On the Wire

We are called and empowered to be people who trust God's Word, who speak it, and live it out.  In
Colossians 3, we can read:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

God's Word is to shape our thinking; and through our knowledge of the Word, we can govern the words that we say.  His truth can be our filter for what we allow into our minds, what we dwell on.  The messages that we tell ourselves - in our minds and even in our mouths - can propel us into a walk that pleases God and we can develop character that shows we belong to Him.  As we place the Word into our hearts, we can allow it to flow through our actions.

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Each day, we can rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit and the resources that He has provided for
us. In Joshua 1, we read these words of exhortation:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I remember when I was younger, growing up in Georgia, that there was a huge event that occurred in the northeast corner of the state at the majestic Tallulah Gorge - highwire walker Karl Wallenda of the Flying Wallenda family walked across the gorge; according to Atlanta magazine:

Wallenda slowly stepped along a tightrope spanning approximately 1,000 feet across and 750 feet above the ground.

It was a major event at the time, in 1970.

Nik Wallenda and his sister, Lijana, who are great-grandson and great-grandaughter of Karl, are part of that family legacy of tightrope walkers.  The family took a serious hit in 2017 when, according to CBN News, a group performance went terribly wrong in a rehearsal.  The article, referencing an earlier report, says:

...the group was attempting to complete a new world record during a practice for Circus Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida. Nik was leading the performers when they lost their balance and plummeted to the ground below. The accident had left four members of the team in critical condition and another with a traumatic brain injury. "There were angels surrounding us," Nik said of the team.

Lijana, according to the story, "nearly broke every bone in her face."  Nik's confidence was shaken.  The article says:

Nik admits that fear has caused moments of doubt during his career. He considered quitting the business until a fellow performer confronted him. "You're not the Nik that's always preached 'never give up.' What's wrong? You need to snap out of it," he said.

He admits that faith in God empowered him to defeat his fear. "It's always been a huge role in my life. …My faith is who I am."

So, this past Sunday, Nik and Lijana were back on a highwire, walking 1300 feet over Times Square.  They were able to communicate with one another during the walk, and as it could be heard during the telecast on ABC, they talked with each other - and with God.  You could hear Nik encouraging his sister during this difficult comeback, reminding her of God's presence and His purpose.  There was Christian music to which they were listening, and periodically you could hear Lijana singing along - songs such as Tremble and You Make Me Brave were on the playlist.  They started from opposite ends of two buildings in Times Square and at their meeting point, Nik walked over Lijana while she sat on the wire.  I'm still amazed that ABC allowed their running commentary to be televised - they certainly were bold in sharing their faith in Christ.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website has a story on Nik's personal faith - it was written after his 2012 walk over Niagara Falls and republished to coincide with the Times Square walk. The article says:

In fact, he’s the third generation of Christians in his family, and going to church and talking about Jesus is “something I grew up knowing.”

Wallenda accepted Christ into his life at the early age of 4, with his Sunday School teacher leading him to the Lord. “My mother [Delilah] found my commitment card,” he said.

But as someone who started practicing tight-rope walking at the age of 2, and grew up dreaming of stunts such as the “Niagara walk,” Wallenda tried hard not to be any different than those around him.

It’s a strong personal conviction of his to not live as if he’s “better than everybody.”

The article continues:

“I believe God has given me a gift and a talent that can be used to bring glory to His name,” said Wallenda, who trains five to six hours a day. “I don’t go up there unprepared or untrained and say it’s up to God whether I make it or not. Not in any way.”

That echoes what he said during the walk over Times Square to his sister - that she was made for the purpose of walking the wire. 

There are certainly a few points to consider.  First of all, what tightrope are you walking or have you walked?  We can be prepared through our relationship with Christ and the study of His Word, we can train ourselves to be vigilant in the midst of challenge, and we can allow the Word to direct and sustain us during our times of difficulty.

As the Wallendas demonstrated high above New York City, the Word of God in our mouths can be very powerful.  The messages they were speaking were full of light and truth.  Certainly meditation on God's Word is very helpful, but when we speak Scripture, even to ourselves, we can discover the power of that truth.  What we tell ourselves can determine the course of our lives.

We can know the peace of God that can sustain us in our challenges.  Nik Wallenda, reflecting on his Niagara Falls walk said, according to BGEA, “It was more peaceful that you would imagine,” adding, “I trust in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. That’s where I find my peace, the peace that passes all understanding.”

Finally, we can be reminded of our purpose and Christ's sufficiency to fulfill it.  I think about what NBA leader Pat Williams had to say about the "sweet spot," in which we can walk.  We can be motivated to find what we enjoy and what God has equipped us to do and seek to practice in that place.

Helping to Heal

We can look to the Lord as our great healer - when we encounter sickness and suffering, we can go to Him in prayer and call on His mighty name.  It is God's nature to heal and restore and we see that in
Exodus 15:
24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"
25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,
26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."

So, we recognize God's love, His nature, and His power.  We suffer with a variety of ailments in this life and in this fallen world.  We are prone to question God when we don't see the outcome we desire, but that doesn't mean He is not working.  We have to recognize that His ways are higher.  But, that doesn't mean we cannot and do not call upon Him in those times in which we are suffering physically.

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Jesus was our example for prayer and in how he specifically prayed for those who are sick.  And, the
Bible instructs us to offer up prayers for those who are suffering. James 5 addresses that topic:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Our faith in Christ should inform that work that we do, and when we have the opportunity, we can demonstrate to those whom we serve that we belong to Him.  That applies to the medical profession, where studies show that prayer for patients is an accepted practice.

There is a case from Great Britain involving a nurse named Sarah Kuteh.  According to Christianity Today, she "was fired from the hospital where she had worked for nearly a decade because she spoke with patients about her faith, passed out Bibles, and sang hymns on the job. Last month, a UK court rejected Kuteh’s most recent appeal."

The article says that Sarah initiated spiritual discussion and disobeyed her superiors. The story says: "Her lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre are considering further action as questions continue to come up around the appropriate place for religious expression in healthcare—particularly when a sizable number of patients indicate they welcome spiritual care from their providers."

The Christianity Today article referred to similar cases, including a 2008 incident in which a UK nurse named Caroline Petrie "was suspended from her job for offering to pray for a patient during a home visit. The patient reported the event, saying she was 'taken aback,' though not offended. Petrie was later reinstated."

There has been some polling about the injection of prayer into a medical situation.  The article states:

In response to the Petrie case in 2008, Nursing Times conducted a survey that found 91 percent of the 2,500 respondents felt Petrie should not have been suspended for offering to pray with her patient. The survey also found that 40 percent of nurses had been asked by a patient to pray and more than 9 in 10 (91%) said nurses praying for patients could sometimes be appropriate.

A 2018 Medscape poll found that 88 percent of nurses were “comfortable” or “very comfortable” with praying with or for patients. Nearly 8 in 10 (77%) physicians said the same, along with 73 percent of medical students.

The article reports that 87% of nurses, 69% of physicians, and 75% of medical students related that they "always or frequently" accept patient requests to pray with them."  Also, the story states:

Not only are medical professionals willing and able to pray with patients, but “the majority of patients believe that spiritual care by physicians is important,” according to a recent study in the AMA Journal of Ethics. Approximately half say that want their doctors to pray with them.

James A. Tulsky of the Harvard Cancer Center is quoted; he says: “To ignore spirituality is to ignore a central piece of what it means for many people to be a patient.”

Certainly we can acknowledge that prayer in the workplace can be a tricky issue - sensitivity to the Spirit is required. But you can look for, and where appropriate, take advantage of the opportunity to pray with someone else.

The offer to pray for someone else can help to build a bridge with someone else to introduce them to Christ.  Perhaps you, like I, have heard of people surrendering to the Lord as the result of someone asking if a person had something to be praying for.

The case of the UK nurse is certainly problematic, even though the survey data shows that patients are open to prayer for them.  We are thankful for those who serve in the medical profession, and integrating the spiritual into that type of work, in partnership with medical science, can be a powerful combination toward hope and healing.  I believe that physical ailments can have a spiritual or emotional root cause, and an understanding of matters of the spirit can be helpful in the healing process.  Prayer enables the physician to go to the Great Physician to find necessary tools and the power to bring the remedy.

Paralyzed by Ideas

God gives us the capacity to walk in purity before Him - we can have the resolve to be pleasing to
Him, and that is certainly a message that is relevant in a culture where there are so many errant ideas about sexual behavior. Colossians 3 says:
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The ability to overcome temptation comes as we apply the truth of the Scriptures and release the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can walk in a holy manner.  The culture feeds so many ideas regarding sexuality, and the Church has been infiltrated by the corruption of God's view in that area.  For instance, sexual abuse has been identified, and that takes root because of a refusal to walk in God's ways.  There is a tolerance of homosexuality.  And, there are those that would reject a Biblical ethic regarding purity.  It's a minefield out there, and we have to be strong and grounded in truth.

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Today's commentary will feature a graphic subject, but one that is so very important - issues surrounding sexuality are clearly addressed by Scripture, and we have to prevent the paralyzing effect that errant ideas in that arena can have.  Let's go to 1st Thessalonians 4, where we see this passage:
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God...

Perhaps there is no other area in which Christians are prone to stumble than the area of sexuality.  I mean, just look at some of the headlines from the Church today: marriages crumbling because of unfaithfulness, a growing acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage, a steady stream of stories of sexual abuse, high-profile leaders who are experiencing moral failure.  The rejection of God's principles has left people wounded and searching for answers.

I have commented before about my dislike for so-called Christian leaders airing "dirty laundry" about the Church in secular publications such as The New York Times or Washington Post.  And, lo and behold, this headline appeared recently at the Times: "How Should Christians Have Sex?"  Then, there is this short paragraph underneath it: "Purity culture was harmful and dangerous. But its collapse has left a void for those of us looking for guidance in our intimate lives."

The author speaks of a "psychological burden" that she and others are still carrying - she says she no longer subscribes to so-called "purity culture," because it has nothing to say to Christians over 23.  Really?  The writer of this article, Katelyn Baety, a former editor for Christianity Today who seems to be well-regarded in your more progressive Christian circles, states:

Purity culture as it was modeled for evangelical teenagers in the 1990s is not the future of Christian sexual ethics. But neither is the progressive Christian approach that simply baptizes casual sex in the name of self-expression and divorces sex from covenant faithfulness and self-sacrificial love.

She is apparently looking for some "third way" here - rejecting both the Biblical principles of abstinence and the more permissive ethic that we find in some circles.  And, she still can't get past the fact that purity culture didn't work for her, writing: "While I hate the effects that purity culture had on young women like me, I still find the traditional Christian vision for married sex radical, daunting and extremely compelling — and one I still want to uphold, even if I fumble along the way."

OK, so she's willing to reject the time-honored principle of purity before marriage because that principle may have been misapplied during her teen years?

Shane Morris is a writer for Breakpoint and didn't mince words.  In a thread on Twitter, he wrote:

There's not much new, here. If there's one thing we needed, it was another unmarried writer condemning purity culture right after admitting that she hasn't lived by it, anyway. This is by now a familiar script.

Point #1: don't reject the teachings of Scripture just because they haven't worked for you.  In the battle of truth vs. experience, truth always wins.

Morris continues:

Beaty opens by implying that teenagers promising not to have sex until marriage is somehow creepy or unhealthy. (?) Nadia Bolz-Weber is treated with kid gloves, instead of as the radioactive, heretical clown she is. Doubtless Times readers will eat all of this up.

Bolz-Weber is a so-called minister who melted purity rings into a sculpture shaped like a female, well, private part.  Denny Burk, who is President of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, which was involved in the Nashville Statement on sexuality a few years back, wrote:

She is a false teacher who encourages the use of “ethically sourced porn,” who told The New Yorker that she divorced her husband because the sex wasn’t good enough, and who affirms homosexuality and a host of other sexual perversions. If Bolz-Weber isn’t a heretic, then no one is. And yet Beaty presents her as a positive alternative to “purity culture” because Bolz-Weber (according to Beaty) “proposes a sexual ethic grounded in the goodness of bodies and of sexual expression based in consent, mutuality and care.”

Back to Morris on Twitter - he continues:

The thing is, as I've exhaustively demonstrated elsewhere, aside from lame merchandising, "purity culture" really didn't offer anything uniquely repressive or "harmful" compared with the rest of Christian history.

Post-fundamentalist types like to imagine it did, but a quick perusal of the Reformers or Church Fathers will disabuse you of that notion. Saying "no" to sin has always, *always* been part of the Christian sexual ethic.

There is a Mount Everest of social science on what premarital promiscuity does to subsequent marriages. Hint: it's exactly what "purity culture" taught.

Point #2: We live in a culture that does not want to say "no" to sin; people want to construct their own truth and live according to their own ideals.  It doesn't work for them, so they want to twist things around and blame the repression of Scriptures.  There is even the concept that has been advanced that purity culture has been responsible for sexual abuse in the Church.  That is so far-fetched: purity and abstinence, the absence of illicit activity, results in warped sexual actions?  Conversely, we should be clamoring for more teaching on purity!

Denny Burk writes, regarding the Times piece:

Perhaps the biggest problem with Beaty’s essay is that she isn’t really clear about what she’s condemning in “purity culture.” If unbiblical and unmerciful shaming is what she means to condemn, then she would have done well to say so. I can’t imagine serious Christians disagreeing with her about that. I certainly wouldn’t. But as I read the article, the Bible’s actual teaching about sexual ethics also seems to be thrown into the mix of what needs to be condemned. And this is a claim that no serious Christian can agree with. It is a claim that we are in fact obliged to contend against (Jude 3).

Point #3: We have to guard against being paralyzed by ideas.  The number of ideas that are out there which are clearly unbiblical is stunning!  And, it's easy, especially in times of struggle, to try to retrofit the truth of the Bible by blending in the world's philosophies.  It's a potent mix that can be incredible harmful, but some feel that has to be done to make the Bible's teachings more palatable in today's culture.  It doesn't!  In a society that is adrift, we need moorings; the principles of Scripture give those to us in areas of sexuality and beyond.

Mowing Down Selfishness

God desires that we develop a sense of self-sacrifice and be attentive to the needs of those around us. We see this principle in Deuteronomy chapter 15:
7 "If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.
9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.
10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.

Right motives yield right actions.  In this passage, we see instruction about being compassionate toward others, opening up our hearts as God would intend.   There is a warning about possessing an improper motivation, as well, which can close our hearts and cut off the flow of compassion.  The Bible instructs us to be cheerful givers, to enjoy serving, not checking off a box, but checking our hearts to make sure we are allowing the Spirit to move through us.

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Jesus calls us to love without expecting anything in return. In Luke 6, He teaches:
32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

A man from Huntsville, Alabama has inspired people in every single state because of his willingness to serve and perform an act of kindness - to mow a lawn.

His name is Rodney Smith, Jr. and he just completed a tour of all 50 states, mowing lawns for veterans for free.  According to ABC News:

He said he got the inspiration for the project almost five years ago, when he was pursuing his bachelor's degree and searching for purpose in his life.

"I remember asking God to use me as his vessel," he said.

Five years ago, he was driving in Huntsville and saw an elderly man who was "struggling" to cut his grass. Rodney said, "It looked like he was struggling, so I pulled over and helped him," adding, "That's when I got my goal to mow lawns for free for the elderly, single moms and veterans."

But he didn't keep it to himself; he got young people involved in these acts of service.  The story says:

He started the "50 Lawn Challenge," encouraging young people in their communities to go out there and help those who might struggle with their yardwork on their own by mowing 50 lawns.

"A few months later, we went viral on the internet," he added. ABC News first reported on his efforts in 2017.

"Currently, we have about 400 kids nationwide that are taking part in the 50 Yard Challenge," he said.

He went to all 50 states the previous two years, and his 2019 efforts were centered on veterans.

Smith states that: "My true purpose in life is helping people."

There are some simple principles that we can keep in mind as we consider Rodney's story. First of all, we recognize that we are called to live a life of love.   We have been given amazing capacity to love others because of the love that Christ has shown to us.

And, He calls us to look outside ourselves.  We can be so consumed with our own perceived needs that we lose sight of the world around us.  We have been placed for a purpose, and God wants us to continue to grow and develop a propensity to love.

We can remember to lock into simple opportunities for service.  Rodney Smith Jr. is encouraging young people to give of themselves, without expecting anything in return.  The Christian life is not transactional, in the sense that we only love those who love us or give with strings attached; no, it is transformational, as we seek to walk in God's radical love for humanity, which was expressed by His sending His Son to die for us.

Darkness to Light

In Hebrews 12, the author discusses how Biblical truth can overcome bitterness and the expectation
of how we can see the teachings of Scripture repair relationships. We can read:
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

We are instructed to "pursue peace;" that true, lasting peace which comes about through a relationship with Christ.  The power of God and our practice of holiness can repair the way we relate to other people and can remove anger and bitterness that can keep us separated and make us enemies.  We can reflect the reconciliation that is possible through Christ, and His inward work can totally transform our outward behavior and attitudes we possess toward others that are not pleasing to Him.

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The power of the gospel brings reconciliation - we were once apart from Christ, but we have been brought into a relationship with Him, setting off a powerful reaction.  For instance, Paul describes the union of Jew and Gentile in Ephesians chapter 2:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

A while back, I shared about a unique church plant - Gateway Church in Dallas has established a work in a prison, Coffield Prison, and an incredible story of God's grace and power has emerged, found on the ChristianHeadlines.com website.

Five men, said to be active gang members and members of rival factions, were, “escorted into the gymnasium, each one shackled hand and foot and around the waist, and escorted by a guard...," according to the article.  Now, keep in mind at Coffield, there are some 4,000 prisoners who are considered, "extremely dangerous," in the language of the article; some are kept apart from other people for 23 hours per day.  Not a friendly neighborhood here.

So, you have these gang members who are escorted into the gym with heavy security.  Each of them ascends into a large tank of water.  The article says:

Yesterday at our Coffield campus, we were able to do something that no church has ever been able to do in the history of this prison,” said Niles Holsinger, Gateway Coffield Prison campus pastor, in a Facebook video. “And that is water baptize men from what's called administrative segregation, a section of the prison that has the most violent felons, violent inmates of the whole prison.”

Holsinger also said: "And not only were they making a decision to be baptized and to commit their lives to Christ, they knew that this decision meant, to some of them, certain death. They walked out past men who, when they were walking back, soaking wet, dripping with water because the decision, were going to mark them for death.” He said that they “professed the same Lord and were baptized in the same water and they walked out together in a line, guards not holding onto their arms anymore because God had done something in their life.”

The article quotes one of the gang members: "I have tried it my way my whole life and it’s gotten me here," one of the prisoners explained to the campus pastor, according to Fox News. He added, "I want to try it God’s way…we’re going to come out of the water as new men."

Christian Headlines described the shift in atmosphere from "hostile to spirit-filled," saying there was "joy and freedom" there in this instance.

Well, something that we can definitely consider is the power of spiritual change.  God's presence can certainly have an impact on people.  We know that the indwelling power of Christ can clean us on the inside and our behavior, our attitude, our outlook, can be permanently altered.

Baptism signifies what occurs when a person gives his or her life to Christ - the old has died, the new has come; we have been raised with Christ.  And, baptism can be a powerful proclamation - in this setting, the outward expression of an inward work, as witnessed, set off a spiritual reaction.

We can also see the power of reconciliation through the cross.  Through salvation, we are reconciled to God, and relationships can be healed.  Gang members who were rivals, enemies, are now one in Christ.

For Good

In Acts chapter 4, during the days of the early Church, we find Peter and John boldly proclaiming God's truth, the truth about salvation in Jesus Christ.  We can read, beginning in verse 12:
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Life change occurs as we accept Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior, allowing Him to take control and to lead us on a path of joy and fulfillment in Him.  Material possessions, fame, power, prestige - none of those can truly satisfy.  We have to look for our satisfaction and content in the Lord Most High and allow Him to be exalted.  The things of this world cannot save. Religions and religious systems, inferior worldviews - none can produce the new heart, the power of the new creation that Jesus can.

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Paul prayed in Ephesians 3 that we would really come to know God and experience what He has in
store for us, that we may grow in His love. We can read this:
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Amanda Jane Cooper has quite the track record in television, as well as Broadway, playing the iconic role of Glinda in the reimagining of The Wizard of Oz called, Wicked.  But, even with her acting and singing success, it wasn't enough.

The Christian Post recently had an article about Cooper taking to the White Chair, which is the place where those sharing about God's work in their lives sit for the I Am Second videos.  Amanda says, "I was so confused. I was like, I have everything why am I not OK?”  She developed severe bulimia and became addicted to pornography.  The article says, "she hated herself."

But, then she met a woman named Alice Issac, who shared Jesus with her. Amanda relates, "She was my mentor and the hands and feet of this Jesus that I had heard about in my childhood..."  She adds, "And to think, wow, there's a God who sees me and knows me and loves me despite knowing all about me. My soul just knew this is what I need. I need a savior. I can't do it for myself."

Amanda Jane Cooper has made a commitment to abstinence until marriage and the bulimia has disappeared.  She says that "Because of Jesus, because of God, my identity is as His daughter," adding, "I can be sure that I am loved, forgiven, seen, known, free...”

There is a great overarching lesson here - success, fame, power, material possessions - those are not who we are and we should never fall into the trap of looking to the things of this world to give us what only God can.

He has made it possible for us to have so much - as Amanda Jane Cooper shares, she has the knowledge that "she is loved, forgiven, seen, known, free."  Because Jesus is our Savior, we are now sons and daughters of God.  We are called "partakers of the divine nature."  His "rivers of living water" can flow through the life of a believer, bring us joy and peace.  We can know the fruit of the Spirit and experience a deep-seated satisfaction in Him.  We have access to glorious spiritual riches - the things of this world, as the old song says, "grow strangely dim," as we walk in what He has provided for us.

Filling the Void

Jesus teaches us that a relationship with Himself can satisfy the longing of our hearts.  Here is a passage from John chapter 6:
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

If we are hungry for purpose, longing for satisfaction, seeking meaning for our lives, we can look to the Lord.  He has placed a desire for fellowship with Himself in our hearts; we are created so that we might come to know Him.  And, as we enjoy communion with Him, we can also participate in community with His people.  He will lead us and equip us for Kingdom work, so that we might share the love of Christ and serve others.  The key to a fulfilled life is knowing Christ.

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We can discover and abide in a sense of meaning in the presence of Christ. Colossians chapter 2 says:
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Verse 10 of the same chapter says that, "you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

The consistent drumbeat telling us that culture is becoming more secular and that people are engaging less in religious practice continues, and you generally find stats that show that maybe one-fifth to one-fourth of Americans do not identify with any particular religions - those "nones," if you will.

There was an article that appeared on the Vox website recently about a survey with Morning Consult that attempted to explore what people are doing in order to fill a perceived void left by the lack of religious practice.  The article stated:

We asked people where they currently stand on religious or spiritual beliefs, and where they feel the strongest sense of community and purpose.

Their answers revealed that most Americans organize their communities and sense of identity around their family unit, though religious institutions followed closely behind. Our survey also revealed that work, hobbies, or political affiliation matter on average much less to people than their spiritual beliefs or family.

The article says, "Friends and family were the top source of community for respondents, at 80 and 78 percent, respectively, but religion and spirituality were the next most common."  Spirituality was next at 45, with religion at 43.  42% said the workplace was a source of community.

Unfortunately, people surveyed did not center social activities around faith, and for most, their religious practice did not provide a sense of purpose.  The exercise class was the most common source of social activities, with 15% of respondents; the highest-rated spiritually-related practice was a "mindfulness or meditation class," at 3%.

60% of those surveyed found purpose in family or friend relationships; only 23% found purpose in spiritual practices.  The summary also relates:

The vast majority — 77 percent — of people we surveyed they believe in a god or higher being. But how that belief takes form varied.

At 56 percent, a slim majority of people considered themselves very or somewhat religious. But many more considered themselves “spiritual” — 70 percent of participants said they were very or somewhat spiritual. Of those surveyed, about a third were Christian, while 8 percent considered themselves atheist or agnostic and 19 percent identified as no religion in particular.

If this survey is any indication, there are people, large number of them, who are looking for satisfaction in other ways than than participation in a spiritual relationship.  And, while it is helpful to seek out good relationships with others, there may be those occasions where those relationships can be less-than-satisfactory, maybe even less than stable; the human connection is important, but a spiritual connection - and I would specifically say a relationship with Christ - can provide meaning for us.

A best-case scenario for finding that satisfaction is the communion with Christ and community with His people.  He walks with us and will provide companionship with Himself and others.  That is why the local church is so important - it gives us the participation and the relationships.  We can serve and have the knowledge that we are involved in the work of God's Kingdom.  In our search for meaning, we can find completeness in Christ.

Our Refuge

The idea of having security in the Lord can be extremely powerful and assuring for us.  He is the One who has provided us refuge in Jesus and calls us to protect the most vulnerable among us - those who are yet to be born.  Psalm 27 states:
3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

We are engaged in all sorts of battles these days, involving foundational principles that are important for our nation and for each of us.  There is a war on the unborn that has become more pronounced, and I believe that God, in His mercy, is opening eyes to the truth of life whom He has created.  There is a battle for religious freedom in our land, and we have to be so careful to place our trust in the Lord, who enables us to speak truth with boldness and who is our refuge, our hiding place, in whom we can gain strength.

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The Bible speaks of the concept of a sanctuary, a place where God dwells. A sanctuary can also be a place of security. We read in Exodus 15:
17 You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

While I do not believe the Bible teaches that those who break laws should be given sanctuary in certain locations, there has been a concept that is being established where certain people who are in danger can have refuge - the concept of a "sanctuary city" for the unborn.

Waskom, Texas is a small city with a big heart for unborn children, it seems, and its city council just last week passed an ordinance declaring that the city is such a sanctuary.  According to ChristianHeadlines.com:

The city council for Waskom, Texas, unanimously passed the ordinance over the warnings of the mayor, who said the town may be sued.

The ordinance passed to cheers from the crowd, KTAL reported. It prohibits abortion clinics from opening and declares the town a “sanctuary city” for the unborn.

Waskom joins at least two other American cities in making this sort of declaration: the article says, "Roswell, N.M., and Riverton, Utah – voted this year to become 'sanctuary cities' for the unborn."

The article links to a Washington Examiner piece by Katie Anderson on Roswell's new law; that op-ed says:

In the city’s reasoning, Roswell council members cited the Declaration of Independence, saying that life is “... the first of these declared rights,” after quoting the preamble.

Indeed, America was created to value our rights to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” And although abortion advocates are likely to question the legality of Roswell’s pro-life sanctuary, this is precisely the sort of legislation pro-lifers should advocate for. Local governments are slowly starting to take back control when it comes to constitutional issues, and if other states followed in New Mexico’s footsteps, we could see real and substantial change in ending abortion as we know it.

Christian Headlines also links to a Salt Lake Tribune article about the Riverton action. It quotes councilwoman Tawnee McCay, who "sponsored the Riverton resolution."  The Christian Headlines article states, quoting McCay:

“Some have asked why we should do this at a city level,” she said, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. “Some people say a resolution has no teeth – it’s not a state law or city ordinance. I say that we each need to stand up for our values. We need to speak up for the repressed or those that are never given the chance to have a voice.”

You may have caught my conversation with commentator and attorney Jenna Ellis Rives from NRB this year - she referred to the worldview statement in the Declaration of Independence, citing "life" as one of the "inalienable rights."   We hear a lot about rights these days.  Roe v. Wade created a right out of thin air - a so-called woman's right to terminate the life of her unborn child.  That is in direct conflict with the Biblical, inalienable right to life.  There are those who would say there is a so-called "right" to marry a person of the same gender; that conflicts with the Biblical viewpoint that we find in Genesis, in the teachings of Jesus, and the writings of Paul.  There are those that say everyone has a right to health care, or for a so-called "living wage," or a free college education.  These are human ideas of "rights."

So, where do these "rights" come from?  Do they come from human wisdom or God's wisdom, Biblical wisdom?  Well, we know the answer.  And, it's to the Scriptures that we should go to get God's viewpoint.  And, we find that as humans, what are commonly called "rights" are actually inferior, ill-informed opinions.

But, we should all be able to agree upon the identity of the author of life.  Most do not believe we should take the life of another, and by doing so we violate that Biblical right to life.  Our actions and recognitions should line up with Biblical teaching.  The idea of a "sanctuary city" where people intent on breaking the laws of our nation can go to avoid punishment stands in direct contrast with the mandate for government we find in Scripture.  By contrast, the idea of a "sanctuary city" for the unborn is consistent with Biblical truth and the right to life.

Remember, those who have broken God's law can go to Him and find refuge and security in Him, if they are willing to repent of their sin; that doesn't spare the punishment, but it does provide the offer of a second chance.  We can look to Christ as the One who has gone before us and in Whom we can hide ourselves, so that we might be protected from God's wrath and eternal punishment - He promises eternal life to those who are willing to enter into a relationship with Christ, to enter into His sanctuary, into His presence, so that we might know Him as our Savior.

Bible Into Battle

We are engaged in a spiritual war, with a clear enemy; and the Bible gives us instruction regarding how we are equipped. In describing the full armor of God in Ephesians 6, Paul writes:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel...

The Word of God is described as the "sword of the Spirit."  We have the defensive pieces accessible to us, and God's Word enables us to go on offense, to be bold, to walk in triumph over the power of the enemy.  And, as we wear the armor, we know that we can draw strength from prayer, which is mentioned in verse 18.  We can make sure that we recognize the battle at hand and how Satan is using deception and distraction to defeat us.  Rather than give in, we can give ourselves over and utilize what God has provided in order that we may experience His victory.

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In 2nd Timothy 4, as Paul is nearing the end of his life, he is pouring encouragement from his life and experience into Timothy. We can read:
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Recently, the events of D-Day were commemorated - a dramatic offensive, a turning point in World War II, as Allied troops went ashore to confront the German army at Normandy.  And, with the 75th anniversary of this event, it provided an opportunity to reflect on stories of bravery, dedication, and surrender.

Out of the 20,000 American troops who lost their lives during that time period from D-Day to mid-August, according to Faithwire, there were two brothers from Bedford, Virginia.  The article states:

Raymond and Bedford Hoback were some of the first soldiers to land on Dog Green sector, Omaha Beach with A Company, 116th Infantry Regiment. Their likelihood of survival, under the bombardment of German heavy machine guns, was minimal.

“They were the first to go in and I guess they just really didn’t have a chance, because I guess from what we heard the Germans were there and they were just mowing them down as they hit the beach,” Lucille Hoback Boggess, the brothers’ younger sister, told NBC 10.

After the word had come about the loss of the brothers, there was another message: a Bible belonging to Raymond came in the mail, accompanied by a letter from a fellow soldier. It read: “I was walking along the beach D-Day plus one. I came upon the Bible and as most any person would do I picked it up..."

The article continues:

The letter and Bible are just some of the prized keepsakes that Lucille continues to store in an old briefcase to this day, as a way to honor and remember her fallen brothers.

“My mother always treasured the Bible and I have it now, because she said next to Raymond she would have wanted his Bible,” Boggess added.

“We have a part of him, the last thing he probably held on to was the Bible.”

For Raymond Hoback, the Bible was part of the supplies that he carried into battle at Omaha Beach that day.  One can only wonder if during the time of intense assault and conflict, if he turned to God's Word to give him strength.  What we can know is that in the battles we encounter, we can rely on God's Word to provide strength for us.  His Word provides wisdom and encouragement to be able to navigate the struggles of this life.

The Word of God is a battle plan for the believer.  The Bible is described in Ephesians 6 as the "sword of the Spirit."  The enemy's power and proclamations are no match for the truth that is contained in the Scriptures.  We don't need to go into battle without this extraordinary tool.

In the thick of battle, we need to possess mental toughness - there may be difficult decisions that we will be called upon to make.  Through the Word of God, we can renew our minds, we can align our thinking with the principles of God and be able to incorporate His ways into the way we operate. With humility and strength, we can release the power of God through the words He has spoken.

Intervention

God, by His great love for us and through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, has brought us into salvation through Christ and ushered us into a glorious walk with Himself.  2nd Peter chapter 1
declares:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Our salvation is a gift from God and the "grace and peace" to which Paul refers are provided to us by the Lord, not of human effort.  We cannot save ourselves, and the Holy Spirit draws us to God. We have a powerful Savior who will work in our lives to produce "life and godliness."  We have been given incredible promises in the Word of God, and we can depend on Him by faith to express His will through us.  We can maintain a humble spirit and trust God to be very involved in our lives.

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We can identify the work of the Spirit in bringing us into a relationship with Christ and His leadership in enabling us to walk closer to God. Romans 8 says:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

We can give praise to God that He is active in our lives - He hasn't just wound up the universe and allow it to operate on its own.  No, He is motivated by His love for humanity, He is love, and we see so often instances of His involvement.  And, He will use people who are devoted to Him to minister to others.

Case in point here: Jacob Palmer is 27 years old and one night, a night on which, according to CBN.com, he "had been high on Meth, PCP, Heroin and Cocaine," attempted to take his life by jumping off the Lesner bridge in Virginia Beach.

That night Collin Dozier, who is 31, "...was driving home around midnight when he noticed a car pulled on the side of the road on the Lesner bridge." The article goes on to say:

He said he felt compelled by God to investigate after not seeing the driver of the car.

"I figured he wasn't even near his car that much," Dozier told CBN News. "So, I just felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and tell me to go up there."

Collin found Jacob there at the edge; he shared, "At that point I was like, 'Hey man, don't do it. Jesus loves you. He's got a plan for your life..."  Jacob didn't respond, and Collin began to relate his own testimony and prayed for him in that moment.  Police arrived, and Jacob spoke - according to Collin, "He said 'leave me alone. I have a gun. I'm going to kill you both, there's going to be two murders tonight if you don't leave me alone right now'..." He was now, according to the article, "rocking back and forth on the bridge's railing."

Then, Dozier took bold action:

"I went for it and I went over top his arms and I pinched my elbows in," he said describing the moment. "I knew that he couldn't reach for anything. I stepped up onto the railing and I sucked him back. I picked him up and I threw him down on the pavement and at that point the police officers jumped over the roadside railing and were able to apprehend him."

The Word - combined with the compassion of Christ - did not return void.  The story says that Jacob...

...has since become a Christian and now attends Dozier's church. He has been sober since that night.

"He said the fact that the love that you showed me, it blew his mind and to the point that he said I want that," explained Dozier. "He said I want that love. I just told him the scripture and I said if you'd be willing, I'd love to pray this prayer with you, and he said absolutely, and he accepted Jesus in his heart."

Collin Dozier received a Lifesaving Award from the city.

So, today, this gives us an opportunity to explore the concept of intervention.  Collin was used by the Lord in what you could refer to as a "Holy Spirit intervention."  Sometimes, that can occur by the Holy Spirit supernaturally and in His sovereign way.  Other times, He will use a person.  But we can be glad that He loves us so much that He chooses to be involved in our lives.

We can rejoice that he has intervened and saved our lives, bringing us salvation.  He wants everyone to come to know Him and He is at work to bring people into the knowledge of Himself.  You see,
God doesn't send people to hell, as some would contend.  He has placed the opportunity before us to accept His Son as our Savior; it's everyone's choice whether or not to accept God's grace.  And, we can be thankful for how the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing people to Jesus.

Screaming YES

I want to lift out several verses in succession from Colossians 3, beginning with verse 17, that says:
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Then, Paul begins to outline principles for interpersonal relationships that glorify God, including the next two verses:

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

Then, I want to skip down to verse 23: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men..."

Our marriages are intended to reflect the relationship of Christ to His Church, His bride, according to Ephesians chapter 5.  Husbands and wives are called to lay down our lives for one another, to be united in love and in humility, serving each other so that Christ can be glorified.  Our marriages are intended to be gifts from God, and He has wonderful plans for a couple united in His love and devoted to bringing Him honor and honoring one another.

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Marriage is intended by the Lord to be a precious gift to us, and our spouses are gifts from God.  And, there is a responsibility that we have in order that marriage may reflect God's glory.  Ephesians 5 states:
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

June is a month that is commonly characterized by weddings, and while the wedding ceremony likely will not take place next June, Duck Dynasty's Sadie Robertson did accept a proposal of marriage from boyfriend Christian Huff recently.

And, while the fact that she is famous attracted quite a bit of attention to her engagement, those following her life journey will also recognize that there was a strong faith element to this occasion.  A Faithwire story reported that, in reference to a Instagram video, she wrote:

“I screamed YES,” she wrote in the video’s caption. “So many words and so many more pictures to come, but for now, just know, my friends, I’m the happiest human in the world on June 9th, 2019, today, and for the rest of my life. I GET TO MARRY THIS MAN. God is faithful and so, so good.”

The article adds that:

Like Sadie, Huff, who is from Los Angeles, is a believer. The 19-year-old often posts Scripture passages to his Instagram account, and his bio reads, “If it breaks God’s heart, why do you think it will fulfill yours?”

Christian, for his part, also gave glory to God - on his Instagram feed, he wrote: "wow wow wow wow wow wow (that's 6 of them), "best day of my life that i really don’t know how to put it into words other than that I’m so thankful for the lords provision." He also wrote, "I love you more than words and i love getting to celebrate who God created you to be," adding, "You are captivating beyond words my love. Cheers to a lifetime of self sacrificial love with the lord being at the center of everything we do. 'If God is for us, then who could ever be against us?'"

And, Sadie's mom and dad are seemingly happy to welcome Christian to the family.  Faithwire states:

Korie Robertson, Sadie’s mom, congratulated the couple with an Instagram post of her own. She described Huff as “the most amazing man,” noting she and Sadie’s dad, Willie Robertson, the CEO of Duck Commander, “are beaming.”

The article says the happy couple has been dating for 11 months.  It's reported that Christian attends Auburn, a 2016 graduate of Niceville High School in Florida, while brother Chance goes to Vanderbilt.

According to People magazine:

“We want a short engagement — we’re ready,” Robertson, 22, tells PEOPLE. “We’re ready to get this show on the road and celebrate a wedding with everybody. Definitely sooner than later.”

It's refreshing to see this couple so much in love, so excited about what God has in store for them in their marriage.  And, we can remember that marriage is something to celebrate!  A person who is a gift from God, whom we can love and enjoy spending time with, to participate in a lifetime of special moments together - that's what Christian and Sadie are looking forward to and something so many of us have experienced.   So...celebrate marriage - one man, one woman, united by one God.

We can give glory to God for our mates, for they are truly gifts from the Lord, and we should regard them in that way.

Finally, remember to take the time to affirm your spouse.  Certainly do that verbally, but by the way that you behave, the way you act toward them, with understanding and compassion.  You can actually affirm them without words by listening, really listening, and seeking to be used of the Lord powerfully in their lives.  Maybe not be best slogan here but, marriage, done right - it's worth screaming about; in a good way.  YES!

Attacking Abuse

In our world today, sexual purity has been replaced by sexual permissiveness, and there is a distorted view of how men are to treat women today. 1st Corinthians 6 calls for a standard of purity, saying:
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Sin is at the root cause of the abuse that has been identified within churches today. Certainly a thirst for power and control is in the mix, as well as unrestrained, uncrucified desires.  The culture would say to embrace the sinful desires that we may encounter; the Church says, based on the Scripture, to pursue holiness, to crucify those desires through the power of God.  We belong to Him and we are equipped by the Holy Spirit to deal with the sin in our midst, but it's so vital that we call it out.

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1st Corinthians 16 gives a series of exhortations that can encourage us as we seek to glorify God.  We
can read:
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done with love.

The English Standard Version translates verse 13 as: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

The Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting wrapped up yesterday in Birmingham, and as expected, the body of over 8,000 messengers from local churches voted to strengthen its stand against sexual abuse, including setting up a standing committee to gather information and make recommendations about churches that may not be in fellowship with the denomination due to poor handling of abuse or participation in racial discrimination.

The Convention had established a Sexual Abuse Advisory Group, which released its Caring Well report just a few days before the convention.  According to Religion News Service:

The “Caring Well” report also summarizes a range of next steps to address the issue, including educating congregations about abuse, preparing them to help survivors and fostering abuse prevention.

“We lament the fact that it took a national movement of reckoning for abuse to force us to take this issue seriously in our own convention,” reads the 52-page report, which followed an investigation published May 31 in the Houston Chronicle detailing accusations involving dozens of Southern Baptists.

The article also says:

The report lists ways churches can respond to abuse, including developing a team of caregivers to assist survivors who disclose abuse and checking references before hiring staffers and volunteers.

It also recommends a new free video series called “Becoming a Church that Cares Well,” which features experts sharing best practices concerning a range of scenarios in a church, ministry or school.

The report concludes by asking Southern Baptist churches to take an eight-step “Caring Well Challenge” over the next year to help them “be safe for survivors and safe from abuse.”

A Baptist Press article on the subject says:

Sexual abuse already was a significant issue in the SBC, but an ongoing investigative series by the Houston Chronicle, joined by the San Antonio Express-News, that began in February revealed further some of the extent of the problem in the convention and its churches. The initial articles in the series found 220 pastors and other leaders in Southern Baptist churches who had been convicted of or taken plea deals in sex crimes involving more than 700 victims. More abusers in churches, as well as some who served as missionaries with the International Mission Board, have been reported since then.

The article also points out: "The Advisory Study expresses lament in the report for every victim and cites statistics demonstrating how prevalent sexual abuse is in the church and the country -- including a Department of Justice figure that one in four women and one in six men will be sexually abused before the age of 18."

With the revelations of hundreds of victims in the denomination, which, according to Chrisitanity Today, has close to 14.8 million members in over 47,000 churches, there does seem to be a high level of confidence among Protestant church members that their churches are already handling abuse well.  A LifeWay Research survey states:

The study found 1 in 3 (32%) Protestant churchgoers believe many more Protestant pastors have sexually abused children or teens than has been currently exposed. Slightly more (37%) disagree, while 31% say they don’t know.

People trust their church to be a safe place. The survey says that 93% of "churchgoers...agree their church is a safe place where adults are actively protected from sexual assault in the church; 4% aren’t sure and 3% disagree." 81% believe "their church is at least somewhat prepared to protect children from sexual abuse in ministry programs, with more than half (58%) of churchgoers saying their church is very prepared."

And, there is this:

Churchgoers believe safety measures have improved in the last decade. Almost 7 in 10 (69%) believe their church is more prepared to protect children from sexual abuse than 10 years ago.

Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research says, "Among people who are currently attending church, few said they stopped attending because of issues related to sexual misconduct,” adding, “This does not measure, however, any who left due to these problems and have returned to any church since.”  The summary states:

The research indicates churches are suffering from negative perceptions with many churchgoers bracing for more pastor-related sexual abuse stories to emerge, according to McConnell. That hasn’t worsened churchgoers’ opinions of their own church or caused them to attend less frequently, but they still see areas on which church leaders should prioritize.

One could argue the degree to which sexual abuse is a major problem within the church - it has certainly generated headlines and it is not something that should be minimized.  And, one area that can make huge, lasting change is the power of the gospel.  In policies and procedures, it is important that we do not lose sight of the nature of sexual abuse.  In a church culture where teaching on sin seems to have increasingly diminished and attitudes towards sex and sexuality have been loosened, we should develop a zero tolerance attitude toward sinfulness - that's true in our own lives.

One does have to wonder about these survey results; most people in the survey felt their church was a safe place - is it a blind trust, naivete?  Perhaps, but we run into danger when we don't recognize our vulnerabilities or think that we have arrived in addressing certain areas.  This is an area of concern and churches can certainly evaluate their systems, and we all could stand to more sensitivity to suspicious behavior.

We also have to encourage men to, as 1st Corinthians 16 directs, "act like men."  As commentator Alan Atchison writes at the Capstone Report website: "Leaders who follow Jesus will protect the vulnerable among us. That is a solution, but one that requires everyone’s commitment."
The world has distorted what it means to be a man, and the Church has an opportunity to re-establish the Biblical standard for manhood, with men who show respect to women, who provide an example of servant-leadership, and who are intentionally attempting to reflect Christ in thought and behavior.

Mob Mentality

When we face tough situations, even times of confrontation, we can be reliant on the Holy Spirit to
direct us in our speech. Luke 12 says this:
11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Not all of us may face this sort of instance, but there is a great principle in verse 12 about allowing the Holy Spirit to "teach" us what we should say.  And, if we are exhibiting the fruit of self-control according to Galatians 5, we can, through a dependence on the Lord, know what words that we can speak in whatever situation we face.  We can choose our words prior to the heat of battle so that we do not escalate a situation and when there is confrontation, we can make it our aim to be reliant on God to speak through us.

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In Titus 2, we find that Paul is giving exhortations to various groups of people: older men and women, as well as younger men and women.  And, while these are directed at these specific
demographics, there are some universal principles here. For instance, we can read:
6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

More on the tolerant intolerant today, which can show us where we are as a culture and illustrates a "mob mentality" that has taken hold in some areas of society, a mentality that threatens the Church as well.

It goes back to an incident that occurred at a bakery in a small college town - Oberlin, Ohio.  An Oberlin College student went in to the bakery and attempted to shoplift.

The Campus Reform website reported:

In Nov. 2016, an Oberlin student, Jonathan Aladin, was caught attempting to steal wine from the bakery. Two other individuals, according to the lawsuit, were also arrested and accused of misdemeanor assault during the same altercation.

In response to the arrests, protests and boycotts against Gibson’s bakery ensued with protesters accusing the store of being racist as Aladin is a minority. Reportedly, numerous employees of Oberlin attended these protests, passing out allegedly libelous flyers which read: “[Gibson’s] is a RACIST establishment with a LONG ACCOUNT of RACIAL PROFILING and DISCRIMINATION.”

Gibson's filed a lawsuit, and recently was awarded $11 million in damages by an Ohio jury. Among other things, according to the article:

The lawsuit claims that several Oberlin college administrators and faculty members publicly disparaged the bakery and used college resources to promulgate libelous information. One unnamed Oberlin administrator, the associate dean of Academic Affairs, has been accused of using Oberlin resources to print copies of the flyer.

Meredith Raimondo, Oberlin’s current vice president and dean of students who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, is accused of distributing the flyer to individuals both on and off campus.

Campus Reform reports that "In response to the accusations of sustained actions of discrimination, the Oberlin Police Department conducted its own investigation into the bakery’s history, finding that of the 40 adults arrested for shoplifting at Gibson’s in the past five years, only six were black."

The school, for its part, reportedly is saying that it did nothing wrong, according to the Chronicle-Telegram, saying that "students’ freedom of speech was protected and that the student demonstrations were safe and lawful."

The Campus Reform article also says:

Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, told Campus Reform that he has followed this case from the beginning, and said that "Oberlin administrators have a long record of inciting Oberlin students to take stands on 'social justice' issues," adding that "students are primed to exaggerate claims of racism, sexism, and other alleged aggression."

There is one key word in Wood's comments that we have to be on guard against: exaggeration.  Distorting the facts and inserting emotion can make a problem seem larger than it is.  An appeal to emotion and perception can cause unwarranted conflict.  That's how the "mob mentality" is incinerated, and believers in Christ have to hold to a higher standard, especially in matters of race and gender.

There is certainly a mob mentality that is present in some circles, devoted to shutting down free speech and silencing those with whom they do not agree. Unfortunately, Christians are all too often on the receiving end of such treatment.  Just ask David Lynn of Christ Forgiveness Ministries in Toronto - he was on a preaching tour of all 22 districts of the city when he began to proclaim God's love on the streets of the Christ-Wellesley Village area, which is described by ChristianHeadlines.com as "the city's gay village."

The article says:

Another ministry that was present, Torch of Christ, shared a video of the entire event on YouTube and Lynn’s ministry shared a shorter, edited version.

As the group joined in a circle to pray before Lynn started preaching, a crowd of onlookers started to gather around them. Lynn started preaching on a microphone with a portable speaker, saying, “God is good, God is really good. We are here to offer free information about Jesus to all who would like free information.” The video then cuts to a group beginning to confront Lynn about his preaching. Lynn said he was tolerant of everyone and asked if they would be tolerant of him as a Christian. One man said he did not want Lynn to “spew” his beliefs right on top of them and another said Lynn was disturbing a peaceful neighborhood by preaching with a microphone.

The article states that Lynn was arrested by police who "released him Wednesday morning but instructed him not to go to the homosexual district or any Pride month events."  The same website reported on an incident in Boston at the annual March for Life there - it was a small group of protesters who disrupted their event this time.  The article states:

C.J. Williams, the community engagement director for the Massachusetts Citizens for Life said two pro-abortion supporters shouted expletives at the pro-life activists and one even pushed her. She also said that another pro-abortion supporter threw urine and a frozen drink on one of the rally speakers.

From a Christian standpoint, we believe in free speech and we believe in organizing for a cause.  There's a big difference between peaceful protest and disruptive counterprotest, driven by a mob mentality.  You could say it's human nature to gather people together who think like you do and attempt to "win - over" the other side; notice the inflection here - not to win over, as in to persuade in a winsome manner, but to defeat.

We see it on social media all the time.  You have a progression - a point made, then a response, followed by a response, then people take sides and begin to make accusations.  I'm not sure that you have a lot of persuasion going on, and certainly there becomes a lack of compassion expressed.  We have to stay away from activities that negatively impact the unity of the body of Christ and make sure that our rhetoric remains restrained.

The mob mentality is real, and we have to make sure that when we encounter it that are not intimidated, that we are bold, yet under control; remember, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  He will give us the resources we need when we find ourselves in a confrontational situation.

Tolerance For All?

We hear a lot about "pride" during the month of June, and not in a good way.  In fact, that word can be used positively when we speak of, say, civic pride, or an expression of approval for the accomplishments of another.  But, pride over sexuality is certainly problematic.  The Bible says in 1st Peter 5:

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Humility can be a helpful position when we are dealing with those who do not accept your beliefs in Christ and are confrontational toward you.  Pride, in the Biblical sense, can escalate a discussion but humility can calm things down.  We are called to reflect a dependence on God and a respect for those with whom we engage.  We can exhibit an attitude of conviction with compassion, while seeking to reflect the nature of Christ.

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In John chapter 16, we find that Jesus is asking a pointed question to His disciples, as He prepares
them for tough times to come:
31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Things have become so outrageous in the support of the LGBTQ agenda that one group in Boston has decided to counter the city's gay pride parade by organizing another event - a "straight pride" parade, and the Washington Examiner reports that it is "mocking 'the identity politics of the left.'"

Now, I'll say it straight up, if you will, I don't see any evidence that this is a Christian event.  But, its very existence can certainly cause us to think a bit.  The Examiner article says:

Mark Sahady, one of the organizers, wrote on Facebook they had to file a discrimination complaint with the city to get approved. The parade is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31.

Sahady also says, "This is also about free speech. In cities with Democratic administrations the 1st amendment rights of those who don't agree with the politics of the left are not respected. We are going to change all of that by using their language against them..."

LifeSiteNews states:

While LGBT advocates assail the event as “homophobic,” and the organizers have a history of events designed to tweak Boston’s left-wing sensibilities, the proposed parade does pose serious questions about the LGBT lobby’s logical consistency in demanding recognition of homosexual pride while condemning the very concept of heterosexual pride.

In Boston’s case, it also draws attention to city officials’ elevation of LGBT pride above other values and beliefs, such as flying LGBT flags above city hall while forbidding Christian flags.

This is a serious issue in Boston, and within the past few weeks, Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver has been arguing against the denial of a request to fly a Christian flag at City Hall.  The request was made by Hal Shutluff, on behalf of his organization, Camp Constitution, which is a Christian group.

The Liberty Counsel website states:

The city censored the religious viewpoint of the flag in a public forum. The flag would have been raised only during the one-hour event held by Camp Constitution.

The city regularly extends to other civic and cultural organizations the freedom to raise their flags on a flagpole to commemorate whatever events are important to the organizations. The city’s application policy refers to the flagpoles as “public forums.”

The city denied two requests by Camp Constitution in successive years because of the religious nature of the flag. Staver says: “The city’s blatant discrimination against Camp Constitution’s Christian viewpoint is an unconstitutional censorship and insult to the First Amendment,” adding, “Boston’s rich heritage has a focal point of liberty and free speech at America’s founding. The city cannot close its public forums to religious viewpoints. It is tragic that a Boston official censored the flag at the event to celebrate the Constitution..."

Another of the organizers of that Straight Pride parade in the city is talking about a novel concept: tolerance for all.  The Washington Examiner article says, "We want tolerance, and we want tolerance for everybody — not just the LGBTQ community," organizer John Hugo told the Washington Post.

The organizing group for the parade is called Super Happy Fun America.  Its website states:

We have determined that a parade would be the best way to promote our community and its diverse history, culture, and identity. We anticipate that the city will eventually choose to embrace tolerance and inclusivity. For now, it is necessary to remind the city that they are legally obligated to treat straight people the same as people of other sexual orientations. MGL c.272, s.98 prohibits discrimination based upon sexual orientation in places of public accommodation. While Boston Pride hosts a week-long celebration every year for the LGBTQ+ community, we will settle for one day since our movement is in the early stages.

Certainly a number of takeaways here, and please allow me to say again that I am not endorsing the Straight Pride event.  It does not appear rooted in Biblical principles and we should certainly not take pride in ourselves or our sexuality.  But, there are some principles that are useful here.

First of all, those who expect, er, demand tolerance, exhibit a frustrating level of intolerance toward Christians.  They will attempt to extract a blind acceptance to their ways.  But, the teachings of Scripture, while based on and filled with God's love, do not direct us to tolerate sinful behavior.  That has negatively impacted culture today - we are called to show compassion toward people, but we are never directed to approve of their departure from God's ways.

And, we can also recognize that what could best be defined as disagreement has been redefined as intolerance.  Lack of acceptance for a viewpoint or practice does not equate with lack of respect for an individual's humanity.  We are called to treat others with respect, but we always hold true to our firm convictions.

Just a side note here: sometimes the statement of our ideals can be done in a humorous or creative way; Jesus calls us to "be of good cheer."  We don't necessarily help the cause of Christ or the furtherance of truth when we are seen as angry and combative.  The joy of the Lord can be infectious.

Man on a Bike

We can know that God walks with us, and even in difficult situations, we can place our trust in Him.
Psalm 37 states:
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

Another Psalm tells us that He is our ever-present help in time of trouble. When we face the challenges in life, we know we have a powerful deliverer who indwells us and who has given us powerful resources, including the angels of God, who are sent to accompany those who call upon His name.  We can have hope because we know that we are not alone in this world; and when we face those hopeless times we can look to Him.

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We know that the apostle Paul experienced his share of hardship - he was called into tough situations, and he writes that he was given a "thorn in the flesh" to remind Him of God's sufficiency in his own insufficiency. We see these verses in 2nd Corinthians 6:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God...

It's been a rough year around the nation of Haiti; the nation has experienced a fuel crisis, which has caused people to react by taking to the streets and participating in violence.  We continue to stand with our ministry partners at 4VEH in Cap-Haitien, where Faith Radio is heard on the Horizon station at 94.7 FM and with other ministries in Haiti who are doing incredible work in bringing hope to the people there.

There are a number of missions organizations that routinely go into Haiti to do the work of God.  One of them is called Living Waters Ministries.  Recently, according to Faithwire.com, a team went to the nation to bring computers and supplies for a community center.  The team came up on a group of protesters; the article said:

Fred Chalker, the founder of Living Waters Ministries was a part of the group. “About four hours or three and a half hours outside of Port-Au-Prince, we came upon a gang of people that were stopping traffic,” Chalker said. “We were the first ones to hit it because we were the only ones there.”

The team's truck was "swarmed with guns and weapons," according to the article, and the crowd was attempting to break its windows.

Another team member, Jeff Lee, is quoted as saying: “We came around the corner and all of a sudden the road’s blocked off, there’s burning tires there’s debris, it’s a mass crowd of a hundred, hundred twenty people there, well armed with guns and as we started approaching they started shooting these guns up in the air. And I’ll be perfectly truthful at that moment I thought we were going to die.”

Behind that truck was another Living Waters truck, driven by Drew Pasler; team doctor Doug Burbella was also on board.  Their truck was attacked, as well, and their vehicle was overrun by the attackers and it could go nowhere.

Pasler related, "I heard Doug yell, ‘I’m dying. I’ve been hit.'” Both vehicles had been emptied, and Doug had, as Drew said, "two visible wounds and possibly more just based on the amount of blood that I saw..." The story then states, "Then the gunman put his rifle up to Dr. Burbella’s head."

What came next is amazing; the Faithwire article says, quoting Pasler:

...a man on a motorcycle just kind of pulled out of nowhere in front of me. And he looked at me and said ‘it’s okay, it’s going to be okay.’ in perfect English.”

“Not even yelling,” Pasler continued. “Just kind of a regular talking voice. He said something in Creole, two to three words, and everybody around us that had the guns just kind of stopped.”

Team member Jackie Brandon said, "Everything changed,” adding, “The whole demeanor of the crowd just stood back. I don’t know what they saw, but they stepped back and the tension was gone.”

But Dr. Burbella was in a dire situation.  The article states that that he was taken to a local hospital, then, "Burbella was rushed from Haiti to Delray Medical Center, in Delray Beach, Florida. Surgeons removed bullets and bullet fragments from his neck and face. They said the fact he survived is nothing short of a miracle."  Burbella agrees - he says:

“I want people to know that if God can carry me through this with no loss of any function, really, whatever problems you have, they’re equally minuscule. It’s a miracle. It’s a shout-out to say your problem is equally small, and God can carry you through it.”

We acknowledge that God can bring help in unusual ways.  In this case, we can ask: Was it an angel?  a Good Samaritan?  a law enforcement officer?  Who knows?  What we do see if that those on the scene experienced a divine intervention.  The means of rescue may be different, but the source is the same, and we can attribute our experience of deliverance to Almighty God.

This story can also remind us of the tough neighborhoods in which many missionaries work.  We can pray for God's protection for those doing mission work.  God doesn't always call us where it's safe, but we can know that He goes with us wherever we go.  We can certainly trust Him with our very life.