ADVENT DAY 22 (I Can Know His Peace): Take Over

The Bible provides for us promises and principles that we can absorb into our minds, so that we can think correctly and develop what 1st Corinthians 2 calls, "the mind of Christ." Philippians chapter 4 relates:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

When we read the list of the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5, we find the word, "peace," listed second.  "Love" is first, which I think is certainly deliberate - if we know the love of Christ and walk in that love, we will see manifestations of the very presence of God in our lives.  So, if we are confident in His love, then we can know that we are at peace with Him - peace through Jesus results in inner peace - knowing that God is with us and He offers us the ability to reject fear, worry, anxiety, discouragement and to walk in a sense of stability in the Lord.

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In an age of anxiety, we need to know the peace of God that passes all understanding, available to us through the One who is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah chapter 9.  It's Day 22 of our 25-day spiritual "adventure," working our way through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, found in the center section of our latest Faith Radio Ministry Magazine, which is available online through FaithRadio.org. 

Today's theme is: "I can know His peace," and the related Scripture passage is found in Isaiah 9, which states:
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end...

One of the cities in the River Region and our Faith Radio broadcast area has received national attention, and earlier this month, a special "Home Town Takeover" program aired on HGTV featuring two cities, one of which was Wetumpka, which actually was "taken over" by Ben and Erin Napier in their series. Movieguide reported on the "check up" by the Napiers, including a summary of the special program, which was posted on MSN.com:

“The small town renewal movement is working! The Napiers took on the revival of Wetumpka, AL, and the Marrs jumped on board to help take on yet another community, Fort Morgan, CO. Now, they’re checking on the continued growth in these two amazing towns..."

The Movieguide website also noted a recent Instagram post, in which Erin gave glory to God for their 15 years of marriage:

“I sometimes think of all the people in the world, and how the earth is just this tiny dusty speck in the universe. And somehow, we managed to find each other,” Erin posted on Instagram. “Thank you, Lord, for 15 years in a marriage that feels like home and comfort and assurance and strength and LOVE.”

Erin paid tribute to Ben last year in a Father's Day Instagram post, in which she said that, according to a story at SouthernLiving.com: "Here’s what the truly great dads do: they fix things, broken necklaces, broken barbies, broken hearts,” adding, "They teach their daughters what to expect from the men they’ll someday love and what’s unacceptable, too...They love their wives so well, with such faithfulness, their children see it and understand what marriage is meant to be. They carry the heavy things so we don’t have to.” She said that, "God gave us the finest daddy he could come up with..."

You may be familiar with the backstory of the Napiers.  They spoke at a convocation at Liberty University in 2019, and the school's website shared some of their story.  They met in junior college, married and after college, moved to Erin's hometown of Laurel, MS.  The school's website notes:

Ben worked as a youth pastor, and Erin worked, with Ben’s help, to revitalize Laurel and document the process through social media. With evidence of their success shared online, the Napiers soon caught the attention of producers at HGTV.

At the time, the couple was uncertain about the future of their careers, and HGTV brought them to something new: their own television show. Erin described her work as her way of sharing her love for her home, and she encouraged those listening to share their own passions with others.

“We were scared, and then we got this email that said, ‘I’m just in love with your town, your love story, and what you’re doing in Laurel, and I wondered if you’ve ever thought about doing TV,’” Erin said. “If you share it the right way, you’re passionate, and you’re authentic about the things that you love and believe in, other people feel like it gives them permission to believe in it, too.”

The article goes on to say:

The Napiers weren’t looking to be in the spotlight, Ben said, but they wanted to submit themselves to God’s plans.

“At that point it didn’t feel like it was necessarily what God was saying He had planned for us, but instead it felt like an affirmation, that He was telling us to keep going and keep following,” Ben said.

So, you could say that the Napiers are devoted to fixing things - to renovate, to see beyond the here and now to what could be.  And, when they take over - well, as the residents of Wetumpka have experienced, incredible things happen. 

So, maybe this year, you are sensing that you need a renovated spirit, the healing of something that is broken, a fresh "take over" of the Holy Spirit.  When things aren't right within, the peace of God can flood our lives and give us a renewed perspective. 

The peace of God can be available to us in the decisions we make, as well. Ben and Erin Napier can remind us of how a couple submitted to God can bring joy to people. As they testified at Liberty, they sensed the "affirmation" of God as the door opened up for a television show. That can certainly be a scary possibility, but they purposed to "keep following," as Ben said, what God had in store for them. If we are devoted to the Word, seeking the face of God, and sensitive to the still, small voice, the sense of peace, then we can be confident of God's leadership.  The presence or absence of the peace of God can be a reliable means to discern the will of God. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 26 that, "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

ADVENT DAY 21 (I Can Be Strong in Him): Giving Because He Gave

The apostle Paul reminded us in the book of 2nd Corinthians that when we are weak, God is strong. We have access to His incredible power in order to live a consistent, even countercultural Christian life under the control of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 73 says:
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

We are directed in Galatians 5 to walk in the Spirit, and we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Because Jesus is alive - and alive in us - His power is now available to us. But, it has to be activated, released, so that He can accomplish His will through us.  We can choke off the flow of the power by sin or selfishness. But, if we are yielded to Him and allowing Christ to have His way through us, amazing things can happen by the power of the Spirit.

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We are now on Day 21 of our 25-day walk through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, entitled, Because of Jesus.... We are considering what He has done for us on the cross and what we have as believers in Christ - not material possessions, but spiritual blessings. Our Day 21 theme is: "I can be strong in Him," and the accompanying Scripture is found in Romans chapter 8:
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Do you have all of your Christmas shopping done?  Within the next few days, the last-minute shoppers will be on the hunt for the perfect gift, which can be challenging if you are purchasing gifts for those who have everything. 

Economically speaking, there are indications are that people have been planning to buy more this Christmas.  A Gallup survey, the last one of 2023, found this, according to a summary on its website:

The total amount Americans estimate they’ll spend on Christmas or other holiday gifts this year averages $975 in Gallup’s final 2023 reading, taken in November. This exceeds consumers’ holiday spending estimate from a year ago by more than $100 and is the highest in Gallup’s November measures historically since 1999.

The summary notes: 

Both the recent and year-over-year increases seen in consumers’ November holiday spending estimate run contrary to the implications of Americans’ continued pessimism about the economy and relatively sluggish overall spending in October, according to recent Commerce Department data.

During roughly the same time period, those surveyed responded to this question: "How would you rate economic conditions in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair or poor? 50% said "poor."  Only 2% said "excellent" and 17% said "good."  But that $975 figure is an average - broken down by economic groups, the survey reported this:

The large increase since last year in holiday shoppers’ November estimate of what they’ll spend is mainly explained by Americans in middle-income households. This group -- those with an annual household income between $40,000 and $99,999 -- plans to spend $947 this year, on average, up more than $200 from last year’s $709. By contrast, there has been minimal change in upper-income Americans’ already high estimate of over $1,400 and a slight decline in lower-income Americans’ estimate, slipping from $477 to $429.

Almost 9-in-10 survey respondents indicate that they were planning to take part in "holiday shopping."

So, Americans may be spending more during this holiday season. But, I think we have a responsibility to consider, as in all matters financial, to determine how we are spending our money.  And, the gifts that have the most meaning may be the ones that we give to someone for someone else. I remember that my wife, Beth, who has taught seminars on how to have a more Christ-centered Christmas, shared about an idea called the "white envelope," in which a gift is made to a charity or charitable project in the name of a person; the person is informed that this has been done in his or her name. 

I went online and found the original article from Women's Day magazine in 1982, written by Nancy Gavin.  It was published on the Bible.org website. She wrote:

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas … oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it—overspending. The frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma … the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike.

Her inspiration came from seeing a wrestling match, in which her 12-year-old son participated, in which the opponents were from an inner-city church. They were lacking in equipment and even their clothing was insufficient.  Nancy came up with an idea, and she wrote:

That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.

Year by year, she gave to others in need; she said: "It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure."

Mike died of cancer, but Nancy, even though it was difficult to prepare for Christmas, still managed to place an envelope on the tree. She said: "...Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad."

She closes out by saying, "May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always."

God gives us the strength to do what is right.  When we are discouraged or weighed down with grief and loss, we can turn to the One who loved us so much that He died on a cross so that we might have life and have access to His strength.  Mike Gavin was not fond of the over-commercialization of Christmas, so Nancy, his wife, decided to cut through it and reflect the character of Christ by being sensitive to the needs of those less fortunate. 

In a way, it's encouraging to see that people are spending more on Christmas presents, if they're truly celebrating our Savior's birth...but if it's just a worldly ritual, we miss what Jesus came to give us.  Perhaps we can consider how God would use us to give of ourselves so that Christ will be exalted and the needs of others will be addressed.  Sometimes it takes being countercultural in order to make a significant impact - God will give us the strength to do that; the strength to obey, the strength to be a witness...the manifestation of His resurrection power moving through us.

Finding Home

On this day after Christmas, we can reflect on the hope that has been shared throughout the Christmas season, the lives that have been touched and changed because of the love of Jesus being expressed. Romans chapter 15 says:
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,
16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

We are servants of the Most High God, and through us, people can see the hope of the gospel. 1st Peter 3 encourages us to be prepared to share about why we have hope within us.  We have been loved greatly by God, to the extent that He sent His Son at Christmas, so that the world might come to know Him. Our willingness to allow the love of Christ to flow through us can demonstrate to those with whom we interact that Christ has come and that He gave His life so the world might come to know Him and be saved.

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In the 20th chapter of the book of Acts, we find that Paul addresses the church leaders in Ephesus, and among the words he spoke, we find these:
32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Doris was nine years old when they showed up on Christmas night on a farm in Alabama.  Again that year, there were no presents, because her parents simply did not have the means to buy them. She writes on The Christian Heart website: "...we heard a truck coming down our dirt road and it pulled into the driveway. Two men got out and they were carrying boxes full of presents and food for my family. It turns out they worked on the farm and knew we didn’t have money to celebrate Christmas. I remember how happy it made me. And I saw the look on my siblings’ faces, that look of hope and happiness. Even though I was young, I knew that was a feeling I wanted to someday bring to others."

Fast forward to the next year - her family had moved, and just a short distance from their home, she heard singing. A nearby church was holding a tent revival meeting. Doris recalls: 

At the end of the worship service, the preacher asked if anyone needed prayer. My dad had just had back surgery and couldn’t work, so we had even less to eat than usual. I felt led to stand up and ask that they pray for my family and my dad since we had so little food. Afterwards, a couple asked me where I lived. Later that night, that couple delivered food for my entire family. In fact, the members of that church ended up giving us food every day until my dad had fully recovered from his back surgery. I saw compassion and God’s love in these people giving us food.

Doris Phillips writes:

Seeing those two events were moments of change for me. I saw what “loving your neighbor” really looked like. These events truly flipped a switch inside me. I was determined to make something of myself and give back to people.

I can trace those two events to me starting the The Circle of Love years later. We supply Christmas presents to children living in many different shelters in the Birmingham area.

She says:

These children may be down so we want them to have faith in people so they don’t become hardened. We need to give these kids hope.

We do this all out of Christian love for one another and a desire to pay it forward. I once heard someone say that to give of myself is to find life. I was so touched with this phrase that I put it on our foundation’s stationary. We all need to live our lives being kind to one another.

The Circle of Love, according to this website piece, began in 2004, and the organization has "touched over 8,000 children who live in shelters and in impoverished areas." The Circle of Love has expanded to a Backpacks for Success program to provide school supplies for children at the beginning of the school year - over 10 years, there have been some 5,000 backpacks that have been provided to children. 

This is one example that struck me during the Christmas season of people, motivate by the love of God, have become a tangible outreach of the love of Christ.  I am reminded of organizations who have a real heart for children, from Sam's Angel Market of the Montgomery Baptist Association to the Angel Tree program of Prison Fellowship.  We rejoice in the ministries around our area who reach out to those who are homeless, and rejoice in the outpouring of support for Friendship Mission in their endeavor to continue to serve the River Region to provide shelter for those who have fallen on hard times. The way the community has come alongside that ministry even attracted the attention of The Montgomery Advertiser not too long ago. 

The love of Christ is a powerful force - yes, the need is great, but the power and provision of God is greater.  We can humble ourselves to be conduits of how God desires to manifest His love toward those who are in need. Through our generosity, people's hearts can be opened up to accept the love of a Savior who gave His life so that people can experience eternal life.  As representatives of Jesus, we can help people find a home - in Christ.

ADVENT DAY 20 (I Have Hope in the Lord): Psyops, Misinformation, and the Pursuit of Truth

The message of Christmas is a message that brings hope to the world - a loving God, wanting to have a relationship with His created beings, sent His Son to die for sinful humanity so that in Him we might have salvation. 1st Peter 1 reminds us:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The absence of or cloaking of this living hope can have devastating consequences. Proverbs 13 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."  The hope that comes from the Lord can provide encouragement, joy, and satisfaction to our souls - yes, we can be right with God.  We can know that Jesus loves us so much that He died for us. He wants to give us that hope to sustain us each and every day.

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We are within a week of Christmas Day, the culmination of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure" through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, which is available in the center section of our Faith Radio Ministry Magazine. The overall title is "Because of Jesus...," and we have been exploring what He has provided for us as believers in Christ. We have come to Day 20, and today's theme is "I Have Hope in the Lord." Our Scripture is found in Luke 1, and we can read these words of Mary as she reflected on the impending birth of her son, Jesus:
46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

Here, Mary is related the truth of who the coming Messiah was to be, the One who resided within her. At Christmas, we have the chance to reflect on who Jesus is and who He is to us. We can commit ourselves to being grounded in the truth...because we see that there is a trend in which people who stand on Biblical principles are being accused of spreading "disinformation."  

I shared with you last week from a piece written by Gary Bauer on the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute website, which reported on "whistleblower" testimony before a U.S. House subcommittee; Bauer wrote:

A "whistleblower" has come forward with documents that reveal a secret initiative in 2019 by U.S. and U.K. military contractors to engage in a censorship campaign. The ruse that was used was the alleged need to stop "disinformation." We have learned over time that the charge of "disinformation" is often used to silence anyone who challenges big government socialists.

There was an entity established called the "Cyber Threat Intelligence League." Bauer states: 

The whistleblower's information details a coordinated effort of what some have called a "censorship industrial complex" that included dozens of government agencies and non-government organizations. The entities pushed for censorship on social media platforms, and shockingly also spread propaganda aimed at citizens of the United States. In other words, one of the goals was to influence public opinion here in the U.S. by controlling information dissemination.

This appears to be the same hearing referenced in an article on the National Religious Broadcasters website, which identifies the "whistleblower" as journalist Michael Shellenberger, also identified by Bauer in an American Values piece.  NRB linked to an article at the Washington Examiner website, which quoted Shellenberger as saying: "Two days ago, my colleagues and I published the first batch of internal files from 'The Cyber Threat Intelligence League,' which show U.S. and U.K. military contractors working in 2019 and 2020 to both censor and turn sophisticated psychological operations and disinformation tactics, developed abroad, against the American people..."

Psychological operations. "Psyop," for short. The Merrian-Webster Dictionary online defines "psyops" as, "military operations usually aimed at influencing the enemy's state of mind through noncombative means (such as distribution of leaflets)." Who's the enemy? Well, it certainly appears that the American people who disagree with certain narratives are. Shellenberger also testified: "The First Amendment prohibits the government from abridging freedom of speech," adding, "The Supreme Court has ruled that the government 'may not induce, encourage or promote private persons to accomplish what it is constitutionally forbidden to accomplish,' [but] there is now a large body of evidence proving that the government did precisely that."

Oh, some may say, well, that's just misinformation about disinformation. That would constitute a psyop against the psyops. 

The article closes out by saying:

State-sanctioned censorship of religious viewpoints directly violates the First Amendment, and overreach in agency rulemaking opens the door to these types of abuses. In 2023, NRB approved a board resolution titled “Opposing the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” which warned that “collusion between the federal government and social media platforms has been documented as significantly limiting the voices of Christian communicators and hindering their ability to reach their audiences, raise support, and conduct business” and “lawmakers have attempted to use their authority to pressure tech companies into silencing and suppressing Christian communicators.” NRB works to ensure a fair, open environment in which viewpoint diversity can thrive and broadcasters can openly exercise their right to religious free speech.

We have to be so careful and exercise discernment, recognizing that there are attempts every day to manipulate us into behaving and believing a certain way. These "psyops," if we're not careful can produce fear, paranoia, anxiety, and impulsiveness.  The availability of information can certainly be advantageous, but we need filters.  Our ability to discern truth is certainly helpful to us.

That concerns our intake of information. But, there are also concerns about what we communicate. Christians who buck certain narratives in the name of Biblical truth become especially vulnerable to being silenced and shut down in their freedom of expression.  But, we can depend on the Lord to give us the boldness to share what He has called us to communicate; we have been called and sent to exalt the hope of Christ in a world where you have so many who lack it.

Victory

Humanity had sinned against God and was separated from Him.  Yet, He continued to stretch out His hands toward this fallen world; throughout the ages, He continued to express His love - He sent His Son, Jesus, the Messiah, to reconcile fallen humanity to Himself. Hebrews 2 contains these words:

11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Verse 14: Jesus came from heaven to redeem fallen men and women to earth, coming as a man so that in Him we might come to know Him.  He defeated the power of sin and death because of His crucifixion and resurrection.  He triumphed over the devil and we are instructed in Scripture to resist Him.  When we are tempted, we can rely on God's power to stand against the enemy.  Jesus is victorious, and we can stand strong in Him. 

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Jesus has defeated Satan, and he reigns victorious over sin and death. 1st Peter 5 shares insight into how to live out that victory in our personal lives:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

During this week following Christmas, our celebration of the coming of Christ, it can be helpful to think about the implications of what Jesus has done for us. We recognize that on the cross, He became the substitute for our sins, and while it may have appeared that Satan had the upper hand, in three days, we know that Jesus defeated the power of the enemy, and has passed on authority to us, to the Church, so that we might resist the devil and His schemes.  We have the Word of God, the name of Jesus, and the full armor of God so that we might stand against him.

Yet, in our culture today, there are those who want to prioritize the work of the devil. In the Iowa state capitol - during the Christmas season - a group calling itself The Satanic Temple was allowed to erect a display, which was vandalized by a well-meaning professing Christian; while he received quite a bit of support for his actions, resorting to vandalism and violence are not tools that Christians should use to make a statement to the culture about our faith principles.

We can be reminded that our war, as Ephesians 6 teaches us, is not "...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."

In a recent Faithwire article, attempts by those claiming to follow the teachings of Satan to oppose what the article calls "after-school Bible clubs" were spotlighted recently.  The article notes: "...newfound debates have unfolded in recent years as Satanists have begun to target these gatherings by launching clubs of their own."  Former Meeting House guest Moises Esteves of Child Evangelism Fellowship, which sponsors Good News Clubs, is mentioned in the article, which states:

Esteves recently told CBN Digital his organization, which has been around since 1937, is very much at the heart of the After School Satan Club debate, as he believes Satanists intentionally focus on schools where Christian clubs are present.

This is a strategy seemingly noted on The Satanic Temple’s website, where it’s written that “The After School Satan Club does not believe in introducing religion into public schools and will only open a club if other religious groups are operating on campus.”

Esteves exposes a rather sinister strategy by the TST people: “They want to be pushed out, because, once they’re pushed out, they will actually use our victory...in 2001 to then turn around and file a lawsuit against the school to say, ‘Hey, we have the right to be there.'” The article says:

Esteves continued, “And then … if the school still wants to push them out, they got to shut down all the after-school clubs. That’s their strategy.”

There have been some recent developments in the advance of the Satan clubs' agenda. Faithwire notes:

As CBN News recently reported, Connecticut is one of the latest states where Satanists have made headlines for their efforts to launch an elementary school club, with meetings set to start this month.

Some parents have spoken out against the effort.

“If you look on their website and the different things that they’re handing out, there’s symbolism of the devil, and I think that that’s inappropriate,” parent Kate Prokop told WTNH-TV. Others agree, though it should be noted The Satanic Temple and other groups like it are atheistic in nature.

The story provides some content from the organization's website: 

No, nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural. The Satanic Temple believes that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition. As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions.

Meanwhile, in the Memphis, Tennessee area, local church leaders have become involved in opposing an effort to establish a Satanic Temple chapter in an elementary school.  ABCNews.com reported:

Around 40 members of the faith community in Memphis stood united with leaders at Memphis-Shelby County Schools on Wednesday to criticize the planned club and to question The Satanic Temple’s intentions in offering it, according to the Commercial Appeal. The faith community and educators also wanted to make it clear that students would need signed permission slips to attend and to express support for religious organizations that have partnered with the district, the newspaper reported.

The local interim superintendent seemed to echo the broad strategy that Moises Esteves from CEF highlighted; ABC said:

Since the announcement, interim Superintendent Toni Williams said some have demanded that the district ban all faith-based organizations from schools, but that won't happen.

“As a superintendent, I am duty bound to uphold our board policy, state laws, and the Constitution,” she said during the event. “But let’s not be fooled. Let’s not be fooled by what we’ve seen in the past 24 hours, which is an agenda, initiated to make sure that we cancel all faith-based organizations that partner with our district.”

This seems consistent with the comments from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in response to the Satanic Temple display at the State Capitol:

“Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable. In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for the season.”

So, it seems that this group, which claims that it does not even believe in Satan or the supernatural, is pursuing not the right to worship Satan, but to destroy the work of legitimate, First Amendment-protected organizations.  Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel wrote this in 2016 at the organization's website: “The so-called Satanic Temple group is a handful of atheists masquerading as so-called Satanists. This group is not legitimate. Its only reason to exist is to oppose the Good News Clubs. The Good News Clubs teach morals, character development, patriotism and respect from a Christian viewpoint. Public schools welcome these clubs because they improve the behavior of the students and the Supreme Court has sided with these clubs..." He added, “The so-called Satanist group has nothing good to offer the students and its entire reason for existence is to be disruptive. Schools do not have to tolerate groups which disrupt the school and target other legitimate clubs. No sane parents would consent to allow their child to attend this group. Full of sound and fury, this group will soon fade away..."

Symbolic or not, this group certainly represents a threat to the free exercise of religion in public spaces. Keep a TST club out of schools?  They'll sue you and attempt to keep all religious practice out.  Let them in? they will continue to indoctrinate young minds and promote a godless ideology.  So, there are several things we can do: one is to recognize that the enemy is at work and that we do have powerful resources available to combat him. 

We can also pray and recognize that there is spiritual warfare is occurring.  The Bible shows us the nature of the spiritual warfare that is occurring and instructs us to resist the devil.  We don't do that in our own strength, but through the Holy Spirit, as we are clothed in the armor of God.  

Satan is a tactician and we're told in Scripture that he disguises himself as an "angel of light." He is so intent on defeating Jesus, who has already defeated him, that he is even willing to deny himself. But, we are called to expose him by the truth of the Scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

ADVENT DAY 19 (I Have Been Given the Armor of God): Power to the Parents

God has established an authority structure in the home, and He delights as families function according to His will. Parents have been given a distinct and critical role, as we see in Deuteronomy chapter 6:
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We can see how we function at home, at church, in the workplace, in society, is predicated on our loving God - will all that we are, with our entire being. The enemy would attempt to bring us down, and we have to make sure we resist His schemes and continue to grow closer to Christ.  We can be diligent to protect what has been entrusted to us and to clothe ourselves day by day with presence and the "full armor" that He has provided.

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We have reached Day 19 of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure," using the Faith Radio Advent Guide to help us consider the significance of what Jesus, by virtue of His coming to earth, and His death and resurrection, has done for us. We have so many spiritual resources available to us, and in Ephesians chapter 6, we see that we have protective armor that can be helpful to us in the challenges of this life; Paul write:
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.

There is a cultural battle that is occurring in the area of parental rights.  We hear unfortunate accounts of school districts who have officials who are keeping secrets about the children from the ones who most need to know - the parents - and teachers are being asked to compromise their values in order to further this conspiracy of silence.

One such flashpoint occurred about a month ago in Anderson County, Kentucky. The Family Foundation in Kentucky reported on its website about a school board meeting attended by "hundreds of people:"

At the meeting, Brad Briscoe, who is the father of a teenage girl at Anderson County High School, spoke about his family’s experience in which his daughter had an inappropriate relationship with a high school employee.

According to Briscoe, a school counselor developed an inappropriate relationship with his daughter, attempted to ruthlessly manipulate the situation, and ultimately attempted to remove his daughter from his family’s home on the basis of accused “emotional abuse.” Briscoe shared that these attacks have come because of his and his wife’s desire to raise their family under the Biblical principles for human sexuality.

The article goes on to say:

On November 5, 2023, Brad Briscoe spoke to a church courageously telling his family’s testimony on this issue. In a nutshell, Briscoe stated that the school counselor viciously undermined their parental rights by attempting to lead their confused daughter away from Biblical teachings on human sexuality, regardless of their desire to lead their family to live faithfully in alignment with the teachings of the Scriptures.

Apparently, the matter is still under investigation. 

But, this notion of keeping secrets from parents about their students' struggles in the area of sexuality is not confined to this Kentucky county.  I have covered the changes that various school districts in California have made.  Jeff Johnston of Focus on the Family, in a Daily Citizen article, noted in September:

Six California school districts are pushing back against California Department of Education guidelines that encourage schools to hide information about children struggling with sexual identity confusion from their parents.

Fighting that state agenda, each district has passed Parent Notification Policies that require school staff to inform parents if a child says he or she wants to identify as the opposite sex or as a different so-called “gender.” The state’s attorney general has opposed notifying parents and has already filed a lawsuit against one of the school districts.

Johnston also noted:

Those defending the initiative also pointed to lawsuits against school districts that hid information from parents. In one instance, Spreckels Union School District, in Monterey, California, was forced to pay a $100,000 settlement to a mother for socially transitioning her 11-year-old daughter without the mother’s knowledge or consent.

In a second, horrific incident, Appomattox County High School, in Virginia, allegedly did not tell a mother about her ninth-grade daughter’s struggles with very serious mental health issues, transgender identity concerns and bullying at school. The girl ran away, was kidnapped, drugged, raped and sex trafficked. The mother has filed a lawsuit against the school board and district staff for hiding important concerns from her.

In June, The Washington Stand reported:

...21 state attorneys general filed a joint amicus brief in support of two Florida parents who are suing their daughter’s middle school for engaging in private talks with the then 13-year-old about her gender identity without her parents’ knowledge or consent.

The lawsuit filed by January and Jeffrey Littlejohn alleges that school officials at Deerlake Middle School in Tallahassee implemented a “transgender support plan” after their daughter questioned her gender at school without informing them. When January Littlejohn found out about the situation and confronted the school, she was “told by the school guidance councilor [sic] and vice-principal that they could not disclose what had been talked about in the meeting, and that Littlejohn’s daughter needed to give consent by-law for her parents to be informed about or be present for future discussions.”

These cases show us how you have individuals who are committed to furthering a particular narrative and leaving parents out of the loop.  It's a blatant disregard for the Biblical responsibility that has been placed upon parents.  And, yes, it does seem as if there are people in authority who regard themselves as more capable of raising kids than the parents - it's about power and control for those who have been entrusted with authority.

But, we have to also recognize the importance of parents taking hold of the responsibility that God has given to them. Irresponsible parents have a notable impact on the next generation. Why was there a generation mentioned in the book of Judges in which "everyone did what was right in his own eyes?"  We have to evaluate the role of parents in some of the societal ills that we see around us; there are certainly many factors, but I think you have to admit that failure to pass on solid values consistent with a Biblical worldview are part of the equation.

But, that doesn't mean that the role of parents is to be minimized, especially those who do care.  And, that is seemingly a threat to people in control - it's why parents have been rising up across our country, challenging school board and running for those offices themselves.  But, too often, these parents are vilified for their involvement.  Christian parents must gladly and passionately recognize the importance of their role and depend on God to do what He has called.

ADVENT DAY 18 (I Can Walk in Godly Wisdom): Unshakable Trust

When we go to the Lord in prayer, we can come before Him with a sense of expectation, and recognize that we are dependent on Him. In 2nd Kings chapter 7, we see the orchestration of the Lord in a victory for the Israelites; we pick up in verse 3:
3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die?
4 If we say, 'We will enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die."
5 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.
6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses--the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!"
7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact--their tents, their horses, and their donkeys--and they fled for their lives.

These lepers went into the camp and began to acquire some of the abandoned items; but they recognize they need to tell the Israelite king, so they made their discovery known.  The resulting circumstances actually lined up with what Elisha the prophet had spoken.  We have to make sure we are not just "sitting here."  We can pray, but God may be directing us to act - we just have to act in accordance with His plan and His wisdom.  But, we should always be looking and listening for how He would lead us.

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It's Day 18 of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure," from our 2023 Faith Radio Advent Guide, found in the center section of our Ministry Magazine. This year, we are emphasizing Scriptures that show us what Jesus has done for us through His coming to earth, living a perfect life, and becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sins so that we might be forgiven. Today, we go to 1 Corinthians 1, providing the accompanying Scripture passage to the theme, "I can walk in Godly wisdom..." We can find these words:
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

You may have encountered a situation in which you just flat out don't know how to respond. You may have felt trapped and even hopeless and discouraged.  Fear warps and oppresses the mind. These types of scenarios provide us with an opportunity to trust God, as well as to rely on the wisdom made available to us.  James 1 reminds us that if we lack it, we can ask.  

Nayab Gill is a Pakistani teenager who experienced the miraculous power of God, who trusted God and made a daring escape, according to an article at The Christian Post.   It reported:

On May 20, 2021, Nayab Gill's employer, Saddam Hayat, a 30-year-old married father of four children, reportedly arrived at her home to "take her to work" in his vehicle.

"Saddam was a frequent visitor to our house," said Nayab. "He owned some shops in our area, one of which was rented by my father. Saddam promised to pay me a salary of 10,000 Pakistani Rupees ($34) and said the money would help my poor family to supplement its income. My father reluctantly agreed to his proposal because Saddam told him that I was like his own daughter."

Nayab was 13 at the time. But Saddam's motives were less than honorable -  actually his behavior became downright evil.  The article goes on to say:

Saddam took her to a deserted house, where he forced her to renounce her Christian faith and sign a blank paper. Nayab says that soon after being held hostage, Saddam threatened her at gunpoint that if she did not succumb to his will, he would kill her and her father.

"I screamed and cried, but no one heard me. After getting the paper forcibly signed, Saddam locked me up in a room and left," she said. "I was kept there for two days, during which I was given food only once in 24 hours."

"On the third day, Saddam came and told me that my father had registered a case of abduction against him. He told me that I would be presented before a judge, and if I did not testify that I had converted to Islam and married him of my free will, my family and I would be killed on the court's premises."

The article states, "Nayab recorded a statement in court in her abductor's favor. He was given custody of Nayab as his lawful wife in front of her helpless parents, who shed tears for their young daughter." And things got worse for Nayab as he frequently abused her. She was held captive for two years. She says: "I prayed every night, saying, 'God, please help me.' I would also pray for my family's safety. They refused to give up and kept moving through the court system for my recovery. But I was too scared to reveal the truth. Each time I was summoned in court, I would say that I was an adult and had married Saddam with my free will."

But, then a breakthrough occurred: Saddam's ex-wife filed a complaint against him and he and his brothers left the house thinking they might be arrested, but as she says, "they forgot to lock me up."  She continues: "It seemed God had answered my prayers for freedom. I discreetly left the house and started running, not even knowing where the road would lead me." She added: "I stopped at a market to catch my breath when a Muslim woman approached me. She must have sensed that something was not right. She asked me if I needed help. I told her that I did not have any money or a phone to contact my father. She took me to her house, where I was able to get in touch with my family."

Meanwhile, Nayab's family has continued to work through the courts.  But, ultimately, the Pakistani Supreme Court, which had not been particularly cooperative, dropped the case, since the family was back together.  

Two elements come to mind here: you have a young girl forced into an unthinkable situation, who continued to trust God.  And, when he provided an escape, she was wise enough to recognize it and run for freedom.  The parents, meanwhile, were doing what they could, petitioning the courts for Nayab's release.

We have been given powerful resources: prayer, of course.  We also have the direction of God's Word and the opportunity to exercise Godly wisdom.  We have to continue to trust God, but when He has provided, we have to be astute enough to recognize when He has provided what we have prayed for.

We can pray for relief, we can pray for escape from desperate situations - but sometimes God has provided the answer right there in front of us - and we have to do something!  We have to know when to wait and when to move. And, as we continue to trust the Lord and seek His face, we can make sure we are following His instructions!

ADVENT DAY 15 (I Have Access to the Throne of God in Prayer): What Altar?

We have been invited to come before the Lord in prayer, to humble our hearts before Him and call upon His name. In Ephesians 3, we find these words from the apostle Paul:
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

We have been granted access to come before our Savior in prayer.  What had blocked humanity from approaching a holy God has been removed because Christ, the Messiah came so that we could approach Him, talk with Him, present our requests, offer worship and praise, and enjoy communion with Him. We can possess the attitude that He is exalted above all - above everything that would vie for our worship, that we would be tempted to exalt above Christ, and demonstrate our desire to know Him and walk with Him.

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It's Day 15 of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure" in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, with this year's theme, "Because of Jesus...," reflecting on what the Lord has done for us through coming to earth and bearing our sins on the cross, then rising from the dead. Today's theme reminds us: I have access to the throne of God in prayer. Our theme Scripture is found in Hebrews 4:
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.

It is truly amazing and instructive to see how people idolize celebrity, even to the extent of worship. Consider this description of a concert experience from a writer from a major magazine: "I am in a stadium with nearly 70,000 other people having a religious experience." He writes that, "The crowd is rapturous," and that the concert artist was "beatific as she gazes out at us, all high on the same drug. Her fans are singularly passionate, not just in the venue but also online, as they analyze clues, hints, and secret messages in everything from her choreography to her costumes—some deliberately planted, others not. 

That is what a writer for TIME Magazine stated in his lyrical profile of the magazine's "2023 Person of the Year."  By now you know that we're talking about pop music superstar, Taylor Swift. Certainly, Swift has had a profound cultural influence, but to what end? 

We get a bit of a clue to that from a Western Journal article, which reported that:

...commentator Jon Root posted a 12-second clip from the music video for Swift’s song “You Need to Calm Down,” which depicted two men kissing in what appeared to be a marriage ceremony, followed seconds later by a close-up of five stereotypical “hillbillies” — one wore a cowboy hat, another wore a tank top with an American flag — angrily looking on in protest.

The clip was accompanied by this comment, "Here’s a quick reminder of what Taylor Swift thinks about Christians..."

In critiquing the TIME article, written by a man named Sam Lanzky, Western Journal says:

“She’s modeling radical self-acceptance on the world’s largest stage, giving the audience a space to revisit their own joy or pain, once dismissed or forgotten,” Lansky wrote.

To an untutored listener but careful reader, this sounds a good deal like worship of self.

And the bulk of Lansky’s article focused on precisely that — her story, her feelings, her.

To the Christian — or, frankly, to anyone who has contemplated the nature of the universe — an obvious question arises: Really? Is that all? She tells her story, models “radical self-acceptance,” and this amounts to a “religious experience?”

The Christian Post reported back in 2019:

Taylor Swift won Video of the Year for her hit song “You Need to Calm Down” at MTV's Video Music Awards and during the acceptance speech advocated for the Equality Act, a bill some say is a threat to religious liberty.

Swift hit the VMA stage on Aug. 26 with a group of LGBT friends. She began by saying that her video, which slams anti-LGBT Christian "hate" protesters, was voted the winner by fans. She then talked about the Equality Act bill for the duration of her speech asking the president of the United States to respond to her Change.org petition supporting the bill.

The Equality Act would make sexual orientation and gender identity protected categories in federal anti-discrimination law.

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Swift tweeted out, "I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are - that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that."

In addition to Swift's problematic support of abortion and homosexuality, her lyrical choices have become increasingly "suggestive," as Adam Holz of Plugged In puts it: 

...Taylor’ early “era” hits have a more innocent, earnest and wide-eyed feeling to them, a general attitude that contributed a great deal to her popularity growth over her first several albums. The song “Love Story” from 2008’s album Fearless comes to mind as an example here, a happier retelling of the Romeo and Juliet romance.

But Taylor’s last several albums have become increasingly suggestive, though not particularly explicit.

Holz analyzes the challenge for Christian parents, writing that "Many likely have taken a look at the lyrical problems...which encompass sexual content, LGBT advocacy, profanity and spiritual worldview concerns, and said simply, 'Nope.' ...There are significant issues here." But he also notes:

Other families may have fans who got onboard with Taylor’s earlier, relatively innocent love songs. And despite the problems noted above, Swift’s controversies haven’t completely tarnished her public perception as a nice girl next door, never mind the tabloids.

Holz adds, "And relative to so many other far more problematic entertainers out there, Taylor’s shortcomings may not seem like automatic disqualifications for some families."

The comments were part of a review of the Swift movie that consisted of content from her "Eras Tour," which covered the various "eras," or sections of the magnanimous career. Adam offered some questions that parents and their kids could consider "together:"

• What do you think makes Taylor Swift’s music so appealing?
• What songs or messages do you connect with personally?
• What do you think Taylor has to say about romance and identity in her songs?
• Taylor Swift is one of the most powerful, influential and richest women in the world. Yet many of her songs are, at some level, responding to how others view her. What do you think about that?
• How much should we let others’ opinions of us impact our own sense of identity, of who we are? It’s obvious that that’s a question Taylor has wrestled with a lot.
• How does Taylor’s conception of love and intimacy compare to what Scripture has to say about genuine love, as well as the purpose and place of sexual expression our relationships?

So, there you have it - at least a part of it, as pop music culture has experienced the dominance of an icon whose concerts have been termed a "religious experience."  Well, you have to consider the object of your worship - in all things.  Whether it be a celebrity, a sports star, or even a pastor or Christian influences.  Perhaps the object is an inanimate object, like something you possess.  So, at what altar are you worshipping? And, do we worship something - or someone - to a greater degree than we love God.  

Western Journal noted in its concluding words, referring to the "radical self-acceptance" I mentioned earlier:

No wonder Swift has embraced “pride.” No wonder she denigrates the Christian view of marriage. If she took that view seriously, then she would have to consider its source, and that would lead her to something infinitely greater than herself.

In that sense, she commands our pity.

But we must not allow that pity to become a source of mistaken pride in ourselves. Swift has, in the words of Paul, “conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). For all the times we have done likewise, we need God’s forgiveness.

In the meantime, God commands us to love Swift — and the millions of confused people who think as she does — the same way we love ourselves.

So, while Taylor Swift has become an idol to many, we have to beware of desires that we might possess, desires that are not of God, that would cause us to spend more time with and allegiance to than to fellowship with Him.  When we truly come before the throne of God, in a spirit of  humility, with confessed sins and forgiving hearts, we can offer ourselves as the living sacrifices spoken of in Romans chapter 12.  Our prayer life should be motivated by our desires to exalt Christ above all else.

ADVENT DAY 14 (I Am a Member of His Church, the Body of Christ): Coming Together

Even though each of us is different, created unique by God and entrusted by Him with specific and difference gifts, through the power of His Spirit, He can bring us together for His purposes. 1st Corinthians 12 says this:
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

We have been brought into His body, with Jesus Christ as its Head. I'm reminded of what Paul declared, according to Acts 17, that "in Him we live and move and have our being."  So, if we, as fellow Christian believers, are following Jesus, our Head, moving as He moves, trusting in Him and walking in obedience, we can touch the world in a profound way. No wonder the enemy wants to divide us - we can't let that happen.  We have to be sensitive to the way that God desires to move through us.

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Here on Day 14 in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, walking again this year through a 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure," we reflect on our position in Christ. This week, we've concentrated on the fact that our lives are His, that we belong to Him. He has declared us to be righteous, and we have been adopted into His family. He has placed us in an incredible organism that has the capability of changing the world - the body of Christ, the Church. Today's theme Scripture is found in Colossians chapter 1:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Not only do our churches offer strong teachings and service opportunities, but they are places where we can build relationships and enjoy fellowship with one another.  A recent Movieguide article said this in a story about a recent survey:

...Americans value community. They want to have meaningful relationships with people who live near them. These values reflect humanity’s most basic need of companionship, something God created us for.

Not only did God create humanity in his own triune image, but in the Creation story, He also said it was not good for man to be alone and created a companion for Adam in Eve.

While American values are largely slipping away from Christian principles, God clearly put the need for companionship so deeply in humanity’s heart that no matter what, we cannot escape it.

The piece stated this, referencing a recent Pew Research survey, "over 90% of Americans agree that time with family is very important to them, and over 70% say it is one of the most important things."

The survey summary at Pew's website said that 50% of those surveyed said that "practicing your religious faith" was "very important," with 32% saying it was among the "most important" things. 

Movieguide also notes:

Beyond family, Americans also believe having close friends will help them live fulfilling lives. Six in 10 U.S. adults say that having close friends is important or extremely important for them. This heavily outranked having children (26%), having a lot of money (24%) or being married (23%).

Certainly, for many, times with family can be enjoyable and rewarding.  We can view our family members as gifts from God.  Some are awaiting holiday visits expectantly; unfortunately, others see the holidays as a stressful time because of strained or tense family relationships and have to depend on the Lord to help them through and perhaps even bring a measure of healing. 

The Church offers an opportunity for healing, as well. Ideally, Jesus has placed us in His body so that we can encourage one another, to share our burdens and realize that we are not walking through this life alone.  As Movieguide states, "These statistics reveal that Americans value community."  Because we have believed on the Lord, we have so much in common with fellow believers: we have a Savior, whom we love; we have a shared faith, with shared ideals.  The Bible illustrates for us how we can truly function as a body, loving one another, building relationships, and praying and working together for the glory of God. 

ADVENT DAY 13 (I Am Part of God's Family): Free To Practice

We have been invited to become part of God's family - humanity was once estranged from God because of sin, but now we have been declared to be heirs of God through Jesus. Galatians 4 reinforces that idea:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The fullness of time - at the time determined by God, He chose to send Jesus into the world.  The Scriptures were plain about the love of God for His people and the sending of the Messiah, our Redeemer, into the world.  Jesus came into this world; out of His great love, He left His throne in heaven to humble Himself as a servant.  Now, He is seated again at the right hand of God the Father and we are seated with Him.  We are His children, we are His family.

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Because of what Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection, we are now part of His family; we are called children of God. Here on Day 13 of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure" from the Faith Radio Advent Guide, we are exploring the theme: "I am part of God's family." Romans chapter 8 says:
"15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

The school district in Prague, Oklahoma, received one of those letters recently - you know, the kind that is sent by an atheist group out of Wisconsin that monitors religious expression it doesn't like.  The Freedom from Religion Foundation.  Well, apparently, the school board put an end to prayers that were broadcast to classrooms in the system. The state school superintendent Ryan Walters, according to Faithwire, declared that "people of faith will never be bullied." The website noted:

State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ remarks were made after Prague Public Schools, a district in his state, halted daily prayer broadcasts over school-run loudspeakers after a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist group, KOKH-TV reported.

Rather than comply or agree with atheists’ demands, Walters took a defiant tone. He called the FFRF a “radical atheist group” and said his state has no plans of “bowing down to these bullies.”

“We’re going to continue to fight for religious liberty and religious freedom here in the state of Oklahoma,” Walters said, claiming the group has targeted children who wish to initiate prayer in the Prague Public Schools. “It’s outrageous. We have to take a stand for our students’ freedom of religion, their freedom to express their religious beliefs, no matter what those religious beliefs may be.”

The article notes that: "Walters’ response came after a FFRF complaint reportedly led the Prague Elementary School to stop morning prayers purportedly shared during announcements on the loudspeaker."  The school district immediately caved to FFRF's request.

Last week, according to The Daily Caller, Walters announced that Oklahoma would be withdrawing from the American Library Association; the website reported:

“We are removing any and all references to ALA in our library standards,” Walters told the Caller in a statement on the American Library Association (ALA).

“Under the guise of promoting libraries, ALA is another organization dedicated to indoctrination. This year, ALA issued guidance that would end a Christian publishing company from hosting events at public libraries, they have promoted drag-oriented ‘reading’ events in schools, and the new president of the ALA self-identifies as Marxist.”

“Oklahomans don’t want themselves—or their children—to be subjected to this left-wing propaganda.”

An article on the NBCNews.com website a few months ago stated:

Since Ryan Walters was sworn in as Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction in January, he’s called for prayer in public schools and hanging the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

He’s adopted regulations prohibiting school libraries from circulating books with “sexualized content” and requiring educators to tell parents if their child changes their gender identity.

The article also notes:

In June, Walters helped approve the nation’s first religious charter school, an online Catholic school that is currently facing litigation from civil liberties groups trying to stop it from opening. He said in a video he recorded in his car that it was important that “churches aren’t oppressed by government and are given the freedom to grow.”

Faithwire also states that, "Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma’s attorney general...has spoken against spending tax dollars on the school, saying, 'Forcing Oklahomans to fund religious teaching is a violation of their religious liberty.'”

The article goes on to say:

Walters also endorsed a proposal presented to him by a group of pastors and right-wing activists to hold a minute of silence for prayer in all public schools and to require a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms. Walters, who has said he believes separation of church and state is a “myth” created by liberals, has not yet announced how or when he intends to propose these changes.

That was as of late August. But, Walters has certainly, during his first year of office, acquired a reputation for ensuring religious freedom - not establishing religion, but protecting the rights of students to freely exercise it, as the Constitution provides for.  

Ryan Walters provides a great reminder for all of us: if you are part of a family of God, if you are a born-again believer in Jesus, then your actions should line up with who you say you are - and who God says you are!  He is a staunch defender of freedom of religion, and has used the position he has in public office to actually do something about it. Unfortunately, politicians seem so ready to be associated with Christian things and tout their religious credentials, perhaps even get involved in a local church.  But, isn't it frustrating to elect people whom you think are aligned with you ideologically and spiritually who get into office and do not uphold those values?   We can do better, and Ryan Walters in Oklahoma reminds us of how someone should be living out his or her faith in the sphere to which God has called that person.

But, it's easy to examine the shortcomings of others. We should prioritize evaluating our own behavior - we should be more intent on, rather than just merely making it through the day, ruling the day; seizing the day!  God has given us today as a gift and tomorrow isn't guaranteed here on this earth. We have been brought into God's family, we are called by His name.  Our new nomenclature should determine the nature of our practice.  We can rightly defend our freedom of religion; but we need to be very mindful of how we are to steward it, to act as children of God, in contrast with those who would pursue the ways of this world.

ADVENT DAY 12 (I Am the Righteousness of God in Christ): Walking Upright

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the heart of the Middle East, and He reflected the heart of God to the people whom He had chosen for Himself. Jesus came to make things right: as the Messiah, to restore His people to Himself. Jesus said in Matthew 23:
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 See! Your house is left to you desolate
39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "

Jesus indeed came to Jerusalem for that final week - to observe the Passover during what is called Passion Week, or Holy Week.  He died not only at the hands of His own people, but to save His own people.  Not only did Jesus die for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles - for the whole world, and where there has been sinfulness, He has come to forgive and cleanse.  We have all been declared to be the righteousness of God in Christ, if we have believed in the Messiah.

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We have arrived on Day 12 of this year's spiritual "Advent-ure" with Faith Radio, based on our 25-day Faith Radio Advent Guide, found in the center of the Faith Radio Ministry Magazine.  The theme this year is, "Because of Jesus...," and we are exploring what He has done for us as believers in Christ; essentially some aspects of the nature of His life in us. 

Today's theme is "I am the righteousness of God in Christ," and the accompanying Scripture passage is found in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5, which says:
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We can be inspired by the accomplishments of others - and we can learn from the unfortunately mistakes of others.  And, while it seems unthinkable that presidents of institutes of higher learning could be so misguided that they could not draw a clear moral conclusion about the scourge of anti-Semitism, when you consider the worldview of so many in higher education, it's actually not that much of a stretch.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the recent events in the life and work of now-former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, who was one of three presidents who testified before Congress last week about their institutions' apparent tolerance of anti-Semitic views; the Inquirer said that Magill resigned in an increasing "backlash against her congressional committee testimony on antisemitism earlier this week and a semester marked by near weekly protests, deep-pocketed donor complaints and widespread accusations of mismanagement since a controversial festival on campus this fall."

The article notes that "When asked repeatedly if calling for genocide of Jewish people violates Penn’s rules or code of conduct..." Magill told Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York that it is a "context-dependent decision."

The article notes that "Magill’s resignation also came on the heels of an investigation opened by the congressional committee into Penn’s policies, as well as Harvard’s and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s, whose presidents also testified Tuesday."  

But the president of a Christian university who has been a guest on The Meeting House, Donald Sweeting of Colorado Christian University, had some blunt words for the unrest on university campuses where students - and even administrators - have chosen to engage in anti-Semitic behavior.  Dr. Sweeting wrote for FoxNews.com:

Countless Americans are shocked that so many college student groups would celebrate Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israelis. They’ve wondered why it's been so hard for the elite universities to condemn Hamas’ terrorism or for college presidents to speak out clearly about the rise of antisemitism, particularly the dramatic increase of on-campus antisemitism.

He added:

I am grateful that Colorado Christian University was one of the earliest universities to speak out on this in the United States. There were clear and timely statements from myself and others in the administration deploring Hamas’ campaign of terror against Israel, and that we stood with Israel.

The university held a special "Night for Israel" last week, and he explained the reason why his university has taken this stance:

First, there is a moral reason. The genocidal campaign against Israel and the Jewish people is evil. The chant to free Palestine from the river to the sea is a cry to wipe Israel off the map. And since Israel is the home to nearly half of the world’s Jews today, this cry is not just anti-Israel; it is antisemitic. It is Jew hatred at its worst. And what Hamas has done to the Palestinian people and Palestinian Christians is also evil — using them as human shields and provoking this war in the first place.

Second, we are driven by what I call a covenantal reason. As Christians, we are Bible people. We acknowledge God’s unique covenant with Israel in the past and the special place for Jews in God’s plan of redemption. They have been a light to the gentile world.

And third, all Christians have a debt to Jews and Judaism which we have not sufficiently acknowledged through the centuries. A great deal of the church’s misguided antisemitism in the past could have been averted had we acknowledged it. Too many Christians forget the Jewish roots of our faith. Most of our Bible is the Hebrew Scriptures.

Sweeting concluded by saying, "This is not a time for Christians to be silent."

As an alternative to the anti-Semitic expressions on university campuses, Concerned Women for America has held a series of "Stand With Israel" prayer vigils, including one at the University of Alabama, a time to worship God and to show solidarity with the Jewish people, especially students of that background who are facing difficulties on campus. 

Dr. Sweeting is absolutely correct, and we cannot ignore the intense human suffering that has been set off by the terror group Hamas and those who stand with it.  I was stunned to read the comments of a very high-ranking U.S. leader calling on Israel to essentially stop killing so many Palestinians. Israel - and any sovereign nation - has the right to defend itself.  Hamas puts its own people in harm's way; military targets become civilian targets - it's an intentional effort to win the PR war.  But, this was perpetrated by the terrorists and can be ended by them, immediately.

As I have talked about repeatedly, this is a spiritual war.  Is Israel, especially the current nation of Israel, perfect?   Absolutely not.  But, this nation occupies land that was promised to its ancestors, not by the U.N. or some multinational group, but by God Himself.   The nation of Israel is where it is today by the hand of God. That has set off a new and highly relevant section of the prophetic timetable.  And, we recognize that the Messiah has come to redeem Israel, yet not all see it - yet. 

ADVENT DAY 11 (I Belong to Jesus): Raising Up the Church

We have been brought into a relationship with our Savior, the Son of God, and we have been called children of God. Out of that sense of belonging can come a satisfying Christian life. Romans 14 says:
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Romans 8 tells us that we have a spirit of adoption that has been placed in our hearts, and that we can call out, "Abba, Father."  God is our Heavenly Father, and Jesus has made things right between Himself and us. We have been brought near to Him, and the Lord lives in our hearts.  Isaiah 41 says that we have been redeemed and called by His name.  During this season, we can rejoice that we belong to Him - and that has a profound effect!

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Welcome to the 11th day of our 25-day spiritual "Advent-ure" from Faith Radio. This year's Faith Radio Advent Guide, found in the center of the Faith Radio Ministry Magazine has, as its theme, "Because of Jesus...," and we are reflecting on what He has done for us - we have been saved, sealed, and forgiven, and we have been given the resources that enable us to live a life that glorifies God. The Bible tells us in 1st Corinthians 6:
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

We were bought with a price, we have been redeemed because our Savior paid the ultimate price by giving His life on the cross - we should keep that meaning at the forefront of our celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.  And, not only did He come to earth in the form of a child, live a perfect life, and die on a cross, but He has been raised to new life and we have been raised up with Him.  His resurrection power resides in our hearts. We can be reminded of today's theme: "I belong to Jesus."

Jesus is the One who makes old things new.  And, He expresses that new life through His Church, described as the Body of Christ.  

McFarland Hill Baptist Church is located in Dalton, Georgia - that is just over a half-hour south of Chattanooga in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains.  Over a decade ago, the church almost died, according to The Christian Index, which reported recently that just after the church had turned 70 years old:

...the congregation had dwindled to about 35 regular attendees, and they were shouldering some $330,000 in church debt. They had cut off electricity to the gym and canceled the insurance on the church vans to save money. They didn’t see a path forward. They were considering shuttering the church permanently.

That, says current Pastor Charles Rogers, is when God showed up in a big way, restoring the church and touching off a wave of thankfulness that is still sweeping across the congregation.

The article notes:

Darey Kittle, mission strategist in the Conassauga Baptist Association based in Dalton, said McFarland Hill was in serious trouble before Rogers arrived.

“They probably would have dissolved the church,” Kittle said. “They were having a difficult time, and the church just wasn’t going anywhere. People were leaving, as they’re prone to do. Now all that debt is paid off, and the crowds are back, sitting shoulder to shoulder in that sanctuary.”

Church attendance has grown to 250 people on average, and there have been 250 baptisms in the last dozen years. Pastor Rogers, in a recent sermon, reflected on God's faithfulness, saying: “I don’t know what God has in store for you...But I can tell you this: You can trust God.”  The pastor still wonders how it happened, but as The Christian Index states: "It's a testament, Rogers said, to what God can do when people put their trust in Him." The article adds:

The church has created ministries geared toward every age group and has beefed up the music ministry with a worship team and a choir that have brought a renewed vibrance to worship services.

In the past 12 years, more than a dozen young men from the church have been called to ministry, which, denominational leaders say, is a sign of a truly healthy church.

“We try our best to get people to answer God’s call on their lives, whether it's a call to salvation or a call to serve,” Rogers said. “And we allow people to exercise their gifts.”

Writing for The Baptist Paper, George Bullard offered observations about struggling churches looking for answers and he used references to the Lone Ranger.  He writes:

Struggling churches often want a silver bullet, a simple solution that will restore them to past glory or a program or event that will bring spiritual revival to the church.

Often, the silver bullets for which churches are looking are things that worked in the past when their situations were different.

Silver bullets are not the answer for churches. No guaranteed short-term fix will work for churches that are struggling.

Instead, churches who struggle need deliberate efforts, Bullard writes:

Struggling churches are not well served by focusing on a Lone Ranger or a silver bullet organizational approach.

Instead, they need to get ready, shoot and aim.

They get ready by acknowledging they need to try new and different ways for their churches to have fresh, vital and vibrant ministries. This is the toughest step.

They shoot by seeking outside guidance for strategies and ministry practices in which they have the capacity to engage. This is a humbling step in that they admit they need help.

They aim when trying new strategies and ministry practices and hear the voice of God speaking clearly to them about His focus for their next seasons of ministry. This is the most important step.

We recognize that Jesus loves His Church and its people.  We belong to Him, and He specializes in making old things new, in raising up new things in place of what is old and stale.  That applies to a church and it applies to a person.  If our walk with Christ isn't fresh and vibrant, that is not due to His lack of desire to bring that about in our lives.  Our hearts have to be right before Him and we must develop the desire to see God move in a profound way.

It's perfectly acceptable to have goals and strategies in our Christian life.  But, we have to be avoid being trapped in legalism and attempting to be a good Christian in our own strength.  We need the Spirit of God to provide us with the direction and the strength to carry out what He has called us to do. During this Advent season, we can gain a fresher sense of our belonging to Him and draw closer to Him in the dynamic relationship that He desires.