A Pillar

There is a passage in 2nd Corinthians 12 that contrasts human frailty with God's strength.
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 order for us to experience the power of the Lord, it's important that we humble ourselves and admit our inferior abilities, in comparison to the unlimited resources of God Almighty. Paul, even though he had some amazing experiences with God, had a thorn in the flesh, and that was a reminder of his humanity, his frailty.  We can accomplish much in the power of the flesh, but those achievements will pass away; truly lasting accomplishments in the sight of eternity come in relation to the life of Christ, expressing His power through us.

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Even the strongest, most accomplished, most determined individual has to recognize that human strength pales in comparison to the strength of the Lord.  In Joshua 1, we see where God spoke to the new leader of Israel, saying:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The annual circus known as SEC Media Days is taking place this week in Hoover, and in the midst of the speculation for the upcoming college football season, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey took a moment in his opening address to honor the late former University of Tennessee head women's basketball coach, Pat Summitt.  According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel:

"Pat was a pillar of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said. "She's on par with many of the great names, may have set the standard for all of the great names that are part of this conference. Her impact is felt every day in the lives of the young people she's mentored. Their ongoing success is living proof of Pat's influence and the truly positive impact of intercollegiate athletics."

He also said, "Pat may be the best example of having graduated every student-athlete, having sought and tried and competed to win every championship, and using the intercollegiate athletics platform to change the world."

High praise indeed.  But, there's something about Pat Summitt that maybe you haven't heard, and Terry Mattingly of GetReligion.org takes the media to task for missing it.   He quotes from a Baptist Press story that stated:

Summitt, coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team from 1974-2012, was a member of Faith Promise Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Knoxville, Tenn. Her pastor, Chris Stephens, told Knoxville's NewsTalk 98.7 June 27 she would "probably pass into heaven in the next few days."

Stephens led listeners in prayer during a five-minute interview, praying, "I knew her as one of Your followers. She brought so many people to church, and there was such a side of Pat that so many did not get to see and know, but I did."

Summitt and her son Tyler were baptized together in 2012, a "special moment they shared that outshines all the others," according to a statement from the Pat Summitt Foundation.

Mattingly writes, "Wait a minute. This religious detail was actually in the official obituary prepared by Summitt's own organization, on behalf of her family? It was right there on the website?"

Yes, the site reads:

She was most proud of one special moment they shared that outshines all the others. On May 5, 2012, Pat and Tyler were baptized together. On this day, they decided together to go public with their faith and professed their love for and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. On this day, they created the ultimate and eternal memory, together.

Mattingly puts this event in context:

It was on On May 5, 2012, during the most tumultuous year of Summitt's life – following her stunning August, 2011, announcement that she was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. The baptism was less than a month after he announced her resignation as coach of the Lady Vols. This also came several years after her divorce, after 27 years of marriage.

Clearly this act meant something crucial to Summitt. It was a statement, in part, linked to what she was going to do next – lead a public fight against Alzheimer's, as long as she could. There would, in her words, be "no pity party" for Summitt.

Man - this is truly amazing, and meaningful for me, a UT graduate.  As Commissioner Sankey said, she was a pillar of the SEC and used the platform of intercollegiate athletics to change the world. Her Foundation's website says one moment with her son outshines all the others - get this, all the others - that is, her baptism. You could say that refers to a shared moment with her son.  But, I would take some latitude here and say that moment truly outshines all the others in her life, because the decision to follow Christ is the most important you could ever make. More important than the victories on the court, the relentless fight for the legitimacy of women's basketball, the 100% graduation rate, the character that she built into the lives of her players!

It was late in life when Pat Summitt made that public profession.  And, it was apparently a meaningful accomplishment; but not really her accomplishment, but what God accomplished in her heart through Jesus Christ.  So, not only can Pat Summitt teach us about determination, character, and so many other excellent traits, but she can remind us it's never too late...never too late to make that decision to follow Christ.  Never too late to dedicate your life more fully to Christ.

The woman who just yesterday was called a "pillar" made the decision that she needed a pillar for her life, and she turned to the Lord.   Even the most accomplished person can come to a point of humility. We can rest on our laurels and relish what we have done in our own strength, but ultimately, we can rest on the Lord and recognize each day that we need His strength.  That can be hard for humans, because we can be given to strong-willedness.  But, Jesus wants to be our rock of refuge, our source of strength.

Liberty

In the midst of difficulties and struggles, when we may feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life, we
have a rock, a stronghold, a refuge, on Whom we can rely. 1st Peter 4 says this:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

In our trials, we recognize that we are being tested, and as we rely on the strength and wisdom of the Lord, we can be confident that Godly character, lasting fruit, is being produced in our lives.  We could allow our troubles to completely discourage us, but if we shift our attitude into a reliance on the hand of God, we can see Him do amazing things in and through our lives.  We can be filled with the "Spirit of glory," and allow Him to have His way, so that in our difficulty, God is glorified.

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In 2nd Corinthians 4, we can gain perspective into how we regard the trials we encounter, including
persecution for our faith:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

One news source is calling it a Big Brother Bill, and the implications are chilling. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation that tightens restrictions on missionary activity and evangelism, according to a report on the Christianity Today website.

The amendments include laws against sharing faith in homes, online, or anywhere but recognized church buildings and go into effect July 20.  An earlier report on the website said:

To share their faith, citizens must secure a government permit through a registered religious organization, and they cannot evangelize anywhere besides churches and other religious sites. The restrictions even apply to activity in private residences and online.

The National Religious Broadcasters website features a story with several quotes, including this from Dr. Hannu Haukka, President of Great Commission Media Ministries, which is actively engaged in Russia. He said, “This new situation resembles the Soviet Union in 1929. At that time confession of faith was permitted only in church. Practically speaking, we are back in the same situation. These anti-terrorist laws are some of the most restrictive laws in post-Soviet history.”

Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, President & CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, stated, "The enactment of a law restricting the free exercise of religion by any nation should be a matter of grave concern and prayerful action by Christians of all nations. Following a pattern of other human rights abuses, Vladimir Putin’s Russia is criminalizing a central duty for all followers of Christ – sharing our faith."

Mission Network News quotes Joel Griffith of Slavic Gospel Association, who says the law is meant to protect the country from further attacks from terrorists. For instance, he explains, anyone found to be financing or aiding terrorism will be severely punished, as will those who are actual participants. The sentences are 10 years to life in prison.

The story goes on:

Christians had been praying for the bill to be stopped because of what it could mean for evangelism in Russia. But, hope is not lost just because it’s been passed.

Griffith says, “I think, certainly, the call to prayer that we put out is by all means still valid. It’s been signed into law, now it’s all going to depend on how this gets interpreted down the food chain within the Russian Federation.”

SGA and other mission organizations are concerned about the anti-missionary clauses in the law. They are waiting to hear from the registered Baptist Union Church to find out how the law will practically affect them.

As the Christianity Today story points out, "Protestants and religious minorities small enough to gather in homes fear they will be most affected." The story says that, according to Forum 18 News Service, opponents to the new measures hope to eventually appeal in court or elect legislators to amend them. Nevertheless, they have begun to prepare their communities for life under the new rules.

Under the guise of curbing terror, Russia has restricted the freedoms of members of a variety of religions.  It demonstrates the tension between liberty and security.  Putin wants a more secure Russia, so he is willing to dictate that religious groups give up their freedom.  For Christians, that means being quiet about their faith or getting a permit to share it.   That's an unacceptable law that contradicts what Jesus taught in the Great Commission.

The Mission Network News story states: "You can continue to pray for Christians in Russia. Pray that the law will not be enforced or interpreted as strictly as it is written."

Even as you consider the challenges we have to practicing our faith here in America, this takes lack of religious freedom to a whole new level.  Let's think about a couple of things very quickly.  Yes, this does call for prayer for Russian believers - obviously, they want to find a way for this law to be struck down or amended.   I am sure there is a greater level of fear, especially among those who meet in homes to study God's Word and fellowship together.

But, as we have seen in countries where the gospel is restricted, we know that God is greater than man's laws.  Attempts to limit religious practice in China have resulted in a church that is strong and growing; it is predicted that there will be more Christians in China than any other country in just a few years.  

Persecution or harassment for our faith can really help to define how strong our faith actually is.  Our convictions can be hardened as the result of testing.   So, when we rightly complain that our liberties are facing opposition, we can also recognize that we are being tested.   And, testing, as we allow it to have its perfect work, will produce the result of a more dedicated walk with Christ.  

Peace in the Pain

The Bible, I believe, calls us to be purveyors of peace in the power of the Spirit.  Hebrews 12 says
this:
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

We have access to the presence of God, Who will produce peace in our lives - it is truly a powerful force, a peace, as Philippians 4 says, that passes all understanding.  We receive this peace through our relationship with Christ, and therefore we have peace with God - what kept us separated from Him has been taken away!   And, when we, full of the Spirit of God and walking in His peace, walk into situations of tension and conflict, can be powerful ambassadors in expressing the character of God and bringing peace between those who are apart.

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There's a passage in Colossians chapter 3 that can teach us how to live, even when we experience
conflict:
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Human beings are prone to war and conflict - why?  Because we are sinners and desperately in need of a Savior.

The questions have been raised this week about two shootings in our country - in Baton Rouge, LA and St. Paul, MN, where African-American men were shot at close range by white police officers. And, last night, at a protest that occurred in response to those incidents, snipers opened fire and at least 12 police officers and 2 civilians were wounded, and 5 police officers lost their lives.

Cultural commentator Jim Denison offers these thoughts from Dallas:

As a longtime Dallas resident, I can tell you that our city is shocked and in mourning. The violence that is escalating across the world has come home. Now we are faced with a choice. We can let this horrible tragedy polarize us, turning the shooting into a racial conflict that will escalate and beget more violence. That's just what those who terrorized our city want us to do.

Or we can go into Dallas today in confidence, grateful to live in this great city and thankful for the police officers who risk their lives every day for us. We can pray passionately for those who were attacked and for their families, asking God to give them the strength only he can provide. We can come together as one, determined that those who terrorized our city will not win and resolved to fight racism and anything else that would divide us.

He then quotes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  Denison closes by saying, "Our God who is love (1 John 4:8) calls us to love each other, to grieve with each other, and to stand with each other."

In a previous column, written after the Baton Rouge incident, Denison had offered a number of provocative questions.  In the article, he stated:

• There are nearly seven times as many black adult males in prison as white adult males.
• Quartz reports that black people are three times more likely than white people to be killed by police.
• According to a Pew Research Center report, eight in ten blacks say black people are treated less fairly than whites in dealing with police.

These are the facts, and while it can be important to analyze why things are the way they are, we can also talk about ways we can move forward.  

I came across an article from recent Meeting House guest Dr. George Yancey at TheStream.org.  In it, he called for a Christian version of Black Lives Matter.   He wrote:

Make no mistake that Black Lives Matters is dealing with legitimate problems. For instance, black men are much more likely to be killed by the police while unarmed than whites. Whether this is due to violence in black ghettos, latent racism, conscious racism or some complex social amalgam of these and other factors, this is a problem people of goodwill want to solve.

Another challenge: The police are used like a taxing agency in some poor minority communities.

In other words, he says that "... the law enforcement system in many poor communities across America do press their police force into behaving as a taxing agency, an agency that exacts a highly regressive tax that falls hard on the poor and often less well educated. A disproportionate number of those communities are black communities."

He continues, and I think it is important that we grasp this:

I find myself frustrated when my white Christian brothers and sisters ignore the real concerns many blacks have, missing the authentic complaints amidst the extreme rhetoric on race coming from the far left. Attempts to impose a color-blind ideology in light of the realities that blacks face do not help us overcome racial alienation. Our racial struggles have not ended simply because we have a black president, and I would love to see everyone of goodwill being proactive in dealing with the continuing legacy of racism.

He says that "Christians should be at the forefront to reverse the effects the historical sin of racism has had on our country. We fail in our values when we follow the lead of others rather than forge ahead towards a true racial healing."

The response to what we have seen this week has been the opening of wounds that have not gone away in our culture.  There is distrust of police by many in the African-American community, and it's important that community policing efforts continue to show a sensitivity to that attitude that exists. I have had guests on my program, black men, that related how they have experienced unpleasant treatment at the hands of law enforcement officials, and that has helped me to understand just a little what it is like to be an African-American man in America.

But, we recognize that law enforcement has a calling - to protect the citizenry, to serve the public, to respond to emergencies, and I would dare say, to keep the peace.   There are so many outstanding police officers across our nation, and it is important that we let them know how much they are appreciated; they put their lives on the line every day.  You can't characterize the whole profession by some of the unfortunate situations that have occurred.

For Christians who are processing this information, we have to ask how we can respond.  And, the first answer is to pray.   The Reconciled Church earlier this week announced a new prayer initiative. We can pray for peace.

We can also take steps to pursue peace.  I believe the Church, the body of Christ, is in a strategic position like never before to take the initiative to promote racial healing.  It's been pointed out to me that the Black Lives Matter movement is unique because it is a movement of African-Americans that, unlike the Civil Rights movement, did not occur in the church.   So, as Dr. Yancey says, while it has noble goals, spiritual dynamics need to be put into place to see permanent change take place.

We have the unique opportunity in these times to be agents of peace, ambassadors for healing in the name of Jesus Christ.  We can demonstrate the peace of God that passes understanding, and we can work to bring people together.  Through Christ, we can be facilitators of a greater level of communication and empathy with one another.

I Believe

In Mark chapter 9, we can read the story about a father who came to Jesus on behalf of his son - the
boy was being controlled by an evil spirit, and we read beginning in verse 23:
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

We can examine for our own lives what it means to believe, to really exercise faith in God.  I think belief goes much further than merely to mentally or verbally acknowledge the existence of God, although I think that's an important step.  When we truly believe, I think that results in life change. Our actions will be determined by our deeply-held beliefs.  If we say we believe, and then act in a manner that is inconsistent with that declaration, then we may have to admit that we didn't really believe it.  I would dare say that the Bible teaches that belief and behavior are related.

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In James chapter 2, the author explores the relationship between faith and works - if we say we
believe, that belief can result in true life change and obedience to God.
(17) ...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

Back in 1944, the Gallup organization began asking people, "Do you, personally, believe in a God?" in 1944, 96% said they did, according to the Gallup website.  In surveys conducted through 1967, between 94% and 98% of Americans said they believed in God. In 1976, Gallup changed the wording up and asked Americans if they believed in "God or a universal spirit," with 94% to 96% saying that they did.

So, belief in God has historically been embraced by an overwhelming majority of respondents.  And, adding the vague concept of a universal spirit has not changed the results.  Its website says that since 2011, Gallup has asked both questions of random half-samples of Americans. Since 2013, the percentage believing in God or a universal spirit has been consistently in the upper 80% range. In the most recent survey, in June, both versions of the question netted 89% affirmative responses.

And, this year, as in selected previous years, Gallup asked a multiple-choice question that included the option, "not sure about" option. This year, "believe in God" dropped to 79%, with 10% unsure - that adds up to 89%, the same percentage as the 89% who responded positively to the previous question, "Do you believe in God?"

The survey also included four other religious concepts: Angels, heaven, hell, and the devil.  72% believed in angels, with 12% unsure.  71% believed in heaven, 64% in hell, and 61% in the devil - between 12 and 14% were unsure about each concept.

The summary on Gallup's website, written by Frank Newport, states:

Whatever the explanation for these changes over time, the most recent findings show that the substantial majority of Americans continue to give a positive response when asked about their belief in God.

So, what we have here is that people say they believe in God.  That's encouraging.  But sobering, when you consider what the book of James says - that even the demons believe in Him, and tremble. For the Christian, it's about more than just merely believing in God or a universal spirit, or a higher power.  Believing means serving.  Believing means that we act on the hope that we have in Christ.  Believing means surrendering.  We can have a relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ. The Bible changes the perspective from a hope-to, want-to, think-so mentality to a confidence in the God who created the universe.  Believing means more than just possessing a vague state of mind about issues of faith.

So, while we can be encouraged that there's a survey that shows that almost 9-in-10 Americans believe in God, what I want to see is how authentic that believe is and how it is put into practice - how it changes a life.  I would project that there are many who say they believe, but by their works, they demonstrate disobedience to our Lord.  Jesus wants us to believe to the extent of changing our hearts and minds.   Belief in God can have a profound impact on how a person lives, and real belief shows up in true conviction, a willingness to follow what God has to say.

Healed

I want to continue this theme of celebration today as we pause for praise together. When and how we have seen God work in our lives, we can be motivated to give Him the credit, to acknowledge what He has done, and to give Him thanks. Psalm 29 says:

(1) Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Sometimes those instances of God's hand can be incredibly apparent, even miraculous.  At other times, we can know that God has worked, but it is more subtle and we have to think perhaps how He has arranged circumstances or ordained a seemingly "chance" meeting or occurrence, that, upon further review, we can see that God has been in evidence.  When we experience those "God moments," we can be swift to give Him credit and praise, expressing our appreciation, which can contribute to growing in gratefulness.

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Today, I want to continue to provide some encouragement about our call to celebrate, as we look for and acknowledge the hand of God. 1st Thessalonians 5 says this:
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

So many women have been blessed by the ministry of Proverbs 31, and that ministry's founder, Lysa TerKeurst, is certainly praising God these days.

According to a story on the Christian Today website,  Lysa was in the process of treatment for colon cancer; in fact, half of her colon had to be removed.  But, according to the article, quoting her Facebook page, she wrote, "Thank you for praying for me...The surgeon that removed half of my colon that had twisted and distended to the size of a large football called me on Friday to tell me there was no sign of cancer in the pathology report. Praise God."

But what the surgeon then told her left an even deeper impact. He said, "Lysa, I don't like throwing around the word miracle. But the fact you survived this is a miracle. The pathology report showed your cells were in a state of death..."

The article states that, "She says that as a result of her experience with cancer, she has come to the 'sacred realisation' [sic] that each day is a gift from God."

There are several thoughts that I had regarding this wonderful story.  One of those is that life is a gift. God is the One who has given us life, He has breathed into us the breath of life, and He desires for us to live in Him and abide in His presence.  We can be thankful for the very lives and opportunities that we have.  And, likewise, tomorrow is not promised.  The Scriptures teach us that life is a vapor, and we can seek to maximize each day, recognizing that our Maker has wired us to live in fellowship with and in obedience to Him.

Lysa TerKeurst is certainly thankful these days for what the doctor described as a miracle.  It simply cannot be explained except as an act of God.  Another principle is: Give God the praise when we see Him show up!  There may be miracles, large and small, that we encounter, and God wants us to come before Him and give Him the praise.  As we display a thankful attitude, it changes our countenance and testifies to the world about the Lordship of Jesus.

We can also be challenged to be attentive to His presence.  We can be sensitive to encounters involving the intersection of our lives with the life of Christ and the operation of His Spirit.  When we see Him show up, we praise Him - when we sense that He is leading us, we obey Him.

Finally, we can be motivated to pray in confidence and expectation.  Remember that Ephesians 3 tells us that God is able to do far greater than we can ask or think.  We can stand on His promises and reach out in faith to see amazing answers - for ourselves and for the people for whom we pray!

Something To Believe In

In Psalm 150, we can find some reasons for praising God and some ways that can be done. The final verse says:
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

So, if you're breathing, you qualify!  You are invited to participate in the wondrous celebration of who the Lord is and what He has done.  Notice that the phrase, "Praise the Lord," is mentioned twice in that verse.  I think that can remind us that this is important!

OK, back to verse 2 and following:
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

In this passage, musical praise is highlighted, but that is not the exclusive way in which we can give God the praise.  We are called to honor Him, to praise and worship Him, with all our hearts, allowing our love of God to flow from our hearts through our mouths.   Verse 2 says we can praise Him for His mighty acts - what He has done - and His excellent greatness - who He is!  We can examine how we can offer Him the sacrifice of praise...this day.

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Many have celebrated Independence Day, the Fourth of July, and it really can be joyous occasion, as we reflect on this great nation, which has experienced, I believe, the hand of God.  So, we approach
our celebration of the 4th with thanksgiving to God. Romans 14 provides a watchword:
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.

So, once again, our nation has observed Independence Day - with a variety of forms of expression. Here are a few facts about the holiday, from an article at GreenvilleOnline.com from South Carolina, who interviewed Kelly Smith of the Upcountry History Museum at Furman University:

The first parade to commemorate the event took place in 1785 in Bristol, Rhode Island.

The day was first designated as a national holiday in 1870.

Interestingly enough, only two men actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776: John Hancock and Charles Thompson.

And, the signers were not only senior citizens. Smith says, “The representative for South Carolina, Thomas Lynch Jr. was the youngest person to sign it...He was 27. Ben Franklin was the oldest at 70. Thomas Jefferson was the ripe old age of 33.”

John Adams refused to celebrate the holiday on July 4 - he chose July 2 instead, which was the day independence was declared.  Smith points out: “Adams was overruled,” adding, “He refused to celebrate on July 4th. He and Jefferson had a tempestuous relationship, so I’m not sure it wasn’t out of spite.”  And, perhaps you know this, but Smith says that, "They both died on July 4, 1826.”

Jefferson died in the morning, Adams later in day.  Adams did not know of Jefferson's death when he spoke his last words, which were, according to Smith, "‘He lives’ or ‘Jefferson lives.’ Even in their last breath, their rivalry continued."

But Adams was certainly not averse to celebrating the Fourth, er, the Second...writing to his wife, Abigail, that it should be celebrated by "pomp and parade"..."from one end of this continent to the other," according to the InfoPlease website.  He believed it would be celebrated as the "great anniversary festival."

Well, let's talk about several aspects of the Fourth that can actually apply to our spiritual lives. First of all, we can reflect on the power of celebration.  What have we seen God do in our lives?  We can celebrate, with a spirit of thankfulness, how we have seen His hand move, and we can reflect on the nature of our great God.   We can approach life with a spirit of celebration, and on this recent occasion, we can be thankful for the great nation in which God has placed us to live.

I think we can also highlight the power of consistency.  In other words, we can be challenged to not just celebrate God's blessings on our nation and our freedoms once or twice a year, but to have an abiding spirit of thankfulness as Americans.  And, we just don't worship God on special occasions or in once-a-week worship attendance.   We can regularly give God praise for how we have seen Him operate in and through us.

Finally, just a word about the power of conviction.   Those 56 brave men, as well as so many others who would be considered our founders, were driven by a passion for independence, a thirst for freedom.  They pursued a cause greater than themselves.  We can be challenged also to pursue God's plans for us, to embrace causes that are in line with His principles, and to allow Him to develop a passion for what is within His heart.

Wait

In Psalm 27, we can read about the assurance we can have that God will be with us and strengthen
our hearts, even in our times of waiting:
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

There is work to be done in our hearts, as God desires to develop Godly character in us.  One of those tools, not necessarily a pleasurable one, is waiting.   In the passage of time, when we are trusting God for an answer, perhaps finding ourselves in a period where we are waiting for something, maybe anything, to happen, we can abide in the peace that He offers.  Sure, we continue to cry out to Him, but it can be our goal to do so without falling into anxiety or discouragement.  We are not forsaken, as long as we place our trust in the love of Christ!

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In the book of James, we find a passage that may be familiar to you in the first chapter, which can
provide perspective in our times of waiting:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

As perhaps you're aware, the Veterans Administration has been under fire for some time now.  And, there is one aspect of this controversy that attracted my attention recently.  According to the website, Conservative Review, VA Secretary Robert MacDonald compared the wait times at the Veterans Administration to the wait times that guests at Disney’s theme parks experience.  The website quotes the Secretary as saying: "When you got to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line? Or what's important? What's important is, what's your satisfaction with the experience?"  This came during a Christian Science Monitor breakfast with reporters.

The piece quotes Independent Journal, who had reached out to a Disney spokesperson, who highlighted how the company works tirelessly to ensure their customers receive the best experience possible, even when they're standing in lines.  He is quoted as saying:

“If you wait at the Haunted Mansion there are musical tombstones that will sing to you. There is a flowing honey wall at the Whinny the Poo ride. We designed animated crabs for The Little Mermaid waiting area which will interact with you and play games while you wait.

We take every facet of the guest experience very seriously. If you have to wait, you should have fun while doing it.”

The CR article actually posted a screenshot showing that Disney keeps the exact wait times of their attractions and even provides that information to their customers to improve their experience with Disney.

Waiting is a part of life, and not a particularly enjoyable one.  So, technology can help us to manage our wait times and help us to schedule our coming and going - our family was quite dependent on those apps measuring time when we visited Disney World last year.   When my son and I journeyed to Cincinnati earlier this week, I was able to get on Google Maps and check to see what our estimated arrival time would be, which actually became a bit discouraging when traffic caused that ETA to get later and later as the time for my first interview drew nearer.

Anticipation can lead to angst, though, if we're not careful.   And, I think that God wants to have a hand in shaping our response to waiting.  I have to admit, impatience is an area where I have to really check myself, and it's not a great witness when I fall into its trap.  So an app that can mitigate the wait can be maybe be helpful - or not.

But, in real life situations, real life testing periods or challenges, we don't have a wait time app.  We don't know what the outcome will be or when it will occur - but God does, and I would think He wants us to do several things:

Number 1, recognize that His timing does not correspond to our own.  He is working out His plan, in His time, not according to our own clock or how we think things should play out. Our willingness to surrender to His time clock and to rely on Him for His desired outcome can be extremely helpful.

Number 2, there are works that God wants to do in our hearts in our periods of waiting.  While we may be waiting for a physical result, He is using the opportunity to build patience and peace into our hearts and shaping Godly character.

Finally, we can make it our goal to pursue peace in times of waiting.  Anxiety will occur when we don't see the answer; but God wants us to trust that He is at work.  We can totally surrender to His will and wisdom.