Jesus is (My) King

It certainly is hard to be spiritually correct all the time, and to shun those with whom you disagree, which, when it comes right down to it, will be everyone - not all of us will possess 100% agreement on matters of the spirit.  And, we have to be careful about allowing differences to divide us.  We see in 1st Corinthians 1:
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."

We are all on a journey, as those who are disciples of our Lord.  And, yes, we will miss it, we will not live a perfect life, and we should be thankful for the grace of God.  But, if we harshly judge others in their Christian walk, we may find ourselves on a spiritual island, which is certainly a lonely place. While the Bible does teach us right doctrine and solid instruction, there will be areas of disagreement - we have to be careful that we are not steeped in spiritual pride and that we are walking with proper measure of grace toward our fellow believers...they will slip up, too, just like each of us.

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I wanted to share this passage of Scripture, because I think that it speaks to today's culture, driven by social media, in which people are divided, even in the body of Christ, even in overly harsh ways.  In Mark 9, we can read:
38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40 "For he who is not against us is on our side.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

I certainly do not think Jesus is calling for a broad ecumenism here, but I believe He is telling His disciples to not be hasty in their judgments and to possess a bit more grace, perhaps.

I saw a picture of a billboard in Times Square that contained a simple message: Jesus is King.  Indeed he is.  And, up in the bright lights was displayed the cover art for the new album for Kanye West's new "gospel" project.

And, this past week has certainly been quite a billboard for the seemingly newfound faith of Kanye West - he's been sharing some "Jesus talk" and conducting his Sunday Services, and now with the release of a gospel record, people are certainly taking note.

But, as late night talk show host James Corden asked him, is it real?

Faithwire reports on the rap legend's answer:

“When you go to sleep, would you agree that you are asleep when you are asleep? And when you wake up, would you agree that you are awake when you are awake? Would you agree those are two different states? People who don’t believe are walking dead; they are asleep. And this is the awakening.”

The website characterized that as a reference to Romans chapter 6.

That article includes response from Greg Laurie, who is heard on Faith Radio weekday afternoons at 2:00: "I applaud any person that makes any movement toward God,” adding, “And I want to encourage them in that, not critique them about that. And I think it’s fantastic because he’s taking his considerable platform — and he has quite a platform, doesn’t he? — to talk about faith. It has people talking about Jesus. I’m happy for that conversation, people that wouldn’t normally be talking about the Lord.”  He had posted a video, in which he encouraged people to "pray for him...Pray that he gets grounded in his faith, pray that he’s a seed sown on good ground that brings forth much fruit.”

Faithwire also reported:

Last week, ahead of the release of his latest record, West told Beats 1 show host Zane Lowe that he’s “now in service to Christ,” adding, “My job is to spread the Gospel, to let people know what Jesus has done for me.”

The story on the website containing a longer account of the Corden interview is fascinating.  It relates that Kanye was inspired to start the Sunday Services while in the hospital a few years ago.  The story also says:

“God’s always had a plan for me and he wanted to use me,” Kanye replied. “But I think he wanted me to suffer more and wanted people to see my suffering and see my pain and put stigmas on me and have me go through all the human experiences.”

Now, through his public declaration of faith, Kanye hopes that others will be able to relate to his conversion story and know that, no matter how far they fall, God can always be called upon to pick us back up again.

“When I talk about how Jesus saved me, more people can relate to that experience. If it was just, ‘We grew up with this guy and now he’s a superstar,’ it’s less compelling than this guy who had a mental breakdown and was in debt,” he added.

ChristianHeadlines.com featured a story last month about a California pastor, who "recently shared on 'The Pure Flix Podcast' his journey with Kanye West and believes his conversion is genuine, according to Faithwire."

The story shared comments from pastor Adam Tyson:

“[T]he first time I talked to [Kanye] the first Sunday in June, he told me, ‘I got radically saved five weeks ago,’” Tyson shared. “I said, ‘Kanye, what happened five weeks ago?’ He said, ‘I was just under the weight of my sin and I was being convicted that I was running from God, and I knew I needed to make things right, so I came to Christ. I came out of the darkness into the light.’”

Kanye had attended Tyson's church, Placerita Bible Church in Santa Clarita, California, a few times, and Kanye stayed afterward to talk with Tyson. The story, from October 8, says, "Ever since, the pair have met weekly to discuss the Bible."  Tyson reports that he has seen some fruit developing in Kanye's life.

What about the content of Jesus is King? A review on the Jesus Freak Hideout website says:

Overall, the album feels half-baked, like an idea not fully-formed, however, this also seems fraught with purpose, and comes with its benefits. At twenty-seven minutes across eleven tracks, it is a refreshing snapshot of a man newly given over to and living for Christ. Some things are best said with brevity, and given time to sink in with repeat listens. I appreciate that Kanye has something he seemingly cannot wait to say but doesn't feel the need to say it ad nauseam. This is a welcome change for a man not known to show restraint. What we have here comes across as a new convert eager to share his testimony, as quickly as possible.

It mentions specific songs:

The album begins with a frenetic choir wailing, "sing until the power of the Lord comes down," on a brief opener devoid of any sign of West himself. There seems to be a double-time pace utilized to cue the listener to what they are in for throughout the tracklist. Songs are coming fast and lean. Kanye makes his entrance on "Selah," with an organ setting up his rap verse, and the gospel choir reaching for the heavens as they repetitively sing "Hallelujah" in rousing fashion.

Other tracks include: Closed on Sunday, which "has typical West goofiness using Chick-fil-a to address the topic of lust, addiction, and raising his kids up in the faith rapping, "closed on Sunday/You my Chick-Fil-A/You're my number one/with the lemonade/raise our sons, train them in the faith/through temptations/make sure they're wide awake/Follow Jesus, listen and obey."

The review also mentions:

Another highlight is the slow Andrae Crouch-inspired jam, "God Is." With hoarse vocals, Kanye earnestly proclaims his new mission, "I know I won't forget all He's done/He's the strength in this race that I run/Every time I look up, I see God's faithfulness/And it shows just how much He is miraculous/I can't keep it to myself, I can't sit here and be still/Everybody, I will tell 'til the whole world is healed."

And, there's Hands On, in which "West delivers a gentle challenge to Christians who would judge him rather than pray for him."

Plugged In from Focus on the Family has this to say about the project:

But in the past, shout-outs to Jesus have often competed with lyrical excesses in other areas: harsh vulgarity, sexually explicity lyrics and Kanye’s famously outsized ego.

What seems wholly different on Jesus Is King is that those inconsistencies are almost completely absent. Almost. What Kanye has given us instead is an album that draws stylistically from rap and gospel, but one that focuses exclusively on Jesus and His identity as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Both reviews mention the one profanity on the album, in speaking of religion in a denigrating way, contrasting it to the "revolution" that Jesus wants to bring.  The review concludes by saying:

None of us can know whether Kanye will sustain his current level of Christian conviction in the years to come. But his earnest spiritual fervor is undeniable on Jesus Is King. On this album (and in the accompanying short film of the same name), Kanye West takes the spotlight off of himself and shines it unabashedly on Jesus Christ, proclaiming Him King and Savior.

So, there you have at least, some of the comments regarding Jesus is King, which also has a film that accompanies it.

The "drop" of this Kanye West project has made a splash in the world of entertainment, as well as throughout the Christian community.  And, I think you can expect enthusiastic embrace by some, skepticism by others, and a mix by some.  The thought that occurred to me this morning had to do with the reaction of Jesus to the news brought to Him by His disciples that they had encountered someone who was casting out demons in His name and told him to stop.  Jesus responded by saying that no one who did miracles in His name would then speak evil of Him.  This communicates to me a message of grace; yes, we are called to test the spirits and even inspect the fruit, but we don't want to be overly critical of how God may be working in a person's life.  I think Greg Laurie got it right - Kanye is talking about Jesus and the pastor encourages people to pray for him, to pray that he will be grounded and productive for the Lord.

We can also check our own lives and see if we are truly proclaiming that "Jesus is King."  If Jesus is the King of our hearts, then we can expect spiritual growth and spiritual fruit to come from that.  We will display that we are His disciples.  We can talk a great game, but we have to make sure that we are actively playing, being obedient to Him as the Lord of our lives.

Boomerang

God wants to restore people to Himself; when we sin against Him, He makes a way for us to receive forgiveness, and for the person who has strayed from Him, God can bring that person back.  Hosea 6
issues an invitation:
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

In our relationship with Christ, there may be times in which we are not walking as closely as we think we should or as God would desire for us to.  Fortunately, out of His great love for us, He can restore us into fellowship with Himself.  We have to lay down our lives so that we can experience the fullness of His abundant life.  But, we can be confident that God hasn't given up on us and He makes a way for us to grow in Him.

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You are probably familiar with the story of the prodigal son that Jesus shared; we read it in Luke 15.
A man had two sons, and the youngest took his inheritance and squandered it. Beginning in verse 17,  we read about his return, beginning with an eye-opening moment; we see these words:
17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '

Last month, I commented on Barna's research on young people and their spiritual habits, emphasizing the concept of spiritual resiliency.  That characteristic actually stands in contrast with the number of young people who are leaving the church.  A recent Christian Headlines piece highlights this departure.

The article said that:

In a Barna Group research analysis done by assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and pastor of First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Ryan Burge, showed that those born between 1965 and 1984 were much less likely to return to church than those born between 1945 and 1964.

The data, Burge said, should have major implications for the way ministry is done in today’s evangelical church.

That article quotes from a Christian Post story, in which Burge is quoted as saying: “No church should assume that this crucial part of the population is going to return to active membership as their parents once did.” He adds, “If churches are sitting back and just waiting for all their young people to flood back in as they move into their 30s, they are likely in for a rude awakening...Inaction now could be creating a church that does not have a strong future.”

According to the Post:

In Burge’s analysis of the boomer generation, four different five-year cohorts reflected the “trademark hump” supported by traditional social science “when each birth cohort moves into the 36–45 age range. That’s exactly what the life cycle effect would predict: People settle down, they have kids, and they return to church.”

When he examined data for the younger cohorts 1965-1969, 1975-1979 and 1980-1984, the data show a fading of the life cycle effect. While the hump is still there in the cohort measured from 1965-1969, a shift in the life cycle effect begins to emerge by around 1970.

On the Barna website, Burge provides some graphs and analysis and outlines the so-called "life cycle effect."  He writes:

If you’ll allow some generalizations, the life cycle effect is commonly explained like this: Typically, young people attend church at a fairly high rate as they move through their grade school and high school years. Often, this is because their parents require their attendance, though many also enjoy youth group trips and activities. However, as they graduate high school and move into college or career, large shares of them begin to drift away from home and many of the social institutions that were crucial in their early development. A young person’s twenties are usually filled with lots of volatility. We can assume this season often includes a lot of moves, job changes and romantic relationships.

But, as he says, "Eventually, the lives of these young people begin to stabilize." He points out that perhaps they enter into marriage and have children. And, then..."As their children move into school age, they want them to have the same type of moral foundation that they grew up with, so they head back to church."

Burge contends that "life cycle effect" can no longer be counted on for those who were born in the early 80's, which means they are now in their 30's.  He writes at the Barna site: "I think one path forward is for churches to become intentional about providing welcoming and engaging spaces for parents of infants and toddlers."

The data suggests younger people are not coming back to church. There are no doubt multiple reasons.  But, we can remember the spiritual void that the Church can address has not changed. And, we can trust that the Lord will move in a person's heart and he or she will respond to Him.  Think about the parable of the prodigal son - God delights in bringing people back home to Him.
We can rejoice in God's capability to move in a person's heart.  There are those who want to pronounce the death of the modern-day evangelical church; I don't believe that is going to happen.  Because...

...God is powerful and He is moving.  Sometimes we can get so caught up in the negative and become divided and discouraged.  We can emphasize the fruit of a right relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ.

And, to the Church, we can consider the need to be intentional.  The survey indicates that the results of life cycles that has been at play indicate that young people who leave in their teens and twenties will come back.  This research instructs us not to make assumptions.

Light in Darkness

The knowledge of Christ brings light to our lives. Because we can know Him, we can trust confidently in His direction. Jesus taught in John chapter 8:
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true."
14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

He referred to Himself later in the book of John as "the way, the truth, and the life," the sole way into a relationship with God the Father.  Sole, as in solitary, and soul, as in the fact that He is the One who will illuminate our hearts and bring us into the knowledge of God.  He wants us to know His truth and to discern between good and evil.  1st John 4 says to "test the spirits."  We have to be able to distinguish good from evil and truth from life - and as Ephesians 6 suggests, to extinguish those "fiery darts" that the enemy brings to deceive and defeat us.

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In Romans 13, we can read a passage that reinforces our call to be people of the light of Christ.  It
says:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Each year, October 31 is a day, not a holiday, mind you, in the official sense, but a day, even a season that people celebrate.  And, while many regard it as good fun, there are certainly serious spiritual origins to the day - and people spend serious cash to buy costumes, candy, and the like.  The Hill reports that, "Retailers say they expect American consumers to shell out $8.8 billion this Halloween on costumes, candy and pumpkins. That figure may sound massive, but it represents the second consecutive fall in annual spending..."

But spending has been growing over time - one professor says that parents have the disposable income to spend on the "frivolities."  Another says that Halloween is an "expenditure-visibility holiday," as the level of parents' spending can actually be "seen."

So, there are serious retail implications, no doubt, but the seriousness of the spiritual roots of this observance should not be ignored.  A CBN article relates:

The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

The author, Elliot Watson, says that he did some research into how certain witches observe the day and he describes his findings:

“Shock” is the only word to describe what I found. Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. There is no question in my mind that to those who believe and follow the practices of witchcraft, Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil, devilish, dark side of the spiritual world.

So, Halloween has presented a dilemma for Christians.  Some choose to ignore the day all together, some churches have a special day observing the Reformation or All Saints' Day, which was an early Christian response to the pagan traditions.  Churches do Fall Festivals as a Halloween alternative - to give children a chance to dress up in non-scary costumes and have fun in a safe environments.  And, there are ministry opportunities that occur, such as a judgment house that tells the story of God's plan for humanity, including a portrayal of the afterlife and the reality of hell.

Heidi Franz suggests some ideas on the JellyTelly website about "shining light" at Halloween.  She relates four ideas, including pumpkin carving, perhaps using a resource by Mary Manz Simon or Liz Curtis Higgs, both of whom have written uplifting books centered on pumpkins.  She also mentioned the idea of a "Walk Through the Bible" night, similar to a live nativity, where children would walk through various "stations" and see Bible stories or characters portrayed.  She also mentions the idea of a "Fruit of the Spirit" jar:

Fill a jar with all the collected candy and label it “Fruit of the Spirit”. Sit down with your child and explain that your family is going to help each other develop the “Fruit of the Spirit” using the candy jar. Choose one characteristic per day. Every time someone is "caught" displaying that behavior, he or she gets to take out a sweet treat from the jar. Encourage the kids to look for other family members displaying the “fruit” as well.

In his CBN article, Watson sees this season as a teaching time.  He writes that this could be an opportunity to teach children, and that Christians can discuss the world we live in, highlighting the goodness of God and evil of Satan, and celebrating God's triumph.  He writes:

...rather than “hide” in the face of evil, we should unabashedly and boldly create an alternative that is positive and uplifting; that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We need to provide an environment that also makes room for heaps of fun while using the day as a “teachable moment” to celebrate God’s protection, provision, and purpose for our lives.

It is certainly a time for ministry - it's been suggested that people use this as an evangelistic opportunity for those who will be knocking on their doors, perhaps handing out a gospel tract along with the candy.  And, churches can reach out to the community with special events that present a gospel message in the midst of activities.  I do think we should de-emphasize the scary elements of the day, perhaps embracing the "fall" or even "harvest" aspects of the season.

Whatever we decide, in this and all things, we should search the Scriptures, seek the Lord, and follow His direction.  We can also give latitude to those who have also sought God's counsel and come to a different decision.

Jesus Saves

There is a purpose in our suffering, so that Christ may be exalted through us.  Romans chapter 5
teaches us that we:
(3) glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God is with us, and even in our times of difficulty, we know that He is there, and He provides us the opportunity to trust Him, so that He can perform His desired inward work in our hearts and do the outward work so people will see and come to know a faithful and loving God, who sustains us even in our difficulty.  Our overall life story as Christians consists of those times that may have looked bleak, but God has shown Himself mighty.

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Day by day, moment by moment, we can know that God is with us and He desires to work through us for His glory. 2nd Corinthians 4 says:
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18a while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

Tyler Moon wanted to proclaim his faith in Christ in a unique way as he ran in a 10-mile race associated with the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota a few weeks ago.  On his bib for the race, he could have had his name placed there above his number for the race, but he decided to take a different direction.  Moon told The Christian Post that he "had a thought that I should change that to something that should be a profession of faith...Something that can display Jesus and God to the world,” adding, “I thought it was just a very simple statement that one, could fit on a bib and two, I really thought it describes who Jesus is and what He did for us and how He saves us for eternity.”

The message was simple: Jesus Saves.  The article goes on to say:

He hoped that “someone in the crowd, another runner, or a volunteer or someone would be encouraged by that profession of faith. Or they would maybe ask a question or they would have something go off in their brain to think more about Jesus. That was the original intent,” Moon said.

As he came to mile 8, Tyler experienced a heart attack.  He fell down, which resulted in a concussion, as well as some bones fractured in his face. Fortunately, a fellow runner who was behind him in the race, was able to attend to him - someone who is, as the Post reports, "a certified registered nurse anesthetist who's knowledgeable in CPR."  The article says:

The runner’s name, as reported by the Pioneer Press, is Jesus Bueno. His first name is pronounced “Hay-SOOS.” Bueno helped to treat Moon until the injured runner was transported to a nearby hospital.

That's right - his name is spelled J-E-S-U-S, but pronounced a different way.  But, God had him there in just the right place to help Tyler.  The Pioneer Press article reports that Bueno told one of his colleagues, who was also in the race, “We’ve got to start CPR...” It goes on to say:

The colleague began chest compressions while Bueno breathed for Moon, using a mask supplied by a race attendant.

Moon said he was told chest compressions continued for between five to 15 minutes. Neither man was sure of the time, because as Bueno said, “It was kind of a blur.”

Eventually paramedics arrived. Bueno continued helping, putting the patches of the defibrillator on Moon so they could shock his heart back to a regular rhythm.

The Christian Post article, which was published this past Saturday, states:

Moon told CP he found it “pretty wild,” adding it was funny “how God takes that and blows it up and sends it out to the whole world.”

“I was just thinking about the bib and the purpose of it was trying to spread the name of Jesus and try to encourage other people,” he said, noting that he was “shocked” at how much attention the incident has gotten.

As for his health, Moon told CP he was “doing really well” and had just gotten back to work earlier this week in an effort to “slowly roll back into normal life,” albeit while also “keeping track of my brain health.”

It's true - Jesus saves.  And, in this case, Jesus (hay-soos) saved!  The interesting twist to this story has perhaps been a contributing factor to the spread of it.  But, think about the hand of God and His response to Tyler Moon, who had that desire to proclaim the gospel.  We can consider for ourselves how we can spread His message.  As He leads, inspires, and empowers, we can be devoted to sharing who Jesus is.

Now, think with me about the series of events here.  Tyler wanted to share the gospel, so he put the phrase, "Jesus Saves" on his track bib.  He had a medical emergency, and God provided a skilled person to be right there for him.  And, his story has now spread.  The story does not contain all positive elements - just like our own stories!  But you can know and reflect on the fact that even in the times of difficulty, God is working.

A Safe Place

When we take the time to be still before the Lord, studying His Word and allowing Him to do His
work in our hearts, we can know that He will provide direction for us. Psalm 37 says:
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

There are several action words in this brief passage - we are instructed to trust in Him, meaning that we are to place our faith in Christ, a faith that is rooted in the knowledge of God's Word and His promises.  We are to dwell in the land, which implies that He intends for us to flourish wherever He calls.  We are told to delight in the Lord; we can rejoice in the Lord and enjoy His presence, knowing that He will conform our desires to His own and show Himself to be our provides.  And, we are to commit our way to Him, surrendering to Christ along the way.

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As God inspires ideas and direction in our hearts, we can respond to Him in confidence and trust His
wisdom and His provision. 1st John 5 states:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Over a period of almost 30 years, a Texas woman named Carla Shellis has apparently been quite successful in business - she has owned five restaurants, as well as a roofing company, according to an article at The Stream, which relates that in 2012, she believes the Lord directed her to sell the restaurants and enter into a new full-time endeavor.

She had already begun to minister to women who were in desperate situations, including abusive ones, and stepped out in faith to do that full-time.  The article relates:

In 2015 she started volunteering at a safe house with women who had experienced sex trafficking. After 2.5 years of volunteering at the safe house, she sensed God telling her to open her own safe house. The shelter, named Bochy’s Place after her mother, opened in September 2017.

But, earlier this year, the ministry was at a crossroads - the property was on the verge of being sold, and Shellis was tested regarding how sold out she was to the plan of God.  The article relates:

“I was asking the Lord boldly,” Shellis said. “Lord, I’m coming to You in the name of Jesus and I’m asking in boldness that You would send somebody to donate some land.”

Two weeks after she got the residents relocated and everything moved out of the house, a supporter donated land for a new residence. Shellis recently spoke at a gala to raise funds to build Bochy’s Place’s new residence.

The article relates that shelter is a top concern for those who are victims of sex trafficking - a safe place that will provide care for these ladies.  And, there is a remarkably low number of places to go.  The Stream reports:

A national survey spanning six months in 2012 found 529 beds exclusively designated for victims of sex trafficking. Including these beds plus other beds not specifically designated for trafficking victims, a total of 1,644 beds were available to sex trafficking victims in the United States for at least one night.

But it takes funding, and quite a bit of it.  The article relates that:

Money is an obstacle in the struggle for safe houses to stay open, she says. Trauma care is particularly expensive. Shellis calculates that the cost to run Bochy’s Place for one year with 12 residents will be $384,000. This figure includes basic living expenses plus 24/7 staff in the safe house, medical treatment for STIs and physical trauma, legal fees, and specialized trauma-informed psychotherapy.

Carla believes that the Lord has given her a strategy upon which she can build a ministry that provides adequate shelter and care.  There are three elements - a triangle, if you will.

There's Bochy’s League, consisting of, in Carla's eyes, "people across the nation forming groups that raise awareness in their communities to prevent trafficking. These groups also raise money for a foundation that supports Bochy’s Place and other safe houses for survivors."

Plus, there is Bochy’s Box, described as "a quarterly subscription box for women" which "contains products including fashion accessories, beauty and home items."  Most of the items are donated.

And, of course, the third leg of the triangle is the home itself, Bochy's Place. Multiple homes, as she envisions. The article says: 

She wants to use her business skill to create a model that can be replicated so others can build healing, sustainable safe houses.

Can it work? Shellis believes it can. She’s not afraid to ask God boldly for what she needs. She’s seen God provide her a property and a plan, and she’s hard at work to see that plan fulfilled.

This year, at the organization's gala, the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, was the keynote speaker.  His office has been very involved in combating human trafficking in the state.

I want to consider several elements based on this story.  For one thing, we can continue to recognize that human trafficking is real - it is prevalent and certainly a threat to young women and even young men.  And, those who have been victimized need Biblically-based, compassionate care.  So, it's important to be aware of what is occurring.

We can also recognize how God will call people into new seasons of life.  Carla Shellis was a successful woman in business, but the Lord had other plans, and He used the skills that she had developed in the business world to apply in ministry.  As she was exposed to the women who needed care and assistance, the Lord began to birth a vision in her heart...

...and a strategy.   Not only did Shellis have the inspiration, but she began to trust the Lord to do His work and provide the resources for the ministry to grow.  If we have a God-inspired idea, we can look to Him to put the pieces into place.

Finally, we can respond to Him in boldness, being confident of His call and His capability.  And, we can be bold in prayer, asking in faith, so that His work might be carried out.

Winking at You

God reminds us through His Word and the realization of His presence that He is with us. Isaiah 41
delivers this truth; we can read:
8 "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

We can know and be assured that God is with us.  He has redeemed us and brought us into a relationship with Himself, and He desires to walk with us, helping us to navigate the challenges of this life.  We can track, or identity, how He is working and look to Him as we confront the difficult decisions that we make.  His Spirit will show us the way we should walk and will orchestrate the events of our life in accordance with His plan; we can be sensitized to that, so we will follow where and when He leads.

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In the book of Philippians, Paul teaches about the Holy Spirit partnering with us to fulfill His plan for us. In the 2nd chapter, we find these words:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

We can look for the evidence of the presence of God, the One who sees us and wants us to know Him.  The One who made us is the One who sees us and knows us.

Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullen have collaborated on a short film called, The God Who Sees.  The website for the project, which is described as "A Modern Oratorio," describes it this way:

The God Who Sees is a short film directed by Kathie Lee Gifford based on a song written by Gifford and Grammy-nominated, Nicole C. Mullen. Mullen is featured as the narrator and performer as she journeys throughout the Holy Land recounting the stories of Hagar, Ruth and David during their wilderness experiences, and ending with Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem at the tomb of the Risen Savior, Jesus.

The song at the center of the film, which is just over 12-1/2 minutes long, was nominated for a GMA Dove Award this year, for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year.  Kathie Lee and Nicole were presenters during the awards show, and visited the press room to talk about how the video and how God is working through their lives.

You can access a video of Kathie Lee and Nicole's comments in the Press Room at the 2019 GMA Dove Awards here:

In their comments, Kathie Lee mentioned her involvement with the Godwinks series of films on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel.  Last year's A Godwink Christmas will be followed this year by A Godwink Christmas: Made for Love, which debuts on Friday, November 15.  You can catch the original this Saturday night at 8:00 CT.  It was inspired by a true-life love story of Gery and Paula Conover, who own the Charlotte Inn on Martha's Vineyard.  As the Godwinks.com website states: "Godwinks of weather and divine alignment lead Paula to meeting Gery Conover..., owner of the charming Charlotte Inn on the Vineyard."

A CBN.com story featured the co-author of the series of Godwinks books which have inspired the movies, SQuire Rushnell.  In its article on the book, When God Winks at You, it states:

SQuire defines a "God wink" as a personal communication from God to an individual, which is usually a circumstance or event that seems like coincidence but is too personal to be so. They are messages of reassurance and encouragement from God throughout one's life to reassure an individual that he or she is on the right track. "God winks" are like sign posts -- sign posts usually don't direct you; they reassure you of where you are going. Sometimes we wonder if God really listens to us directly, and a "God wink" can be a direct response to that.

Rushnell, who met his wife through a series of such events, according to the story, is quoted as saying: “God is watching us, and 'God winks' are messages of hope that come when we need them the most,” adding, “Our lives are not random experiences taking us to destinations unknown...Our lives are part of a much greater plan.”

This concept falls right in line with the work of God in a Christian's life. If only we can learn to recognize and listen to the plans of God.  Ultimately, I would contend that the ultimate plan for our lives is to come to know Christ and follow Him wholeheartedly.  And, along the way, God is attempting to get the attention of everyone, believer or unbeliever, with the intent of that person surrendering to Jesus.

It can be helpful and encouraging to look back and see how God has led you to this point in time.  When we have a sense of how God's hand has been upon us in the past, it can provide assurance that He is continuing to guide our lives.  He has not left us to fend for ourselves - now, if we decide to "go it alone," He will certainly allow that, but we face the negative consequences of our uninformed choices.

Day by day, we can know God walks with us.  There will be those times, I believe, that we can attribute to the Holy Spirit, arranging situations, getting our attention, directing us in a decision.  He is active in our lives, and we can sense His presence with us and know and affirm His love and care.

Seen

Our Lord calls us to fruitfulness, and that involves not only inward spiritual growth, but outward spiritual action.  We are saved through faith and our works flow from what Christ has done and is
doing in our hearts. Jesus taught in John 15:
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

It is really astounding, isn't it?  The Son of the Creator of the universe has designated us to be His friends.  He brings us into a relationship with Himself through salvation, a relationship that His based on His sacrificial, unconditional love for us.  As we love Him and experience more of Him in our lives through surrender, we can see the fruit of the Spirit produced through us - people will hopefully be able to see through us that we belong to Him.

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The apostle Paul was prepared to proclaim His faith in Christ and to allow Christ's love to flow to
others, no matter what their background may be. In Romans 1, we see these verses:
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Those of us who are likely in the second half of our lives, perhaps in the Baby Boomer or even the Baby Buster generations, who are devoted to Christ, can certainly keep an eye on those who follow behind - the Millennials and Generation Z.  Gen Z contains today's teens and young adults.

And, there are some trends among young people that can be encouraging, according to a new Pew Research Center study upon which ChristianHeadlines.com reported recently.

As the headline suggests, almost 6 out of 10 evangelical teens say that they talk about their faith with their classmates on a regular basis.  This is a subset of the overall sample, in which 2 out of 3 teens say they never or rarely discuss religion with their friends.

The Christian Headlines article also says:

The poll of 1,800 teenagers (ages 13 to 17) found that 53 percent of teens say they regularly see classmates wearing jewelry or clothing with religious messages, and another 39 percent say they regularly see fellow students praying before a sporting event.

And, about a quarter of those surveyed said that it's "common" to see someone invited to a religious event, like a youth group or a worship service.  Pew also noted that one out of 10 evangelical teens believe they have experienced bullying as a result of their faith.

It seems as if students gravitate toward those who share their religious faith.  The Pew summary also notes that:

• About three-quarters of all religiously affiliated teens (78%) report that at least some of their friends share their religion. A smaller proportion (60%) of all religiously unaffiliated teens say they have friends who identify – like they do – as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular. Indeed, 19% of unaffiliated teens say that none of their friends are religiously unaffiliated, and an additional 19% say that “hardly any” of their friends share their lack of religious affiliation.

The index measured five different types of religious expressions: wearing religious clothing or jewelry, praying before a sporting event, inviting other students to youth groups or services, praying before eating lunch, and reading religious scripture during the school day. Interestingly enough, according to Pew, "8% of teens in public schools say they commonly see all five (3%) or four out of five (5%)."

With regard to personal participation in these activities, Pew relates that about half of the students surveyed do not participate in any of those five activities.  Around 3-in-10 or less of those who are "religiously affiliated" participate in at least one of them.

Public participation can be an expression of private faith.  Some are bold, others are reserved.  But, there can be some outward signs of the inward work of Christ that are not necessarily these five expressions Pew identified.

I do want to establish - we can display the fruit of the Spirit, and that production comes from the inward work of Christ.  Certainly, we can manufacture actions that look good or even great; we can act like a good Christian, but ultimately, the true, lasting fruit flows from that relationship with the living God who lives in us.

Pew identifies some activities that are certainly good, even godly, and could indicate a relationship with Christ.  We know that He desires to express outward signs through us; some that come to mind include: love, a willingness to serve others, the ability to communicate His truth, and the affirmation of Christ in our lives.  We can possess the attitude of not being ashamed of the gospel and being motivated to proclaim to whom we belong.

Redefining It?

Throughout his writings to Timothy, the apostle Paul is directing and equipping him to adhere to the
truth of Christ. He writes in 2nd Timothy 3:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture. Is. Sufficient.  Think about that.  God's Word is the starting point for our interpretation and application of Scripture - that sounds a bit obvious, doesn't it?  But, we have to be careful that we don't start with our own ideas and then attempt to make the Scriptures fit.  We can't pick and choose Scripture verses; we have to submit to the authority of the entirety of God's Word.  As we read and study the Scriptures, God will work in our lives in profound ways.

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In the era in which we live, the times in which God has placed us, we can be challenged to live in the
light of Christ and recognize His truth. John 1 says:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

The skilled marketers have instilled within our society the concept of "all-new," the "new and improved," the "bigger and better."  We are treated to promises of more flavor, better ingredients, and a greater fulfillment of our desire for instant gratification.

If we're not careful, we will apply this thirst for the "new and improved" to the Church, to God's truth.  And, while we may deploy new methods in order to reach people for the gospel, we have to make sure that the message isn't changed.

Within the past few months, there seems to have been a parade of "new and improved" conferences regarding the Church.  I have spent quite a bit of time on the "Revoice" conference, which attempts to substitute homosexual identity for identity in Christ and to treat same-sex attraction as something to be accommodated rather than to follow the Biblical prescription and mortify that sinful desire, as we are to treat all sinful desires.  As it's been pointed out, we don't need to "re-" anything; God's Word is sufficient.

But there seems to be those who believe that God's Word doesn't work for them, so instead of conforming their lives to His truth, they are attempting to conform their interpretation of the Scripture to their own experience.  I came across a story on the Haaretz website, which is published in Israel, which covered a conference called, "Liberating Evangelicalism," held in Chicago, which is described in this way:

The conference represented a more radical challenge to the notion that evangelicals are necessarily affiliated with the right. The conference focused instead on the place evangelicals can have in social justice politics, which is becoming more prominent among America’s progressive left.

The article included, not surprisingly, an analysis of a trend among younger people to disassociate themselves from Israel.  Pastor Skip Heitzig, of Calvary Chapel in Albequerque is quoted in the article:

We all know there are groups trying to move the conversation more to the left, and to a place of less support for Israel,” he says. “It’s been on the radar for years, and a lot of it starts in college campuses. I think it’s fair to say this trend is growing, but it’s still very far from being mainstream. If we don’t find smart ways to counter it, over time it will have more of an impact.”

Heitzig connects changing views on Israel to broader ideological changes. “Some younger evangelicals that I meet, they are trying to challenge a lot of what older generations believe in,” he says. “To some degree, that’s a normal thing — every generation challenges the ones that preceded it. But we need to do a better job of educating young people about Israel, not only because of the biblical aspect but also because it’s a unique, democratic country in a difficult area of the world.”

Recently, there was a conference that had another of those futuristic titles, the "Evolving Faith" Conference, about which a report on the Religion News Service website stated:

In most of these sessions, the work of deconstructing one’s faith was balanced by figuring out what — if anything — to replace it with. “I think our faith is evolving now, because we are waking up to the reality that that faith — that twisted, malformed faith that spoke human hierarchy into the world and reinforced it — we’re finally waking up to it and saying ‘no,’” said activist Lisa Sharon Harper during the final session. “But now we have to figure out what it’s supposed to be. What is the vision for what it’s supposed to be?”

The catalysts of deconstruction may have been different for each speaker — racism, sexism, colonialism, LGBTQ exclusion, illness or the “problem of evil” — but their experiences mirrored one another: personal doubts and questions, hostility and even rejection from their churches once they questioned authority or otherwise came out of the closet.

So, was this a Biblically-centered conference or a celebration of identity politics?  Sean McDowell, on The Stream website, offered a critique of the premises of one of the speakers, Jen Hatmaker, analyzing a post she wrote related to the event. He writes:

In sum, Hatmaker argues that good fruit is teaching that benefits the marginalized. That includes women, the LGBTQ community, the poor and so on. If teaching does not lead to the flourishing of those on the margins, it is bad fruit. In other words, we should judge biblical teaching by its practical effects on the lives of the marginalized according to how well they flourish (Hatmaker notably doesn’t define what she means by flourishing).

Sean, the son of renowned Christian apologist Josh McDowell, admits, "As Christians, we should care deeply about the marginalized, as Hatmaker emphasizes." But, he digs deeper:

Nevertheless, the key issue here is how we adjudicate between differing views when part of the church calls something good and another part calls it bad. To answer this, we have to address the question of what Jesus meant by “fruit.” And this is where Hatmaker makes a costly mistake.

Jesus did not teach that bad fruit is the negative experiences people have when they are told to obey God. It is not the harm people experience because of traditional theology (which isn’t actually true, by the way). Jesus did not teach us to evaluate Scriptural teachings and doctrine by the social effects they have on a certain segment of society, but on the moral effects they have on all of our lives.

I have an idea - why not judge the fruit by the Word?  We can allow the Word to govern our beliefs and not try to adjust the Word to conform to our experience.  And, it's the whole Word at play, not just the "red letters" that some have now used to attempt to make the teachings of Jesus something they are not.

The so-called Red Letter Christians were formed about 15 years ago by liberal theologians Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis, who leads the Sojourners organization; Wallis, in fact, has a new book called, Reclaiming Jesus.  Chelsen Vicari, writing at Juicy Ecumenism, says that:

Tony Campolo called his Red Letter Christian (RLC) movement “embryonic” and assessed, “we just can’t get this thing off the ground” during a gathering at Greenleaf Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina on October 2, 2019.

Campolo decried the lack of funding that the movement has been receiving...and there's apparently a lack of something else. Vicari writes:

The former spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton then shared an anecdote about Jerry Falwell Sr., with whom he had a cordial relationship. The two would debate on the CNN political debate show Crossfire. According to Campolo, the late Falwell would easily defeat mainline Protestant pastors who argued from a philosophical perspective. Falwell, on the other hand, would simply quote Scripture.

“We don’t quote [Scripture] often enough,” Campolo continued. “We make all these philosophical arguments for justice. No book speaks to justice better than the Bible.”

She also stated: "What I heard in Goldsboro sounded very similar to so many of the liberal mainline Protestant events that I’ve attended over the past six years. A heavy concentration on identity politics and less focus on the Gospel’s call for salvation, repentance, and soul-winning."  So, it sounds like the "red letters" moniker is more about identity politics that Biblical truth.  Same for a movement embraced by some that seeks to exalt the teachings of Jesus while de-emphasizing the teachings of Paul.

The bottom line: you can try to re-package Christianity but you can't re-package or re-brand the Christ of Christianity.  It doesn't work.  Intersectionality, where people are separated by classes of victimization, doesn't work and brings division because it's not a Biblical concept.  Same with critical race theory.  Just this Sunday, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the pastor of a Southern Baptist church announced his intent for the church to leave the Southern Baptist Convention due to theological concerns.  Other denominations have been struggling with the infiltration of ideas that are contrary to Scripture - United Methodists next year are expected to complete a division into two or more different bodies due to a sharp disagreement over the LGBTQ issue.

We can also remember to stand for truth; there is not "your" truth or "my" truth - it's His truth.  We can have our own interpretations and applications of the Scriptures, but we have to make sure that we allow the Spirit to direct us in how we interact with the Word.  We start with truth, not with our own ideas and then making God's Word fit with those ideas.

All in all, we have to recognize the sufficiency of Scripture.  There are fundamentals of the faith to which we are called to adhere.  God's Word has not changed, and though ways of communicating it may be adapted to the times, it is vital that we hold fast to His Word and not attempt to live as though it is not enough for us.  He is enough, His Word is true, and He gives us direction for a fulfilling life.

Hiding the Word

We are called to move forward in the Lord, to grow spiritually, to radiate His glory through our lives. We get a glimpse into God's will in our lives in the words of Paul in Colossians 1:
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God...

How do we gain that knowledge?  By reading and studying God's Word, and living it out.  Our acceptance of the Word into our hearts and minds will produce the spiritual fruit that the Lord desires, so that His light and love will flow through us.  We can know Him by interacting with the Scriptures and fellowshipping with Him.  Jesus teaches us that we are to abide in Him, so that He can produce fruit to His glory.

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Jesus shared a parable in Mark 4 about the nature of God's Word, where it is sown, and how it
becomes effective in our lives. We can read, beginning in verse 14:
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

I came across a story the other day in the Montgomery Advertiser that caught my attention.  It had to do with a Bible that had been placed in the Court Square area of downtown Montgomery.  Seems a man named Ben Davis, back in the 40's, had arranged with the city to place an open Bible in that location.  His grandson, Lawrence Glass, was in Montgomery recently for a rededication ceremony for the Bible display, including its pedestal.  Glass said: "Granddaddy and I would go to church on a Sunday morning. We'd walk," and he added: "He didn't like driving a car even to come downtown. We'd go to church and walk down and change the page on the Bible. ... Some of the best days I ever had."

The article goes on to say:

Davis thought a Bible in a public place might help people even if they only read it out of boredom, according to Kathryn Tucker Wyndham who wrote "Alabama, One Big Front Porch."

And, it quotes Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange:

"Thousands of people waiting for a bus or walking across the street or just wandering aimlessly around to kill time have passed by the open Bible to read a few verses of the scripture," Strange read paraphrasing Wyndham. "Reading from that Bible is a downtown habit for some businessmen."

The rededication occurred because the Bible display had been moved during the reconstruction of what is now Montgomery Plaza.  But, since the 40's, when the Bible had been placed there originally, there has been an air of mystery.

According to the article, seems back in 2009, then-mayor Bobby Bright, in preparation for Christmas, wanted the Bible, which had been covered by a purple cloth, unveiled and turned to the Christmas story.  He dispatched leisure services director Scott Miller to do the deed.  But, it was a bit more difficult than expected.  The article states:

"It hadn't been opened in a long time. It took me about three hours to find the key to it. I went there and took that purple top off and it was a phone book. (There) was no Bible," Miller said.

Miller said he went to the store and replaced the telephone book with an actual Bible to satisfy the new mayor's order.

Who knows how the phone book got there, but it's apparently still a mystery about where the original Bible went. And, since the printing press was invented a long time ago for the purpose of communicating God's Word, it's fitting that a local printer actually made this available to the city.

Well, I'm thankful for a city that is dedicated to putting the Bible on display in a strategic location in the downtown area.  That type of religious freedom is not common in all parts of the world.  For instance, a recent Christian Headlines story related that:

Tourists who display a Bible or take more than one into the country could face possible arrest in Saudi Arabia, according to the Barnabus Fund.

“The new regulations for tourists state that a Bible may be brought into the country provided it is for personal use only,” the statement said. “Bibles must not be displayed in public and anyone found bringing a large number of Bibles will face ‘severe penalties.’”

As the article points out, in Saudi Arabia, it is against the law to convert to Christianity.  And, it's pointed out that visiting Christians from other countries practice their faith in private.  This new law was developed to encourage tourism to the Saudi kingdom.

So, Saudi Arabia is basically saying to hide your Bible; in Montgomery, the Bible had been stolen and its display case covered for quite a few years until a recent discovery.  That speaks powerfully to how we are to live out the Word: don't hide it.  The Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path, according to Psalm 119, and Jesus told us in Matthew 5 to not hide our light under a basket.  In our culture and even in the Church, we can find that the truth of God's Word has been hidden and is not readily evident; its contents have been rejected.  We have to guard our hearts to make sure the enemy doesn't steal the God-honoring content that is embedded within.

But, the Bible does say that we are to hide the Scriptures in a very important way: to hide it in your heart.  That means to me that we are to allow His truth to penetrate our hearts in such a profound way that it becomes part of our consciousness and our very being.  We can release the power of God's Word, as it is suggested in Psalm 119: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!"

We can be cautioned to not hinder the work of the Word.  Jesus taught in Mark 4 in the parable of the sower that there are forces that would come to render the word ineffective.  He talked about the types of ground - and how the Word can be stolen or even "choked out."  We can make sure that we are allowing His Word to grow and flourish in us.

Peace as a Mission

We can be bold in our faith and dedicated toward living as representatives of the Lord.  Paul writes in Philippians 1:
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel...

In 2nd Corinthians 5, we are told that we are ambassadors for Christ.  When we are surrendered to His power, it makes a difference in the way we behave.  We have the potential to be an example of Christ's love and to help to mend the broken - those who are broken in heart or who are in broken relationships.  Because we have the peace of God, we can be involved in bringing peace into an anxious world.  We represent Him, and He wants to do mighty things through His people.

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In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus addresses the action and attitude of making peace, saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God." Romans 12 states:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

Abiy Ahmed is an example of a man who is driven by a desire to bring peace.  According to a recent Christianity Today article, he is an Ethiopian Christian, whose father is a Muslim and whose mother is Ethiopian Orthodox.  He is a Protestant Pentecostal, a member of the Full Gospel Believers' Church.

And, he is a man on a mission.  He was elected Prime Minister of Ethiopia just last year.  He is the youngest leader on the continent, at the age of 43. The article says that:

Ahmed told followers after taking office, “We have a country that is endowed with great bounty and wealth, but is starving for love.”

(That is taken from a transcription published by Alemayehu G. Mariam of a speech at the "Day of Love, Forgiveness and Reconciliation" last year.)

The CT article relates that:

Ahmed signed a peace accord with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea last year, after decades of political stalemate and two years of violence that cost 80,000 lives along the border. The two countries have grown increasingly open to one another, with resumed air travel and telecommunications, the New York Times reported.

He also helped to bring reconciliation between two branches of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, according to a past Christianity Today article, and it was reported in the recent article that he attempted to bring better relations between Muslims and Christians in his hometown.

Ahmed was recognized for his efforts with the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.  The prize announcement said:

He spent his first 100 days as Prime Minister lifting the country’s state of emergency, granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship, legalizing outlawed opposition groups, dismissing military and civilian leaders who were suspected of corruption, and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life. He has also pledged to strengthen democracy by holding free and fair elections.

He is the second consecutive African to receive the Prize.  As CT notes, last year, "the award went in part to Denis Mukwege, a Christian doctor dedicated to healing rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."

More from the Miriam translation of that speech by Ahmed:

Never have a shred of doubt that Ethiopia will return to her former greatness. I want to remind you again that the bridge to greatness and prosperity is reconciliation, love and become force multipliers.

Change does not need a few active players and many who watch from the sidelines. Change is a process that requires all of us to get into the field and make our contribution. Change is not the kind of game that spectators watch and cheer when there is a good result and criticize and complain when the result is not desirable.

The difference is how we play with authority, responsibility, capacity and how much contribution we make. Intellectuals bring us sound ideas. Professionals show us new ways of doing things. Faith fathers eliminate prejudice and corruption. Stand up and say, “The poor are being mistreated and suffering injustice.”

This is a inspiring message that has a faith in Christ at its foundation. The Prime Minister is pursuing the peace and well-being of his people and seems to be motivated by his faith as he seeks to bring it about.

Do you believe that the principles of the Bible are useful in governance?  Our Founding Fathers apparently did, and provided for us strong principles, consistent with Scripture, upon which this nation was founded.  It is not a bad thing to love our nation, as long as it is consistent with the Scriptures and rooted in mercy.

That's true on the "macro" level, and it can be true on what we might call the "micro" level as well, as we seek to apply the Scriptures to the projects upon which we are called to work.  We can pray for wisdom, and based on our knowledge of God's truth, integrate His direction into what we are called to undertake.

Finally, as we take the teaching of Jesus to heart, that, "blessed are the peacemakers," we can consider how we can use the tools and teachings of the Bible to make peace.  Our faith can inform us how we can relate to others, and where there is disharmony or disunity, we can be challenged to apply our faith and help to bring understanding. 

Kindness and Consistency

Galatians 5 lists kindness as one of the fruit of the Spirit.  We serve a God who is kind toward all -
reaching out in mercy, as we are reminded in Luke 6:
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.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

God sent His Son into a world that had rejected Him, providing the free gift of salvation, which can be received by calling on His name, believing on Jesus as our Savior.  This is a great example to us of how we are called to love, called to be kind, even to the unloving and the unkind.  It's part of our character as a born-again, child of God.  We are called to unconditional love and to show that in a consistent manner.

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There are some words about exhibiting the character of Christ that we see in Ephesians chapter 4,
where we can read:
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 12 admonishes us in verse 9: "Let love be without hypocrisy."

The sight of a few well-known people gathered to watch a football game has set off a national conversation - and controversy.  The Hill reported on what transpired in the owner's suite at a Dallas Cowboys game.  It has to do with Former President George W. Bush and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, and the report states:

DeGeneres and Bush stoked controversy on Twitter over the weekend after footage emerged of the pair and their spouses seated together at the Dallas Cowboys' matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Now, keep in mind that Ellen is a lesbian, meaning that her "spouse" is also a woman.  The report goes on:

After getting some heat over the sighting, the "Ellen" host dedicated her opening monologue on her show Tuesday to address the matter.

"Here's the thing," the 61-year-old said during the broadcast. "I'm friends with George Bush. In fact, I'm friends with a lot of people who don't share the same beliefs that I have."

"We're all different, and I think we've forgotten that that's OK that we're all different," DeGeneres said, while also adding, “Just because I don't agree with someone on everything doesn't mean I'm not going to be friends with them.”

"When I say 'be kind to one another,' I don't mean only the people who think the same way you do. I mean be kind to everyone, it doesn't matter," DeGeneres added.

All right, let's go ahead and cue, Kum ba Yah, 'cause Ellen is rightly speaking about being kind to one another.  It's a good look, isn't it?  And, there is a Christian principle here.  But, I'm not sure Ellen is quite the one to be teaching the lesson.  Consider this: as the New York Post's Page Six website states, "DeGeneres...has banned numerous celebrities from appearing on her show when they have expressed views that contradict her own, including those who have vocalized their anti-gay marriage views."

Uh-oh.

Remember what happened to gospel singer Kim Burrell.  According to the website, she was scheduled to appear on the Ellen show with Pharrell Williams to promote their song from the movie, Hidden Figures.  But, Ellen said:

“I actually didn’t know her, her name is Kim Burrell. She made a statement she was doing a Facebook Live and she said some very not nice things about homosexuals, so I didn’t feel that was good of me to have her on the show to give her a platform after she was saying things about me..."

Sherri Shepherd, formerly of The View, also faced a ban from the Ellen Show, according to a source quoted in the article, who deemed DeGeneres as a "hypocrite."  Shepherd had made comments that had "been perceived as anti-gay," basically saying her upbringing in the church had taught her that homosexuality was a sin; she recently told the site:

...The views and thoughts that I held have evolved from the statements I made on ‘The View’ over 10 years ago and I support same sex marriage and partnerships. I am unsure why I haven’t been booked on Ellen’s show since my tenure on ‘The View,’ but I welcome the opportunity to reconnect with Ellen to thank her for her support and opportunities that have happened for me because of her.”

Oh, apparently Vince Vaughn was reportedly on Ellen's list.  So is Bruce, er, Caitlin Jenner, who had said he was opposed to same-sex marriage.  Go figure that one out.  He wrote in his memoir that he had changed his mind.  All of these, banned from the Ellen show.

So, Ellen seems to have some room for improvement in this kindness department.  But, I would say that all of us could stand to do better in the arena.  But, we know that kindness is a fruit of the spirit, as we see in Galatians 5, and we can allow the Spirit of the Lord to produce in us an empathy and compassion that will draw people to the Jesus within us.  This is an area in which Christians can lead the way.

We can also be challenged to practice what we preach and strive for consistency.  We can be an advocate for kindness, but we have to make sure that it is authentic.  We can make sure in all areas of life that our practice lines up with our proclamation.

Now, it is certainly OK to pursue friendships with people who are different than you.  You can be friends with someone with whom you disagree.  Quite frankly, we will not agree on every single point, but we can learn to discuss our differences in our Christ-honoring way.  And, we can be careful to proclaim truth, but guard against compromise.  We can be adversely affected by those with whom we interact, so we have to remember our ultimate allegiance is to Christ.

Unequally Yoked

Discernment is a critical part of the Christian life, and the Bible gives specific instructions regarding
those who refuse to follow Christ, or who walk in deception. 2nd Timothy chapter 3 tells us:
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

God certainly does not save us and tell us to be separated or isolated from unbelievers; but He also calls us to a different walk - through that walk, we can demonstrate to those who don't know Him what it means to love and follow Christ.  We do have to guard our spirits and not allow ourselves to be led astray by ideas and ideologies that don't line up with the teachings of Scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our relationships.

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While we are not called to avoid those who don't know Christ; after all, how can they be won if they are isolated from believers - there is a guiding principle about certain relationships with non-
believers, as we see in 2nd Corinthians 6:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

The marriage relationship is at the core of God's plan for His world, and is a foundational building block for an orderly society.  God has ordained marriage, and desires for it to operate according to His principles.

I would say that the person one marries is selected through the process of dating.  Now, there are other means, such as courtship, that are implemented.  And even in some cultures, the parents select the mates and there is very little or no dating involved.  But, in America, you will way more than likely marry someone you have dated.

There's a new study out that shows that Christian young people are serious about placing a Christian filter on their date-ees.  It was done by a group called Teleios Research, and, according to Relevant magazine, "asked nearly 1,800 Christians under the age of 35 about their thoughts on dating and marriage." The article says:

Some of the results aren’t all that surprising. For example, most said “the primary biblical purpose of marriage is to represent the relationship between Christ and the church.” A majority also “believed that marrying an unbeliever is not likely to fulfill God’s will in marriage.”

And, it says “Half (51%) indicated they believe a Christian should never become romantically involved with an unbeliever.”  You could look at that statistic in kind of a "half-empty," "half-full" point of view.  Yes, it's good that just over half of Christians believed they should not be in a dating relationship with non-Christians.  But, then, you could say it's not so good that almost half of Christians think it's OK.

When you look at the Teleios website, you see some more specific numbers. For instance, we can see that just about 7-in-10 believe that the "primary biblical purpose of marriage is to represent the relationship between Christ and the church."  And, just about 3-in-4 say that marriage to an unbeliever will not likely fulfill the will of God for marriage.  The study summary also says:

The majority of respondents (66%) who had dated a non-Christian said that their romantic relationship had been somewhat to very negative. Further, 25% indicated their own faith became worse in a romantic relationship with an unbeliever. In contrast, 40% of participants claimed their partner’s faith did not improve during the relationship, while only 5% stated that their companion became a Christian by faith in Christ. Further, a vast majority would not recommend Christians become romantically involved with an unbeliever (74%).

The co-founder of Teleios, Dr. William Stewart, stated, "The love, devotion, and deference between a believing husband and wife reflects the loving relationship between Christ and His church. The primary goal of Christian marriage is to attract unbelievers to the gospel. This is not possible by dating or marrying an unbeliever. Such relationships result in a negative, or at a minimum an unfulfilling, outcome. Christians should marry Christians!”

The marriage decision is certainly life-altering, and should be entered into with great care and prayer. And, the concept of spiritual compatibility should be explored.  It's a principal factor to consider, which has implications for the future of a marriage and the fulfillment of God's purpose for it.  There are specific instructions in Scripture that can be followed in a marriage that is rooted in the love of Christ, and if one spouse is seeking God seriously and one is not, that can be disruptive.

Also, the concept of being unequally yoked is important, and applies to not only marriage, but in other relationships, as well.  If you have different worldviews at play, that will certainly impact the decisions that are made.

Overall, there is the possibility that people will come to Christ in the context of relationships, but, as this study suggests, there is caution to be exercised in considering marrying an unbeliever - it may not be the best tool to win that person to the Lord.

A War of Bullet Points

There is an incredible amount of contention for the truth of the Scriptures in our culture today, and while we are certainly not engaged in a physical war, there is a war in the culture - a war of ideas,
ideas inspired by Biblical truth challenged by ideas that are not. We read in Ephesians 6:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness...

There will certainly be disagreements over actions, ideas, and attitudes, and we should always strive to be people who communicate with compassion, as well as conviction.  And, we can always make sure our conviction is consistent with the truth of the Scriptures.  The question is not "what do we think," but "what does the Bible say?" And, when we encounter God's truth, then we can make it our aim to align with it; but we should always strive to make sure that God's Word is informing our beliefs - not allowing our beliefs to govern an incorrect rendering of the Word.

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We need the guidance of the Spirit of God to direct our thoughts and our words.  We have to make sure that our declarations are consistent with the heart of the Lord.  In John 16, we can find these
words of Jesus:
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The advancement of this non-stop attempt to remove President Donald Trump from office continues, and has escalated now with the so-called "impeachment inquiry," which has not been authorized by a vote of the House, which has been the practice in previous instances, and is fixated on one particular phone call about which those who read the transcript disagree regarding its meaning, with supporters saying the President did nothing wrong and opponents saying that this is a so-called "high crime and misdemeanor," which joins treason and bribery on the list of impeachable offenses.  The White House has basically said it will not cooperate.

Now keep in mind that a significant percentage of Trump supporters are evangelical Christians.  And, in the midst of the give-and-take over the personality of the man, you can she how he has delivered on policies that have been consistent with the desires of many in the Christian community - pro-life, the protection of religious liberty, and even to a limited extent, acting in a manner consistent with the Christian ethic on LGBT issues.  For instance, the Administration has stood against efforts to redine "sex" in civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity and has reversed the previous Administration's actions on forcing boys and girls in schools to share bathrooms and locker rooms.

And, don't lose sight of the motivation for evangelical support for Trump, even though he certainly had visible flaws.  A Politico piece quoted Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council:

Evangelical Christians, says Perkins, “were tired of being kicked around by Barack Obama and his leftists. And I think they are finally glad that there’s somebody on the playground that is willing to punch the bully.”

Now, fast forward to the current situation.  Prominent evangelical leaders are voicing concern about the nature of the action against the President and the response to it.  Religion News Service did a piece on Franklin Graham, in which he is quoted as saying: “Our country could begin to unravel if an elected president is thrown out of office because of lies and the media,” adding, “It could be a devastating thing. We’re in very dangerous territory. I would encourage all the politicians to look very carefully at where we are and first of all make sure that truth is told.”  He believes the impeachment inquiry to be "nothing about nothing."  The article notes:

Graham’s defense of the president echoed that of fellow evangelical Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas, who has warned of a potential civil war if the House votes on impeachment and who has accused Democrats of worshipping the pagan god Moloch.

Well, let's examine that just a bit.  Ruth Graham, who is not to be confused with Franklin's sister of the same name, which she shares with their mother, wrote a comprehensive piece on the Slate website, albeit with a liberal slant.  The story was centered on Pastor Jeffress, and she writes that the Dallas pastor "warned that if Democrats remove Donald Trump from office, it would lead to 'a Civil War–like fracture in this nation from which this country will never heal.'"  She goes on to say:

The Civil War comments took off when Trump repeated them on Sunday evening, threading them into a four-tweet warning against impeachment. The specter of a president obliquely predicting violence in response to an investigation caused predictable consternation in Washington. But Jeffress, for his part, has only doubled down. The next day, in an interview with Todd Starnes on Fox’s Todd Starnes Show, he said he had chosen his words carefully, and was neither predicting nor advocating for a new civil war.

Just days later, again on Starnes' show, Jeffress said likened the Democrats' support for abortion to the worship of “the pagan god of the Old Testament, Moloch, who allowed for child sacrifice."  Shortly thereafter, Starnes was dismissed from his position at Fox News, which was reportedly in the works for some time - and that has been borne out in that Todd seems to have not skipped a beat in his media exposure.  By the way, as Ruth Graham notes, a promotional copy of Starnes' book, Culture Jihad, "warns that 'America is on the verge of another Civil War.'"

The fact is, we are in a civil war, of sorts - a war of ideas that have polarized our nation.  The culture war is certainly not over, as some have contended, and Biblical truth has not been vanquished.  But, let's just look at the dynamics and the ideas at play.

There's the sanctity of life vs. abortion on demand...that is key; in fact, we see that people who are in favor of abortion tend to be more liberal and less Biblical on other positions, as well.  But, we are in a day where the taking of the lives of pre-born children has been redefined into a woman's right, and politicians and influencers have completely gone off the deep end in making sure this so-called "right" is preserved up until and perhaps even past the moment of birth.  A living human being cannot be reduced to a human right and this issue has generated passionate conflict in our nation.

Also, you see that God's view of sexuality is being challenged by the attempt to legitimize homosexuality and other forms of perversion, such as transgenderism. Those that pursue the LGBT agenda do not wish to consider the truth of the Bible and in fact, are attempting to soften the Church's stance on these sinful practices.  The legalization of gay marriage and other so-called "reforms," such as the Equality Act, stand in direct contrast to the Biblical worldview perspective, causing deep division in our nation.  Civil war?  Not bloodshed, but certainly a war of ideas and rhetoric.

The enemy recognizes that if he can keep Christians divided, then our witness is diminished.  There is a fierce conflict between identity in Christ and identity politics.  Our unity in Christ is threatened by division based on race, gender, and more.  Southern Baptists, at their annual convention this year, had a chance to repudiate Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, which are ideas that divide people into oppressed and oppressor, victims and victimizers; rather, in a hasty procedure, they affirmed that these could be used as "analytical tools" that should be submitted to Scripture.

The Bible is a book of justice, but it is certainly not social justice.  Social justice seems to be based on blame and hostility, rather than the Biblical concepts of mercy and forgiveness.  You cannot legitimately people and groups alive today accountable for actions that were taken decades ago.  Rather than relive the past, we can seek God's help and apply His principles for the future.

The view of government is also a key issue.  As it's been pointed out on The Meeting House, the government does not grant rights, those are determined by God.  The government, through our Constitution, protects those rights that have been granted.  That's the beauty of that founding document.  However, there are those who, for some reason, believe that we need to try something else: socialism, which is a system that removes the concept of God our Creator and concentrates power in an authoritarian way.  Again, someone has to call the shots to determine how the resources are to be shared.  The Bible assigns government two responsibilites: to maintain order and to punish evil - the principle of limited government is consist with the Scriptural view.  However, there are those who would advocate for an overreaching government that would attempt to enter our lives in seemingly countless ways.

Back to the concept of the protection of rights now.  The Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion; not freedom of worship, as some have described it, where faith is practices in the four walls for church.  No, we are called to have a robust practice of our faith, which has been so influential in our nation.  But, there are those who would want to suppress the practice of faith or to suppress Christianity, because the teachings of Christ stand in stark contrast to the ideas that are being pushed that do not value the worth of the individual or the sanctity of marriage.  Again, a civil war, you might ask?  Not with bullets, but with bullet points.

There are other areas of contrast in this war.  To name a few:

Responsibility vs. Entitlement
Freedom of Conscience vs. Forced Submission
Belief in God vs. Belief in Humanity
Unconditional Love vs. Intolerance and Hostility Toward Faith
Limited Immigration and the Rule of Law vs. Open Borders
Surrender to God's Law vs. Redefinition of God's Law
Respect for Authority vs. Disrespect for Authority
Support for Israel vs. Opposition to Israel

Yes, there is a war of ideas, rhetoric, and even violent action in our nation today.  We need God's truth to be the standard around which we can unify.