Bringing People Back to Faith

A recent story in the news is that, on the day following the general election, the Federal Reserve began purchasing Treasury bonds in large numbers – 600 billion dollars’ worth. In other words, The United States is borrowing money from itself (the purchase of a bond is a loan to the issuer of the bond) – and the Fed has its printing presses working overtime.

Does this sound as crazy to you as to me? Don’t most people know you don’t handle debt by going deeper into debt? Could this drastic action mean the beginning of the end of the American economy? I don’t know the answer to that last question, but there are a few things I do know. I know that foreclosures abound. I know that unemployment remains high. Now it appears that a third wave is about to engulf us – the wave of inflation. Already I see its creeping effects: gasoline and grocery prices climbing. These are the staples which people need daily and they are becoming increasingly expensive.

A leading writer on economics (Brian O’Connell) has stated that this latest action is the Fed’s way of saying to Americans: “Stop saving.” Or to put it another way: “Start spending and borrowing – get this economy moving.”

The manipulation of the economy is a frightful thing to me. Who is doing the manipulating and why? And if this person today is “OK”, so to speak, remember that the next person may not have benevolent ends in mind. But the worst part of the “quantitative easing” (government speak for borrowing from itself) is that it signals desperation.

The Federal Reserve obviously underestimated the depths of the Great Recession. Perhaps they should have asked an Alliance, Hartville, or Louisville, Ohio resident – any resident – how bad the recession was and continues to be. In December 2008 the Federal Reserve Board reduced its interest rates to near zero. It has maintained a similar stance since. But tough times continue. Maybe not as tough as when the nearly zero interest rates were targeted, but tough nevertheless.

The point in stating all this is that those who save and try to live within their means, being frugal and responsible, are penalized. Those who accumulate debt are rewarded – or so it seems. Just how convoluted can things be when savers are penalized? Is this not indicative of how far removed from sound stewardship principles the country has gone?

But it will not stay this way forever. Eventually the way God has ordered the world to run comes to the fore, correcting the flawed notions of mankind – yes, even those of the brightest economists.

If harder economic times than we presently face are in the future, and I think they are, then let us prepare to thank God. It will be His way of doing a great work in the lives of people.

It will be His way of inviting people to repent of greed. Greed is just another word for covetousness, which God has warned against in the Tenth Commandment.

Economic hardship will be God’s way of inviting people to understand the principles of Biblical stewardship and avoid undue indebtedness. To understand and employ these principles is to avoid making a disaster of one’s life.

Economic hardship may well be God’s way of…
bringing people back to faith.

Loving Someone to Christ

I recently read an article entitled “Downward Mobility in an Upscale World” by Shane Claiborne. Shane is founder of The Simple Way – a faith community in Philadelphia that ministers to inner city persons. We might call it “rescue mission” ministry, except that “rescue” is what all ministry is about – rescuing people from sin and its awful effects, whether it be those circumstances that force people onto the street, into the ghetto, or propels them into an affluent lifestyle that is indifferent to the legitimate needs of others.

Shane Claiborne and those who share his passion to make the Kingdom of God known by taking it to the streets of the inner city are some of the most committed Christians in the world.

I began to think. Perhaps you don’t possess a passion for the inner city, or for cross cultural (foreign) ministry. But somewhere in every Christian’s spirit there should be a passion for Christ and His Kingdom and a passion for others. The others may be family, friends, or even the neighbors on your street. If there is no passion for anyone you know, love or with whom you work or play to encounter Christ, then something is wrong. You are not a committed Christian. Shouldn’t we all be committed Christians? Is there really another kind?

As a college student I was challenged by a particular speaker at a student assembly. This man had taken Bibles into the European nations at that time under Communist rule as well as the Soviet Union. He asked the student body to pray that God would dismantle the Iron Curtain and make possible the free distribution of Bibles and freedom to preach the Gospel in that part of the world. Specifically, he asked that we pray freedom of religion become a reality in the Soviet Union. I prayed this way for twenty years – until 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell, Communism was toppled across Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union established freedom of religion. I was amazed in 1997 when I was privileged to travel to Ukraine and minister to Ukrainian and Russian pastors, sharing with them the goodness and reality of Jesus Christ. My passion for this part of the world, made very real through prayer over twenty years, is still strong.

My passion for our own nation and my community is stronger than ever.

Shane Claiborne writes, “When we get to heaven and are separated into sheep and goats (Matt.25), I don’t believe Jesus is going to say, ‘When I was hungry, you gave a check to the United Way and they fed me’ or ‘when I was naked, you donated to the Salvation Army and they clothed me.’ Jesus is not seeking distant acts of charity. He is seeking concrete actions: ‘You fed me…you visited me…you welcomed me in…you clothed me…”

Jesus is not seeking distant acts of charity. He is seeking concrete actions.

It is time for Christians to move beyond talk and engage in prayer for those in spiritual and material need. This will kindle passion for them. Then, with the passionate love of Christ providing the motivation, we can speak and minister to them – directly and effectively.

This is what we mean when we talk about…

Loving someone to Christ.

Bind Yourself to Them

There is probably nothing that a pastor enjoys more than sharing the grace of God. To tell hurting people that they can be forgiven and to see them respond to this message is extremely meaningful. To tell others of God’s great compassion and love and see them light up with hope is very satisfying.

But the good news does not end with that content. It begins there. The good news is much more expansive than receiving God’s forgiveness and love. It expands into the area of a person’s attitude, character, morals and family life. The good news received personally challenges a person to extend the realm of Christ. This is done by sharing verbally what Christ has done personally for the person, a personal testimony. The realm of Christ is then extended through actions – that is, application of the good news. Displaying God’s love, compassion and forgiveness in daily life creates a powerful witness to others.

When such actions are put on display in the midst of serious opposition, such actions become all the more remarkable. When a follower of Christ continues displaying God’s love, compassion and forgiveness in the face of persecution, the realm of Christ is genuinely glorified.

All of the above is mentioned to encourage you to attend a conference at The Chapel in Marlboro. Open to the entire public and at no cost the Ohio-Western Pennsylvania Regional Conference for Voice of the Martyrs is to be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010. Events begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 5:00 p.m., with a lunch break from Noon – 1:30 p.m. Speakers include Gracia Burnham, Steven Khoury, Gatenah Getanah, Brad Konneman, Robert Brock and Mujahid El Masih.

Let me tell you a little about one of the lesser-known speakers: Mujahid El Masih. From Pakistan, in 1997 some Christians were falsely accused of tearing out pages from the Quran. Thousands of Pakistani Muslims were incited to riot against the Christians living in two villages in that area. The villages were burned and the believers tortured and persecuted. Mujahid El Masih was one of the leading Christian pastors in the area. His life was spared – and he doesn’t really know why, except that God showed him mercy. Advised by trusted friends to leave Pakistan, God opened a door for him and his family to come to The United States. Pastor Masih is very studied in Islam as well as Christianity. He presently ministers to all – but especially Muslims, sharing that the real and living God is one of mercy, compassion, forgiveness and love. And that through Jesus Christ this God may be known. His web site is www.fortheloveofmuslims.org.

When James Calvert went out as a Christian missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to dissuade him, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

This conference will inspire and motivate you to understand and intelligently pray for those who genuinely suffer for their faith. Hebrews 13:3 states, “Remember those that are in bonds, as bound with them…”
Think about those who are persecuted for their faithfulness to Christ. Pray for those who are expanding the realm of Christ through their suffering. Learn of their courage and faith.

Bind yourself to them.

Serve Him by Serving Others

“Signs and wonders,” he told me. “You need signs and wonders.”

I knew what he meant: miracles of physical healing that are well-publicized. What I could not seem to convey to him is that signs and wonders are all around us – just not the type he was seeking. Many of the signs and wonders of our time are not exciting, but frightening. Rather than welcoming them, we find them disturbing. You want some signs and wonders? Try these: national economies in turmoil, with the European continent on edge; wars in the Middle East and the threat of a nuclear armed Iran and North Korea; garbage and waste from large cities being transported and dumped into landfills or the ocean; families strained to make ends meet and institutions to help the poor struggling to survive; betrayal of spouses and children proliferating through adultery and divorce, creating a class of people who lack the security provided by a stable family and home environment. There is more, but certainly you catch the drift. Personal difficulties have reproduced exponentially, becoming social predicaments that affect us all.

But since these signs are not immediate, some dismiss them as merely “problems”. Problems they are, to be sure – but rather significant (“signs”) and overwhelming (“wonders”). Signs and wonders were never meant to entertain us. Regardless of the nature, signs and wonders were always intended to call a person to faith in God – and then to an obedience to God. Having gotten our attention by the sign, God then would urge us to continue in a lifestyle of service. For example, these words from Romans 12 are important in this regard: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service…” (Romans 12:1).

Did you catch a few of those words? How about “sacrifice” and “holy” or “acceptable”? Does this verse sound punitive to you, or as though God is depriving you of your personal liberties? If so, you are as wrong as can be. As we move along through life there is something we all encounter: unhappy people. Lots of them. Most if not all of them are persons who thought they knew best what would make them happy – and they pursued those things. But in the end, even having achieved those things, their lives are unfulfilled and unhappy. My question for you: “Don’t you think that the Creator knows what is best for the created ones?” Don’t you understand that God knows better than you what will bring real happiness and fulfillment to you? Of course He does!

Signs and wonders abound – and anyone can see them. What we really need is for the church to adopt its prophetic voice and announce to the world where we are headed if we do not repent. Add to this the message of the Old Testament prophets that God is merciful and will accept and restore us if we turn to Him and perhaps we will see a turning, a revival in the land.

In the meantime, God calls us in these times to faith. During these times of troublesome signs and wonders, He calls His church to obedience. He lies before each of us an opportunity –

to serve Him by serving others.

Our God Speaks!


From the earliest days, followers of Jehovah have maintained that He has spoken. It’s a good thing, too! The creation speaks of a Creator; the human conscience seeks relief from guilt, the mind seeks ultimate answers (what is good, fair, right, wrong – and who ultimately decides?). Further, from where do these concepts of fairness, right and wrong, justice, mercy and goodness originate anyway? These revelations all are evidence that point toward a Supreme Being, God. But still, our understanding of life is deficient unless God speaks in some fashion to reveal Himself and answer the most profound questions of human existence.

One of the great teachings of the Bible is a simple one: God speaks. He really does. When He created the world and all that is in it, following each day, He said, “It is good.” After the creation of mankind, made in His image and the grand conclusion of His creative acts, He said, “It is very good.” From this we learn that there is an expectation that God should speak to us. And He does.

He speaks in many ways, seldom in a bombastic, loud, overbearing way. Most frequently it is through the convicting power of the scriptures.

Both internally and externally the scriptures prove their trustworthiness. The scriptures also carry the imprimatur of divine authority, often quoting God (“thus says the LORD…”). Externally, from archaeology, history and every point of confirmation possible, the Bible stands as true. Its remarkable accuracy establishes its inerrancy – it is without error. Internally, not only does the Bible call the reader to believe its information as factual, it claims for itself to be the written revelation of God to mankind. Consider, for example, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the child of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” When the statement “inspired” or “breathed out by God” is used, it means that God is speaking again – this time through the scriptures.

If we really want to know what God would tell us, we should first consult His written word. Perhaps later, in a specific situation, He will speak in a way directly to our need (usually a prompting within our spirit). But the first stop is always the written word, for it is God’s general statement to the world of mankind. It really tells us what we need to know for the situations of life. How much more do we need than correction when our attitudes are wrong? Or reproving when our actions are offensive? The scriptures teach how to “do right” in any situation and encourages good works.

What a fulfilling life to obey what God has spoken!

The verse I used above reveals what God intends to teach us through the Bible. Our lives are to be lived in such a way that “the image of God” (each person) is to reflect Godly character. After all, an image is just a reflection of reality. If our lives are to be lived profitably, we will read the Bible and apply its teachings to life. We will refer to this book often for guidance, instruction, correction and learning what “good” is and how to implement good into our lives (“good works”).

We will refer to the Bible often because God has spoken and continues to speak through its pages.

Our God speaks!

Beware the Unrealistic Approach

Walid Shoebat is a name to remember. An ex-terrorist, he has a web site where he attempts to educate the world about Islam, his former religion. It is worth a look – you will keep returning as new developments in the Islamic world make you question what is happening. There is a good chance that www.shoebat.com will have the answer.

So it was with interest that I read, “Americans need to understand the level of deception and lies as well as the ends that Muslim clergy like Imam Rauf will go to advance their agenda of advancing Sharia law and Islamic domination in America” (I added the italics) . Imam Rauf is the one who is pushing for a mosque to be built at Ground Zero – a real slap in the face of those who died in the 9/11 attack and the safety personnel who died trying to rescue them.

I read President Obama’s greeting to the Muslim world at the start of Ramadan. I am grateful that the President has sent a greeting since it is a gesture of good will to about 1 billion people. I am not holding my breath however, to see if a Muslim leader sends out greetings to Christians on Christmas or to Jews on Yom Kippur. It will not likely happen. I was troubled by a few phrases in the President’s greeting.

“Muslims provide support to others to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere.” They do? A record of assistance provided by national governments to needy areas of the world shows that Muslim donors have long contributed toward other Muslims in need, almost exclusively. And when aid from these governments has been given to non-Muslim areas of the world, there is almost always an accompanying incentive to convert to Islam. It is, “There is more where that came from if you become Muslim.”

The President applauded Islam by saying, and I am paraphrasing, “Islam has had a role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.” This is almost laughable, except for the Muslim women and girls kept in bondage and non-Muslims tortured and martyred. TIME magazine recently featured a story on Islamic torture of a young woman, using her mutilated photo on its cover. President Obama would do well to speak with both Muslim women and non-Muslims who have escaped from Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and elsewhere. He would soon learn that persecution is active.

In an exaggeration, President Obama shared “Islam has always been part of America” and “American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.” Not until immigration laws changed in the 1960s did Muslims begin coming to America in any noticeable numbers. Not that I mind their coming, but the absence of this religion has been helpful to the building of our republic; its presence has now, quite obviously, created tension. It has also generated pandering by our President to Muslim-majority nations. Christianity has provided a strong cohesion to American society. The American Muslims who have contributed are not those like Imam Rauf, but those who have reshaped their faith to fit a democratic, pluralistic mold – and who have decided that freedom of religion, speech and press are good things, not bad. The unfortunate aspect is that these Muslims, those attempting to adapt to American culture, are frequently considered poor Muslims overseas, in Muslim-majority countries.

While I appreciate the President’s Ramadan greeting and its attempt to create good will with Muslim-majority nations, I think it also serves to dumb down the American public to the danger that an unrealistic approach will bear.

Walid Shoebat has written a book that every American should read: Why We Want to Kill You. This former terrorist will share in the pages of this book what the world is realistically facing in Islam.

Beware the unrealistic approach.

Get Rid of It Now!


I do not have the statistics handy, but I read recently that Mao Tse-Tung has the dishonor of being the worst mass murderer in history, with Joseph Stalin in second spot. Both were Communist leaders, intent on burying the individual freedoms represented by The United States under the thumb of government-run tyranny.
It was shocking then, to read that a bust of Stalin has been erected at The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. That’s right – “National” meaning “taxpayer funded”. This bust is the fourth at the display, joining Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman as opponents to Adolf Hitler. Never mind that the other three were champions of freedom and that Stalin had been an ally of Hitler’s until the German invasion of Russia in June, 1941. And please, American citizens, do not remember that no Soviet forces participated in the D-Day invasion. The Russian army was attacking on the German eastern front, D-Day occurred on the Western front.
Gosh, history can really be inconvenient, can’t it? That is why so much revisionism is now taking place. Like putting a bust of Stalin on display at The National D-Day Memorial – what a great ally! Yeah, right. Does anyone care?
One man who cares is Dr. Lee Edwards. Edwards is Chairman of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. This organization has a web site every American should visit and every school should require its students to explore: www.victimsofcommunism.org. This web site will link to www.globalmuseumoncommunism.org. The museum web site is thoroughly historical and objective, lacking propaganda. It attempts to teach the truth about Communism from Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto to the facts about present day Chinese suppression of liberties in Tibet. Dr. Edwards is leading a campaign to have Stalin’s bust removed from The National D-Day Memorial. Those who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy did so in defense of liberty. Frankly, a bust of Stalin on display at The National D-Day Memorial is an offense to their memory.
The News and Advance of Lynchburg, Virginia reported in its August 2, 2009 issue on the sculptor of the Stalin bust, Richard Pumphrey. Pumphrey, a professor at Lynchburg College, is quoted as saying, “He was just a terrible person, so the challenge is to embody the terror he instilled.” Pumphrey continued, “I was angry every day I worked on him ( the bust of Stalin). Knowing how bad a guy he was, you’ve got to reveal it…you should feel the figures in addition to seeing them. You should sense their nature just by looking at them.”
Dr. Edwards’ web site http://stalinstatue.com is for those who want to see the Stalin bust removed from among the others. At this site you may leave comments and sign a petition. Many of those writing in are refugees or the children of refugees who fled the madness of Communism in Eastern Europe. They know from experience that “he was just a terrible person”, as Richard Pumphrey said. The Director of the D-Day National Memorial, William McIntosh, said that the intent of displaying a Stalin bust is that he was an ally. No mention is made of his earlier alignment with Hitler. Theirs was a treaty between two devils - broken only because Hitler knifed Stalin in the back first. Had the pact never been signed August 24, 1939 it is highly debatable that Hitler would have invaded Poland and launched the Second World War on September 1, 1939. At that particular moment in history, Stalin was the crutch upon which Hitler leaned.
Shame, shame on The National D-Day Memorial. Stalin was no lover of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness (except his own). His bust represents everything America opposes and much that is wrong in the world today.
Perhaps you would like to visit http://stalinstatue.com and join Dr. Edwards’ campaign to have the bust removed from The National D-Day Memorial. It is worth a stop at this web site just to read the comments.
By all means write or call your congressman and tell him, “Get rid of Stalin’s bust at The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia and …
get rid of it now!”

Marriage is Sacred

I heard the news reported on the car radio. I immediately thought of my sister and her family. Residents of California, they had been part of the majority of voters who had supported Proposition 8 – defining legal marriage as between a man and a woman. Now, the news report stated, a federal judge had declared the proposition to be unconstitutional (August 4, 2010). This ruling opens the path to marriage between homosexual partners.

Marriage is the central institution of any civilization. So, what is the nature of marriage? Even primitive societies recognize marriage. Centuries of moral understanding and social mores regarding the institution of marriage have always understood it as between members of the opposite gender. Can this accumulation of knowledge from previous generations spread over every civilization be wrong? The answer, of course, is no.

I am inclined to think that the centuries of moral understanding and social mores that declare marriage to be between a man and a woman will prove to be wise, correct and beneficial to society. This most recent ruling will prove to be foolish and detrimental.

Anyway, the definition of marriage has already been decided by the Highest Court of the Universe. Marriage is not for one mortal to decide. God Almighty has instituted marriage and He has established it as between a man (Adam) and a woman (Eve). Homosexual marriage is not normal, regardless of what a federal judge rules. This appears to be the actual intent of the ruling as the judge stated that Proposition 8 was “a desire to advance the belief that opposite-sex couples are morally superior to same-sex couples.” Everyone knows that an opposite sex couple may be obscenely immoral; but what has that to do with the nature of marriage? The judge shared his opinion on this by stating, “Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of equals.” This is what he considers the nature of marriage then: a union of equals without regard to gender.

“…marriage under law…” To what law is he making reference? Proposition 8 was an attempt by the electorate to establish a definitive law. Proposition 8 “violates equal protection under the law”, according to Judge Vaughn R. Walker. The equal protection clause is the law in reference. Really? This is an incredible ruling. The equal protection clause is the rationale behind this odd ruling? It is a ruling that is contrary to what every society, every where, in every period of time, has considered normal.

How refreshing to return to the scripture. The first miracle performed by Jesus in His public ministry was at a wedding. Christ honored the wedding with His presence. He later defined marriage by saying, “At the beginning God created man and woman, and a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one - no longer two, but one!” (Matthew 19:5-6 NLT).

Jesus here affirms three principles of marriage. First, it is between man and woman. Secondly, it is intended to be permanent. Thirdly, it is sacred. That is, defined and instituted by God. If sacred, then it is not to be messed with. The consequences of redefining marriage away from God’s design will be disappointing to those who engage in same-sex marriage. It will create chaos for society at large. God’s moral law will withstand all who attempt to undermine it. You don’t break God’s law – it breaks you.

Remember this when the topic arises. Mankind has always defined marriage as between a man and a woman. God instituted marriage. And…

Marriage is sacred.

Christ in You


Ever been to Murfreesboro, Tennessee?
Murfreesboro is a delightful town, not too far from Nashville. I visited there a couple of times in the late 1960’s while a college student. I remember it as rustic and yet bustling with energy. I have been told that it has changed a lot since the 60’s, acquiring businesses and many new residents. The population is now 100,000 or so. It is home to many effective churches and a few years ago acquired the presence of the newspaper The Sword of the Lord, dedicated to consecrated Christian living.

Now Murfreesboro is about to acquire something else: an Islamic Community Center.

The proposed center, funded I suspect by the Saudi government, is impressive – 52,000 square feet. It will feature a mosque, educational classrooms, a soccer field, tennis court, gymnasium and swimming pool. For good measure, a cemetery also – no good Muslim wants to be buried alongside Christians. The director, an Imam, is Egyptian educated.

Let’s be frank about the selection of Murfreesboro for the placement of this Islamic Community Center. Murfreesboro represents the heart of Christian local church evangelistic efforts in America. Much of the local church evangelism that is done in the United States is a result of the Christian publishing done in Murfreesboro. Some have referred to Murfreesboro as “the buckle on the Bible belt.” I can say, “That is an apt description”. The Islamic presence will attempt to make the Christian community of Murfreesboro look intolerant. If it succeeds, the media will have a story that will appear internationally. As we all know, the major transgression any American can make in this day and age is to appear intolerant. In Saudia Arabia and other Islamic countries, intolerance of other faiths is a cultural norm. I wonder what will happen if this religion gains the upper hand in America? You and I both know the answer to that question. Jihad will spare very few. This is not as if the Baptists or Presbyterians want to construct a new church here.

In light of Islam’s intolerance against other religions, it is no surprise that some of the more enlightened residents of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County have issued warnings. Lou Ann Zelenik, the Republican candidate for Congress, calls the proposed center “an Islamic training center.” If you don’t understand this phrase, read “a place where terrorism will be advocated.” She is probably correct. A weekly paper called The Reader has joined the controversy by publishing articles about the harshness of Sharia law (“cut off his hand if he steals” – this will effectively stop his stealing with the hand, but how about giving him a chance to repent and reform first?). Many residents of Rutherford County, Tennessee recently spoke against the project at a public hearing. As I write, I am unaware that the county commissioners have made a decision on permitting or denying the project to advance.

This information leads me to wonder, what if an Islamic Community Center moved in next door to me, in my neighborhood. How would I react? After the initial surprise, I would hope that I could approach these new neighbors as a Christian witness.

I would want to love these persons with the love of Christ. I would want to befriend them. I would try to keep in mind that these are people, too. Their hearts yearn for truth – the truth that only Jesus and the Bible give. Then, having befriended them, I would hope to inform them that Jesus died for their sins. I would want them to see the change He brings in a life by seeing it in me.

I would want to remember that the nation Israel faced persons who did not share their faith. But those non-Hebrew people witnessed the presence of God in Israel’s national midst. Consequently, they wanted to learn about Israel’s God. At Jericho, Rahab hid the Hebrew spies because she had “heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt” (Joshua 2:10).

I would want them to see the reality of Christ in me and…

Christ in you.

He is Lord

Liar, Lunatic, Lord – or Legend. Which was Jesus?

I was reading a lecture recently. It was written by an agnostic, and was a reply to the late C.S. Lewis’ statement about Jesus: He was a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. These were the three choices Lewis set forth In Mere Christianity. “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God…”

The essayist proposed that there is a fourth alternative. Jesus is a legend. That is, the followers of Jesus have made him more than he really is and the Gospel stories are a mixture of truth and falsehood. The essayist said this was not a religious decision, but one based on history.

Apparently first hand sources, like Matthew, Mark and John are insufficient historians. Or does his proposition mean that because there was no editorial board piecing together, say, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Gospels are not reliable history?

What about these Gospel accounts? Luke states that his document on Christ is based on historical research, including interviews of persons “who were eyewitnesses” (1:1-4). Should Luke’s testimony be rejected?

No, not at all. On the contrary, every test to which Luke’s Gospel is put demonstrates an amazing historical accuracy. This Gospel has especially been scrutinized for two reasons. First, Luke was not present to observe the life of Jesus, but became a follower after Jesus’ departure from earth. Secondly, his claim to have done significant research is either a boast or a statement of fact. Skeptics would love to prove that this is a boast; all they have done is proved that Luke is a credible historian.

But this is true of the entire Bible, really. It stands the test of scrutiny, far beyond any other book of religious writings. There are clear reasons to accept the accuracy and authority of the Bible. Anyone who has studied the fulfilled prophecies knows there are many, and their fulfillment has been precise. Especially interesting are the prophecies that regard the first coming of Christ (He will come again, and this is prophesied also). Only God could have brought about the fulfillment of so many prophecies.

Jesus acknowledged the authority of scripture. He frequently quoted scriptures, and used the Old Testament as a way of calling attention to Himself as the promised Messiah. This was habitual in the life and teachings of Jesus.

Of all the world’s great books, the Bible alone provides a completely rational explanation of the universal existence of severe problems (sin and evil), feelings of guilt, longing for hope, reality of shame, presence of religion and longing for God.

Is Jesus Christ just a legend? Not if the Bible is true. And, the Bible is true! The Bible passes every test that can be applied in order to evaluate its divine origin and authority.

Jesus is not a legend. The countless lives His power has changed realize He is neither a liar nor a lunatic.

He is Lord.

Let Jesus Give You Joy

What is it that people want most? What is the basic human need; something that strikes each of us?

Almost everyone will acknowledge that, in his or her deepest recesses – the soul – there is a yearning for more. “The yearning” is deeply felt and understood. The answers to life that are offered by others can confuse and make one desperate. To compound matters, common observation would lead one to conclude that others are just as unfulfilled. This craving for meaning, significance, purpose, security and serenity consumes us.

Centuries ago it consumed a Roman citizen by the name of Aurelius Augustine. Born in present day Algeria, Aurelius Augustine was a brilliant lad. His father was a wealthy man who provided a very comfortable home with all the amenities of life. He was sent away for superior schooling and at a young age, fifteen as I recall, read Cicero’s philosophy. From this time he acquired a love for the subject of philosophy. Despite being gifted intellectually and offered the finest schooling, “the yearning” began to consume Augustine. During his teen years, he turned to lewd behavior. This continued for several years. He fathered a son out of wedlock, whom he raised. Never quitting on his education, he traveled from Africa to Italy in order to learn from the world’s best teachers.

But “the yearning” never went away. Something was wrong. He was continually restless. The comfortable lifestyle, the sexual conquests and the educational attainments could not satisfy his soul. Later however, in Milan, Italy he was to find the answer to “the yearning.” He wrote about it later, in a book called The Confessions. “The heart of man knows no rest until it finds its rest in Thee, O God.”

What Augustine sought is the same for us all. It is not a feeling. C.S. Lewis described his quest as a seeking for “joy.” He maintained that this joy is not just a general sort of happiness, nor pleasant thoughts, nor a feeling. In the book wherein he describes his spiritual journey, Surprised by Joy, Lewis calls this joy “an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.” He refers again, in his work The Pilgrim’s Regress, to the soul’s “Desire.” He came to conclude, “And if nature makes nothing in vain, the One who can sit in this chair (Desire) must exist.” The “Desire” is what Lewis called it. It is what Augustine called “no rest.” It is what I call “the yearning.”

And it is the experience of us all.

They found the answer. Joy replaces Desire; peace replaces restlessness when the One who exists is admitted into life. Jesus said, “My joy may be yours, and it enables you to enjoy life to the fullest” (John 15:11, loosely paraphrased).

Let Jesus give you Joy.

Consider a Christian School for Your Child


I was observing school children. It was the last day of school and a very happy, wholesome group of children were bounding through the hallways of the church, anticipating their summer vacation.

You may ask, “Why were they at the church?” The answer is, “Because we have decided that Christian schooling is an important alternative to public schooling for many families.”

American education worked superbly when a Christian consensus maintained a strong morality and sense of God’s presence in the schools. That consensus no longer is maintained in society or in the schools. Does that mean things have changed?

I have read that in the late 1940s, many if not most public school teachers began the day by reading a Bible verse, either saying a prayer or reciting the Lord’s Prayer, and giving the Pledge of Allegiance. The Christian consensus was the common fabric holding society together. The public school teachers of that time listed the worst problems they faced as gum chewing, running in the hall, talking, making noise, getting out of line, violating the dress code and littering.

Now that the Christian consensus has been abandoned by many in society and is lacking in the public schools, there is a whole set of new problems. Today’s problems are: drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, suicide, rape and robbery. Perhaps the best book on social decline is written by Bill Bennett, Index of Leading Cultural Indicators (Simon and Schuster, New York, copyright 1994).

I understand that the current problems listed are actually taken from a “Safe School” questionnaire and the comparison of then to now may not be completely fair. But really, who would have thought to take a “Safe School” questionnaire sixty years ago?

Decent and honorable public school teachers whom I know report that many students are in no mood to learn and make it very difficult for them to teach the students who want to learn. Consequently, many dedicated school teachers leave the public schools in frustration, seeking a more satisfying career elsewhere.

Failure to maintain excellent educational standards and mounting moral problems have led to private Christian schooling and home schooling. That is why Good Shepherd School is housed at our church.

I became shockingly aware of the need for private Christian schools when my son, now thirty-four years old, was ushered into an assembly before the senior prom at his local public high school. There he and the other senior boys from the school were provided a prophylactic in preparation for prom night. This was sixteen years ago, mind you. This was done without parental notification of any kind. I considered it then, as I do now, an endorsement of adultery.

Good Shepherd School is now enrolling for the fall, as are other Christian schools.

Consider a Christian school for your child.

Pray for Christopher Hitchens

I read this morning (July 2, 2010) that Christopher Hitchens is ill. He is to undergo chemotherapy for cancer of the esophagus.

Who is Christopher Hitchens? This resident of Washington D.C. is an author and a leading polemicist of what is called “The New Atheism.” Just what is new about atheism I do not know. But I do know that Hitchens’ 2007 book God is Not Great is a best-seller. He has also authored other books that attempt to convince the reader that there is no God.

When coming across such writings, I tend to remember the comment of a Soviet teenager during the days of Communism: “If there is no God, why do they try so hard to convince us?” You would think the burden of proof would have been upon those who believe in God rather than the atheists, would you not?

Besides his writing, Hitchens also engages in debate, frequently debating the existence of God.

He now has begun what will be a battle, much greater than a mere debate. The battle is not against an army, but a disease. It is a malevolent disease and the man needs prayer. “There is no atheist in a foxhole” goes an old saying. I have already prayed for Hitchens this morning, and invite you to do the same. Let’s pray that God uses this disease, this battle, to bring Hitchens to faith.

Twenty-one years ago the Berlin Wall fell and Communism went into retreat. Explanations for this electrifying moment in history vary. But one common thread exists in all the explanations. Communism offers no inspiring faith in which to believe and absolutely no hope for a world to come. Communism is fundamentally a faith, but one based upon belief in no God. Everything else springs from the basic tenet of atheism. It is no wonder then that Communism fails. Atheism has proved to be a miserable failure. Atheism fails politically. It fails philosophically. It fails religiously. It fails because it does not strengthen a person, a society or the world. Atheism makes it impossible to understand why life is important - why life has value or what meaning life possesses.

I do concede that the many different religions in the world can be confusing. I know it and so does Hitchens, since he makes the argument. But think for a moment. Why is there religion of any kind? People are compelled to acknowledge a Higher Power, God. This is a bona fide testament to His existence. People universally are inherently religious. The confusion of different religions creates a demand that God speak, that He reveal Himself to us, precisely so we may not remain confused. This is where Christianity’s thrust is found – “God, who at many times and in many ways has spoken to our ancestors through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us through His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). The opening verses of the Biblical book of Hebrews establish what is to follow: how it is that God has spoken and revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. Christianity proclaims that God has spoken. There is a reason the Bible is called “the Word” – it reveals the truth about the one living God. It is how He has spoken. The Bible tells of His existence, His nature and His acts. It reveals His will for every person and instructs as to how we may know God. By knowing God we can satisfy the craving of our spirit in this life and know with certainty that there is a better life to come.

This all takes me back to where I began. Christopher Hitchens, one of the prominent spokesmen for atheism today, has cancer. He is in a battle for his life. There is also a battle going on for his soul. Pray that God speaks to Hitchens through this battle.

Pray for Christopher Hitchens.

Fathers are Important

How important are fathers anyway?

Perhaps this question crossed your mind as you noticed “Father’s Day” on the calendar. Since 1987 there have been two dozen scholarly studies published, covering over 22,000 separate sets of data concerning the role of fathers. All the research has the same conclusion - active fathers in the family are essential in preventing behavioral problems with boys and psychological problems in girls. An active, nurturing father is crucial to the stability of the family. His presence in the home strengthens society and positively influences the next generation.

It seems to me that a reasonable result of such research would be public policies and media pieces strengthening the traditional family. Dr. Anna Sardaki, from Uppsala University Department of Women’s and Children’s Health (Sweden) has said, “We hope that this review will add to the body of evidence that shows that enlightened father-friendly policies can make a major contribution to society in the long run by producing well-adjusted children and reducing major problems like crime and antisocial behavior” (quoted from www.LifeSiteNews.com).

But where the media is on this research? Why is it that I keep reading and hearing about “non-traditional” families (read: homosexual partners)? Yes, the media loves reporting on the novel and faddish. Perhaps the traditional family is not news anymore, but with the stress placed on families today (economic, drugs, peer pressure), I would think this research would be news.

Reporting in the February issue of Acta Paediatrica, Swedish researchers showed that regular positive contact with a father reduces criminal behavior among children and enhances skills like learning, reasoning and language development. Need a translation of all this academic talk? What this means is that when a father is around, children learn right behavior, learn to obey laws and do better at school and in life. There is simply no skirting the findings: having both a father and mother in the home and active in the children’s upbringing results in positive benefits. The child is more intelligent, behaves better and performs better at tasks. Further, from what I have both observed and from what I read in the Bible, a child brought to church by both parents will have a better self-image and a much stronger spirituality.

In the United States, more than one million children are separated from a parent through divorce. This is an enormous tragedy. In 2006, over one and one-half million children were born to an unmarried woman in the United States. Some of these women will marry the father of the child. But many of these children will be raised in a one-parent home – most without a father. The United States leads the world in the percentage of mother-only families.

Want to do missionary work this summer? Don’t bother going overseas – go through your neighborhood visiting in the homes of single parents. Love the kids to Christ. Bring them to a church Vacation Bible School. Do a backyard club with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Direct them to a strong Bible teaching church. Better yet, if their parent will not take them to church, invite them to attend with you. The children of The United States are a mission field.

Call the Bible only an ancient book if you like, but it certainly possesses wisdom for our time. Marriage viewed as a sacred institution and intended “till death do us part” is not quaint. It is wise and practical. Marriage defined as between a man and a woman is not “homophobic”, but serves as a foundation for family. And family is a unit where a man is married to a woman. Along with their children they represent the definition of “family” - a group of related persons bound together by the marriage bond, birth, blood or adoption.

What makes a father important is not biological function for perpetuating the race. A father is important for the commitment he displays to marriage, for the security that results in the lives of the family members; for the instruction he provides the young and the love he gives. Best of all is when he serves his Maker, and models Christ.

Fathers are important.

Trust God and the Truth He Has Revealed

I recently finished the new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, titled Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and authored by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, copyright 2010).

Biographies are interesting to me. If written honestly, a biography will present a person’s positive traits and his or her flaws. In reading this exhaustive and authoritative biography, one learns that Bonhoeffer possessed outstanding traits in abundance and very few flaws of character. He is best remembered for his heroic public outcry and stand against the Third Reich in Germany.

Part of the Nazi strategy for Germany was to silence the churches. It was thought this could best be accomplished by infiltrating and then compromising the church – which was done successfully. The church was even given a new name: the Reich Church. Some voices spoke out against this infiltration – and many of these church leaders were punished. No voice spoke louder than that of Bonhoeffer, a professor at that time with the University of Berlin. With overseas friends, he was able to communicate clearly the Nazi threat to Europe and the world. Along with other pastors, Bonhoeffer and other pastors became known as “the young reformers.” Bonhoeffer was their leader.

Bonhoeffer and those of like mind formed a group called The Confessing Church. The Confessing Church stood in opposition to the Reich Church and made public outcries against the persecution of Jewish persons. Bonhoeffer and The Confessing Church used the metaphor of a bicycle wheel: “defend the victims who have fallen under the wheel” of persecution. “Cast yourself into the spokes of the wheel itself” to halt the government’s murderous progress. Many of those “young reformers” were put into concentration camps. The others were harassed.

What really enlightens the student is the connection Bonhoeffer rightly made between the health of the church and the national interest. He understood that a healthy church, discerning clearly what is right from what is wrong, and basing this understanding on the Bible’s teaching, is vital to having a healthy country.

For his outspokenness against Nazi policies, the war and the Fuehrer; for aiding Jewish people in hope of seeing them survive; in discovery of his complicity in a plot to remove Hitler, Bonhoeffer was arrested in 1943. Eventually he was executed for his role in the conspiracy against Hitler in 1945, about three weeks before the end of the war.

There will always be opposition to God’s truth. Occasionally the opposition will be strong. People who faithfully serve the risen Christ may be ridiculed. Some will be persecuted. A few will die the death of a martyr, like Bonhoeffer.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life is a not-too-distant example of steadfastness in the face of danger, of pursuing faithfulness at all costs. While he may have lost his life in this temporary realm, he gained life abundantly in the next world and in another place, the Heaven of God. He joined an exclusive group, the martyrs – of whom God has said they are especially “blessed.”

Bonhoeffer’s life teaches many lessons. Perhaps two that should be especially remembered are, first, faithfulness is remembered; secondly, righteousness does prevail.

Be faithful. Practice the right. Trust God and the truth He has revealed.

Be a Friend to Israel

I read recently that “Jewish support for the President (Obama) is plummeting.”

This is interesting, and entirely predictable considering that the current administration has shown a great deal of opposition to Israel’s interests in the Middle East.

Is Israel important? In my opinion, the answer is “Yes.”

I have in my office a portrait of Harry S. Truman, former President of the United States. The portrait hangs for a couple of reasons, but first and foremost is this: The United States was the first country to recognize the independent state of Israel in 1948 and Truman was the President who made it possible. Since that day, Israel has been a solid ally and partner with The United States in opposing Communist tyranny around the world. Today it stands as an opponent of Islamic extremism – and has plenty of experience in battling this foe. Our nation can learn from Israel.

What policies have our current administration pursued that has so disappointed the Jewish population? For starters, President Obama has stated his desire to see Jerusalem divided (a city united under Jewish rule since the 1967 War). He has advocated having Israel give back to the Palestinians the strategically located West Bank – the same Palestinians who refuse to discuss peace negotiations with Israel. Iran proceeds to develop nuclear power, and presumably weapons, with the stated intention of blowing Israel off the map and barely a word is heard about this very real and imminent threat. President Obama also has discouraged Israel from launching a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear sites. Most chilling, however, is that the Obama administration has now begun trying to force Israel to disclose and then dismantle its defensive nuclear weapons, which Israel denies possessing. (Hint-hint: the President would not be urging the dismantling of non-existing weapons).

This has demoralized the American-Jewish population. On April 15, Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, sent a letter to President Obama. In this letter, criticism was leveled against the present American administration for beginning to turn against Israel. “Why does the thrust of this Administration’s Middle East rhetoric seem to blame Israel for the lack of movement on peace talks? After all, it is the Palestinians, not Israel, who refuse to negotiate.”

Apparently, having read the polls and letter, and having gotten an earful from New York Senator Charles Schumer, the President has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. This “charm offensive” as it is called by political watchers, is intended to repair some of the damage caused in the American-Israeli relationship.

This type of news is disturbing to any student of the Bible. One of the most dramatic aspects of the Bible, compared to other religious volumes, is the large amount of prophecy contained in its pages. Some of this prophecy was fulfilled in earlier days – centuries after being first recorded – and its fulfillment is remarkable. The virgin birth of Christ, for example, was prophesied by Isaiah over 700 years before fulfillment. Or Israel as a nation being dispersed among many nations, and then restored.

What does the Bible say about Israel? Plenty! There is a future for Israel. Basic to our understanding of prophecy regarding the nation Israel is this: God told Abram, the father of the Jewish nation, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you” (Genesis 12:3). The principle is clear. History has demonstrated repeatedly its truth. The friends of Israel will prosper. The enemies of Israel will suffer.

Our nation needs to …
be a friend to Israel.

Enforce It or Change It

I read where the Mayor of Columbus, Ohio – Michael Coleman – has issued an order forbidding any city employees from traveling to Arizona on business.

The reason? He doesn’t like the new law passed in Arizona to protect itself from illegal immigrants. Just why the Mayor of Columbus, Ohio has any good reason to stick his nose into this matter is puzzling. Also puzzling was the headline statement that appeared on MSNBC. As anchor Contessa Brewer discussed Arizona’s new law, the headline statement read, “Law Makes It a Crime to Be Illegal Immigrant”. What part of the word “Illegal” do the Mayor and MSNBC not understand?

Much of this debate has been framed around peripheral issues: the strain on social services, the loss of entry-level jobs to non-Americans vs. the taking of jobs that Americans wont do, the supply of cheap labor (often referred to as “keeping prices low”).

Another problem – let’s face it – is the Democratic Party of politicians sees these immigrants as a new source of votes. I suspect that Mayor Coleman, in planning his political future, is ingratiating himself to the party leadership. I haven’t heard Hizzoner providing any statement whatever regarding the increase of border-related violence and the need to stop it. Give Arizona credit – the legislature and Governor are attempting to stop the violence.

I want to stick my head out and say, “Romans 13:1.” This verse from the Bible states “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Laws are passed for the public good – to protect the larger peace-loving citizenry from deception, predators and those who would inflict bodily or personal harm. Arizona passed this law to protect its larger peace-loving citizenry. Laws can be repealed or they can be changed. Until the law is changed, it should be respected and obeyed. If a worker is “undocumented”, then he or she is here illegally. Enforce the law – it is the will of God. Arizona has brought this issue front and center. This Administration and Congress can no longer ignore laws they don’t want to enforce.

Most Americans do not know that the Mexican government educates its citizens on successful illegal immigration to the United States. The Mexican government’s official publication Guide for the Mexican Migrant is a “how to” booklet written in comic book format. Making it, of course, easily read and comprehended. It provides counsel such as: “Crossing the river can be very risky, especially if you cross alone and at night. Thick clothing increases your weight when wet and makes it hard to swim or float” (this booklet is translated into English at http://www.dallas.org/node/108).

In February 2006 the Charlotte News and Observer reported, “In North Carolina, not a single business has been fined for hiring illegal immigrants since 1999.” Not only Arizona, but other states and localities – including Mayor Coleman and Columbus - need to enforce the law. Lack of enforcement is the heart of the problem – and God has graciously warned us against such apathy.

The scripture speaks clearly. The law exists to protect people. God stands behind the law. This country is not despotic. There is a system to change laws deemed unjust.

Enforce it or change it.

Living the Values of the Bible

Is there really a culture war occurring in America?

I am uncertain about the appropriateness of the word “war”, but otherwise, yes, there is a very real cultural divide. A lot of the divide relates to money and education or liberal versus conservative. But the fundamental basis for the divide is worldview. It is between those who believe in the existence of a transcendent-personal God and the truth of the Bible and those who do not. This basic difference has repercussions, affecting values, work ethic and family structure. In short, those who believe in the values revealed in the Bible tend to develop a stronger moral and economic society (culture) than those who reject the Bible.

The United States of America is, as far as I can determine, the first nation in history to have established itself on the Judeo-Christian ethic. Of course, the cultural divide is between those who appreciate this unique heritage and those who do not. The secular government combined with the underpinning religious values has made America – and those countries that have copied her – so powerful. The culture war is between those who wish to retain this heritage and those who wish to redefine America.

One of the arguments against America’s cultural heritage is that one culture is just as good as another, otherwise known as cultural relativism. So, the argument goes, let’s just become multi-cultural, with all the implications. As one who has traveled overseas and visited other cultures, I can tell you this idea is at best naïve and at worst inane.

Come on now, do you honestly believe one culture is as good as the next in the real world? Daniel Etounga-Manguelle, a leader in Cameroon, has said sarcastically, “We Africans really enjoy living in shantytowns where there isn’t enough food, health care, or education for our children. Furthermore, our corrupt chieftaincy political systems are really marvelous and have permitted countries like Mobutu’s Zaire to earn us international prestige and respect. Moreover, surely it would be terribly boring if free, democratic elections were organized all over Africa. Were that to happen, we would no longer be real Africans, and by losing our identity – and our authoritarianism, our bloody civil wars, our illiteracy, our forty-five-year life expectancy – we would be letting down not only ourselves but also those Western anthropologists who study us so sympathetically…” (quote cited in Kairos Journal).

The values revealed in the scripture make a very real difference in the culture. In the early 1960’s, Ghana and South Korea were on equal economic footing. It was in the mid-sixties that an evangelical movement began sweeping through South Korea. Not only did the churches witness their numbers increase dramatically, but Biblical values and morals began affecting the society. People showed up for work on time. They worked diligently and hard. They did not use the office time to flirt or browse the internet. By the 1990’s South Korea had become an economic powerhouse - having the world’s 14th largest economy, even though the country itself was rather small. Ghana had an economy only 1/15th that of South Korea. And in only thirty years!

Can a Biblical value system make that much difference? According to Harvard professor Samuel Huntington, the answer is “Yes.” What made the difference between South Korea and Ghana? Huntington writes, “South Koreans valued thrift, investment, hard work, education, organization and discipline. Ghanaians had different values. In short, cultures count” (Harrison and Huntington, Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress, Basic Books, New York, copyright 2000, quote taken from the foreward, page xiii).

Professor Lawrence Harrison, who coauthored the above cited book, has a list of values that elevate a culture. Nepotism, elitism, tribalism, cronyism and tyranny are not the values that work. What does work is: futuristic planning, dignifying work, frugality, emphasizing education, merit based advancement, community spirit, a rigorous ethical code, impersonal justice and fair play, dispersed authority and freedom for dissent.

Religion plays a big part in the culture. Religion addresses issues like justice, fair play, education, compassion, dignity of the individual and his or her work, the importance of family and fidelity in marriage, and providing honest work for fair compensation. It should come as no surprise that the cultures embracing Biblical values are the cultures where prosperity, liberty, education and optimism exist. The culture is most enhanced when Biblical virtues are infusing it, especially evangelical Christianity with its retention and teaching of the Protestant work ethic. South Korea is 50% Christian and the percentage is increasing. In Ghana, Muslims and animists outnumber Christians three to one. The moral and economic disparity is appallingly real. Values do make a difference –culturally and personally.

The culture war is not fought best with debates or arguments. It is best fought by…

living the values of the Bible.

The Highest Aspirations of the Human Soul

Three years ago my wife and I traveled to Georgia on a brief four-day vacation. A year before our trip I had read a biography of President Franklin Roosevelt. I had wanted to visit Warm Springs, where the President’s winter home, “The Little White House”, is located. We got to Warm Springs and spent the next day visiting the President’s home, now part of the National Park System, and a state park nearby named for him. We also stopped at the church where he worshipped while in Warm Springs. We then came home.

I was thinking about Roosevelt the other day, when I heard that National Day of Prayer was declared unconstitutional (a decision certain to be challenged). FDR was the longest-serving President, having won four terms. He faced two very great crises: the Great Depression and The Second World War. I had remembered the church he attended and I wondered, “Had his faith been a factor in leading the country through those tumultuous years? What would he think about the National Day of Prayer being declared unconstitutional by a federal judge?”

We will never know for certain what FDR would have thought of the spiritually bereft society that secularists are advancing in America. But there is one act he performed that provides insight.

In March 1941, the President was asked to pen remarks. Not just any remarks. These remarks were to serve as an Introduction to a pocket-sized book. These books were to be published in great numbers and distributed to the troops. Each soldier would receive a copy.

Roosevelt thought about what to write. Although the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was nine months away, intelligence reports had already come to him indicating that the Japanese were preparing to attack the United States. Just where the attack would occur and when was a mystery and would remain one right up to December 7. Roosevelt was convinced by this time that the United States would eventually enter a state of war with the Axis powers. The President had come to loathe Hitler and had just begun to provide, through Lend-Lease, much needed war material to Great Britain and his friend, Churchill. He knew this was tantamount to declaring war on Germany. Knowing fully well that the soldiers receiving this little book would in all likelihood be facing combat, he wanted the words to have effect.

Before sharing the words selected by the President, it may interest you to know what the full title of the book to be distributed was: The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Prepared for Use of Protestant Personnel of the Army of the United States. The title page further stated “Published under the direction of the Chief of Chaplains (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1942).

President Roosevelt’s Introduction
The White House
Washington
March 6, 1941

To the Members of the Army:
As Commander-in-Chief I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul.

Very sincerely yours,
Franklin D. Roosevelt

In the past few years, using “Separation of Church and State” as a pretense, a radical secularism emanating from various sources has aggressively attempted to remove references to the Christian faith from our national life. Franklin Roosevelt’s words remind us that Christian faith, resting upon the scripture, is where strength of personal and national character is to be discovered.

It is from the scripture that the person and the nation attains…
the highest aspirations of the human soul.

A Good Shepherd


“I AM the Good Shepherd,” said Jesus.

I was reading this passage from John’s Gospel, Chapter 10 recently, when an online magazine to which I subscribe arrived. The magazine, Kairos Journal, had an article entitled, “Fathers are Shepherds.” I use some (okay, a lot) of this material to pass on what may be helpful information for you. “Kairos” by the way, is a Greek word for “the times.” In other words, it is a magazine with articles written for our times – Christian commentary on current events.

Ephesians 6:4 states, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

There are two statements of wisdom contained in this verse. The first is negative, the second is positive. The first is, “do not provoke your children to anger.” Children may be small and immature, but they are made in the image of God. They possess this image from conception. A father should not bully, mock or dismiss a young child. Such behavior certainly does provoke a child to anger. It also dishonors God, who has given this child life. The positive statement is, “bring them up in the discipline (or nurture, loving concern) and instruction of the Lord.” The best way to accomplish this daunting task is to teach your children the scripture. Fathers are to be men of the Word, men of scripture. They are constantly to be pointing their children to the Bible. A wise earthly father uses the Lord Jesus Christ as his model. Jesus always pointed people to God the Father and His Word.

I cannot think of any father who does not want to be loved and respected by his children. It is not that the father should want to hear his praises sung by the kids. He should want to hear God’s praises sung.
No father can coerce his child into the Kingdom. But a father can model Christ’s love and spirit by not provoking his child to anger. A father can expose his child to God’s Word. And a father can bring up his child in “the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

In my own experience, there was one thing I did as a Dad that really helped. Our three children were young then, and one day, just thinking it might be a good idea for discussions around the dinner table, I made a copy of the Ten Commandments and displayed it on the refrigerator. The two older children had started school and could read. They began reading these commandments and asking questions. It provided many positive discussions about God, ethics and morality. I recommend this to anyone who is a parent. If it works for you as well as it did for me, you will be well on your way to shepherding your child in the love (discipline) and ways (instruction) of God.

Every Christian father is a shepherd. Let’s try to be …

A good shepherd.

The Way to God


Is Jesus the only way to God?

This is an interesting question that is being bandied about in both academic and religious circles today. It is an important question, and one that begs a clear answer.

Jesus Himself stated that He is “the way” and that “no one can come to the Father (God) except by Me” – John 14:6. The entire purpose of John writing the Gospel that bears his name is stated as, “These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through Him” (20:31). This “life” means reconciliation to the Creator God.

It is common today to hear people say that Jesus is one of many paths to God. This means that people can be reconciled to God from their fallen state on the basis of sincerity. Almost everyone, even an agnostic, knows that something is missing from the human experience. Some seek the quest for “enlightenment”, others for “self-realization.” The Christian term is “reconciled”. All of these terms express the idea of man’s sin – his fallen state. Jesus has come to provide that reconciliation to God, which is to be enlightened and self-realized.

The sinless life of Christ (His accusers tried desperately but unsuccessfully to find an incident in which He had broken the Law), the atoning death and the resurrection all affirm that He is extraordinary. But does that mean He is the only way to God? Yes, I believe it does.

There are various scriptures to support the following credentials of Jesus – too many to include in a short essay. Trust me on this matter. Jesus was born of a virgin. Thus He did not possess a fallen nature. Jesus claimed to be God incarnate, and demonstrated this claim through miracles. Jesus lived an impeccably sinless life. He died an extraordinary death; one He claimed was to establish “the new covenant in My blood”. He arose from the dead, triumphant over the power of sin.

The command of Christ was then that His followers should go into the entire world and proclaim what He has accomplished. This, He assured them (and us) would bring the benefit of eternal life to those who believe. Further, the followers of Jesus (Peter, speaking for the rest) all believed “there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved” – that is, reconciled to God.

Finally, the New Testament is filled with examples of people who were without hope and spiritually blind to the truth of God. Then they heard about and believed upon Jesus as the way to God. Their lives were transformed.

The clear message of Christianity is that Jesus is the Savior. He is the only Savior. If a person wants to be reconciled to God, he or she must put faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is not just a way; He is “the way” to God.

In the Beginning God Created the Heavens and the Earth


The opening phrase of the Bible states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” I thought of that verse recently when a brochure was placed on my desk Thursday. “Creation Fair 2010” the brochure was titled.

I commend the Akron Fossils and Science Center (www.akronfossils.com) for hosting this fair. Designed to offer evidence for intelligent design and creation rather than accidental occurrence of life, the brochure makes the fair look very inviting. .

In the past decade or so there have been serious issues raised by scientists themselves regarding the Darwinian theory of life, usually called “evolution.” The heart of the controversy is that the empirical evidence and the materialist philosophy are at odds with one another. That is, the evidence from science does not support the philosophy that life just happened and that matter is all there is. Or, as Carl Sagan put it, “The cosmos is all there is, ever was, or ever will be.” The evidence points to an Intelligent Designer, a Supreme Engineer, God. The philosophy of current Darwinian theory is that “all living things are the accidental products of a purposeless universe.”

Ironically, on Monday of last week I was visiting at Caesar Creek State Park in Ohio (south of Columbus, off Interstate 71). This state park possesses a treasure trove of fossils – so many that you are welcome to take them home with you, provided each fossil fits in the palm of your hand. I took two. The evidence for a world submerged in water is overwhelming. The only way to explain away a worldwide flood is to say that this portion of Ohio was under water millions or billions of years ago. How the life forms were pressed into rock or sludge and preserved as fossils rather than dying and rotting in water or being eaten by scavengers is not addressed. Of course, a great flood with the water violently moving and eventually vigorously receding provides an excellent explanation. But that might invite God into the study. No longer would it be science. Why not?

It is not considered science due to an underlying philosophy, not due to the evidence.

Just one last thought – and that poses another problem, incidentally. If matter is all that exists, what is mind? What is thinking? Is there such a thing as information? Am I conscious or am I dreaming? Is there reality or are all delusional? What is truth or are there many truths, perhaps no truth? What is reason?
Anyway, there is in evolutionary philosophy an idea called “reductionism”. This is the idea that everything, including everyone’s mind, can be reduced to a simple, material base. From this very simple, single molecule (or particle, or cell – depending on who is speaking), all life has emerged – people, animals, birds, trees, plants. In his best-selling book Darwin’s Black Box, Michael Behe – a molecular biologist – explains that even a basic molecule is irreducibly complex. This very complexity calls for an explanation. The only explanation that fits the evidence is, of course, an Intelligent Designer. Behe permits the reader to know that the interaction of proteins and enzymes, indeed the entire molecular structure, is mind-boggling. His description of the molecular structure for vision is in itself enough to convince an unbiased observer that this can not be reduced to one simple particle. It is simply impossible. Molecular mechanisms are intricately designed.

I think I’ll go to Creation Fair 2010. I am interested in learning more of how…

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Time for Renewal is Now


At one time in our land, churches would hold “renewal meetings”. Some churches referred to them as “revival meetings.” Usually extending over a period of three to five days, most often a guest speaker would present a fresh challenge to those gathered nightly. The regular attendees of the church were implored to bring guests, and all would be encouraged to renew their basic Christian beliefs and commitment to Christ.

It is time for renewal again – individually, corporately as church bodies, and nationally.

I see in the news -March 25, 2010- where Osama bin Laden has again released an audio tape. This one, rather short in length, warns of further attacks against The United States if any of the Guantanamo terrorists are found guilty and executed. There is a little more to it than that, but that is the essence of it.

The last twenty-five years has seen increasing numbers of Islamist attacks against Western countries, and persons of Jewish and Christian faiths. It was convenient at first, due to slack security, to attack individuals and the consulates of nations abroad. Then the attacks moved to suicide bombers at Marine barracks in Beirut and in the open waters of the Persian Gulf. There were several attempts at killing and creating terror that fortuitously were uncovered by the authorities and stopped. Then in 2001, the attack on the World Trade Center brought the desire for conquest from militant Islam into the open. Suddenly the American people understood that these were not separate acts of violence perpetrated by unconnected persons, but a coordinated effort by sophisticated Islamist terrorists bent on destroying the Western culture.

This latest threat should be taken seriously as the terrorists are constantly developing new plans and acquiring new weapons. We now know, for example, that Al-Qaeda terrorists are training in Iran. Presumably with the Iranian military and government’s full knowledge and cooperation.

But in America there seems to be little concern. We take for granted the efforts by our nation and the peace-loving nations of the world to subdue and eliminate this terrorist threat. We assume safety. However, we must not ignore the very real danger posed by these people. These terrorists know that they could never defeat Western soldiers in traditional battle – so they have devised violent guerrilla tactics to deliver death to American people.

They also know that the West has left its Christian moorings and is adrift morally and spiritually. They believe that Americans will eventually succumb to jihad ferocity, saying “Enough!” and raising the crescent moon and star of Islam over Washington, DC. Why shouldn’t they believe this? They understand that America is in a spiritual vacuum. America is in need of renewal.

It is time for us to recall and relive the words spoken by the LORD to Solomon: “If my people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
It is time for each of us bow before the powerful Presence, pray and seek the face of Jesus, our Lord.

This renewed vitality will provide courage in our souls.
This renewed morality will invite healing to our land.
This renewed love will invite our enemies to Christ.

The time for renewal is now.

Avoid This Malignant Influence


Pornography has a malignant influence.

Last week I received information from a counseling center in northeast Ohio, advising that a support group for sexual addiction is now available. In particular, the information mentioned the number of persons who increasingly are ensnared in the trap of pornography. Please don’t misunderstand. I appreciate that the counseling center is willing to tackle this social menace. And I feel compassion for those ensnared. It is the proliferation of pornography and the recklessness of those who produce it that troubles me.

Pornography as a problem has increased with the advent of the internet. But don’t be fooled – this problem, which the Bible calls “fornication” (“pornea” and “graphos” in Greek, from which we get the word “pornography” – fornication writings, literally), has been around a long time. The first instance we have of such prurience mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 9:22-25. Noah, not realizing this change that the flood had brought upon earth (the now reduced time required for fermentation), becomes drunk and is lying naked. His youngest son, Ham, finds great interest in this – probably becoming aroused. Upon learning of Ham’s twisted interest in visual sexual stimulation, Noah announces a curse upon Ham’s youngest child, Canaan. This means that Ham’s sordid attitude, his homo-eroticism, would influence his entire family. Much later, under Joshua’s leadership, the LORD commands the Hebrews to eliminate Canaanite culture. The entire civilization established by Canaan and his descendants was rife with pornographic images, vile orgiastic religion and sexually transmitted disease. The whole culture was influenced and contaminated by what began as Ham’s indulgence in pornography.

I heard Billy Graham say once, “If God doesn’t bring judgment upon America, He will owe an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Mr. Graham was referring to the obsession with sex that characterizes American society. Is it no wonder our enemies refer to this land as “the Great Satan”? No doubt they are shocked by the raw sensuality of our pornographic society.

It is bad enough that individuals are made into imaginary sexual beings through photographic enhancement or that they are viewed as toys, playthings for the viewer. This is exploitation, and it is wrong. Another tragic aspect of all this is the disconnection that pornography makes between sex and marriage. This disconnection is undermining the strongest cord that provides a secure society, the stability of the family. Pornography viewing can lead to sexual fantasizing and then to active engagement of the fantasy. A woman I know who has had multiple adulterous relationships bragged, “I like sex.” Well sure, most people do! But we must learn to exercise this gift from God wisely and discriminately. God’s gift to us of sex needs to be confined to marriage. Otherwise, sexual addiction lurks in one’s future. Pornography does not support the stability of the family. Quite the opposite is true. It promotes the idea of sexual engagement anywhere, anytime and with anyone. Many sex addicts will admit that their problem began with viewing pornography. This addiction and the others that frequently follow contribute to the instability and breakdown of the family. As the family dissolves, so does the nation. Decadence becomes the norm.

But let’s be hopeful. After all, the “good news” is that Jesus is alive and He saves. He can deliver a person from any vice or addiction. Avoid visiting bookstores that sell lurid books and magazines. Procure filtering software for your home computer (check out www.filterreview.com). Replace a bad habit like viewing pornography by taking up an exercise regimen or reading a good book. .

We all need to be reminded occasionally how very powerful God has made the mind. We also need to be engaged in seeing that it is transformed, Romans 12:2. Trust the scripture to do its work in transforming your mind.

Sexual addictions are devouring more people every day. They often begin with pornography.

Avoid this malignant influence.

Under God


I read this past week where the federal appeals court in San Francisco has ruled that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is Constitutional.

I suppose the ruling left some people swearing – and no doubt using God’s name in doing so. Which, if you really stop to think about it, makes you wonder: if there is no God, why use His name at all?

It doesn’t really matter whether it had been ruled constitutional or not, the fact remains that this nation is under God, as are all nations. It is just unfortunate that people do not take time to understand what that means.

Did you ever pause to consider what life would be like if there were no God? That is, if life happened by chance and random, cosmic accident?

Lee Strobel, in writing The Case for the Creator, presents the thoughts of William Provine. Provine is from Cornell University, where he has been on the faculty since 1969. A Ph.D from The University of Chicago, Provine’s area of expertise is in the history of evolution and genetics. I have heard Provine lecture and listened to these very words. Writes Strobel, “If Darwinism is true, then there are five inescapable conclusions:
• There’s no evidence for God
• There’s no life after death
• There’s no absolute foundation for right and wrong
• There’s no ultimate meaning for life
• People don’t really have free will”

Obviously, the five articles of faith for those who choose not to believe in God are diametrically opposed to what those who choose to believe in God embrace.

But in attempting to write with brevity and clarity, allow me to reply.

• The evidence for a God is abundant throughout nature, from the smallest cell to the galaxies – the symmetry and design of our world is unmistakable.
• People, both ancient and modern – and from all cultures, have ascribed to the belief in life after death since the beginning of time. Why would this knowledge be intuitive if not true? There are simply some issues outside the parameters of science, and this is one.
• From childhood people have a sense of fairness, decency, right and wrong. How can even a child cry out “it’s not fair” if there is no God given standard of right and wrong that provides a moral framework for the world?
• The soul of man craves for ultimate meaning and must have it for life to possess any rational basis. Otherwise, there is no such thing as sanity and there is no reason for anything.
• The fatalism of being trapped in making responses based on genetics and environment, means that a person has no more significance than a tree or an animal. Can this be, or does “mind” really count for something?

I am appreciative of the court’s ruling, but in a few days it will be largely forgotten. Long after it is forgotten however, the living God will still rule over the nations. Nations are all...

Under God.

Choose God and His Way

I am looking at two books. The one to my right is the Bible. The one I just laid down and to my left is The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor, had been in the United States, studying at Union Theological Seminary, when Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Though warned against returning and promised asylum in the United States, he returned to Germany anyway. His intuition and keen mind told him that the church was in for persecution, and he wanted to be a force for good and strength in the German church.

Eventually he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. At first, he was permitted his books and papers. Gradually they were taken from him. Then, to ridicule him, all clothes except prison garb was taken from him. He had nothing but the clothes on his back left. One day he was brought before a couple of camp guards. He was ordered to remove his clothes, and stand before them nude. Bereft of his degrees, family, library, work and stripped of every shred of human dignity, Bonhoeffer stood there. Here was a man who had been acclaimed by Karl Barth as “a theological miracle.” He had led a Nazi resistance movement and had counseled the church to remain strong in its opposition to anti-Semitism and Hitler’s war policy. He had now been discovered to have been involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler – an allegation to which he confessed. Standing naked before his accusers, Bonhoeffer said, “You have taken my books, my church, my family and my clothes. You have taken everything from me it is possible for you to take. But there is one thing you can never take. That is my ability to choose how to treat you. And I choose to love you with the love of Christ.” Their choice was to hang him. Bonhoeffer’s choice was to love them.

Animals have instinct. Humans have choice. That is a large portion of what it means to be “made in the image of God.” Freedom of choice is something that we all possess.

We can return hatred with hatred – or with love.
We can return anger with anger – or with kindness.
We can return slander with slander – or with forgiveness.
We can choose to worship things – or choose to worship the one true and only God.

This was Joshua’s point when he gave his final charge to the Hebrews: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Be sure your choices are those to honor the living God and, to the best of your ability, obey His will.

Choose God and His way.

Take These Steps to Conquer Debt

Last week the newspapers and internet news sites all warned about credit card rules changes. New laws passed by Congress last year, intended to protect credit card users, went into effect on February 22.

I believe that when used wisely, credit cards can be a helpful financial tool. I am impressed that far too many people do not understand with each swipe of a credit card, a loan is being taken out. And oh my goodness, what interest rates the borrower is paying for these loans!

Shakespeare, in Hamlet, gives the classic advice of “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” The wise person will use credit cards prudently, paying them off in full each month if at all possible. Otherwise, real financial struggles are bound to ensue.

Another adage I have heard for most of my life, and that I have used frequently in sermons or counseling, is “These three things avoid: dirt, debt and the devil.” I’ll write about dirt and the devil another time. Today is the time to address the problem of debt.

Encouraged by government and advertising, debt is devouring America. I have my honest doubts about the survivability of our country because of its debt. Basic financial and Biblical principles are being violated. While I cannot do anything about the government’s appetite for debt, I can do something about my own. And you can take steps to get your own debt under control. Howard Dayton, cofounder of Crown Financial Ministries states, “Are you drowning in debt? The truth is, if you don’t control this area of your life, it will control you.” He then goes on to offer some action steps. I share them here and have added a step or two in the hope of making the plan clearer.

1. Complete a Debt List and a Financial Statement. On the Debt List, write down everything you owe, including credit card balances. These forms may be downloaded free at www.crown.org
2. Place this information into the Financial Statement as “Liabilities.”
3. Then list your Total Assets, including real estate values, cash, chattel, etc. Put this information into the Financial Statement as “Assets”. Be honest with yourself, and do not inflate estimated figures.
4. Look at the Financial Statement to see if there is anything you don’t need that can be sold to eliminate debt.
5. Track every penny you spend for the next 30 days. Take paper with you wherever you go and write down everything you spend. Each night review what you spent and record it in a notebook.
6. If married, both husband and wife need to track spending. Each night meet together to record and review what was spent. Begin these daily meetings by praying for God’s peace and for each other.
7. Eliminate credit card debt first. Pay off the smallest balance first, and when that is done, apply what you were paying on the smallest balance to the second smallest balance. REMEMBER: you must stop accumulating new credit card debt in order for this to work.
8. After paying off the credit cards, pay off consumer debts, like car loans. Then, begin making extra principal payments on your mortgage.
9. Finally, complete a Monthly Income and Expenses form. This is a spending plan that tells your money where you want it to go instead of you wondering where it went. This form, too, may be downloaded free.
10. Once a spending plan has been drawn up, maintain it weekly.

Take these steps to conquer debt!

Be a Hero

I finished reading AMERICAN IDOL this week. It is the story of Willie Mays, the baseball great. Willie was one of my favorites as I was growing up. I recall practicing the “basket catch” he made famous, thinking that someday I might be playing in the big leagues. Perhaps the basket catch is his trademark, but his hitting and base running is most memorable. He will always be one of the greats.

The book also reminded me of a very important aspect of life – especially for a boy, I think. That is the aspect of having a hero. A hero is someone to admire, respect and emulate. Willie Mays, and many other ball players – Al Kaline and Larry Doby come to mind, fit the role of hero for me. I never recall hearing or reading where my heroes were using drugs, toting handguns or anything other than playing ball and doing a doggone good job of it.

Heroes are made, not born. Today there seem to be too few of them. Modern day heroes are not necessarily sports figures that play well and play by the rules. Now that I have matured some, I understand that heroes are people who live for something or someone other than self. It is the mother who struggles to get up at night to nurse a sick child. It is the father who consistently and faithfully works at a job he may not particularly enjoy in order to provide for the family he loves. It is the teen athlete or scholar who refuses to experiment with drugs or cheat because he wants to excel fairly. It is the older, unmarried girl who refuses to engage in premarital sex because she wants to remain pure for marriage. It is the soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan who serves his country courageously. It is the pastor who works diligently to prepare fresh thoughts for a sermon, even though the congregation is small and rural. The list goes on, but I am sure you understand the point. These persons, and many others like them, are heroes. They put principle and others above self-interest.

Heroes are not perfect people. No one is perfect. The only perfect person to ever live was Jesus - and look what they did to Him! But it is Jesus who calls us to live for Him with these words, “He who finds his life shall lose it; and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:39). With those words Jesus not only calls us to live for a higher principle, but to live for a higher person – Himself. Only by so doing will a person find the real meaning of life. To live for Christ is to be a hero.

Heroes make an impression. For some, statues are erected. For others, books are written and films made. For the follower of Christ, other lives are affected and positive change occurs. The world becomes a better place and the ranks of heaven are enlarged.

Be a hero!