ADVENT 23 (Spear): Desperately Wicked

We have entered the week before Christmas, and we are continuing to work through our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure from the Faith Radio Advent Guide, offering a look at various symbols related to the life and ministry of Jesus. 

On Saturday, the powerful symbol that speaks to us about why Jesus came to earth was highlighted in our guide - the cross. Luke 23:33-34 says: “...when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals…Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’”  Faith Radio listeners throughout the years, including this year, have placed these 7-foot crosses in various locations, reminding us that Jesus came to die so that we might be saved. 

There are other symbols from the time of His crucifixion.  For instance, Day 22, yesterday, was His garments, according to Luke 23:34: “And they divided His garments and cast lots.”  This is a part of the story that actually was prophesied in Psalm 22, where we can read:
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

So, there are events with symbolic meaning that actually were foretold in the Old Testament.

Now, we move on to today's symbol, the spear. John 19 states:
33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."
37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

Zechariah 12:10 reads: "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."

This was a cruel death that Jesus experienced, according to the prescription of the Bible. He was our perfect sacrifice, dying in our place so that we might be free from the power of sin.

We live in a sinful, fallen world, and Jesus suffered immensely so that He could redeem humanity, which had been separated from God.  But, daily, we are reminded that sin is all around us, and quite frankly, sin operates within us.  That is why we have to identify with Jesus, put to death the sins of the flesh and live in His power.

A reminder of this sinfulness comes out of the San Francisco Bay Area; Faithwire shared recently:

Pastor Nick Neves of Family First Church in Antioch, a city in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, confronted a would-be thief carrying an ax on Thanksgiving morning last Thursday, after the unnamed intruder broke into the church’s building.

The article quoted the pastor from an NBC News story: “I shouted at him to stop, and that the police were on their way, and he ran and I grabbed ahold of him and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church..."

The intruder tried to fight the pastor, but the pastor was able to fight back somewhat effectively.  The article related that Pastor Neves said: “I like to stay fit, and I studied in some jujitsu and kickboxing and I have a mixed martial arts background,” adding, “So it was very helpful to be able to grapple with this gentleman without having to do much harm to him.”  Faithwire reported:

The pair wrestled for about 15 minutes before the would-be thief gave up until police arrived. Neves said he was able to pin the man to the ground and, although he got up and tried to get away a few times, the pastor never seriously injured the intruder.

The article said that the pastor thought he could "outlast" the thief; it went on to say:

The preacher said it’s “ironic” the burglar attempted to break in to steal things from the church on Thanksgiving Day, especially since his congregation prides itself on providing meals to those in need in their community.

In fact, churchgoers had just given away groceries to 130 families in need earlier in the week.

“If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and get some food and be cared for,” Neves said. “But he decided instead to smash windows and desecrate property and do something that’s going to hurt the ministries.”

The Bible says in Jeremiah 17 that the heart is "desperately wicked."  Here's a manifestation of that wickedness that resided in the heart of someone who wanted to do harm to a church.  We also have to recognize that even though we, as Christians, have been redeemed, have to deal with the flesh.  Every day. But, Jesus suffered in order to give us the power to overcome sin - He died a cruel death to pay the penalty for it. 

This preacher had the capacity to fight off the enemy who had broken into his church, armed with an axe. In that instance of physical violence, the pastor was equipped with some martial arts skills. We face a spiritual thief who desires to steal from us what God has provided. We have powerful weapons that we can use to fight off the enemy - but we have to be prepared to fight and actually take the fight to the enemy when He attacks.

ADVENT 20 (Crown of Thorns): Telling the Story

We have reached Day 20 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure on Faith Radio, exploring a variety of symbols related to the life and ministry of Jesus.  Today, we move into sections of Scripture that deal with powerful images surrounding His death. 

I think it's important to remember that our Savior endured intense suffering for us.  That's part of the full story of Christmas - He was born in a manger in Bethlehem and died on a cross at Calvary. He came to die so that we could live with Him eternally. 

So, today, we think about the crown of thorns.  We know that He is our King, He is seated on a heavenly throne and that, as the cover of our latest Ministry Magazine declares, "He Shall Reign Forever and Ever!" But, those who put Jesus to death mocked Him and tried to minimize His kingship. John 19:2 says: “...the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.”

Recently in Waco, Texas, a creative presentation of the Nativity, including prophecies found in Scripture, was presented.  It was called He Rules the World.  Crosswalk Headlines reported:

Peter B. Emerson, the composer, lyricist, and executive producer, said he got the idea for the project while attending a live performance of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra with his daughter in 2018.

"There were fantastic lights, lasers, LED, pyrotechnics, big guitar solos on platforms that were lifted 150 feet in the air -- and it's such a spectacle, and it's so well done, so well thought out," Emerson told Crosswalk Headlines. "And the whole time I'm there, I'm thinking, 'Man, that is really, really cool. I can do that.'"

But, there was something missing.  The article relates:

"Their Christmas show is not really about Christmas," he said. "It's Christmas adjacent -- the spirit of Christmas. There's lots of Christmas elements in it, but it's really not about the birth of Christ."

Emerson, who has a background in composing and arranging, wrote his own rock opera, which focused squarely on the Nativity story, beginning in the Old Testament prophecies and ending with the birth of Christ. It features elements from a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert but with a faith-centric twist.

The Christian Post reported:

At the heart of "He Rules The World" is an 18-song original score that brings traditional and newly composed material to life to tell the Nativity story from the participants' perspective.

Featuring "God's Not Dead" actor Kevin Sorbo as both narrator and executive producer, Emerson says Sorbo played a key role in the project.

"From our very first conversation, it was clear we shared a vision for creating meaningful faith and family content," he said. "Kevin's strong belief in our mission made it a perfect fit for him to join as both the narrator and one of the executive producers."

Also, as the article points out:

Directed by award-winning Austin-based filmmaker Matt Chauncey, "He Rules The World" is also co-produced by David Gaschen, a Broadway veteran who currently serves as the artist-in-residence at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, the home of former lead pastor Chuck Swindoll.

Gaschen, a baritone, leads a cast that includes Joe Caskey, Alex Bumpas, Celia Arthur, Emery Gray and others.

"David was introduced to us by our producer and brought an incredible depth of experience, having performed in over 1,300 shows of 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway and in Europe," said Emerson. "He had been praying for the opportunity to work on a faith-based project, making 'He Rules the World' a perfect match for his talents."

A review of a performance on the Heaven's Metal website stated:

With lights, animation, and narration by Kevin Sorbo, the Christmas story came to life in an energetic, jamming, theatrical, dramatic, and sometimes tender way.

It goes on to say:

Like any good entertainment (especially at Christmas), it makes one feel glad to be alive … and clearly answers the opening question: “What is Christmas.” You might leave the show singing that chorus, but you won’t be leaving without knowing what it’s all about.

I have said before that God will inspire within us creative ideas in order that we might reach people with His message. And, we can seek to implement those ideas in an excellent manner. That seems to be the spirit of He Rules the World.  We can boldly proclaim that, yes, we do serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and that He rules and reigns.  And, He will reign forever.

But, there are those that don't believe - that's why we have to seek out ways to break down the walls that would keep people out of the Kingdom.  Certainly, the Word will not return void.  But, communicating to our culture in a way that is creative and compelling is important.  We serve a King who is not of this world; but those who crucified Jesus didn't understand that, so they made a crown of thorns and placed it on His head.  They mocked Him, and the world mocks Him and the Church today. We can be devoted to living what we believe, with credibility, in a clear and compelling manner. And, the world's hearts are just a bit more open, I believe, during this season.  So, we can capitalize on that.

ADVENT 19 (Communion): Will You Commune?

Welcome in to Day 19 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure from the Faith Radio Advent Guide, concentrating this year on symbols of our Savior, symbols that are related to the life and ministry of Jesus. 

We recognize that Jesus came to earth in order that He would live a perfect life, provide an incredible example for us, and that He would give His life as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Two powerful symbols that we see in the sacrament of Communion, or the Lord's Supper are the representation of the body and blood of Jesus - the bread and the cup.

In Matthew 26, Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with His disciples. In so doing, He demonstrated that He would be the Passover Lamb, who would give His life for the sins of the world. We can read these words in that chapter:
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

During the Christmas season, we have a chance to commune with our Savior, to gain a fresh sense of who He is and what He has done for us in giving His body and shedding His blood.  Some churches may even take communion together in a Christmas-related service.  

But, less that half the people in our country intend to attend church services during this Christmas season. The Lifeway Research website states:

A Lifeway Research study finds U.S. adults are split on whether they’ll be at church sometime this Christmas—47% say they typically attend church at Christmastime, while 48% say they do not, and 5% aren’t sure.

The article goes on to say:

Unsurprisingly, those who attend church most often are most likely to be there for Christmas. Christians who attend a worship service more than once a week (95%) are the most likely to say they typically attend this time of year.

And, the Christmas season delivers a spike in church attendance.  The Lifeway article says:

In 2023, Lifeway Research found U.S. Protestant pastors say they usually plan four events or activities to help their churches celebrate Christmas. Around 4 in 5 pastors (81%) say Christmas is one of their three highest attendance worship services, according to a 2024 Lifeway Research study. Specifically, 28% say Christmas draws the most people to their church. During the season, churches see more people at their Christmas Eve service than other worship services, according to a 2022 Lifeway Research study.

Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, notes: "While church services draw more people in the Christmas season, their prime motivation isn’t unified. The majority are drawn to celebrate the birth of Jesus, honoring Him as the Christ or promised Messiah. But others mostly join in because of the importance of family, their embrace of Christmas church tradition or to jumpstart Christmas vibes..."  Nevertheless, 60% of those surveyed say they attend because of Jesus.

And, those that don't might go - if they're invited. The summary says, regarding those "who don’t typically show up at Christmas:" "Most (56%) say they would likely attend church if someone they know invited them to attend with them at Christmas time, including 17% who are very likely."

So, here are three main talking points from this survey:

One is that churches are making plans to receive a greater number of attendees during this season.  And, that's good - the majority of respondents go to church during the Christmas season to give honor to our Savior.  And, those that go because of tradition may hear the Word of God and experience worship and be drawn into a fresh relationship with the Lord.  So, we must be ready.

Also, most of those that aren't regular Christmas attendees would consider going if invited.  That's key - it goes back to the spiritual sensitivity that I like to talk about regarding Christmas.  There is a lot of spiritual emphasis going on during this time of year, and I believe that God will use His people to reach the already sensitized hearts.

The final, and concerning aspect is that less than half of Americans will be in church during this season. That reflects a culture that is generally indifferent, and some even hostile toward the things of God.  It shows that we as the body of Christ have some work to do. Jesus is holding out the invitation - He has given His body and shed His blood so that people may experience eternal life and forgiveness for their sins.  It's a precious gift - the greatest of all, as it's been said, and during this season, we can communicate with great fervor what Christ has done.

ADVENT 18 (Coin): What's Important?

It is one week before Christmas Day, and we have now spent 18 days looking at various symbols related to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure. In the 15th chapter of Luke, Jesus used the example of a lost coin to illustrate the value of salvation. We can read in that chapter:
8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

During this season, we can be sensitized to people who may be celebrating Christmas, but do not know Christ.  This woman in the parable already had 10 silver coins, but sought out the lost one with diligence, recognizing what God considers important.

And, that's true for us - we have to prioritize what's important to God, and allow the Word of God to govern our thoughts, words, and actions, so that our faith in Christ will permeate every area of our lives. We are to be diligent to follow Him, to do His will.

I wanted to relate this concept of seeking out what's important to a major event that happened in our country just over a month ago.  Leading up to the election, at Faith Radio and throughout certain sectors of the Church, there was an emphasis on participating in the election.  I had Adam Rasmussen from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University on the program recently.  His is a colleague of George Barna, who is Director of Research there.

At the Center's website, there is a summary of post-election data. The report said:

According to the 2024 Post-Election Survey from Dr. George Barna and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, among self-identified Christians, 56% voted. The findings show notable engagement from SAGE Cons (i.e. Spiritually Active Governance Engaged Conservative Christians), who held true to form and almost universally voted (99% turnout, repeating their 2020 level and eight points higher than their 2016 turnout), Catholics (70%), and those holding a biblical worldview (67%). However, turnout declined among those affiliated with non-Christian faiths and those without religious affiliation.

As expected, the post-election research shows that total voter turnout was low compared to 2020. Despite extensive campaign spending and media coverage, 45% of voting-age Americans abstained from voting, with only 55% of the voting-age population casting ballots, down from 62% in 2020, according to the research findings.

Earlier 2024 Pre-Election Research from the Cultural Research Center correctly predicted that turnout among Christians would fall below 2020 levels, but that potentially devastating impact for the Trump campaign was blunted by the even lower levels of turnout among the Harris campaign’s target segments.

So what were Christians prioritizing in the 2024 election. The report notes:

• For Christians, key concerns were inflation (38%), immigration (34%), abortion (20%), and democracy (16%). Theologically-identified evangelicals focused more than other people did on immigration (40%) and the war in Israel (12%). Catholics were relatively more concerned with abortion.

• People with no religious faith were focused on a different set of issues than were Christian voters. They were far more interested in candidate positions on abortion (35% versus 20% among self-identified Christians); protecting democracy and freedoms (24% versus 16%), and environmental policies (14% compared to 4%).

Defense of the unborn, and the lack of it, was a major issue; the report states:

Support for unrestricted abortion grew among non-born-again Christians, with 24% identifying it as a vote-defining issue in 2024, doubling from 12% in 2020. In contrast, theologically-defined born-again Christians, especially from the Gen X and Baby Boom generations, largely opposed abortion on-demand; only 26% of Gen X and 24% of Boomers in this group supported unrestricted abortion access.

Again, I return the issue - what's important to us?  And are we diligently seeking the things of God?  Obviously, as Jesus illustrated in Luke 15, we are to be actively involved in the redemptive process, in evangelism - He is the One who redeems, we are called to share that message.  But, we are to be involved in communicating truth to our culture and being strong representatives of our Savior. 

Bunni Pounds, Founder and President of Christians Engaged, who has been a guest on The Meeting House multiple times, offered reflections on the recent election in a piece at Higher Ground Times.  She wrote:

Christians Engaged saw many victories as we mobilized over 850,000 Christians to vote in this election and every election in the future. What we are building together offers a distinct approach to civic engagement, one that combines faith with action. As we reflect on the election, we must continue to be challenged to move forward and see how God can even use us in a greater way.

She offered five lessons that are instructive to Christians as we live out the gospel in our culture:

1. Prayer is powerful. It cannot be an afterthought

Pounds notes: "In Mark 11:15-17, Jesus cleared the temple, declaring that His house should be called a 'house of prayer for all nations.' We must reflect on this – not just as a call to action for our churches but as a personal challenge for our individual lives. Prayer can transform us and our nation."

2. Take ownership of discipleship

She also relates:

Another critical lesson from this election is that Gen X (ages 45-64) played a decisive role in the outcome, shifting the election with a remarkable 10-point swing. The call is clear: We, as the generation of mature believers must rise to the occasion becoming spiritual mothers and fathers to the next generation. We must take ownership of discipleship in our families, and our churches, and become leaders in our communities. The other generations need us to be who we are called to be. This is not just a call for political action; it is a spiritual imperative.

3. Embrace authenticity in a culture of deception

Bunni Pounds poses this question: "Are we seeing through the deceptions around us and seeking out authentic leadership even though imperfect?" She notes that, "2 Peter 2:17-22 warns against the deceptions of false teachers, those who allure through empty promises and empty words. In a world filled with deceit, it is essential that we, as Christians, embody the truth."

4. Spiritual change is at the heart of civic engagement

We have to continue to recognize that, ultimately, changed minds come out of changed hearts.  So, we must never ignore the spiritual dynamics - in electoral politics and other areas of our lives.  Pounds writes:

Psalm 85:1-13 speaks of God’s desire to restore us, to bring peace and righteousness to our land. Revival is not just about external change; it is about internal transformation. If we want revival in our families, churches, and communities, it must start within us. We must return to the simplicity of walking with Jesus and living out our faith in every area of life.

5. The church must be strengthened for the challenges ahead

Pounds states:

One troubling trend is the seeming slight decline in evangelical voter participation. Born-again evangelicals now make up only 22% of the electorate, down from 26% in 2016. Though we saw growth in Christians voting in the Catholic communities, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, black and Hispanic populations, and even Gen Z males shifting more conservative, we saw a decline in the white evangelical Bible-believing voters overall running to the polls.

As the Cultural Research Center data shows: "...close to one-half of the voting-age population (45%) chose not to bother voting, despite both parties as well as candidates in all states and at all levels of government engaging in record-breaking spending and extensive get-out-the-vote campaigns..." The article goes on to say:

The most common reason for not voting was lethargy. One out of five voting-age, self-identified Christians (20%) said they had intended to vote but simply forgot or never got around to it. There was a similar level of neglect among non-Christian adults, as one-sixth of them gave the same reason.

The woman in the parable of Jesus lost a coin and sought it out with diligence. God has given us a unique position in our culture; He's given us a voice and He has sent us to walk in obedience to Him. When considering the challenges we have in our world today and the lost-ness all around us, we can be faithful to allow the Lord to use us to reflect His love and share His truth.  

The Bible cautions us in Galatians 6 to "not grow weary while doing good."  We are called not to be lazy or lethargic, not to be complacent.  Instead, in the power of the Spirit, we can allow the Lord to develop a passion within us so that we enthusiastically draw near to Him and passionately speak and act for His glory.

ADVENT 17 (Five Loaves & Two Fish): Don't Starve the Culture

We now move on to Day 17 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, which can be found in our latest Ministry Magazine - if you don't have a copy, you can find our latest edition through our website at FaithRadio.org and we encourage you to subscribe to our Magazine, which is released four times per year and is offered free of charge.  You can subscribe through our website, also.

We are walking through some of symbols associated with the life and ministry of Jesus, our Savior, and today, we look into the story of an incredible miracle that He did - He was teaching the crowds and it was time to eat.  The disciples were trying to figure out what to do, and the disciples found five loaves of bread and two fish. Matthew 14 tells us:
15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."
16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
18 He said, "Bring them here to Me."
19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

This is a reminder that in a starving culture, we can take what we have, submit it to Jesus, and He will accomplish His purposes.  

There is a story at The Christian Post from Morning Star News detailing an unfortunate occasion in the nation of Indonesia in which, as the article relates:

Muslims in a village in Indonesia stopped a church choir from rehearsing on Sunday evening for a Christmas service on the false premise that the Christians needed permission from community leaders, sources said.

The article goes on to say:

A parishioner told Morning Star News that the congregation has never used the multipurpose building where they were rehearsing as a place of worship; it was built for church worship but never used because of opposition by local Muslims.

“We have been holding services in a congregation member’s house far from the Muslim community,” she said. “We do other church activities in this multipurpose building.”

At press time, it was unclear whether or not the situation had been resolved, even though one of the local Muslim leaders commented in favor of the Christians rehearsing. 

From time to time, we hear of instances in the Christmas season in which the songs of Christmas are being restricted. Todd Starnes reported last month that at the Wherwell Primary School in Andover in the U.K.:

Parents received a letter informing them that children would not be allowed to mention Christmas in the upcoming pantomime presentation of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

The school told parents they had to ban all references to the Christian holiday so they could be inclusive of other faiths.

“Discussion with the panto company revealed that Christmas songs were included in the performance,” the letter to parents read. “We have a number of families who either do not celebrate Christmas or do so in a different way. The children of these families are removed from events such as this, at the request of their parents.”

Starnes wrote that: 

The show is presented by a traveling group of thespians who say they typically include a Christmas song around the yuletide season.

But the theater company says the school leaders specifically said – no mention of the Baby Jesus or Santa Claus.

“This shouldn’t be allowed. Christmas is celebrated all over the UK and the world, and you just can’t eradicate it so a few people will not be offended,” one parent told the Daily Mail.

In America, public expressions related to Christmas may find more legal favor than in years past, due to U.S. Supreme Court decisions, according to Liberty Counsel, which states on its website:

Publicly sponsored Nativity scenes on public property are constitutional under the “history and traditions” test now recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court. Such displays are also constitutional, where there is a secular symbol of the holiday in the general context. Privately sponsored Nativity scenes or religious symbols are also permissible on public property that has been opened to the general public for expressive activity. No secular symbol is necessary. A sign indicating private sponsorship may be helpful.

Public schools are not religion-free zones. Classroom discussion of the religious aspects of the holidays is permissible. A holiday display in a classroom may include a Nativity scene or other religious imagery so long as the context also includes secular symbols. A choral performance may include religious songs. In fact, the majority of the songs may be religious, particularly where the performance also includes secular holiday songs. If the students select their own songs independent of the direction of school officials, then there is no requirement that the songs include secular numbers. Students may distribute religious Christmas cards to their classmates during noninstructional time, before or after school or between classes. If the students are not required to dress in uniform, then they may wear clothing with religious words or symbols or religious jewelry.

Unlike the village in Indonesia experienced and the school in the U.K. enforced, it is possible that the songs and symbols of Christmas will provide light into a culture that is starved for hope.  Jesus taught a multitude and then provided food for them.  He charged the disciples to find food, and they found very little.  But, He took what they had and fed thousands of people. 

We can each do something to spread the love of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year.  We may not see the full effect of our obedience, but He calls us to take the first step.  Each of us can do our part to ensure that the songs of our Savior that are in our hearts, the fragrant aroma of His presence, are not snuffed out.  We are the containers of His light, and we can impact those around us with His love.  We take the first step of obedience, and trust the Lord to use it for His glory.

ADVENT 16 (Pearl of Great Price): What Happened to Me?

We are now into our final full work before Christmas Day next Wednesday.  We have been exploring a variety of symbols relative to our Savior and His life and ministry.  Recapping the weekend, Saturday's symbol was the seed of God's Word. Jesus told a parable, that we find in Luke 8 about the growth of the seed of the word of God and how the ground, or the heart, in which it's planted can determine its fruitfulness.  Sunday, the symbol from a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 15, was the mustard seed.  The seed of the Scriptures is powerful, and it will grow as we plant it properly.

Today, we find another symbol that Jesus talked about in His parables: the pearl of great price. We can find in Matthew 13 that Jesus taught: “‘...the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’”

We have to value the things of God.  If we do, we can find that can can come to know Him and grow in our walk with Him. But, if we don't value what God values, we may end up, as one of my guests last week, Samuel Blumenthal, alluded to, asking ourselves, "what happened to me?"

What. Happened. To. Me.  That is a pathetic cry of someone who has not valued the presence of God in his or her life.  But, it's also perhaps the opening of a portal to change.  Because if we don't recognize that we've missed the turnoff to the abundant life, we may never get back on the right road. 

I think that might have been the sentiment of a lady who wrote a first-person account for The Christian Heart.  I did not find a name of the writer, but the story is quite compelling. 

She starts out by saying this: "After his suicide, I was left to be a single mom. I was broken down and confused. Things only became worse after my daughter’s funeral, just 18 short months later." So, she encountered two tragedies in her life within the space of a year and a half.

Instead of seeking God, she turned to an ineffective counterfeit, writing: "The pain of life became too much to bear so I put my focus on creating my own fate through witchcraft. My obsession of the occult became consuming while I raised my two sons."

But, there was more of a decline in her life; the writer related: "I would’ve never seen going to jail and becoming a felon something of God’s grace, but it truly saved my life, and now I know, my soul."

Loss, witchcraft, prison.  What happened to me?  What happened to her?

Well, what happened is that she discovered she was not beyond the grace of God.  The writer notes:

I didn’t find God sitting in the pew of a church, but rather a jail cell at 6:00 am on a random Wednesday.

My sentencing was for eight years in prison. I had no crystals, spells or candles to help me. However, a sweet lady prayed for me. I held onto that prayer and found hope in the concept of God, but still did not fully understand why I felt the way I did.

When I was released and waiting on final sentencing, I went straight for my tarot cards. However, the moment I touched them, I knew that the life I had been living was behind me.

I was immediately convicted by the Holy Spirit. I prayed instead.

Things began to shift in the heavenlies.  She never touched the tarot cards again. Staring down an 8-year prison sentence, she writes that the sentence was "probated."  And, her mourning - and her mornings" have been changed; she says:

My mornings no longer look sad and hopeless, dying for answers of the world. Instead, I spend them reading devotionals, listening to worship music while taking my sons to school. I have now dedicated my life in every small aspect to share about God’s love, and testify what He did for me and delivered me from.

I am still a single mom, yet I no longer find my identity in the world, but in Christ alone.

So that's what happened. And, life for this single mom with two sons will never be the same. 

While you may not identify with every chapter in this lady's story, you might identify with some of it - the hopelessness, the desperation, maybe even the rejection of God and the consequences of seeking answers in the ways of the world or the enemy of our souls. 

Maybe you have reached, or are approaching, a point in which you say, "what happened to me?"  And, it is time for a change. Life is troublesome and tedious and you may have even considered whether or not it is worth living.  But, Jesus is offering the chance for change.  He gave everything He had for you, and He is inviting you to lay aside everything for Him.  If life is not particularly satisfying or joyful, Christ has come to be our giver of hope.  If you're wondering what has happened to you, where you went astray, why you are miserable, that can represent an opportunity to turn to Jesus, to ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life, and to experience what - no, who - so many are excited about at Christmas.

If your present feels like a prison and you are trapped within the vice grip of this world, Jesus has come to offer you freedom - your future can be full of life when Christ is your reason for living.  He is calling each of us to come closer to Him, to respond to His invitation to come with Him and to experience the life that He has promised and made possible. 

ADVENT 13 (Bread of Life): Doing the Work

We are on the 13th day of the 25-day Christmas Advent-ure at Faith Radio, exploring 25 symbols that are associated with the life and ministry of our Savior. I want to refer to the sufficiency of Christ, which comes to mind as we think together about His reference to Himself as the Bread of Life, according to John 6:35, which says, "’I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’”

Jesus comes to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls - He said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. He has saved, is sanctifying, and is satisfying the deep longing of our souls, and appointed us to help people find that sense of satisfaction in Him.

Earlier this week, I lamented what seems to be a coordinated crusade against the Christian faith principles of a fellow believer who aspires to serve his country in the new President's Cabinet.  This flies in the face of the Constitution, which says that a "religious test" should not be used.  And, Christians have a great opportunity to shine the light of Christ when they participate as a civil authority. 

I was delighted to come across an article recently the story of an associate pastor at a very large church in Dallas.  His name is Scott Turner.  The Christian Post relates that, "In a statement...Trump announced his selection of Scott Turner, who is listed as an associate pastor at the multi-campus Prestonwood Baptist Church based in Plano, to serve as HUD secretary."

The article goes on to say:

Trump credited Turner, who served in the first Trump administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, with "helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country's most distressed communities."

It states that Turner played in the NFL and served in the Texas House of Representatives. Also, as the article notes, "Turner also serves on the board of the American Cornerstone Institute, an organization established by Carson after the first Trump administration to advance the principles of faith, liberty, community and life."

Two men for whom I have a great deal of respect lauded the choice; The Christian Post said:

Prestonwood Senior Pastor Jack Graham praised Turner as a "glorious choice" and a "great man" in a statement posted to X Friday.

Graham expressed confidence Turner "will do a tremendous job in this important responsibility."

Carson called Scott a "natural born leader, a man of God, and a truly brilliant individual," calling his selection "phenomenal."

After he left the White House after Trump's first term, Turner was active in developing programs to help communities by implementing Christ-centered principles.  The Christian Post article related:

The Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, which Turner founded in 2021, operates Learning Labs, which are as "Christ-centered reading enhancement programs for Kindergarten through 5th grade students" that encourage the children to "have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ" and teaches them Bible verses as they work to help the children gain the reading comprehension skills needed to read at grade level.

The CEOC's First Down Mentorship Program provides student-athletes with interactive sessions about professional etiquette, the difference between role and identity, financial literacy, social media presence, safety and resume building. The program concludes with a summer internship at one of the CEOC's partner organizations.

There's a quote that has made the rounds concerning the nature of evangelism, defining it as one sinner telling another one where to find bread.  Jesus, the Bread of Life, is highly accessible, and through Him, expressed by His followers, people can discover the soul satisfaction that they are looking for.

Here you have a minister, someone who has been involved in public service, who is taking another bite of that civic apple, if you will.  And, since He worked in the halls of government, he has been implementing principles so that people might discover hope, through Biblically-based programs that can help improve a person's well-being.  

And, when it comes right down to it, as Christ-followers, we are hope-bringers; not the source of hope - that's Jesus - but those who carry His light, who are empowered by Him, and who reflect His glory to a world that needs to see that God's Word is true, that Jesus is reliable, and that He loves people.   Scott Turner has served on a church staff, but He has also been used of God to deliver creative ministry that helps people - that is the kind of civil servant we need, and generally, we should be devoted to being servants who depend on God to inspire and empower us to do His will.

ADVENT 12 (Sparrows): Of More Value

We have just about reached the halfway point of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure from Faith Radio,  working our way through symbols connected to Jesus, so that we might appreciate more about what He's done for us. 

We live in an age in which lives are devalued and people are regarded as numbers, statistics, means to an end.  We don't see the worth in other people, who are created in the image of God, for whom God has a purpose - including those people who need to know Jesus Christ. 

In Matthew 10, Jesus uses the imagery of the sparrows, saying: “‘Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will…Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.’”

Our lives have value, and the Bible teaches that we are not to judge by outward appearance. Yet, that type of judgment is carried out in companies and other organizations day after day, where people are not seen for who they are or what they do, but because of how they look.

The Western Journal published the astonishing results of a recent survey. The article states: "...if you train people to see oppression everywhere, they will see it even where it does not exist."  It goes on to say:

According to a remarkable new study by the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs that have polluted schools and workplaces in recent years have had the ironic-yet-predictable tendency to foster both racism and authoritarianism.

The article says:

In short, using excerpts from the writings of prominent “anti-racist” figures, such as Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, the 13 researchers who collaborated on the study conducted psychological surveys that measured the impact of “anti-racist” training on the minds of those subjected to it.

The overall results? The study says: "“Across all groupings, instead of reducing bias, they engendered a hostile attribution bias, amplifying perceptions of prejudicial hostility where none was present, and punitive responses to the imaginary prejudice,” adding, “These results highlight the complex and often counterproductive impacts of pedagogical elements and themes prevalent in mainstream DEI training.”

The Western Journal piece also notes:

In sum, the study showed that anti-oppressive DEI training relies on Marxist assumptions and thus produces Marxist outcomes.

Whereas Christians believe in the sanctity of every individual soul, Marxists sort people into groups based on an oppressor-oppressed dichotomy.

(Anyone who doubts Marxism’s hostility to God should read Karl Marx’s poem, “Invocation of One in Despair.”)

Indeed, Marxist tyrants such as 20th-century Chinese Communist dictator Mao Zedong have always deliberately divided the people they ruled into groups of alleged oppressors and oppressed. Thus, with the dictator’s permission, the “oppressed” — i.e. those with resentment in their hearts — carried out vendettas against “oppressors.”

This is an eye-opening study and seems to really pinpoint why some in the corporate and educational sector are re-thinking the way they handle race in their hiring and admissions practices. Of course, the U.S. Supreme Court had something to say on the subject.

As Christians, we recognize that racism is sin. Period.  Racism, as it's been said, is a form of partiality, in which people are judged by outward appearance rather than inward composition. Yet, in a misguided attempt to overcome discrimination - real or perceived - you have those who continue to embrace discrimination, believing that it is a moral cause.

At the website, Christ Over All, Marla Helseth quotes from Mr. Kendi in this passage:

“The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.” Kendi would say that in order to produce equity (racial groups having the same beneficial outcomes in areas such as wealth, job placement, school admission, etc.) racial discrimination is a necessary good both now and in the future. But how does this square with God’s law?

She writes: 

There is a biblical word for Kendi’s definition of “racist discrimination” and it’s “partiality.” Biblically, James 2 shows us that partiality is giving unwarranted preferential treatment to some but not others. What Kendi’s words identify as a virtue, God’s Word identifies as a sin.

Helseth also notes that our "main work as Christians" is to concentrate on "their spiritual condition before a holy God." She goes on to say:

Nor is our main work to right wrongs that don’t exist—white people are not guilty of racism for merely being white, and black people are not perpetual victims for merely being black. Rather, our work as Christians, while it is still called “Today,” is to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything [Jesus] has commanded” (Matt. 28:18–20).

Our way is a way of love - we love people because it is God's command, and He gives us the capacity to carry that out.  We look at others through spiritual eyes, and see them as people who are of inestimable worth before a holy God - people who, even though none of us deserve it - have the opportunity to know God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that God sees and knows the sparrows, and that we, as human beings, created in His image, are of more value than they.

ADVENT 11 (Boat): Navigating Stormy Waters

The association of a boat with the ministry of Jesus can actually remind us of several aspects of His life and teaching.  A boat is today's symbol in our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure from Faith Radio. For instance, Jesus chose some of His disciples from the ranks of fishermen, and invited some of them to follow Him and He would make them "fishers of men." Today's verses, from Matthew 8:23 and 26, say: “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him…He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

Here on Day 11 in our Advent Guide, we can think about our own spiritual journey and, while we would like to have smooth sailing, that certainly is not the case for the child of God. There will be trials, there will be pressures, but through them, we can know that God walks with us and that He is doing His inner work through them.

Religious faith can certainly aid people in acts of service, but in cases we have seen throughout the years, the faith of nominees to office has been questioned and chided.  Russell Vought, in his original hearing for a high-ranking position in the Office of Management and Budget, as well as Amy Coney Barrett, in her hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court, were questioned regarding their Christian faith. 

The U.S. Constitution says, “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”  Will Russell Vought, who has been nominated to be OMB Director, face similar religious harassment?

Will the nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, face religious discrimination?  Consider these three headlines from Google News from this past weekend, which one could say indicates that the secular media is working in tandem to oppose this nomination:

From Politico, there's "Pete Hegseth’s Crusade to Turn the Military into a Christian Weapon." New York Magazine's article had the headline, "Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalism Is Fair Game for Confirmation Hearings."  And, The New York Times ran an article with the headline: "Pete Hegseth and His ‘Battle Cry’ for a New Christian Crusade."

The media wants to not only paint Hegseth as a morally bankrupt individual who is unfit to serve, but a Christian who is unfit to serve.  The implications of this are enormous and if lawmakers take the bait, they are doing a dangerous constitutional dance. 

Can you say coordinated?  It's been charged - and I believe with good evidence - that the so-called "mainstream media" and leftist politicians have worked together to determine what is and what isn't acceptable in our nation.  And, a Christian who speaks out about and lives his or her faith is certainly regarded as a threat. 

The Politico article opens with a reference to an interview Hegseth did with popular podcaster Shawn Ryan.  It says:

Early in the interview, Hegseth reads aloud the dramatic tagline on the back cover of his new book, The War on Warriors: “I joined the Army to fight extremists in 2001. Twenty years later, that same Army labeled me one.” Later, Hegseth flashes his right pectoral muscle, and the tattoo that, he says, led to the label: a large, inky Jerusalem cross associated with the Christian right.

He also had another tattoo that apparently was used during the Crusades.  His orders to guard President Biden's inauguration were withdrawn.

Politico fears that Hegseth will bring His Christian faith to work, stating:

Based on numerous public statements and writings, it’s likely he will aim to undermine the military’s long-standing nonpartisan pluralism by scrubbing diversity from the ranks, banning women in combat, urging the military to choose sides in a “civil war” against “domestic enemies” on the left, and orienting the military’s mission around his fixation on the Muslim world, which he feels represents an existential threat to Western civilization.

So, if they can't get him for moral failings, some documented, some rumored, there are those who will attempt to paint him as some sort of Christian nationalist zealot.  The article says:

Since his 2021 resignation from the military, Hegseth has increasingly turned to his other tribe, Christianity. Two years ago, he moved his family from New Jersey to Tennessee, where Hegseth joined a school and church associated with reformed reconstructionism, an ideology helmed by the far-right theologian Doug Wilson.

Wilson is certainly a lightning rod and has some views that have been challenged by others in Christianity, including his desire to integrate Christian principles into governement; of course, making him a Christian nationalist. But, is the association disqualifying for Hegseth?  And, who gets to decide?  People that don't have training in theology who carry their own religious biases?

But, certainly Hegseth has been outspoken about his devotion to God.  The Politico article notes:

In a recent appearance on the “Reformation Red Pill Podcast,” Hegseth explained that a factor in his faith journey was the “wreckage of my own life,” a veiled reference, perhaps, to his multiple marriages and infidelity, which, he has written, risked “family breakdown.”

The article goes on to say: 

In his recent interview with Nashville Christian Family magazine, Hegseth acknowledged that, for a long time, “I had a Christian veneer but a secular core,” adding “many people miss Jesus by 12 inches — the distance from their head to their heart.”

On the Red Pill podcast, Hegseth said another factor was his realization that both politics and culture were downstream from religion, and that he should “start at the source.” He’s taken his own directive literally, making a series of trips in recent years to Israel, which exposed him to another pitched Middle East conflict that he views in sacred terms. It was on one of these trips, Hegseth writes, where he first spotted the Jerusalem Cross and later tattooed it on his chest “to show that my religion is front and center in my life.”

But, the article stokes fear of, well, extremism, which seems to be a popular theme in government circles over the past few years, in which people of faith have been regarded as somehow dangerous.  The article says:

Hegseth’s belligerent anti-government views, wrapped in religious crusade rhetoric, also threaten to worsen a problem of extremism in the military; according to a 2023 study by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, people with military backgrounds are now “2.41 times more likely to be classified as mass casualty offenders than individuals who did not serve in the armed forces.”

So, it seems that the coordinated campaign against Pete Hegseth wants to have it both ways - they point to questionable moral behavior in the past.  And, Biblically speaking, I think that can be a dealbreaker for Christians who desire for their government servants to exhibit a sense of morality and decorum. But, those who chided Hegseth for his moral failings and his religious fervor seem to be ignoring that fact that His devotion to Christ actually may be a contributing factor to his cleaning up these areas where there are doubts.  But, if a person is not spiritually-minded, he or she may not acknowledge the power of redemption, preferring to see religious fervor as a threat rather than a triumph over evil.

Jesus called imperfect fishermen to be His disciples; today's imagery of a boat related to Jesus can remind us that He will use those who are surrendered to Him.  That imagery also directs us to the difficulties we may face in life, including opposition because of our faith and a variety of trials which can strengthen our faith.  Jesus slept in the boat while the storms buffeted it.  The disciples didn't exhibit the calm that our Lord did - not that He was unconcerned; no, He was unfazed, solid in the face of turbulence.  That's the character of a Christian - our travels with Jesus will not always be routine, but we can know His presence wherever He leads us.

ADVENT 10 (Lilies): Who is Our Provider?

Welcome in to Day 10 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure, as we continue to walk through a variety of symbols that are related to Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used symbolism to illustrate God's amazing care for us. He said in Matthew 6, verses 28 and 29: “‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’”

In this passage, Jesus is addressing how we are clothed and underscoring the importance of relying on God's provision. We can recognize that God gives us provisions - spiritually, certainly, but we can also trust Him for physical provisions.  

And, other areas, as well, such as the areas of mental and emotional.  And, we have to be devoted to thinking Biblically, not allowing the world's ideas to corrupt and control us. 

I came across an article on The Christian Post website that can reinforce the notion of depending on the Lord for mental toughness.  The article states that the U.S. Department of Education is disproportionately handing out penalties against Christian higher education, relating:

The American Principles Project, a conservative think-tank, published a report earlier this month that cites the department’s Office of Enforcement actions against Christian schools.

According to the report, although Christian colleges and universities have fewer than 10% of students in the U.S., they make up around 70% of the penalties imposed by the Office of Enforcement.

The Policy Director for APP, Jon Schweppe, was quoted in a statement that said:

“As our report details, the Biden-Harris Department of Education has been engaged in a long-running scheme to punish Christian colleges that are ideologically opposed to the left’s agenda. The unfair targeting of these institutions has been egregious, and it needs to stop immediately..."

The article relates that already the federal Department of Education has pushed back on those charges.  And it relates that President-Elect Trump has expressed a desire to shutter that federal agency, and a U.S. Senator has introduced legislation to abolish the DOE.

The statement on the APP website charged the Department's Office of Enforcement with "advancing the...administration’s woke agenda, stating...

...the Department’s Office of Enforcement also targeted two of the nation’s most prominent Christian universities — Grand Canyon University and Liberty University — which resulted in record-level fines worth more than all penalties imposed over the past seven years combined.

At least 12 Christian colleges have been the target of excessive penalties or banned from receiving federal student aid; by comparison, no Ivy League school has been the recipient of punitive action by the Office of Enforcement. The average fine against a Christian school for a Clery Act violation was $815,000, compared to $228,571 against public and private institutions.

This can certainly be discouraging for Christian schools, who receive taxpayer funding - through the Federal Student Aid program, as the APP report points out.  Therefore, these schools, since they receive federal funds, can have governmental oversight exercised over them.  And, if the agenda is not favorable toward the teaching of Christian principles, well, the door is open for intrusive officials to clamp down on these schools that embrace, to some extent, a differing ideology. 

There are distinct purposes for government that are outlined in the Bible, and we appreciate the services that those who work in our federal, state, and municipal governments to serve their communities for the right reasons. But, we recognize that some are doing it for the wrong reasons, and put themselves at odds with the good of the community by restricting the free expression of religious faith. 

We also recognize that, culturally speaking, we may have looked to the government as our provider, rather than to the Lord, and by so doing, we have found that the size and scope of government has increased.  The Church has been charged with cultural transformation by reaching out to those in their communities they are called to serve. 

Jesus taught us to look to God as our provider, the one who clothes the lilies of the field.  We can set the example of trusting in Him and being generous so that others might come face-to-face with God's blessings.  In this season in which we reflect on the generous nature of God, we can demonstrate to those with whom we interact a benevolent God, who loves abundantly and unconditionally, whose ways are right and true. 

ADVENT 9 (Water): Alive in Him

We are now on Day 9 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure on Faith Radio, exploring symbols associated with the life of Jesus. Yesterday, for Day 8, we highlighted the Temple. It's referred to in Luke chapter 2, verses 27 and 28, stating: “[Simeon] came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus…he took Him up in his arms and blessed God…" The relationship between Jesus and the Temple is an important one, because it relates for us the connection between the Old and New Covenants. As He said, He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.  

Today's symbol is water.  And, I thought it would be great to highlight the significance of water baptism, in which Jesus participated. Mark 1 states at the time of His baptism: “...coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’"

We find that spiritual cleansing is an important concept from Scripture.  And, Jesus referred to the "living water" that can flow through our lives through the Holy Spirit.  

At Christmas, we can reflect on the transformation from old to new - we are new creatures in Christ, 2nd Corinthians 5 says, and when we sin, we can come to Jesus our Advocate, confess our sins and be cleansed, forgiven by Him.

Janet Taylor Gwyn experienced that cleansing, according to a Christian Post article, which says:

After one woman's life spiraled so out of control that she became addicted to crack cocaine and resorted to prostitution to pay for drugs, she was arrested and served time in jail, where she cried out to God for salvation.

Janet Taylor Gwyn never imagined she would have a life-changing encounter with God behind bars or that talking to her Savior would lead to lasting physical and spiritual healing that would forever change her life.

Gwyn shared her testimony for an episode of Delafé Testimonies, a YouTube channel with over 700,000 subscribers that aims to have the largest archive of Christian testimonies.

Janet's mother died at age 4, and she and her sisters were sent to live with their grandmother.  The article relates:

Five years later, her grandmother died, and the girls were sent to live with an aunt. Gwyn said that although her aunt raised her and her sisters in a Christian home, she didn’t have many Christian role models and witnessed ungodly acts in that household.

At age 14, she started to become sexually active, and started using drugs when she was 16.  After a stint in the Navy, she began a less-than-successful modeling career.  She became deeply involved in crack cocaine, and ultimately had given birth to three children out of wedlock.  She even turned to prostitution.  Finally, the downward spiral stopped; the article notes that she said, “I was just in and out of jail ... I continued living this way until 1994. I had been in jail many other times before. … Whenever I got out, I went back to my old ways. But this time, in 1994, something really phenomenal took place in my life..." She added, "I met the Lord Jesus in jail, and it was the last place I expected Him to be. But He was there.”  Here's how it happened:

One day, while working laundry duty in jail, Gwyn said she heard a Gospel song on the radio and broke down and started praying to God for forgiveness.

“I just began to weep. I just felt like, they're singing my song. I put the laundry down, and I walked over to the radio, and I began to just pour my heart out to God. I began to tell him that I was sorry. And I began to ask Him to forgive me and not to let me die and go to Hell. Because this particular time was different from any other time I had been to jail. I was at the point of death,” Gwyn said.

Things changed dramatically for Janet Taylor Gwyn. Even though her three children were removed from her, she later reconciled with them.  She became a teacher, later the principal of a Christian school. She even got a doctorate.  She relates:

“It all starts with Jesus. When you put your life in His hand, you will be so amazed at what He creates, what He does. What He brings out of the mess and out of the rottenness. You'll be so amazed at how He transforms all of that into a masterpiece for His namesake, and for His glory. This is what I want people to know.”

The trajectory of Janet's life was certainly not positive - in fact, she was on the "broad way" to destruction that the Bible speaks of.  But, she experienced a divine intervention - and the Lord used Christian radio in her life to interrupt her decline.  

We can recognize that, if we are not trusting Christ with our lives, our wrong decisions and actions will cause deterioration in our lives.  We have to examine the direction our lives are heading and make sure that we are drawing closer to Him every day.  If not, the currents of this world will sweep us away.

In an act of obedience to His Father and an example to us, Jesus submitted Himself to be baptized of water.  For the believer, this is an outward expression of the inward work of the Spirit, the one who gives us living water, providing the inner fortitude to walk in obedience to the Lord.  His living water quenches our spiritual thirst and provides tremendous freedom in Christ.

ADVENT 6 (Frankincense): Deified

We are walking through our 25-day Faith Radio Advent Guide, our Christmas Advent-ure, if you will, and we are continuing to explore the three gifts that were presented by the Wise Men to Jesus, according to Matthew 2, which states:
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Yesterday, I related an excerpt from the book, Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado, found on the FaithGateway.com website, in which he wrote:

Behold the first Christian worshippers. The simple dwelling became a cathedral. Seekers of Christ found Him and knelt in His presence. They gave Him gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for his burial.

Today's symbol of the life and ministry of Jesus is frankincense.  Tomorrow, the symbol is myrrh.

So why frankincense?  At Crosswalk.com, Scott James wrote: 

Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that is still widely used in parts of the Middle East and Africa today. It is produced by scraping the bark of certain native species of trees and then harvesting the beads of resin after they have dried. When burned as incense, it creates a strong and beautiful aroma. In the ancient near east, the cost of frankincense precluded it from being used as a common household air freshener. Rather, the burning of frankincense was closely associated with ceremonial worship of a deity. In this way, the inclusion of frankincense as a gift for Jesus may have indicated that the wise men understood that the prophecy of the newborn king carried with it a claim of deity.

He adds: 

According to Exodus 30, however, not just any incense would do. A specific recipe of spices mixed with “pure frankincense” (v. 34) was to be consecrated as “pure and holy” (v.35) and was the only incense permitted at the altar. A speculative parallel can be drawn between this and Jesus’ life as a pure and holy offering to the Lord.

The correlation between incense and the presence of Jesus in our lives can be found in 2nd Corinthians 2, which says:
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.

The presentation of frankincense can remind us of the deity of God.  The Bible tells us we are to have no other gods before Him.  That means that He and He alone is the One whom we worship.  And, we are not to become mixed up in idolatry - graven images, inanimate objects - or deify human beings and put them on a pedestal that is intended only to be inhabited by God. 

I came across a rather unique headline recently at the Religion News website. In part, it says: "...evangelical Christians come to Broadway."  So, what's up with that?

The opening paragraph, is certainly a show-stopper:

On a weeknight just half a block from Times Square, theatergoers can watch as Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell Sr. grips his mic for his big solo number, Billy Graham spins into a dance break and Pentecostal televangelist Tammy Faye, in her signature statement makeup, belts an 11 o’clock number.

The Broadway musical is called: Tammy Faye: A New Broadway Musical, and for those familiar with the Christian television empire with Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker at the helm, an "empire" that certainly drifted from submission to Christ, one could say it is certainly a cautionary tale.

But, the Broadway producers have a different idea.  The article says that the musical...

...opened at the Palace Theater, and it’s every bit as glitzy and sentimental as you’d hope for in a show about Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Bakker), the charismatic evangelist-turned-gay icon.

It added: 

With a soaring score from the legendary Elton John, the show casts Falwell and his ilk as villains, Jim Bakker as an insecure, miscreant husband and Tammy as the sparkly, open-hearted heroine. The result is a wildly entertaining, if cursory, exploration of the events surrounding the Bakkers’ rise and fall, and an effective celebration of Tammy Faye’s love-filled legacy and outreach to the gay community.

The article went on to say:

Despite the couple’s public downfall (caused in part by financial scandals, Tammy Faye’s rumored drug addiction and allegations of sexual abuse against Jim Bakker), the Bakkers — and Tammy Faye in particular, who died from cancer in 2007 — are experiencing something of a pop culture revival, thanks to the 2021 film starring Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain.

And, the article points out that the director has an agenda to pursue:

In 2022, ahead of the musical’s West End debut, director Rupert Goold told The Guardian that the show “has something politically to say now,” particularly given what he described as religiously motivated “policing of civil liberties and people’s bodies.”

“We’re in a really interesting time regarding faith and belief, with the repealing of Roe v Wade in various [US] states and the return of the idea of faith-based morality or legislation,” he said. While the show’s characterization of 20th-century fundamentalists easily betrays the political leanings of the show’s creators, perhaps a satirical approach is necessary for a musical covering 20 years of religious history in two and a half hours.

So, there you have it, and Religion News reminds the reader that it is "clear who the audience is supposed to root for." The article begins to wind down with these words:

In a musical that will be known more for its dazzling vocals and enthralling musical numbers than its historical precision, nuance is perhaps most apparent in the choice of Tammy Faye as subject in the first place. In an age of either/or, a musical about a conservative evangelical known for her faith as much as her LGBTQ advocacy is as refreshing and provocative today as Tammy Faye was in her heyday.

In an age described in the book of Isaiah where people call good evil and evil good, this is a stunning example of the attempted deification of a couple who, I readily admit, could have had a call of God on their lives, but squandered their anointing for fame and financial prosperity.  And, Jim and new wife Lori Bakker are still on the Christian media scene.  He wrote a book a while back called, I Was Wrong.  Perhaps he has experienced true repentance before God, a repentance to which all of us are invited when we miss the mark.

The PTL scandal and others in Christian media illustrated the need for greater accountability for Christian ministries.  Out of that season, an organization was launched called the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, or ECFA.  Faith Radio is a member that organization, communicating the message that we, before God, desire to reflect Him and His financial principles in the way we do ministry,  The ECFA website notes:

It was the late 1970s and one of the biggest problems in the United States at the time is what President Jimmy Carter described as a "Crisis of confidence." This was true not just in the broader American culture, but even among nonprofit and religious organizations. Concerns were raised that donations weren't being used for what the organizations promised during their fundraising. Donors had nowhere to look to make sure the Christian organizations desiring their support were operating with financial integrity.

In the fall of 1977, Senator Mark Hatfield called in friends from World Vision and from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He urged them and other ministry leaders to find a way to self-regulate, or face the potential threat of government intervention. As a result, ECFA was formed, standards were established, and a visionary and faithful group of 150 charter members committed to operating within the high standards.

But, Christian accountability, while certainly a by-product of the Bakkers and a lesson to be learned from their story, doesn't seem to be the ambition of those involved in the Tammy Faye Musical. Far from exalting God, there seems to be an exaltation of Tammy Faye as a cultural icon, perhaps misunderstood, perhaps a victim. But Tammy Faye's extravangance, the self-serving approach of her and her husband, as well as her embrace of the LGBT agenda show us that in the name of "ministry," something more sinister was seemingly at work. 

We realize that people in ministry are flawed individuals who are chosen by God to be used by Him. He wants all believers to humble ourselves, so that He might fill an empty vessel with His love and truth. The characters in this musical - many of them high-profile, household names in Christendom, are twisted into a tapestry to attempt to discredit evangelical Christianity.

But, the gospel is stronger than the shortcomings of its ministers. Myself included.  We certainly have to be discerning regarding the preachers, pastors and teachers to whom we submit. And, we should never exalt them above God.  The Bakkers show us that discernment is necessary as we walk through this life, and that is related to the degree of our knowledge of the Word itself.  We need to be studying and meditating on God's Word daily, so that we can grow in Him.  The Wise Men brought frankincense, that can remind us of the holiness of Almighty God. 

ADVENT 5 (Gold): Living Without Hope

We are now on Day 5 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure on Faith Radio, as we work our way through this year's Advent Guide, found in the center of our latest Ministry Magazine, which can be viewed online at FaithRadio.org.  We are exploring various "symbols" related to the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.

Today we go to the story of the Wise Men who visited Jesus, seeking out a King which was associated with a "star in the East." In Matthew 2, we read:
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

3 gifts; 3 powerful symbols.  In an excerpt from his book, Because of Bethlehem, found on the FaithGateway.com website, Max Lucado writes:

Behold the first Christian worshippers. The simple dwelling became a cathedral. Seekers of Christ found Him and knelt in His presence. They gave Him gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for his burial.

They found the Christ because they heeded the sign and believed the scripture.

Today's symbol is gold.  Gold is a precious metal, and as Max says, representative of a king.

I think of the Scripture passage in Psalm 19, that says:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

It's a reminder that we serve a King who is not of this world, and the riches of His Kingdom far exceed the world, its wealth, and its ways.

This is illustrated through a piece at The Daily Signal website. Managing Editor Tyler O'Neil writes:

The legacy media often portrays the rise of irreligion as harmless—merely a matter of Americans owning up to their declining belief in God—but a groundbreaking new study reveals a terrifying correlation between the increase of Americans who identify with no religion and upticks in rape and suicide rates.

Dr. Philip Truscott was a professor of sociology at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, for 10 years. O'Neil writes: "The academic journal Journal of Sociology and Christianity published Truscott’s abstract 'Rape, Suicide, and the Rise of Religious Nones,' in its fall 2024 edition."  The article states:

In the paper, Truscott compares five sets of data: the rape reports colleges and universities submit to the Department of Education, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (where police departments report rapes), the Pew Religious Landscape Survey from 2014 (where respondents identified their religion as “none”), the Public Religion Research Institute’s surveys from 2014 onward (where respondents recorded their religious affiliation as “unaffiliated”), and the suicide rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Truscott’s analysis showed a very clear correlation between increases in the rate of Americans identifying as religious “nones” and rape and suicide rates.

The study is for the years 2014-2020.  2020 was essentially an outlier due to COVID; 2015 also showed less of a correlation.

O'Neil also notes: "Truscott also finds that an increase in the suicide rate corresponded to the increase in the rate of 'nones,' though not as closely. The nationwide suicide rate increased alongside the UCR rape rate, with a far greater correlation."  The Daily Signal article notes:

Truscott’s study finds a large correlation between the suicide rate and the Uniform Crime Report rape rate across America between 2014 and 2019, and suicides are predominantly male in that period (between 76.9% and 78.4%). He notes that “one tangible indicator of declining male self-control (the suicide rate) makes it plausible that another indicator of declining male self-control (actual rape attacks) might be varying in the same direction.”

He cites a 2012 study finding that non-religious people tend to drink more alcohol and use more illegal drugs. He cites a 2010 study finding that binge-drinking, marijuana, and illicit drugs are associated with increased probabilities that the user will commit rape, “in which case these victimless crimes succeeded in finding victims.”

Truscott is quoted as saying: “To put it another way, some nonreligious men made a short moral step into substance use and then, in a diminished state of self-control, made a much larger one into criminality..."  He also included previous statistics, in the language of the Daily Signal article, "demonstrating that religiosity corresponds with self-control."

The Bible teaches us that no one is righteous; despite the world's attempts to deny it, no one is basically good - we need a Savior to transform our lives and reform our behavior.  Rejection and disobedience lead to unbiblical outcomes, some of which are criminal in nature, as Philip Truscott notes. 

So, it's not too far of a stretch to see how a number of those rejecting organized religion, who are not participants in the nature and holiness of God, can allow their lives to descend into despair and degradation.  If we want to live a life of true joy and satisfaction, we need the presence of Almighty God through Jesus Christ.  If we pursue the ways and philosophies of this world, we will respond with worldly behaviors.  

The Wise Men brought gold to this new King, which can be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the true riches that can be found in Him. He offers us so much more than the world has to offer.  The riches of the Kingdom of God are far more valuable than worldly wealth.

ADVENT 4 (Star): Shining Like Stars

Today is Day 4 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure, as we focus on some of the symbolism that we see related to the earthly life and ministry of Jesus. We are working through some of the symbols of the Christmas story, and in Matthew 2, we read about the journey of the wise men:
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

The symbolism of the star can remind us of the guidance of God in our spiritual journeys and His hand in orchestrating events, that we see manifested through people, places, and things surrounding the birth of Christ. I also want to point to this Scripture passage:
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

Another translation uses the word, "stars," rather than "lights."

A Christian Post article contains some rather alarming information; stating:

In schools across Northern Ireland, students are finding it more challenging to reveal their Christian faith than their sexual orientation, according to testimony provided during an ongoing inquiry into Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) at Stormont.

David Smyth, a representative of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, told the Education Committee that some young people find it “much more difficult now to come out as an Evangelical Christian in school than it is to come out as LGBT,” according to the BBC.

Smyth's comments came as part of a discussion on the content and delivery of RSE in Northern Irish schools, Premier Christian News noted.

The Premier website quoted Smyth as saying: "This is not the experience of all Christian young people or trying to play them off against young LGBT people in terms of victimhood. Some Christian young people in some schools feel that is more difficult to come out as an evangelical Christian than as gay among their friends."

The Christian Post article went on to say that "Smyth referred to a report by Conservative MP Miriam Cates on RSE in England and Wales, citing examples of 'age-inappropriate material being taught in RSE on issues like sexual practices which may be dangerous or even illegal...'" The Christian Post also reported that Smyth "pointed out that some RSE materials also contained 'scientifically inaccurate content which confuses and conflates biological sex with gender identity.'” Smyth also said that, "there are some specific areas where the views of Evangelical Christians, and many Catholics and Muslims, are very distinctive, for example abortion.”  The article noted:

The teaching of access to abortion and prevention of early pregnancy is set to become compulsory for all post-primary schools in Northern Ireland, following regulations laid in Parliament by former Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in 2023.

Now, Smyth reportedly said that he is not trying to start a culture war and that there are areas of "common ground" regarding relationships. The Christian Post article referred to a BBC report that quoted Smyth as saying: "We're not looking to fight a culture war where children are the casualties..." I would submit that the culture war is here, there is a dramatic assault on truth rooted in the Scriptures, and that, while, finding areas of commonality with non-believers sounds admirable, we have to be careful not to compromise God's standards. 

And, apparently, Christian young people are indeed finding themselves as casualties, if they are being intimidated into silence. While cultural narratives, such as acceptance of the gay lifestyle, are dominant these days, we must recognize that, while being compassionate toward those who embrace the LGBT lifestyle, we have a distinctly different viewpoint about the sinfulness in which they are living.  So, we can pray for our young people to be bold and to be convinced in our hearts and minds about what the Word of God teaches regarding sinful behavior.  By living a distinctive life, demonstrating the love and truth of the Lord, all of us can shine - like stars, who provide hope and guidance to a lost and confused world.