From the Storm to the Storm

I came across some verses in Proverbs 11 that give us insight about the importance of possessing
a spirit of giving:
23 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

In these three verses, we gain insight into the how that spirit of giving operates.  In verse 23, we find a reference to the "desire of the righteous;" we have to make sure that our motives are pure and honorable.  There's also an element of selfishness vs. self-lessness and the consequences of both. A selfish heart will lead to poverty; a selfless heart leads to abundance - and, while we do recognize there is a material principle of sowing and reaping, we acknowledge that God wants us to be rich in spirit - living in accordance with His principles.

+++++

In what you might call a "farewell address" to the elders of Ephesus, Paul summoned them to
Miletus, as we see in Acts 20, and he said this about possessing a charitable attitude:
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

In late September of this year, Grace Baptist Church in Wild Peach, Texas had a special event scheduled - a "packing party" for Operation Christmas Child.  But, just a month before it, Hurricane Harvey had brought devastation to the community, dumping up to 50 inches of rain in Southeast Texas.

This is according to the Samaritan's Purse website, which reports that the home of Pastor Mark Brumbelow and his wife, Cherry, was flooded, along with the homes of other church family members.  But, they decided, in the midst of their trial, to reach out to needy children and the party went on as planned.

The 30 members of the church set out to pack 1,000 boxes that day - the article says that, "Over the past four years, members of Grace Baptist have packed more than 16,100 gift boxes—including the 1,000 on Sept. 23.

Two weeks later, the Brumbelows were informed that some of those boxes would be going to Barbuda, a tiny Caribbean island that was "decimated" by Hurricane Irma on September 6.  The pastor and his wife were present two weeks ago when around 250 children were part of the first Operation Christmas Child distribution event for the islands of Antigua and Barbuda...the distribution was held on Antigua; many residents of Barbuda are still not back in their homes after being wracked by the Category 5 hurricane.  And, two days later, the entire island of Barbuda was evacuated to Antigua because of the threat of Hurricane Jose.

Pastor Mark and Cindy placed gifts into the children's hands, and Mark said: “Seeing this makes me want to do all I can while I can...” Cindy said, "It's beyond words how excited I feel,” adding, “I can’t wait to get home to pack some more shoeboxes. It’s such a joy to be a part of Operation Christmas Child, especially knowing that the children will be taught through The Greatest Journey how to faithfully follow Jesus.”  The article goes on to say:

Bishop Nigel Henry, who just celebrated 35 years of ministry on Barbuda, also attended the distribution event. He was excited about Operation Christmas Child and its follow-up discipleship course, The Greatest Journey.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to be a part of this kind of evangelism,” he said. “This will help our churches be revitalized from the child up as opposed to from the adult down.”

At the event in which the shoeboxes are handed out, there is a presentation of the gospel.  At this celebration, Devon Recha shared the Gospel. The piece says, "Devon was 12 years old when he received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the island of Grenada and also experienced Hurricane Ivan when it ripped through there in September 2004." Samaritan's Purse reports that "Devon, a former senator-turned pastor, challenged the children to commit their lives to Christ and to follow Him."

This Operation Christmas Child distribution was part of a multi-pronged strategy to bring hope to Barbuda.  Other initiatives of Samaritan's Purse include: reverse-osmosis equipment that purifies the water, helping residents with cleanup, and providing tarps, generators, jerry kits, and hygiene kits.  Samaritan's Purse will be constructing transitional housing, as well.

This story illustrates the love of Christ in action, and can remind us of the practical work of the gospel that is occurring all over the world.

We need hope in our world today, and it's vital that we do not lose sight of our mission.  Taking our eyes off ourselves is a key component.  Operation Christmas Child has the potential to do that for many families; while we all love to receive gifts, I believe that this outreach helps to turn the hearts and minds of children toward those who are in need.

I also think it's a cool cycle in operation when you think of how victims of one hurricane reached out to victims of another - the members of Grace Baptist certainly did not know that at the time, but I think there is a principle at work here: When you are experiencing need, shift the focus to the needs of others.  The Texas church members didn't cancel the packing party and they experienced the blessing of serving people who had suffered the devastation of another hurricane.

That act of love by a church family shows the importance of dedication to following Christ's direction.  Disappointment can cause us to cancel or change an assignment that God has given to us. Sometimes practicality will dictate a change of plans.  Other times, God wants us to stay the course. Our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will help us determine how He would have us to proceed.

God-Fearing

Proverbs 1 really lays out some of the premises that will be explored in the rest of the book; primarily the importance of fearing God, or having reverence for Him, and applying His truth:
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

I'll share a bit later about an actor who described himself recently as "God-fearing."  And, that is a state to which all of us should really aspire - allowing ourselves to be controlled by the Spirit of God and abiding by the teaching that we have received.  It may or may have not been from godly parents or grandparents.  But, right principles implanted in our hearts can serve us well.  And, we can be inspired to be parents who teach the ways of the Lord to the generations to come.

+++++

The 111th Psalm shares insight into God's redemption that has been made available to us and how we can respond to who He is and what He offers to us:
7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
A well-known, Academy Award-winning actor was back in his hometown recently, and made an indelible impression on a lady there.  CBN News reports that Denzel Washington was looking for a barbeque restaurant and, as the story states:

The actor started talking to a group of bystanders when one of them told him about an 86-year-old woman living nearby who has been a big fan of Washington's for many years. In a impulsive, random act of kindness, Washington stopped what he was doing and headed to the elderly woman's home to pay her a visit.

When Washington got to her home, she was stunned and overjoyed and said, "Dear God, my blessing has been answered," according to ABC7 The woman held the movie star's hand throughout the visit and beamed, "I'm not going to let you go!"

This visit attracted attention, with one of the onlookers making this statement: "We look up to you. You're a black statesman..." But, CBN reports that "Washington responded with humility, referring to himself as 'regular folk.'" He is quoted as saying, "I'm a God-fearing man who was raised right," he told the group of fans. "I did a lot of wrong. But I got it together."

The event has been posted to YouTube.

This is not an isolated incident with the famous actor sharing his faith.  A Crosswalk.com story from last week reports on comments that Washington made in an interview regarding the Millennial generation.  The story says, according to The Christian Post:  "I would say to your generation — find a way to work together because this is a very divisive, angry time you're living in, unfortunately, because we didn't grow up like that..." The article also says:

Washington also encouraged young people to refrain from becoming addicted to social media, but when they use it, to do so to share God’s Word.

"I pray for your generation," he said. "What an opportunity you have! Don't be depressed by it because we have to go through this, we're here now. You can't put that thing back in the box."

The story offers a corollary to that quote from the visit with the 86-year-old lady in Chicago, in which he said: "I did a lot of wrong. But I got it together."  He said:

"My mother said to me when I was 59, she said, 'Denzel, you do a lot of good. You have to do good the right way and you know what I'm talking about,'" he concluded. "I don't drink anymore, I don't do any of those things. I'm all about the message, to the degree that I know it, and I'm unashamed and unafraid to share it! So you have to be unafraid and unashamed to share it in the way your millennial generation know's how.”

I really want to camp out on two statements.  For one thing, Denzel stated, "I'm a God-fearing man who was raised right."  He was challenged by his mom when he was 59 - he turns 63 on Christmas Eve.  That wasn't too long ago.  So, we recognize that our upbringing can determine the course of our lives.  We can turn aside from the way we were raised; those brought up in a Christian home can grow to reject it and those who did not see faith modeled can actually become people of strong faith. But, we also realize that there is power in the Word of God, and if those principles were part of a person's background, then we can trust that the Word will not return void and that a child trained in, as Proverbs says, "the way he should go" will not depart from it.  Surely, a person can choose to reject it, but the truth is a powerful force.

Washington also touches on the element of repentance.  He basically admits from departing from those principles which were planted within him - but, as He said, "I got it together."  I don't know what that entails, but it sounds to me that he is attempting to live his life in a manner that lines up with his stated faith, the state of being "God-fearing."  The Bible says that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  We should all strive to not only say that we think highly of God or give lip-service to His principles, but to truly be permeated with the fear, the reverence of Him.  Our willingness to allow His ways to supersede our own will determine how His nature is expressed through us and how we live the life He intends for us to live.   A true encounter with Almighty God and the realization of His goodness will lead us to repentance.

6 Out of 10?

The 7th chapter of Proverbs offers a picture of unbridled devotion to keeping God's Word:
1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

I think those closing words really can challenge us to think about how we are placing Scripture in the forefront of our minds.  Certainly we can read and study the Word, committing verses to memory and meditating on their application to us.  And, we can even listen to Bible teaching and worshipful music, such as what is featured on Faith Radio.  We can post Scripture in our homes, even our offices, when appropriate, and maybe engage with Scripture through our computers and smartphones - it is critical that we hold His Word in high regard, since there are so many influences that would distract us.

+++++

The 10 Commandments are more than just inscriptions on monuments or a series of verses in the Bible - for the Christian, these statements are consistent with the heart of God, provide
0practical guidelines for daily living, and remind us that we are not capable of keeping them...that is why we need a Savior.  The Bible tells us in Galatians 3:
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

So, do we still have to keep the 10 Commandments today?  After all, Jesus only named 2 - love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.  Well, if we are seeking to be obedient to Christ, then we are to follow His principles - and as it's been pointed out, the first 4 of the 10 Commandments deal with our relationship with God, the last 6 with our relationships with others.  So, yes, the 10 Commandments are relevant today.

However, a new survey indicates that in Great Britain, a majority of survey respondents have decided that only six are important.  From the U.K. version of the YouGov website, we read this:

Unsurprisingly the Commandment that the most Brits think is still important to live by is thou shalt not kill, at 93%, joint with thou shalt not steal. In the case of both Commandments, they were seen as still important by 94% of Christians and 93% of those with no religion.

Not bearing false witness (telling lies) about others came third among all groups, with 87% of all Brits, 90% of Christians, and 86% of those without a religion saying that it is still important to live by.

Close to three quarters (73%) of the population at large say that not committing adultery is still a top life principle, including 69% of non-religious Brits and 76% of Christians.

Honouring thy father and thy mother is still an important rule to follow for 69% of all Britons, including 78% of Christians and 60% of the non-religious.

The final Commandment that holds majority support is the Christian God’s instruction that people not covet the possessions of others. Six in ten (61%) of the public as a whole say this is still a good rule to live by, including 72% of Christians and 52% of those with no religion.

The other four, actually the ones that deal with relationship to God, which I believe are directly related to what Jesus described as the Greatest Commandment, well, just don't seem too relevant to most British people.

The first one - "I am the Lord thy God, You shall have no other God before me – is one of the least important according to the public," according to the article.  Only 20% of Britons believe this to be relevant, and just over one-third of Christians...stunning!

The least relevant - keeping the Sabbath day holy.  I do think that people may miss the point about the New Testament teaching on Sabbath, but I digress.  And, similarly, they miss the point on idol worship, too.  Less than one-third believe people should not worship idols.  Christians are split on the concept.  And, while still over one-third of Christians believe you should not take the Lord's name in vain, 23% of the general population believe that you should not "use the word 'God' in or as a curse."

So, what do we make of this?

For one thing, I believe that people miss the point of these commandments - yes, they communicate the heart of God, they are consistent with His truth, and provide not only suggestions for right living, but the keeping of them, from a heart that is devoted to Christ, can contribute to a productive Christian life.  

But, we can't keep them in ourselves, and compliance with them is actually a product of our living in the Spirit.  If we are seeking to be in relationship with God and reliant on Him to empower us to walk in a manner that glorifies Him, that includes the keeping of His principles.  But, love for Christ has to be the first thing we pursue.

And, in our culture, these provide a foundation for a strong moral order.  Morality has to derive from somewhere - better from the absolute truth of Almighty God than from the relativism of human beings.  These Commandments provide a firm basis for a functioning society, reflecting healthy relationships.

Finally, unlike the British people responding to this survey - we don't get to pick and choose the parts of Scripture that we keep or consider relevant.  We regard the Bible as God's infallible Word, and in so doing, we diligently seek to keep those words and hide them in our heart, allowing them to come alive and to be expressed through our actions.

Clean

God wants to do a cleansing work not only within the hearts of His people, but also within the
Church. He calls us to a surrendered life, and that means confronting and turning aside from behavior patterns that contradict His principles. 2nd Corinthians 7 says:
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

The culture is ill; we need to go to the Great Physician - and the way to healing can be highlighted by the actions of the Church.  Now, we find that we are ridiculed and branded when we speak out against sin these days, but that should not dampen our resolve, but even make us stronger in our desire to see people walk in God's ways.  We can always be motivated by the love of Christ - for God and for people, yearning to see people discover a Savior who promises a life of fulfillment, joy, and freedom.

+++++

We are all sinners and we stand in need of a Savior; it's only through an encounter with Almighty
God through Jesus Christ that we can experience true repentance and healing. Romans 2 says:
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

There has been a recurring, and important theme that we have seen emerge in the culture - it is important, and it's yet another subject to which the Bible speaks, indicating the sufficiency of Scripture for our lives and our world today.

The emphasis on sexual abuse has been refreshingly clear, in light of revelations over the past few months of high-powered men who took advantage of their female associates.  And, we can admit that this not only occurs in the workplace, but also in homes and other locations.  As perhaps you read in the Montgomery Advertiser today, there is a bi-partisan effort in Congress to provide training to address sexual harassment.  A bill concerning the topic was introduced into Congress today, according to USA Today, in an article found on the Advertiser website.  This is a very important issue, and when an allegation is made about sexual abuse, it bears serious consideration.

The Church should be upfront on this issue, highlighting the seriousness of this activity as well as providing a safe, compassionate place for victims.

John Stonestreet, in a Breakpoint commentary almost a month ago, had some pointed words about the role of the Church in addressing the subject. He said:

Via a flood of posts on Twitter and other social media, women, using the hashtag #MeToo, are demonstrating that sexual harassment, assault, and rape isn’t a problem limited to a relative handful of high-profile creeps.

I applaud their courage. After all, among Christianity’s greatest contributions to the world has been its revolutionary ideas about the dignity of women. To not stand up for that dignity is to betray that heritage.

He referred to a classics professor named Sarah Ruden, who wrote a book, in which she details the misogyny of the Roman world into which first-century Christianity was injected.  John stated:

Christianity “worked a cultural revolution,” she writes, “restraining and channeling the male Eros, elevating the status of both women and of the human body, and infusing marriage—and marital sexuality—with love.” In Ruden’s words, Christian ideas about marriage were “as different from anything before or since as the command to turn the other cheek.”

And, Stonestreet highlights how shifts in culture have allowed men to rationalize their evil actions. He quotes from David French of National Review, who wrote: “You can sum up the sexual ethic of the sexual revolutionary in one sentence: Except in the most extreme circumstances (such as incest), consenting adults define their own moral norms.” He also said, "Consent is determined by the request, and in a completely sexualized culture, the request can come at any time, anywhere, and from any person you encounter—regardless of the power imbalance or the propriety of the location.”

Stonestreet warns against the church "running from the clear, life-giving vision of human sexuality that liberated the pagan world." He goes on:

Yet that’s exactly what many of us are doing. We’re rationalizing our own surrender to the sexual ethos of the day, even thinking ourselves “loving” and “tolerant” to abandon the historic Christian teaching on sex and marriage. But given the brokenness around us, it’s cruel—not loving—to withhold the truth in our confused culture.

He takes the Church to task for ignoring or not confronting sexual "abuse or harassment," and excusing immoral behavior by politicians.

The excellent and provocative Bible teacher Beth Moore responded on Twitter a few weeks ago to the #MeToo hashtag by creating her own...#WeToo.  In a series of tweets, she said:

#WeToo have a voice. For all the times we were bullied into silence, we get to speak up & call wrong WRONG. #WeToo for fewer future #MeToos.

She also wrote:

#WeToo get to stand on solid ground and be counted. We too get to help other girls stand. We too get to say, "I understand. I believe you."

And this:

#WeToo have dignity. We too have courage. We too can heal. We too have community. We too can be unashamed. We too can see to change.

And:

Lastly what, to me, is the game changer: #WeToo are loved by God/defended by Christ/upending the darkness/bringing to light/devoted to love.

As you may be aware, Joel and Luke Smallbone of the band, for KING & COUNTRY, have been speaking out against the objectification of women, and presenting that message in the song, book, and movie, Priceless.  In the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo movement, they streamed the film on Facebook Live, according to ChristianHeadlines.com, which reported:

"We've been standing on stage telling women that they deserve to be treated with love and respect," Joel Smallbone shared, as reported by CBN News. "And telling men that there's a chivalrous way to show love. That led us to Priceless."

"It's the band's desire that more people will be aware of the victims of sexual abuse and its devastating aftermath that leaves victims hopeless and without a voice. Each one is priceless,” read a press release from the band.

Some principles today:

How we need to experience the mercy of God.  The victim of abuse needs to know God's empowerment to speak out about what she - or he - has experienced, and to receive God's mercy in order to provide the healing that is needed.  The victim has a long road, and sometimes the tendency is to be silent.  Within the Church, there is brokenness, there are misplaced ideas about sexuality and even chivalry, and it's important that we address the way we behave toward one another as well as those in the world.  The Church can also provide a safe atmosphere in which victims can speak up and in which sin can be confronted.  Autumn Miles, who spoke with me at NRB this year, addressed how the Church can be sensitive to matters of domestic abuse.

The victimizer also needs God's mercy, as we believe that, according to Romans 2, the goodness of God leads to repentance.  And, the exposure to the sins committed in secret places, the light of truth shone in, can be a first step toward removing the facade and experiencing grace.

And, there are sins that are committed in the secret place of the heart - temptation is one thing, and God provides the way of escape, but one must not participate in willing exposure to behavior that is outrageously sinful through the scourge of pornography, which suggests a warped view of sexuality that infiltrates and damages relationships.

We have to renew our minds, and to depend on the power and wisdom of the Spirit to address these ideas and actions that are so counter to the love of Christ.

Identified with Christ

There is a parable that Jesus shared in Luke 18 about a widow who came before an unjust judge seeking justice. She was persistent, and received a favorable ruling. We read:
6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

That's a phrase that came to mind as we exist in an environment where there is a systematic dismantling of the social structures that are supportive of our faith.  There are those that would want us, as Christians, to go away; those who want to silence us, to label us as intolerant and hateful because we uphold Biblical standards.  But, I believe that God will meet us when we are discouraged and reinforce our faith in Him; recognizing that as people observe our convictions, expressed with compassion, that they will be drawn to our Savior - we are called to be faithful.

+++++

I think that it's vital to know what it means to live as a Christian in this age.  We have to guard against allowing the world or the media to define us, but we can be challenged to allow the way we live to
show we have Christ in our hearts. Micah 6 gives some insight:
6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

For 17 years, a missionary named Dr. William Leslie ministered to the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to GodReports.com, which says that, "After 17 years he returned to the U.S. a discouraged man – believing he failed to make an impact for Christ. He died nine years after his return."

But in 2010, almost 100 years after Leslie went to what was described as a "remote corner" of the nation, Eric Ramsey with Tom Cox World Ministries brought a team into the region and made "a shocking and sensational discovery," according to the article which states that they found "a network of reproducing churches hidden like glittering diamonds in the dense jungle across the Kwilu River from Vanga, where Dr. Leslie was stationed."  The story says:

Ramsey reported, "When we got in there, we found a network of reproducing churches throughout the jungle,” Ramsey reports. “Each village had its own gospel choir, although they wouldn’t call it that,” he notes. “They wrote their own songs and would have sing-offs from village to village.”

They found a church in each of the eight villages they visited scattered across 34 miles. Ramsey and his team even found a 1000-seat stone “cathedral” in one of the villages. He learned that this church got so crowded in the 1980s – with many walking miles to attend — that a church planting movement began in the surrounding villages.

Ramsey had to do some research to make the connection from these people, known as the Yansi, to Dr. Leslie, and he was able to piece together aspects of the doctor's story. According to Ramsey, "He would teach the Bible, taught the tribal children how to read and write, talked about the importance of education, and told Bible stories."  The article says that he also learned that "Leslie started the first organized educational system in these villages."

But, he didn't really feel his work had an impact, and he left there after a fallout with tribal leaders, which was later reconciled. Ramsey notes: "His goal was to spread Christianity. He felt like he was there for 17 years and he never really made a big impact, but the legacy he left is huge.”

There's a reason I share this story today - it just illustrates for us the impact that we can make.  It's a nervous time for many in the church: we can become discouraged by threats of all sorts; political developments call the authenticity of our faith into question; and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of security out there.  But, the Church is still the Church, our calling has not changed, there will be those who will be hostile to the faith, but we can still walk in the love of Christ and be confident in Him.

There are three words I want to share with you today.

One is identification.  We are not called to be identified with a certain label - we may belong to a church or a denomination; we may affiliate with various organizations, but ultimately we are to be identified with Christ.  We belong to Him and the way we live our lives, clothed in compassion and confident in the Lord, demonstrates with whom we identify.

Another is imitation.  We are called to be imitators of Christ.  Humans will fail us sometimes; we will fail ourselves if we are reliant on human effort.  But God calls us to exalt Christ as our example, and to seek to live our lives in the way that He would intend.  In order to follow Him, we have to know His ways and seek His heart - that's why Bible study, prayer, and personal communion with Him are so very important.

Finally, let's think about infusion.  We are called to be infused with the Spirit of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is given to us to direct us, to empower us, and to assure us that God is with us.  Our trust is in the Lord, and our dependence can be governed by the Spirit He gives us.  He enables us to be found faithful in the Lord.  You never know what impact your faithfulness may have.

Rushing In

In Psalm 71, we read about the Lord as our source of strength, in whom we put our trust, whom we regard as our strong refuge:
1 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

While we are weak in ourselves, we have the capability to walk in His strength.  But, we can only be strong in Him when we empty ourselves of our dependence on ourselves and appropriate what He has made available to us.  He may call us to take extraordinary steps in order to fulfill His will, yet we can be confident that He will empower us to fulfill what He has called us to do.  We can also know that He will give us the courage to take bold steps.

+++++

The apostle Paul gives an exhortation about brave service in 1st Corinthians 16, near the close of the book:
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done with love.
15 I urge you, brethren--you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints--
16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

Worshippers gathered by the scores yesterday at the site of the deadly church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and temporarily bringing this shooting back into national attention.  Churches are evaluating their own security plans, and lawmakers continue to debate the efficiency of new restrictions on guns.  Meanwhile, a clerical error apparently allowed the shooter, Devin Kelley, to obtain the weapons he used or intended to use, despite his dishonorable discharge from the Air Force.

Meanwhile, the heroic efforts of one of the town's residents should continue to be noticed, especially in the season surrounding Veteran's Day, when we do honor those who have given of themselves, enduring extensive preparation so that perhaps they, too, can be involved as a hero.

A ChristianHeadlines.com story highlights the actions of Stephen Willeford.  The story states:

Stephen Willeford’s home and the community there is very dear to him. That was why, when he heard the gunshots coming from the First Baptist Church near his home, he grabbed his gun and ran out the door, looking to protect his friends who were inside the church.

Willeford engaged in a gunfight with the shooter, Devin Kelley. He wounded Kelley who then sped off in his vehicle and was later found dead by law enforcement.

Although Willeford initially believed he had killed Kelley, law enforcement later said they believe Kelley died from a self-inflicted shot to the head.

Twenty-six people lost their lives in the shooting, but the death toll would likely have been much higher if not for Willeford’s bravery.

Willeford is quoted at The Stream as saying, “I think my God, my Lord, protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done. I just wish I’d gotten there faster.”

The Christian Headlines story says that, "Willeford’s friends describe him as a faithful Christian. After the shooting, Willeford was distraught, as were many residents of Sutherland Springs. His friend, John Wood, said he "could use prayer."

Wood said, "That PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is going to be something that’s with him and the whole family for a while,” adding, “He is a blessing to many. They need lots of prayers and blessings to get through this situation themselves.”

Stephen Willeford, even though he denies it, is certainly a hero.  And, we can be challenged to participate in acts of service, sometimes extreme, maybe even life-challenging, in order to help others.  He possessed a tremendous attitude of self-sacrifice, and he was willing to literally give of himself.

On Saturday, and even this past Friday, we honored those who have served our nation - so many have shown themselves ready and willing to place themselves in harm's way in order to defend our great nation.  We think about not only our military, but law enforcement, as well, who are selflessly placing themselves in the position of carrying out that Biblical directive of preserving order - upholding the good and punishing evil.

Now, let's think about our own willingness to give of ourselves...physically or spiritually.  There are battles that are raging all around us - including the battle for the deeply held Biblical principles we all hold dear.  There are moral challenges in our culture, and we face an enemy that is attempting to corrupt our minds and ultimately our actions.  So, some questions for each of us: Are you willing to rush into the battle?  Are you prepared and developing your skills and sensitivity so you could be used of the Lord in a critical time?

Perhaps that will mean being willing to help literally save a life, being placed in a life-threatening situation where people may die.  Or it could be speaking out for someone who is afflicted or downtrodden.  It may mean devoting yourself to intense prayer, clothed in the armor of God and interceding for those who are being threatened by spiritual foes.  In the Spirit, we can be motivated to be ready, "in and out of season," as the Bible says, recognizing that He equips us to be obedient and efficient - not seeking to be heroes, mind you, but exhibiting those characteristics all the same.

And, in the process of protecting the wounded, people may become wounded themselves - that's what Stephen Willeford's friend is talking about.  When we face the injuries of being in the battle, we can turn to the Lord, who binds up the brokenhearted, who is our source of strength, and hopefully to His people, in order to experience the healing and restoration that He wants to bring to those who have stood bravely as His warriors.

Keeping Up

We are called to be distinctive people, who are motivated by our love for Christ and devoted to
speaking truth boldly. 1st John 2 says:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

We deceive ourselves if we think we have to become like the world and to adopt its principles in order to somehow reach people for Christ.  That is not to say that Christians are not to look for ways to build bridges in order to share the truth of Christ.  But, if we compromise His principles in the name of being compassionate, or "tolerant," then we have to ask ourselves if we are really walking in the love of God.  We have to guard against modifying the teachings of Scripture in the name of cultural relevance.

+++++

There is a passage in Jude that describes the cultural landscape that we encounter today and how we as believers can respond:
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

It's really amazing how church attendance by celebrities has become such an attraction for certain media outlets.

Take, for instance, the U.K.'s Daily Mail.  It covered a Wednesday night appearance at a church in Beverly Hills in this way:

Kourtney Kardashian was snapped attending midweek services at the Beverly Hills location of Hillsong Church, the religious institution that regularly draws big names including Bono, Nick Jonas, Hailey Baldwin, Hailee Steinfeld and pop superstar Justin Bieber.

The eldest of the Kardashian siblings, 38, wore a black leather coat over a white top with torn blue jeans and pointy black heels for the weeknight service.

The story is an interesting portfolio of pictures ranging from the attire - mainly the attire - to a screenshot by Kourtney of a projected slide with John 3:16 on it. The piece also features some material from Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz, who is actually the Hillsong New York City pastor, discussing his viewpoint on celebrity.

The timing of this appearance is curious: it was just four days after an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, in which the three sisters, one of whom is unmarried and pregnant with a child, visited a Planned Parenthood clinic. The website, Newsbusters, reported on the visit. According to the story, they wanted to “learn firsthand that the nonprofit does more than just abortions.” Kim reportedly said: “The perception of Planned Parenthood is that it’s this like abortion clinic,” adding, “That’s nothing like what it’s like.”

Khloe added: "I'm a big fan of Planned Parenthood now," adding, "I think people need to be more educated before they form opinions, and that's what I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to do today."

I actually agree - how's this for education?  From the Newsbusters article:

Speaking of education, according to Planned Parenthood’s most recently published annual report, the organization performed 328,348 abortions and received $554.6 million in “government health services grants and reimbursements” for the year 2015 – 2016. While the national abortion rate has lowered, Planned Parenthood’s abortion rate has risen.

While Planned Parenthood claims that only 3% of its services consist of abortion, pro-life groups, such as Students for Life of America and Live Action, have long debunked the statistic. Even The Washington Post has called the number deceptive.

Even though Planned Parenthood has attempted to sanitize or cover up the taking of life that is occurring, nevertheless, they try to mix faith into the offensive practices.  The Huffington Post reported:

Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and secular leaders gathered inside Planned Parenthood Metro Washington’s new Carol Whitehill Moses health center on Tuesday to perform a blessing of the space.

The event, co-hosted by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, included interfaith blessings, prayers, and testimonies about why it was important ― politically and spiritually ― for women to have autonomy over their own bodies.

Dr. Laura Meyers, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, told The Huffington Post that it’s crucial for Americans to hear these progressive voices of faith speak up for women.

“Having a group of interfaith clergy perform a ceremony focused on unity and wholeness therefore takes on special meaning to empower and celebrate rather than to stigmatize, control and dehumanize...

Memo: there is nothing empowering about the taking of human life.  The empowering, as Melissa Ohden pointed out at last night's Sav-a-Life banquet in Montgomery, should be for women facing an unplanned pregnancy to receive the education, encouragement, and resources they need in order to make the right choice - the choice for life.

I don't know what the Kardashians are learning about the sanctity of life in their church service, but it's ironic how Carl Lentz, the New York Hillsong pastor has had to respond to comments he made on The View recently.  He was asked point-blank by Joy Behar is abortion was a sin.  His answer was non-committal.  After receiving criticism, according to LifeNews.com, he wrote on Twitter:

“I do believe abortion is sinful,” Lentz wrote. “Our prayer is that we can continue to help and love those that deal with the pain of regret from personal choices, rather than cast further shame and guilt on those already carrying so much and create a church that can teach people how to form convictions based on God’s word, that will be the driving force in all their decisions.

“I will continue to point people to Jesus, above all else, every opportunity I get. The story of God’s redemptive grace, available to all, is the best news available,” he continued.

LifeNews.com stated that: "A 2016 Pew Research Center poll found that just 29 percent of respondents heard their clergy member speak about abortion during a religious service. Most who did said their clergy spoke out against abortion (22 percent), while a few (3 percent) said their clergy spoke in support of abortion."

I think this illustrates how important it is for the church to be clear in its position on abortion.  The Bible points to God our Creator and teaches the sanctity of life, the concept of people being made in the image of God.  When we take the life of another person, born or unborn, it violates and contradicts the heart of God.

We also can be reminded how the church has a call to reach the world and change it - celebrity culture and media will misinterpret the role of the church and focus on externals, when it's the internal that God is concerned about.  We are to be salt and light and to proclaim truth in a world that is searching for answers.  We cannot afford to compromise truth in an attempt to somehow be socially relevant. Our relevance comes in our devotion to following God's principles.

We are called to be used of the Holy Spirit to communicate His dedication to changing lives.  In my comments last night at the Sav-a-Life Gala, I highlighted three types of change: a change of heart for a women who is considering terminating the life of her unborn child, a change of culture that can occur as hearts are changed to be more sensitive to the sanctity of life, and a change of perspective for individual believers as we reflect on how God is working through the ministry of Sav-a-Life.