Not So Fast and Furious

We can totally depend on the Lord to set out the course of our lives - He has given us His guidebook, His Word, and placed His Spirit within our hearts. Psalm 37 reminds us of God's direction:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

We can choose to try to determine the course of our lives and do what we want to do, or we can surrender our lives to the One who desires to express Himself in our hearts and through our actions, bringing glory to His name.  We can have confidence and comfort as we walk in His will.  As we grow in the Lord, we can develop that sense of dependence on Him and be devoted to trusting Him with every area of our lives.

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In a prophetic passage from Isaiah 30, the prophet lays out some principles that I believe apply to us; namely, that God is directing our steps - we can read in that chapter:
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Three years ago, an actor who was known for his appearances in The Fast and the Furious, as well as the NCIS: New Orleans television series decided to take a break from what is termed in a recent Christian Post article, "mainstream entertainment." 

The article relates that the actor...

...finished working on “NCIS: New Orleans” after 125 episodes when he made the decision to leave the series "to spend more time with family" and connect with his "Heavenly Father."

That's certainly a gutsy move; but Lucas Black felt it was important; he said: "There were plenty of days where I would go to work and they would still be asleep, and I would come home and they'd be already in bed,” adding, “The first three seasons … I'd be working 70 hours a week. I'm just fortunate throughout my career, I've recognized that that kind of schedule and the way the entertainment business is run, and a lot of temptations that come with it, can be really destructive to families' lives and your relationship with others."

To pull it off, the actor says, "It takes a lot of discipline, a lot of godly people around you to hold you accountable..."

The article stated:

Early in 2015, Black became intentional about reading the Bible and said he was "convicted by the Holy Spirit" which helped him dedicate himself to God. He eventually became involved in a church and a Men’s Bible study which held him accountable.

"That's really when my relationship with the Lord took on a whole new level. All the chapters and books about the Holy Spirit really spoke to me,” Black testified. “He is our advocate; He is our helper. I can rely on him in times of trouble or when I'm feeling alone and traveling around. The Lord is with us wherever we go."

Fast-forward to 2019, Black had essentially left the entertainment industry.  But what was next?  Lucas and his wife prayed about "...what the next step was going to be...” He said, “We saw a huge culture shift here in America and for a long time, movies coming out of Hollywood and in entertainment undermined the fatherhood role.”

God was faithful, and Lucas has landed a role in a film called, Legacy Peak, which is available on the Pure Flix streaming platform. He said that the role "...really sheds a good light on fathers. It shows the need for a good earthly father. It shows how we can find our fulfillment and love from our Heavenly Father, and it really is one that's going to empower the nuclear family, and especially fathers out there.”

This series of events in Lucas Black's life can remind us that we need to be open to change. Sometimes we may even need a "radical departure."  We can become so comfortable in the state of our lives that we either reject or ignore God's call to step out of our comfort zone in order to experience what He wants to do in and through us. 

We can also recognize that God's gifts and calling are unique to each person - someone might be called to impact from within a situation, someone else may sense God is calling him or her to withdraw. Black stepped away from mainstream entertainment, others are attempting to influence the entertainment industry by maintaining a Christian witness.  But, be assured that no matter what God directs us to do, we can recognize that He goes with us.  And, he has the next steps prepared for us.

Content

God calls us to a life of contentment in Him, and that can certainly impact our view toward our earthly relationships and possessions. In Hebrews 13, the writer addresses the fruit of our contentment:
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Discontent can produce restlessness, which can drive a person to desire or even seek out what he or she does not have. We have to guard against selfish gratification and to be content in the Lord, the one who is our provider.  It's been said that God is not against us having things, but He is opposed to things having you. When we recognize His abundant love for us and realize He only wants the best for us, to His glory, it can radically change our focus.

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Paul, in his letter to Timothy, presents a passage in 1st Timothy 6 that can illustrate how we are to regard earthly possessions and display a heavenly attitude:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Got a question for you on this Survey Thursday here in The Front Room:

“If you had to choose one of the following courses for your child’s life to take by the time they reach age 40, which would your prefer: happily married with children but just getting by financially, or financially well-off but single with no children in the household?”

That is the question that was asked of 1000 parents in a YouGov survey that was commissioned by a group called American Compass, according to an article at The Washington Examiner.

Financial freedom, no children OR no financial margin with a spouse and children.  Family or finances?  Of course, we're dealing with hypotheticals here, because it certainly isn't a binary choice.  But, it could be an indicator of the state of mind of Americans.

So, how would you answer? And, how did the respondents answer? Writer Conn Carroll states:

While a firm majority of parents surveyed (60%) chose “happily married with children,” a substantial minority (40%) chose “rich, single, and childless.”

Now maybe it is unfair to label the “rich, single, and childless” crowd barbarians, but a society in which 40% of the population prioritizes wealth over family is not a society that will survive for very long. There simply won’t be enough children for new generations to sustain it.

Another front in the survey had to do with education and career; how about this question?

"In thinking about the type of educational program that your could pursue, which would you prefer: one that offers the best possible career options but was far from home, or one that offers good career options close to home?" 

Survey says..."Just 56% chose 'good career, close to home,' while 44% chose 'best career, far from home.'"  And there seemed to be a relationship with financial well-being; the Examiner says:

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the wealthiest parents chose “best career, far from home” while middle- and working-class parents both chose “good career, close to home.”

I think one of the storylines here is that people tended to choose family over finances, when given the binary, albeit unrealistic choice. And, I think that is something worth considering for Christians - we are called to trust in the Lord regardless of our financial state; and if we are blessed with a family, then we should regard them as a gift of God. 

The family is an institution established and ordained by God - man and woman come together in marriage, and they produce children; in so doing, they populate the earth, which helps to fulfill the command to have "dominion."  Marriages are not factories to produce kids, mind you, but through our devotion to building strong marriages and raising children according to God's Word, we have a profound influence on our culture. 

We should no doubt be content in whatever financial state that God calls us.  We can regard our possessions as His property, and can rejoice when He blesses us financially. But, even if we struggle, we can be content in Him, not complaining, but reliant on His provision.  That applies to other areas of our lives, as well - contentment over complaining.

Changeless

Jesus addressed those who opposed Him in strong terms in John 8, calling out those who did not wish to embrace and follow His teaching. He states:
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

The enemy does not tell us the truth, and people are deceived to the point that they don't believe the truth.  Lies in the area of sexuality are common today, to the extent that people are dissatisfied and deceived and want to change their biological sex, which is impossible. And, we see these false premises being sold to our young people, in the form of sexual perversion, homosexuality, and transgenderism, to name a few.  We have a call to set a standard of holiness for our culture and to demonstrate the love of God for those who struggle.

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We are surrounded by those who engage in godless practices - either because they do not know Christ or because they claim to know Him but do not live a crucified life. No matter what the heart condition, people are deceived. We have to guard against the desires of what the Bible calls, "the flesh." Galatians chapter 5 states:
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The gender identity movement is now discovering that the attempts to change one's biological sex are not as straightforward or safe as people believe - there are real-world consequences to believing the lie. 

Contrary to what some would claim about the mutilation of a person's body in the name of gender identity, the truth is emerging.  Brandon Showalter, who was a guest recently on The Meeting House has done excellent work in this area at The Christian Post.  Brandon wrote:

Legacy press outlets have insisted, in lockstep with a seemingly predetermined narrative, that “gender-affirming surgeries” are most assuredly not being performed on minors or they are minimizing them if they are. They tell their audiences that those scrutinizing policies and practices at children’s hospitals nationwide are delusional right-wing lunatics threatening the hospital staff.

In that particular article, he included proof that this is occurring.  

And, over the last few days, another professing Christian, Daily Wire writer Matt Walsh, has exposed the true offensive activities at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.  Walsh writes:

Video and archived webpages from the medical center details a doctor’s promotion of the “big money maker” transgender therapies and surgeries, and apparent threats against medical professionals who dare object for religious reasons.

“It’s a lot of money,” VUMC Clinic for Transgender Health’s Dr. Shayne Sebold Taylor said at one Medicine Grand Rounds lecture, video reveals. “These surgeries make a lot of money.”

Taylor noted that a “chest reconstruction” can bring in $40,000 per patient, and someone “just on routine hormone treatment, who I’m only seeing a few times a year, can bring in several thousand dollars … and actually makes money for the hospital.”

And, if you object to doing these types of surgeries, Walsh writes that in another lecture...

..."staffers are warned by Vanderbilt health law expert Ellen Wright Clayton that any “conscientious objection” will be met with “consequences,” and are told they probably shouldn’t be working at VUMC if they don’t want to participate in the trans surgeries, which include minor patients.

Also, to make sure their colleagues keep in line with the agenda, Walsh writes, "...the medical center has a program called 'Trans Buddy,' which is also available for minors and described as a sort of monitoring system of the center’s doctors, including the policing of their 'pronoun' use.

In summation, the writer states: "They now castrate, sterilize, and mutilate minors as well as adults, while apparently taking steps to hide this activity from the public view," adding, “This is what ‘health care’ has become in modern America.” Of course, the hospital claims that the reports “misrepresent facts.”

The response has been strong. Another Daily Wire story quoted Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who said, "The ‘pediatric transgender clinic’ at Vanderbilt University Medical Center raises serious moral, ethical and legal concerns,” adding, “We should not allow permanent, life-altering decisions that hurt children or policies that suppress religious liberties, all for the purpose of financial gain. We have to protect Tennessee children, and this warrants a thorough investigation.”
 

Kaylee McGhee White, writing at the Washington Examiner, stated:

We need to be upfront about what this is: medical malpractice. These procedures are experimental and irreversible and often have severe long-term effects on the patient’s physical and mental health. These treatments aren’t “caring,” as transgender activists like to claim — they’re inhumane and exploitative, and the only reason the medical community has decided to go along with this is because they know, as Taylor acknowledged, that “gender-affirming care” is a “moneymaker.”

Someday the full extent of the damage gender ideology has wrought will be made clear. But for many of the young men and women who undergo chemical and physical treatment thinking that it will cure them of the social and mental anxieties with which they struggle, it will be too late. And it will be the fault of the medical professionals who abandoned their oath to do no harm as soon as the zeros started adding up.

The Daily Citizen notes that, regarding the University's response...

...nowhere in the statement did Vanderbilt deny that that it provides puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and “sex-change” surgeries to young children beginning at age 13. And nowhere did Vanderbilt deny that doing so is a highly profitable enterprise.

That article goes on to say: 

Since the unveiling of the investigation, Matt Walsh disclosed that he has met with Tennessee state representatives about banning “gender transition” procedures in the state.

“I have met with Tennessee Rep William Lamberth and Sen Jack Johnson,” Walsh tweeted on September 21. “We are working on a bill to shut down Vanderbilt’s child gender transition program and ban the practice in the state. Tennesseans do not want this barbarism in our state. We will put a stop to it.”

Alabama has passed legislation that would shut down these gender-transition surgeries for minors and prevent the usage of treatments, such as hormones and puberty blockers for minors in the state.  However, a federal judge has put the portion of the legislation dealing with the treatments on hold.  

We can be thankful for the exposure that is emerging regarding these blatant attempts to enable someone to change the immutable characteristic of biological sex.  We can also be gratified that those who have undertaken this so-called "transition" process are speaking out. 

There are so many perversions of God's plan these days, from the embracing of deviant lifestyles such as homosexuality and transgenderism. The lies have become so pervasive that people are deceived into thinking that somehow they were born into the "wrong" body, that they were "assigned" a gender.  What an offensive view of the sovereignty of God.  

We have to be careful in our own lives not to believe the lies that the enemy is feeding us. Sexual perversion is not a problem for all, but it is for some.  We were born as sinful creatures with fleshly desires - the Bible calls it "the flesh."  We have to recognize that rebellion against the Creator should ideally be crucified, so that His desires for us might take ascendancy.   We have the victory through Christ, and He gives us the power to resist the temptation to buy in to ideologies that contradict His beautiful plan for us.

Thirst for Liberation

The church at Galatia, having been made free through their acceptance of Christ as Savior, were attempting to submit themselves to unprofitable spiritual laws, a condition that Paul called out in Galatians 5; in the first verse of the chapter, he states: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." 

Later, he writes:
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

We can evaluate whether or not we are walking in Christ's freedom or in legalism.  We have received the love of Christ through the gospel of grace, and we should obey Him, not out of fear or compulsion, but out of faith and adoration. If we are depending on the law, rules, and regulations in order to make us holy, we are walking after the flesh - but it is the Spirit who works in us to enable us to experience true liberty by dying to self and living in the newness of life, abundant life, that Christ brings.

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Almost 250 years ago, the colonists in America threw off the shackles of British rule and declared their independence, acting on their desire for freedom. In modern-day Iran, there has recently been another indication in which people are demanding freedom from the punitive law of the country. 2nd Corinthians 3, I believe, illustrates the forces at play here:
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Not long ago, Dr. Hormoz Shariat of Iran Alive Ministries shared about how God is working in the hearts of people within the nation of Iran.  There is an openness there, which I contend is related to a restlessness in the hearts of the people.  The oppressive regime that is devoted to Sharia law, which does not respect individual freedom and is rooted in radical Islam has cramped the hearts of the people.

And, a match has been lit within the past few days.  A CBNNews.com article relates:

On September 16th, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini fell into a coma and died following her arrest in Iran’s capital, Tehran, by the morality police. Her crime? Not properly wearing a hijab, the Islamic head-covering women are required to wear in public.

Her death sparked protests in Tehran and many other cities, often with chants of “Death to the dictator!”

"Protestors are filling the streets," the article noted, stating, "The demonstrations are the latest sign of widespread discontent with the Islamic regime."

The article goes on to say:

Scenes include women burning their hijabs and protestors attacking the police. These demonstrations follow others in 2009 as well as from 2017 through 2020. Many wonder whether these protests could potentially lead to an end to the Mullah-led regime that has ruled Iran for more than four decades.

A Washington Stand article states:

According to Lela Gilbert, Family Research Council’s senior fellow for International Religious Freedom, “Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran has been governed by a radicalized variation of Shi’a Islam … Just last year, President Hassan Rouhani signed amendments to Iran’s penal code imposing prison time on those guilty of ‘insulting Islam’ and conducting ‘deviant activity’ that ‘contradicts or interferes with the sacred law of Islam.’”

Unfortunately, women subjected to living under radical Islam lose basic human rights. Iranian women are legally regarded as half as valuable as men, which, for example, makes a woman’s testimony in a court of law legally viewed as less credible than a man’s testimony. A married Iranian woman cannot obtain a passport or leave the country without her husband’s permission. Between 2020 and 2021, 31,379 girls aged 10 to 14 were forced into legal marriages.

A Facebook post from Iran Alive Ministries from five days ago says:

Iran's Sharia Law was imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, demanding women to remain covered and in loose fitting clothing. Sharia Law was thought to bring democracy, but "after 40+ years, they realize that the government oppresses the people, especially Iranian women," says Lily Meschi with #IranAliveMinistries.

The BBC.com website reports:

President Ebrahim Raisi pledged to "deal decisively" with the protests, which have now spread to most of Iran's 31 provinces.

Officials say some 35 people have been killed since protests broke out over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Clashes continue in several cities.

Reports now indicate that dozens more have been killed since the time of that report. 

In an e-mail statement, Dr. Shariat said:

What's happening in Iran now is not solely about hijabs. It's not even about the unjust killing of Mahsa Amini — it's much bigger than that. The Iranian people are forcefully and boldly fighting for their rights.

Human rights are extremely violated under the rule of the Islamic government – most severely among the nation’s women. Forced to cover their hair according to Sharia law, Iranian woman are protesting the hijab with desperation and hopelessness. After more than 40 years of social repression and mistreatment following the Islamic revolution, many women are saying, "We have nothing else to lose. We might as well die while fighting for a greater cause."

He went on to say that...

Iranians – and women in particular — have turned against Islam and the Islamic government and that's very significant. Those who were once pro-Islam and pro-government are rejecting the oppressive regime now. They’re very open spiritually, searching for hope and freedom. This is one of the reasons we have seen a remarkable increase in the number of conversions to Christianity over the last two years.

Having been oppressed, controlled and abused by the political and religious system for so long, when Iranian women receive Christ, they truly become an agent of transformation for the Kingdom of God. They find their voice, value and identity that was violated for so long, and they commit their lives to Christ to share His goodness in their communities.

The Iran Alive Facebook page urged prayer for the situation there.

Jesus took the religious leaders of His day to task for placing burdens on the people under their authority; in His case, they exceeded the provisions of the Jewish law.  In Iran, the mullahs are just carrying out the law of the Koran, it seems.  And, people are chafing at it.  The Christian Scriptures provide a path for liberation; the holy book of Islam does not.  When you consider the thirst for liberation that is hard-wired into the hearts of human beings, the gospel provides the hope for true freedom through humility to a loving Savior. 

Laws can be beneficial - until they become burdens.  We are not under the Law but under grace - the Law given to the Jews, we are told, is a tutor to lead us to Christ.  The availability of His love and grace provide us with hope for our hearts.  

In Iran, which has bloodthirsty leadership that uses laws to enslave its people and desires to become a player on the world stage through its nuclear ambition, illustrates the fallacy of the condition in which people in power demand subservience.  Proverbs 29:2 states, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."

Risky Preaching

In the book of 1st Peter, the writer begins the book by reminding believers of the "abundant mercy" and the "living hope" that we have in Christ. Later, starting in verse 5, he writes:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

So the reminder of God's mercy and the hope that is alive, because Jesus is risen, can keep us going during those challenging times of life - those times in which we feel we are walking through the fire, when our faith is being tested.  But, God always has a purpose and He is at work in our hearts so that our faith is strengthened.  Twice in the four verses here, he uses the word, "rejoice," and it is that joy that comes through confidence in Christ that can sustain us through our times of difficulty.

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We want our lives to be orderly and care-free, but that is not always possible, and challenging circumstances can be the crucible through which we develop a stronger faith. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

“If I die, I’d rather die doing the will of God than live as a coward seeking money and pleasure..."  Those are the words of Diego Galvan, a missionary and pastor who was assigned by God to work in Tijuana, Mexico, according to a God Reports article. It states that Diego "who was born in Uruguay but raised in America just across the border in San Diego and had never known the dark and dangerous world of drug cartels."

He learned quickly, though.  The article relates:

Diego took over a church in Tijuana established by his brother, who moved on to another ministry. In the yard of his first house, a man was killed by revenge-seekers from the cartels. So he decided to move.

At his second house, a man who had been committing adultery with a drug trafficker was killed on Diego’s doorstep. He moved again.

Unwittingly, he fell out of the frying pan and into the fire. His next-door neighbor was a drug lord.

The scene next door was quite unruly - people coming and going, parking in front of his driveway and refusing to move, an active party scene.  So, he tried another tactic; the article states:

Realizing he was never going to get away from the cartel, Diego decided to send his wife with food to evangelize the dealer’s wife. “My wife can cook some good food,” Diego explains.

“You try to avoid the cartel,” he adds. “But the problem is that as you preach, you begin to mingle in their world.”

The relationship with the drug lord next door took a seemingly ominous turn after his wife received Christ. Apparently, the husband did not like it and physically abused her. Diego made a trip next door to confront his neighbor; he said, "“Hi, I’m your neighbor. I’m the pastor...I see what you’re doing to your wife. Men who beat their wives are cowards. One day you’re going to stand before the living God, and you’re going to give an account for all the mess you’re doing.”

Not a word from the neighbor. Then, the man's four-year-old daughter came out. Diego said, “This is your daughter, right? Do you want men to treat your daughter the way you are treating your wife?" He added, “Listen, I have the real deal...It’s Christ. If you call upon him, he will save your soul. But you must get right.”

After several days, the drug lord's wife informed Diego that her husband had locked himself in his room and was refusing to come out. Something was wrong, or so it seemed.  Against the wife's warnings, Diego went next door.  The God Reports article states that the neighbor said: “You know what you told me a few days ago?...That’s real, dude.”  Turns out that the man no longer wanted to do drugs, so he "was going through withdrawals. Diego led him in a sinner’s prayer. It was Friday night. On Saturday morning the former drug lord who had met the Earth’s Lord participated in outreach. He was handing out handbills and testifying to people about the wonders of Christ."

On Sunday morning, the drug lord flushed 2 kilos of cocaine down the toilet - that set up an ongoing confrontation between the man and the cartel, who was none to pleased that their merchandise had been destroyed.  Diego got involved and confronted the cartel several times; there were three instances in which it appeared he would lose his life - ultimately, he fled for his life to go to America.  The drug lord, unfortunately, lost his life, having returned to a life of sin.

The article says that, "Despite three brushes with death, Diego slipped back into Mexico one more time...to participate in a farewell service at his church. He gave leadership back to the brother who had founded the church. There were 199 people in attendance." He relates, “The souls that were saved during those crazy years are still giving fruit today...” One man, who had stepped up to help his pastor in a confrontation outside Diego's house is a pastor today.

We are never promised a sanitary life - sometimes things can get messy.  Things will not be tied up in a neat and beautiful bow.  But, even in the messy instances of life, we can turn to the One who goes with us, in whom we can be confident that He is working His plan.

Diego Galvan's story is of a man who was fearless, even when staring down death multiple times.  In those fear-inducing moments, we can know on whom we can rely.  We can turn to the boldness of the Holy Spirit and place our lives in God's hands.

These are challenging times, and the story of this drug lord whom Diego led to Christ provides us with a cautionary tale of making the right associations. We need to surround ourselves with people who will build us up in the faith and flee from circumstances that are not helpful to spiritual growth. We always have to be dedicated to growing the Lord through Bible study and fellowship with God and other believers.

Moving On and Moving Up

It was a time of decision for Ruth - she had lost her husband, and her mother-in-law, Naomi, was encouraging her to go back to her own people. But, we find a stunning display of loyalty by Ruth in chapter 1 of the book of Ruth:
16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

Ruth's dedication to Naomi resulted in the expression of God's will in her life - they went to Bethlehem and met a man named Boaz; Ruth and Boaz fell in love, had a son who became an ancestor of David, then later, Jesus.  And, even that relationship demonstrated the love of Jesus for His people.  We don't always know what God is doing, but we can be convinced He has a plan, and desires for us to follow Him wholeheartedly, saying to Him, "wherever you go, I will go."

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There was a reduction that was occurring around the earthly ministry of Jesus, as we find in John 6 - responding to His tough and challenging words, some chose a different direction. We can read there:
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The 2022 NFL season is underway, and while there never seems to be an absence of storylines in professional football, one constant can be found in what has been a rather turbulent first two games for one particular franchise.

That would be the Denver Broncos, a team that has won Super Bowls with John Elway and Peyton Manning, who since the latter graduated to a recliner making comments with his brother on Monday Night Football, has been mired in somewhat of a quarterback wasteland.  Elway, who is in management for the team, had brought Manning into the Mile High City after the experiment with Tim Tebow that yielded some limited results but was really never given a long-term chance, decided to bring another legendary QB into the fold for this season to try to improve the Broncs' postseason chances.

That would be Russell Wilson - who debuted on Monday Night Football against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in their place.  Denver came away with a controversial 1-point loss and rebounded this past Sunday against Houston.  

But, if there's one thing constant about Russell Wilson, it's his lack of resistance to speaking out about Jesus Christ.  After the Seattle game, SportsSpectrum.com reported:

He said he wasn’t bothered by the boos he received, viewing them as part of the reality of the offseason trade that sent him from Seattle to Denver after spending the first 10 seasons of his career with the Seahawks.

“They may cheer for you. They may boo you,” Wilson said after the game. “They’ll love you one day, and they’ll hate you the next. That’s sports. At the end of the day, I’m going to keep competing. I’m going to keep battling. I know who I am. First of all, I think for me, I’m just grateful God’s given me the chance to play this game.”

The article also notes that, "Despite the loss, Wilson led players from both teams in a prayer on the field after the game and later sent a tweet thanking God." The content of the tweet: "God I thank you for it all! You are worthy of ALL my Praise!"

After the game, Wilson also said: “I gave everything I had every day [with the Seahawks] … and God brought me somewhere else,” adding, “I’m here, I’m in Denver, and I’m excited about it. I’m excited where we’re going. I’m just grateful. I give the glory to God because He’s given me the gift of playing this game.”

The article stated:

The nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion left Seattle confident he gave his all to the organization and is now embracing this new chapter of his NFL journey while keeping his focus on the Lord.

“It’s all for His glory, and His glory alone,” he said Monday night. “It’s not for anybody else’s. I play for an audience of One, and that’s just for Him. And so, I’m just grateful I get to be with these guys in this locker room. I’ve been around some amazing teammates in the past, and I’ve got some amazing teammates currently.”

Wilson is the most recent recipient of the character-based Bart Starr Award, which is selected by the players.  It is presented at a Super Bowl breakfast by the Christian organization, Athletes in Action.

A pre-breakfast special was presented online and hosted by fellow believer, James Brown of CBS Sports. Sports Spectrum reported:

The online event concluded with a conversation between Brown and Wilson. At the end, Brown asked the nine-time Pro Bowler what encouragement he would give to those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ to begin following Him.

“I want to speak life into anybody who may not know who Jesus is at this moment,” Wilson said. “But He knows you and He loves you, and He’s wildly obsessed with you.”

He went on to explain that God already knows what the future holds and is ready to accept everyone with open arms.

“He’s a God of miracles,” Wilson said. “He’s a God of healing. He’s a God of forgiveness. He’s a God of love. He meets you right where you are and honestly, He’s already ahead of you.”

You could say that our lives can be divided up into chapters, or seasons - some of those seasons can be productive, others can be challenging.  We will experience jubilation, disappointment, sorrow or pain. But, wherever we go, we can know that God goes with us.

And, we have to pay attention to His voice.  By His Spirit, He will lead us into the way that He desires for us to go - change is a fact of life, it seems, but the constancy of God's presence is a reality for each of us.  Russell Wilson commented on tuning out other voices and focusing in on God's plan for His life and who God has made him to be, saying, "At the end of the day, I’m going to keep competing. I’m going to keep battling. I know who I am..."  Are we listening to the voice of the crowd, the cheers and jeers of the world, or are we tuned in to God's frequency?

To the Future

We can consider whether or not we are accepting God's generous invitation to approach Him in prayer, realizing that we can experience His love and power operating through our lives. Jesus taught in John chapter 15 about abiding in Him; He says:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

We can be convinced that Jesus wants us to come before Him, to commune with Him and to offer our requests to Him in prayer.  Through His death and resurrection, He has made us alive in Him and granted that access to us.  We can decide to make prayer a priority, and instead of relying on ourselves and human wisdom, we can gain a sense of the matchless wisdom of God.  We can approach Him with frequency and with fervency - quantity and quality - so that we can see Him move in our lives and the lives of those for whom we pray.

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We have the incredible privilege of coming before God in prayer. When we face situations in our lives or become aware of the needs of others, we can be confident in the Lord and come before His throne, rather than simply choose to go in a more human-centered direction. Hebrews 4 states:
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The common narrative that has been built is that spiritual devotion or religious practice declines with youth; in other words, the older generations today are more faithful than the younger ones.

But a new survey released by the Church of England tells a different story, and if the results are consistent with what God is doing in other parts of the world, including here in America, it could give us reason for hope in the future.

The survey was conducted online in early July, according to ChristianHeadlines.com, and here are some of the findings, according to the article: 

• 56 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds said they have ever prayed.
• 41 percent of adults over 55 said they have ever prayed,
• 25 percent said they had prayed in the last month.

The article also says, "The survey also found that 48 percent of adults overall had ever prayed, while 28 percent said they had prayed in the past month." 

But, here's the somewhat encouraging news about younger people: the survey summary says that 32% of them had prayed within the last month.  That's 4 percentage points more than the average for all adults and 7% higher than the over-55 group.

Christian Headlines goes on to state that Dr. Stephen Hance, described as "national lead for evangelism and witness at the Church of England," said this: “These findings really challenge the all-too-common assumption that young people are not interested in faith or spiritual things,” adding, “In fact, they show us that — more than simply being interested in spirituality — they are already exploring it in practice, to a greater extent than their elders.”

The Christian Headlines article refers to a Faithwire story, which notes:

Unfortunately, when it comes to daily prayer, the numbers drastically fall. Only 13% of the survey’s 2,073 respondents reported praying on a daily basis. Fourteen percent of 18- to 34-year-olds said the same.

The survey was not limited to Christianity, but among Christians: "the survey found 66% have ever prayed and 19% do so on a daily basis."  That article also says:

The top three subjects of individuals’ prayers overall were “for my family and friends” (69%), “for people I know who are sick” (54%), and “to give thanks” (51%).

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, is quoted in both articles; he said, “As Christians, prayer is the bedrock of our faith and deepens our relationship and understanding of God..."

I think one conclusion you can draw from this information, even though it comes from across the ocean, is: Don't give up on our younger generations.  Out of the midst of perceived cynicism, we can be hopeful that God is working, and we should be fervently praying for Him to work in their hearts and lives.

The survey does show a huge disconnect between the percentage of people who say they have prayed and those who pray daily.  Furthermore, out of adults who say they have prayed, just a little more than half even say they have prayed monthly.  So, you have to ask, I think: Why not pray every day?  Quantity is certainly important - since we have access to God's great power, why not come to Him?  We also can consider not only the frequency of our prayers (the quantity), but also the fervency (or, the quality).  He is inviting us to come to Him, He has brought us into a relationship with Jesus, we are saved - He wants us to abide in Him.

Exalt

When we see evil at work around us, we can remember the One about whom Scripture0 says is greater than the one who is "in the world." Even though there are spiritual forces that attempt to counter the work of God, He has given each of us in His Church the resources to proclaim Christ's victory. Romans 13 states:
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
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.

The armor of light. Paul describes, in Ephesians 6, the full armor of God.  We cannot defeat the power of the devil in our own strength - and we should not even try.  Human beings are no match for his deception, and it is true that many have bought into his scheme.  We need, instead, to turn to the wisdom and power of God, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which Jesus Himself used when He was being tempted.  We recognize that God is exalted over everything.

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After the sound teaching related by Paul in the book of Ephesians, he turns to the subject of spiritual warfare in his closing words. He relates:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.

Recently, at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, the Family Research Council presented its Pray Vote Stand Summit, in which a number of speakers encouraged those gathered to continue to be bold to stand on Biblical principles, with a strong emphasis on the life issue.

The Washington Stand, which is the news website of FRC, had extensive coverage of the event, which was live-streamed through the Council's website.  The Christian Post highlighted one particular message from the conference, from one of our Faith Radio programmers, Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham, which really seemed to get at the crux of what we are facing as a nation - spiritually.

The article reported that Lotz...

...seemingly compared the United States to the nation of Judah in the Bible, a nation that, despite its decades of prosperity, neglected to thank God for its blessings. This prompted the Lord to uplift the prophet Isaiah, who condemned the members of the nation for its sins, as seen in Isaiah 5:8.

She told a story about a gift from her mother, Ruth Graham, that she had thrown away because she didn't like how it was wrapped, relating this to what she fears is happening in the U.S. today. Later, Lotz learned that the tissue paper contained a gold ring that was part of the pavement of the palace where Queen Esther lived.

"I had thrown away a priceless treasure because I didn't like the way it was wrapped," she said.

"Are we in danger of concentrating on the wrapping and the brown paper packages that show up and missing the treasure that's on the inside?" she asked, remarking that nationwide, "we are under attack."

The Christian Post article noted, "Lotz believes the sins Isaiah listed are still relevant to today's society, which she stated condones actions such as abortion, premarital sex and rejects traditional marriage." 

She described the current situation in our nation as a "crisis," and I agree. The article said, "Sharing the message of Isaiah 6, Lotz stated that the most appropriate response in such situations is to follow the prophet's example by looking up to God and asking what He wants." She declared, "And I believe we need, as a Church, people who call ourselves by God's name; we need a fresh vision of Jesus..."

Anne Graham Lotz added, "When we pray, we need to remember that we are appealing to the highest authority that there is in the universe...One who is in charge, one who gives us His attention. And not only was He high, He was exalted."

We can become discouraged when considering what is occurring around us. But, we can be faithful to exalt the Lord.  It will change our point of view and certainly alter our attitude.

We can also be devoted to looking beyond the problems - that can be done in two ways: 1) one is, as Jonathan Cahn outlined on the Tuesday Meeting House, to recognize that there are spiritual forces at play.  Always have been.  The decline in godliness is related to the work of the one who is attempting to disrupt God's Kingdom plan.  Ultimately, we know who wins, but he has a tremendous amount of influence.

Also, as we look beyond the societal problems, acknowledging them, certainly - we can make sure that we are looking toward the solution, which is found in the principles of Scripture and power of the Holy Spirit.  We have access to the greatest source of power in the entirety of the universe - the One who created the universe.  Our prayers do have an impact.  We just have to put on God's armor and cry out to God.

Finish The Run

We are all involved in a race - the race of life - and our competition is not with one another, but with ourselves and the attempts by the enemy to get us off track. Hebrews 12 says:
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are all one team - the body of Christ - and that includes those who have gone before us, who have, in a sense, "passed the baton" to each of us to continue the work of the Lord, to build on that strong foundation, and to be inspired by their perseverance.  We, in turn, are leaving something behind for those runners who will come behind us.  We can draw strength from God and one another in the present, so that we can encourage one another to be faithful in the race. 

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In the book of 1st Corinthians, we can find a passage spanning two chapters that can help us to set our focus and challenge us to exhibit Christian behavior. Paul writes, beginning in chapter 10:
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Then, the first verse of chapter 11 says:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Eliza Fletcher was a dedicated runner from Memphis who had qualified for the Boston Marathon.  Her devotion for running motivated her to get up early and to train diligently.

So, on a September Friday at 4:30 in the morning, she went on a run to start her day. Perhaps you're familiar with the story by now - she was allegedly kidnapped, reported missing, and her body found four days later.  According to ChristianHeadlines.com: "The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Cleotha Abston Henderson, was taken into custody and has been charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder and first-degree perpetration of kidnapping. According to Commercial Appeal, Henderson was released from prison in 2020 after serving nearly two decades for kidnapping."

She was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, along with her husband, Richard. The day after her body was found, the church tweeted out: "We're grieving the loss of dear church member, Liza Fletcher. Please pray for her family & the Memphis community. We're seeking shelter in the Father of mercies & the God of all comfort whose Son is the blessed hope of the resurrection & will at the Great Day heal us & our world..."

The Christian Headlines article said that the Senior Pastor of the church, George Robertson "...described Fletcher and Richard as 'both very active and great leaders in our congregation.'" The article stated:

Both are "inspirations in the sense of their zest for life and love of running and athletics," the pastor continued. "But what's most important at this time is they have a very deep and profound trust in Christ, who they have leaned on throughout their lives and who has made a real significant impact on each of them personally. That is Ritchie's trust right now."

The Friday following her death - one week after her abduction - an event called, "Finish Eliza's Run" occurred. The Commercial Appeal reported:

"I know you need this, I know Memphis needs this. I know we're stronger together. And I know none of us are alone," Charlie Hayden, one of the event organizers, said at the start of the event. "Start your watches, turn your lights on. Get your GPS, get your buddy. If you didn't come with one, make one."

Spectators lined parts of the 8.2 mile course, holding signs and candles. Memphis police blocked traffic on eastbound lanes of Central Ave. for the run.

"Running for those who can't" was a common refrain throughout the morning.

The story noted that running groups across the country were remembering Fletcher during their early morning runs.

The article stated:

Fletcher was a pre-K teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School and a mother of two. Described as "full of life" by George Robertson, the senior pastor at Second Presbyterian Church, Fletcher was by all accounts a kind and caring teacher and mother.

A video of her singing "This Little Light of Mine" to her students went viral following her abduction.

In fact, as the New York Post reported: "The service at the Second Presbyterian Church began with a children’s choir who sang, 'This Little Light of Mine,' one of Fletcher’s favorite songs. Senior pastor George Robertson said she sang it for her kindergarten students." The pastor is quoted as saying: "'She was a light and also a joy," adding, "It is right for us to grieve, but let us grieve with hope. Let’s carry on the legacy of our dear sister.”

That article also said:

An online obituary described Fletcher as “devoted” to her work and her students.

“As with everything Liza took on, she nurtured and cared for her students with her whole heart,” the obituary said. “A strong believer in the importance of personal growth, she was not afraid to be vulnerable. To the contrary, she embraced it.”

The young mother was also described as a “born athlete.”

“Liza’s passion for sports extended from childhood teams to collegiate competition to excellence in marathons in adulthood,” according to the obituary. “She found great joy in her morning runs with friends. She channeled her competitive nature into enthusiastic participation in all that she undertook.”

Fletcher was someone who “modeled the Christian life and trusted in her unwavering faith,” the tribute said.

Paul Batura of Focus on the Family wrote at The Daily Citizen:

America has become a more violent and dangerous place for many reasons – but especially because more homes and families are more broken than they’ve ever been. Let’s face the facts. Most murderers and rapists don’t come from happy families. Studies show rapists often feel worthless, suffer from low self-esteem, are loners (both physically and mentally) and were sexually abused when they were young.

He said, "Eliza has found her rest with the Lord, but as believers, we cannot and must not grow weary while advocating for policies that will strengthen families and produce healthy children and adults destined to help and not harm. In the meantime, our hearts break for this family and we call on Him to bring comfort where there is sorrow and grief."

Eliza was running her race - not only training as a physical runner, but running the Christian life. Due to the tragedy of her violent death, people took up the baton in order to "Finish Eliza's Race." We can ask ourselves the question: when someone we know and love is sidelined, who will pick up his or her baton?  And, is the legacy we are leaving one that will inspire others to emulate us and carry on what we have stood for?

I think that is one of the challenges and distinctives of the Christian life: to model Christ in a manner that would motivate others to live in the same way that we do.  Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be imitators of God...and that can inspire to have that sort of confidence in our own walk.

We are living in a troubled and even dangerous world.  The answer to issues of crime comes through the changing of a human heart, as well as the Biblical model for strong families.  There are spiritual forces at play when you have criminal behavior, and through prayer and Biblical truth-telling, the Church can be positioned in order to address the cultural issues that are destroying lives.  We can seize the baton and be responsible to act and respond Biblically when we see the erosion of the expression of Biblical principles.

Not Isolated

God does not call us to withdraw from this world, but He does enable us to reject the philosophies of this world. We are called to insulate our hearts without isolating our lives. Philippians 3 states:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We have not been taken up into heaven - yet.  When we were saved, our spiritual citizenship changed, but our physical location did not. So we are here on Planet Earth in order that we might be living witnesses for Jesus Christ.  There will be interaction with people who don't know Him and exposure to worldly ideas. But, we are called to reject the ideas and temptations of this world, but we still are directed to engage with and impact the world - for Him.

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It is commonly said that we are "in" the world, but not "of" the world. Jesus taught in John chapter 17 about this "other-worldliness." He said, regarding His followers:
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

It is no secret that there are concerns in the realm of higher education, especially for Christians who might be considering a secular university - or even one that wears the "Christian" label, for that matter.  And, it has been documented that a number of schools that were originally founded by and/or associated with the Church no longer hold to those principles.

Even in the midst of what some might perceive as a highly secularized atmosphere, there are Christian students at Harvard Law School that are pursuing God.  A CBN News story highlighted some law school students who are experiencing the presence of the Lord.

The story notes:

Law student Matt Chun, Ph.D., said he was "pleasantly surprised" to learn how vibrant the Christian community is here.

He says, "It's been incredibly encouraging for me being involved with Christian Union, small groups and even going to church with my classmates, and going to prayer in the mornings," and added, "It seems like there's Christian programming almost every day and tons of ways to get plugged in and involved..."

Bible study leader Justin Yim said, "We know that God is not dead at Harvard, and we see God moving powerfully, and we sense, if you speak to some of the other campus ministers on campus and some of the students – there's something happening underneath..."

The article goes on to say:

Yim says the Christian presence is not out of character here.

"When you think about the history of Harvard University in and of itself, that it started out as a place where men were trained for the Christian ministry, right, so it is hearkening back to its original roots," he said.

"So we know that God has worked here before, and we know that God is working," Yim continued.

The article also notes that:

Christians at Harvard Law School can also find support through the Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies. According to its website, the program integrates law, leadership and life, built on a foundation of biblical wisdom and truth.

"It's that combination of teaching and scholarship and also building up and discipleship of believers who are here," Jon DeWitt, a third-year law student, told CBN News. "It's just been very encouraging."

Another student who was featured in the article, Marianna Marques, had attracted attention earlier this year through a Christ-honoring blog post, according to Faithwire, which reported in February:

Marianna Marques, a student at Harvard Law School, recently published a stunning blog post on the university’s website about her incredible journey with God.

And because of Marques’ candidness and bravery, prospective students at Harvard were treated to something one doesn’t often encounter on an ivy league website: a compelling testimony filled with faith, hope, and the redeeming power of Jesus.

“At a young age, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. At age 13, while I was reflecting on my life plans, I heard God’s voice (in my spirit) for the first time: ‘Those are your plans for yourself, not Mine,'” she wrote. “Although God says in Scripture that He has a plan for each of us, I hadn’t consulted Him as I had developed my own. I hadn’t trusted that His plans would bring me satisfaction — I lacked faith and wanted control.”

Marques continued, “But in that instance, I decided to trust Him and to surrender my plans.”

The Faithwire story also states: "She said she anticipated some pushback but has had a 'lot of positive reactions' to her article. Either way, though, she knew beforehand that, no matter what, God — if He wanted it to be so — would allow her story to be told."

I am reminded of the story of Kelly Monroe Kullberg, who has been a guest on The Meeting House in association with her work with the American Association of Evangelicals. Her website, "Finding God In..." states that she...

...edited and co-authored the bestseller, Finding God at Harvard, by asking forty (40) Harvard Christians to share their personal stories of coming to faith in Jesus Christ, the One for whom Harvard was founded.

She then invited students and scholars to explore the world’s hardest questions together in relation to Christ, in the Veritas Forum (Veritas.org), now in two hundred (200) universities in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. Her sequel, Finding God Beyond Harvard: the Quest for Veritas, is a kind of adventure memoir diving deep inside the ideas and campuses of secular universities and cultures.

So, you might have colleges and universities who are apparently closing the door to a Christian worldview, but there are Christian students who can bring Christ in - and are doing so. Those who choose to go into these secular venues can make sure that they are staying grounded in the Lord and in fellowship with other believers.  Many ideas that are contrary to Biblical truth are available, but each of us can choose to stay true to the Scriptures. 

Fact is, we are sent into the world.  You have students who simply do not choose to go into Christian school situations. Most employees are not sent into Christian companies.  We are to be in the world, but not of it.  We cannot completely isolate and insulate ourselves from interacting with people who don't know Christ - we are instructed not to be stained by the world. 

We just have to be aware of the contrary winds that are blowing and make sure that we are doing what it takes to withstand - to study and meditate on God's Word, to be devoted to be a strong witness for Christ, and to make sure we are engaged with other believers who can lift us up and encourage us in the Lord. 

Telling Your Story

Recognizing that we are part of a dynamic and supportive body of Christ, placed into this world for His glory, we can allow God to speak through us, which may involve becoming vulnerable to share about what God has done or is doing in our lives. In James 5, we find a passage that is centered on the importance of opening ourselves up to God and others ministering to us:
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

We are called to be open to share with each other. The Bible instructs us to pray for each other. In that spirit of vulnerability, we can also be willing to proclaim what God has done in our lives - the healing He has brought, the transformation that He has wrought, the goodness He has shown. When we are willing to testify to His greatness, great things can occur for His glory. If God has directed us to share, then we can do so with confidence.

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The apostle Paul was not shy about sharing what God had done in his life - the man who once persecuted Christians was now one of them, and He was bold to share His story; and we have all benefited from his obedience. In 2nd Corinthians 6, he sums up his approach:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God...

He lists some of those "all things," then he writes later in the chapter:
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

After placing in the top 10 at the box office last weekend and the top 5 in per-screen average among the top 10, the Kendrick Brothers' latest film, Lifemark has extended its run in theaters, even adding additional screens and I am seeing some theaters have expanded their number of times per day beyond the standard Fathom Events 7:00 p.m. start time.

Executive Producer of the film Kirk Cameron, who also appears in Lifemark, is quoted in a press release as saying: "We are thankful this story of celebrating adoption was welcomed with open arms nationwide...Despite the odds against a faith release such as this one, we appreciate this audience, who once again demonstrated their desire to see wholesome family entertainment."

As the Kendricks indicated in their interview with me, studios did not want to touch this film, which is a pro-life, pro-adoption movie.  It's based on a true story, and recently, Movieguide spotlighted the real-life people involved.

Melissa Coles is the real-life mother in the film, a teenage mom who gave her son up for adoption.  The story notes:

“I had a whole list of reasons not to do it,” Coles said when she was approached about the movie. “I didn’t want people to see me at my weakest. I didn’t want to be used.”

But her husband, Shawn, asked her a question that helped change her mind.

“‘What if it helps just one person?’ So, I agreed to do it,” Coles said.

Not only did she give the go-ahead for the movie, but also gave her input on the script and casting.

Lifemark was based on a documentary called, I Lived on Parker Avenue.  The Movieguide article relates:

The documentary details how, upon discovering she was pregnant at 18, Cole and her boyfriend at that time decided that they would abort their baby. While on the operating table before the doctor could abort her son Cole heard a voice saying, “Get up. Get Up. It’s not too late,” and ran out the building, eventually deciding to place her son David, now 29, up for adoption instead.

The Indiana native revealed that I LIVED ON PARKER AVENUE “saved at least 11 babies from abortion.” She continued to say, “If the documentary did that, how much more will the film do?”

She says, “I hope the film will help more people see the beauty of adoption and understand how important adoption is..."  She has become a vocal advocate for adoption.

The Standing for Freedom Center ran an article this week about the film's success.  It stated:

Eighteen years later, Melissa decided to update her contact information with the adoption agency just in case her child decided he wanted to contact her. That led the two to connect and, about a year later, the emotional meeting of David and his birth parents was told for the first time in the short-film documentary “I Lived on Parker Avenue.” The film is a moving picture of the love that grew exponentially and impacted so many people because Melissa chose to allow David to live.

David is an attorney who is known as a pro-life speaker. 

The Movieguide story quoted from a Catholic News Service article.  It said that:

Coles eventually had another child, Courtney. She loves her daughter with all her heart and loves being a mom.

Despite that joy, Coles said she was “angry with God, bitter. My whole life has been a struggle. Why did I have to give up my son? Why didn’t (God) give me what I needed to keep him?”

Then she met Shawn Coles, her husband now of 16 years.

“On date number one he called me out on where I stood with the Lord,” said Coles, a nondenominational Christian. “I realized I wasn’t living for God. I just needed something to wake me up — hence my husband. I didn’t give my life to God until I met Shawn.”

He helped her learn to trust God. Shawn also was the one who encouraged his wife to say “yes” to the “Lifemark” film.

“I had a whole list of reasons not to do it,” she said. “I didn’t want people to see me at my weakest. I didn’t want to be used.

“Then my husband said, ‘What if it helps just one person?’ So, I agreed to do it.”

Vulnerability can produce all sorts of good fruit. For one thing, there is a therapeutic effect in sharing what you're going through or have been through with another person. That person, if he or she is a believer, can provide you with Scripture-based encouragement and Christ-centered love.  So, it helps the person who is sharing.

And, it can help the receivers of the story.  Even the documentary of the Coles' story and their interaction with Melissa's adoptive son, David, yielded almost a dozen people who chose life. People who have walked that journey of choosing life can be compelling witnesses of God's love. 

We have to pray about our decisions about what to share with others.  Melissa certainly wrestled with telling her story, but in tandem with her husband, made the decision to go public.  We can rely on the Spirit to give us the words to say and the timing in which to do it.  But, it can be so worthwhile when we entrust our story to God and allow Him to use it in His way in His time.

Keys to Marital Stability

There are marvelous things that occur in community - that's a dynamic for human beings in general and certainly within the body of Christ. There's a Scripture passage that contains phrases that have been used to apply to the marriage relationship, and we find it in Ecclesiastes 4:
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A threefold cord - that has been used in the context of marriage to illustrate the importance of a man, a woman, and God cooperating in a marital relationship that is built on His foundation. While there are those that eschew marriage and do not hold a high view of it, we recognize that God has ordained marriage and has wonderful intentions for it.  By committing ourselves to Christ in our marriages and even before marriage, doing things His way, we please Him and can experience a sense of satisfaction and stability.

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God has purpose for marriage - He has placed His blessing on the institution and intends for people to come together and enter into marriage according to His ways. Marriage is a reflection of the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church. Ephesians 5 says:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

The concept of marriage, an institution that was established by God in the book of Genesis, is an essential building block of an orderly, functioning society.  When people reject the concept, chaos follows, and the effectiveness of the family suffers. A recent National Review piece underscores what has occurred, societally speaking:

The traditional model of marriage — not always honored in practice, but as the societal ideal — was to marry young without living together first, and with the aim of a lifetime commitment. The supposedly sophisticated critique of this model has argued that young people should do other things besides form families, that one should try on multiple relationships first, that 21-25-year-olds aren’t mature enough for lifetime commitments, and that living together first is a good test run of whether the relationship will endure.

National Marriage Project director W. Bradford Wilcox and Lyman Stone, described as a "demographer," offer these comments, which can be found on the Institute for Family Studies website, and are based on a recent study:

Our analyses indicate that religious men and women who married in their twenties without cohabiting first . . . have the lowest odds of divorce in America today. We suspect one advantage that religious singles in their twenties have over their secular peers is that they are more likely to have access to a pool of men and women who are ready to tie the knot and share their vision of a family-focused life. Today, young singles like this are often difficult to find in the population at large . . . Shared faith is linked to more sexual fidelity, greater commitment and higher relationship quality.

 A Washington Examiner piece states: 

This should come as no surprise. Religion grounds people and offers a shared set of values. It provides community and purpose, both of which are vital in marriage.

Our culture desperately needs to return to this form of traditional marriage. Premarital cohabitation won’t make anyone happier — in fact, it’s much more likely to lead to heartbreak down the road.

 Wilcox and Stone also state:

Many young adults today believe cohabitation is also a pillar of successful marriages, one reason why more than 70% of those who marry today live together before marriage. But the conventional wisdom here is wrong: Americans who cohabit before marriage are less likely to be happily married and more likely to break up. Couples who cohabited were 15% more likely to get divorced than those who did not, according to our research.

The article at the IFS site says:

The conventional wisdom holds that spending your twenties focusing on education, work and fun, and then marrying around 30 is the best path to maximize your odds of forging a strong and stable family life. But the research tells a different story, at least for religious couples. Saving cohabitation for marriage, and endowing your relationship with sacred significance, seems to maximize your odds of being stably and happily married.

A key question is: do we want a stable society?  Or are we satisfied with disorder and a disregard for the principles of God?  When we do what is right in our own eyes, we reject what God has in store for us. Turning aside from His principles regarding marriage is a principle for disaster.  That is why the so-called Respect for Marriage Act is big trouble, and we should pray that this bill, which has now been folded into a larger appropriations bill to keep the government running, will be defeated.

We can recognize that marriages that are centered on Christ can bring stability to our own lives and can send a strong message to our culture - after all, the institution of marriage is a representation of Christ's relationship to His Church.  When we are loving as Christ loved, there is much joy and satisfaction that comes.  Following His principles and doing things in the right way - in the right order - concerning marriage can bring longevity and stability in the marriage relationship. 

EINO

We are called to build our lives on the strong foundation of Jesus Christ and our lives should be characterized by a devotion to the truth of God's Word. Psalm 25 states:
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.

Just because it has a Christian label on it, doesn't mean that it is operating consistent with Biblical truth. We have to be discerning with respect to what we consume spiritually, because there is a smorgasbord of religious information available, which is not the same as Biblical truth.  So, we can make sure that we are basing our decisions on the Word of God and measuring our intake by the principles of the Scriptures, so that we can be firmly devoted to Christ.

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In 2nd Timothy 2, Paul charges Timothy to be faithful in the work of the Lord and the application of Scripture. In verse 15, he writes:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Later, we can read these words:
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Just because an organization uses the word "evangelical" in its title doesn't mean that it represents evangelical Christianity.  So, when you talk about the National Association of Evangelicals, you must scrutinize what that organization represents.

A few months ago, a Christian denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, announced that it would no longer be a member of the NAE.  According to a piece from Emily McFarlan Miller, who writes for Religion News Service, published at MinistryWatch.org, the resolution, called an "overture...," called out "NAE's advocacy work." The article states:

The NAE has “frequently intermeddled in civil affairs,” according to the overture. It points to a 2011 statement by the association meant to spark discussion on how climate change impacts vulnerable populations, the organization’s past efforts supporting immigration reform and its 2015 change of heart on the death penalty, which it had previously supported.

The overture specifically names the Fairness for All Act drafted by the National Association of Evangelicals and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The act calls for federally recognized protections for sexual orientation and gender identity alongside strong religious exemptions.

Writing at Juicy Ecumenism in 2012, Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy said:

“World” magazine publisher Marvin Olasky reports in the August 11 issue that, in a change from earlier reports, the National Association of Evangelicals is not at this time seeking further funding from the National Campaign for the Prevention of Teen and Unmarried Pregnancy (NCPTUP). As Olasky describes, NCPTUP “promotes contraceptives for the unmarried.” The group is in turn funded by the pro-choice Hewlett Foundation, which funds abortion rights advocacy.

The overall grant from the organization was a million dollars over several years.

So, there have already been problematic actions taken by the National Association of Evangelicals, but only recently, it decided to weigh in further on the climate change issue. Newsmax reported two weeks ago that:

In a 50-page report issued this week, NAE leaders addressed the scientific evidence of the "reality of climate change" and the role of greenhouse gas emissions in that process.

The report — "Loving the Least of These" — also covered climate change from the theological and personal perspectives, while outlining biblical arguments for environmental stewardship.

A number of years ago, the Christian organization, the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, had posted a letter urging NAE not to take a stand on this controversial issue.  It said:

We are evangelicals and we care about God s creation. However, we believe there should be room for Bible-believing evangelicals to disagree about the cause, severity and solutions to the global warming issue.

Further, we signatories who are members of the NAE believe that if the NAE wishes to take an official position on global warming or any other issue, it should do so through its formal process within the general council. Individual NAE members or staff should not give the impression that they are speaking on behalf of the entire membership, so as not to usurp the credibility and good reputation of the NAE.

Signatories at the time included the late Chuck Colson and D. James Kennedy, as well as James Dobson, Richard Land, David Barton, and others.

The Capstone Report offers some analysis of this "green" push from the NAE...

... the NAE report claims, “We worship God by caring for creation.” The justification for all of this focus on the environment is the harm it allegedly causes the poor. NAE President Walter Kim explains in the forward, “Although the changing environment impacts all of us, the disproportionate devastation upon the most defenseless must break God’s heart.”

In other words, climate change harms the poor (or least of these) and requires Christian action. The action advocated by NAE? In the “Join the Good Work” it urges Christians to “join in advocating for wise action to decrease our carbon footprint, provide international assistance, promote sustainability and consider climate change in any long-term plans.”

The NAE, according to the website, is also promoting ESG investing.

But, the Cornwall Alliance points out:

In developed countries, the poor spend a higher percentage of their income on energy than others, so rising energy prices, driven by mandated shifts from abundant, affordable, reliable fossil fuels to diffuse, expensive, intermittent “Green” energy, will in effect be regressive taxes—taxing the poor at higher rates than the rich.

Yesterday, I explored how the push to combat climate change has resulted in a fear-based mentality that will lead to authoritarian measures to allegedly save the planet, which, by the way, doesn't need saving - the Creator is sovereignly in charge, and He and He alone will make a decision in the future to judge this planet and create a new heavens and a new earth.  The climate change agenda will lead to global initiatives, which will one day be encapsulated in a one-world government, just like we see in Revelation.  

As I have shared, the National Association of Evangelicals has failed to represent the Biblical beliefs of professing Christians in a number of areas.  It has compromised with the gay agenda through its support for "Fairness for All" and has seemingly bought into the climate change hysteria. It even has received funding from a pro-abortion group. My philosophy is that if it says, NAE, to stay away from it. 

There do seem to be some good people who are associated with NAE, but, all in all, there is a concerning direction of this organization.  We have to be discerning about those who choose to represent us - we should always make our decisions based on the principles of Scripture, not by the name of an organization.  One could even say that the NAE is "Evangelical in Name Only."  In our own pursuits, we should strive to be Christians - not in name only - but in our devotion to truth.