Derrick, Dabo, and the Power to Overcome

In 2 Timothy chapter 2, we find some words of encouragement to be strong in the Lord, even in those times of adversity:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

The trials we face can either derail us, discourage us, or strengthen us in our walk with God.  We know that God uses tribulation to help us grow, but if we reject His instruction and do not rely on His strength, we will miss what He has in store for us and our lives can drift off course.  So, we can rejoice in our trials, recognizing that God has a desired outcome, so that we might be conformed more to the image of Jesus.  He is our source of strength, and He will empower us and lead us to victory.

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The apostle Paul used a sports analogy in 1st Corinthians 9 to illustrate the importance of pressing on to victory:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

There are some amazing stories that are circulating around the National Championship game between Alabama and Clemson tonight - Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney facing his alma mater, Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry vs. Deshaun Watson, who came in third.  Good ol' Southern football played 2000 miles away in the desert.

I want to concentrate on two individuals who will be very involved in tonight's activities.  Two men who have overcome a great deal of adversity stemming from an unstable family foundation, but who rose above their background, refused to regard themselves as victims, refused to quit.

One of them was the son of teenage parents. According to an ESPN.com story, he lived with his grandmother, who instilled old-school values in her home off a dirt road near the local high school. He says, "She's taught me a lot and she's still teaching me," adding, "Just always keep my head on straight, stay humble and keep God first."

The story points out that he had seen the consequences of not doing so. His father has had numerous run-ins with the law, including several arrests for possession of marijuana and cocaine. When he was in eighth grade, this Crimson Tide star had to find a better situation and moved in with an aunt. Two years later, he moved again, this time with a coach and his wife.

This young man, Derrick Henry was able to see where he didn't want his life to go. His father even said, "I told him: 'You don't need to do that. I mean, that's no life. You can wait and don't get started early. You have a chance to be somebody, not just sit around and let your life waste away.' "

According to CNSNews.com, when accepting the Heisman Trophy, Henry said, addressing the young people:

“I just want to give you all advice. I am hoping I am someone you can idolize yourself behind and look up to because God is everything. Always keep God first. Always pray. Don’t be afraid to pray. He always hears your cry. If you have dreams, go chase them. If you believe it, you can achieve it. And God will be there every step of the way. I am a living testament, man. Growing up, having this dream, I am so nervous. I never thought I would be up here. But God is good. And I get on my knees every night and thank him for everything. So keep God first. Always pray. And always chase your dream.”

Keeping God first is apparently the philosophy of someone else who will be participating tonight. He has known adversity, as well - including a father whose life spiraled downward.  When his father's business began to slow down and his debt was more than $250,000 according to a piece on the ESPN.com website. As the father struggled to pay the bills, he turned to the bottle.  The young man escaped to the backyard or the roof of his house on the nights his father drank.  Some nights, he even slept in the family's car until his father woke up sober.

Finally, after domestic violence affected the home, the mother left - they got a divorce.  Mother and son bounced around from motels to a condo from which they were evicted because she couldn't pay the rent to other homes.  After this young man enrolled in college, he shared an apartment with his roommate - and his mom.  Oh, and by the way, this Clemson coach walked on to the football team at the University of Alabama.  He almost had to leave school because his financial aid had not come through, but as he tells the story, God provided.  He was eventually granted a scholarship by then-head coach Gene Stallings.

This young man, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, eventually reconciled with his dad, and during the final months of his life, his father lived for a while in the basement of Dabo's house.

The Gospel Herald did a story recently on the faith of Dabo, an outspoken Christian.  It says:

A dedicated Christian, Swinney's faithful life has, no doubt, been important in his role as a recruiter over the years, helping nervous parents trust their sons to this man, possibly hundreds of miles away. "I've never been bashful about telling people I'm a Christian. That's just who I am. That's my choice," said Swinney in interview posted on the website Sports On Earth (sportsonearth.com). "It's a free country here. I can live my life the way I want to." 

The story quotes from a 2014 USA Today article, which said: "Recruits and their families want - and deserve - to know who you are as a person, not just what kind of coach you are. I try to be a good example to others, and I work hard to live my life according to my faith."

Well, Dabo's faith got the attention of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which filed a letter of complaint against Swinney in April 2014 to Clemson University, citing "constitutional concerns about how the public university's football program is entangled with religion."   Yes, as the Herald article points out, according to ESPN.com, the team schedules regular team devotionals and provides transportation for players and coaches to "Church Days". In 2012, a Clemson wide receiver asked to be baptized in front of teammates and coaches following a practice.  However, religious activities are not compulsory.

So, tonight it's Derrick Henry carrying the ball for the Tide and Dabo Swinney calling the X's and O's for the Tigers.  Only one team will be called National Champion at the end of the night.  But, for Derrick and Debo, they are both victors.   For a number of reasons.  I mentioned how they have shared about God's hand on their lives.   And, if you are a Christian, then I think it's important to integrate how you've seen God's hand touch you and work in and through your life.  The presence of the Lord is a natural, integral part of our personal stories.

I was also impressed how both these guys refused to capitulate, even in the midst of a turbulent family situation.  Both gentlemen moved from house to house during a period of time in their lives. But, they did not allow this uncertainty to derail them.  They both kept their eyes on what was before them.  They refused to look at themselves as victims, but continued to press on.

And, I will say that they both seem to have a respect for fathers who weren't exactly the best role models for them.

They also had a strong support system to take up the slack.  The ESPN.com story on Derrick Henry mentions a coach who served as a mentor for him, a mentor who actually stepped in to Derrick's life during his freshman year, a time during which he was unhappy on the Alabama football team; the coach and Derrick's mom both reached out to Coach Saban. The Swinneys had people with whom they stayed during the period after the divorce, and there really did seem to be a sense of community in that apartment building in Tuscaloosa where they lived.   At your lowest point, it can be helpful to reach out to people who can help.

So, tonight it's Derrick Henry and Dabo Swinney - two champions who have known seemingly the worst in life, but like a powerful Henry run through the middle of a defense, both of them have learned the importance of pressing on.

Speaking Biblically on Social Justice

Two inner city ministry leaders recently wrote a blog post about issues of race, and they referred to a passage of Scripture from Ephesians 2. Here are some of those verses:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

God is the facilitator of peace - that is an element of His nature, a fruit of His Spirit.  Wrapped up in peace is the absence of conflict.  The separation between God and humanity was abolished by the Prince of Peace, and His presence can bring an end to inner turmoil in our hearts and minds.  But, there is also an element of peace with others - we are to be ambassadors of Christ, which means that we are to be pursuing peace.  And, in the church, where there is division, God wants to unify, heal, and restore.

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If Jesus is our Lord, then we recognize that we are all part of the body of Christ.  And, our membership in that family is not predicated on racial, cultural, or denominational background, if we profess Him as our Savior.  Galatians 3 says:
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
There has been an evolving controversy within evangelical Christianity over the past week, and it really centers around a very important issue, a topic area upon which I have placed an emphasis in the past and will continue to do so.

This latest situation involves the Urbana conference, a student missions conference that is sponsored by InterVarsity.  Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research and Breakpoint This Week sets it up:

Worship leaders at Urbana wore “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts, while featured speaker Michelle Higgins called BlackLivesMatter “a movement on mission in the truth of God.” InterVarsity’s Twitter feed took up the call as well.

He also wrote:

InterVarsity’s support for Black Lives Matter caused controversy—in part because of some of the speaker’s comments were perceived as critical and dismissive of the pro-life movement.

In a piece from Chelsen Vicari of the Institute on Religion and Democracy on the LifeSiteNews.com website, she included a quote from Higgins that was considered offensive to pro-lifers:

“We could end the adoption crisis tomorrow. But we’re too busy arguing to have abortion banned. We’re too busy arguing to defund Planned Parenthood,” charged Higgins. “We are too busy withholding mercy from the living so that we might display a big spectacle of how much we want mercy to be shown to the unborn. Where is your mercy? What is your goal and only doing activism that is comfortable?”

Vicari wrote, "The problem here is that Higgins bashes a social justice movement that aides her cause."  She also states:

Deepening evangelicals passion for racial reconciliation is admirable, but need not come at the condemnation of the pro-life movement, a social justice movement all its own. Higgins might have mentioned to her young Christian listeners that within the pro-life movement is a unique and beautiful Black Lives Matter movement already in motion.

Stetzer points out that InterVarsity’s interim president, Jim Lundgren responded in a statement. “Scripture is clear about the sanctity of life,” he said. “That is why I’m both pro-life and committed to the dignity of my Black brothers and sisters.” Also, InterVarsity distanced themselves from the anti-police rhetoric.

Stetzer says that the InterVarsity statement said:  

InterVarsity chose to participate in this conversation because we believe that Christians have something distinctive to contribute in order to advance the gospel. … [W]e believe it is important to affirm that God created our Black brothers and sisters. They bear his image. They deserve safety, dignity and respect.

Another ministry spoke regarding the situation.  Cru Inner City co-national directors John Sather and Milton Massie wrote this in a blog post:

The recent decision of Intervarsity to embrace the biblical justice issues of The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement resonated with us and we want to thank Intervarsity for taking that godly stand for justice! We wholeheartedly agree that racial reconciliation must be “an expression of the gospel (e.g., Ephesians 2:14-18)..." And like Intervarsity, we do not agree with everything attributed to the BLM movement, but we share their desire to see justice and reconciliation in our land.

But, columnist Derryck Green took issue with aspects of Higgins' presentation and issued a word of caution to InterVarsity on the Institute on Religion and Democracy's Juicy Ecumenism blog:

...Fighting against racial injustice, in addition to all forms of injustice, is a Christian obligation that’s firmly rooted in the mission of the church. The body of Christ is — and should be — the vessel of racial reconciliation, predicated on Christ having overcome all superficial forms of division and separation, including those based on racial and ethnic considerations.

He also wrote:

Christian leaders have a tremendous responsibility to be voices and examples of reason. Christian credibility is at stake. So it’s a cause for concern when Christians engage in negligent and questionable behavior. Here it involves using racial guilt to manipulate Christians into supporting a movement that perpetuates a secular social and political narrative that consists of lies and racial paranoia under the guise of fighting racial inequality.

Stetzer offered some reasonable concepts surrounding this issue, and wrote:

The Black Lives Matter movement is not one organization with a clear set of values, but a diverse group of activists—and InterVarsity needed to clarify what they were endorsing, and what they were not endorsing. And, they have.

I also know that in these conversations about race, we’re all going to get it wrong or be misunderstood at times. Speaking up, by its very nature, invites criticism. But such criticism should not keep us from speaking up.

He offered three lessons.  He said, "First, assume the best of fellow evangelicals in these conversations," then, "Second, let’s appreciate the attempts of others to speak into the situation," and finally, "Third, let’s all work for justice in the midst of this turbulent time."

Here are some thoughts I had in considering these comments that have been made about the Urbana situation.  I sometimes take the approach to peoples' comments or declarations that, "well, that is not the way I would have said it."  In the big picture, Higgins appears to have offered some provocative points, and Derryck Green takes her to task for presenting some erroneous information.  But, we have to keep our collective eyes on the ball regarding these issues of race and not allow ourselves to become divided, even when we don't necessarily speak in the best way.   There are some very, very difficult issues here, and there is a clash of the pain of injustice experienced by many African-Americans with the indifference to justice, perceived or real, that may be present in the white evangelical community, just based on where we have walked and what we have walked through.

The word, I think, is grace.   God has shown grace to each of us, and we are called to show grace to one another.  We may not get it right, and I admit, I may not be getting it right in my comments today, but we have to be willing to cut people some slack for the greater good and seek to build understanding - because it's critical that the body of Christ is unified on the end, even if we may have different ideas about the means.   Racial issues are too important for the Church not to be involved, and I would say, leading the way in showing the principles of Christ in how we treat one another.

"Divorce Month?" Be On Guard.

In Ecclesiastes 9, Solomon, who had asked the Lord to give him a heart of wisdom, who was regarded as incredibly wise, offers some practical principles for our lives.  Picking up in verse 7, we
can read:
7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

There are several components that he points to here - one is the concept of abiding joy.  He says we should be joyful because God has accepted our works - this points to the unconditional love of God, in which we can rejoice.  He also calls us to purity - which is a work of the Holy Spirit.  And, he says to live joyfully with your wife.  The Lord has made it possible for us to enjoy rich marriages that reflect His glory, providing satisfaction and affirmation as we develop a sense of living in His love and walking together through life.

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There's a passage in Proverbs 5 that speaks to marital faithfulness and trusting the Lord in your marriage relationship:
15 Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.

There's a piece I found on the Christian Examiner website that paints a rather gloomy picture about the state of marriage during the month of January.   The headline reads: "Don't be another January statistic."  The piece by Tobin Perry cites The Guardian, a UK publication, which reports on new research predicting divorce inquiries will climb by more than 300 percent during January.

The research was provided by Co-operative Legal Services in the United Kingdom and suggests there will be a 332 percent rise in divorces in January as compared to the previous four months.  And, these couples aren't getting divorced because of the stress of the holidays either.

Sam Hickman, the head of family law at Co-operative Legal Services, is quoted as saying: "We know from our research that this anticipated surge in inquiries is not as a result of Christmas being the straw that broke the camel's back," adding, "The decision to separate is not taken lightly and couples have already considered divorcing for a number of months and hold off announcing their plans until after the festive period, mainly to avoid upset among family members."

That organization also commissioned a study of 500 divorcees about what led to the dissolution of their marriages. The Guardian reports that women were more likely than men to initiate the conversation about separation.

Adultery was the most common reason for filing for divorce—cited by 51 percent of respondents. "Falling out of love" and arguing more frequently were other key contributors mentioned.

Regarding why couples wait until after the holidays, 43 percent of those surveyed said they specifically did not want to spoil family celebrations. A third of respondents wanted to have one last Christmas together as a family. One in ten respondents didn't want to upset others, according to The Guardian.

The Christian Examiner story also mentioned that last January, The New York Post reported findings by a number of U.S. organizations that are similar to the UK results.   According to RPG Life Transition Specialists, an advisory firm, there was a "roughly one-third increase in divorce filings, due to families opting to stay united over the holidays."

The article also referred to a past FindLaw.com press release that said January has long been called "Divorce Month," and reported that a 2008 to 2011 analysis of divorce filings across the United States showed a definitive spike in January, but the filings continue to rise through a peak in March.

I would say that because of Valentine's Day, February has been designated as a month for placing greater emphasis on marriage, but these statistics may indicate that there is a need for attention at the beginning of the year. To theorize a little bit, I would think, based on this research, that couples may have identified the fractures in their relationships, skated through the holidays with that mindset, and then after the parties and the presents are done, that is the default for the beginning of the year.  So, that decision has become cemented.

This points to a couple of things about the importance of preserving marriage.  And, I would say that the preservation of marriage, which is a work that couples need to invite the Holy Spirit to be a part of, is a Biblical goal, a worthy pursuit.

And, couples have to be very attentive to the fault lines that grow within their marriage relationships. If conflict becomes a way of life and those seeds of division and bitterness are allowed to grow, then the marriage is in danger of disintegration.   So, it's important to take steps to identify areas of conflict and to resolve those conflicts quickly and effectively.

Finally, it's important that you don't get stuck in that default position of accepting that a marriage is stuck in neutral or less than God would intend it to be.   My interpretation of these statistics would be that many married couples allowed themselves to slip into a state of being at odds with each other, which of course can contribute to martial unfaithfulness or the sense of "falling out of love" that respondents reported.  It's important to identify those problem areas and rely on God's Word and power to restore a marriage relationship.

Accommodation vs. Disruption

We have been recipients of the grace of God, and we are called to put that grace on display, to allow
Christ to live through us and show grace and love to others. Titus 2 says:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...

We praise the name of the Lord because of the love of Jesus that has been shown to us.  And, out of grateful hearts and a dependence on the Holy Spirit, we can live in a manner that pleases Him.  That lifestyle, fueled by His hope, is on display for the people with whom we connect.  We have to ascertain that our thoughts and our deeds bring honor to His name, so that the love of Christ is expressed in a manner that can win people to Him.

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The Bible exhorts us in Colossians chapter 4:
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Cargill Meat Solutions has been in the news recently, because it terminated some 190 employees at its plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  These former employees are Muslims, mainly from Somalia, and who wished to pray at work and perceived that a policy offering accommodations had changed.  The Denver Post reports that a company spokesman, Michael Martin, said, "At no time did Cargill prevent people from prayer at Fort Morgan." He added, "Nor have we changed policies related to religious accommodation and attendance. This has been mischaracterized."

Cargill also said while reasonable efforts are made to accommodate employees, accommodation is not guaranteed every day and depends on changing factors in the plant.

The Post said that Cargill provides a "reflection room" at the plant where observant Muslim workers are allowed to pray, something that has been available since 2009.

But, apparently workers perceived that the prayer policy had changed, and   The Council on American-Islamic Relations has become involved and is attempting to get the workers reinstated. CAIR spokesman Jaylani Hussein said depending on the season, the workers pray at different times of the day, typically taking five to 10 minutes away from their work. The time was carved out of a 15-minute break period or from the workers' unpaid 30-minute lunch breaks.

Martin said, "There has been a desire among some employees to go in larger groups of people to pray. We just can't accommodate that," adding, "It backs up the flow of all the production. We're a federally inspected, USDA inspected plant. We have to ensure food safety. We have to ensure the products we produce meet consumer expectations."

So, there were accommodations for prayer, but there may have been an adjustment in the schedule, so a group of workers, about a third of the Somalis at the plant, walked out - and they did not return for three consecutive days - that is the reason for their firing.  To me, it's less of a situation of religious freedom as good workplace management.  They walked off the job to protest, and they found they no longer had a job.

There are Federal laws against religious discrimination in the workplace, and, to me, it appears Cargill was attempting to uphold the law.  Were these Somali Muslims being persecuted for their faith?  I don't think so.  I believe that a person of faith has the right to practice his or her faith in the workplace and should be accommodated to do so.  But, when the accommodation is perceived as insufficient, or a person's religious practice results in a disruption, then, yes, then action should be taken - not because of the religious expression, but because of failure to meet the standards of an orderly workplace.

I think this is a good word to all of us.  Now, you may be in an office, or an assembly line, a classroom, or a cubicle.  The good news is that we can come before the Father at any time.  We can communicate with Him within our spirits and perhaps using words in privacy.   We don't have to go to a special place in our workplace in order to commune with God.  

Finally, we have to make sure that we are not guilty of spiritual overreach.  We have freedom of religions and freedom of expression - we have our rights to practice our faith.  But, we have to make sure that we are not allowing our right to practice our faith to repel those who do not necessarily acknowledge that right.  Remember, you are to love God AND love your neighbor.  If we are so intent on living out our relationship with God to the extent that our neighbor, our co-worker, is not won by our display of love toward God and toward him or her, then our actions are counterproductive.  We must make sure that our actions are covered in the love of Christ. 

Dancing Through Life

In Proverbs 3, the Bible gives us some keys to a life that pleases God, and brings satisfaction to our
hearts:
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Other translations use the words "love and faithfulness" in verse 3 there.  We are called to walk in truth, to follow in God's ways and to seek to exalt Him.  Verse 3 talks about taking God's mercy and truth and binding them around our neck and writing them on our heart.  This can propel us to remember God's principles, to plant them deeply in our hearts, so that we are devoted servants of His Word.   God wants us to develop a strong trust in Him, so that God's Word supersedes human understanding, so that we will be devoted to Him and cognizant of His will.

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Jesus addressed the issue of stewardship in Luke 12, and we pick up on a parable that he is teaching to His disciples:
42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

A few verses later, Jesus says:
47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

A good question for us today is "what are we doing with what we've been given?"

I first had the chance to meet this Hollywood female actor in Nashville before the 2013 Dove Awards - I don't think they're called "actresses" any more.  Later that night, she and Kari Jobe were to present the Best New Artist award to For King and Country.  She wrote on Facebook during the telecast of the event:

Who's watching the Dove Awards right now? I was honored to present Best New Artist - winner: For King And Country!! And don't skip the commercials- you'll see mine for Up tv throughout the show! smile emoticon I'm so grateful for family entertainment and family programming.

Interestingly enough, over the last 2 years, those Australian brothers have been on an upward trajectory, and seemingly so has Candace Cameron Bure.   If you happened to watch or click by the Hallmark Channel during Christmas, you may have seen her in one of its Christmas movies.   And, if you happen to watch The View on ABC, you will no doubt see her as one of the co-hosts.   Big news from this year, too:  she will reprise her role as D.J. from the classic series Full House in the new series, Fuller House, due out this year.

Recently, she has been named the FOX411 Celebrity of the Year.  FOX411 is a part of Fox News, offering celebrity and entertainment news.  The Gospel Herald did a feature on Candace recently, in which it quotes a recent Fox News interview. She said: "In all things you do, honor the Lord, and in all things you do, work hard," adding, "It really is all about the effort you put in while keeping your integrity and your character. That's why first and foremost I want my kids to respect themselves and honor God and to then just work hard. Even if someone hands something to you, it never feels as good as when you've earned it yourself." 

Regarding The View, the article says:

As the only outspoken Christian on the show, Bure often spars with fellow host Raven Symone regarding a number of social and political issues such as religious liberty and same-sex marriage. However, Bure said she's thankful for the opportunity as it gives her a platform to share her Christian faith. "The best part of ['The View'] is learning how to do something new within my industry because I never thought I would be a talk show host; I've never done anything from a journalistic point of view-so this is very new to me," she told Fox News.

With all that has happened for her this year, including the release of another book, she says that: "'Fuller House' ... that probably has been the highlight for me this year...It was just amazing to come back and be able to do this spinoff show and work with people that are most dear to me in my life and have a better time the second go around than we could have even imagined. It feels like home, it feels like family and it's really fun and just a great show."

That book was called, Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction, and it arose out of her experience on the television program, Dancing With the Stars.  On her website, she wrote:

I had the privilege not too long ago to be on a little show called Dancing With the Stars. This experience was truly an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only was it a dream of mine to be on the show, it was also a chance for me to showcase my faith in Christ in a whole new way (and in front of millions of people!). As a Christian in Hollywood, I’ve had to draw plenty of lines in the sand about what I will and won’t do on TV or in movies and Dancing With the Stars was no exception. I knew my boundaries the lines I wouldn’t cross but also knew I was going to grow and be stretched out of my comfort zone for my own good. I learned so much about myself while I was competing on DWTS. It was truly a lesson in faith, courage, and conviction.

In a interesting bit of a follow-up to last week's tug-of-war that I featured about Christian celebrities, I do think you need more people like Candace in Hollywood.  What you don't need are so-called Christian celebrities who don't exalt Christ.  Candace admits she doesn't shy away from expressing her faith and allows her Christian worldview to affect her work.    So, there are takeaways for us:

For one thing, it's impressive that she has drawn lines in the sand.  I would submit that those lines, those boundaries need to be drawn before you get into a situation.   If you're taking a job, it's important that you know the requirements and make up your mind that certain things that violate your conscience and convictions are off limits.  How will you handle that if it comes?  It is better to pre-plan than to make it up when you go along.

Obviously, Candace knows the importance of rehearsal.  And, in the Christian life, perhaps some rehearsal in our minds of potentially prickly situations would be in order.  If you have a difficult decision, consider the scenarios.  If you are going to have a possibly confrontational or otherwise uncomfortable conversation, rehearse your lines, refine your approach - devote thought and prayer about what you will say before you say it.

Finally, I believe that God has blessed Candace, and her brother Kirk, because they have been willing to take principled stands based on their Christian faith.  Now, that has not come without its trials - Candace admitted she was stretched outside her comfort zone during her time on Dancing With the Stars.  Certainly, I would think that sparring with Raven Symone provides some challenges. Faithfulness brings further opportunity and growth comes through challenges, so if we are faithful to do whatever God has called us to do, then we can look for other doors to open, and God will prepare us and shape us to walk through those doors that He ordains.

A Chance - For Life!!

Psalm 139 reminds us that each human being has incredible value, and that God is author of life:
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

If we believe that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that has unique implications on how we live - and how we treat others.  Knowing we are created and loved by God can give us a sense of confidence and self-respect.  And, if we value and respect the lives of other people, then we will treat them with honor, we can develop a sense of Christ's love for them.  If that attitude prevailed in society, it would have an enormous impact on the violence that we have seen arise.   And, that would include the harmful actions toward pre-born children, the taking of their lives.

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In Jeremiah 1, the prophet relates a passage about the sanctity of life and God's purpose:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.

Lincoln Bain is a talk show host and gospel singer in the Bahamas.  Last year, he made a YouTube video in which he discussed a bit about his life story - his very early life story.

According to LifeNews.com, Bain's mother became pregnant at 16, and the father of her baby fled soon after he learned the news. She became pregnant with Lincoln at age 24 and was already a single mother taking care of two children. Lincoln’s father was married to another woman.

Lincoln’s mother confessed to her son years later that she “tried everything in the world to abort” him; but he did not die.  Bain said, “The abortion failed, I was born,” adding, “In the end, my mother told me, she said you are alive for a purpose. She said, fulfill that purpose. She said nothing that I
could have done would have stopped you, because you are here for a purpose. Fulfill it.”

And, you might say that Lincoln Bain is a second-generation abortion survivor. His grandmother was raped when she was young by a man who offered her a ride home from work, he said. When she discovered that she was pregnant, she chose life for her baby girl, who was Lincoln’s mother.

In the video, Bain says, "This message is for someone...I am the product of a failed abortion, and I am still here. Listen! … God is going to make a way. God will make a way. What ever you are going through, God will provide.”   He also says, "There are no mistakes. You are not a mistake… God chose you."

This type of story is not uncommon.  You find there are a number of people who have inspiring stories about having survived abortion attempts, and are grateful for the gift of life and God's hand in their lives.  Lincoln Bain's story can remind us that every life has value and purpose and that no human has the right to thwart that creation of God through attempting to end that life.   God is the author of life and we honor Him as we speak up for pre-born children.   And, the words of Lincoln can inspire us to recognize the value of our own lives, no matter what our background or our makeup - God has created you to be a unique person, and even though there may be physical or other flaws, as humans might perceive it; still, you can rejoice in the wisdom and ability of our Maker.

With the coming of a new year, we also recognize that January is Sanctity of Human Life month. There are events that take place in which pro-life people gather to celebrate life and to stand as a witness for life and against abortion.   The annual March for Life will be held in the nation's capital, and this year, there is a new event that is partnering with March for Life, called, Evangelicals for Life, co-sponsored by Focus on the Family and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  There is even an opportunity to simulcast that event.   Also, the Colson Center has released 21 Days of Prayer for Life, which offers some insight into the sanctity of life and offers a daily prayer devotional.  Find it at www.colsoncenter.org/21days.

This month gives a fresh opportunity, in light of the Supreme Court's tragic Roe vs. Wade decision, to focus on how God is using pro-life individuals and ministries to carry out His purpose.  Pro-life people can boldly declare our love for God and for preserving life, offering women a sensible, life-affirming option to give birth to their children, loving them through the process, and perhaps being utilized in providing a loving home for a child through adoption.

Taking Responsibility

We have the personal responsibility to take the resources that God has given us to live a holy life and appropriate them for His glory. Romans 13 gives some perspective:
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Two-and-a-half years ago, in Burleson, Texas, south of Fort Worth, a youth pastor named Brian Jennings had stopped to help a stranded motorist whose SUV had broken down, according to a CNN report of the incident, which also said that a lady named Hollie Boyles and her daughter Shelby had left their home to help the motorist, Breanna Mitchell. Moments later, the four of them were dead, as a drunk driver plowed into the scene with a blood alcohol level of .24, three times the legal limit.

That story is back in the news now.  CNN has an updated report - oh, by the way, two people riding in the bed of the driver's pickup were tossed in the crash and severely injured. One is no longer able to move or talk because of a brain injury, while the other suffered internal injuries and broken bones.

Now, you would think this driver, who had killed 4 and injured 2 others would be serving time in prison.  Well, think again - he was a juvenile, and prosecutors wanted to see him behind bars for 20 years, but instead he was sentenced to probation and rehab.

During the trial, a psychologist testified that then-16-year-old Ethan Couch suffered from "affluenza" -- he was the product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for the boy. Couch had been ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol for the duration of his probation.

However, in mid-December, a video surfaced showing him using alcohol and a warrant was issued for his arrest.  His probation officer couldn't reach him.  Turns out Ethan and one of his enablers - his mother, Tonya, had apparently escaped to Mexico.   The mother and son were apprehended by Mexican authorities, and CNN reports that Mrs. Couch is now back in the States, but Ethan's attorneys are seeking to block his deportation.  

Violating his probation by fleeing to Mexico may earn Couch a maximum of 120 days in jail, said Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson.

Sheriff Anderson told CNN Wednesday that the punishment, which he considers lenient, is infuriating.  He is quoted as saying, "He doesn't believe the rules apply to him, he doesn't believe the laws apply to him."

Another CNN article points out that the Oxford Dictionary defines "affluenza" as "a psychological malaise supposedly affecting young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation."  The writer of the article, attorney and analyst Paul Callan, points out that defense attorney Brown apparently succeeded in convincing soon-to-be retired juvenile Judge Jean Boyd that this spoiled rich kid syndrome diminished Ethan Couch's capacity to distinguish right from wrong.

Callan writes:

A wise judge presented with the claim of affluenza as a defense to manslaughter would have responded in a very different way. Ethan Couch, his lawyer and his wealthy father should have been told that the cure for affluenza is a solid dose of state-inflicted poverty in a prison cell where Ethan Couch would learn that his money can't buy justice.

This is a disturbing story, and I am sure that there are those who would hope that Couch is placed in the adult legal system, where justice might be brought for his irresponsible actions.

This whole story brings up issues of responsibility - including parents' responsibility to direct the lives of their children, the lack of ability of a person to distinguish right from wrong, and how someone can attempt to make excuses for irresponsible actions.   And, it gives us some points to ponder.

First of all, we have to make sure as parents that we are not enabling or encouraging our children, who have been given to us by God to train in His ways, to make wrong decisions. These parents, according to accounts of the trial, created an atmosphere in which their son could not or did not choose to make moral decisions - he could not distinguish right from wrong, his defense team said. While I don't necessarily buy into that, it can challenge us to make sure that Biblical principles are demonstrated in our families, leading to moral clarity.

And, we have to make sure that we have integrated Biblical clarity into our own decisions and actions.  We live in a world of moral relativism, and we have to make sure that we are not rationalizing our choices; rather, that we are allowing Scripture to guide what we think and do.  The Bible clearly teaches what pleases God and what doesn't, and we have to make certain that we are relying on His Word and the leadership of His Spirit to direct our steps.

Finally, we also have to ascertain when we are making excuses for our sinful behavior.  Ethan Couch blamed his horrific actions on "affluenza," which is a dubious defense.  But, do we sometimes make excuses for our own actions that are incorrect - do we try to blame others, or bad circumstances, or social conditioning, for our own lack of judgment?   Sometimes, we have to take responsibility, admit what we have done is wrong, seek forgiveness from God and those whom we have offended, and depend on the Spirit to correct us and teach and empower us to do better.