Dispatches from the Outpouring

In the 2nd chapter of the book of Acts, we see the narrative of what occurred on the Day of Pentecost, following our Lord's ascension into heaven. In Acts 3, we find Peter and John ministering - they healed a lame man and Peter seized the opportunity to proclaim the significance of what had occurred, saying:
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

The progression is very clear - we have to be repentant in order to have the relationship with Jesus that He desires for us to have. We have to be willing to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and willing to surrender our lives to Him. If we pray the prayer and accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives, then we are saved, born again.  But, repentance is a key.  If we are willing to tolerate unrepentant sin, as Acts 3 states, we cannot experience the true life change - the times of refreshing - that God promises to us. 

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In Ezekiel 37, we read a passage that can give us a sense of the new life that God wants to express through us, bringing us from death into abundant life. We can see these words:
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."
4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

There are those that would probably like to say that what the school calls an "Outpouring" has ended at Asbury University.  And, after one weekend in which an estimated 20-25 thousand people came to the small Kentucky town of Wilmore, school officials brought what could be termed a "phase" of the revival meetings to a close.  School president Dr. Kevin Brown stated on the school's website:

Regardless of how we choose to describe what we have seen and experienced over the last several weeks (revival, renewal, awakening, outpouring)—this movement is not finished. Other colleges and churches are experiencing similar services. Rather, we are encouraging the continued movement of God through other people, places, and ministries.

With the on-campus meetings ending last week with the Collegiate Day of Prayer livestream, the movement of prayer, worship, personal repentance, and a sense of God's presence is continuing to spread. This past Sunday afternoon, the Pulse Movement, led by evangelist Nick Hall, held a commissioning service at Lexington's Rupp Arena. Forrest Limon, who serves with Pulse, is quoted by Fox 56 News:

“Not many people, organizations that are welcoming young people without wanting something from them. this event is no strings attached. Completely supported and prayed over by local ministry leaders, churches, professors, parents, grandmothers, grandfathers, local here and across the nation. So, this really is a once and a lifetime opportunity."

The article related:

Music was played and words of prayer were shared all day at Rupp. Thousands of people came to the arena for the event, including students from all across the nation. A whole group from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee traveled to see the movement continue that started right here in Kentucky,” Malik Hill, a student at Lee University said. “I think this is amazing. I’m really just overwhelmed and kind of lacking words because it’s just so beautiful to see what the lords doing and I’m just glad to be a part of it, to be honest.”

Lee is one of the schools that is commonly mentioned with others, such as Birmingham's Samford University and Cedarville University in Ohio, as places where revival is occurring.  But, the reports are coming in from all across the nation.  Here's one from The Christian Post:

Grace Christian Academy of Knoxville experienced an unplanned worship service on Friday where several middle school students held prayer, shared confessions and even made professions of faith.

A spokesperson for GCA told The Christian Post in an emailed statement on Tuesday that the gathering began with the school's annual tradition of Discipleship Days.

The article said: 

Last Friday, after GCA concluded the worship service for their middle school students, many “felt compelled to continue their time of worship,” the spokesperson added. “Leadership pivoted any planned afternoon activities and allowed students to lead one another in song and prayer. This led to students repenting, confessing and seeking Christ.”

And, our friend Jim Garlow, who visited Asbury last week and is now on a whirlwind ministry tour throughout Europe, is thankfully still finding time to post updates on pockets of revival, including reports from Ohio State, James Madison, and Union College in Kentucky, where students were told they could not worship inside, so they went outside and held a revival meeting.  Garlow also reported on a pastor in Europe who ministers to the Gypsy people there, opened his church building and people have come.  

In what I believe is a related development, the film, Jesus Revolution, which is set during a time period when a move of God began in Southern California, a time period in which Greg Laurie came to know Christ and began to preach, exceeded box office projections and placed in the solid #3 position at the box office, with $15.8 million at just under 2500 screens, according to Box Office Mojo.  It's per-screen average of just over $6300 per screen was comparable to the #2 film, Cocaine Bear, which debuted at over 1000 more screens. A press release noted that "estimates for the film showed the film opening in the $6-7M range."  The film also garnered an A+ CinemaScope rating. 

With this dispatch from "the outpouring," we can certainly join together and rejoice that God is touching hearts - people are responding to Him.  It is undeniable that you have young people who are seeking God and are opening their hearts to Christ. 

The question for each of us is: how are we allowing God to move in our lives?  Do we have a "one and done" attitude - well, I walked the aisle or got baptized, so I'm good?  That's not Biblical Christianity.  We are born again so that we might have a relationship with God.  He wants to transform our lives and change us so that we might serve Him with our whole hearts.  We are called to a walk of holiness - not just getting by, but actively seeking His face and allowing the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and use us for God's glory. 

One More

If God has worked in our lives - and if you are born again, you can be confident that He has and is continuing to work, then He has called us, I believe, to share what He has done; don't keep it to yourself. Ephesians 5 states:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

An aroma makes an impact, it can certainly get your attention and perhaps lead someone to know and/or experience more. What is it? Well, we are called to spread the aroma of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 2 states:
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

 

So, we can ask how we are impacting other people with the love of Christ. We can either be drawing people in to know Him better or repelling people to reject Him.  We can make sure we are allowing the Lord to express Himself through us. 

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In 1st Corinthians 11, we find that Paul delivers what could seem like a bit of a boastful statement, but if you really think about it, we should all be challenged to point people to our Savior. Verse 1 and 2 say:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

Here are some numbers for you:

9 years of infertility

(at least) 11 miscarriages

1 trustworthy and powerful God

12 children!!

That's the legacy of the Dougherty family, better known as the "Dougherty Dozen."  Mother Alicia writes at The Christian Heart website:

After a very long infertility battle, we decided to build a family through adoption. We adopted a five-year-old son and that same week he proclaimed I had his sister in my tummy. Little did we know that six days later, we found out we were finally pregnant.

Several months after adopting our first son, we discovered he had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). It’s a condition where alcohol passes from a mom to a baby’s body through the umbilical cord. Children with FASD can have poor executive functioning skills and are prone to explosive rage, anger issues and trouble with transitioning. We had no idea that he had FASD, and wondered what we had gotten ourselves into.

She went on to say, "We dealt with it through medication, supplements, therapy and a lot of prayer."  Alicia states:

Realizing that we were able to help our son become happy and healthy in spite of his diagnosis, we started to become more aware of children in the foster care system that suffered from FASD and were not having successful placements. We were known in the DHR community as the couple that might be open to taking care of kids with FASD. Throughout the years, we kept getting asked if we could take care of one more child with FASD. We could have said no since life was finally getting settled, but we always want to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. The guiding Bible verse for us as a couple is John 14:18 which says ‘I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.’ And one of our personal mottos is: “There’s always room for one more!”

The Doughertys have 4 biological children. They have adopted 8 kids, all of whom, she writes, "have been affected by FASD to some degree."

The family was also featured in a piece on the Today show website. It said that Alicia and Josh Dougherty began to foster children back in 2010 and related:

The first child who came to live with them was Alexander. She recalled how the little boy flew into a rage and threw a rug down the stairs at her.

“We were like, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’” Alicia said. “But we refused to give up. So we dove headfirst into researching and reading about FASD, and trying to figure out how to best meet his needs and little by little, he began to trust us.”

The couple soon became the go-to foster home for kids with FASD.

“People quickly realized that tantrums didn’t faze us,” Alicia said. "So the phone kept ringing."

Sandra Flach was a guest on The Meeting House last year. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Justice For Orphans.  She has had to deal with adopted children with FASD and wrote for Focus on the Family:

Traditional parenting methods do not work with children who have experienced childhood trauma—including prenatal exposure to alcohol. Instead, as parents become FASD informed, they recognize and understand the neuro-developmental differences associated with FASD. So, through the lens of FASD, we must ask ourselves, “Could this behavior be caused by a brain difference?”

But, there is hope, and she offers this encouragement: 

God knit every child together in their mother’s womb—even those prenatally exposed to alcohol. Likewise, He created each child with gifts and talents. Focusing on the individual’s strengths while accommodating their disability helps foster success.

There is good news - if God has called us to serve in a particular capacity, He provides the capability.  Parenting is one of those areas - a family may not have children dealing with trauma, but there will be any number of issues that a child may encounter throughout his or her life.  And, we can rely on God to provide wisdom and strength.

The Doughertys and the Flachs did not shy away from what they knew would be a challenging road. In fact, as Alicia Dougherty says, once they learned to deal with the FASD issues, they became known for their expertise in that area, and were willing to take another.

The Doughertys achieved a measure of notoriety because of a time-lapse video that was posted on social media about, as Today says, "her next level meal-prepping skills." She relates at The Christian Heart:

When you have a dozen children, life is a little hectic. We do five loads of laundry every day. We spend over $1,000 each week on groceries and have four full-size freezers in our garage to store food. We recently purchased 12 lockers so the kids have their own space for their coats, backpacks and all their shoes. We need a 15-seat passenger van to go anywhere.

And, these families have decided not to keep what God has taught them to themselves. The Doughertys post videos of their family's life, and Alicia says: "We’re just trying to do our best, and hoping to inspire others along the way."  We can always be willing to share what God has done in our lives and what He has shown us.

Struggling and Overcoming

Habitual sin will keep us in bondage and severely damage our lives, but God offers us a better way through His Word and through the power of Jesus Christ in us. Romans 6 provides this insight:
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

One of the keys to walking an overcoming life is to recognize the vulnerability we have to sin - we all have areas in which the enemy will tempt us. We have to make the choice to rely on God's resources or ignore the conviction and correction of the Spirit.  1st Corinthians 10 tells us that God provides a way of escape from temptation. But, we can only resist the devil effectively as we rely on God's power. We have to stand strong against the power of sin so that we can see the righteousness of Christ change us.

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In Hebrews 12, the Scripture directly addresses how we should remain completely focused on Jesus as we work through the sin issues that we all possess. A holy God calls us to a holy walk, and He gives us the capacity to experience victory in the Lord. We can read these words:

(1b) 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.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

The 30th Annual Movieguide Awards, celebrating achievements in Christian and family-friendly entertainment were held recently in Los Angeles, and can be seen on the UP! television network this Sunday, February 26 at 8pm Central Time. 

The host of the event is actor Terry Crews, who is certainly not inexperienced in a host's role, being the host of America's Got Talent.  

The Christian Post reported that during the show, Crews addressed the Christian presence in Hollywood: 

“Hollywood gets a bad rap ... there are a lot of Christians in Hollywood, there are a lot of praying people in Hollywood, a lot of God-fearing people in Hollywood. We just don't always get an awards show, and here it is!”

"That's why I knew it would be perfect for me to host this show,” Crews told CP. “I just feel the blessing, I feel all the good energy here tonight, and it's wonderful!”

But things may have turned out a different way for Terry Crews. On the red carpet for the awards show, Crews testified to the prayers of his wife. The article relates:

Crews honored his wife, Rebecca, while walking the red carpet at the popular awards show, which highlights faith and family-centered entertainment.

"She's a praying woman,” the “America Got Talent” host gushed in an interview with The Christian Post.

The couple has been outspoken about their struggles and Crews' past porn addiction that infiltrated his life when he was just 9 years old. He kept it a secret from his wife for almost 20 years, nearly destroying their marriage.

The article presented Rebecca's response to Terry's addiction:

Rebecca Crews did not judge her husband, but she also set a firm boundary and told him if he didn't change, she would divorce him.

“She always said, ‘I love you; this is why I have to leave you.’ That was the whole [thing],” he explained. “It wasn’t judgmental; it was always like, ‘I love you too much to even stay with you right now.'”

“It was so deep, and I was like, ‘If she can make these kinds of statements to me, then how could I not do the work?'” he added.

And, Crews did the work. The article relates that she said, "He begged me, begged me not to leave him..." But, the article states, "After they separated, Crews brought his issues before God and got help. His wife eventually forgave him and took him back."  Rebecca noted in a previous Post article that his addiction led to infidelity, about which Rebecca said, "We understand the Bible says lust is never satisfied. So, when you toy with something like an addiction to porn, it's going to lead you to other places..."

Rebecca says, "Had I not seen the effort on his part, I couldn't have been forgiving. ... I'm very proud of him. I'm very thankful that he made the choice to deal with demons and to save our family because we need him.”

The story of Terry and Rebecca Crews can be an inspiration to married couples who desire to honor Christ in their union, and for those not yet married who want to have a relationship that glorifies God. Obviously, there is an element of prayer.  Terry made a point to mention that his wife is a "praying woman."  We should make certain that we are praying for our precious spouses, who are gifts to us by God.

And, to honor them - something he simply did not do. And, as sin so often does, he was not the only one affected.  Crews' refusal to address his porn problem resulted in a schism in his marriage and drove him into infidelity, meaning that he has brought other women into his orbit, bringing hurt and instability into their lives. Rebecca took a tough stand, but her willingness to exercise tough love and to forgive have resulted in what seems to be a dramatically healthier marriage.  But, make no mistake - sin will possibly set off a chain of events that brings destruction to the sinner and those with whom he or she interacts. 

But, the good news is that there is forgiveness.  Our sins are forgiven when we confess them.  But, we, as the phrase Terry Crews used suggests, have to "do the work" in order to bring lasting change. We have to take concrete, Biblical, Spirit-inspired steps to break the cycle of sin-forgive-sin-sin some more-maybe ask for forgiveness, etc.  That's not it.  We have access to the power, so we can be challenged and instructed to use it. 

Flames of Revival?

Jesus was absolutely clear about His mission and His purpose - He was God who came in the flesh - He became a man and lived a perfect life, so that we, by embracing what He did for us, can experience His healing and forgiveness. In Luke 4, we find that Jesus declared from the book of Isaiah:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Then, we read what came next:
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

He has come to heal the brokenhearted, according to Luke chapter 4.  There does seem to be plenty of that going around, doesn't it?  There are broken lives, broken relationships, uncertainties and anxieties all around.  But, there is an answer - THE answer.  Jesus meets us in our brokenness; when we don't see anywhere else to turn, we can be confident that He is there, He loves us, and He wants us to experience the freedom from the hurts that we have encountered - He comes to make us whole. 

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Wholehearted devotion to Christ can have a tremendous impact on the way we live and the condition of our hearts; in fact, Jesus promised to give us a new life, a new heart. Proverbs 3 gives this admonition:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Certainly, there is concern for the next generation of young people, today's teens and young adults, and you certainly have to be gratified by what is transpiring on college campuses, originating at Asbury University in Kentucky but spreading to other campuses.  

Today is the Collegiate Day of Prayer, and there will be a livestream tonight from Asbury to coincide with it.  And, while a Barna Group survey shows that around two-thirds of American teens identify as Christian, as well as about half of young adults, there is still room to grow.  Because only around one-third of those teens in the U.S. would fall into the category of "Committed Christian."  Worldwide, it's less than 1/4.  These are the numbers for teens 13-17 years of age.  The numbers drop when you get into the 18-22 group:

The committed Christian category shrinks by nearly half (to 17%), while more than half of young adults (52%) do not identify as Christian or don’t know of Jesus.

But, teens and young adults do seem to be longing to spend time in the presence of God, if these revival meetings are any indications.  Spontaneous, lengthy times of worship, confession, and fellowship with God demonstrate a hunger among teenagers and young adults.  

The Barna research does show some positive signs in that age group of 13-17 which contains some promise for those who will be inhabiting those campuses in the future. The survey summary states:

Teens in the U.S. are far more intrigued than their global peers, with 77 percent being at least somewhat motivated to keep learning about Jesus throughout their lives. A teen’s personal commitment to follow Jesus goes hand in hand with their motivation to study him—the percentage of teens who want to learn more about Jesus rises significantly among committed Christian teens. Even among teens who are non-Christians or don't know who Jesus is, however, over half is at least somewhat motivated to keep learning about him.

And, where do teens go for information relative to their spiritual lives?  The survey summary relates:

Regardless of their level of commitment to follow Jesus, U.S. teens place a significant amount of trust in religious texts and their households to learn about Jesus. Teens are more likely to report looking to these sources than to social media, the Internet, their friends or influencers.

But, the report indicates that nominal Christian teens will go to "themselves" before other sources, including the Bible and the Church.

But, if what has been occurring at Asbury and other schools recently is any indication, there does appear to be a deep hunger within the hearts of young people.  An insightful article at The Free Press website by Olivia Reingold stated this:

Some Asbury students told me they grew up praying for a revival—meaning a resurgence of faith that spreads, usually at a community level but occasionally throughout the entire nation. Those students believe that dream is now becoming reality among the generation marked by its lack of faith in anything.

Gen Z is the most likely generation yet to say they don’t believe in God. They are also the least religiously affiliated and the least likely to attend church.

Meantime, their rates of depression and anxiety are soaring. The Centers for Disease Control recently published a report stating that “almost 60% of female students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year and nearly 25% made a suicide plan.”

Larry Norman recorded a song many years ago that was entitled, "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?" If there is a hunger - and it is apparent - the world's methods aren't going to totally numb the pain.  The truly effective answers don't lie in superficial relationships on social media, pills and bottles, and immersion in tech.  Jesus is calling each us to a fresh, deep, abiding relationship with Himself.  

With the insufficient answers that abound, it is time to take a look at THE answer!  And, the Barna research shows that young people are open to a relationship with Christ.  The real Jesus - the One who claims to be THE Way, Truth, and the Life.  He does more than "get" us, He loves us and gave His life for our sins so that we could be saved and have a true, life-changing relationship.  

A Preferred Religion?

Jesus addressed issues relative to good moral character in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5, and beginning in verse 10, He addresses the area of persecution:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

When you read these verses together, you see a pattern that can be helpful to us when we encounter hostility for our faith.  Verse 12 tells us that we can rejoice - and that we are not alone; those who have gone before were also persecuted.  Also, verses 13 and 14 remind us that we are salt and light.  This means that we can be salt: providing Christ's "seasoning." And, we can be light - a godly example, shining His light into the places to which He calls us, even standing before those who reject God and us.

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The Bible speaks clearly to being respectful to governing authorities, who are regarded as agents of God. Romans 13 states:
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

One could say that not only was America founded on principles that are consistent with Scripture, but that freedom of religion has been sewn into the fabric of our nation.  But, there is a thread that we have seen emerge that has served to tamp down on this free expression of faith and it has been expressed in rather hostile ways.  There are overzealous public servants who do not see their role in light of Romans 13 and seek to shut down religious practice.

The U.S. Supreme Court attempted to correct the course with major rulings in its last term, but there is much work to be done. And, when people are, unfortunately, determined to silence beliefs with which they disagree, we recognize that more than just court action, heart change has to take place. 

Now, comes the news of an attempt to brand mainstream Catholic believers as extremists - from a federal law enforcement agency!  FoxNews.com reported that:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is demanding answers from FBI Director Christopher Wray as part of the panel’s investigation into the bureau’s alleged misuse of domestic violent extremism resources for "political purposes," after a leaked internal memo revealed the FBI had efforts underway to identify and treat some Catholics as violent extremists.

In a letter to Wray obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, Jordan demanded that the FBI turn over documents and records related to a Jan. 23, 2023 document from the FBI’s Richmond Field Office that linked "'racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists' with a ‘radical-traditionalist Catholic’ ideology."

Rep. Jordan notes:

"In this document, the FBI purported to distinguish what it called ‘traditional Catholics’ from the disfavored RTC [radical-traditionalist Catholic] adherents, who the FBI characterized as embracing ‘anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and white supremacist ideology," Jordan wrote. He added that the FBI "even identified certain public policy issues — such as immigration and life issues — that it believed would ‘catalyze’ RTC adherents."

So, you have "acceptable" religious practitioners and those who are deemed to be unacceptable. What is the difference? 1819 News relates this, referring to a letter sent by 20 state attorneys general to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray:

"The memorandum identifies "radical-traditionalist Catholic[s]" as potential "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists," the attorneys general state. "The memorandum deploys alarmingly detailed theological distinctions to distinguish between the Catholics whom the FBI deems acceptable, and those it does not. Among those beliefs which distinguish the bad Catholics from the good ones are a preference for "the Traditional Latin Mass and pre-Vatican II teachings" and adherence to traditional Catholic teachings on sex and marriage (which the memorandum glibly describes as "anti-LGBTQ")."

Alabama AG Steve Marshall is one of the 20 attorneys general signing on to the letter.

The Fox article states: 

The FBI ultimately withdrew the document and blamed the local level Richmond Field Office for its creation and dissemination, but Jordan is demanding answers on the genesis of the document, review, and approval of it, as well as the FBI’s "commitment to upholding First Amendment protected activity."

This is especially important, in light of this fact, reported on by Fox: 

Hundreds of Roman Catholic churches have been attacked since May 2020, according to Catholic nonprofit CatholicVote. More than 100 attacks have been reported since the May 2022 leak of the draft Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade's federal abortion protections.

Not a fan of the language, but the facts about the number of incidences are highly relevant.  

Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council, who is heard on Faith Radio, believes that the withdrawal of that memo is a product of a new House committee that is studying what Jordan claims is a "weaponization" of the federal government.  Perkins, quoted at The Washington Stand, said, “The committee’s already having an effect,” adding, “Within 30 minutes of the start of the subcommittee hearing, they released a statement retracting that memo. So I think the committee is already holding government accountable.”

The Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University, in a tweet, posed this question:

The FBI is labeling “radical-traditionalist” Catholics as extremist threats to the United States. Does this foreshadow the FBI’s attempt to kick off a more significant religious crackdown?

That may certainly be a possibility, but now is not a time for Christians to be intimidated. It is a time to stand and to continue to allow the light of Jesus to shine through us.  We will be misunderstood, ridiculed, and receive hostility directed against us.  But, Jesus taught us that persecution will come. But, we can reside in His presence and have peace throughout.

The ways things should be is not what they are.  I am thankful for those who serve in government, and we have a significant number of listeners who take their jobs in that capacity very seriously and do their work unto the Lord.  Unfortunately, you have people in control that see religion as a threat to the state, not an asset. We can continue to pray for God to move among our public servants, and pray that the more authoritarian among them to seek godly wisdom and to recognize that incredible role that religious practice has in helping them fulfill God's directive to keep order and punish evil. 

Power for Parents

We see in the Scriptures that our children are gifts from God; and parents have been given that incredible responsibility to raise them, and as it's been said, to release them into the world. Proverbs chapter 22 says:
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

This passage addresses the abundant life that Jesus referred to. But there are prerequisites - we are to be humble and possess the "fear of the Lord."  Parents have the opportunity to instill those attitudes in the hearts of their children.  And to, as verse 5 talks about, guard one's soul. We are living in a day in which ungodly influences are all around us, and you have people who possess views that don't line up with Scripture who are attempting to force those beliefs on the vulnerable - our children. Parents therefore have to make sure they are walking in the role of protector - being aware and taking the necessary steps to shield their children and teach them to reject ungodly ideas.

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The Bible instructs parents to teach and train their children in God's principles. And, I believe that means that we should model those standards in our personal behavior. Deuteronomy 6 states:
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.

With upheaval all around us, I believe we are seeing a trend in which parents, including Christian parents, are calling for change in the education of their children.  During the pandemic, as virtual learning revealed some of the concerning curriculum that was being taught, parents became more informed, and then energized.  They visited school board meetings and demanded change. Parents went to the polls in November and elected new school board members.  There was legislation passed to uphold parental rights. And, the cry for respect for the rights of parents has progressed.

The topic of school choice is certainly on the table. CBN.com reported on National School Choice Week, which is described as "a nationwide advocacy campaign run annually in January that encourages parents to consider different educational opportunities for their children in addition to traditional public schools, such as charter schools, private schools and homeschooling."

The CBN report said that: "Sen. James Lankford...issued a resolution calling for educational options for students." He stated, "Parents should have the ability to choose a school for their child, based on their child's individual needs, academic goals, and personal religious beliefs..." 

Lankford and Sen. Kevin Cramer introduced a resolution in support of National School Choice Week; Cramer is quoted as saying: "School choice allows parents to make decisions that put their children in the best position to succeed," adding, "Unfortunately, parents across the country have been given the cold shoulder, even equating them to domestic terrorists. Your zip code shouldn't define your quality of education. Our resolution recognizes and protects the parents' freedom to choose the best educational environment for their child's success."

Focus on the Family's Daily Citizen reported that...

...According to the organization SAVE – Stop Abusive and Violent Environments – 12 states have introduced bills in just the past month to strengthen parental rights.

The legislation comes as a recent report in The New York Times of all places recounted several stories of parents being kept in the dark by schools over their children’s decision to “transition.”

The Times reported on a recent story out of Southern California. Jessica Bradshaw found out that her 15-year-old identified as transgender after she viewed his homework assignment bearing a different name.

The article states that:

After inquiring to their school, a counselor told Jessica that the school did not need to inform her of her daughter’s “transition,” nor did the school need her permission to treat her daughter as a son “because the student did not want [her] parents to know.”

And, states are stepping up to uphold parental rights. The Daily Citizen notes that, "At least a dozen states" have legislation that has been introduced or will possibly be introduced that would reinforce parental rights. Some examples:

A proposed bill in South Carolina states that the government “shall not substantially burden the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of that parent’s child.”  

A bill has been pre-filed in the Alabama legislature that, according to the Daily Citizen, "prohibits the government from burdening certain fundamental rights of parents."  This comes in addition to language in the bill in Alabama banning gender-changing treatments and surgeries that would prevent schools from teaching material on sex, including homosexuality, to young children, similar to Florida's parental rights bill passed last year. 

Another state where this type of legislation may soon be considered is Minnesota. John Helmberger, CEO of the Minnesota Family Council, stated: “Increasingly, we’re seeing that parental rights are under threat around the country and need to be safeguarded. Minnesota Family Council supports legislation like HF682 to clarify what we already know to be the case: that parents play THE key role in directing the education of their children.”

The article notes:

One of the best ways for elected officials and government leaders to push back against bad school and state policy, is with good policies and laws. It’s heartening that numerous states are moving to protect the right of parents to direct the care and upbringing of their children. Let’s pray and advocate for more states to soon follow suit.

Focus on the Family has published a resource called, Back to School for Parents: A busy parent’s guide to what’s happening in your children’s classrooms and practical steps you can take to protect them.

There are significant responsibilities that have been placed on parents by the Lord; but the good news is that He has provided the resources in order to fulfill that call.  We have the direction of the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will also give us discernment so that we can know best how to protect children from influences that are not consistent with the principles that we have established in our homes. 

It is astonishing that you have government officials who have decided that they know more than parents and perhaps even know best with regard to the direction of the lives of children. And, there have been way too many instances in which children are fed dangerous ideologies and their parents are not informed. So, parents have to remain involved - and vigilant.  God will provide the boldness necessary in order to ensure that their values are not being disregarded.

Revived

In the 6th chapter of the book of Hosea, the prophet is calling the people of Israel to repentance, and this passage can provide motivation for us to draw nearer to God and allow Him to do His work in our hearts; we can see these words:
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

The people had departed; it appears their love for God had waned or grown cold.  They had experienced suffering and needed the healing touch of the Lord.  And, the prophet expressed confidence that revival was coming and that people would be raised up.  Well, Jesus, on that "third day," rose from the dead and has come to renew our lives, to bring us into relationship with Himself, and to give us new hearts and a new direction for His glory.

+++++

In Psalm 85, we find a pertinent question in verse 6 about God's work in our lives; we can read:
6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?

The following verses say:
7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

The year was 1970. A dean at a college chapel service asked students to share personal testimonies.  The service did not end for almost a week - it lasted for 144 hours.  That's according to Kentucky Today, in an exhaustive article written near the beginning of the 2023 Asbury revival on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. 

The article went on to say:

It was reported half the student body of 1,000 were part of witnessing teams sent out from Asbury to churches and colleges throughout the country. Asbury students visited Southwestern Seminary in March of 1970 and spoke after a chapel service, launching a revival there.

Kentucky pastor Tim Beougher included the occurrence at Southwestern in his article, which notes that he "...said the revival came during a time of intensity in America, particularly among students. Demonstrations were taking place at universities nationwide. In May 1970, several unarmed students were shot and killed at Kent State University. Multiple universities cancelled spring commencement exercises for fear of violence, he said."

The Kentucky Today article also noted:

Even as energy begins to wane, lives are being changed and lifelong chains broken through repentance and confession and outright praise for Jesus. There has also been testimony, a true sign of revival, according to a great theologian.

”Jonathan Edwards said revival seems to spread on the wings of testimony,” Beougher said. “(Testimony) From those who have been revived. Testifying to works of grace. It seems to ignite a spark in other individuals as well.”

In fact, Edwards outlined 5 characteristics of true revival, according to Beougher:

1. Jesus is honored; 2. Satan’s kingdom is opposed (repentance); 3. God’s Word is highly regarded; 4. God’s truth is revealed; 5. God and others are loved.

 Another Kentucky Today article featured Beougher's comments:

“Throughout the history of revivals, critics have pointed to some type of ‘excess’ accompanying a revival and tried to argue that ‘excess’ discredited the entire revival moment and meant it wasn’t truly a work of God,” Beougher wrote. “Jonathan Edwards answered that criticism during the First Great Awakening by using a helpful phrase: ‘in the main.’ What is at the heart of the movement? What is happening ‘in the main?’ There will always be ‘excess’ on the fringe, due to overly excited and not yet completely sanctified human beings and/or to Satanic opposition, but what is taking place ‘in the main?’ That is a helpful grid to evaluate movements like that taking place now at Asbury.

“What every believer should be doing right now, regardless of what you think about the early reports out of Asbury, is praying. Who would deny that we need revival in our churches and spiritual awakening in our land? God has visited this nation with powerful awakenings before — we study those great movements of revival in church history classes. Is Asbury the spark of another awakening? I don’t know — but I’m praying — and you should be, too!

Robby Gallaty of Long Hollow Baptist Church outside Nashville experienced a move of God in his congregation a few years ago. He wrote about it in a recent post on the Think Eternity website, saying there were 1,000 baptisms during a 15-week period in 2021. He traveled to Asbury recently and noted: "...what was evident to all in the room was the manifest presence of God as the people of God sang in unison to Him."

He went on to say: "No one sang out of routine or familiarity. Everyone intentionally focused on each word that rose from their lips. Worship songs I’ve sung for years seemed to have a deeper meaning. I believe the expectancy for God to move by those in the room led to a personal encounter with Him. The collective group anticipated God working in their lives. I wonder what would happen if we arrived each Sunday for worship with the same posture? Many times, we attend out of habit or routine, I’ve been guilty of that myself in the past. That was not the case at Asbury, at least from my perspective."

Gallaty shared several principles he has learned about revival:

1. You can’t plan for it.

2. Revival is messy. I’d rather have a messy move of God than a manufactured, man-made one any day.

3. You won’t see revival without risks.

4. Belief is the fuel that stokes the fire of revival.

5. You can’t manage it.

6. Discipleship must follow a move of God. Jesus never said, “make Christians or decisions.” He said, “Make disciples.”

The schedule for revival services at Asbury is changing this week. WDRB Television reported that, "The school's president, Dr. Kevin J. Brown, said he's trying to balance the incredible moment happening at the school and the needs of its students and their academic experience."  Starting today, there will be services open during the afternoon and evening worship for those 25 and under. Services will move off-campus staring this Friday. Asbury's website on a page called, "Outpouring," states there will be a livestream service this Thursday night to honor the Collegiate Day of Prayer. 

I have been following quite closely the reports out of Wilmore, Kentucky at Asbury University.  There have been many on social media who have celebrated what God has been doing there, and I stand with them.  Jim Garlow's reporting has been especially helpful, and I am thankful that he was in Wilmore over the weekend after being out of the country.  I think we can continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the lives of young people as the "Outpouring" enters this new phase.

And, we see the fires of revival spreading - reports of Lee University, Cedarville University, and Alabama's own Samford University experiencing the leading of the Holy Spirit through the students. 

One phenomenon online is that there are those who have approached what is occurring at Asbury with skepticism.  I appreciate those who are willing to follow the instruction of the Scriptures and "test the spirits," according to 1st John chapter 4.

There have been all sorts of reports that have been disseminated on social media, and while there may be questionable actions attributed to this move of God, I would submit that at its core, there is something that is supernaturally occurring and that lives are being touched and changed.  The days and weeks to come will determine the lasting effects of this event, but I am seeing the glory go to Jesus; there are reports of confession of sin, which is a mark of revival, and there is an exaltation of Christ.  I don't know to what extent the gospel is being preached, but I have been impressed with the embrace of the leadership of Asbury in what they are experiencing on their campus. 

And, we can look to the events at Asbury as a catalyst for personal revival.  We can allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts, to convict us of sin, and to cleanse our hearts and prepare us for serving God more wholeheartedly.

Rejection

Condemnation is a tool that the enemy uses to make us feel worthless in God's sight - he will attempt to bring shame for past mistakes and to distort our view of the love of God. Romans chapter 8 opens up with these words:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Condemnation can sap our strength and distort our thinking. Revelation chapter 12 describes the enemy as the "accuser," and if we allow the accusations against us to take hold, we can have a difficult time maintaining our focus on who God says we are and how He desires for us to live. We have to take the tools that are found in Revelation 12:11, which says: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

+++++

Our past does not have to determine our future, I've heard it said. But, wounds and pain from the past can certainly negatively impact our present. That is why we need to appropriate the grace of God. Romans 13 states:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The Bible is an expression of God's amazing story - first of all, it is His story; in the pages of the Scripture, we learn about Him.

But, it's also our story - how humanity fell, but God sent His Son so that we might be united with Him and be brought into a relationship with Himself.

And, there are certain principles that contribute to that story - and in the Scriptures, we see a classic battle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death.  And, we see the presence of the Victor, our Lord Jesus!

Doreen Virtue is an author who has experienced that victory in Christ - you see, for a season of her life, she was known as one of the foremost New Age authors.  A Faithwire article relates:

...Doreen Virtue was one of the most well-known figures in the New Age movement. She was a successful author and purveyor of “angel cards,” an occultic tool, until she had a stunning awakening in 2017 that imploded her worldview and led her to embrace Christ.

But, Virtue is now telling people not to buy her items any more. 

According to the Faithwire article, Virtue said on the “Ex-Psychic Saved” podcast: “I’m devastated that some people may be in hell now because they were following my work,” adding, “It’s heartbreaking every day to realize my old work’s out there and what I did.” The article continues:

But Virtue relies on the Lord, telling host Jenn Nizza she’s grateful God opened her eyes and heart to the Gospel and saved her “while there was still time.”

“It’s a miracle,” she said.

Faithwire notes...

...she took a truly dark path into the New Age and soon found herself doing readings and using angel cards to try and channel spirits to convey information.

Eventually, these activities intensified, and she moved into creating her own angel card decks, finding massive success selling them to others in the New Age movement. At the time, she assumed God was on her side and she was doing His work; now, she believes otherwise.

But, God's Word spoke to her powerfully. She is quoted as saying, “I really thought I was a Christian doing God’s work...I had no idea that I was an abomination to God by doing and teaching divination until 2017 when I read Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and I was floored when it says there that anyone who does these things … is detestable [and an] abomination to God, and the veil was lifted. I just … fell to my knees.”  Her response?

“I … gave my life to Jesus,” she said. “That was the autumn of 2017 and, ever since then, I’ve just been telling people, ‘I’m sorry I made these cards. Please don’t use them.’”

Doreen Virtue's angel cards are ungodly items that she now realizes were ill-advised and an affront to God. She's telling people not to use them. You know, our stories may be littered with mistakes that we are perhaps ashamed of, sins in plain sight, or regrets that we have accumulated.  Satan wants to play the "accuser" to us, but we can receive God's grace and, if necessary, His forgiveness.  Our past is part of our story, but God is telling a greater one, of how we have overcome our past failures in order to grow, to learn, and to allow Him to have His way in the present. 

We can allow our mistakes, our perceived failures, to hold us captive, and we have to make sure that we concentrate on the grace of God. The truth is, none of us are perfect, but we develop a self-condemning attitude when we concentrate too much on where we have missed the mark.  Beating ourselves up for failing to be perfect is a dangerous, self-defeating proposition. We will mess up along the way, but we have to continue to move forward in Christ. 

Wrong Decisions?

The Bible addresses not only the acts of sin, but sinful attitudes and desires that cause us to sin against Almighty God. Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount on the heart concerns that will drive us to do harm to others in Matthew 5:
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

He also talks later in the chapter about the lust of the heart that leads to adultery. James 1 traces the path of temptation:
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Sinful acts begin in our hearts.  That is why we need to have reformed hearts and renewed minds. We need the presence of our Savior in order to convict us in our sinful thoughts and to conform us to the image of Christ.  We are capable of loving as Christ loves, but we have to surrender our selfish desires so that His love might flow through us. 

+++++

In James 4, the author highlights what causes people to do harm to each other, disregarding God's view of life itself and violating God's standards. We can read these words:
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

What would have been the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court occurred a few weeks ago, and it has been described by legal experts as a poor decision. 

At the WORLD Magazine website, Mark David Hall of George Fox University, who has been a guest on The Meeting House in the past, and Matthew Franck of the Witherspoon Institute, co-wrote an article on a poll they had taken of "100 leading self-identified conservative and libertarian legal scholars," about the worst Supreme Court decisions of all time. They say there are over 25,000 decisions that have been rendered.

The article says:

By far and away, Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) was considered to be the worst decision ever handed down by Supreme Court justices. The majority opinion, by Chief Justice Roger Taney, held that African-Americans “are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word ‘citizens’ in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States.”

The writers went on to say:

Fortunately, Dred Scott was overturned by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution (one of four Supreme Court decisions to be overturned in this way). These amendments did much to recognize the majestic principles, articulated in the Declaration of Independence, that all persons are “created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Alas, the justices ignored this principle again when they decided what our scholars considered to be the second worst majority opinion ever handed down by the Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade (1973). As in Dred Scott, the majority again determined that some citizens are not quite human and therefore unworthy of being protected as a matter of law.

Hall and Franck note that, "To be sure, many jurisprudential liberals disagree with conservatives about whether there is a constitutional right to abortion, although many progressives recognize that Roe had no sound basis in the Constitution."

Other cases cited by those surveyed included:
* the 1896 decision, Plessy v. Ferguson (permitting states to discriminate against African Americans);
* Planned Parenthood v. Casey from 1992, "affirming Roe’s central holding while recognizing its faulty reasoning;'
* the 1927 ruling, Buck v. Bell ("upholding involuntary sterilization..."); and
* Korematsu v. United States, a 1944 decision "upholding the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War."

These, as well as Dred Scott and Roe, according the writers of the WORLD article, "stand for the proposition that some citizens do not need to be protected as a matter of law."

Obergefell v. Hodges, essentially creating a so-called "right" to same-sex marriage not found in the Constitution, was also found to be among the worst U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

Hall and Franck conclude their piece with this paragraph:

Reasonable people, including legal scholars, disagree about which Supreme Court decisions are to be praised and which are to be condemned. And yet it seems clear that history will not judge well those jurists (and legislatures) who have denied that all persons are created equal and deserve the full protection of the law.

And, therein lies a guiding light for effective law - to recognize that all persons.  All persons.  Are created equal.  That language is in the Declaration of Independence for a reason, and it is consistent with the Biblical teaching that all are made in the image of God.  The Supreme Court, as these writers point out, has left that precedent in the past, especially concerning areas of the unborn in Roe and racial issues in Dred Scott and Plessy.  But, the American people, as Hall and Franck point out, remedied Dred Scott through passing the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  And, Dobbs returned the question of abortion to the states, some of whom are attempting to reverse the harm that the decision has done. 

Courts and Congress may get it wrong.  But, it is never wrong to view one another as creations of God - human beings who possess the right to life.  That applies to people inside and outside the womb.  Disregard and disrespect result in those who don't regard the lives of other people, who will steal from them, lie to them, and even take their lives.  God's standard on these matters is found in the 10 Commandments, which reveal the sinful ambitions of fallen humanity.  But, through Christ, in the new creation, these desires can be remedied and the love of God can prevail.

Bad Night?

In the book of Job, we see the central character, in a section related to compassion for other human beings, make a strong pro-life statement - in chapter 31, we can read:
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

This is consistent with language that we see in Psalm 139 and Jeremiah chapter 1.  God has created and ordained our lives - what right does anyone, as a mere human being, have to terminate the life of a fellow human being in the womb?  Or outside the womb, for that matter?  Yet, a distortion of the sanctify of life has occurred in our culture, a devaluation of the lives we all have been given. We celebrate the God who has given us life - and the lives He has given us!

+++++

In a culture that, unfortunately, celebrates death, we should be represented as people of life, who uphold the God-given right to life. Proverbs 24 states:
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

The annual appraisal of the State of the Union occurred last Tuesday night in Washington, and an interesting storyline has to do with how much time the President did - or didn't spend on the topic of abortion.  The New York Times said that he spent "roughly 42 seconds." The article states:

The White House says that it used the moment to call on Congress to reinstate the protections provided under Roe v. Wade, and that it has taken the most aggressive approach to abortion rights of any administration in history. But some abortion rights supporters said they saw the brief mention as a missed opportunity to leverage the power of the bully pulpit in what they often describe as a national health crisis. They were also mystified that the president passed up a chance to play up his own record, which nearly all praised.

A Christian denominational leader also noticed the lack of time spent, tweeting out:

The #SOTU speech is a laundry list of POTUS priorities. 

Noteworthy how far down the list abortion fell in the *first SOTU since the fall of Roe.*

President Biden spent more time on hidden fees. Bad night for Planned Parenthood.

This gained criticism on Twitter in response.  That tweet was retweeted by another leader in that denomination, which Megan Basham of The Daily Wire noted in this tweet:

...this is to completely ignore unprecedented steps Biden Admin is taking to protect abortion. Executive order to help women travel to get them, expanding access to abortion pills, offering abortions at VAs.

Make no mistake: the Administration is not backing down on its support for abortion. And, neither are congressional leaders who wore their pro-abortion pins, according to Bruce Hausknecht of The Daily Citizen:

The pro-abortion atmosphere in the joint session was evident from the cheers and applause that went up from half the chamber when the president mentioned these legislative initiatives. There were even some pro-abortion members of Congress present who proudly sported lapel buttons consisting of the word “ABORTION” with the first “O” replaced by a heart.

(Hausknecht also included the so-called Equality Act in his analysis.)  

The abortion extremists are hard at work to make sure that the act of taking of unborn babies' lives is protected.  Consider this from National Review from just two weeks ago:

The Biden administration is evaluating the possibility of declaring a public-health emergency on abortion, Department of Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra said Monday.

“There are discussions on a wide range of measures … that we can take to try to protect people’s rights,” Becerra reportedly told Axios. “There are certain criteria that you look for to be able to declare a public-health emergency. That’s typically done by scientists and those that are professionals in those fields who will tell us whether we are in a state of emergency and based on that, I have the ability to make a declaration.”

By the way, we were in a state of emergency for 50 years under Roe - abortion is not health care and doesn't deserve protection.  And, leaders are fighting back against policies allowing the unpopular and immoral notion of abortion during all nine months of pregnancy.

I have also noted that the federal government is attempting to broaden the availability of chemical abortion, with the Food and Drug Administration loosening restrictions to include the possibility of obtaining the abortion pill in local pharmacies.  

But the pushback is coming...

Alliance Defending Freedom is representing a group of pro-life organizations calling for a reversal of this new policy.  Its website says:

Pro-life organizations, 67 members of Congress, and 23 states are supporting four national medical associations and four doctors experienced in caring for pregnant and post-abortive women who are suing the federal government for illegally approving chemical abortion drugs that harm women and girls. The support came in 15 friend-of-the-court briefs filed with a federal court Friday in the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The website for the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, noted last week:

Attorney General Paxton filed a new lawsuit against the Biden Administration today to halt it from illegally forcing pharmacies across America to provide abortifacients, which are prescription or over-the-counter drugs that induce abortions.

In July 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued guidance that pharmacies must provide abortion-inducing drugs to women seeking elective abortions in order to stay in compliance with the Biden Administration’s view of federal law. The guidance threatened that pharmacies not falling in lockstep with Biden’s pro-abortion agenda would face the loss of Medicaid and Medicare funds.

The website also notes, "Attorney General Paxton has joined a Mississippi-led amicus brief supporting an injunction against a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) rule that allows veterans and certain beneficiaries to get elective, taxpayer-funded abortions. The brief has been filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, in Waco, Texas, on behalf of a VA nurse who opposes the new rule."

And, 1819 News reports that Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville "has filed a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and their rule to allow abortion access to servicemembers." The article notes:

The VA released its rule in September 2022 and said it would begin offering abortions to servicemembers and certain dependents, regardless of the individual state's law.

According to Tuberville, the DoD's suggested policies are illegal in that they would permit federal funding of abortions not currently approved by federal law.

The "bad night" for Planned Parenthood actually came the day that the Dobbs decision was handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.  The good news is that some states are taking steps to reduce the number of abortions in their states.  But there are not enough - courts are continuing to strike down abortion restrictions and state legislatures must continue to act.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has highlighted six main areas in which the Administration is continuing to force a radical pro-abortion agenda on the American people. Here are the bullet point headlines from its website:

• Force American Taxpayers to Fund the Abortion Industry At Home and Overseas
• Suppress & Eliminate the Rights of Pro-life Americans and Coerce Pro-life Medical Personnel into Participating in Abortion
• Expand Extreme Abortion Policies that Most Americans Reject
• Appointing the Most Pro-Abortion Cabinet in U.S. History
• Change Foundational American Institutions to Expand Abortion
• Weaponizing the DOJ and Ignoring Violence Against Pro-Life Americans.

So, don't be encouraged by the 42 seconds of time devoted to abortion in that recent address. Rather, be concerned and prayerful regarding the numerous ways that abortion is being promoted in our nation. And, be encouraged - and prayerful - as brave women and men who are fighting back against attempts to place unborn babies in danger.  

In this case, the volume of words are bad enough.  The Daily Citizen quotes from the President's message:

“Here in the people’s House, it’s our duty to protect all the people’s rights and freedoms,” the president said. “Congress must restore the right the Supreme Court took away last year and codify Roe v. Wade to protect every woman’s constitutional right to choose.

“The Vice President and I are doing everything we can to protect access to reproductive health care and safeguard patient privacy. But already, more than a dozen states are enforcing extreme abortion bans. Make no mistake; if Congress passes a national abortion ban, I will veto it.

Of course, keep in mind that the pro-abortion lawmakers want to do more than merely codify Roe v. Wade, based on the analysis of legislation that has come out of Congress and thankfully, been defeated. 

Sometimes, politicians will say one thing and do something entirely different.  They will "gaslight" you and tell you what you're seeing isn't really occurring.  But, make no mistake, there are influential, powerful people who are devoted to taking the lives of unborn children, devoid of morality, and devious in their means.  And, sometimes, we have to think with our hearts, led by the Spirit, not by our eyes and ears, to know what's really going on.  The rhetoric is bad enough, and can be incredibly persuasive, but also judge by the actions of the people in power. 

The so-called "right" to abortion, which is one that was conjured up from thin air 50 years ago in the Roe decision, was not taken away by Dobbs.  Rather, the right to life was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.  We should always be people who affirm that God-given right.  And, thankfully, there are brave pro-life Christians across America who are standing with the unborn, standing with women and their families in crisis, and standing against attempts to strip that precious right.

Curious?

There is a passage in Ecclesiastes 4 that has been used to refer to the marriage relationship and reminds us of the love, strength, and potential that married couples possess. We can read these words:
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.

The idea of the threefold cord reminds us that with God, all things are possible and that two people centered on Christ in marriage can withstand so much.  And, ideally, marriages, dating relationships, and engagements should all be Christ-honoring.  When we put God first in our relationships, we will see Him do amazing things - but it takes walking in the love of Christ, humility, sensitivity, and the awareness of God's presence.

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In Ephesians chapter 5, the apostle Paul is talking about humility toward one another in the body of Christ and shifts into the husband-wife relationship. He wraps up that moment of Scripture with this:
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The last two mornings on Focus on the Family, heard weekdays at 8:30am on Faith Radio, Greg and Erin Smalley have been the guests.  Greg is the son of the late Gary Smalley and the Vice President of Marriage for Focus on the Family and Erin is also on staff as a spokesperson for the Marriage department.

I came across an article by Greg from eight years ago on the Focus website that provides some insight on how Valentine's Day can help couples to celebrate their relationship.  He included this anecdote in the piece about an encounter at the grocery store on Valentine's Day one year; he wrote:

Erin found herself at the grocery store. She bumped into a large display bucket full of flowers. Innocently, she thought about how beautiful the flowers were and decided to buy herself a bouquet.

He related that...

...Jim Daly, the president of Focus on the Family and my boss, was standing right behind her buying his wife a dozen long-stemmed, red roses. His only question to Erin was, “Why is your husband, the vice president of our marriage department, making you buy your own flowers?”

Since that day at the grocery store, Jim likes to “graciously” remind me (especially if we’re in front of large crowds) that I made my wife buy her own Valentine’s Day flowers.

A little back-story here: Greg had already asked Erin if she would rather have flowers or a gift card of equal value for Valentine's - she had already selected the gift card option!  He had another gift that he was planning to give her, as well.

Greg goes on to say: 

True romance isn’t about flowers, chocolate or the perfect candlelit dinner. These things can enhance romance, but they do not define it.

Instead, true romance is about curiosity, fascination and intrigue. It’s about being truly interested in your spouse and your spouse being captivated by you. True romance is a deep, life-long fascination with your mate.

He provides perspective for couples that may be experiencing "boredom" in their marriages; he says:

The initial excitement of getting to know your spouse when you were dating doesn’t have to fade. Boredom and routine don’t have to be your reality. All it takes is a decision to remain fascinated and interested in your husband or wife. Because your spouse and your marriage are always changing, there’s something to be discovered every day. This is exactly why I believe the greatest gift you can give your spouse on Valentine’s Day is the gift of curiosity.

Developing the art of curiosity is simple. Curiosity is the strong desire to know more about something or someone. The key is to daily pursue knowledge about your spouse. Ask questions. Seek out information. Deepen your understanding. Make your goal to “stay current” with your spouse.

God's mercies are "new every morning," and every day is a gift from God.  And, we should regard our mates as a gift from God. The days that we spend with our spouses can actually be a chance to know them even better and grow together with one another in the Lord. 

Those couples who are planning to get married or those who are in the dating realm can apply these principles of curiosity, as well.  The more you know your prospective spouse before your relationship grows serious and certainly prior to marriage, the fewer surprises you may encounter.  Sure, there will be the attraction and the emotion, but there should also be the preparation, the discussion, the learning. 

We also recognize that many gifts we give to one another don't come from the store.  Sure, be thoughtful in your selection of those material things.  But, be deliberate in the intangibles, as well - gifts of time, understanding, empathy, humility, and, as Greg Smalley suggests, curiosity.  Such efforts can serve us well as we continue to grow in our love for each other.

Resurrected Relationship

We serve a God who sent His Son, who, by giving His life and by raising from the dead, has provided for us the way of salvation and brought us into a place of reconciliation with our Heavenly Father. Hebrews chapter 12 contains these words:
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

This lays out for us the template for healthy, healed relationships: we look to the Lord to strengthen us and to straighten the way we walk - so, we have to be humble in order that He can have His way through us.  We look to Him to heal what is not right and to bring peace into our relationships.  He also enables us to walk in a manner pleasing to Him - He gives us the capability to be holy, because He has declared us to be so.  

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Jesus has come to give us newness of life - to provide a new heart, through which flows a new outlook and a renewed mind, according to Romans 12. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 states:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Their marriage rose "out of the dust."

Those are the words of Stephanie Teague, who heard her husband Chris speak these words: “I don’t think I believe in God anymore and I no longer want to be married.”

That's according to a piece she wrote for The Christian Heart website. 

This is most certainly devastating because the couple had been in ministry when this occurred. She writes, "Even though we were in ministry, he had been on his own quiet journey through addiction, doubts, and deconstruction. It is normal to wrestle with faith and fight to find truth, but his journey took him down a path that nearly destroyed us." The article continues:

After our painful divorce, he continued in this painful, isolating direction for quite some time while I slowly rebuilt my life with the support of my family. After such a deep hurt, I was so confused and frustrated. I had never thought that he would question his faith or question our marriage. But as I was on my own, I tried to pursue God while trying to heal and make sense of all I had been through.

Fortunately, the story didn't end there. Chris experienced what Stephanie says was a "true-life transformation."  He had reconciled with God, and wanted to reconcile with her.

But, she would have none of it. She writes that "there was nothing left, there was really no hope." But, we know that there is hope in the Lord.  She recounts...

...out of the dust, acting only as God can, He breathed life back into our story. Through God’s kindness, wise counsel, and time, God reconnected us and brought reconciliation. We even remarried!

They have named their music ministry "Out of the Dust."  You may even hear them played on Faith Radio from time to time.  They've been guests on The Meeting House. Stephanie says:

We travel to tell our story to offer hope to those who are hurting or walking through deconstruction. We know that not all marriages will be reconciled like ours. But we serve a God of redemption and reconciliation. In the end, your story and pain may not look like ours. But He is the God who put our hearts back together, and He can and will do the same for you.

For the troubled marriage, the story of Chris and Stephanie can bring hope. Jesus is concerned about every area of our lives, and the relationship with our spouse reflects His relationship with His Church. It's an institution He reinforced after God created and ordained it in the first place.  It's important that all married couples place Him as the focal point of their marriage, and for couples who are not married yet, He is the One who can direct and prepare them for that day when they will be wed, so that their marriage will be built on a strong foundation.

We serve a God who is devoted to reconciliation - with Him and with one another.  For married couples, family members, and others where offense has driven them apart.  Jesus has shown us what it means to walk in love, and that involves humility and forgiveness. He gives us what we need in order to walk in healthy relationships.