Light to the Community

The place where we live is certainly where God intends for us to do ministry; perhaps around us are divine appointments, people to whom we can share the love of Jesus. In Acts 16, we can find these words:
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,
12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.

Paul was called to go to Macedonia, and a variety of cities on His journeys.  He recognized the direction of the Spirit and was dedicated to fulfilling what God had called Him to do.  The place where we live does represent a mission field - in the context of Acts 1, in which Jesus referred to being a witness in Jerusalem, adjacent areas: Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, we can be reminded that there is spiritual business to take care of here at home.

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I really desire to see churches be a light to their communities, providing not only spiritual teaching and encouragement, but ministering to mental and physical needs, as well. We can recognize that God has placed us in certain locales to be used on Him. Acts 17 states:
24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us...

There are some interesting statistics that are reported on the Barna Group website. The summary of a recent survey says that, "...recent Barna research shows that, except for one major area of concern, adults residing in metro areas don’t see the church as responsible for addressing community issues."

The website notes:

While metro residents see much of the good work done by local churches, they don’t feel that churches should solely or even primarily carry the burden of helping their communities. The Church is seen as one piece of the puzzle.

When asked about the institutions in a community that are "responsible" to create meaningful change, 75% of respondents said, "Local government."  Slightly less of those who are "churched" had that reaction.  And, we recognize that government does have a role and responsibility to bring that change that could be described as "meaningful."  There's a drop-off after than, with just under half of those surveyed saying that families can bring about that sort of change.

But, you have to scroll down quite a bit to find the perception of the faith element: 22% said that "Religious organizations" are responsible, and 18% said that "Christian churches" were.  Respondents who identified as "churched" viewed those categories significantly higher: 40% and 37%, respectively. 

The Barna Group survey summary went on to say:

Across the board, Christian churches and religious organizations are not the first groups that city dwellers think of as well suited to address a range of issues. While churched adults are slightly more inclined to feel churches and religious organizations could create meaningful change or tackle key concerns, they still favor the experience and leadership of other political or civil bodies.

One standout, however, is that metro residents both inside and outside the Church think Christian churches are well positioned to address the problem of loneliness. This finding is notable, both for highlighting the top issue locals entrust to churches and as a sign of common ground in perceptions among the churched and unchurched.

But even then, only 28% of churched and 17% of unchurched people viewed the Church as a conduit through which loneliness could be addressed.  Far less - 10% or less in both categories - saw that the Church has a role in addressing racism, homelessness, community building, and hunger.  In fact, less than 5% of unchurched individuals saw that the Church could play a role in addressing those issues.

So, we have to ask a very important question: what are we doing here?  Certainly, we are called to live our lives to the glory of God and to shine the light of Christ.  That includes sharing our faith - but part of that is getting involved in addressing needs around us - in a variety of areas.  This survey doesn't necessarily show the Church is not addressing those areas, but very few seem to see it.  Could mean they're not looking for it.  But, all in all, people do not see the Church in a holistic manner - our love for others, when it is being shown, is apparently not getting people's attention. 

There will be things done in secret, no doubt, that will touch a life or a family in a profound way and no one outside of the recipient and provider will know.  And, we certainly shouldn't do good works just to be seen.  But, if our hearts are right and we are leveraging the unique position that we have, churches should be very visible in showing the love of Jesus.  Some will not see, but I think we should be involved in works that create a buzz, that cause people to talk about matters of faith - a tangible faith that shows the presence of God through us.

Free to Pray

I believe that we are called to maintain a sense of consistent fellowship with our Heavenly Father and to engage in persistent prayer. James chapter 5 states:
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

There are incredible things that we can experience as we come before the Father in prayer - in the name of Jesus.  Hebrews 4 tells us that we have access to the throne of grace, so that we might receive mercy and grace that will help us. We are invited in Philippians 4 to present our requests before the Lord. In an age in which prayer is being frowned upon in certain circumstances, we can be diligent and resolute to make prayer a priority, a foundational practice for our lives.

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The Bible instructs and encourages us to engage in consistent prayer - 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 states:
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We have a Savior who is available to hear our prayers at any moment, and we should be diligent to come before the Father in the name of Jesus throughout our day.

But, it seems there are European officials who desire to place a restriction on that consistent prayer.  In the aftermath of regulations in the United Kingdom that forbid silent prayer in front of abortion clinics, Germany has followed suit with its own potential curbs on freedom of expression.

The Christian Post reports:

Christians in Germany are expressing their concerns over a proposed bill that aims to establish censorship zones around abortion facilities, potentially penalizing pro-life prayers and offers of help, with fines up to €5,000, or $6,300. The bill, criticized for its vague language and questionable necessity, seeks to prevent actions the government deems “confusing” or “disturbing” within 100 meters of such facilities.

The international arm of Alliance Defending Freedom, ADF International, has spoken out against this proposal; the article notes:

The bill is ambiguous and lacks evidence supporting the need for this legislation, the rights group ADF International says, pointing out the government’s admission of lacking concrete data on incidents near abortion facilities.

The group draws parallels with the U.K.’s experience, where similar buffer zones have led to legal challenges against individuals praying near abortion clinics, referring to the Public Spaces Protection Orders in the U.K. The PSPOs threaten free speech and the right to peaceful prayer, the group adds.

German attorney Felix Böllmann, Director of European Advocacy for ADF International, responded by saying:

“The right to peacefully pray is protected by international and national law. No matter one’s opinion on abortion, everyone suffers when we start to censor the right to speak freely, pray or engage in consensual conversations,” he said. “The federal government wants to ban something but doesn’t know what or why. This law doesn’t ban ‘confusion,’ it creates more of it — both for citizens trying to understand the law and police officers who will have to enforce any vague new prohibitions.”

The Christian Post article quotes from Family Minister Lisa Paus of the Green Party, who "introduced the draft law last month, aiming to balance freedom of expression with the protection of women seeking advice at abortion clinics and family planning centers from harassment, as reported by DW." She seemed to equate the presence of praying pro-life people at clinics as perpetrating “hatred and agitation.” She said, “That’s why we are striking a balance between freedom of expression and the right of assembly..."

So, where's the balance?  Where's the commitment to allowing "freedom of expression?"  It seems to me like an effort to silence people of faith who earnestly believe in the power of prayer.

Ludwig Bruhl, a spokesman for ADF International, is quoted at its website, stating, "...this is just an excuse to marginalize, punish and censor certain opinions. Pro-life volunteers are there to pray, or to offer information about help available to women who would like to consider other options than abortion.” The site notes: "The draft bill is currently with the Federal Council and is still open for amendments. It will be voted on in the parliament." Plus, there is not statistical data to warrant such action - the ADF International website notes that, "the responsible Ministry recently admitted: 'The federal government does not have any concrete numerical findings' that would support the need for such a far-reaching bill."

This story can be a reminder to us to keep praying.  Wherever we are, whatever time of day, we can continue to be persistent in prayer.  And, just like Daniel, there may be consequences for our obedience to God - in an increasingly hostile atmosphere, harassment may occur.  Just like Coach Kennedy experienced when he would pray with gratitude to God - but then after years of court action, his actions were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Praying is always the right thing to do.

But, do we do it enough?  I would think not.  We have to be careful not to be complacent or stuck in routine; rather we can make prayer a key part of our routine.  And, by doing so, we can experience a level of enthusiasm from which we can draw supernatural strength.  We will see God move in powerful ways as we accept His invitation to come before His throne, realizing that He is with us.

Not "Getting" It

In the book of John, we can see the narrative and observations of a man who walked closely with Jesus, who saw the true Jesus up close and personal. Through the writings of the Scriptures, we see the true Jesus, the Savior of the World, who died for us, rose from the dead, lives in the hearts of His people, and is our source of truth. John chapter 1 contains these words:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Notice the word, "truth," is found twice in those four verses - there is something that God wants us to get here. In an age in which it is all-too-common to reduce Jesus to a good teacher - which He was - or some kind of activist, there are those who fail to recognize or acknowledge that Jesus' earthly life was an example to us, as well as a precursor to His become the perfect sacrifice for...wait for it...sin. We are sinners, and Jesus came to save us, fill us with His Spirit, and empower us to live His truth.

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It seems to me that there are plenty of people out there who are OK with Jesus, yet they don't obey His teachings or even regard Him as the embodiment of absolute truth. We can read this in John chapter 14:
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Jamie Bambrick is Associate Pastor of Hope Church Craigavon in Northern Ireland. According to The Christian Post, he "makes occasional YouTube videos about theological and cultural topics." A recent video he made garnered over 2 million views on X within a week after it was released.

He is quoted as saying, "It's been a little bit crazy, I'm going to be honest," adding, "I've not gone viral anywhere near this level before. It's been good, but incredibly positive and incredibly well-received, which has been a real blessing."  The article says:

His video features portraits of Christians who have prominent testimonies regarding how they turned away from a sinful lifestyle.

The video includes black-and-white slides of individuals, including: "Kat Von D, a tattoo artist and TV personality who became a Christian after renouncing witchcraft; Josh Timonen, who became a Christian after helping atheist Richard Dawkins write a book against God; John Bruchalski, an abortionist turned OB/GYN; and Steven Bancarz, who repented of New Age practices." Former Meeting House guests Laura Perry, a women who once had identified as a man, and former lesbian Rosaria Butterfield were also part of the lineup.

The Christian Post says: 

The ad concludes with the message: "Jesus doesn't just get us. He saves us. He transforms us. He cleanses us. He restores us. He forgives us. He heals us. He delivers us. He redeems us. He loves us. Such were some of you."

The video was made by Pastor Bambrick in response to one of those "He Gets Us" ads, one of the ads that ran during the Super Bowl, about which he says, 

"I think a lot of Bible-believing Christians viewed [the 'He Get Us' ad] and went, 'You know what, this just isn't a reflection of the Gospel, and it's not a reflection of our heart toward the lost, either,'" Bambrick said. "It seemed to be almost a condemnation of Bible-believing Christians. That was the implication that I think a reasonable person would have gotten from watching it."

The article noted:

The "He Gets Us" ad, which was titled "Foot Washing," featured a slideshow of people washing other people's feet. Some high-profile Evangelicals took issue with the apparent undertone of some of the images, which included left-wing protesters, a priest washing the feet of an apparent homosexual, and a woman washing the feet of a younger woman outside an abortion clinic while pro-life protesters in the background ignored them.

The ad concluded by emblazoning the on-screen message: "Jesus didn't teach hate. He washed feet. He gets us. All of us."

CBN.com also covered Bambrick's ad and the motivation for it, relating: 

“I felt like the original advert was a missed opportunity of sorts,” Bambrick said of the NFL spot. “I felt like it may have been well-intentioned … there’s a degree of truth there that Jesus loves and serves everybody.”

But he said he doesn’t believe the message presented in the original video is the best and most effective message that could have been conveyed.

“I think it missed some of the key points that we would want to get across,” Bambrick said. “Essentially, what it came across as doing was putting a sort of Jesus-shaped stamp of approval on the ideas, the values, and the actions of our generation and that are common today, which, in many cases are not things of which Jesus is approving.”

Just before the Super Bowl, Christian apologist Natasha Crain wrote an updated article on the campaign:

As I said in last year’s article, the Jesus of this campaign is nothing more than an inspiring human who relates to our problems and cares a whole lot about a culturally palatable version of social justice (the exception to this is in parts of the reading plan, which I’ll address in the next point). This has not changed since I last wrote. My points then remain true now: The fact that Jesus “gets us,” stripped from the context of His identity, is meaningless; Jesus is presented as an example, not a Savior; The campaign reinforces the problematic idea that Jesus’s followers have Jesus all wrong; And the campaign reinforces what culture wants to believe about Jesus while leaving out what culture doesn’t want to believe.

And, that's the rub: as it's been said, there are some who believe Jesus is a great teacher, a great guy, socially-conscious, enlightened in His thinking - but they don't obey what He teaches.  Essentially, those who buy into this visage of a "great teacher" don't embrace His teaching and may not even view Him as the Savior.  

As you'll hear Pastor Jeff Schreve of From His Heart on Faith Radio discuss on Thursday's Meeting House program, we have to develop discernment.  To misrepresent Jesus in an attempt to win people to a saving knowledge of Him, to me, seems irresponsible.  We have to make sure that we are portraying our Savior in a manner that brings glory to Him and is consistent with Scripture.  We must do more in this chaotic culture to do better than just putting, as Pastor Bambrick states, a "Jesus-stamp" on what He may, in fact, not approve of.

Finding Refuge

Whatever causes us pain, in our times in which we feel discouraged or weak, we can recognize the nearness of God and rely on His strength. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 12, Paul is relating about what he terms a "thorn in the flesh," something he asked God to remove. In that chapter, we can find these words:
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In our times of discouragement, we can press into the Lord and call upon His name - we can be reminded of His presence with us and the strength that is available to be released within us. We can learn to rejoice, even when He might seem far away from us. When we experience loss, God is near to address the void that we feel. Through His Word and our fellowship with Him, we can be reminded that He has powerful resources that He alone can give. 

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When we suffer, we can continue to wait upon the Lord and trust Him with our future. We can know that He is near to us, even when we may not see the manifestation of His will. Habakkuk chapter 2 addresses our attitude during a season of waiting:
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

Daniel was only 30 when his wife passed away.  At The Christian Heart website, he shared about the journey that began at that point:

I was 30 years old when my wife, Lyndsie, went home to Heaven after a 10-year battle with cancer, leaving me with two young kids. I walked out of that Emergency Room on August 28, 2015 without her, wondering how I would explain to our kids that their momma would not be coming home. I couldn’t believe this was my reality.

In the weeks that followed, I was surrounded by people who loved me and my kids well. They sat with me, listened, brought meals, wrote encouraging notes, sent gift cards and helped with the kids. It was clear that our community was doing their best to hold me and the kids up, and we were so grateful for the ways they showed up for us. But as time went on, the outpouring of love slowed down to a trickle. Understandably, life went back to normal for most of them.

But, not unexpectedly, Daniel continued to struggle - he really desired another young widower to walk beside him or to become part of a like-minded community.  That did not come. He wrote:

I made an agreement with God that if He would bring widowers across my path, I would always do my best to walk alongside them so they wouldn’t have to walk alone through the loneliest season of their life.

Although I didn’t have a widower walking with me in that season, God was gracious to surround me a handful of people who committed to keep showing up in that painful and awkward season.

After two years, he remarried, and God began to develop in his heart and mind a community of widowers to provide encouragement for one another.  He stated:

Almost two years later, I remarried to Brittany, a young widow with three young children who entered her season of grief at almost the same time as me. Shortly after our wedding, I met a widower my age named Davey, and our first conversation went on for hours. I always thought I was the only one experiencing these feelings but my time with him made me realize that I wasn’t the only one navigating the twists and turns of grief. Davey understood the unique pain of a young widower, including raising children as a solo parent. It was incredibly helpful.

Over time, God started putting more young widowers in my path. Almost all of them had similar experiences of being surrounded by loving friends and family, but not by widowers who understood their struggles. It became clear that widowers everywhere were walking on their own through the hardest season of their life.

That brought to mind the promise that Daniel had made to the Lord; he said, "I remembered what I had promised God during some of my earliest days of grief: to walk alongside other young widowers if given the chance." So, a ministry was formed, called, Refuge Widowers. Daniel said: "Our mission was focused on bringing together a faith-based community of widowers who point each other to Jesus, give authentic encouragement, share trail-tested insights, and commit to not wasting their pain."

One of the initiatives of the ministry is the three-day retreat.  Daniel wrote:

We’re not way ahead of these guys, shouting encouragement back to them. We are up close, guiding them towards Jesus in practical ways.

We teach them how to tell their story in a way that honors their wife and points others to Jesus, especially since many widowers are asked to share their story on various platforms.

We help them navigate their relationships with God, their children and extended family, as well as offer guidance regarding spiritual growth, rest, accountability, healthy routines, discipline, and even dating with kids and remarriage.

This story can provide a reminder for us that God demonstrates His sufficiency, even in our times of loss. He provides the resources we need when we are deficient - and in our weakness, as 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 reminds us, He is our strength.  

We can also recognize that the fulfillment of God's call is not always immediate.  Daniel sensed that God was calling him to bring men in a similar situation to his together, but it didn't manifest itself until later. In our humanity, we can want to bring about God's will in our timing.  Yet, God desires for us to wait on Him, so that His plan is brought to pass in His timing, in His way. 

From Gambling to God

It's important to examine our behavior in the light of Scripture and make sure that we are not engaging in nor supporting activity that doesn't line up. In John 3, Jesus says:
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

There is a difference between personal preference, or matters of conscience, and participation or endorsement of what the Bible determines to be sin.  I don't believe that the poor financial stewardship of the activity known as gambling represents the light of Christ, and it is not something that we should endorse as Christians, because it is harmful, addictive, and aligns with what the Bible teaches as "darkness."  Yet, there are those in government that want more of it in our state.  We have to pray and speak out about cultural trends that do not represent the heart of God.

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The Bible instructs to flee from activity that doesn't bring glory to God and to expose what it calls "evil deeds of darkness," in a passage from Ephesians 5:
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

On his 21st birthday, in Las Vegas, John Simmons entered a room that would change his life - but not for the better; that's according to the God Reports website, which says:

“There’s no better feeling than putting in a wad of money in your pocket knowing you didn’t really do anything to earn it,” says Simmons on a CBN video. “There’s a lot of adrenaline that builds up in your heart. The feeling of chasing that moment is intense.”

It was the start of a decade-long gambling addiction that saw John, from St. Louis, Missouri, fall into more than $200,000 of debt, depression and hopelessness.

But, it started out OK, or so it seemed: John worked in the casino industry as a dealer. He says:

“Gambling gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me a sense of identity,” John says. “I would be a person that could be seen by others as a multimillionaire. If I wasn’t working, I was playing. If I wasn’t playing, I was sleeping.”

And, while he was playing, he got played - to the tune of greater than $200,000 of debt. And, catch how this cycle of deception works; he says, "In my mind, it wasn’t that I was failing. I just needed to keep going and figure out how to fix it,” adding, “If only I could win the next thing, none of these losses matter. I would spend my entire paycheck over the course of a weekend trying to chase my debts. A lot of times, I had zero dollars in my pocket."

So, he was addicted. He went into a group for gamblers, tried to get "clean," but he started over again and thought about ending his life. That is, until he really ended his life - by losing his life and embracing the new life only possible through Jesus Christ. 

According to the God Reports article, John said: “I didn’t know who Jesus was,...I said, ‘God, if You’re real, I need you to show a future and hope for my life because I just don’t have one anymore.’” The article relates:

God responded.

“The kingdom of Heaven is upon you,” the Father said.

“That meant nothing to me. I didn’t understand those words in any way, shape or form,” he says.

But he thumbed through a Bible and read the Book of Matthew.

He hit Matthew 3:2: “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is upon you.”

John was stunned. The same words he heard without understanding were written in the Bible.

“I was like, ‘God is real, He’s talking to me,’” he says.

John cried out to God: “God, I’ve messed up. I’ve done bad things, and I don’t want to do those things anymore. I need Your help. I need You to forgive me.”

He committed his life to Jesus Christ and was born-again.

Fast-forward: the article says that, "In a couple of years, John paid off his gambling debts. He married and had two kids...He launched a weekly radio program and podcast to reach out to fellow gamblers." His Instagram page says that he started a ministry called Testimony House, and serves on the staff of a church in St. Louis.

The Bible instructs us not to participate in "works of darkness" that it describes as "unfruitful." So, there is a two-fold call for the believer in Christ who seeks to be salt and light, as Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 5.  We are called not only to reject the darkness and shine the light of Christ to overcome it personally, but we are to do so culturally, as well - we must be concerned for our personal behavior and exhibit compassion for what is occurring in culture that would meet the criteria to be considered as "darkness."  

That is why we discuss gambling on this program when the Alabama Legislature, as it has done multiple times in the past, is considering an expansion of this harmful activity that creates tremendous amounts of losers with few winners, except for the gambling industry and those associated with it.  The latest iteration of this type of legislation is currently being considered, and you are encouraged to be in prayer and to contact your legislator and encourage him or her to vote against any gambling legislation. You can find contact information through the legislature's website.  This is what is means to be salt and light; this is what is means to shine the light into darkness. This is an issue of financial stewardship and spiritual obedience. 

Who Knows Best?

When we need stable, secure, and reliable direction for our lives, there is a source to whom we can turn. James chapter 1 provides these words of inspiration:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

We have to guard against treating our Heavenly Father as our "consultant," someone we turn to when we can't figure it out ourselves, whom we consult when we get into a pitch or need some sort of idea boost. Jesus invites us to abide in Him, allowing His words to abide in us, according to John 15. We are offered the opportunity to communicate with God and to exercise godly wisdom and discretion.  We should not wait until things fall apart to go to the one who holds all things together, according to Hebrews chapter 1. 

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We have access to the wisdom of God, which is based on His Word - He provides wisdom, according to James chapter 1, as we ask for it. So, why don't we ask? After all, as Proverbs 14 states:
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.
15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

Apparently, the Chrisleys did not know best, and they ended up in prison.  Perhaps you're familiar with the cable series, Chrisley Knows Best, a reality show featuring Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are serving a prison sentence having been convicted of fraud. 

But, their daughter is apparently relying on her Christian faith to sustain her during this challenging chapter of her life.  A People Magazine article from last year says:

Savannah Chrisley's faith remains of the utmost importance amid this tough time for her family.

As her parents serve time for fraud charges, the Chrisley Knows Best star shared a hopeful Bible verse on Instagram about relying on God's timing. The quote was handwritten over a memo card taped to her refrigerator, reading "Team Chrisley" along the top.

One of the verses Savannah wrote out by hand was Isaiah 60:22: "When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen. Rest, God is in control."

In the Instagram caption, she wrote, "I find my hope in Jesus ❤️...Have never felt the presence of Jesus as much as I have today … can't wait to tell the stories..."

The article says, "Savannah also shared another look at her refrigerator on her Instagram Story, revealing several more Bible verses she has written on 'Team Chrisley' memo cards to help her get through these tough times for her family."

A recent Movieguide article referred to the depression that Savannah has struggled with throughout a significant part of our life, and how she has turned to God.  The article says:

During her struggle with depression, she turned to God after receiving a devotional.

“And the devotional was Romans 8:28, and it stated that through whatever hardships and adversities you go through, God’s gonna turn around and use it to your advantage, and it was literally like, in a snap of a finger, I went from this anger towards God, to in my heart saying, ‘All right, God, you know what, why not me?’ Like, what makes me any better to have to go through these things than anyone else?” she said, per ET.

Today, Chrisley is taking care of her brother Grayson, 17, and niece Chloe, 11, as her parents serve time in prison for tax fraud. Becoming their guardian has made her rethink her views of parenthood.

“I always used to say I will have however many kids God will allow. That was my viewpoint,” she explained. “I don’t know, I think when you’re young, you think kids are easy, right? No. After having Chloe and Grayson, if anything, it slowed my timeline down on things. But I always said God meant for me to be a mom. If I don’t do anything right with my life, that’s going to be the one thing that I do right.”

Life isn't always neat and tidy, and things don't always go the way we think they should. The unexpected will come, but we also recognize that there is someone who sustains us through the unexpected, the surprises of life that adversely affect our equilibrium. These are tests that can cause us to turn to Jesus so that He can work His process of spiritual growth in our lives - for His glory. 

It's ironic that the series was called, Chrisley Knows Best - obviously, the court system did not see things the same way. And, I think it can call to mind how we may think that we "know best" in handling the circumstances we face. We can find ourselves relying on our own wisdom, until we come to the realization that God knows much better than we do, and that we should pray and appropriate His wisdom for our lives. That's what Savannah Chrisley just might be learning, and that can be an encouragement for many.

None of the Above

In John chapter 4, we find that Jesus is sharing about a harvest of souls which He envisioned and that He empowers. We can read these words:
34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
37 For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'

Jesus talked about the importance of planting seeds.  And, depending on the type of soil, as He relates in the parable of the sower, that will determine the amount of growth.  People may have become hostile toward organized religion and do not participate, but there could be an openness toward God that could develop - we never know, so we can be faithful to demonstrate to the people with whom we interact the love of Christ, and as He opens up the door, to speak the truth of the Scriptures. 

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There has been much coverage of the slice of the American population that are not part of any particular religious group, the "nones." Some may be atheist or agnostics, some may even not be active participants in a church. And, they may present an opportunity. Romans chapter 10 says:
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

The data point is simple and can remind us that there are about a quarter of Americans who are not affiliated with organized religion.  The Pew Research website states this:

Today, about 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.

So, is that a high-water mark regarding the practice of faith in our land, or the lack thereof.

Hardly.  Consider what another article on the Pew site says:

That’s marginally lower than our surveys indicated in 2022 and 2021, and identical to what we found in 2020 and 2019, which raises a question: After decades of sharp growth, has the rise of these religious “nones” ended?

At the risk of sounding wishy-washy, we think it’s too early to tell.

That article goes on to say:

The identical results we’ve found in three of the last five years are a sign of stability in the size of this population. At the same time, in two of the last five years, we obtained readings above 28%.

But, none below. Pew concludes that it cannot really conclude whether or not the much-ballyhooed rise of the nones has, in fact, ended.  But, you could certainly say that it has leveled off.

A Religion Unplugged piece offers more nuance:

...most “nones,” the study found, believe in a “higher power” aside from God of the Bible, but few attend any kind of religious service. About half said spirituality is “very important in their lives.”

In Pew’s latest data, 17% of “nones” identified as atheist, 20% said agnostic and 63% said “nothing in particular.”

“Nones” are also not hostile towards faith: 58% said religion helps society by giving people meaning and purpose.

“Most ‘nones’ say they were raised in a religion, usually Christianity,” the study added. “Yet today, they tend to be disconnected from religious institutions. Not only have they shaken off religious labels, they also have largely shaken off involvement in churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations.”

A Washington Stand article included comments from David Closson, Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, as well as FRC Vice-President Jody Hice. The article says:

As Closson emphasized, “Rejecting organized religion does not necessarily equate with a rejection of God.” Ultimately, he continued, “I think this survey … reinforced … that we really live in a post-Christian, religiously confused age.”

It quotes Hice as saying, “We’ve got a spiritually fertile soil … with these people, because they do have a spiritual foundation. They just don’t know what to do with it.”

Closson added: “[T]here’s a lot of people who have become disenchanted with organized religion [and] … with the church...  The article goes on to say, including words from Closson:

What it looks like to be religious only changes with each year, especially as the church is “infected with theological liberalism” that denies the resurrection, the Bible’s authority, miracles, and the virgin birth. Instead, progressive ideology is adopted that then redefines doctrine. Ultimately, Closson said, “[H]undreds of thousands, if not millions of Christians have gotten disillusioned with churches and religious leaders who are clearly abandoning the Bible.”

The article continues:

But even these findings aren’t hopeless, as Closson deemed them “a tremendous opportunity for the church to do what the mission of the church is: to spread the gospel” and “teach all that Jesus has commanded.” He added, “People are dying … for authenticity. They’re dying for something distinct. They’re craving … authentic community.” Referring to Ephesians 4:15, he emphasized the need for believers to “speak the truth in love.” Hice agreed and said it’s “a ripe opportunity for the body of Christ to no longer be fearful, but to step out with the gospel and with love and grace and reach” those who need it.

Well, there is certainly an opportunity here, isn't there?  While there does seem to be a significant portion of the population that are not part of organized religious practice, as David Closson of FRC pointed out, that doesn't mean that they reject God.  So, we have that responsibility to take advantage of this deficiency and to speak and live the truth.

Because the truth, rooted in the Bible, provides a strong foundation for a person's life. In an age of chaos, the Bible can provide the moorings that people are seeking.  In a life that is hopeless, the promise of the gospel brings hope.  There is good news that the percentage of "nones" has perhaps leveled off, but there is also good news is that nothing in particular can be shifted to something that can change a life. 

Pure Relationships

We consistently need to be refreshed and affirmed in our knowledge of God and walking in His ways. In 1st Corinthians 6, we can read these words:
17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

God wants only the best for us, and He has made it possible for His desires to be reflected in our desires. We have the capacity to walk in purity and to reject sinful thoughts and deeds. When we recognize who we are because of Jesus, that gives us power to actually walk in a manner that is pleasing to Him. We have to take great care of our souls so that we can overcome the desires of the flesh.

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God has given us a template for relationships that bring glory to Him, and He calls us to walk before Him in purity and devotion to Him. 1st Timothy chapter 4 states:
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

It's Valentine's Day, and I think this is a perfect opportunity to rejoice in the love of God, and if we are in a marriage or committed relationship between a man and a woman, we can celebrate what He has given. 

We can also be reminded to be watchful about those things that can negatively affect our relationships. And, pornography is a very poor substitute for God's plan for sexuality. 

A leading purveyor of this harmful material has been facing some pushback, and recently announced a policy that could reduce the amount of porn that is available to children.  The National Center on Sexual Exploitation announced on its website in late January:

This week brought a momentous step forward in the fight against Pornhub and its parent company Aylo (formerly MindGeek).

After facing several lawsuits brought by courageous survivors of sex trafficking and child sexual abuse … After losing nearly all their major corporate partnerships including Visa and Mastercard, Instagram and Youtube … After being the subject of countless scathing media pieces … After a viral petition with more than 2 million signatures … Pornhub has FINALLY announced that it will be [kind of] verifying the age and consent of all individuals depicted in videos.

But, as NCOSE points out, this will only apply to material uploaded beginning January 24; material loaded before that point is still available.  And, the organization says that the verification procedures are "alarmingly weak."

But, even though, as the article alleges, Pornhub is trying to change its image (if that can be done), there has been a long line of action against the site; here are examples:

• Pornhub is the subject of 12 lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada
• The U.S. federal government charged Pornhub with knowingly profiting from sex trafficking; Pornhub admitted to the crime
• All major credit card companies and payment processors cut ties with Pornhub. The only payment form left available to them was cryptocurrency.
• Nearly all mainstream corporations stopped serving as advertising or distribution partners for Pornhub. This includes Roku, Comcast, Kraft-Heinz, Unilever, TikTok, and Instagram.
• Countless mainstream media outlets, such as the New York Times and the BBC, published scathing exposés on Pornhub’s abuses
• Pornhub’s parent company laid off 70% of its employees, and the CEO and COO resigned
• Exodus Cry led a public petition campaign calling for Pornhub to be shut down, which garnered over 2 million signatures.

Faithwire recently reported on the possibility of the state of Ohio limiting minors' access to pornography; the article says:

The proposal — Senate Bill 212 — would require visitors to pornography sites to confirm they are of legal age by mandating an identification check through an independent, third-party verification application, according to WSYX-TV.

The article goes on to state:

Age-verification laws have been passed in eight states, including Utah, Montana, Louisiana, and Virginia. They have been introduced in another 10 states.

In response, the largest pornography website, Pornhub, has protested the laws by blocking access to the site altogether in states with such requirements, according to CBN News.

This is certainly responsible legislation.  But, we also need to be talking about adults' usage of pornography. In that realm, it seems as if personal choice is the main deterrent.  And, that is an especially relevant challenge for the Church.

We have to recognize that temptation presents itself - but we don't have to give in.  We have the power to overcome the strategies of the enemy to lure believers into his grip.  1st Corinthians 10 tells us that we have a way of escape that is available to us.  But, each of us has to build himself or herself up so that we can release God's resources in those times in which we need to stand strong.  We have the Word of God, we have the name of Jesus, and we have powerful weapons that enable us to take every thought captive. 

Deceived

God has granted us life, and new life in Christ, if we've been born again. We can submit to His principles on being good stewards of our resources and trust Him to provide for our needs. 1st Corinthians 4 states this:
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

The Bible teaches us that we belong to Christ and that all that we think we own is actually His. A totally submitted life means that He is directing our decisions. And, that means that we should be devoted to making good financial choices. We can make sure that we are following Him - and He gives us guidance through His Word and by His Spirit.  And, if we know that God is leading us, then what we believe He is leading us to do will not contradict His Word.

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The Bible offers sound financial wisdom, predicated on honor God with the resources that He has given to us. Proverbs 3 offers this insight:
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

From time to time, maybe you'll hear people use the phrase, "God told me..." or "God spoke to me..."  Now, I do believe that we can be led by the Holy Spirit and that we can recognize His leadership and His still, small voice.  But, if someone is to make that bold claim to be led of God or that God has spoken to them, that information should absolutely line up with the Word of God.  God will not lead us contrary to Scripture.  Period.

There's an interesting story that I found on The Guardian website that provides a cautionary tale.  According to the article:

A Colorado pastor who is charged with stealing more than $1m from his Christian community in a cryptocurrency scheme has admitted to the fraud but argued that God instructed him to carry it out.

Eli Regalado and his wife, Kaitlyn, are charged with creating and selling their cryptocurrency, known as “INDXcoin”, to Christians based in their home town of Denver, Colorado, allegedly telling would-be investors that the Lord had told him people would become rich if they invested, the state’s division of securities announced in a press release on Thursday.

But, the article says that prosecutors termed this coin, "practically worthless," and that the Regalados spent some of the money raised on "lavish living."

The Guardian goes on to say:

“The charges are that me and Kaitlyn pocketed $1.3m,” Regalado said in the video published to INDXcoin’s website on Friday. “I just wanted to come out and say those charges are true.”

Regalado added: “A few hundred thousand dollars went to a home remodel the Lord told us to do.

“We took God at his word and sold a cryptocurrency with no clear exit.”

Regalado added that the couple still believes that God will “work a miracle in the financial sector”.

The couple essentially squeezed and swindled 3.2 million dollars out of over 300 people. 1.3 million went directly to the couple. And, of course, their online church netted almost $300,000 - a church with no building, according to Business Den of the Denver Post, referenced in the article.

In the statement I mentioned, the state's securities commissioner, Tung Chan, said, “We allege that Mr Regalado took advantage of the trust and faith of his own Christian community and that he peddled outlandish promises of wealth to them when he sold them essentially worthless cryptocurrencies..."

And, in a Newsweek article released just yesterday, it is reported that:

The Colorado Division of Securities' amended complaint filed Thursday of last week brings into focus 12 new defendants, including Regalado's father who is charged with violating the anti-fraud, licensing and registration provisions of the Colorado Securities Act, further entangling the case in family ties and religious exploitation.

With allegations of unlicensed securities sales and deceptive promises of exponential investment growth, the expanded legal action deepens the probe into a scheme that preyed on the Christian community.

This is so sad, and it really drives home the point that all of us should stay vigilant in our walk with the Lord.  You have those who will wrap a deceptive message in spiritual language and prey on the vulnerable.  We have to make sure that we are walking with our feet solidly resting on the firm foundation of Scripture, so that we do not become vulnerable to Satan's schemes. 

We can be quick to recognize how the enemy works in the financial realm.  While God does specialize in financial blessings, He does give us certain principles so that we can be good stewards, and we have to make sure that our decisions are made on the basis of sound financial wisdom.  We can make sure that we are exercising discernment, and if something sounds too good to be true, as it's been said, it usually is.  We can trust the Lord and honor the Lord with our finances, but when we move over into areas of selfishness and manipulation, then we are operating outside His will. 

Drift

God calls us to a committed walk, so that we will not be carried away by the currents of this world, but that we would get into the flow of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 2 states:
1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Verse 1 offers some sobering words: "lest we drift away." 

As it's been taught, we may think we are standing still, but if we are not advancing in our spiritual walk, we are actually moving backwards.  Regressing. 

So, we must continue to commit ourselves to spiritual growth, seeking to draw closer to God each day and holding on tightly to the Word of God. If we allow worldly ideas to dilute our intensity for God's Word, we face that real possibility of losing our edge, our spiritual sharpness, and therefore becoming vulnerable to being trapped by the enemy and rendered less fruitful in our walk with the Lord.

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In Philippians 3, Paul encourages the reader to make sure that he or she is growing spiritually, moving forward in the Lord. He writes:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There's a word that has been used in relation to a Christian or Christian group stepping away from Biblical truth.  It doesn't necessarily come all at once, but declines over time.  That word is "drift," and we have seen it in the lives of high-profile Christians and in Christian institutions.  

Recently, there was a piece that ran on FoxNews.com pointing out signs of spiritual drift at a once-respected Christian college - Wheaton College in Chicago. Franklin Graham linked to the article in a tweet, and said: "I hope this article is a wake-up call to the Board of Trustees at 
@WheatonCollege. The temptation in Christian academia is to give in to small compromises for the sake of unity, but those can lead to mission drift. It’s my prayer that Wheaton will not succumb to the pressures of the secular world, but stand firm on the Word of God."  Franklin's father, Billy Graham, graduated from Wheaton. 

In 2016, Franklin Graham wrote this on Facebook:

Both my father Billy Graham and my mother attended Wheaton College in Illinois–in fact that's where they met. I'm surprised and disappointed that the faculty council there is now recommending the college drop their plans to terminate a professor who published that she believed Islam and Christianity worship the same God in December. This is no minor issue that should be debated. Islam denies that God has a Son. They deny that Jesus is God. They do not believe in a Triune God–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I can tell you–Islam and Christianity clearly do not worship the same God. How the faculty council can now support this professor being allowed to teach students is deeply concerning.

The Christian Post offered this summary regarding the situation involving Professor Larycia Hawkins 

After being placed on administrative leave, a school administrator moved to recommend her for termination proceedings. Although Provost Stanton Jones later rescinded the recommendation to terminate Hawkins after much backlash from Wheaton professors and a student-led protest, Hawkins and the school would later part ways. Hawkins would go on to get a job at the University of Virginia.

Drift. Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis wrote this on the ministry's website:

Wheaton College (like so many other supposed Christian institutions) has compromised God’s Word in Genesis for a long time. This college also became soft on the LGBTQ issue and other social issues and now is being impacted (not surprisingly) by the woke culture.

Nearly 10 years ago, I wrote this in an article about Wheaton College (a college that has produced a science textbook teaching evolution and millions of years as fact):

Over the years, we’ve been warning the church that so many Christian colleges have been compromising God’s Word in Genesis—and we’ve been warning that such compromise will eventually lead to apostasy.

So, let's go to the Fox piece, written by Tim Scheiderer, who states:

But recently, the school in the leafy suburb west of Chicago has begun to mimic Harvard’s wokeness. Banning biblical words, teaching critical race theory, and psychologizing gender identity issues may not seem extreme in modern academia. But for a school which houses the works of Rev. Graham, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, it is adrift from its orthodox, Christian moorings. But this isn’t a recent drift.

Scheiderer writes that...

...its most blatant offense against Christianity is banning certain biblical words that are key to the faith’s foundation. In this year’s curriculum for freshman, students are informed about opportunities to meet the needs of those less fortunate. This is commonly known as the act of service.

Wheaton, however, instructs the students not to use the word, "service." Instead, they are to use "sacrificial co-laboring." The reason given is service "may invoke power dynamics across socio-economic, racial, and cultural lines."

He also points out:

Another word found in numerous Bible translations is also out: mankind. Seeing this word is prohibited, it’s not surprising the very definition of man and woman is on shaky ground.

According to biblical anthropology, a person’s sex is known by what is seen, not by what one feels. An endowed chair in Wheaton’s psychology program believes this is the ideal way for humans to exist: men identifying as men and women as women.

But, he says, in an imperfect world riddled with weakness, this may not always be the case. Hence, going against one’s God-given sex "is not a moral choice." It is a result of weakness. Therefore, he tries to "help [people] manage [their] gender dysphoria (dissatisfaction)."

The historic Christian faith has always upheld the goodness of the created order and any action against it is a violation against God. The purpose of God’s teachings is to sustain and promote the flourishing of all life. And acting against them brings harmful disruption into one’s life. When these actions are permitted or celebrated, everyone suffers.

Furthermore, the writer relates: "It is certain the college is permitting the professor to advance his views about identity that have roots in an anti-God philosophy. And it is also supporting an on-campus gender identity institute led by the professor, which students have access to."

Drift.  It's all around us. We have to recognize that fact and remain tethered to a strong Biblical foundation, lest we be swept away in worldly, unbiblical ideas.  A sure-fire way to guard against drift is to continue to allow the Scriptures to be our "north star," or "moral compass." If we know where north is, then we'll head in the right direction. 

But, human-centered ideas that appeal to emotions, that emphasize virtue-signaling rather than an adherence to the reliable source of true virtue, can lead us astray.  Because progressive, worldly ideas can sound good, but they are not consistent with Biblical truth.  Moral relativism enables us to choose "our" truth; the Bible teaches absolute truth that is found in the teachings of the Scriptures. When we are tempted to compromise, we have to make sure that our decisions are being informed by the principles we find in the Bible.

Beating Heart

In the opening verses of the 92nd Psalm, we can find this passage about giving God the glory for how we see Him work:
(1) t is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,
3 On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound.
4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.

How great are Your works!  That is a bold declaration - and when we see God move, our response as believers in Him should be to be glad in heart and to rejoice in His goodness.  When we call upon the Lord in prayer...and see the answer, then we can be full of joy at the tremendous love and power that He shows toward us. We can be intent to recognize how He has moved in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray - and give Him praise!

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When the Church comes together and prays for needs about which we become aware, we can rejoice together and share in the blessing as we see God move. We can be reinforced in the truth of Ephesians chapter 3:
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

To many, he's known as "Baby Gus," and the parents have entrusted their child to the Lord in the aftermath of a heart transplant just a few weeks ago.  Movieguide reported:

Thousands have been praying for the miraculous recovery of Augustus “Gus” Elliot Joubert, a two-month-old baby who is fighting for his life following a heart transplant.

On Jan. 16, Gus’s father, Mark, shared on X that his family had been given new life as his son received a successful heart transplant after being on a donation waiting list for only 11 days.

“Old heart is out, new heart is going in…” Mark wrote. “Thank God for the family that chose to donate. It’s been a long day. We probably won’t see [Gus] until 8 pm. The Lord is our refuge.”

But, following the transplant, it certainly wasn't a smooth road - " Gus’s new heart didn’t start beating right away...," according to the article, and Gus had to be placed on an ECMO machine that would essentially beat for him while the new heart became acclimated.  The article goes on to say:

Though scared for his son’s life, Mark relied on the Lord, asking for prayer and that the “Lord be glorified.”

After two days of no progress, Gus’s heart began to weakly beat over the night of the 18th. During the next day, the strength of Gus’s heart continued to grow, though he still required the assistance of the ECMO machine. With time running out, Mark pleaded for another round of intense prayer.

“Friends, though not without natural anxiety in the face of this hardship, it is from faithful anticipation & not just fear that we keep asking God for more: Gus has pulsivity, yes – but echo shows poor function remains & time is limited. Pray with us for a functioning heart!” Mark posted on the 19th.

On the 24th, the father posted, "Please pray for his lungs to recover and inflammation to reduce,” adding, “These are big obstacles, but we continue to plead with our Heavenly Father for intervention and healing. We pray Gus remains stable overnight and that we can all get some rest. Time is of the essence. Thank you to all who have prayed for us. Please continue to intercede.”

You can follow Gus' story at Mark's Twitter feed, mark_joubert.  A big step was anticipated over the weekend: closing Gus' chest!  Mark tweeted out on Saturday:

Hello, friends! Gus did well throughout his chest closure. He came out stable with acceptable blood pressure. Now, as he's adjusting, we're praying his blood pressure remains within an acceptable range and his lungs are able to function well under these new conditions. Overall, we feel good about this progress, but trepidatious as we wait to see how things settle out. He's still adjusting.

But, pragmatically speaking, as he wrote, "much remains to be done." But the Jouberts are enjoying another milestone, as Mark related in another tweet "...we finally get to hold him again!"

In light of the saga of Gus Joubert, we can consider several things:  First of all, we are seeing the result of the power of prayer.  You know, when we pray and see the answer, it's important to give praise and honor to God and allow those times to build up our faith.  We can continue to walk expectantly regarding what God wants to do in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray. 

We can certainly give Him the glory for our lives.  Our lives are gifts of God, and even though most of us will encounter health challenges, we can look to the One who has given us life and sustains us.  We can be determined to use this gift for the glory of God, not dreading the days ahead, but expecting Jesus to show up in and through us - not in presumption, but in anticipation.  

And, we can also thank God for the gifts of those who serve in the medical field - they are literally saving lives. We can also be thankful for the advances in medical procedures and technology that enable us to live longer and more fulfilling lives.  Just imagine: a baby just under three months old receiving a heart transplant - that would have probably been unthinkable when I was born.  What a mighty God we serve!

Wearing a Cross

In the closing verses of Hebrews 5 and first verse of Hebrews 6, the author is calling believers to greater spiritual maturity. We can find these words in that passage:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God...

It's not that these elementary principles, aren't important; I believe this passage is reminding us that we should be growing, "pressing on," as Paul writes in Philippians, not standing still in the Christian life; because, as it's been pointed out, if we're not walking on purpose toward a deeper walk with Christ, then we run the risk of moving backward.  So, we can continue to reject dead religion and unfruitful legalism and allow the Spirit of God to cleanse us and make us more like Jesus.

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We are just a step away from a more dynamic walk with Jesus. He wants us to grow in Him on a consistent basis. Hebrews 9 states:
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Help me remember here - why is Russell Brand famous? And, why do people listen to him?  He's an actor, right?  OK - he was in the remake of Arthur and has done voices from some animated films. He was once married to a pop music star.  And, he, for whatever reason, has received attention for his observations about well, culture.  And religion.

A CBN.com article reported:

Russell Brand, the controversial English comedian and actor, is opening up more about his spiritual journey of discovery and new realizations about his faith and relationship with God. The revelations come as he is also facing some very serious allegations of sexual misconduct that are being investigated by police.

In a short 90-second video posted to the social media platform X on Sunday, Brand shared why he wears a cross on a necklace.

"The reason I wear a cross is because Christianity and in particular, the figure of Christ are it seems to me inevitably becoming more important as I become more familiar with suffering, purpose, self, and not self," he said.

He does say he's reading his Bible more. 

He relates:

"When I grew up, Christianity seemed like it was either really irrelevant and old-fashioned and sort of dusty and sort of incense and sort of 'Anno Domini'," he chanted. "Or they tried to modernize it," the comedian continued as he pretended to hold up a guitar, switching his voice to another accent. "And it seems just like, 'Right. Ok, we're gonna talk about Jesus.'"

"And like both of those routes seemed like ooh I don't know if there's anything for me," Brand said. "And I suppose it takes a certain amount of adulthood and it might be different for all of us. But for me, it seems that it's taken quite a lot to recognize that you need, I need, a personal relationship with God."

"It occurred to me that if instead of always talking to myself inwardly, I could replace one of those voices with an indwelling God," he said. "It says in Galatians, it is our job to die so that as Christ died on the cross he might be reborn in us."

He asked for feedback, and he received some - from a well-known Christian evangelist and Faith Radio programmer.  The article notes:

...Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, saw Brand's video and reached out to him, replying directly.

"Hi Russell- I love what you have to say in this video! We have never met, but I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Greg Laurie and my life was radically changed by Jesus Christ. I like you was put off by Christians at first, but then I heard the Gospel message," Laurie wrote.

"The word 'Gospel' means 'Good news.' We are all sinners and we have broken God's commandments and fallen short of His standards. But the good news is that God loved us so much He sent His only son to die on the cross for our sins and then rise from the dead. Jesus is alive and ready to come into your life, Russell!" he continued.

"He is just a prayer away. You might pray something like this," Laurie suggested. "Lord Jesus, I want to have a personal relationship with you. I know I am a sinner and I believe you died on the cross from my sins. I turn from those sins and put my faith in you right now to be my Lord and savior, my God and friend. Thanks for hearing this prayer. In Jesus name, I pray, amen."

Greg Laurie's salvation story is depicted in the movie, Jesus Revolution, based on his book of the same name.  Laurie pointed Brand in the direction of the movie on Netflix.

Would you consider Russell Brand a seeker?  Or an opportunist?  Or both - certainly in the face of serious sexual allegations, Brand is a man in trouble. And, he seems to have dabbled at the edges of Christianity, at times talking a good game.  But, has it stuck?  Hard to know what's in the man's mind, but as Greg Laurie says, Jesus is "just a prayer away."  

CBN.com reported on Brand's interview with Tucker Carlson last year, stating:

“As much as I might enjoy the feeling of privilege and luxury… I remember what reality is,” Brand told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. “I remember that my wellness is contingent upon spiritual connection, upon certain values and principles, and they … involve sacrifice and self-scrutiny about my own conduct and behavior, which often falls short, and I’m working on improving myself.”

“The Rock of Ages” star also discussed his need for God as he navigates the ups and downs of the world around him.

“Like many desperate people, I need spirituality,” Brand said. “I need God, or I cannot cope in this world. I need to believe in the best in people.”

My River Region Christians January column and an earlier Front Room commentary dealt with the differences between the three words, spiritual, religious, and Christian.  Brand seems firmly stuck in the "spirituality" camp, but is investigating Christianity - how seriously, who knows.  But, we can recognize that no one is beyond the love of Christ, and perhaps Russell Brand is on the verge of a radical transformation into a born-again Christian.  Or, it may have already happened - nevertheless, we can admit that it could happen. 

We can live each day with expectancy of what God wants to do inside of us. We can move, as Hebrews 9 states, from dead works to serve the living God more wholeheartedly; we can remove what holds us back and move forward in the Lord.  He is near to each of us - we can remember that and call out to Him as He walks with us. 

Bad Bets

As people of God, we are called to look to the Lord as our provider, to exercise financial stewardship, and not to be led astray in the pursuit of financial gain. 1st Timothy 6 contains these words:
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

There are all sorts of opportunities to be irresponsible with the resources that God has given to us. Our decision-making about financial matters can be driven by a simple principle that you hear Christian financial experts talk about: God owns it all. If we recognize that God has granted us these resources, then we will exercise wisdom and prudence in how we use it. We can steer clear of the traps the enemy would set - the "snare" referred to in verse 9, and exercise Holy Spirit-inspired discretion.

+++++

There's a new idol that's being constructed by Alabama lawmakers, and it threatens to permanently damage the moral fiber of our state - that's where the Church can come in and oppose it. Isaiah 65, in the English Standard Version, says:

11 But you who forsake the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain,
who set a table for Fortune
and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you to the sword,
and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,
because, when I called, you did not answer;
when I spoke, you did not listen,
but you did what was evil in my eyes
and chose what I did not delight in.”

Lawmakers in the Alabama Legislature have big plans for our state - to dramatically increase the legality of gambling in Alabama.  With so much momentum in state budgets, lawmakers seem intent on getting into the gambling business, increasing its scope and then regulating, essentially sponsoring (as Becky Gerritson pointed out on Tuesday's Meeting House) this activity, which is clearly a violation of Scripture. 

As if increasing the number of casinos and the types of games that could be played wasn't bad enough, they have also added a lottery to the mix.  And, online gaming, including sports betting, is also part of the equation.

Interestingly enough, this proposal has been introduced on the eve of the Super Bowl and following a devastating report by 60 Minutes about the negative consequences of sports betting.  A CBS News article begins by saying:

Next Sunday on CBS, the Super Bowl will, for the first time, be held in Las Vegas… a fitting venue given the prominent role gambling plays in sports today. America has recently brought its age-old love of sports betting out of the shadows and onto our phones… and this has created an all-time mismatch, pitting man against machine: gamblers—overwhelmingly young men; versus gambling companies, armed with sophisticated AI, data, and engineering, enticing fans to make snap bets, not just on games, but on every play within games…The early results? Billions for gambling companies, leagues and state governments… and a growing population of sports bettors, struggling to defend against the rush.

The article goes on to say:

It's still early innings, and, remarkably, there is no federal funding for gambling research, so data is scarce… but survey after survey confirms that of the 50 million or so sports bettors in the U.S., men under the age of 35 are far and away the biggest demographic. For decades, leagues feared gambling would corrupt competition. So far, that crisis hasn't happened… but, the last five years have given rise to a surge in young gambling addicts...

CBS also reported:

According to a Siena College poll, which we can report for the first time now, of the young men wagering online, nearly half feel they're betting more than they should… in the five years since New Jersey legalized online sports gambling, calls to the state's problem gambling helpline [have] nearly tripled. The largest caller demographic? 25-34.

The summary of that poll, conducted by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication, states:

Of those who place bets with an online sportsbook, 37% have felt bad or ashamed after losing a bet, 38% have felt that they bet more than they should have, 19% have lied to someone about the extent of their betting, and 18% have bet and lost money that was meant for meeting their financial obligations.  By 65-23%, Americans agree that online sports betting will end up creating compulsive gamblers that will cause pain to them and their families.  

“With 75% of Americans saying they’ve seen ads for online sportsbooks, it’s not surprising that one in five have an account,” said Don Levy, SCRI’s Director. “Bettors say it’s fun, and a plurality of all Americans, 4840%, agree that online sports betting is a great form of entertainment allowing fans to gamble responsibly.”  

“But, nearly 40% of bettors have felt ashamed about their gambling, or bet more than they should, and one in five have lost money they needed or lied to someone about their betting. Over half have chased a bet, that is, increased the amount they bet in hopes of getting money back after a loss, and 22% have had someone express concern to them about their usage of online sportsbooks. Still, only 9% of bettors have called a problem gambling hotline or sought help,” Levy said. 

This is just one aspect of this so-called "comprehensive gambling bill" in Alabama which will essentially provide enhanced opportunity for people all across our state to stumble.  Consider a recent Christian Post article that quotes from a previous article from Dr. Richard Land; it states:

In a 2022 column for CP, Dr. Richard Land, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, highlighted the negative consequences of gambling, such as addiction and its associated social problems, including divorce, alcoholism and financial distress.

Gambling, according to Land, violates biblical commandments by fostering covetousness and idolatry and undermines the role of government as ordained in the Bible, which is to promote good and punish evil, not to profit from gambling.

That article related:

Gambling generates no new wealth. In order for someone to win, another person has to lose. In reality, gambling is in violation of two of the Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt not steal” and “Thou shalt not covet,” not to mention the fact that if it becomes an addiction, it violates the commandments against idolatry. And of course, it is the opposite of “loving your neighbor.”

Yet, Alabama citizens could be asked to vote on allowing a major expansion of this type of activity in the state, including more casinos, legalization of sports betting, and a state lottery.  The time is now to stop this progression by responsible legislators saying, "no" to any gambling legislation.  You can pray, then reach out to your House and Senate member through the Alabama Legislature's website. 

The results are clear - under the premise of raising revenue, the moral, economic, and social damage that is left in its wake is tremendous. It goes to show you that if you violate God's ways - as you sow - you will reap devastating consequences.  Do we want to go down this route? Absolutely not. As Dr. Land says, "It is clearly counterproductive public policy for a government at any level to sponsor policies and encourage behaviors that disproportionately impact negatively the most economically vulnerable segments of society."