Getting To Know You

God has called us to a life of love, bringing glory to Him and being gracious to other people,
reflecting His character in our interactions. Galatians 5 says:
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

This is a great template for the child of God, as we are called to love the Lord with our entire being, from the heart, and living as He has intended for us and empowered us to live.  We are to possess the heart of a servant, and not allow our preconceived notions or stereotypes to hold us back from doing ministry.  There may be an occasion to step outside a comfort zone and reach out in a bold and courageous way in order to accomplish an assignment that builds the Kingdom.

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James chapter 2 challenges us to reach out to people who are different than we are, not showing
partiality, but being people of compassion:
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

It really was like a scene of a movie or a television drama, riding a train through some areas of a large city that you feel like you've seen before - the Bronx, Harlem, the characteristic high rise, neighborhoods full of cars and shops.  And, then, I arrived - Grand Central Station - the heart of New York City.

Such was a moment just a week ago, walking the streets of the Big Apple to meet other family members who had flown in earlier in the day.   And, then, I rounded the corner to find, yes, the bright lights of Times Square.   Truly, unlike anything you've seen before.

Of course, one of the concerns of visiting a big city as a tourist is safety, and apparently, New York has stepped up its game in that department.  I noticed the police presence there, and in one instance, saw an officer in conversation on the street.  This was not coincidental, but part of an effort to ensure the safety of people in the Midtown area.  A PIX11 story from last year reported:

The NYPD will start community policing in the area with the same cops working the same beat everyday.

"We have a lot of police presence already," says Michael Greene, manager at Hard Rock Cafe.

He says he can't wait to see more women and men in blue in his hood. "We always someone checking on us. So we've always had a great relationship with the cops," said Greene.

The NYPD is starting a new task force of 100 officers in Midtown with a goal of beefing up protection and building contacts.

The same officers will work Midtown every day talking to everyone from small businesses and residents throughout all of Midtown, and not just pedestrian plaza.

Building relationships seems to be a dominant theme in law enforcement, especially in light of recent high-profile incidents involving police, some resulting in people losing their lives at the hands of officers, other involving the deaths of policemen. FBI Director James Comey was talking about relationship recently in Birmingham at the 16th Street Baptist Church at the Race and Law Enforcement Conference last week.

According to a story from a Montgomery Advertiser reporter that ran at USA Today, "In partnership with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Comey was on hand to address one of the most vexing problems plaguing the nation: how to heal the racial rift between law enforcement and the community."  He is quoted as saying, referring to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I think he would tell us to have open hearts, open minds and to see each other more clearly, because it is hard to hate up close," adding, "It’s hard to hate somebody you know, somebody whose life you understand."

As the story says: "To combat the anti-police culture perpetuated in low-income, high-crime inner communities, Comey said a bond must be formed between the community and its local law enforcement."

There was a story this week about this year's first graduating class of the Montgomery Police Department's Citizens' Police Academy.  A Montgomery Advertiser story says that:

Having citizens with a knowledge of police procedure means some not-too-serious situations can be handled properly by neighborhood groups before reaching out to police. Academy graduates can also relay information to and from the MPD when necessary.

Chief Ernest Finley is quoted as saying: "We need buy-in for how we improve the community and have real conversations with citizens that know us, and they did this training so they know something about how the police department works and the resources that are available,” He added, "These are die-hard community folks. When we think about dedicated, spirited individuals who just want to help us, when we get that spirit in the community, it’s a win-win for us."

MPD has also enlisted the help of the faith community.   We have reported to you before about the Operation Good Shepherd, in which church leaders partner with police to address issues of crime in their neighborhoods and communities.

The critical component here is relationship.  And, it's encouraging to see people in the law enforcement community speaking out on the importance of building trust between those who enforce the law and citizens who are called to follow it.

I want to return to FBI Director Comey's very simple phrase:  "It’s hard to hate somebody you know, somebody whose life you understand."  That speaks so strongly, and for followers of Christ, that can be a stated goal - we can be challenged to be people of understanding, to model a sense of conveying the love of God, without preconceived notions - loving unconditionally.  Our own biases and hangups can become barriers to doing ministry, and perhaps God is calling you outside your comfort zone to do something really bold, really different, but really effective for the Kingdom. After all, it's about lifting up His name.

Power to Choose

In Romans 8, the author sets up the contrast between the "carnal" mind, set on the wisdom of this
world, and the "spiritual" mind, devoted to pleasing God. We can read:
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Day by day, moment by moment, we face choices - whether or not to follow the spiritual mindset that is found in the Word of God or to choose according to our own devices.  Many of our choices are conscious, many are subconscious, and I think that's a challenge for us - to retrain our minds to the extent that choices that are under the authority of and consistent with the Holy Spirit become "second nature" to us; i.e. we train our minds to think according to God's ways.

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There is a spiritual component to life, and God wants us to understand what it means to walk in tandem with the Spirit of God, to be filled and directed by Him. 1st Corinthians 2 says:
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Over at The Stream website, William Briggs has written a couple of articles surrounding the topic of free will.  He takes issue with a piece from the British website The Independent, which quotes the authors of a new study, Adam Bear and Paul Bloom, who say “that even our most seemingly ironclad beliefs about our own agency and conscious experience can be dead wrong.”

He says that the authors warn that “people can feel as if they make a choice before the time at which this choice is actually made.”  In Briggs' estimation, this means your brain really made the choice for you.  The authors say:

This proposal is rooted in research suggesting that people become conscious of an event a short time after it actually occurs; hence, their conscious experience of an event can be influenced by experiences that seem to follow that event in time, but have already been processed unconsciously.

This theory apparently comes from two experiments. In one, five white circles flashed on a screen, and 25 persons were asked to guess which of the five would turn red. After the circle changed color, people were asked if they guessed correctly or if they didn't have enough time. Brooks relates that the delay between when the white circles first appeared and one turned red was varied in specified increments between 0.05 and 1 second.  He writes:

When the delay between color changes was 0.05 seconds, 27% said they didn’t have enough time to choose, but as the time lengthened to 1 second, only about 1% said they didn’t have time. Of those who said they did have time, at 0.05 seconds 31% said they guessed the right circle; 23% claimed to be correct when the delay was 1 second.

He says that you'd expect the success rate to be about 20%.  Brooks thinks people could be lying about their success or rewarding themselves what they feel they deserve under these "unfair" circumstances, i.e., the time period given to make the choice.

The same pattern was found in the second experiment, which only offered two choices.

The authors conclude, “Our experiments suggest that people can have the subjective experience of having made a choice before their choice was actually made.”   The Independent story quotes the authors from a Scientific American piece, saying:

The idea of free will may have arisen because it is a useful thing to have, giving people a feeling of control over their lives and allowing for people to be punished for wrongdoing.

But that same feeling can go awry, the scientists wrote in the Scientific American magazine.

Free will - an illusion created by our brains?  That's the leadoff suggestion from the British article.

There are numerous thoughts that come to mind.  First of all, I am by no means an expert in the field of neurology, but I know that the brain is a wonderful piece of machinery.  God designed the human brain as the control center for functions of our minds and bodies.  But, the brain is more than a mere hub - there is an element of a soul, with mind, will, and emotions, and the brain enables us to process these elements.

We are also spirit-beings, and believers in Christ are made alive in our spirits by the Spirit of God.  So, what a researcher might conclude is a mindless choice made for us somewhere in the synapses of our brains may actually be directed by the presence of a greater intelligence, the mind of the Spirit, the mind of Christ.  Have you had the experience of make a choice, taking a certain action, and then seeing negative consequences of that choice - you think back and say to yourself, I really didn't feel this would turn out right?  In the spiritual realm, you could say that is a "check" in your spirit.  God will work to enable us to make conscious or even subconscious choices in accordance with His will.

Of course we have free will, but I do believe that as we grow in the Lord, our choices are controlled by the Spirit of God.  We have to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, as well.  We can also see the evidence of the control of the Lord in our lives.  Even though we are granted the power to choose, we also know that there are so many circumstances beyond our control, where God is working, and we don't comprehend it.  But, we can rejoice that He has taken such interest in our lives that He is working powerfully to bring glory to His name.

Changing the Connotations

I want to continue to examine the power and potential of the words we speak. Proverbs has much to say about words and the power of our tongue. For example, take this passage in Proverbs 12:
17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

We are called to be people who pursue truth and who tell the truth.  And in a culture that is prone to use different words to redefine the connotation of certain concepts or practices, we have to make certain that we are upholding the concepts of the Scriptures with the way we speak.  Now, our tone can be conciliatory and our approach can be compassionate, but we have to be forthright in holding on to the truth of the Scriptures and not call good or neutral what God has determined to be evil.

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The Bible uses strong words to identify who we are in Christ and how we are to behave, allowing
God's Word and His Spirit to govern our actions. Ephesians 5 says:
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Yesterday, I commented on the economy of words.  Today, I want to elaborate on the effectiveness of words and how the perception of certain concepts can be altered by the words that are used to label them.

Allow me to give an example - this comes from an Alliance Alert from the Alliance Defending Freedom.  It quotes Wesley J. Smith, who states in a post at the First Things website:

"Words matter. The terminology we employ not only reflects our values but helps to define them. Language is particularly important in bioethical debates, in which dehumanizing verbiage can distance us from our fellow human beings."

Some examples?  The ADF post summarizes:

Embryonic stem-cell research that is branded as "just a ball of cells" rather than using the phrase "human embryo." When discussing abortion, choosing to use the word "fetus" instead of "baby," ostensibly because it is the proper medical term (despite using the word "infant" over "neonates," which would be the corresponding medical term).

There is a new word that is emerging in the end-of-life sphere: "dignicide," which comes from Fay Girsh, former head of the Hemlock Society. There is concern now that the word "euthanasia" is a term that no longer conveys what the assisted-suicide movement wishes to convey.

As the Alliance Alert summarizes:

Words do not merely reflect reality. They often shape the perception of it. If "dignicide" becomes common parlance, the arguments against it have one more barrier to cross.

The use of words to redefine and even deceive that are apparent regarding abortion was the subject of a recent story at The Federalist website that ADF references. The author, A.D.P. Efferson, argues that pro-abortion rhetoric causes women direct harm.  She writes:

"The messaging from organizations like Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider, demonstrate a stunning, almost willful lack of awareness, and gross insensitivity towards women who are not 'okay' with their abortion. Herein lies the problem for the abortion industry: their messaging campaigns amount to an ill-conceived attempt to make women feel better about their choice to abort by effectively telling them 'it’s not a difficult decision,' and 'don’t regret it.'"

There are several good points that are made, and the Alliance Alert summarizes by saying:

One clear point: any pro-abortion advocate who argues that women "need to weigh their options" and still turns around and says that the decision isn't a big deal at all is rhetorically hypocritical.

But, that's the nature of the abortion industry, and the messaging has been effective, even though it is offensive - an unborn child becomes a "fetus" rather than a "baby."  The decision to take the life of that baby is described as a "woman's right to choose."  The words become self-descriptive and diminish our sensitivity to a very important issue.

You could find examples where society has taken words that have negative connotations and developed new constructs.  For example, think about these terms that are consistent with the Scriptures: "Sodomy" has become homosexuality and those who engage in it are "gay."  "Fornication" is no longer a word that is used in society - "cohabitation" is a cleaned-up word to describe a practice that is abhorrent to God.  "Adultery" has become the less-confrontational "affair."

I think about what a Biblical counselor had said to me about using Biblical terms to define sin.  But, in our culture that guards against offense, especially regarding what God calls sin, we have to be careful that we don't buy in to compromise.  One might think that the changing of the word can lessen the blow or create a new morality, but the Lord's attitude toward sinful practice remains, and it's helpful to develop His perspective and then realize that Jesus died so that we could experience freedom from sin.

More Words

The words we speak have great potential, and I believe that the Bible teaches us to speak carefully chosen words, informed and instructed by God's Word. Proverbs 10 says:
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.
18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

These verses provide a nice contrast between the way that leads to life, the path that pleases God, and the way that leads to destruction.  We can be challenged to be mindful of the instruction of the Lord, following His words and keeping His principles in our hearts.  In the economy of words, according to verse 19, we are called to show restraint.  I think that entails thinking before we speak and recognizing the capability for our words to build up or tear down, to glorify God or to be detrimental to Him and to ourselves.

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In Matthew 12, Jesus challenges us to make good use of the words we speak.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

There are several types of social media that I utilize in association with The Meeting House radio show - there are 2 blogs that I write; one is The Front Room, which features devotional thoughts and commentary from the program. The other is The 3, with three stories of relevance to the Christian community.  I also have a Facebook page and a Twitter feed.   Each of these forms of media have their own unique advantages.

With Twitter, you can send a simple and effective message, and the 140-character limit forces you to be very directed in what you say.  Through the use of hashtags and links, you are able to join a stream of information and hopefully have that information shared.

Well, there was a piece on the Bloomberg site that appeared a couple of weeks ago that was intriguing. The article announced that Twitter users would be gaining "more freedom to compose longer messages." It said that Twitter would soon "stop counting photos and links as part of its 140-character limit for messages, according to a person familiar with the matter. The change could happen in the next two weeks, said the person who asked not to be named because the decision isn’t yet public. Links currently take up 23 characters, even after Twitter automatically shortens them. The company declined to comment."

That announcement was confirmed about a week later by Twitter Senior Project Manager Todd Sherman on Twitter's blog site.  He wrote:

In the coming months we’ll make changes to simplify Tweets including what counts toward your 140 characters, so for instance, @names in replies and media attachments (like photos, GIFs, videos, and polls) will no longer “use up” valuable characters.

He also stated: "We’re exploring ways to make existing uses easier and enable new ones, all without compromising the unique brevity and speed that make Twitter the best place for live commentary, connections, and conversations."

So, soon, we Twitter users can write more - if you are putting a list of handles in a Tweet calling attention to certain others, that can use up valuable space, and those links and attachments also cut down on your verbage.  So, we get more characters to work with - but, the question is, do we really need them?  How will people use those extra words we may get?

Twitter teaches us to keep things short and simple - you really have to think about how you say something lest you violate the 140-character limit.  But, in Twitter, as in life, are too many words necessarily a good thing?

And, that's a character lesson for us today.  Jesus taught us about the power of words - we can be justified or condemned by them.  James gave stern warning about the power of the tongue. Proverbs teaches us about the relationship of the abundance of words to sin.  A good "word" for us today is that we can place limitations on our usage of words, keeping in minds that it is possible to say too much.

Reliance on the Holy Spirit can enable us to control what we say.  He can help to shape what we say and how we say it.  Words can be powerful in expressing ourselves, encouraging a person, and in providing insight and instruction.  But, words can also contain a power to express ourselves in a way we did not intend, or to tear down someone else, or to communicate incorrectly.  We have to make sure that we are good stewards of our words, in line with God's Word.

"Too Christian" TV

It just seems like there are elements in our culture who just don't want to see Christian messages in our various forms of entertainment.  And, that is symptomatic of a society that is rushing headlong away from the teachings of the Scripture.  But, we can hold to the powerful truth that we can communicate through our words and the way we live our lives.  In 1st John 3, we can read:
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

There are people who think they do not want to hear or heed the teachings of Christ, but the demonstration of the Word in power can be very compelling.   We possess the love of the Lord in our hearts, and it is our responsibility to allow His life and His love to flow through us.  As we submit to the control of the Holy Spirit, we send a powerful message about the One who died for us so that men and women might experience His love and freedom.

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God has made us capable to live out the truth of the gospel, demonstrating the power of the Word and the presence of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 3 says:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

There were church leaders in England that saw it coming once Aaqil Ahmed joined the BBC to be in charge of religious programming back in 2009.  The Telegraph reported on this move.  In his previous position at Channel Four, he had upset Roman Catholic priests by commissioning documentaries that appeared to contain a pro-Islam bias.

Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, met with Mark Thompson, the BBC's director-general a few weeks before the move to challenge him over the corporation's religious broadcasting. Senior bishops had also written to Thompson to question its commitment to Britain's Christian audience.  The Telegraph report at the time said:

Leading church figures suspect that the BBC is giving preferential treatment to minority faiths, with a Muslim now in charge of its programming on television and a Sikh producing Songs of Praise, its flagship Christian show.

Fast forward now to a recent series of events reported on by The Telegraph.  Ahmed, the BBC’s head of religion and ethics, has suggested Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths should get more airtime.  One Muslim leader has even suggested that the review could lead to Friday prayers from a mosque being broadcast in the same way that Christian church services are currently featured in the BBC’s schedules.

Ahmed told a Commons meeting on religious literacy he had written a report for Lord Hall, the director general, that would answer criticisms from non-Christian faiths that they were under-served. Ahmed said in a statement: “Christianity remains the cornerstone of our output and there are more hours dedicated to it than there are to other faiths."  He continued, "Our output in this area is not static, though."

The BBC's religious output on television includes Songs of Praise and Sunday Morning Live.  In 2009, there was concern expressed at that time that a Sikh was producing Songs of Praise.  Radio also features a wide range of religious content including Thought for the Day on Radio Four’s Today programme.

Not a surprising development here - and even though you have those in the news and entertainment industry who either don't understand religion or religious practice or don't think it should be included in the public flow of information, we recognize that faith is a strong element of so many people's lives.  And, we can be convinced that our message absolutely brings hope for a culture that needs it so much.  There is rampant discouragement and cynicism today, and the gospel brings hope to counter that - not some empty hope that can make someone feel better temporarily, but a real hope in a God who loved humanity so much that He sent His Son to die - a hope that is deeply attractive and capable of bringing true life change.

We are communicators of hope - we cannot depend on the media at large, including the Internet, to communicate accurately the Christian message.  Fortunately there is Christian media that is effective in relating the truth of Jesus.  And, with the presence of the Holy Spirit, He has made us capable of being effective communicators of that truth in the way we speak and live. 

Going to Church: Good For Your Health?

The life that reflects the character of Christ results from our pursuit of His ways, the path to spiritual growth in the Lord. Proverbs 4 says:
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Verse 20 encourages to pay attention to God's Word - we do that by studying and meditating on Scripture; keeping His Word before our eyes, which will enable His words to penetrate our hearts. Verse 22 describes God's words as "life" and "health."  From our hearts flow the "issues of life," in other words, if our hearts are sensitive to and activated by God's Word, then we experience the full life that He has in store for us.  But, it doesn't happen by chance  - we have to be deliberate in our pursuit of the things of God.

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In Psalm 91, we see the importance of devotion to the Lord.  God honors our faithfulness, and one of the verses even suggest that could pay dividends in the form of a longer life:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

Yesterday, I offered some comments about longevity of life.  And, I believe there are certain steps that we can take that can serve to lengthen our lives.  There are also choices that we make that can serve to diminish our time on earth and the quality thereof.    Adherence to the Scriptures is an important component.

There is new research that has been released that indicates a relationship between spiritual activity and better health, pertaining to women.  FoxNews.com reports on the survey, which suggests that women who attend religious services frequently may live longer than women who don't, new research suggests.

Over a 16-year period, Dr. Tyler J. VanderWeele of Harvard and his colleagues analyzed data collected every four years between 1996 and 2012 from nearly 75,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. Most were Catholic or Protestant.

As reported in the Internal Medicine section of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) website, about 14,000 of the women attended religious services more than once a week, about 30,400 attended once a week, about 12,000 less than once a week, and nearly 18,000 never attended.

Women who attended religious services regularly were 33 percent less likely to die during the study period, compared with women who never attended services. Once-a-week attendees were 26 percent less likely to die, and those attending less than once a week were 23 percent less likely to die.

Overall, according to the story, frequent religious attendance was associated with a 27 percent lower likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 21 percent lower risk of death from cancer. Frequent attendance was also associated with significantly less risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Dr. Dan German Blazer II from Duke, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, said, according to Health.com, that “despite the findings, we cannot for certain say that religious belief/practice per se is the actual cause [of longevity].” While stressing the need for more research, he did describe the investigation as “a major contribution” that “provides significantly more reason to believe that there is something about religious belief [and] practice among these women which contributes to protection against dying.”

Every now and then on my radio show, I talk about the relationship between the spiritual and the physical.  I believe that the Bible teaches us that we are spirit, we have our souls - our mind, will, and emotions - and we live in the body.   Those are not three separate parts, no, they are integrated together.   So, if we are growing in our spirits, there is the capacity to affect other areas of our lives. That doesn't guarantee a perfect body or perfect health, but there is Scripture that can support that spiritual growth can affect other areas of our lives.

So, even though the researchers say there is not a certain relationship between church attendance or religious practice and good health, I think that if you factor in the teachings of the Bible, you can make the case that there is a relationship.  If we sow to the spirit, the Bible says, we will reap accordingly; conversely, if we are feeding the flesh and engaging in practices that are not good for us, then there will be a detrimental effect.  An example: I believe if we are caught up in worry, anxiety, or stress, there is the potential for harmful by-products to manifest themselves physically - and spiritually.   God has ordained for us through Christ a way that leads to life, real, abundant life.

Aging With Grace

God is concerned with not only the quantity of our lives - the number of days that He has placed us here on this earth - but also about the quality of life that He intends.  We have been given the wonderful gift of life, and He desires for us to take what He has given and maximize it.  1st Peter 3
says:
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

The Bible is so practical - if we want to live the life that brings our Lord honor, then we are called to follow His instructions.   Following His principles leads to a fulfilling life; disregarding what He has to say brings unnecessary difficulty to us.  Sin brings negative consequences, but the Spirit brings freedom.  We have the power to choose, to choose life, and if we make the correct choices, then we activate the life that Christ came to give us.

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The Bible offers us reliable instruction for living a fulfilling life, a life that brings honor to the name of Jesus. Deuteronomy 5 offers this perspective:
32 Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

In 1899 in Lowndes County, Alabama, Susannah Mushatt Jones was born.  Just a few days ago, she passed away.  CNN.com reported that she was the last American born in the 1800s, according to Robert Young of Guinness World Records. She died in New York at the age of 116.

Jones attributed her length of life to "sleep, clean living and positive energy."  She had been ill and in and out of the hospital for 10 days, according to her niece.   She had been recognized last year by Guinness as the oldest living person on the planet.

She attended the Calhoun Colored School in Calhoun, Alabama, where Booker T. Washington was on the board of trustees.  She moved to New York in 1923.

In 2005, she had told the New York City Housing Authority, "I surround myself with love and positive energy," adding, "That's the key to long life and happiness."

And, she loved her bacon.  USA Today reported last year that she kept a steady diet of bacon, eggs and grits for breakfast. There was a sign in her kitchen which read: “Bacon makes everything better.”

Buddy Hamilton of Richmond, Virginia, has some ideas about living a long life.  He is 100 years old, and the Christian Examiner quotes him as saying, "Pay attention," and, "Listen to what God knows to be best."  Hamilton celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this month.  He volunteers every week in the homeless ministry of First Baptist Church, Richmond, where he has been a member 82 years. He drives himself and two friends who also volunteer in the ministry: Al Astle, who will be 100 in August, and Jack Mitchell, who is 90.

Hamilton recounts, "For most of my life, I put a lot of effort into my business," adding, "I had one foot in the secular world and one foot in the spiritual world."  But, when he was around 55 years old, he attended a law renewal weekend at his church.  That weekend, he heard the testimony of a man "who had chosen intentionally to focus on the things of God."   Buddy relates that he decided at that time that he would do the same thing.  He says, "It seems like a small step, but it was life-changing for me."

He explains, "The real sin of the world is inordinate self-interest...Every sin can be traced to selfishness that starts at birth. I think this selfishness is wired into us from birth to allow us to survive."   He goes on: "To overcome this innate selfishness I must be willing to give my thoughts and words to the Lord before they become audible and trigger action."

Senior pastor Jim Somerville says that, "Buddy offers the perspective of years of experience, but he is remarkably open-minded," adding, "When Buddy speaks, heads swivel to hear what he has to say. People trust him. There is universal recognition that he helped make us who we are."  He even has a Sunday School class named after him!

What a healthy attitude, and a great example for all of us.  A few concepts can come through mind as the result of encountering this story.  First of all, we do well to honor the wisdom of those who have great life experience.  Here is a man who possesses great wisdom and is an inspiring person.   These are the type of people who can inspire and challenge - we are never too old to stop the learning process.  Both of these examples show us that there is a value to living in a manner consistent with God's principles and being involved in loving relationships.

Also, I'm reminded that having wise and experienced people who have lived long life in a church body can be a strong example to our young people.  The next generation, or generations, need examples such as Buddy Hamilton, and ministry that is truly intergenerational has great potential to shape the lives of those coming behind.

Finally, Buddy Hamilton has a great point: to take our eyes off ourselves.  We can become so self-consumed these days.  But, God wants us to be sensitive to the needs around us.  And, he doesn't want us to stop, I believe, as we grow older.  Living in the love of God might not guarantee we'll live to be 100, but if we are consumed with selfishness, that can be detrimental to a fulfilling life.