Advent-ure Day 3: Sew What?

In John chapter 6, we read about the dramatic story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  We can see
these verses:
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

This is a powerful illustration of Christ's sufficiency and His ability to provide for us - He proclaimed His truth using a variety of creative means.  Writing for Crosswalk.com, Proverbs 31 speaker and writer Amy Carroll used this story to point out how God uses everything in our lives for His glory.  She writes;

It wasn't enough for Jesus to feed the people until they were full. He wanted every last crumb collected.

There's nothing that escapes the notice of God. Everything matters to Him. Not only does it matter, but if you are His child, He promises that every part of your life will be used for your good and His glory.

We can be confident today that God is at working in our lives: if Jesus is your Savior, you have entered in to a life of adventure and anticipation, recognizing His hand and His capacity to work all things for His purposes.  And, we can be careful to testify to what He has done, being devoted to proclaim His love and truth.

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Welcome to Day 3 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure, entitled, Sing Unto the Lord!  It's Day 3 on our Advent Guide, available through FaithRadio.org.   Each day through the 25th has a corresponding Christmas song and short Scripture passage; Day 2 was Angels We Have Heard on High, and the day before that, it was Angels From the Realms of Glory.

The angels had a dynamic message to proclaim, and they appeared to shepherds to declare the coming of Christ to earth.  Day 3 also follows that proclamation theme, exploring the various events in the Christmas narrative.  It's the First Noel, which, in its multiple verses, deals with the angels appearing to the shepherds, the wise men, and considers how we can respond in worship to Christ.

The theme Scripture passage corresponding to the carol is this, from Luke chapter 2, from the message the angels brought:
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

The message was loud and clear, a powerful statement: a Savior has come, the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ, the one who had been anticipated by Israel - God's people - and prophesied in the Scriptures.

There are two ladies in Birmingham, both named Linda, who acknowledged their readiness to see God do great things - they had a sense of anticipation, and it turns out that He would use a simple ministry, recreating or repurposing old t-shirts, in order to impact people in need throughout the world. They are Linda Johnson and Linda Jacobson, and according to a Baptist Press article written by Grace Thornton of The Alabama Baptist:

Since it started last year, Johnson, Jacobson and fellow volunteers with the We Sew Love ministry at Huffman Baptist Church, Birmingham, has sent hundreds of clothing items made from old T-shirts to children in Uganda, Zambia, Haiti and other places around the world.

They've made crib pads for children's homes. They've made burial gowns for children who pass away in hospice facilities.

And with about 40 volunteers and nearly an entire wing of the church dedicated to the ministry, they're only getting bigger.

"God has provided, and it's growing by leaps and bounds," Johnson said.

It started when Linda Jacobson was visiting her daughter in California, who asked her to make some t-shirts into clothing items.  She then made some items for a granddaughter locally.  Next, according to the story, "Not too long after that, she met a missionary from Birmingham who serves in Haiti at a hospice center for children."  The missionary directly asked Linda to provide, as the story says, "as many as they could get."

A local ministry started bringing Linda clothing that had been set aside. She said, "I was overburdened with all the T-shirts at my house...Then my daughter Stacey mentioned that this kind of sewing could be an opportunity for the women at Huffman Baptist Church during their summer break. She invited me to bring all my supplies and let the women help."

It certainly took off from there.  The article says that now:

Every Wednesday and Thursday like clockwork -- and other days of the week here and there too -- women gather for Bible study, then head over to the sewing suite to work on T-shirt clothes.

What they do has spread by word of mouth, and people bring them bags and bags of T-shirts. Volunteers -- both men and women -- wash and dry the shirts in a dedicated laundry room or in their homes, then move them into the harvesting room.

In that room, they cut the T-shirts into different pieces like neckbands, pockets, bodices, hem bands and hemmed sleeves -- pieces that save them time when they're putting the dresses together.

They've found ways to make nearly every inch of a T-shirt usable. Nothing goes to waste.

The story says that:

Johnson said We Sew Love has become bigger than they ever imagined. She says it's given her and so many others new purpose in ministry.

"This has gone beyond what one Baptist church can do," she said. "And as much as people want to learn to do this, we would love to teach them."

This is a clear case of creativity meeting willingness to serve.  You have a group of ladies who have discovered a purpose in reaching out to needy people in the name of the Lord - it no doubt bonds them together and enables them to be involved in a valuable ministry.  And who would have thought it?  But, it's clearly an inspired idea, and the need certainly became apparent.

We can be challenged to think of how God might want to use us to serve.  While our proclamation of the gospel does involve speaking God's truth, but there are other ways to ministry to people - those involved in We Sew Love are using their hands to make a powerful statement about Christ's love.  And, as one of the ladies points out, some of the participants don't even sew!  But there is plenty to do - in just that one ministries.  Think about all the Kingdom opportunities that are available for us to be involved in.

I also think about how God uses everything in our lives; there is no waste. Chuck Swindoll has said, and it's found on his website: "What others mean to you as evil God promises to use for good. He wastes nothing."  Amy Carroll, writing at Crosswalk.com, states: "It comforts me that God doesn't waste anything. Every piece - broken, incomplete or whole - in the collections of our lives is made beautiful and significant in His hands."  Jason Gray, who wrote and recorded the song, Nothing is Wasted, said to New Release Today:

I thought of the ramifications of that in my own experience, that there isn’t anything wasted. That’s something I’m grateful for. No matter what we go through, whether it's difficulties we’ve experienced, ways people have hurt us, or even ways we’ve hurt others and our own failures, there isn’t anything beyond the redemptive reach of God. There isn’t anything that He can’t take and redeem and turn around and cause to serve His plan—the story that He wants to tell.

The ladies of Huffman Baptist are using things cast aside for the glory of God - to help meet the clothing needs of women.  We can be confident that God is working for our good, according to Romans 8:28, and that He will take the circumstances and experiences of our lives, even the negative ones, all that we want to cast aside, and bring forth His purpose, so that we might learn and grow more into the image of Christ.  And, as we see Him work, we can proclaim His goodness and faithfulness.

Blessing

We serve a God who can alter our outlook as we lay our lives on the altar, willing to be adopted by
Him into His spiritual family through new life in Christ. Romans 15 has much to teach us about being hopeful people. For instance, we can read beginning in verse 4:
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Biblical hope involves anticipation, expectation, and a dependence on God's goodness.  This weekend, many Christians around the world will enter the season of Advent.  In that practice, we think about welcoming Christ afresh and anew into our lives as we celebrate His first Advent, and reflect on the promise of His coming again to earth.  Because Jesus has come to earth and come into our lives as Christians, we can grow in faith, knowing that He desires to work in us for His glory.

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In Jesus Christ and through a relationship with Him, we can have a changed perspective, and even
when we encounter hopelessness, we can have His hope. Romans 15 states:
11 And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"
12 And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Terry and Divya McArthur are from Lumberton, North Carolina and live there with their 12-year-old son, Christian.  They are also hurricane survivors.  They went through Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and Divya, who had inherited her grandmother's house, decided, with her husband to repair their house and stay in the area.

On its website, the relief organization Operation Blessing states:

They felt certain that Matthew had been a once in a hundred years’ storm, and they worked hard to get their home back into shape. Meanwhile, Divya continued working at her small salon in town, and Terry as a corrections officer.

When Hurricane Florence headed their way this year, they thought their house would be fine. Still, they heeded the warnings to get to higher ground just to make sure they didn’t get trapped, and they took all the precautions they could to protect their house.

It wasn’t until after the worst of the storm, when a nearby river crested later that week, that tragedy struck for a second time. Divya had to deal with seeing her home destroyed with contaminated water and mold once again. She said, “For lack of a better word, it’s a disaster…. I was kind of numb. You don’t want it to be true.”

The story relates:

In the midst of it all Divya quoted Romans 8:28, saying, “’All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord.’ So that’s where I’m finding peace.”

Even though they were encouraged to "abandon" their home, there was so much emotional attachment.  Operation Blessing showed up in Lumberton, and Divya said, “Thank you to those who give…. I’m grateful and my heart is leaping. I have some hope now.” Volunteers were there and helped "remove flooring, sheet rock, and damaged items from the home."

But, as you can imagine, I am sure the McArthurs needed a break.  So, while their home in North Carolina was being repaired, according to CBN, they were invited to come to New York City for a taping of The Tonight Show.  Host Jimmy Fallon recognized them and asked the question, "Your house is a very special house, why is it special to you?" Divya replied, "Because my grandmother gave it to me," Divya replied.

The story continues:

"Your grandmother left it to you and you've had a tough couple of years huh?" Fallon said, pointing out they were hit by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and now again by Hurricane Florence.

Fallon said the family would be given a new roof and their home would be given a makeover with new furnishings thanks to a partnership between Home Depot and Operation Blessing.

Fallon said, "Here's what they're gonna do...They're gonna come in, they're gonna fix your home, they're gonna fix your roof, they're gonna repaint and insulate your house, they're gonna provide new furniture and appliances, redo your yard, and send in a Home Depot designer to refurnish your home."

As the Operation Blessing website says, "As Divya predicted, it’s clear that God is working things together for her family’s good, and turning their tragedy into triumph."

Good for Jimmy Fallon.  It's been pointed out that he is less involved with the negative political humor that characterizes his competitors Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel.  And to partner with a Christian relief organization is an encouraging step for the show.  

We can be reminded that there are still many victims of Hurricane Michael near our Faith Radio listening area.  Our Billy Irvin volunteered in the Panama City Beach area with Operation Blessing recently.  We have featured the work of Samaritan's Purse in the region.  And, local churches from our area are partnering with churches and organizations in storm-ravaged areas to provide help and hope.  We encourage you to consider how you can help those who have suffered loss in the wake of this destructive storm.

The McArthurs are not merely getting a repair job from Operation Blessing and Home Depot; they are receiving a total revamp, a makeover.  It is reminiscent of what Christ does in us when we accept Him as Savior.  The Christian life is not merely a fix for our human fraility, it is a total remaking of our lives from the inside out, predicated on His giving us a new life. 

Finally, we remember that we are called to be people of hope; we can know that as we continue to love God, that He will work in our lives according to His faithfulness.  We have the opportunity at Christmas to represent that hope in tangible ways.

Faith Expressions, Part I

We are in that season of the year in which I like to say that people may be more sensitive to spiritual matters, as they consider why there is celebration taking place.  Hebrews 6 reminds us that we are to
be people of hope:
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hope is produced as the result of our reliance on Jesus Christ living in and through us - our growth in Him and the revelation of His character in us can make a powerful statement to the world around us. We are to be people who are grounded in our Biblical beliefs, who can be trusted and have a powerful influence because we trust in the One who is the hope of the world.  We can express our faith in a manner that brings glory to our Savior.

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We are people who are called to exhibit conviction and exercise compassion, so that people may see
the truth of Christ in action through us. 1st Peter 3 states:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

It is true that in our approach to the political realm that we never place party over position.  But, when a party's position aligns with Biblical principles, a number of Christians embrace candidates who are aligned with that particular party.  It's the way things are in American politics; not necessarily the best construct, but the hand we've been dealt.

And, we have seen an interesting dynamic occur in the culture at large - what evangelicals believe and what certain media outlets would like for evangelicals to believe are not the same.  Take, for instance, in the run-up to the Texas Senate race, the New York Times ran a story of five young, self-proclaimed evangelical women who supported Beto O'Rourke, the Democrat candidate - even though he was heavily supported by Planned Parenthood.  This was a brazen attempt to make it look as if there was a political shift among younger evangelicals.

Truth is, the mainstream media could care less about what evangelical Christians think, except when they can identify some who actually fit their purposes.  But, there is new survey data that disputes the notion of a liberalization of the evangelical community at large, even though we see pockets where more progressive elements are infiltrating the Church.

There was an interesting story at the Vox website, hardly a conservative space, that examines evangelical voting patterns.  And, while it identifies more liberal voices within the evangelical community, it does say this:

Overall, there isn’t much evidence of a young evangelical voice that is being “drowned out” by elders. On many issues, young evangelicals are quite similar to older evangelicals. When it comes to abortion, a signature issue among evangelicals, Ryan Burge finds that they are just as conservative on abortion as others. As Jeremy Castle shows in his forthcoming book Rock of Ages, one reason for this is that many evangelical churches have mechanisms for socializing members into conservative attitudes on cultural issues, including sponsoring Sanctity of Life Sunday and crisis pregnancy centers. As Andrew Lewis documents, another reason may be that the mandates of abortion politics drive conservatives to maintain support for anti-abortion candidates.

The story took aim at another unbalanced Times story, saying:

In short, accounts of a new generation of liberal young evangelicals such as the one appearing in the New York Times last week are intriguing, but the survey data for the most part doesn’t support the narrative that they are growing and shifting their politics from their parents and even grandparents.

This is consistent with what we have heard from observers of the March for Life, which report an influx of younger people who stand strong for life.

And, get this - again, from the Vox article:

Both partisanship and self-identified left-right ideology among 18- to 29-year-old evangelicals have remained nearly constant since 1990, though with a demonstrable conservative uptick in 2016.

 Regarding the President, a topic that certainly makes its way into these types of discussions:

Young evangelical support for Trump is also more complicated than initial analyses suggest. Even though Trump falls far short of evangelical ideals in terms of both his positions on certain issues and his personal behavior, evangelicals remained one of his most loyal constituencies. Burge’s research on young evangelicals indicates only very small differences in support for Trump across age groups.

A chart in the article shows that almost 79% of young white evangelicals, 18-29 years of age, went for Trump, just under the 81% of the 50-64 crowd who voted for him.

And, before you characterize this poll as an outlier, consider a new Pew poll that was released after the election.  The Family Research Council website states that Alan Cooperman, director of religion research at Pew presented data at a Faith Angle Forum event:

Samuel Smith, who covered the panel for the Christian Post, did us all a favor by transcribing the bulk of Cooperman's talk -- not just on the elections of 2018, but on the trends of the last several years. And if you're one of the millions of people who tuned in for the media's analysis of November 6, prepare to be surprised. Evangelical voters, Cooperman will tell you, aren't going anywhere.

FRC published four myths, which we'll unpack next week:

1. Evangelicals are turning liberal or turning against Trump
2. Younger evangelicals are more liberal and are turning Democratic
3. "Real evangelicals" are not supportive of Trump
4. White evangelicals are abandoning the 'evangelical' label

Now, research divides people into various categories; labels, if you will.  Each of us are individual moral agents and make our own choices, but we are to always make policy choices based on the principles of Scripture.  When the opportunity arises, we should allow our Biblical beliefs to determine our policy choices.  But, I don't think we should eschew politics.

Party affiliation has become a bad thing in some Christian circles, but our alignment with a set of ideals is actually an expression of our convictions.  Is there something wrong with possessing principles and allowing those principles to drive our choices?

Remember, though, our primary allegiance is to our Savior.  Evangelicals should never be characterized as simply a voting bloc.  The vibrancy of our faith should be evident to a culture in need of hope.

Wash

We cannot save ourselves; we are hopelessly lost without Christ and any amount of self-reliance that
is expressed that includes merely placing a God-stamp upon human effort, is not Biblical Christianity. Ephesians 2 says:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Salvation comes to us as a result of a decision that we make - a decision to allow someone else to control our lives.  Jesus comes in, redeems our spirits, and transforms us into a new creations.  We begin the process of sanctification, of allowing His strength to be our own, His words to be our guide, and His new identity to determine who we really are.  He doesn't come in to be an additional source for happy living; He come in to be our life.

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One of the challenges of the Christian life is to put aside self-reliance and develop a sense of Christ-
reliance, realizing, as 2nd Corinthians 3 instructs, that He is sufficient for us. We can read:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

It's been one of the top books of the last several months, and still occupies a lofty spot on the book charts.  It's a book that was released by a Christian publisher and it was written by a lady named Rachel Hollis.  It's called, Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be.

So, what's the lightning in a bottle here, what can be termed a self-help book by someone previously unknown it seems.  I decided to dig a little deeper, and have come up with some insight into the message that Hollis is attempting to communicate.

Blogger Alisa Childers' analysis has shown up at The Gospel Coalition and The Stream.  She is a Christian recording artist, teacher, and podcast host. On her site, she says:

She's carved out a nice little corner of the internet for herself, cultivating a community over a million strong and growing. She cooks, decorates, gives advice, and is known for her no nonsense honesty and humor. "I love Jesus, and I cuss a little. I love Jesus, and I drink alcohol. I love Jesus, and some of my best friends are gay," she recently posted on Facebook. She and her husband invite couples of all stripes (unmarried, married, same-sex) to take part in their couples conference, where the participants are encouraged to "learn some tangible advice. . .and make-out like a couple of teenagers."

Childers is direct in her critique, and she states:

Make no mistake, sisters. This book is all about YOU. In chapter one, she writes, "You are meant to be the hero of your own story,” and “You, and only you are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.” She plainly states, "You should be the very first of your priorities." The book is littered with references to "self-love" and "self-care." In fact, this theme is so pervasive that it forms the infrastructure for how she responds to everything from hardship to trauma to parenting to working out.

 This self-reliance is a theme that blogger and book reviewer Tim Challies picks up on.  He writes:

Here is the book in short: The great truth every woman needs to know is that she, and she alone, is responsible for her happiness. Happiness (defined as contentment, optimism, gratitude, the appearance of perfection, and enjoyment of 90 percent of life), depends upon identifying and destroying whatever lies she believes about herself. To do this, she must take hold of the power she has within. When she fails, she should take comfort that at least she made the effort and determine she will try harder next time. The big takeaway is this: Try harder! And when that fails: Try even harder! And when that fails, try again!

He believes this perspective is "antithetical to the Bible."  Challies states: "The Bible is clear that the greatest need of every woman is not happiness but holiness, not Rachel-likeness but Christ-likeness." He outlines the contrast:

Hollis says, “Good news! Tomorrow is a new day.” The Bible says, “Good news! Christ can make you a new person.”

Summer White Jaeger, a podcast host and blogger, is quite direct about the Hollis approach, which does seem to, as she states, regard Christianity as an "add-on;"

...there are people out there who believe a Christ-less Christianity is possible. Rachel has not turned from her sins to find life in Christ. She has turned to therapy, to “self-love”, to self-deception, to never letting the patriarchy get her down. To getting a tattoo so her pastor-dad couldn’t make her feel “small” anymore. Her “solutions” are not solutions—they are coping mechanisms for hopeless people. The Christianity she claims to believe is an add-on, a prop. It has nothing to do with how she views herself, her marriage, her children, or her “god”.

I have not read the book, but I think these reviewers identify what I see as a fine line between self-help and God-help, between self-esteem and identity in Christ.  God doesn't help those who help themselves; that is not in the Bible, but He does help the child of God who relies on Jesus as his or her hope.  He offers a new identity that cannot be manufactured by human effort, by symbolic "face-washing."  God gives us a new heart, a new outlook - a new face!   As Childers writes;

Rest from striving, my friend. Yes. Wash your face. Take care of yourself. Make good choices. But know who you are in Christ. If you let this truth become the foundation of how you see the world, you will be content to glorify Him in every situation, whether you're cleaning bathrooms or relaxing at your beach house, changing diapers or crushing your career goals.

Jaeger's pointed critique includes these words of hope:

God has something to say about what kind of woman you are. What kind of mom you are. What kind of goal-achiever you should be. He says that you must lay down your life, take up your cross, and follow Him. God requires our obedience, and that is a truth that Hollis has not bowed down to.

To me, the contrast is stark: Hollis says, essentially, that it's all about you.  Rick Warren, in the Purpose-Driven Life, says it's not.  And, I believe that lines up with the Biblical concept.  Our identity is not found in our humanity, but in how we embrace His divinity.  We can try to help ourselves, but that shuts out the accessibility to the power of God.

We also recognize that it is ineffective to rely on human effort and place a "God-stamp" on it.  There are those who dabble in religion and say spiritual-sounding platitudes, but as Summer Jaeger points out, we have to lay down our lives.  Period.  To release the life of Christ, the power of the new creation, self has to die.  Self doesn't need to be "helped," it needs to be crucified in Christ.

Change is possible; and if we want to change, we have to acknowledge not only that need, but also the Savior who is capable of making that lasting change.  I think it's counterproductive to parade our sins for all the world to see - that's not who we are; we are new creations in Christ and can testify to what He has done in our hearts.  He's more than a crutch we lean on when the going gets rough; He is our Comforter and Counselor we trust as we go through life.

Light in the Fire

We can trust the Lord in the midst of our difficulties and acknowledge Him in our victories.  We can
place our hope in the hand of God. Isaiah 12 says:
2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' "
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: "Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

When we endure trouble, we can make sure that we are praying, calling out to God.  Sometimes He will deliver, other times, we will remain in that trial period until His purpose is fulfilled.  But, even then, we can know that He walks with us and His presence can sustain us through the experience.  We can draw closer to Him as we acknowledge our need for Him.  And, when that season is complete, we can testify to His faithfulness.

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There is a passage in Psalm 18 that can remind us to call out to God in prayer, recognizing that He is our source of strength.  His ways are higher than our own, and His answer may not be what we
expect, but we can trust Him. The passage says:
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Camp Fire in California has now been brought under control, and the damage is massive, with thousands of homes destroyed and dozens losing their lives.  But, for one church in the city of Paradise, in the center of the destruction, the fire became - an answer to prayer!

According to a piece on The Stream website:

Pastor Tim Bolin of Paradise Alliance Church told The Stream his church has recently been praying for God to provide an opportunity to share the Gospel in their community. That He would change the hearts of those in Paradise. They never thought that prayer would be answered in such a sorrowful way.

The pastor is quoted as saying: "...What’s interesting is, I just talked to my neighbor, I just moved into a new house seven days before the fire. His house and our house are actually still standing, but the fence between us burned down. He’s not a believer but he said, 'Tim, I’m spiritual. Maybe I need to go to church. Maybe you and I could talk about God and why did He spare our houses?’ All the sudden he’s asking questions and I’ve never had an opportunity before."

Bolin's house survived and the church survived.  His daughter-in-law and grandsons had a close call; in a position in which they were surrounded by fire and took refuge in a bulldozer pulled by a fire engine until a fireman led them to safety.  

Now, Bolin is dedicated to helping to meet the needs of the community. The article says that:

When he and others get back into Paradise in a few months, he’s planning to make the south lot of the church into parking places for RVs and trailers. It’s then, he explained, that reality will hit. “You’re going to have to really help some people with comfort and love and hope.”

In the meantime, the pastor is requesting prayer, saying, "That’s the only thing sustaining us. And I don’t say that lightly." He relates: "The last few days, we’ve heard from several sources, the adrenaline has worn off. And despair’s hitting. And all those emotions are hitting them and I just believe prayer’s our best tool.”

Let's examine some takeaways in this midst of this story that is filled with devastation, but that can lead us to hope.  We know that prayer can provide the foundation for not only recovery, but sustenance in the midst of our difficulty.   And, the answers to our prayers, as we see in this case, are not necessarily what we might expect.

Pastor Bolin did not endure some of the enormous destruction that came as a result of this fire.  It is a difficult thing sometimes to consider why some are delivered from disaster and some are not.  But, a principle on which we can rely is: if you've been blessed, you can consider how you can bless other people.   We can celebrate and communicate the goodness of God.

Also, we can learn that desperation can produce opportunities to serve and to converse about spiritual matters.  In the midst of service, conversation can arise.  And, in the midst of commiseration, meaningful dialogue can proceed.  The common experience can provide a platform to discuss the things of the Lord.

And, we can remember to be thankful for how we have seen God show up.  His mercies endure forever, as Psalm 136 tells us, and we can give honor and praise to our loving, merciful, and longsuffering God, who is faithful to work in our lives for His glory.

Surviving

I believe the Lord wants us to be content in Him; the apostle Paul wrote about experiencing that
contentment, regardless of our circumstances. We can read in 1st Timothy chapter 6:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

It's been said that God is not against us having things; He just doesn't not want things to have you.  That's a good lesson for us - it's vital to a productive and vibrant Christian life that we are not caught up in what the Bible refers to as the "cares" of this world.  We can reject the worry and anxiety of pursuing wealth, power, or position, and enjoy the peace that passes all understanding.  He is our sufficiency, and He wants us to live in the pleasure of knowing and experiencing that.

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In Matthew chapter 6, we find that Jesus is teaching about trust Him as our sufficiency.  Picking up in verse 25, we can read:
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Perhaps you have been following a trend toward what are called "tiny houses."  The website, The Tiny Life, says:

Simply put, the trend toward tiny houses has become a social movement. People are choosing to downsize the space they live in, simplify, and live with less. People are embracing the tiny life philosophy and the freedom that accompanies the tiny house lifestyle. The tiny house movement is about more than simply living in a small space (although, a small house is certainly part of it).

The site defines a "tiny house" as less than 400 square feet; it says the average home in America is 2600 square feet.

This could really be an entre' into a discussion of pursuing a simple life, perhaps become more minimalist in our approach.  And, it's true that we can examine what we have and see if we could get by with less in order to be more generous to those who have less.

But, I want to shift in a direction of how this tiny house concept is being used by a ministry in California to bring hope and dignity to women in crisis.  Faithwire recently profiled Acres of Hope, a ministry to women described as: "a neighborhood of tiny homes, a space that provides not just for visitors’ physical needs, but meets their psychological and spiritual requirements, too."  The article continues:

Acres of Hope, a faith-based charity, sees each of those needs as equally important.

“People need to have their basic needs met, obviously. They need to have food, clothing, shelter. But that’s not going to transform them,” Lisa Risdal, the organization’s executive director, told Faithwire. “That’s not going to equip them to be able to support themselves and their children. It’s not gonna equip them to succeed or even become a loving and nurturing mom.”

The neighborhood is located in Auburn, in northern California. The women who come are survivors of "different kinds of trauma, some stemming from sexual abuse or domestic violence. Others are suffering with drug addictions or alcoholism. Some have simply struggled to break out of the cycle of homelessness." The article states:

With all their physical needs provided for, Risdal said, it frees the mothers up to invest the necessary amount of time into their emotional and spiritual healthiness.

Risdal said it’s important for the woman to learn they have “a loving God and that they have something that’s much bigger than themselves that they can lean on, that they can draw from, finding out that they are worthy, that they know what a safe and loving relationship looks like.”

Women stay up to two years in the program.  They, along with their children, stay in a tiny house that has been customized, "decorated and furnished specifically for them."  According to Faithwire:

The charity certainly works to bring physical healing and benefits to the women who participate in the program — assisting them with everything from teaching basic home skills to restoring parental rights — but the emotional and spiritual restoration takes time.

Risdal likens it to "metamorphosis" and the process of a caterpillar developing into a butterfly:

“People talk about the caterpillar and they talk about the butterfly,” she said, “but they forget about that period in the cocoon. It had to be painful, but it was also key. That transformation is what has to happen, you can’t just give the caterpillar butterfly wings and expect it to fly.”

There are quite a few considerations related to this movement.  One is that when a person comes to Christ, transformation is spontaneous in the heart, and that is sustained through practice and spiritual growth.  Each of us has been transformed by the power of Christ, and we have to make sure the truth of what has occurred within permeates every area of our lives.  We acknowledge the sufficiency of God's Word.

I think there is a powerful lesson about minimalism here, as well: we can depend on the Lord to meet our needs, and our attempt to live outside our means may be a source of stress and anxiety and can distract us spiritually.  Perhaps a scaling back or reevaluation can enable us to experience more of Him.  These ladies are living in a state of having their physical needs met at Acres of Hope, and that gives then the opportunity to discover God's freedom.

Freed

We need to experience the peace of God through the challenges we encounter.  God invites us to call upon Him, with an element of giving thanks. Here's what Philippians 4 has to say:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Trouble can produce anxiety, no doubt.  We can even become fearful about what might happen to us and become full of worry and anxiety.  But, even in our difficulties, we can trust the Lord and call to Him.  And, recognize that one word in the midst of verse 6: thanksgiving.  We can always take time to express thanks to our Lord - He has done so much for us.  He has loved us and brought us into salvation through His Son.  We can depend on Him to sustain us through our deepest struggles.

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In the midst of trouble we may face, still we can express praise and thanksgiving to God - this is a
concept we find in Psalm 28:
6 Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
8 The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

Almost 400 years ago, a group of people seeking religious freedom landed on the shores of what is now Massachusetts.  Times were rough in the new world, but God sustained them, and after a season of peril, they celebrated a time of Thanksgiving to Him.

We remember that the Pilgrims were people in search of freedom; we, too, can experience freedom - certainly we want religious freedom, but the most important type of freedom is the spiritual liberty that Jesus Christ offers us: freedom from the power of sin and death and being free to live according to His truth.  That is certainly something for which we can give God thanks during this season of Thanksgiving: salvation in Him!

There is a group of practicing Christians in the African nation of Cameroon who are celebrating their physical freedom these days.  Recently, 80 hostages from a Presbyterian school were released.  Christianity Today reports that:

Just over a week after being captured at gunpoint, the principal, dorm warden, and two remaining students were freed Monday, while the rest of the victims, students ages 11–17, were let go last week, Reuters reported.

The Presbyterian-run boarding school in the region’s capital, Bamenda, has been forced to shut down since the captors threatened further attacks.

The article relates that in the country, there have been around "a dozen" school abductions in the past year, with four in the past two months.  Some 400 civilians have lost their lives, and over 250,000 people have been displaced.  This all comes in the midst of a potential civil war between English- and French-speaking regions, and the French-speaking majority is becoming "increasingly violent."  A recent election has resulted in the long-term leader returning to office and causing unrest among the English-speaking, or Anglophone community.

And, the Church seems to be in the crosshairs.  The article states:

Cameroon’s churches, whose cry for peace has intensified over the past few months, have suffered in the separatist conflict, with four church buildings taken over by military forces and at least 50 Christian-run primary schools, secondary schools, and hospitals affected, according to Gustav Ebai, information and communication secretary for the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon.

“We have failed God,” he said in an interview with CT. “There is no evil like the evil I have seen in my country.”

The story quotes Fonki Samuel Forba, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), who stated: “Given what the Anglophone community is passing through at this moment, we cannot really celebrate; feasting and enjoying ourselves while many of God’s children are being killed, living in pains, frustrated and others living as internal and external refugees..."  The article says that Forba...

...advised congregations in the PCC—the largest local English-speaking denomination, with over a million members—to keep observances low-key and to use the occasion to raise awareness about those impacted by the recent violence.

About a hundred PCC pastors have fled the affected regions, and church leaders are ministering to those who have been displaced.  The path to a lasting peace seems very difficult, at this time.

On this day before Thanksgiving, we can remember that even in the midst of turmoil, we can seek the peace of God.  There may be disappointment or despair that has set in, yet, we can continue to give God praise for His faithfulness and love, depending on Him to walk with us through the difficulties we face.

As the Church in Cameroon, reminds us, we can also be sure to minister to our fellow travelers.  There may be those in our own congregations who are facing the holiday season with a sense of loss, or who are currently enduring a trying time.  There are opportunities to share the love of Christ.

We can also celebrate the freedom we have in Christ and in our country.  We recognize the Biblical concepts upon which this nation was founded, and we can thank the Lord for His hand of blessing. But, we also remember those who are not free - fellow Christians, including those in Cameroon, are facing persecution and it's important that we remember them.  While they are certainly free in Christ, they live under the threat of imprisonment and even death.  And, we give God thanks for people like Andrew Brunson and Asia Bibi, who have been set from government oppression.

Reality

In the midst of a culture that is susceptible to deception, we can call upon the Lord for His presence. He will calm our hearts and clear our minds, so that we can see His truth. Zechariah 10 states:
1 Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
2 For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.

People make up their own truth and live in their own realities apart from God.  But, we have someone, declared to be the "way, the truth, and the life," who will show us God's ways and keep us on track in our spiritual life.  He is the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, who wants to show us the way we should walk and empower us with His Word, the truth that we need in order to stay locked in to His reality and to make good decisions that reflect His wisdom.

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Satan is the author of lies and his aim is to, as Jesus said, "steal, kill, and destroy."  We must guard our own minds and lives, recognizing that there is a deceiver who is working to overturn the plan of
God. In 2nd Thessalonians 2, we find a description of the times in which we live; we can read:
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In an attempt to create a "new reality," perhaps, people are literally attempting to take outrageous steps in order to deny what is real and factual and enter into some substitute world, a parallel universe, of sorts.

For instance, when you start saying that a person can change their gender simply by declaring a new identity, and when gender is regarded as fluid rather than fixed, you are, in a sense, denying biological reality.  And, it can actually lead to some extreme consequences.  For instance, the Guardian reports:

A 69-year-old Dutch “positivity guru” who says he does not feel his age has started a battle to make himself legally 20 years younger on the grounds that he is being discriminated against on a dating app.

Emile Ratelband told a court in Arnhem in the Netherlands that he did not feel “comfortable” with his date of birth, and compared his wish to alter it to people who identified as transgender.

The article went on to say:

Doctors had told him his body was that of a 45-year-old man, Ratelband argued. He described himself as a “young god”.

The judge conceded that the ability to change gender was a development in the law. “I agree with you: a lot of years ago we thought that was impossible,” he said.

Ratelband says his age is an impediment to "love."  A Japanese man has decided that he loves - an animated character and spent thousands of dollars to marry her recently.  Business Insider reports:

Akihiko Kondo was determined to never marry after being bullied by female seniors at his previous workplace. He picked Hatsune Miku instead – a hologram who won't "cheat, age or die".

The 35-year-old school administrator has certainly married into fame. Miku is an animated 16-year-old with saucer eyes and lengthy aquamarine pigtails, known as a vocaloid. The virtual reality singer is one of the most popular pop-culture icons in Japan, known for selling out live concert performances.

Kondo has a desktop version of Miku, which is a home device likened to Alexa or Google Home. He sleeps with the doll version, which has its own wedding ring.

Apparently, Kondo apparently is not alone in this type of arrangement. The article states that: "Hologram device manufacturer Gatebox has distributed 3,700 marriage certificates for these 'cross-dimension' marriages, according to Geek.com."

And, the desire for love and intimacy has resulted in the opening of brothels around the world, using robots.  Fortunately, the city of Houston has resisted the dubious distinction of being the host city for the first such place in the U.S.  The Houston Chronicle reports:

A Toronto company’s plan to open a sex service in Houston offering “adult love dolls” available “to rent before you buy” has sparked opposition from city leaders and an online campaign to keep so-called robot brothels out of the city.

The article says that the mayor is reviewing city ordinances or could be looking at new ones to prevent such an enterprise from opening in the city or at least to regulate it.

These are some extreme versions of departures from objective, Biblical truth and from biology.  A person cannot identify with an age different than his or her real age.  A person cannot "marry" an animated character and call it marriage.  And, having some form of relations with a robot is a twisted departure from true intimacy.

I think there is certainly an element of desperation here, and desperation can bring delusion.  But, even in our own lives, we have to watch out for ways the enemy would deceive us and draw us away from reality.  We can become captive to our own thoughts - our ideas and perceptions of situations can be inappropriately distorted because of errant thinking.  We have to stay grounded in reality.  Worry and anxiety can result in developing the incorrect view of situations.  Jumping to conclusions based on uninformed observations can harm relationships.

God's Word is a powerful force in order to renew our minds.   The Bible warns against fear, which can produce departures from truth - we are told that instead of a spirit of fear, we are to possess power, love, and a sound mind.  We must think Biblically and stay grounded in reality.  The enemy would try to get us off course and we can adopt ideas that are patently contradictory to Scripture.  That's why the spiritual disciplines of Bible study and prayer help to keep us on track.

These instances I cited show what happens or what can happen when a culture adopts ideas that are contrary to God's standards.  And, we remember that a departure from God's laws and standards is at one's own risk.  We must remain devoted to upholding His truth in a culture that is willing to accept less.

Shoeboxes

Reaching children is a viable and effective strategy of the Church, recognizing their hearts are more open when young to receive the truth of the gospel. Matthew 19 states:
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Oh, and by the way, Jesus taught that we are all to approach Him as little children, with an willing and submissive heart, possessing openness and humility.  Ministry to children is a tool that God can use to touch entire families, and it's important that the body of Christ is engaged in reaching them in that critical time.  And, you know, it doesn't always take a big program to reach them; sometimes, it's a one-on-one conversation, a time to listen and love.

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God is dedicated to doing good works through His people who desire to be obedient to Him.  In
Matthew 10, we read where Jesus sent out His disciples:
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Today is the final day of National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child - centers all across the Faith Radio listening area have been available, receiving these shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for needy children all around the world.

This is the 25th anniversary year of Operation Christmas Child.  It's an effort that started with a phone call.  The Samaritan's Purse website relates:

During the summer of 1993, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham received a call from a man in England asking his help on behalf of children in Bosnia who were suffering because of a brutal civil war. The Englishman specifically asked for shoeboxes filled with gifts to deliver to these little ones at Christmas. Samaritan’s Purse was already working in Bosnia, and Franklin had been there three times in the previous year, so he was eager to help.

It was summer and Franklin set it aside - until, that is, he received another phone call from the same man.  So, Graham swung into action; he called a pastor friend, Ross Rhoads, in Charlotte, who organized an effort to collect shoeboxes.  The website says:

Shortly after Thanksgiving, Ross called Franklin to report that 11,000 shoebox gifts were now lining the hallways of his church!

Combining these gifts with more from our Canadian office, Samaritan’s Purse sent 28,000 shoebox gifts to children in Bosnia that Christmas. Ross and Carol Rhoads traveled to the war-torn nation to help us distribute them.

Since that initial year, Operation Christmas Child "has partnered with local churches around the world to deliver 157 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need in 160 countries. Each one—packed full of fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items by a family or individual—is sent with prayer that the child who receives it will experience God’s love through their simple gifts."  There are also eight countries where shoeboxes are packed.

One of those who have been reached is Felisha on the island of Trinidad.  The article on the website says that when she was eight, she received a shoebox with "a doll, stationery, colorful socks, and a teddy bear."  She said, "I didn’t know anything about Jesus because I had never been to church before, so I was really curious."  She went to church, and the next year, her sister received a shoebox; their father said, “I was amazed at the love I saw in those boxes.”

Now the entire family has accepted Christ and they have planted a church.  Felicia is now 25 years old.

Shoebox recipients are also invited to attend a 12-week discipleship program called, The Greatest Journey.  Dariya from Mongolia is a child who was strengthened in her faith through receiving a shoebox and going to the program.  According to the Samaritan's Purse website, Dariya received a box back in February.  The story says that her parents are divorced; her mother works often in South Korea.  The article relates:

“I miss my mom when she’s in Korea,” Dariya said. “Sometimes I call my mom and I share what’s on my heart and sometimes I cry.”

But the day she received her Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift was a particularly bright spot for her.

“They told us about Jesus,” Dariya explained. She had become a Christian in 2016, but the outreach event sponsored by a local church in 2018 helped her understand more about the God she’d committed to serve.

At The Greatest Journey sessions, we are told:

At these classes joined by other shoebox recipients, Dariya learned more about God and how to share him with others.

“Because I attended the 12 lessons of The Greatest Journey, I am changed,” Dariya said. “I developed more of a relationship with God.”

She cites a range of evidence of how God has worked in her life through this course.

“Before I wasted my time a lot just searching on my mobile phone and didn’t keep my room tidy,” Dariya said. “After The Greatest Journey, I keep my room tidy and spend more time with [cousin] Hannah.”

And, Dariya writes in her prayer book on a daily basis.

So, today, as National Collection Week concludes, there is much to celebrate about the work of Operation Christmas Child.  And, if you have not turned in a shoebox, you can actually pack one virtually through the Samaritan's Purse website.  There are several considerations for us.

Number 1, Franklin Graham didn't set out to build a new ministry, he just responded to a need.  I think that perhaps we can become concerned about building empires or doing something great for God, but a simple response, a simple act of obedience, is what He's calling for.

Also, we can see how God will use various tools to open the hearts of people so they will receive the gospel.  In this case, it's the shoebox that produces joy, openness, and trust.  The shoeboxes are used by the Lord to build relationships in the community, and provide an opportunity for the gospel to be shared.

Participation in Operation Christmas Child can help to facilitate families working together to serve. And, for kids, it can shift the focus at Christmas away from receiving and on to giving.  We can become more mindful of children in need all around the world and develop a greater sense of compassion for those less fortunate than ourselves.

The Best

We have been given incredible resources in order that we may fulfill what God has called us to do, and it's all predicated on our love relationship with Jesus Christ:  we serve Him because we love
Him. Colossians 3 states:
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.

So much wisdom in those verses just about our effort and our motivation for exerting it.  We are called to do our work, whatever form it may take, with enthusiasm.  But, we also recognize the "why": because we serve Him and want to honor Him.  I believe that we should put forth our best effort, with diligence and a desire for excellence, so that God may be praised.  Our witness to others is enhanced as we rely on the power of God working mightily through us.

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In Ecclesiastes 9, we see that Solomon is encouraging us to work hard, but we also recognize that we
are to depend on the strength of the Lord. We can read:
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Face it - people just like Tim Tebow: his effervescent smile and radiant personality, which I believe come from His relationship with Christ, attract people to Him.  The former Heisman Trophy winner has landed gigs with SEC Nation on the SEC Network and was a feature host on Good Morning America.  He is generous with his resources: he has a foundation and has built a hospital in the Philippines.  And, the foundation hosts prom events for people with special needs each year; in fact, Montgomery has its first "Night of Joy" coming up in February of next year.

So, it's not surprising that Tim has just been named as host of a new reality series called, Million Dollar Mile, which has as its executive producer none other than LeBron James.  A ChristianHeadlines.com article outlines the concept:

The ten-episode series follows competitors as they try to win $1 million. According to Deadline.com, competitors will have the opportunity to win the $1 million prize when they run the Million Dollar Mile, but first, they must complete what Deadline is calling, “the most challenging course ever designed.”

While completing the course, competitors will also have to beat elite athletes whose job is to stop the contestants from winning the money.

The series is set to air on CBS.  The article quotes from the network's website:

“Watching good people compete at their highest ability is always inspirational to me,” said Tebow while speaking of the show. “Million Dollar Mile is a show that does just that – it motivates, thrills and is aspirational, and I’m excited to be hosting this show.”

The CBS site also notes that: Alongside Matt 'Money' Smith, the play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Chargers, and ESPN's Maria Taylor, Tebow is set to oversee commentary for the show, which is currently in production for a 10-episode debut season.

We know about Tim Tebow's Christian faith, but did you know about Maria Taylor.  You may recognize her for her stint on SEC Nation and as an ESPN sideline reporter; yes, she was the one who asked Coach Saban about the Alabama quarterback situation earlier in the season and the coach gave an answer that he later apologized for.  Maria, like Tebow, is a Christian.  In a Sports Spectrum article from earlier this year quoting from the Chris Craft podcast, we can read:

Taylor didn’t have a walk with Christ through high school despite going to a few FCA events but it was in college when she was introduced to church by her best friend and teammate Katie and then things began to change.

“I enjoyed being there and seeing what these people seemingly had. Everyone seemed nice. From that I started going to our Bible studies with a group of student athletes. It was all women. It was a very comfortable setting, you could be very open and honest. And finally we started having real discussions and that’s how I was kind of introduced to what having a relationship with Christ looked like.”

The article notes that she has grown in her walk with the Lord:

“We can’t do anything to be loved anymore. It’s about knowing that God is worthy and He wants a relationship with us,” Taylor shared. “It was a long and tedious journey and figuring out that I’m not the athleticism, I’m not any of the skills I have. I am who God is in me. And that’s it. That has helped me a lot.”

Taylor says her identity in Christ has helped her deal with the criticisms that come her way everyday in her broadcasting career and being a public personality.

Maria is also involved in The Winning Edge, which helps to connect and prepare women and minority students for careers in the sports industry.  I would say that God has certainly blessed her efforts in the world of sports, having been a former athlete at the University of Georgia, an all-SEC volleyball player, and now in her pursuit of excellence in sports journalism.  Now, there's another open door for her.

I think one valuable lesson we can apply to our lives is that we should seek to fulfill the call that God has placed on us - with excellence.  The world would say, "be the best you can be."  God says, "be who I have called you to be."  And, with a desire to honor Him, we can seek to perform in His strength.

I believe that we should pursue excellence because it pleases God and produces satisfaction.  There is a sense of fulfillment from knowing that we have worked hard, that we have been diligent, and that we have developed the skills that enable us to do what we are called to do.  But we keep in mind that we are not our gifts; we are not our skills - they are tools that God uses for His glory, but we are the people whom God has made us to be; our identity is in Him.

Overflow

As I discussed earlier this week on The Meeting House, this is a season of the year in which believers have opportunities to show mercy.  And, that really an important consideration of the Christian life
throughout the year, on a consistent basis. Luke 6 challenges us:
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Those are the words of Jesus, who showed ultimate mercy by giving His life on the cross.  We recognize that God our Heavenly Father, according to James 1, is the giver of all good gifts, and can give Him the glory and praise for the blessings we receive - material and otherwise.  He will also bless us in order to bless other people, so that His love can be expressed and perhaps people can come to receive His love into their own lives and come into a saving knowledge of Jesus.

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In 2nd Corinthians chapter 9, we can read about how our generosity actually affects our degree of
thanksgiving. We see:
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God...

As we enter in to this season of Thanksgiving, we can take time to thank God for the spiritual blessings that flow from a relationship with Christ.  And, if you have been blessed materially, it's a good time to reflect on what you have experienced.

A new LifeWay Research study shows how positive economic conditions have affected giving to churches.  The survey summary states:

Today, 8 in 10 Protestant pastors (79 percent) say the total offerings at their church this year are at or above last year’s levels, including 42 percent who say this year is ahead of last year. Few pastors (15 percent) say giving is not keeping pace with last year.

Those positive giving numbers have followed the economic upturn, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

“The increases in offerings so many churches are experiencing coincide with what most economists refer to as ‘full employment,’ as well as increased wage growth in 2018,” McConnell said.

McConnell adds that those who receive Social Security, who he cites as "likely some of the most faithful donors in many churches," have received above a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for two consecutive years.

According to their pastors, almost half of churches with over 100 members have reported increases, while just over a third of churches with less than 100 have seen increases.

The survey summary points out how pastors view the economy related to their churches:

For the first time since LifeWay Research began asking pastors economic questions in 2009, more pastors say the economy is having a positive rather than a negative impact on their church.

Today, 45 percent of pastors see the economy as benefiting their church, while 35 percent say it is having no impact.

McConnell also adds that, "Most trackable forces in the economy have been positive for several years. Pastors’ perceptions are finally catching up to the economic reality." He points out that it may be too early to tell how last year's tax reform bill has affected giving. The survey shows that about half of pastors do not believe theirs will be affected, but about a quarter of them believe it will impact their church finances positively.

There are a few considerations for us today related to this survey:

For one thing, the economy could certainly be considered a spiritual issue.  Our attitude toward money and the amount of money we have can certainly affect how we walk with God and how we give to our churches and to ministries.  As we walk in His wisdom and consider economic conditions and trends, we can make good decisions on savings, investments, and the ways we spend our money.

We can also recognize that if God has blessed us materially, we have the opportunity and even the responsibility to share those blessings by giving to the Kingdom.  We see from Scripture that God provides the seed, i.e. funds that we can use for the benefit of others and for God's glory.  So, if our coffers are more full, that could be a sign that God has a special purpose for those resources.

We can develop a sensitivity to how God is directing us to use our resources.  As Ron Blue has said, it all belongs to God.  We are stewards of the material so that we can ultimately impact the spiritual, and we can acknowledge that as we give, God is moving through our finances.

Caravan

In Matthew 25, we find that Jesus rewarded those who obeyed Him and exercised compassion; we can recognize that He is calling us to make sure we are thinking correctly toward those in need.  We can read:
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

This passage certainly demonstrates to us the love of Christ and can cause us to reflect on how we measure up.  It's very easy to isolate ourselves and think inwardly about our own needs or those of our family.  But, God wants to expand our vision, to see our neighborhoods, our church families, and those in need in our cities and communities, who are perhaps destitute and desperate, needing to experience a touch from a person who knows Christ who can show him or her His compassion.

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We can challenge our own thinking to check on how we are regarding those who are different than we are.  In Jeremiah 22, we find that the prophet was sent to the King of Judah - we see a reflection
of God's heart here:
3 Thus says the Lord: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
4 For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.

A caravan of individuals, comprised of people who have left home countries in Central America, are advancing on the southern border, seeking safe passage in the United States.  The timing and coordination of this event are curious: it began just days before the 2018 mid-term election and appeared to be well-organized - it's hard for me to believe that it's spontaneous.

So, when you see these people as they make their way through Mexico, how do we respond as people who love the Lord and desire to love other people?  This is a group that is clearly being manipulated to make a political statement; but you do have real people, some of whom, I would imagine, are legitimately facing oppression in their home countries.  So, joining with thousands of other people may seem like an acceptable solution.  But, what happens when this throng gets to the border?  Will it be orderly or chaotic?   How will the admission of thousands seeking asylum affect government resources?   And, who is really behind this?

A number of Christian leaders have offered their opinions on the matter.  Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, according to a HuffPost article, stated:

“Scripture does speak to the poor, it does speak to the immigrant, but it also speaks to the rule of law,” Perkins told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. “In fact, in almost every instance you read in the Old Testament about taking in the poor, immigrant and stranger, it is then that they have an obligation to operate by your customs and laws. It’s the assimilation, it’s the rule of law.”

There was an op-ed in the Washington Post recently from Dan Darling, a former pastor who now works for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  When ERLC wants to distribute an opinion far and wide, it often will go to the Post, who willingly provides space, it seems.  Writing about the caravan, Darling writes:

We should remember that all human beings, including immigrants, were created in God’s image. Followers of Jesus should lead the conversation by recognizing the humanity of those who seek to enter our country and should reject language that assaults their dignity. And we should be the first to speak up for the stranger.

Certainly, these are human beings; yes, made in the image of God.  And, I think it's tragic how they are being manipulated to make a political statement.  But, questioning the legitimacy of the caravan does not equate with questioning their dignity.  Darling then relates the talking points about how many people are being taken in:

Admittedly, the United States cannot take in all the world’s most vulnerable, and our elected officials have a responsibility, according to Romans 13, to keep us safe and to set reasonable limits. But surely the wealthiest and freest nation in the history of the world can, in a time of economic prosperity, take in more than we do?

Can we?  Is that prudent?  Those in the know, including a Christian man named Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, say otherwise.   But playing a numbers game on immigration is certainly not a Biblical issue.

ERLC, as a member of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a subsidiary of the National Immigration Forum, an open-borders organization that has received funding from George Soros, has advocated for accepting more refugees and immigrants into the country - they were even opposed to a common-sense pause on accepting refugees from countries which are breeding grounds for terrorists.  Darling leans on that other popular talking point:

Young children are separated from their families and, at times, are tragically unaccounted for. Christian brothers and sisters fleeing persecution and terror are turned away. And our process for giving asylum seekers the chance to make the case that the United States should grant asylum is deeply flawed.

Now, Darling needs to talk to fellow Table member World Relief, an organization that receives Federal funds for resettling refugees.  When the President suggested prioritizing Christian refugees, they and others, said "no."

It is unfortunate that the U.S. government, in trying to enforce its immigration law, has separated children from their parents.  But, the parents are culpable: they bring their children along with the intent of using them to get into this country or allow them to be trafficked in.  It's tragic, but the parents are intent on breaking our laws.  Yes, they are human beings, made in the image of God, but the Bible also teaches that those who break the law will be punished.  And, criminals in our U.S. justice system are separated from their children.

Samuel Rodriguez, who, even though the organization he heads, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, is part of the afore-mentioned Table, he is certainly not towing that line.  In an interview with James Robison at The Stream, he stated that:

We are a sovereign nation. As a sovereign nation we not only have a mandate, we have a responsibility and a clarion call to protect our borders and protect the sovereignty of our nation.

He also said that the existence of a caravan of thousands was a "recipe for chaos."  He states:

I do believe the vast majority of individuals coming up are good-hearted people. But, they are good-hearted people being exploited by political operatives from Honduras. We are privy to the fact that a leftist leader in Honduras initiated through social media the first caravan. So the purpose and timing of it to coincide with the mid-term election is not in any way a coincidence. There is an intentional political objective behind this caravan coming up at this precise moment.

Yesterday border officials reported 70 percent of those coming are not women with children, they are single men. This is critical. These are individuals that have the physical wherewithal and fortitude to seek employment if not in Honduras or Guatemala, in Mexico.

He points out that caravan members rejected asylum in Mexico. He questions the wisdom of this "caravan" approach, saying, "If you want to seek asylum, come with your family and present your case to a legal port of entry. But do not bombard our border and then say, '...we are coming in — legally or illegally.' That’s not the way to seek asylum in the USA in any shape or form."

Robison stated:

As surely as we have to protect our own homes from wrong individuals coming into our homes, the nation is also our home and we have to protect it. The biased media tries to make it look like lack of compassion. It wouldn’t be lack of compassion if you kept a trespasser or a pedophile or some dangerous person from coming into your home. The same thing applies to the nation.

Rodriguez responded:

Absolutely. But as a Christian leader who has worked with several presidential administrations, I really want to reconcile the rule of law with our compassion. I don’t believe it’s either or.

And, the President has issued a proclamation saying that asylum cases would only be processed if those seeking it come to a "point of entry," i.e. not illegally.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 25 about welcoming the stranger.  We should have compassion on the "strangers" that God brings our way.  But, welcoming does not mean "recruiting."  America is a land of opportunity and people want to come here.  And, we should welcoming them - legally.  Just think about those who want to come in the right way who will not be allowed to because of this political stunt south of the border.  I believe that godly men such as Pompeo and former AG Jeff Sessions have wanted to strengthen our laws and to allow people to immigrate to America legally, in the right manner.

We have to remember the importance of balancing compassion with the rule of law.  And, if people don't come the right way, we should not bend our laws to accommodate them.

We can also search our own hearts to identify our views toward those who have different cultural backgrounds.  We are not called to minister only to those who look, act, or think like us.  Christians are called to be compassionate to those who are different than we are.   We should guard against allowing fear to be a driving force in our policy views; we are certainly not to fear those whom the Bible calls "strangers," but called to minister to them.  

Through the Fire

In 1st Peter 1, the writer refers to trials we face and how God has a purpose in the trials that we face.
We can read:
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...

Sometimes the trials of life can seem overwhelming.  We experience disappointment and loss, we encounter confusion and may even feel that God has forgotten us.  That's not the time to run away from God, but to press in to Him and walk by faith.  Even in those moments when the going gets tough, we can know that He is with us and His is working His intent through our lives, bringing us into a place of dependence on Him and enabling us to experience His incredible power.

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The apostle Peter address the subject of trials several times in the book of 1st Peter.  We read in
chapter 4 of that book:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Wakefield, MA, is situated north of Boston, and in 1872, the First Baptist Church, with its steeple pointing to the sky, was constructed.  Just weeks ago, however, a lightning strike ignited a seven-alarm fire, damaging the church building "beyond repair," according to a story on the Boston Globe website.

The story says that "just hours" after the destructive fire, "residents gathered in disbelief as workers dismantled the charred remains under drizzling skies. One item that survived: a painting of Jesus, virtually unmarked by fire, smoke, or water."  The congregation members "struggled to accept" what had occurred.  Here is one of their responses:

“You just try and focus on the fact that the building is just a building,” said Amy Burd, who became emotional as she looked up to the steeple, where workers cut away charred beams using power saws. “The building doesn’t hold all the love that happens in there.”

Church officials issued a statement, in which they stated:

“We know that we serve a God who specializes in restoring brokenness and who can bring beauty even from ashes,” they wrote. “So we move into the future with trust, hope, and gratitude.”

The article continued:

The Italianate structure was constructed around 1872 and rebuilt in 1912 after a fire, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Bob Levesque said that this time, rebuilding would be prohibitively expensive.

“This is never going to be put back,” he said. “It would cost you $20 million to build a building like that today — easily.”

Levesque is a steeplejack who has done restoration projects at the church.

The impact has been profound, and the Globe relates:

On Wednesday, observers gathered near the church to watch, sometimes tearfully, as a demolition crew took apart the destroyed building.

Amid the loss, parishioners took a measure of comfort that the painting of Jesus, seen standing in a white robe with crucified hands extended, had survived. The artwork had hung just inside the church’s front doors and was somehow left intact.

There are a number of applications from this story, and as we are witnessing the incredible devastation from the wildfires in California, we are hearing stories not only of people who have lost their lives, but of those who have survived, as well.  We certainly know that in the fiery trials of our lives, that Jesus is walking with us.  He provides strength when needed, courage when required, and is, as Scripture says, our "ever-present help" in times of trouble.

We can also recognize, as this Boston congregation has experienced, that after the smoke clears, Jesus remains.  We may find that material possessions have been destroyed or removed, or we may have suffered loss in other ways, such as mental or emotional devastation.  But, we can know that we can rely on Him to rebuild and restore us when we have suffered.  And, as we remember what the leaders of that church related, we can know that God is more than capable of bringing beauty from ashes.

Finally, we admit that the Church is not a building.  But, the building was obviously a prized possession of the church, and people had to deal with a great sense of sadness and even emptiness.  Ultimately, though, you will likely see that the fellowship and common strength of the people will get them through, combined, of course, with the power of God.  And, that's an example for all of us - God has placed us in a body of Christ that is intended to bring us dynamic human relationships with people who will love us and walk with us in good and bad times.

Greatest Love

In John 13, we read how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples; this provides a powerful image to us
about the power of humility:
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

On Veterans' Day, we can choose to remember those who have given of themselves for the sake of their country; who surrendered their lives for a cause and chose to serve.  Jesus chose to serve humanity by giving His life to reconcile us to Almighty God.  Now, in surrendering our lives to Him, we can experience His love and share it with the people with whom we interact.  We can discover the satisfaction of obedience to Him.

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Jesus demonstrated for each of us what true humility is.  He not only taught His disciples and essentially foreshadowed what He was about to experience, but He lived out His words. In John 15,
we read:
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
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.

One of those verses is a key component in what I am about to share.

This is the day that has been set aside to commemorate Veteran's Day, which is the 11th day of November every year.  I thought about the tragedy in Thousand Oaks, California and about the gentleman, a young former Marine who opened fire inside a nightclub there.  It was said that he suffered from PTSD.

I went to the Facebook page of Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, which ministers to those who are suffering from PTSD and teaches "spiritual resiliency" to those currently serving in the military.  There was this post:

We are deeply saddened to learn about the tragedy in #ThousandOaks. We are grieving and praying with you, and send our heartfelt condolences to all of the victims and their families. We want to recognize the bravery of our first responders, and honor the sacrifice of Sgt. Ron Helus who rushed into active gunfire to save lives. Your heroism will be remembered always.

The website, The Boot, offers these comments:

The police officer who died during the Wednesday night (Nov. 7) mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is being hailed as a hero, by both law enforcement officials and country artists. On social media, Charlie Daniels and others are paying their respects to Sgt. Ron Helus.

"Another Blue Knight was lost last night. He died in the act of protecting and serving, as so many of his brothers and sisters have before him," Daniels writes on Twitter. "Sgt. Ron Helus, you died saving lives. There is no higher calling. Rest In Peace. Sincere condolences to the family and coworkers."

The article goes on to say:

Helus "was struck multiple times with gunfire," according to Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. Helus' partner brought him to safety, but the 29-year police veteran later died at the hospital.

"He was hard-working, he was totally committed, he gave his all and, tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero," says Dean (quote via CNN). "He gave his life to save other people."

And, it reports:

Helus leaves behind a wife and son; the Los Angeles Times reports that he called his wife before entering the bar. Helus was looking forward to retiring soon, Dean says.

I am reminded of the comments that Ephraim Mattos made on the program last week.  He is a former Navy SEAL and co-author of the book, City of Death.  He was part of a humanitarian team in Iraq in the Mosul region, serving with men who had this verse as a motto: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Ephraim also spoke out recently about a topic that he certainly believes is a threat to America.  WND.com reports:

...when CNN host Don Lemon declared last week that “the biggest terror threat in this country is white men,” Mattos had something to say.

After all he’s gone through, Mattos wrote in a statement spotlighted by BizPacReview, he’s “now returned home to the USA where a CNN host has labeled me as a radicalized right wing terrorist simply because of my gender and the color of my skin.”

The article also says that:

He warned that “identity politics does not lead to freedom.”

“It only leads to hatred and division and an ‘us vs. them’ mentality.”

I agree; we have to be on guard against attitudes that are contrary to the American ideals of freedom, and generalizing and mischaracterizing people because of the group to which they belong is certainly not what people like Ephraim laid down his life for.

On this day set aside to commemorate Veteran's Day, we can remember to give them the respect they deserve.  We think about those who have dedicated their lives to service, and never take it for granted.  Saturday Night Live demonstrated that over the weekend, when the vet, Dan Crenshaw, who wears an eye patch, who was mocked on a previous episode came on the show to receive an apology from cast member Pete Davidson.  Crenshaw, by the way, was just elected to Congress. It's a rare display of humility and good taste from the legendary NBC show.

Stories of sacrifice are all around us, and that's the kind of life God wants us to live - surrendered and sacrificial.  It's the life that was modeled by our Savior, who left heaven to come to earth, to live as a human and to die for humanity.  That is ultimate humility, and that is what He was talking about when He made this statement, the motto for Ephraim Mattos' band of brothers: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."