of priority that a person favors making it.

The compassionate thread continues in areas of poverty and volunteerism.  The summary states:

Religious Trump voters are more concerned about poverty than are nonreligious Trump voters. Trump voters who attend church at least once a week are nearly twice as likely as secular Trump voters to say that poverty is a “very important” issue to them (42 percent vs. 23 percent).

But, the more frequent churchgoers are not necessarily in favor of government solutions, including entitlements. We can read this: "Trump-voting churchgoers are more likely to favor repeal of the Affordable Care Act (89 percent vs. 76 percent) and to oppose government 'doing more' to reduce income differences between rich and poor (71 percent vs. 58 percent) than their secular counterparts."

And, the summary states: "Indeed, religious Trump voters are more likely than nonreligious Trump voters to do volunteer work. For instance, while 61 percent of very frequent churchgoers among Trump voters volunteered at least once in the past 12 months, only 20 percent of secular Trump voters did." That data is from "the panel baseline survey of the 2012 Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project (CCAP)."

So, what do we glean here? I think by and large, there is a challenge for people of faith, and specifically Christians, to be known for our compassion. We are to be firm in our convictions on upholding Biblical principles, but we can communicate and act in a rational and understanding way. We should be characterized not by our anger, but by our devotion to Christ and upholding His Word.

There is also the notion of separating the person from his or her performance. For instance, we should be civil toward those who believe differently than we - we can disagree, but not in a divisive manner. We can build relationships while holding true to our beliefs.

Finally, we realize that we are not defined by our politics. There are those who want to look at evangelical Christians as a monolithic voting bloc, and that is simply not the case. Ultimately, while we are called to be involved in politics, we have to make sure our policy choices are influenced by the Scriptures. Also, within the Church, there are some who have a tendency to say that speaking out on public policy is "too political." I think this is often applied to those who hold to a Biblical standard on sexual issues, such as opposition to the LGBTQ agenda. We don't have to shy away from political involvement, as long as it does not supersede our walk with Christ.

Loving and Welcoming

You may be familiar with Micah 6:8, a verse that can point us in the right direction regarding how to
respond to the needs of others. We can read:
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Because God has been merciful to us, we are called to show mercy to others. We deserved justice - which would have been eternal punishment, separated from Almighty God; but Jesus paid the penalty we deserved and calls us to love justice with compassion. That is a justice that unites, rather than what is commonly called "social justice" today, which divides people by various physical and personal traits.  We are called to be people who make things right in Christ and to love to see restoration,

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In the book of Deuteronomy, we find a listing of blessings and curses - these illustrate some of the
qualities of the heart of God and certainly can be instructive for us in the way we respond to Him and to others. In chapter 27, we read:
18 'Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
19 'Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

I am very thankful that you have men of God, such as Mike Pence, our Vice-President, and Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, in positions of influence in our government.  And, as we pray for our leaders, we can pray for those who call on the name of Christ to allow their faith perspective to guide their decision-making.

Pompeo made an announcement last week that was sure to rankle some of those in the pro-immigration lobby.  According to The Christian Post, the Secretary announced a 30,000-refugee cap for the upcoming year in the Refugee Resettlement Program.  The article states:

In announcing the 30,000-refugee cap, Pompeo justified his decision by blaming a backlog of around 800,000 pending asylum cases of people already inside the U.S. that presents a "daunting operational reality" for the U.S. government. Pompeo also assured that the U.S. government would process 280,000 asylum cases of those inside the U.S. in fiscal year 2019.

"These expansive figures continue the United States' long standing record of the most generous nation in the world when it comes to protection-based immigration and assistance," Pompeo told reporters on Monday.

Pompeo assured that the U.S. is "working to assist refugees and other displaced people as close to their home countries as possible."

Pompeo pointed out that, "The United States is steadfast in prioritizing a course of action that enables the safe and voluntary return of refugees to their home countries if and when conditions permit – a solution that most refugees prefer..."  He also mentioned that there are some defects in the screening process for refugees.

This announcement was met with scorn from some of those in the religious community who have characteristically been outspoken against the immigration policies of the Trump Administration. World Relief, which receives taxpayer money to resettle refugees and has seen a decline in funding over the past two years was quick to respond.  The Post article states:

"This decision contradicts the administration's declared commitment to helping persecuted Christian and religious minorities in dangerous and oppressive countries," World Relief President Scott Arbeiter said in a statement. "Evangelicals should be concerned by this assault against our call to support 'the least of these.'"

However, when the President announced that he wanted to prioritize Christian refugees last year, that was met with opposition from World Relief.  And, that situation involving the percentage of Christian refugees has actually improved.  The website, Axios, reports: "The Trump administration has again cut the number of refugees allowed into the U.S., and the overwhelming majority of the small group of refugees who were admitted this past year are Christians." 

This story stated:

Between the lines: The Trump administration has vowed to protect persecuted Christians around the world.

• Vice President Mike Pence even pressured the United States Agency for International Development to specifically allocate millions of dollars for groups that help persecuted communities in Iraq.

• But Christian refugees have faced increased rejection due to President Trump's lowering of the refugee cap.

• The number of Christian refugees admitted to the U.S. dropped by more than 40% over the last year. One group of Iranian Christians who have been stranded in Austria have sued the administration as religious minorities.

So, all in all, Pompeo seems to have made a reasonable decisions - after all, it takes government money, taxpayer dollars, to resettle people in America.  Many would, as he rightly pointed out, would rather stay closer to home.

But, there are some in the religious community that have trouble accepting these dynamics.  The Evangelical Immigration Table, which is a subsidiary of the National Immigration Forum, which has ties to the globalist, open borders advocate George Soros, is generally outspoken about such matters.  The head of one of the entities in the Table, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Russell Moore spoke out forcefully against the announcement.

"Seeing yet another drop in refugee numbers should be a shock to the conscience of all Americans," Moore, an author and former dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, said in his statement. "One day we will be ashamed that we as a nation turned inward, and away from our great tradition of serving as a beacon of liberty to those fleeing for their lives."

The 46-year-old Moore admits that it would be nearly impossible for the U.S. to take "unlimited numbers of refugees" but asserted that the "increasingly lower number" of refugees being resettled to the U.S. "is far below the level where America could and should be in leading the world in compassion for those in peril."

Kelly Marie Kullberg of the American Association of Evangelicals and Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration, a recent signer of the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel, is quoted on The Minnesota Sun website.  She points out that there are "left wing activist organizations" that “demand that Americans ‘welcome the stranger,’ but rarely do they teach, or likely even know, the whole counsel of biblical teaching on migration and citizenship.”  She adds:

“You’ll likely never hear them talking about the story of Nehemiah and Ezra, helping Israel rebuild its faith, culture and walls – with both weapons of protection and tools of construction. They won’t quote Isaiah 1:7, in which aggressive migration is seen as a curse, ‘Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers,’ ” she adds.

“There are four Hebrew words for ‘foreigner.’ The ‘ger’ are resident aliens like Ruth and Rahab, who come lawfully, as converts to the faith of the Hebrew people and are to be embraced as citizens. Two words indicate temporary guest workers or visitors, to be treated hospitably. One word, the ‘nekhar,’ is someone who does not come lawfully as a blessing and to assimilate, and that person is not be welcomed,” Kullberg notes.

The article notes that "Professor of Old Testament, Dr. James Hoffmeier, wrote on this subject in his recent book, The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens & the Bible."  Kullberg states: "Interfaith liberals conflate these four words into one, the one meaning they want. Imagine where this leads over the course of twenty or thirty years. It’s unwise and unloving to Minnesotans and to all Americans..." She adds, "In the Bible, we do not find the teaching of open borders, sanctuary cities as currently defined and illegal migration. In the Bible, we find respect of borders, nations, laws and customs – we find wise welcome."

So how do we welcome Biblically?  Well for one thing, we can love those who come.  Jim Garlow of The Garlow Perspective on Faith Radio and a recent guest on The Meeting House, who has co-written, This Precarious Moment, wrote in a blog post:

There’s never been a time with more opportunity for expressing God’s love to others than right now. We’re living in a precarious moment, no question. But this could be one of the Church’s finest hours—if we reach out to the immigrants in our midst who don’t know Christ. To help them assimilate into this country, yes but more specifically, to help them assimilate into the family of God through a personal knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I admit the issue of immigration is complex, but I also believe God is a God of order, and that there’s a principled way to work through the chaos—to ask God for solutions that honor justice, truth, righteousness and order.

But we can also consider whether or not we are called to demand that more refugees are brought to America,  I think it is a Biblical stretch to start demanding how many refugees or immigrants should be brought into our country at taxpayer expense. I would contend that if churches and religious organizations are willing to pay for it, then perhaps that could be a more reasonable possibility.  And, we can continue to be involved in advocacy for those who are facing persecution around the world - that may involve coming to America, or resettling closer to home.  I think welcoming the stranger, according to Matthew 25, ideally involves showing the love of Christ to those who have located in our midst, but not becoming a party to increased immigration, although that may be something you sense an individual call to do - it's just not a Biblical call for everyone.  And, we should always be supportive of our nation's laws, according to Romans 13.

We can be challenged to see what compassion really looks like.  There may be disagreement on this. But, I think a guiding principle is to consider the people to whom God has called us to reach. There are opportunities all around us - there are refugee and immigrant families who are struggling, and we can be sensitive to and identify who they are and perhaps develop strategies to help them. But, it is a prudent thing to make sure that people who are allowed to come into our country, as welcome guests, are given the opportunity to live productive lives and perhaps to encounter the abundant life that is available through Christ.

Presence of Evil

The example shown to us by our Lord Jesus is that we should place the needs of others above our own, and just as He humbled Himself, even to the point of death, we are called to walk with a sense
of humility, even while possessing Biblically-based conviction. In Philippians 2, we read:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

In the face of evil, we can be determined to display the good that is in Christ Jesus - we are not good in ourselves, but He gives us the capacity to reflect His nature.  With conviction infused with compassion, we can walk in a manner that pleases Him and shows that we know Him.  We recognize that what we do reflects who we are in Christ, and He desires for us to depend on Him as we seek to represent Him well.

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Jesus taught about a "greater love," that can motivate us to be people who put our love for Him and
our love for others above all else. In John 15, we can read:
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

A 45-year-old man who was apparently highly regarded by some rather high-profile people was stabbed in Israel recently.  The Daily Wire reports that:

Ari Fuld, an American-Israeli husband, father, and activist was murdered by a terrorist in the settlement of Kfar Etzion on Sunday morning.

While at the Etzion junction, a 17-year-old Palestinian approached Fuld and stabbed him in the back. Fuld then chased the attacker and shot him to prevent further casualties. Fuld was pronounced dead at the Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

The perpetrator reportedly is still alive.  The Daily Wire story stated:

Fuld was well-known for his pro-Israel advocacy on social media. Fuld was a prolific social media advocate and often posted videos and commentary on his Israel Defense Page on Facebook. He frequently live-streamed religious ceremonies at the Western Wall and gave his commentary about the news of the day. He also worked for Standing Together, an organization that provides support to Israeli soldiers. He was scheduled for a pro-Israel speaking tour in the United States in the coming weeks.

During a eulogy for her late husband, Miriam Fuld stated: "You fought for what you believed in. You’ve left behind a legacy for the entire world to savor, videos and stories that we will be telling for many years to come.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu is quoted as saying: "We are alive thanks to heroes like Ari. We will remember him forever.” Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said in a tweet, “An American/Israel patriot was murdered in cold blood today by a young Palestinian terrorist who stabbed Ari IN THE BACK,” adding, “Ari chased and shot the coward who lived. Ari died. I was with Ari in July in Efrat.”

And, Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted out: “Please pray today for the family of Ari Fuld, a citizen of the U.S. & #Israel who was mortally stabbed by a terrorist...As he was dying he was able to incapacitate his killer thereby saving the life of other innocent civilians. May his memory be a blessing.”

In a disturbing development, CBN states that:

The family of the teenage murderer of American-Israeli Ari Fuld is set to receive about $400 a month for the next three years from the Palestinian Authority, the Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday.

It's a clear demonstration of the Palestinians' "pay to slay" policy in action.

That CBN article points out:

Earlier this year, President Trump signed into law "The Taylor Force Act" to stop funding to the Palestinian Authority until it changes its laws to stop giving stipends to terrorists and their families.

Israel also passed its own version of the "Pay for Slay Law" in July, whereby it will deduct the amount of money given to terrorists and their families from the taxes and tariffs Israel collects on behalf of the P.A.

There are several concepts that come to mind.  First of all, we recognize that there are people and organizations to whom monetary gain and the advancement of a cause outweigh the value of human life.  For example, these skewed belief systems guide the abortion industry, which is typlified by Planned Parenthood, which is driven by a profit motive, raking in money from its customers, as well as taxpayers.  It has even been involved in selling the body parts of unborn children.  Radical Islam demonstrates how commitment to a cause supersedes the respect for other human beings.
We have to make sure, as Christians committed to living out the commands of Christ, that we are humane toward other people, that we are not so driven by selfishness toward profit or getting our way that we are treating others in an unkind manner.

We also think about Ari Fuld himself - he is certainly regarded as a hero - why is this? He is regarded as someone who put others' lives first. He was also someone who was motivated by conviction: he believed in something - his country.  And, it's OK to believe in country; God has placed each of us in  a place in order to use us for His glory.

Finally, Fuld was someone who told stories - he was apparently an effective communicator. And, we recognize that stories can change hearts.  When we tell a story about how God has worked in our lives, we are deploying a device that God can use in order to point people to Him.

The Game of Life

Jesus has called us into one Church, united by His Spirit, and His desire is for His people to put aside the things that bring division so that we can demonstrate to the world His love for each other, and by so doing, to communicate His love to a world that needs hope.  Colossians 1 says:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

If we are submitted to Jesus, the head of the body, we recognize that we are to look to Him to determine how we are to act toward one another.  I believe you can say that Jesus taught that we are to love God with all that we are so that we can love others with that same love.  That love will propel us to reach out to others to demonstrate His compassion, so that people will be drawn to Him because of their experiences with us, with His people.  And, those encounters, directed by the Spirit, may sometimes even be considered unusual or highly creative - His aim is to bring people to know Him.

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We have been brought into the body of Christ by virtue of our acceptance of Christ as Savior, and He
works by a variety of means to bring His people together. 1st Corinthians 12 states:
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

The church is called GodSquad and its target audience is people who play video games - seriously.  Matt Souza is in his late twenties and launched the outreach which, according to The Christian Post, "utilizes video games and a live-streaming platform called Twitch. His church is called GodSquad, and he started it in 2016 to reach a community of individuals who tend to be atheists and dislike religion."

The story, which integrates information from a Washington Post piece, describes the concept:

Viewers watch the livestream of him playing games while Souza fields questions about God and the Christian faith. He also weaves in moral and ethical principles into the gaming world, urging gamers not to cuss and advises them that they not play Grand Theft Auto because of the particular kind of killing and sexual content that game promotes.

As of July, according to the Christian Post article, the church has some 1800 "members" and around 4000 views a month.

Christopher Benek, a pastor and writer for the Christian Post, specializing in technology, states:

Matt Souza is part of the body of Christ that articulates that he is trying to use tech for good. As a tech pastor, I think we should encourage more Christians to learn to use tech for good. I don't see where ministering to people in a digital environment is any less important than a pastor making phone calls or television evangelism.

In order to reach people, Souza is embracing one of the notable aspects of the life of Jesus...he says that Jesus, "..."[Jesus] always went to where the people were at...One of the huge [mediums] of how to meet people today is through video games..."

Benek states, "Anywhere people gather, even digitally, with a common interest — there one finds community. Many members of Souza's community seek to follow the teachings of Jesus and thus by definition they are Christian Community..."

The story also says:

Souza told the Washington Post that he does not believe church should be reduced to attending services but that it is fundamentally about doing life together. And real relationships have been forged from his efforts.

This fall he will travel to North Carolina where he will officiate the wedding of two of his gamer congregants and later this month he will water-baptize a Houston woman whom he led to the Lord when she comes to Virginia for a gamer conference.

This story about a unique form of ministry can cause us to think about certain aspects of how the Church operates. What is the Church?  I believe that in its simplest form it is a body of believers who have claimed the name of Jesus as Savior, and who will come together for fellowship and teaching. We can invite unbelievers to church but they are not considered part of the Church.  So, Souza's gathering meets the requirement, and can challenge us to think about ways that believers can engage culture in out-of-the-box ways.

We can also consider aspects of authentic Christian community.  But, we have to be careful to address questions of whether or not virtual relationships replace face-to-face ones.  We see numerous church bodies and Christian organizations who routinely and creatively utilize technology to communicate truth.  Perhaps tech can be a more effective tool for unbelievers, but we can also rejoice in how technological advances can unite believers essentially around the globe.

We can also think about the importance of discipleship in the life of a believer.  There are personal tools that can be used to facilitate growth, but there are also the technological means as well.  What is important to consider is how God will use a variety of tools in our lives so that we might know Him better.

Letter of Hope

In 1st Timothy chapter 2, we can read a reminder about how important it is to pray for our authorities, specifically those who are in the arena of governing. Beginning with the first verse, we can read:
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If we are frustrated with the way that we see people in authority act, it's very easy to engage the mouth or the keyboard, and much more difficult to engage the heart and to engage heaven.  God desires for His people to be in prayer about the activities of our leaders.  We can look to Him to raise up leaders, and even to shape their hearts so that they will exercise His wisdom and reflect and apply His principles.  We can be challenged to call on God instead of to complain about our leadership.

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In Daniel chapter 2, we find this leader grappling with interpreting the dream of the king, and Daniel
called out to the Lord.  This passage can also remind us about God's concern for those in governmental authority.  We see these words:
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

A letter was recently discovered that was written by a rather famous individual to his dying father-in-law, who apparently did not know the Lord. As I share some excerpts, included on the Faithwire website, think about who may have written these words - a preacher?  A sports hero?  A politician?  Or an actor?  The article says that this letter was actually brought to light by Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post.   OK, here we go...it states:

...We’ve been promised this is only a part of life and that a greater life, a greater glory awaits us. It awaits you together one day and all that is required is that you believe and tell God you put yourself in his hands.”

He shared with his father-in-law, whose first name was Loyal, about his belief that he had been miraculously healed from a stomach ulcer.  There were colleagues who confessed they had prayed for him.

The article goes on to say that the author "...proceeds to detail how the Bible held 123 Old Testament prophecies about Christ’s life which all came true when Jesus eventually walked the earth, 700 years after his birth was predicted."  He also said, “And one of the predictions was that he would be born of a Virgin,” adding, “Now I know that is probably the hardest for you as a doctor to accept. The only answer that can be given is – a miracle.”  The writer stated, "I don’t find that as great a miracle as the actual history of his life,” and also said, “Either he was who he said he was or he was the greatest faker and charlatan who ever lived.”

But this famous man also wrote, "But would a liar and faker suffer the death he did when all he had to do to save himself was admit he’d been lying?”

Any ideas yet?

The author of the letter continued to comment on the significance of Jesus' life: “He did this for only three years and then was executed as a common criminal...But for two thousand years he has … had more impact on the world than all the teachers, scientists, emperors, generals and admirals who ever lived, all put together.”  And he included John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Faithwire account says that, "Tumulty shares in her column that at the end of Loyal’s life, he did turn to God. His daughter, Nancy, was with him at the hospital, where he requested a chaplain to pray with him before he passed." She notes that “Faith was not an electoral stratagem for Ronald Reagan,” adding, “His private words show it was his starting point, and the core of who he was.”

What a touching story about someone who was respected by so many, including a number of evangelical Christians - and his desire to see his wife, Nancy's father come to Christ.  It's a challenging template for all of us.

So, we can consider this: Who are you concerned about?  Obviously, Reagan had concern over his father-in-law's spiritual condition.  We can evaluate the state of the people around us and think about how might God be leading us you to share the gospel with them.

We can also check our own spiritual "vital signs," if you will, and ask ourselves: Is my faith in Christ, as Tumulty notes it seemed to be for Reagan, "the core" of who we are?  Our passions and priorities can be driven by our love for the Lord. 

This also reminds us about how we need such an infusion of godly wisdom for those in government leadership these days, and can be challenged to pray regularly for them.  And, certainly pray for the upcoming election.  For 2016, Faith Radio released a prayer guide, and the principles continue to ring true.  It was an acrostic for the word, "ELECT."  The "E" was "Engagement," in accordance with Daniel 2:20b and 21.  We can pray for believers in Christ to engage in the process, for others to join in prayer for the upcoming election, and for Christians to be informed about the candidates.  This is certainly an area about which to be concerned, so that God's leaders and principles may be found in our government.

Message of Life

Every human being is a unique creation of God - and it is not the decision of a human being to determine if an unborn child lives or dies. Psalm 139 underscores the sanctity of life:
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

The implications of God as our Creator are enormous - and our entire outlook toward this life, toward the value of our own lives, and of others, can be shaped by the fundamental understanding of how we have been created by Him.  But, the knowledge of God as Creator has certain responsibilities; for if we believe that He is maker of heaven and earth, then each person has to consider His principles and what He has said about a relationship with Him.  So, despite the evidence, people will reject the concept of design and the presence of a Creator God; otherwise, they are responsible for submitting to His Lordship.

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Proverbs 24 emphasizes the responsibility that people have when they see injustice, the unjust taking
of human life in the womb. We can read:
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?

In communities all across our land, there are devoted believers who are involved in saving the lives of unborn children and ministering to their families.  The role of the pregnancy resource center in American life cannot be understated.

And, recently, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of the Susan B. Anthony List, released a study of the work of around 2,600 out of over 2,750 of such centers in the land.  The results are impressive.

On the organization's website, it is stated that: "In 2017, pregnancy centers provided almost 2,000,000 people with free services, with estimated community cost savings of at least $161 million annually."

The work is carried out by a significant team of volunteers: over 67,000!  Including an estimate of  7,500 medical professionals.  Here are some other stats:

• 400,100 hours of free services were contributed by credentialed nurse sonographers and registered diagnostic medical sonographers in 2017.
• 100 mobile units with ultrasound are on the road to bring services to women out in the community.
• 30,000 contacts per month reach Heartbeat International’s Option Line hotline and email/chat lines.

And, last year, alone, over 679,000 free pregnancy tests were performed.  Over 295 thousand mothers and fathers "attended parenting course."  There were also over 24,000 people who were provided support after an abortion.  Plus, in excess of a million students went to educational presentations that taught "sexual risk avoidance."

Even though it was not included in the survey results, we know that Christian-based pregnancy resource centers are also involved in sharing the message of God's love for those who are in crisis situations and people come to salvation through Jesus Christ through these efforts.  

There was attempt out of California not long ago that would force pregnancy resource centers to communicate a message that contradicts their overall purpose - to refer for abortion. The law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court and sent back to the Federal Ninth Circuit court. Liberty Counsel represents three centers in the state. Its Founder and Chair, Mat Staver, is quoted on its website: “This recent study by the Charlotte Lozier Institute confirms the priceless value of pro-life pregnancy centers in our communities,” adding, “These centers help save the lives of babies and women by providing support which empowers mothers and fathers to make the right choices. Many volunteers give back to their communities by donating services that would typically cost millions of dollars each year. At Liberty Counsel, our mission is to clear the path so these centers can freely accomplish the mission God has given them..."

No wonder that those who favor abortion on demand want to restrict the work of these centers of hope and life!  I believe that those who lead and volunteer in pregnancy resource centers are engaged on the front lines of spiritual warfare - we are talking, literally, matters of life and death. They share a powerful message, and when that message is communicated with compassion, it can be a powerful, life-changing force!

We also can remember to be aware of how these centers are impacting communities.  And, they are present in well over two thousand places in America alone.  Multiply that by the ability of mobile ultrasound centers that can be strategically placed, even near abortion clinics, and you see that the truth can be disseminated effectively.

And, truth is such an important component here in so many centers - the truth of God's Word, God's Word about the life of a pre-born child, and about how He wants to intervene in the crisis that perhaps has brought a pregnant woman to that center's doors.  Then, she hears not only His truth, but sees the tangible evidence of life through the technology of an ultrasound machine.  God has raised up this technology in order to save lives, and combined with the human touch, He is showing His faithfulness.

No Shame

There's a passage in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 which can serve to inform our attitude toward our
work. We can read:
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

If we believe that all we do is to be done for the glory of God, then we recognize that involves possessing a God-given love for other people; so we are to perform the tasks, the assignments, He calls us to do with a sense of service.  We can be motivated to recognize that the product of what we do is for the benefit of other people, and they way that we interact with the people with whom we do it are to be treated with honor and respect, as well.

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God desires for us to be motivated to do what we do for His glory, and that includes how we operate
in our profession. Colossians 3 teaches us:
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Even though the allegations surrounding the show's star and namesake have tarnished the lead actor's reputation, The Cosby Show certainly brought a family-friendly audience to "Must See TV" on NBC every Thursday night.

And, one former actor from the show has gained some attention recently.  The actor who played the role of Elvin, who married into the Huxtable family, Geoffrey Owens, was spotted recently bagging groceries at a Trader Joe's grocery store location in New Jersey.  After pictures were posted on Twitter, according to ABC's Good Morning America, there was some "job shaming" that occurred, but it was replaced rather quickly by an outpouring of support.

The online story said:

"I was really devastated, but the period of devastation was so short," Owens told on "Good Morning America" while wearing his Trader Joe's name tag. "My wife and I started to read these responses from literally all over the world. Fortunately, the shame part didn't last very long."

Owens is quoted as saying: ""Every job is worthwhile and valuable," adding, "I've had a great life. I've had a great career ... so no one has to feel sorry for me. I'm doing fine."

Support came from a number of people in the entertainment industry, such as Terry Crews, who tweeted, "I swept floors AFTER the @NFL. If need be, I’d do it again. Good honest work is nothing to be ashamed of."  Patricia Heaton stated, "Again, why is this news? When I worked on 'Thirtysomething' I was also summarizing depositions to pay my rent. Why are you trying to humiliate this honorable, hardworking actor?"

The report said that Tyler Perry had offered him an acting role, and pop star Nicki Minaj offered Owens $25,000, which TMZ reports she has not sent as of late last week.

By the way, the Daily Mail website reports that Owens met his wife Josette while they were in a "Christian performing arts ministry."

I guess there may be a tendency for all of us to want to have a perfect life - and that includes the perfect job. And, while there are many of us, myself included, that enjoy our work, immensely, that may not be the experience for everyone.  I think it's important that when we find ourselves in less-than-ideal situations, that we allow the Lord to give us internal satisfaction, despite the externals.  We may not have the greatest occupation, but they way we approach it can possibly make it more productive and satisfying.

Geoffrey Owens didn't wait around for the right acting job to come around, even though that is his profession, and one in which he's been successful.  But, when that spigot dried up, he was still able to find meaningful work and recognized it for its value.  For the Christian, we can recognize the place to which God as called us as a place in which He can use us for His glory.  And, we can strive to do our work as unto the Lord.

We can also recognize that God is our provider.  And, He will use human employment in order to accomplish His purposes.  So, if we are devoted to Him, we can regard the job to which He has called us as an instrument of His provision.  And, you may experience other opportunities that come along that are a better fit for your gifts and skills, and that is certainly a matter of prayer.

In His Hands

We have been uniquely created and called by God our Heavenly Father, with the potential to live a fulfilling and productive life in Him. Ephesians 4 states:
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.

We can do this - because God would not give us the call to do anything without the capacity to complete it.  And, Paul also instructs about the right spirit - the spirit of humility - that can be dispatched in order to reflect the glory of Christ.  We obey Him as an expression of love for our Father, and it results in a display of that love to the people with whom we interact.  Each day, we can exhibit a dependence on the One who has saved us and brought us into relationship with Himself.

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The apostle Paul exhorted the Philippians in the 1st chapter of the book written to the church at Philippi, reminding them of who they were in Christ and what God wanted to do through them - and
us. We can read:
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

I don't watch HBO. At all.  I don't think it's even in my cable package.  Glad they've reduced their adult content.  But, it's a foreign world, a parallel universe for me.

So forgive me if I don't know who Yvonne Orji is.  I do know, from a recent Christian Headlines article, that she is on a show called Insecure.  And, she is the co-host of a podcast, on which she recently recounted her battle with depression and proclaimed a relationship with God.

After being turned down for a job as a daily show host at a network, things began to spiral down for Yvonne.  She is quoted in the article as saying:

"I was literally looking depression in the face. I could have let it take me out, but it was just like, 'God I've done everything as right as I could.’ I'm even helping other people live out their dreams when I don't even have my dream yet."

During this time Orji said she didn’t even have enough money for gas so that she could go to church. Orji prayed to God saying, "God if you want me to volunteer at the church I need gas money.' And there was sometimes where I only had enough money to get to church or to get to the Bible study," Orji explained. "I was like, 'God somebody is going to have to bless me with money to get back.'"

And she relates that she had instances where people actually reached out to her and gave her some money.  As the story puts it, she "hit rock bottom."  It states:

She noted, that she was mad at God, life, and everything around her.

The next morning the holy spirit [sic] laid a message on her heart with Psalm 31:14-15 which says, "I will yet trust you because my times are in your hands."

From then on the star said she found renewed motivation and was convicted by the Holy Spirit. Orji went on to work on her First Gen web series and soon got a call from HBO offering her the role of Molly in the now hit show "Insecure."

Last year the actress told People Magazine "Before any of the fame happened, I sat down with myself and with God and thought, when I make it, how do you want me to represent you while I'm here?" She said, "It was like, OK, I know why I'm here. It's to make you proud."

The People story also includes this information about the Nigerian-born star:

Yvonne Orji feels comfortable sharing intimate details of her personal life with fans—including the fact that she’s a dedicated Christian who plans on remaining a virgin until marriage.

“I’m open, because why not?” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I’m grounded in who I am.”

Well, let's pause and think about that statement for a while - "...grounded in who I am."  Well, we know that God created us uniquely, with certain personality traits, and has designed us to express His life and character, taking those God-ordained raw materials, infusing them with His righteousness and holiness through a relationship with Jesus Christ, and desiring to work out His purpose through us.  We are who he says we are - uniquely designed to come into relationship with Himself and to be His representative in relationship with Him.

You know, Yvonne experienced a time in which she was obviously angry at God - she did not see His hand in her life, it seems.  And, we may have those times when we feel separated from Him.  That is a really good time not to run from Him but to turn to God and trust Him with your life, even when you may not see or even sense Him.  He is big enough for you to trust Him and will do incredible things through your life.

Finally, we can develop a sense of determination, fueled by the Holy Spirit, to pursue what He has called you to do.  He has given us a passion for certain things, and He wants us to act on that - we have been uniquely called and shaped in order to accomplish His will.

Learning

Peter closes out the book of 2nd Peter with an exhortation to be devoted to the truth of God.  Let's pick up in verse 15:
(15) ...consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

This passage can really challenged us to build our lives on the solid foundation of God's Word and to pursue growth in the Lord.  He wants us to move forward in our walk with Him, to improve in certain areas, to not be weighed down by the power of sin, and to enjoy the abundant life that He promises. A commitment to go deep into the Scriptures can enlighten and empower us as we know Him better.  He wants us to experience His freedom and to abide in His presence.

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Our lives in Christ can be characterized by a desire to learn, to grow, to know Christ better. 2nd
Timothy 2 states:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

For many students across America, they are now about to enter their second month of classes.  As a culture, especially down South, we are fixated with one aspect of college life - the performance of the football team!  But, what's really going on in the hearts of college students, especially regarding their spiritual growth?

Well, the Barna Group, partnering with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), according to the survey summary, "Barna asked Christian students about their openness to faith-based or religious learning opportunities."

One area about which the surveyors asked concerned the purpose of college. The summary states: "Americans overwhelmingly see higher education as a path to gainful employment (69%) and financial security (55%). This is a view shared across religious demographics: by Christians, by adherents to non-Christian faiths and by those who profess no faith at all."  Regarding Christian students, the summary says, "Moral and spiritual development are seen as important but not the best reason to pursue a college education."

But, in an encouraging development, there are Christian college students who want to pursue Biblical knowledge "outside of traditional undergraduate or graduate degree programs."

31% of those identifying as practicing Christians and 33% of evangelicals stated that they were interested in "continued professional development that focuses on integrating faith and applying it to my career."  These could take the form of “single, one-off intensives, refreshers or workshops on a religious topic for personal enrichment,” a concept embraced by 26% of evangelicals, or “engagement in a religious education hub in my area where I can study theology for personal enrichment," which was appealing for about 1-in-5 evangelicals.

About 1 out of 5 evangelicals also indicated interest in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in "religion, theology, ministry or biblical studies."

This survey can cause us to think about certain concepts.  One is the issue of how do you grow?  We certainly look to a regular, in-depth study of God's Word.  Christian resources, including Christian radio, can be a valuable tool that God will use.  We have to pray and seek God, so that we will know and be able to apply the truth we discover.  So we can consider what we have incorporated into your own lives.

In light of our exposure to God's Word, we can also think about how we have developed our own personal theology - what do we believe?  What are we driven by?  We have to make sure that those components are informed by and consistent with God's Word.

This is a survey of college students, and you see a relatively small but significant number of young people who are interested in boosting their spiritual knowledge.  We can be challenged to encourage the younger generation to build their faith.  

Finally, we consider that there are always opportunities to build our faith; we can choose the best ones for us - there is no right way to accumulate Biblical knowledge, but we can be challenged to make sure that our search is always centered on the Bible itself.

Where Are We Going?

In 1st Timothy 1, the apostle Paul makes a bold declaration about who He was, in contrast with what
Christ has done and who He made him to be. We can read:
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our identification of our sin can propel us to seek identification with Christ's sacrifice.  He became sin for us, we're told in 2nd Corinthians, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ. So, we have the promise of freedom, of life transformation in Him.  So no longer do we have to identify with our sin, for it has been forgiven; we now identify with the new nature - we put off the old, as Ephesians 4 teaches, so that we might walk in the new life that He promises.

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In Matthew 16, Jesus taught about the significance of His Church - His body, His bride, which is
called and designed to radiate His nature. We can read:
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Have you ever stopped to think where the Church of the Lord Jesus is going to look like in 25 years?  How about 5 years?  It seems that, through the proliferation of media influences and the intensity with which the enemy seeks to deceive and divide, that we really need to be on our guard to uphold the timeless teachings of Scripture, even though the delivery method might have been altered.

The future of the Church is certainly in the hands of a generation known as the Millennials - and there has been much research done on the habits of this group of young adults who are now in their 20's and 30's.  As we boomers fade away, but not too dimly, we have to recognize the type of Church that we are handing over to them and take the necessary steps to ensure, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that the Church is vibrant, shining brightly the love of Christ.

And, recognize that the Church, God's true church, built on the firm foundation, the rock to which Jesus referred in Matthew 16, is an entity that He has promised to uphold.

There are influences upon the younger generation that are shaping their belief and endangering the Church's effectiveness.  I am fond of the Juicy Ecumenism blog, from the Institute on Religion and Democracy, which published an article by John Wesley Reid, who attended Biola before pursuing seminary at Liberty University.  He addresses 5 Trends Christian Millennials Must Stop Doing.

One of those trends is tolerance.  He writes:

Many millennials have it in their minds that affirming the individual means affirming their sin. This message is due in part to the poison of church progressivism, and many young Christian millennials sing the same tune. Instead of hating sin for the separation that it causes between us and God, they accept the sins of others in the name of “loving them for who they are.”

But the problem with tolerance is that when we accept people for who they WANT to be, we neglect the people that Jesus MADE them to be.

Oh, by the way, the other four, in addition to tolerance are: neglecting theology, (lack of) separation from the world, bashing the church, and declining accountability.

And, the view of millennials is being shaped by what certain thought leaders claim that they are.  For instance, there was a New Yorker article about millennial evangelicals, in which the author stated: "...many young evangelicals are more diverse, less nationalistic, and more heterodox in their views than older generations. Believing that being a Christian involves recognizing the sanctity of all human beings, they support Black Lives Matter and immigration reform, universal health care and reducing the number of abortions, rather than overturning Roe v. Wade."

It appears the author, Eliza Griswold, derived that point from a select group of people who demonstrate what she wrote.  For instance, she said that one particular interviewee is "...part of a growing trend of young Christians who view themselves as theological conservatives rather than political ones. To them, this shift marks a return to a more authentic way to follow the teachings of Jesus, without the taint of the conservative politics with which older evangelicals have imbued the text. These younger believers contend they aren’t looser in any way in their approach to scripture—in fact, they say the opposite. By following the words and actions of Jesus as revealed by God in the Bible, they believe they are being more faithful believers, eschewing worldly politics altogether."

There was a certain bent to the article, including comments by some well-known evangelical spokespersons, that young Christians are eschewing their parents' politics and somehow this new, enlightened Christianity should somehow be divorced from politics or even patriotism.  But, you have to wonder, again, jumping back to the Reid piece, if these millennials are getting the full picture - Jesus certainly taught about mercy and justice, but He also pointed out sin, confronted it, and provided an antidote to it.  So, a few observations:

There is a commitment to justice seemingly prevalent among today's millennials, or at least the analysts say that it is; but as we're seeing, it seems to come cloaked in an "even the score" package, where people are divided into have and have-nots, oppressors and oppressed, victim and victimizer.  That's why socialism, I believe, has become so appealing - it's an attempt to take down the existing power structures and rebuild a new one, predicated on redistribution of wealth: like free college, free health care, and a demonization of leadership.  A new utopian equality!!  However, as Bill Federer outlined on my program, socialism, in order to distribute the goods fairly, has to have someone at the top; that's why you see socialist or Communist regimes headed by...dictators!  But, we have drifted severely of course if we are to believe that equality of outcomes is possible - or even equality of opportunity.  After all, we live in a fallen world - and our primary concern should not be social engineering, but the engineering of the human heart and an embracing of Biblical righteousness.

The heart of the matter is the heart of the gospel: Jesus Christ came to save sinners; He died so that we might live.  If we tilt the balance toward creating a more equitable society, we are in danger of losing the Church's focus on spiritual growth.  And, if we lose the sin element, such as Reid talks about in his blog post, then tolerance becomes the mantra and sin is tolerated.  If people are accepted along with their sin, we lose the platform to talk about why Christ came.  If people are accepted, in spite of their sin, and the gospel is shared to offer freedom from sinful behavior and healing of brokenness, we can be more effective in ministering hope.

Surviving

In 1st Peter 1, we are told about the hope - the living hope - we can experience, even in our time of
trial; a hope that can help us to endure, to survive, and to see God's purpose fulfilled in us:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

We may be in one or more of three stages this day: in a trial, having just been through a trial, or facing one in the future.  If we are in the midst of adversity, we can look to the Lord for the strength to survive.  If we have survived, we can give glory and honor to God for how He has brought us through.  And, we can be assured that He has worked and will continue to work according to His purpose, preparing us for the adversity we will encounter in the future.

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We can trust the Lord to go with us, especially in those times when we face trials and tribulations -
He enables us to be survivors to His glory, as He performs His purposes. James 1 states:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

This day, we continue to commemorate the dreadful events of September 11, 2001, and recognize the incredible stories of survival from that day.

There is a picture that was taken by an Associated Press photographer of a firefighter on a park bench.  The Telegraph identified the man as Dan Potter, and states:

Slumped on a bench, his firefighter’s uniform caked in dust, his head bowed, Dan Potter ran his hand through his hair, dejected and distraught. He had just experienced two near-miraculous escapes from the collapses of both towers. But at the moment this picture was taken, he was feeling despair, not relief.

For Mr Potter had just accepted that his wife, Jean, had died in the North Tower, where she worked on the 81st floor. He had been clinging to the hope that she might have made it out and returned to their apartment block.

He had been transferred from a fire station in the city to Staten Island a few months before the events of that day - he went to their apartment in the city from the island and she wasn't there - he thought that maybe she had escaped to the roof, where there would have been no escape.  But, later, he found out she had survived.

CBN did a story on the Potters, and provides information about Jean's escape down the staircase from the 81st floor and encouragement she believes she received from the Lord along the path to escape.  She recounts:

"He was with all of us that day, and I don't want people to think that we were so special because we were saved," Jean said. "I mean it wasn't our time, and He was with those who were passing over, and it's just a great privilege to speak about Him."

Life has been tough at times following 9/11. The Potters have dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder, and Dan had to retire as a firefighter because of the injuries he suffered on Sept. 11, 2001.

Yet, in spite of the attacks and the difficulties that have followed, the faith of Jean and Dan remains strong. They hope those who read and hear their story will also trust in God.

Sujo John and his wife were also working on the 81st floor.  His story was included in the National Geographic series, The Story of God with Morgan Freeman.  He also has a video on the I Am Second website. The Christian Post reported on John's story:

"As the building is collapsing there is people with me and I'm huddled with them. I felt God speak to me in a very still voice, I felt God say, 'It's going to be ok,'" John tells Freeman.

The actor inquires, "You heard the voice of God? [He] spoke to you?"

John responds, "I did not hear God speak to me in an audible way but I felt God's inner voice speak to me and ask people to pray with me."

John prayed calling on the name of Jesus and they prayed with him as the ground shook and debris fell on them. He said he resigned to the fact that he was going to die because he was buried under the rumble. John, however, saw a red light and crawled out from under the debris to find that those he had just prayed with did not survive.

Jean Potter also recounted guidance from God as she made her way out of the tower.

Sujo John's wife also survived the events of that day.  In the National Geographic series, Sujo is quoted as saying:

"Life on earth is such that no one is guaranteed today or tomorrow. Every human being on this earth will face death," John replied. "But here's what I know from my experience. When you walk with God and go through the storms of life you have this peace in the presence of God. So if you carry the presence of God, even if it's going to be death, it's going to be ok."

Morgan Freeman said this: "Sujo John's survival is extraordinary, some say it's miraculous. What's most remarkable to me is that Sujo felt the unmistakable presence of God even while death and destruction were all around him..."

We remember that there were a number of people who survived the attacks of 9-11.  Some three thousand did not.  And, then you have the countless number who were traumatized by what they felt and experienced.  The phrase "never forget" is perhaps more real to them than anyone else, because they are haunted - by encountering the presence of evil.

They survived physically, and some, I would imagine, are working through mental and emotional survival.  But, there is hope in Christ for those who are trapped in trial and trauma.

We can look to God as our companion through our own moments of trying to survive.  You see, life is full of survival stories - our own and those of others.  We can know the leadership of the Holy Spirit as we walk our own road to survival.  We can seek not only to deal with the pains of this life, but to find a deep sense of peace and joy even in the midst of our deepest wounds.  We can be a survivor in Christ.

And, once we have survived overwhelming circumstances - completely or partially - we can consider how we have learned lessons of His faithfulness.  We can know that as the Lord has been faithful to us in the past, so too will he show Himself in our present and our future.

Because, we can admit, we may have survived a trial or period of life in which we have been beset by multiple trials.  Or, we may still be enduring adversity in our life this very day.  Perhaps this is not a time of tribulation - well, you can rest assured that there will be trial in the future.  One of three stages: in a trial, out of a trial, or facing one in the future.  Or all three simultaneously in various areas of our life.  We know God has a purpose and He offers us His presence and His principles, so we might survive, that we may endure.

And, as one of the 9-11 survivors I spotlighted suggested - even in life-threatening physical challenges, death can be a form of survival, because for the believer in Christ, death means being the presence of Jesus.

Seeds of Revival

In Ezekiel 37, we see a picture of how the Lord wants to renew the lives of all people, including His Church, called by His name, so that they might reflect His glory. We can read:
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."
4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

Perhaps there are areas in our lives that are dry, unproductive, unfulfilling.  We have to have the help of the Holy Spirit to identify the roots of that spiritual dryness.  Then we can take steps to experience the renewal of the Lord.  If we have unconfessed sin, we can deal with it.  If we find ourselves without strength or joy, we can recognize His capacity to bring those elements into our lives.  If there has been drift in our pursuit of God's best, He is the One who can restore us.

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In Isaiah 57, we can read a verse that points to our Lord's desire to bring people closer to Himself, so
that we might experience an awakening in our hearts:
15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Breaking spiritual news: as of late last week, there has been a large tent in place in Greeneville, Tennessee, for over 5 months now.  Night after night, the Word of God has been preached and people are responding to God's call to salvation, according to CBN.com.

Around 700 people were reported to have been saved in this series of meetings.  The article states:

"God just continues to move; each week the crowds continue to build," Evangelist D.R. Harrison said. "People continue to come from all over the country."

He also said people from as far away as India have attended.

"God just continues to draw people; souls continue to be saved, and we're just amazed at what God's doing here in Greeneville, Tennessee," Harrison shared.

Greeneville is located in East Tennessee, between Knoxville and the Tri-Cities.  The meetings were scheduled to take place for a week in a church building, and expanded from there.

Harrison's wife, Laura, is quoted as saying: "People are hungry; people are hungry for something that is real; people are desperate for something that is real," adding, "There's so much hurt and so much tragedy all around us every day."

Harrison actually hasn't been preaching that long - in fact, he's only been saved for a few years.  He was the son of a preacher, but after spending his childhood traveling from place to place, he departed from that lifestyle, and according to GodReports.com, he never had a personal relationship with Christ.

Harrison was the product of another lengthy series of revival meetings in Burlington, North Carolina in 2016.  He owned a video production company in that city and the evangelist, C.T. Townsend brought Harrison some videos to be edited.  Townsend asked for the videos by 5:00 that day and Harrison said that was impossible; but he tried - he did something unusual: he edited the videos himself.  The content was gospel truth and conviction came upon Harrison.  The God Reports article says:

The video content Townsend gave him reenacted what a lost man would experience when he died and had to stand before God at the judgment.

“It was nothing I had never seen before. I’ve heard it 10 million times,” Harrison says. “But for the first time in 12 years, the Holy Spirit started dealing with my heart while editing those videos.”

He came to a point where he, according to the article, "couldn't take it anymore." It states:

...On his smart phone, Harrison began to watch a live stream of the revival service.

The power of the Word and the Spirit overwhelmed him. He got down on his knees and cried out to God: “I can’t save myself… I’m just a poor, lost, hell-bound preacher’s kid, but God, if you’ll save me, I’ll give you my life.”

The story continues:

Three days later, Harrison and his wife went to the Burlington revival. It was still in the church, the third week of the revival. There were 1000 people in the church on that Monday night.

“The Lord told me I would get up and speak that night. I hadn’t talked to C.T.,” he says.

After the choir finished singing, C.T. Townsend got up to speak. Harrison was surprised – but not completely surprised – when Townsend turned to him and announced: “D.R. needs to come up and say something.”

“I began to share what God had done in my heart. The whole time I was up there I looked in the corner at my wife and she was crying, she was bawling, she was weeping.

Harrison prayed silently, Lord, please save my wife tonight.

“By the time I was done, 17 people walked the aisle and got saved. The first one down to the altar was my wife! She got gloriously saved that Monday night. This was three days after I got saved.”

It wasn't long, the next day actually, until D.R. surrendered his life to preach - God opened doors for him to speak, including at the Burlington, North Carolina, tent revival.  And, now from that experience in Burlington, a new work in Greeneville is occurring.

Coverage has been national and local.  The Elizabethton Star proclaims, "Hundreds flocking to Greeneville Awakening to come to Christ.  It opens by saying:

On the heels of the Will Graham Crusade and simultaneous with the Bristol Tent Revival has been a community revival in Chuckey which has now moved to a 1,500-seat tent calling itself the “Greeneville Awakening.”

The Bristol Tent Revival was being conducted by none other than...C.T. Townsend!!  And, it apparently went longer than the planned duration.

It is fascinating to see these sovereign expressions of Almighty God in the midst of people who desire to see Him move.  And, so, we can think about some of the conditions for revival in our land.  I would submit that desire is a key element.  I think of those early disciples, praying and seeking the face of God in the Upper Room following the resurrection of Jesus.  Their prayers resulted in a tangible, overwhelming expression of the presence of God on the day of Pentecost, a day on which 3,000 people were saved.

But, I think there is more to it - I believe repentance is a key element.  We have to possess the desire, but then we allow the Holy Spirit to identify sin areas in our hearts, so that our hearts can be right before God.  We can be filled with His Spirit as we empty ourselves of - self.   As 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says, there are four pre-conditions to spiritual healing: humility, prayer, seek God's face, and turn from their wicked ways.  We are called to pursue that right relationship.

And, I believe we can make revival or spiritual awakening a priority.  We see these times of revival when God's people are gathering night after night, taking time out of their schedules to seek the Lord. While we can maintain awareness of God's presence as we abide with Him daily and go through our routine or activities, we can also make sure that we take the time to put ourselves in a position to encounter the Lord.