Honoring Veterans and Honoring the Lord

In 1st Peter chapter 2, we read a passage that can encourage us to be in right relationship with the
governing authorities, to show a healthy respect for them, and to have an attitude of honor for everyone.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

I think this provides a great reflection for this Veterans' Day.  It is important to be thankful for our nation and the freedoms that we enjoy.  The Bible also teaches us to pray for our governmental officials.  And, I believe that it is good to show honor to those who are the instruments of our government - those who serve in our military, who are willing to give of themselves in order to preserve our freedoms.  And, we can be thankful for those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our great nation.

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On this Veterans' Day 2015, we remember the incredible history of faith and faithfulness that has been fought for and preserved for us as Americans.  Psalm 33 says:
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

Later in the chapter, we read this:
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
22 Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

Across our land, including earlier today in Montgomery, Veterans' Day celebrations have been observed.  But, at a university in Seattle, it appears that the commemoration has been muted by political correctness.

Todd Starnes has the story at FoxNews.com about the Pledge of Allegiance and the Presentation of Colors being removed from Seattle Pacific University’s Veteran’s Day chapel service, which was scheduled for yesterday, because chapel leadership was afraid that people might be offended.

Well, it turns out that the university’s Military and Veteran Support Club was offended - and outraged - by the chaplain’s decision.  Starnes writes that they called it a “slap in the face” of every soldier who fought, sacrificed and died for our freedoms.

Even though SPU is a Christian university with a Free Methodist background, the student population includes a diverse group of denominations,  including some that ascribe to pacifism.

A statement from the university to Q13 Fox read: “The organizers decided not to include the pledge of allegiance and the presentation of colors during the November 10th chapel, given that there are diversity of views on campus whether such elements should be part of a Christian worship service."

The founder of the Military and Veteran Support Club, Sarah Martin, in an impassioned letter, wrote in a letter to the chaplain:

“By removing the presentation of the flag and the pledge of allegiance, SPU would not only disrespect students from the military and intelligence community on campus, but also eliminate any reference to the values and freedoms that make it possible for University Ministries to assemble at a chapel in the first place,” adding, “Furthermore, you are stripping the chapel of a deeper meaning that glorifies God.”

Todd's article appeared on Friday, and late Friday afternoon the MVSC announced on its Facebook page that a settlement had been reached with University Ministries. They said, "We are thankful for the positive outcome of this issue." Here's the settlement:

Students will now have the opportunity to say the pledge of allegiance and honor the veterans with the presentation of the colors at a pre-chapel ceremony. The MVSC would like to thank all of the concerned veteran supporters who let their voices be heard. You are all invited to join in on this special moment to present the colors and say the pledge on November 10 (Tuesday), at First Free Methodist Church at 11:00 AM. Thank you for your support. And thank you, veterans, for your service!

Now, I think the Support Club is being diplomatic here, because quite frankly, their freedom to express their love for their country in a religious setting has been kicked to the curb!  Why not set up a special service for those who want to be free from the encumberences of a flag and a pledge?  But, I can also understand there probably is a desire to keep the peace, which is an important consideration.

So on this Veterans' Day, some thoughts arising from this unfortunate set of circumstances in Seattle.

For one thing, I do think it is important that we honor those who have bravely served our country so that we might live in peace and freedom.  The freedoms we enjoy, including freedom of speech and religion, were obtained because people have been willing to take a stand.  Even though someone may have a conviction against war or military service, is a person of faith or no faith, that person still is able to express himself and herself because of the sacrifices of others.  Our freedom to practice the Christian faith in America is an awesome right and privilege for us.

And, we have to be careful that we don't exalt patriotism over the practice of Christianity.  Our highest allegiance is to God Himself.   We can revere and respect the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance without worshipping them.   And, we can respect the rights of others to hold to a different view, but should their objections force another group to not express their view?

Unfortunately, and something the PC crowd has a disregard for, when you take action trying not to offend someone, you end up offending another group of people.  And, in our age of tolerance, when there is a rise in secularist ideology, Christians sometimes are the ones whose views are suppressed.  Because there is a prevailing view that religion or Christianity is "offensive," then extreme steps are sometimes taken to suppress that expression.  I would hope that is not the type America that our veterans have been willing to lay down their lives for, when you consider the strong faith of our founders and the rich Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation.

Peanuts and the Power of Conviction

There is a passage in James 4 that emphasizes surrendering to God, with an attitude of humility:
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

God wants us to come before Him with a spirit of humility, exhibiting a childlike attitude, recognizing that without Him, we can do nothing.  We are called to set aside worldly wisdom and to not be arrogant in what we think we know, but to depend on His Word, as He illuminates truth by His Spirit.  He wants us to depend on Him, not just when we get in a tight spot and think we need Him, but at all times, because the truth is, in essence, that we always need Him.

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It is so important to a vibrant, productive Christian life that we allow the Lord to shape our
convictions. Romans 14 illustrates this selfless attitude:
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

This weekend marked the release of The Peanuts Movie, which finished a strong second to the latest 007 film.  As a article on the KSL-TV website points out, the family of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz wanted to introduce the "Peanuts" characters to a new generation of children, and the obvious answer was a movie.  His daughter, Amy Schulz Johnson, says it had to be done right, and that the idea came from her brother, Craig Schulz, and his son Bryan.  They pitched it to a studio, with the condition they would have final say on all creative decisions.

For instance, as Amy points out, "When you go to most movies, you get what they call the 'bathroom humor,' and just crude jokes or innuendos, and they struggled for three years of trying to do that, because that's what's normal," adding, "So the people working under the producers and directors, they're younger people, maybe didn't grow up with Peanuts, so that's what's normal for funny, but not for 'Peanuts.'"

She said her nephew Bryan was especially passionate about maintaining the integrity of the characters her grandfather created. Johnson relates, "People were trying to put things in, and it was literally down to certain words," adding, "Not necessarily a bad word, just a word, and he would say 'No, if that word hasn't been said in the comic strip, it's not going in the movie.' So he would look through hundreds of books, trying to see, 'Did that character ever say that word?'"

The family members reflect a stubbornness that was a characteristic of Schulz, which was manifested in the process of getting "A Charlie Brown Christmas" aired on television. As Johnson says, her father refused to allow anyone else to change his vision, despite objections from the network about the Biblical quotes, and nearly everything else about the cartoon. She says, "They didn't like the children's voices, they didn't like the scripture, they didn't like the jazz music, they didn't like that there wasn't a laugh track, they didn't like anything about it." She added, "They said, 'We'll play this one time. This is a disaster. We're not ever playing this again.' And it's played more than anything."

And, of course, you remember that glorious line after the recitation of the Christmas story by Linus:  "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."  And, there is information that portrays the spirituality of Charles Schulz as a mixed bag.  The Peanuts Wiki says:

...In personal interviews Schulz mentioned that Linus represented his spiritual side.

Schulz, reared in the Lutheran faith, had been active in the Church of God as a young adult and then later taught Sunday school at a United Methodist Church. However, he remained a member of the Church of God until his death.

In an interview in late 1999, however, Schulz stated that his philosophical views had evolved over the years: "The term that best describes me now is 'secular humanist'".

In the 1960s, Robert L. Short interpreted certain themes and conversations in Peanuts as being consistent with parts of Christian theology, and used them as illustrations during his lectures about the gospel, and as source material for several books, as he explained in his bestselling paperback book, The Gospel According to Peanuts.

So, what do we learn from this snapshot into Schulz and Peanuts?  Well, for one thing, you recognize the power of conviction.  The son and grandson of Charles Schulz held to a very high standard, and did not want his father's comic strip characters to be corrupted by Hollywood, if you will.  I would say they learned this from their father, who had not allowed his convictions to be compromised regarding the content of the Christmas show.   Schulz developed characters who connected with readers, with overwhelming success.

Conviction was not only a cornerstone of Schulz's life, but it was apparently passed down.  And, I think we can be challenged to make sure that our values and our Christian convictions are modeled for our children and our families, and to realize that God has given us people in our lives to influence in a positive way - His way.

Finally, I think that Peanuts portrays a childlike approach to a variety of issues that is really refreshing.  Maybe we get too sophisticated these days; perhaps we need to refresh our thinking about what it means to possess the faith of a little child, as Jesus taught.   We don't have it all figured out, and we need the wisdom of God in order to confront the challenges that are upon us - and we acquire that as we humble ourselves before the Lord.

Money, Happiness, and Pure Joy

I believe the Lord wants us to develop a sense of contentment, surrendering our lives under His loving, mighty hand, and recognizing that all we possess are really gifts from Him, to be used according to His direction. Hebrews 13 says:
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

We can delight in the Lord, not coveting, or earnestly desiring in an unhealthy way, the things of this world, but recognizing the sovereign hand of God.  He is with us, He is our helper, and we can know that He is taking care of us.   If we are surrendered to Him, He will shape our view of material possessions, and we can recognize that our contentment and joy are not tied in to the wealth of this world, or the lack of it.  As Jesus taught, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God, and realize that He is our provider.

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From 1st Timothy 6, we can receive clarity regarding a Scriptural view of money and the overall topic of contentment. We read:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Last month, it was announced that Angus Deaton had won the Nobel Prize in economics.  According to a piece on the Business Insider website, his work "investigates how humanity's overall quality of life has surged in the past 100 years, thanks to global advancements of tech and healthcare, as well as Asia's incredible economic growth."

But, Deaton has also looked into how people relate to money. In a study conducted with former
Nobel winner, psychologist Daniel Kahneman, they claim that there is a "happiness plateau" above an annual salary of $75,000.

Business Insider reports that to arrive at that figure, Deaton and Kahneman analyzed 450,000 responses from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a daily survey of 1,000 US residents conducted by the Gallup Organization.  They discovered there are two kinds of happiness:

One is everyday contentment, or "the frequency and intensity of experiences of joy, stress, sadness, anger, and affection that make one's life pleasant or unpleasant."  The other is life assessment, or "the thoughts that people have about their life when they think about it."

Money affects each kind of happiness in a different way.

Deaton and Kahneman found that "everyday contentment" increases up to $75,000, but then starts to level off after that. But the "life assessment" column continues to grow with salary — someone pulling in $250,000 will report higher life satisfaction than someone earning $100,000.

The article quoted Deaton from a Wall Street Journal interview, when he said, "Giving people more income beyond 75K is not going to do much for their daily mood … but it is going to make them feel they have a better life."

But, of course, $75,000 in Alabama is different than the same amount in New York.  According to an AL.com piece, "adjusting for cost-of-living, researcher Doug Short found Alabama's happiness plateau could be reached at $65,400. The cheapest happiness in the country was in Mississippi ($64,000); the most expensive in New York ($104,300.)"

Well, what we have here, unfortunately, is a goal that could be unreachable for many in Alabama, if happiness is determined by income level.  The median household income in Alabama is a little more than $41,000.  So, while that includes many who are affluent or doing well financially, there would also be those who make below that number.

It is very easy to connect household income to happiness, and I don't doubt the validity of the study I cited earlier.  But, I believe that Bible sets forth a different set of criteria, and even a different goal. It's been said that happiness is related to circumstances.  I would contend that another characteristic - joy - is related to the satisfaction that comes from a right relationship with God.  Pure joy is available and attainable, and it's not dependent on the size of your wallet.

Money is important for a number of reasons, and God has a purpose for money.  But, if we allow the amount we possess to directly influence our enjoyment of life, then our priorities are misaligned.   We are called to use money, and to attain it for worthy goals, but we are not called to be greedy or to develop what 1st Timothy 6 refers to as "the love of money."

Interestingly enough, that chapter talks about another state of mind - contentment, which results from being in that right relationship with God.  Contentment, I think, is related to peace, and our joy flows from that sense of deep satisfaction.  Money can purchase a lot of things, and the lack of it can produce stress; financial struggles are a threat to peace.   So, the correct, Biblical management of money can be a contributing factor to our peace of mind, and a lack of order can disrupt our spiritual life.   For the believer, good management of money can perhaps contribute to a more satisfying life than the actually the accumulation of it.

So, we pursue the things of God and allow Him to shape our emotions and enable us to experience joy, contentment, satisfaction, even what is called "happiness."  And, pure joy is not measured in dollars and cents.  God desires for us to be fulfilled and recognize that He is our true source of contentment.

The Church is Alive

It's important that we grasp the concept of our lives reflecting the glory of God and recognizing that
we are part of the body of Christ, His church, built on His firm foundation. In Ephesians 2, we read:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord...

We are called into a unit, ordained by God, to display a sense of unity - we are the body of Christ, and we have been called and chosen by Him to be part of His church and to fulfill His plan in the earth.  It's important that we have that perspective of God's call to God's church and walk in His truth. We can develop a passion to know Him better, to grow spiritually, and to follow the direction of His Spirit, Who empowers us to live a productive Christian life.

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We can be challenged to be passionate abut the things of God, so that He might be exalted in and
through our lives. Colossians 1 lays out some incredible truth for us:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Just as Charlie Brown talked about having another holiday to worry about, well, lo and behold, we have another Pew religion survey to worry about - well, not really, but there is new data that was released by Pew that indicates that despite a growing secularization of society, religious people are continuing to be devout in the practice of their faith.

Let's dig a little deeper...

In a piece on the Religion News Service website, which is apparently the same story that ran in USA Today, Alan Cooperman, director of religion research at Pew, is quoted as saying, “People who say they have a religion — which is still the vast majority of the population — show no discernible dip in levels of observance.” He continues: "They report attending religious services as often as they did a few years ago. They pray as often as they did before, and they are just as likely to say that religion plays a very important role in their lives.” And he said, “On some measures there are even small increases in their levels of religious practice.”

For example, more religiously affiliated adults read Scripture regularly and participate in small religious groups than did so seven years ago, according to the survey. 88 percent of religiously affiliated adults said they prayed daily, weekly or monthly — the same percentage that reported such regular prayer in the 2007 study.  Gregory A. Smith, associate director of research for Pew, said, "We shoud remember that the United States remains a nation of believers,” adding, “with nearly 9 in 10 adults saying they believe in God.”

Now, between 2007 and last year, the percentage of Americans who say they are religiously affiliated has declined from 83 to 77 percent, which drives a 3 percent drop overall in the belief in God.  The survey found that 98 percent of Christians say they believe in God - I'm not really sure how that works - but only 76 percent believe with absolute certainty; that's a drop of 4 percent since 2007.

Also, the survey indicates there's a more general spirituality on the rise. 6 in 10 adults say they regularly feel a “deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being,” up 7 percentage points since 2007. And, the number of people who experienced a “deep sense of wonder” about the universe jumped 7 percentage points.

There's also a section about attitudes toward homosexuality. The number of evangelical Protestants who said they agreed that “homosexuality should be accepted by society” jumped 10 percentage points between the 2007 and 2014 studies — from 26 percent to 36 percent. The increase for Catholics was even steeper, from 58 percent to 70 percent. For historically black Protestant churches, acceptance jumped from 39 percent to 51 percent.

Also, the survey found that almost 9 in 10 Americans say religious institutions bring people together and strengthen community bonds, and 87 percent say they play an important role in helping the poor and needy. Plus, six in 10 adults, and three-quarters of Christians, believe the Bible or other holy Scripture is the Word of God. About 31 percent — and 39 percent of Christians — believe it should be interpreted literally.

There's a lot to consider and I want to provide some takeaways from this data.  In his blog on the Christianity Today website, Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research is quoted as saying, "As every single reliable researcher believes: the church isn't dying." He added, "In other words, there's not a collapse of practicing Christianity, and that's the headline of almost every story, though some people still won't believe it."

He offers this admonition:

As we Christians watch our views become ever more unpopular in an increasingly polarized culture, the temptation to defend ourselves in vitriolic, even hateful, ways will grow. As we interact with others virtually or in our communities, we must remember our call to live like Jesus. We must not adopt secular rules of engagement regardless of whether culture is religious or irreligious.

He offers three suggestions: 1) Listen better to people who disagree, 2) Love people despite their disagreements, and 3) Lead people to understand what we believe.

I think, in light of the survey data, this can also be a time for introspection. We can examine our level of passion for Christ and the things of God.  We can also make sure that our regard for the authority and authenticity for the Word of God is strong.  The survey mentioned the practice of regular prayer - recognizing the importance of prayer in a vibrant spiritual life, we have to make sure that we maintain our consistency.

The survey indicates a rise in spiritual experience, with greater numbers reporting peace and wonder. You know, I commented recently on the transcendent nature of our faith - there is a supernatural element of our walk with Christ.  And, I think the experience of God's supernatural power and presence is such an essential component of our lives - we have to make sure that those experiences line up with Scripture, for sure, but there is more to life than just living out a human existence with a God-stamp attached - we truly have the capability to live out what Paul described in Acts: "...in Him we live and move and have our being."

Finally, we can acknowledge the research and Stetzer's analysis - the church is not dying.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit and the principles of Scripture which we believe.  And the faithful seem to be practicing the faith.  Yes, we may be losing ground on some key issues in our culture, but the truth remains that this is a culture that overwhelmingly believes in God and has a sensitivity to the supernatural.  Now, if we who say we believe actually put our faith into practice in more compelling ways, what an incredible impact we can have.

The Flow of Money

In all of our activities, we are called to operate in a manner that shows that know, love, and follow
Christ. Colossians 3 offers this practical insight:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

So, we are to be people of the Word, which can produce wisdom in our lives - and that involves the ability to apply our knowledge to real-life situations.  The Bible tells us that if we lack wisdom, we are to ask of God - I believe that we can depend on His Spirit to give us direction to know how to act in any situation and the capacity to honor Him with the decisions we make.  This is true for every area of our life, including our conduct in the workplace.

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The Bible teaches powerful skills regarding how we are to conduct ourselves in our profession.  We
are to work with excellence, serve with joy, and to act responsibly. Luke 16 offers some insight into our workplace culture:
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

It is not a secret that corporations can support or oppose particular agendas.  The corporate culture can help to reinforce Christian values, and can play a significant role in promoting causes that conflict with our deeply-held beliefs.

Today, we're going to examine some corporations on both sides of the ledger.  First of all, the organization Faith Driven Consumer, which describes itself on its website as "representing 41 million Christian consumers who spend $2 trillion annually," and which has, as it says, "earned wide recognition for rating the faith compatibility of major brands both in the consumer and entertainment spheres, as well as serving as a voice for this community."

This week, Faith Driven Consumer, buidling on more than four years of research and behind-the-scenes work with major brands, has announced the first annual Faith Equality Index (FEI), which it states, "emerges as the only industry benchmark to measure m [sic] compatibility with Faith Driven Consumers."

This year's leaders are: Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby, Interstate Batteries, Tyson Foods, Cracker Barrel, Walmart, and Thrivent Financial.  FDC also released its 10 lowest-rated brands, which are, staring from the bottom: Bank of America, Unilever, DirecTV, Expedia, Nationwide, Pfizer, Microsoft, AT&T, Apple, and T-Mobile.

In the press release announcing the top brands, Chris Stone, Certified Brand Strategist and founder of Faith Driven Consumer said, "In a marketplace that celebrates diversity, the Faith Equality Index focuses major brands on the newest color in their rainbow, Faith Driven Consumers. Like every community, Faith Driven Consumers expect to be welcomed by the companies they do business with and work for. FEI affords the marketplace a transparent tool to measure where brands stand."  And, Faith Driven Consumer thinks there is room for improvement, since the top score was only 63 on a 100-point scale.  (You can see the company reviews here.)  In reading one of the scorecards, it seems that FDC is expecting companies to provide special treatment faith-based consumers, including special training and policies oriented toward serving that demographic. Examples would be: an employer-sponsored Employee Resource Group for faith-driven employees and an Equal Application of Equal Protection statement specifying that all enumerated groups are protected equally in practice with every other enumerated group.  It's actually an intriguing prospect - to treat faith-based consumers in the same way that diversity proponents would like for businesses to treat the LGBT community, perhaps.

Yesterday, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance went down to defeat by a sizable margin, and there was corporate participation in trying to get the bill passed by the voters - the ordinance would have provided special rights based on gender identity and sexual orientation.  And, there was corporate participation in attempting to coerce voters to support the measure.  The Daily Signal reported that the biggest corporate supporters were: Apple, BASF, Dell, Dow, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, and United Airlines.  These companies joined more than 60 local businesses that have gotten behind the measure, along with more than 60 coalition members, according to the Houston Unites website. Coalition members include the ACLU, the NAACP, and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

And, while we are certainly concerned about the taxpayer funding of the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, there is also a corporate element of support for the organization. The Daily Signal earlier this year highlighted corporations who had been involved in that support. It quoted 2nd Vote, a website and app that tracks the flow of money from consumers to political causes, which said that more than 25 percent of Planned Parenthood’s $1.3-billion annual revenue comes from private donations, which includes corporate contributions.  And, you'll see some of the same names that I mentioned earlier: Apple (of course!), Bank of America, Unilever, Expedia, Microsoft, and Pfizer.   Even the March of Dimes is on the list.

These are all very interesting statistics, and there are actions that perhaps individual consumers can take to move the needle into a direction that portrays a commitment to serving the faith community and to taking cultural stands that more accurately reflect our values.   The flow of money to corporate interests through commerce is a powerful tool...dry it up or reduce it, and it can send a message.

And, in our own corporate climate - whether you are business owner, a supervisor, or what you may regard as "merely" an employee - you can help to create a culture that exalts Christ. Because you are there as His ambassador, you can conduct yourself in a manner that reflects His presence in your life. That can be seen in how you relate to your fellow employees, how you serve and show concern for customers, and the general attitude that you bring, shaped by God's Word, which teaches that we do our best, that we strive for excellence.  The workplace provides critical opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love.

Staying Spiritually Sharp

We can be challenged to develop a sense of spiritual sharpness, or alertness, seeking the Lord in all things, remaining connected to Him, and guarding against those influences that would get us off
track. 1st Peter 1 teaches:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

It's been said that the mind is the battleground - the enemy will attempt to enter our consciousness and to lead us astray through the power of suggestion, turning our attention from the truth to the deception of empty promises.  The Bible teaches us to resist the devil and God gives us the tools by which we walk in victory. We have God's Word, which can train our minds and keep us focused on Christ.  We have spiritual armor, through which we can stand strong against him.  And, we can develop the determination to make sure that every stronghold the enemy would try to build in our minds is destroyed by the power of the Spirit, released as we appropriate God's truth.

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Romans 13 addresses the topic of staying sharp spiritually. We can read:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Steve Harvey is a famous comedian.

He believes that he is gifted of God.

He also does not do drugs or get drunk because he believes God's gifts are diminished when people alter their state of mind, according to a piece on the Christian Post website.

The report points to a video on his YouTube channel, in which he says, "The reason I don't drink and indulge in dope is because my gift is tied squarely to my mental alertness and sharpness," adding, "I don't care who you are, really, none of our gifts are tied to changing and altering our mental state."

He takes aim at those who say that smoking marijuana enhances creativity: "No, when you're smoking you told yourself you get more creative. You had that gift before you started smoking weed. He says, "You can convince yourself of anything. But name one gift that you have that is enhanced by altering your mental state."  But Harvey insists that he is not condemning anyone.

Harvey says, "God gives you a gift. He don't need your help to enhance it...He needs your attention, your faith, your prayer to enhance your gift."  He points out that there are many entertainers who have allowed drugs and alcohol to negatively impact their careers.

"Once you alter your mental state, you immediately start to diminish your gift and your rise to the top will be short," Harvey said.

As an entertainer, Harvey knows the influence of celebrity and makes it a point to use his platform responsibly. For that reason, mentoring young men is important to him.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/steve-harvey-drug-use-god-doesnt-need-help-enhance-gifts-148577/#izI19ZqHsH1idGri.99

He says he desires to use his role as an entertainer responsibly and to mentor young men.

Now, I don't know very much about Steve Harvey.  I do know that he hosts Family Feud and did an introduction to Jesus video a few years ago.  And, there is online evidence that his comedy act may be cleaner than it once was.  But, while not endorsing Harvey's profession, as in "job," I will endorse his profession regarding not diminishing your sharpness in the use of God's gift.

And, that can be a challenge for us.  Please allow me to share some takeaways that were inspired by this Christian Post story:

Number one, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so therefore substances that could produce a diminished level of effectiveness or mental or spiritual awareness are not good for us or for our spiritual walk.  So, we have to watch what we put in to our bodies - if the effect is harmful, I believe the Bible tells us to refrain from consuming it.

Next, the Bible teaches us to be alert - spiritually speaking.  Now, physical substances can harm that alertness, but there are other influences that can adversely affect our sensitivity and discernment, as well.  What we place into our minds can be detrimental to our spiritual lives - we have to make sure that we are not allowing damaging or deceptive thought patterns to take root and get us off course in our walk.  That is why meditation on God's Word is a key component for spiritual health, so that we might be sharp in the Lord.

Finally, we can make sure that we recognize God's giftedness for us - we are placed here for a purpose, to abide in Jesus daily and to be used of Him for His glory.  As we realize that we have a gift, we take the necessary steps to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His work through us.

The comedian pointed out that there are many entertainers who have allowed drugs and alcohol to negatively impact their careers.

"Once you alter your mental state, you immediately start to diminish your gift and your rise to the top will be short," Harvey said.

As an entertainer, Harvey knows the influence of celebrity and makes it a point to use his platform responsibly. For that reason, mentoring young men is important to him.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/steve-harvey-drug-use-god-doesnt-need-help-enhance-gifts-148577/#izI19ZqHsH1idGri.99

Ministry in the Mess

In the Word of God, we find enormous promises for us as believers in Christ - and one of those promises we probably don't want to think about is the promise of persecution.  Because of our faith in Christ, we may draw fire from people who disagree with us or outright hate us because of the presence of the Lord in our hearts.  In 1st Corinthians 4, Paul lays out how he was experiencing
difficulty:
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

When we are overwhelmed by sorrow or despair, we can turn to the love and power of Christ.  He will lift our spirits as we look to Him - as we respond to woe with worship and to hostility with honoring God in the midst of our sufferings.  And, we can be challenged to look for opportunities to minister to people in their messes of life, with the message of hope in Jesus.

+++++

Jesus taught about the nature of persecution and encouraged believers that He would be with them, even in the midst of difficulty.  He taught in Matthew 10:
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

The first of two International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church was observed yesterday, and Christian organizations are calling on believers to remember those who are being persecuted for their faith.  Open Doors USA conducted a live webcast over the weekend, and you can still view it on that organization's website.  And, the site has an interview with a pastor from Baghdad, Farouk Hammo, who says:

Despite all the violence taking place, we try to live our lives as normal. We go to work, pick up the kids from school and visit each other. Every evening we have activities at the church and most of our members are active in at least one of our ministries.

He emphasized the importance of Christians standing together in their identity in light of the conflict with ISIS. He says, "For us as a church, the influx of Internally Displaced People has given us the opportunity to 'practice Christianity' as I call it, to help all who need it."  He continues: "God asked us to be gracious to all.  Regarding God's role in their lives, he states that "God is in everything for us. He leads us and sends the right people our way. He gives us peace and happiness, despite the situation."

He also issues a word of warning concerning the spread of Islamic extremism.  He says to Christian believers, "...please wake up. In Europe, a lot of Muslims are entering now as refugees. This is a golden opportunity for evangelism, but watch out for the shark of Islamic extremism. So many churches have been losing their identity and have lost Christ in a way."

Another pastor, who is no longer in Iraq, at least for now, is Canon Andrew White, also known as the "Vicar of Baghdad."  In a profile on The Independent website, a British publication, his approach to enemies is highlighted, including his response to ISIS.  The article states:

Andrew White did what he always does when faced with an enemy. “I invited the leaders of Isis [Islamic State] for dinner. I am a great believer in that. I have asked some of the worst people ever to eat with me.”

The reply? “Isis said, ‘You can invite us to dinner, but we’ll chop your head off.’ So I didn’t invite them again!” And, as the article states, "he roars with laughter, despite believing that Islamic State has put a huge price on his head, apparently willing to pay $157m (£100m) to anyone who can kill this harmless-looking eccentric."

The article continues:

For the last two decades, he has worked as a mediator in some of the deadliest disputes on Earth, in Israel and Palestine, Iraq and Nigeria. He has sat down to eat with terrorists, extremists, warlords and the sons of Saddam Hussein, with presidents and prime ministers.

A little background on this Anglican priest, according to the publication:

White reopened St George’s church after the invasion of Iraq even though civil war raged and the diplomats and ex-pats who had once made up the congregation no longer dared to go there.

Iraqis came instead, and the congregation reached a peak of 6,500. They built a school, a clinic and food bank. White pledged to stay even as the sound of bombs grew louder. “We had Isis on the doorstep of Baghdad last year. I said to my people, ‘I will not leave you; don’t leave me.’ But many did leave me and they went to Nineveh and Mosul. Isis were there too. There was total mayhem.”

White's superior, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has pulled him out of Baghdad.  And, while he continues to say the door should be kept open to engagement and discussion, he admits that ISIS must be destroyed.  While out of Baghdad, he is ministering to the people of Jordan, where many of his congregants fled.  He says, "I see myself as the pastor of the Iraqi refugee community in Jordan. I am providing them with food, housing, education for their children and a clinic to give them healthcare."

It's a mess - and believers are facing enormous hardships in keeping ministry going in troublesome parts of the world.  That underscores the importance of the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  You can visit the Open Doors USA website or the IDOP.org site for additional information.

I want to share a couple of words with you that arise from these two stories.  One is encouragement. In the midst of all of our struggles, we can continue to maintain hope or even grow in our hope in the Lord.  He stands with us, and we can know, that even in persecution, He is working through His people.

And, I think engagement is such an important component.  Canon White is certainly a man of peace, and he has held out the invitation to dinner to his enemies, as well as ministering to former congregation members who are now refugees.  Pastor Hammo is attempting to engage with people who have been displaced, seeing an opportunity to "practice Christianity," and warning the world about the threat of Islamic extremism.  Regarding engagement, the takeaway is to love our enemies, but to be very knowledgeable as to how they operate.  There is certainly ministry, great ministry, that can occur in messy situations.