Not Ashamed

The apostle Paul declares in Romans 1:
15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.




Paul said that he was eager to preach, and he was not ashamed, or hesitant to communicate the message.   There's an amazing video of a segment on "Follow the Money", a show on the Fox Business Network featuring host Eric Bolling, who dismissed an atheist guest from his program because of his insults to Christianity, declared his faith in Christ, and interviewed a Congressman who quoted John 3:16 and Benjamin Franklin's call to prayer from the Constitutional Convention.   Here it is:




The atheist was Dan Barker of the so-called Freedom from Religion Foundation, aptly renamed the "Freedom from History Foundation" by Lars Larson, a panelist on the FBN segment.   Barker is married to Annie Laurie Gaylor, who heads the Foundation (sounds like a small operation to me).   According to Mediaite,
Barker said that the nativity scene...

represented “an insult to human nature that we are all doomed and damned,” before being interrupted by a defensive, though polite Bolling, who tried to get the conversation back to the much less interesting discussion of of how different local municipalities govern and free speech. But Barker seemed eager to insult Christianity, saying again “what an insult that we are degraded to be praising the exact Jesus created a place of hell.” Bolling quickly interjected, reminding his guest that it was “his show” and that he would not abide having a guest denigrate the name of Jesus Christ on his show.

Bolling, visibly shaken, but having declared that he was a Christian and offended by Barker's remarks, turned to U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, who quoted John 3:16 and Benjamin Franklin's call to pray in order to break a stalemate in the negotiations in Philadelphia to craft a new Constitution.  

In the whole timeline of our nation, it's only recently that you have had so-called free speech advocates balk at the idea of having religious, specifically Christian, displays on governmental property.   In fact, you can travel across America, from the nation's capital to state capitals and municipalities and see a plethora of religious acknowledgments - so we're not on a slippery slope allowing Nativity scenes to be displayed, as one of Eric Bolling's panelists contended - it's been going on for years...it's comparatively recently that we've seen challenges - through small but vocal activist groups who inject themselves into local matters and through a misinterpretation of the First Amendment.  

And, in Athens, Texas, they're fighting back, and so is noted Christian apologist Ray Comfort, who specializes in tweaking atheists...by speaking the truth in love.   Comfort had declared that any time that the Freedom From Religion Foundation tries to remove crosses, nativity scenes, etc., he will make some calls. "Whenever they try and bully people with their anti-God agenda, we will make that place ground-zero for an evangelistic campaign. The majority of Americans believe in God, and many of them have had enough of intolerance towards the things of God. Atheists may use the law to make a mayor remove a cross from a water tower, but we will then make it our business to take the cross to thousands."    Comfort's ability to communicate is quite impressive, having had over 1.8 million views of his video "180" and working with volunteers to give away 180,000 copies of the DVD on some 100 university campuses recently.

And, he's assisting the faithful in Texas:  He said, "'180' is getting the gospel to the unsaved and at the same time inspiring Christians to share their faith. So I made contact with Pastor Lorick, who is standing up against these atheists (along with 73 other area pastors), offered to give free '180 Courses' to the area churches, and also offered to send in teams to evangelize the area. The pastor loved the idea and was delighted that we wanted to help."

The situation involving Eric Bolling and the nativity scene in Texas has been termed by Mediate's Colby Hall, albeit snarkily, a “War on Christmas” miracle.   Well, the situation has attracted national attention and given Christians in that area and across the nation an opportunity to pour truth into the discussion, and hopefully by used by the Holy Spirit to change hearts.

Moving the Formula

Galatians 4, verses 4-6:
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

The social media universe was buzzing yesterday about the Coca-Cola company moving its secret formula from a storage vault inside a local bank to a special exhibit inside the magnificent World of Coke in Atlanta.

In USA Today, PR expert Katie Delahaye Payne is quoted as saying:
"Coke now measures its success by customer expressions...They value this in terms of something that gets customers excited on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr."


Consumers are enamored of secrets. Coke is simply playing on our emotions, says consumer psychologist Renee White Fraser. "The idea of it being in a vault makes it seem more powerful than it really is," she says.

Now, we still don't know what those secret ingredients are that make Coke what it is, nor do we know KFC's 11 herbs and spices or McDonald's special sauce that goes on that sesame seed bun in Big Macs.   But the formula, however mystical, has power to generate curiosity.

Since the beginning of time, God had a formula, a plan - to bring humanity, whom He created with a free will, into a relationship with Himself.   Realizing that men and women would stray from His ways, He made a way possible to bring reconciliation.   Now, God continued to do His work as He revealed that formula through the writers of the Old Testament, and He made Himself and His heart known until the fulness of time came - just the right time, when God's formula FOR US was revealed through a child, a baby born in a manger, who grew into a man, was crucified on a cross, but because He was sinless, death could not hold Him.   And, now He calls us who have embraced that formula to not keep it to ourselves, but to tell everyone.

Coke's formula is in a vault, but I drank one today and enjoyed the flavor and refreshment.   God's formula has been released through His Son, but it's been multiplied and stored in our hearts - and now people can experience the flavor of Christ as He lives through us and be refreshed by the Holy Spirit.  

Finishing Strong

From 2nd Timothy 4:7...I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
  
I believe there is a Biblical principle of finishing what we have started.   God has ordained for us a number of days on this earth, and we're called to be good stewards of them.   For every time period given to us, I believe that we are to make the most of it.


I thought about this concept recently as I learned about Pusuke.   Pusuke was 26 years old when he died this week...and that's quite remarkable when you consider that Pusuke was of the canine variety.    He was a fluffy, tan Shiba mix, and the world’s oldest dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records – he died at the advanced age of 26 years and 8 months, after falling ill and refusing to eat.   His story is remarkable in that he almost didn't make it to this point:  In 2008, the dog suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car.  Even though a veterinarian told the owner to fear the worst, Pusuke pulled through surgery.

A couple more facts:   the average life expectancy for a dog is about 13 years, so Pusuke doubled the average.   Also, a dog's age of 26 in human years is between 117 and 185.    


We don't know how long we have here on this earth, but I believe that every day is a gift.   And, the apostle Paul apparently believed in finishing strong, fighting the good fight, and recognizing that God has a purpose for every single one of our days.


We've been talking about finishing strong here at Faith Radio, not because we're going anywhere, but because the end of 2011 is approaching, and as good stewards of God's resources, we would like to finish the year in a positive position...if our listeners collectively give $190,000 between now and December 31, then we will meet our budgetary goals for this year.   Would you stand with us and help us finish strong?   

Jesus Among Other "Gods"

In John 14:6, Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania residents were jubilant as they came out to see a Nativity scene that was placed on city property.   Now, I'm not sure what the general reaction was when the crowd saw that not only was there a Nativity, but also symbols pertaining to Kwanzaa and Hanukkah and secular symbols, including Santa Claus, a snowman and a Christmas Tree.

This rather bizarre assortment stems from a Supreme Court ruling about holiday displays called the "3-reindeer rule":  according to Christian attorney Randy Singer, writing in USA Today...

In two decisions from the 1980s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that municipalities could display manger scenes and menorahs in public places alongside secular symbols of the holidays. The guidance from these cases — dubbed the "three reindeer rule" — is reasonably straightforward. Government-sponsored displays may include religious symbols, so long as the religious symbols do not predominate. Privately sponsored displays in public forums are granted even greater latitude. The bottom line: Religious symbols in the public square are not constitutional contraband.  

Now, I just think the rule is truly an overreaction, in light of our Christian heritage - but it is now considered the law of the land.  But, this assortment is kind of indicative of the type of Christianity that many practice...not only embracing a faith in Christ, but also in a more universal sense, adding to His word and the Christian faith as outlined in Scripture...

Christ-plus>>>works

Christ-plus>>>universalism...all roads lead to heaven

Christ-plus>>>other gods or idols that we set up to rival the pre-eminence of Christ in our lives

Christ-plus>>>self-styled activities that may in fact conflict with His commands.

And then there are those who claim "no-Christ", the atheists, who by the way, wanted to put up this sign at Nativity scene in Ellwood City:  "At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

 

So how's that working out for you - only our natural world.   Hosea chapter 4 describes a world that has no moral code, no restraints...

Hosea chapter 4: 
For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. 4 "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.


So do the atheists, in their quest for "reason", really want a world with no guidelines, no restraints - utter god-lessness, which leads to total chaos?   Is that what they really want?    The end result of claiming there is no God is that Godlessness or lawlessness will prevail.   Those that deny religion necessarily deny the morality that is based on that religion.   

So, as we defend the Christian faith, we recognize the impact on an entire culture that our faith in Christ can have - an expression of moral absolutes - a sense of right and wrong...an expression of unconditional love, of human beings knowing how to live together.    Christ is the standard, and by holding to true devotion to Him, without anything added or subtracted, then we can live the way He wants us to.

Every Box Has a Story

Matthew 13 reminds us that Jesus was a masterful story-teller, using illustrations to powerful communicate truth:  34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet : "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES ; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."

This weekend, my family and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Atlanta to spend a few hours volunteering in the regional processing center for Operation Christmas Child, the ministry of Samaritan's Purse in which shoebox gifts are sent to needy children around the world.   Hundreds of people from churches throughout the Southeast were there...and here's the deal:   people are placed in teams, and each person has a job - the shoeboxes are taken from the cartons they were placed in at the regional collection centers, opened, any donations for shipping and handling are removed, the items are inspected and inappropriate ones are removed, then the boxes are taped up, then loaded into cartons - and the next time those cartons are opened is when the pastors and church leaders in various areas around the world provide the shoeboxes for the children in their communities, along with a reading guide called, "The Greatest Journey".   And, in the process of inspecting the box, the boxes with printed barcode labels through "Follow Your Box" are scanned to correspond with the carton into which they're loaded.

We all actually served in different capacities throughout our shift.   My first "job" was to open the box and look for the donations.    And, you really do capture a sense of the variety of different people who participate.  One group of boxes were almost identical in content - packages of stickers, pen, pencils, paper, etc.   Others had a real personal touch - an extension of the person who packed them, with personalized handwritten notes.   Some boxes were plain, others decorated with nice packing paper or even a printed cloth.   But, regardless of the how elaborate or how simple the packing, the message is the same for every box - God loves you and as you receive this gift, remember that He gave the greatest gift of all in sending His son into the world.

Jesus recognized the power of a story, and He used parables to communicate truth.   And, real-life stories are often used of God to touch hearts.  With respect to Operation Christmas Child, every box has a story - in Atlanta, the boxes were sent from all across the region, and represent time, effort, and hopefully, the prayers of the person packing them.  From our work on Saturday, those boxes will travel around the world, and be placed in the hands of children, who have their own story.    I think of the testimony of Oksana Nelson, who was in our studio recently, who received a shoebox while a Russian orphan, was adopted by an American family, and now is a strong spokesperson for the ministry.    Each person filling a shoebox has a chance to add to the story of the life of a child in need.

And, today, you have a chance to be part of the story of needy children across the River Region through the Montgomery Baptist Association Toy Sale...this Saturday, families will be invited to purchase the toys donated today and tomorrow for a greatly reduced rate.    These new toys become tangible expressions of the love of God and a teaching tool about the giving nature of God, who, again, gave His Son so that those who come to Him, as little children, needy children, might have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   The great story-teller, our Father God, desires to use you in the story of someone else's life, and it will add to your life story and deepen your appreciation of the Christmas season - as you give.

Mourning to Dancing

From Psalm 30:
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime ; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. 



A publication that I don't endorse has released a survey that has made news, and it includes some not-so-flattering statistics about a number of Southern cities.   In fact, Birmingham is at #94 of a list of America's saddest cities, according to Men's Health magazine.   Now, how did they come up with this?   The magazine states: "We calculated suicide rates (CDC) and unemployment rates (Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of June 2011). Then we tapped SimplyMap for the percentage of households that use antidepressants as well as the number of people who report feeling the blues all or most of the time."

So here are the "bottom 10": 
100. St. Petersburg, FL F
99. Detroit, MI F
98. Memphis, TN F
97. Tampa, FL F
96. Louisville, KY F
95. St. Louis, MO F
94. Birmingham, AL F
93. Miami, FL F
92. Reno, NV F
91. Las Vegas, NV F

Please note that 6 out of the bottom 10 are considered Southern cities, and since Missouri just joined the SEC, then you might as well throw St. Louis in, too.   Now, here are the top 10:

10. Plano, TX A-
9. Burlington, VT A-
8. St. Paul, MN A-
7. Sioux Falls, SD A-
6. Madison, WI A-
5. Boston, MA A-
4. Omaha, NE A
3. Fargo, ND A
2. Manchester, NH A
1. Honolulu, HI A+  

OK, as a native of the South, I would assume that we're pretty happy and content south of the Mason-Dixon line, but that's just my perception.   The point here is that we do all have opportunities and conditions for sadness.   Consider the life of a teenage girl from the town of Nazareth - pregnant at what we consider a young age; unmarried, which places here under a threat of losing her life; journeying with her husband by donkey 70 miles; and then arriving at their destination and finding they would have to spend the night and perhaps deliver the baby in a stable.  Indeed a recipe for sadness...But, consider the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1: 46 And Mary said : "My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.   And, after the birth of Jesus, she is said to have treasured all the wondrous events in her heart.   


There's a prophecy in Isaiah 61 that indicates to us that God wants to bring an antidote for sadness, and it's found in Him:  1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted ; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners ; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God ; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

As Denise Jones of Point of Grace shared on stage last night at A Montgomery Family Christmas, Mary and Joseph were relegated to spending the night in a stable, and that stable can represent for us the negative circumstances in our lives - it could be the loss of a spouse through death or divorce, perhaps the loss of a job, other events in our lives that could bring disappointment and weigh us down.   I believe as we think beyond that stable, as Mary and Joseph experienced, there is hope, there is God's love, and His joy and peace that can outweigh what can serve to weigh us down.


Here's the original version of a song recorded by Point of Grace on their "Home for the Holidays" CD... "Labor of Love" from Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips from the "Behold the Lamb of God" tour (coming to Montgomery 12/13/11)...

Engage, but Not Endorse

From 1st John Chapter 1:
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

God is light - Jesus said that not only was He the light of the world, but that we are the light of the world - in other words, as we walk in Him, we display His nature, and become His voice in the culture.

So, in light of what I call a Christian responsibility to be a "cultural conscience", communicating and displaying a sense of right and wrong, of moral absolutes, I began to think about how to be that light to those with whom we disagree, inspired by an article in The Blaze.

It's called, "Occupy Faith: Leftist Pastors Offer Protestors Shelter & Support During the Cold Winter Months".   Now, the article focuses on pastors who sympathize with the cause.   I am NOT such a sympathizer - as Dan Gainor and I discussed the other day,  and I agree, the Occupy movement, at its root, is designed to cause chaos.  Just look at the number of arrests and the rhetoric of those who outspokenly advocate violence.  And, it is driven, in part, by an entitlement mentality

I understand that a disdain for so-called "corporate greed" is consistent with Scripture, but if we don't like a company's policies, then we can express that directly and specifically, and even stop buying its products if we have evidence they are being greedy...that's the beauty of capitalism, which rewards responsibility, hard work, and creativity - some good Biblical virtues - and it can punish bad business practices.    

Now, in the Occupy movement, there are those that have fallen on hard economic times, and in their anger and frustration, may be lashing out at the status quo.   And, as the church, this gives us an opportunity to reach out and minister.   In fact, it's not a bad thing, actually, quite a good thing, for a church to provide shelter and warmth for those protestors - without embracing the cause!   It could give us a chance to speak truth and live out Biblical compassion.    

This is World AIDS Day, and as compassionate Christians, we can engage the culture on this issue, without embracing the homosexual lifestyle, where AIDS is rampant.   I think when we first become aware of the virus, the church may have looked at it merely as gay disease, and the consequences of bad behavior.  

But, AIDS is rampant on the continent of Africa and a health concern around the world - and it affects people no matter what their sexual orientation - and Jesus calls us to minister to people, despite their lifestyle choice, realizing that our compassion may draw them into a relationship with Himself.

Thanks to Christian organizations such as World Vision and leaders like Rick & Kay Warren, Christians are
engaging on this important health issue, without endorsing the homosexual lifestyle.   And, it's a tricky, highly political issue...there are gay activists that want to gain sympathy by exploiting the AIDS epidemic, but I believe the Biblical perspective is for us to remain pure ourselves, and also to engage the victims with compassion and truth.

So, we can be challenged to continue to spread God's love and nature - He is light, in Him there is no darkness, and in His word we find moral absolutes and a firm foundation for our culture.