Gloom or Glee – Christianity in Decline

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I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Christianity quickly diminishing in US, on pace to become minority religion in decades— (Fox News)

America’s Christian majority is on track to end— (NPR headline)

One after another major publications and news stories picked up the gloomy predictions based on the release of a recent Pew Research Center study. The report reflects the downward trend of people identifying as Christians. 50 years ago, 90% of the population considered themselves Christians, compared to 64% in 2020.

“If recent trends in switching (changing one’s religious affiliation) hold, we projected that Christians could make up between 35% and 46% of the U.S. population in 2070.”  The study continued by saying “of course, it is possible that events outside the study’s model-such as war, economic depression, climate crisis, changing immigration patterns or religious innovations- could reverse current religious switching trends, leading to a revival of Christianity in the United States. But there are no current switching patterns in the U.S. that can be factored into the mathematical models to project such a result.”  –Stephanie Kramer, a senior researcher who led the study.

Mark Twain in response to a newspaper report about his death, responded, “the report of my death was an exaggeration.” The same could be said of the end of Christianity. Throughout history, religious leaders beat and imprisoned those who spoke the name of Jesus, the mob threw stones, the emperor released the lions, the elite of society scoffed and the intellectuals scorned, but Jesus said “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

G.K. Chesterton’s reflections decades ago can help keep this report in perspective:

Chesterton wrote, “at least five times…the Faith has to all appearance gone to the dogs. In each of these five cases it was the dog that died…. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave. But the first extraordinary fact which marks this history is this: that Europe has been turned upside down over and over again; and that at the end of each of these revolutions the same religion has again been found on top. The Faith is always converting the age, not as an old religion but as a new religion”. (Chesterton, The Everlasting Man)

God’s response to Elijah can help keep this report in perspective:

When Elijah thought he was “the only prophet of the LORD who is left” to fight, God reminded him after several mind-blowing natural events that “I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” (I Kings 19:18)

History can help keep this report in perspective:

If Christians in America find themselves as a minority in a few decades, it will not be the first time.  America may have had its roots in Christian principles but in 1776 only 17% of this new nation were church members. As one writer said you would find more Americans in a tavern on Saturday night than in church on Sunday morning. From this minority position, God used a couple of major spiritual awakenings and countless local revivals to awaken American Christians. In this growing awakening, God used the church as the catalyst for cultural and societal reforms. Philip Yancey writes in Vanishing Grace that “Christians present an attractive counterculture until they become the dominant culture. Then they divert from their mission, join the power structure, and in the process turn society against them. Rejected, they retreat into a minority subculture, only to start the cycle all over again.”

Our response can help keep this report in perspective:

Maybe the Christianity of the last few decades has become more like a warm fuzzy blanket instead of the fire that swept through the frontier towns and villages of yesteryears. It was a fire that changed society, sent out missionaries to the nations, healed broken families, redeemed desperate people, and shook the world.  “With no social advantage to belief, churches attract people who are serious about their faith—which plants the seed for future growth.” (Yancey) If in the last 100 years Christianity grew from 600 million to over 2 billion worldwide, imagine what could be if the church rekindled their first love?

Jesus’ response on the mountain can help keep this report in perspective:

Jesus was leaving his mission in the hands of a few faithful disciples and He knew the road ahead would be difficult for them. He knew it would be difficult for those who followed through the generations. Jesus knew that governments would change, cultural norms would continue to shift and people would waiver in their faith. Yet Jesus left us this final word, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20

Daniel Silliman writing for Christianity Today observed, “Revival could happen, there’s just nothing in the current data that indicates it will.” That statement is probably true except God has never been big on statistics or data. When data had Noah drowning, God closed the door on the ark. When data had Moses trapped by an enemy army, God parted the river. When data had Jesus dead, God moved the stone.  When data had the church in decline, God created a thirst for Him alone.  It will be in that thirst that God will use to revive His church.

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?” Psalm 42:1-2

Lord, create in us a thirst that only you can quench. Let us boldly live our lives for you even when the world laughs at us.  Fall fresh on us again that we may be the generation of the next Great Awakening.

God is great!

Following the Right Directions

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It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NLT

Traffic jams and big cities just go together! Living in Atlanta I have learned never to leave home without plotting my course with the GPS. I may know how to get where I am going but Google gets me around the inevitable traffic deadlock and gives me the occasional shortcut. If you drive in any big city you come to depend upon a GPS – until you don’t! Drivers in Denver might be a little hesitant after Google Maps left 100 or so stuck in the mud in 2019. When Google Maps gave drivers a shorter way to the Denver International Airport to avoid a major accident, drivers took the route. However, Google identified a road that wasn’t a road and left drivers hopelessly stuck in the mud for several hours. One lady interviewed said, “My thought was, ‘Well there are all these cars in front of me so it must be OK. So, I just continued.” As the road quickly turned into a slick, muddy mess she further said, “That’s when I thought, ‘Oh this was a bad decision.” There was no turning back once they were in the mud.

We all can identify with following directions over unfamiliar territory. I had a similar situation when we lived in Kenya, but with a different outcome. Our family was going to attend a worship service in one of the Maasai villages outside of Nairobi. I did know the road out to the church would be difficult, if not dangerous. However, unlike the GPS miscalculation, I was following a person who had made the trip to the church hundreds of times. He knew every turn, pothole, and ditch going out to the village. The difference is amazing when you are following someone who knows the way and you can trust him to get you to your destination.

The same scenario could be said of a lot of people spiritually. It is often a struggle to decide the right way to go, when in fact, if you keep your eyes on Jesus, the way forward is less important than the destination. Proverbs 20:24 wisely tells you that “The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”  I don’t know about you but I realize that if I take my eyes off Jesus, what looks like the smoothest, most direct path of life ends up being a treacherous road.

Staying focused on Jesus allows you to weather the storms of life. You may think the best way forward looks great but you quickly realize it is the most dangerous way when you are following in the wrong direction. The Denver drivers faithfully followed the voice on the GPS only to find themselves stuck in the mud. Listening to the right voice is essential.

“Who is the third who walks always beside you?

When I count, there are only you and I together

But when I look ahead up the white road

There is always another one walking beside you.” –T. S. Eliot

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Galatians 5:16-17 NLT

George Washington Carver understood the necessity of listening to the right voices. Had he listened to the voices within his cultural context he would not have heard that he could make an impact on the world as a scientist, advocate for justice, and a voice for the poor. He quit listening to the voices that would label him as “the orphaned child of a despised race” but would come to know the Creator whose voice He would follow throughout his life.

“All my life, I have risen regularly at four in the morning to go into the woods and talk with God. That’s where He reveals His secrets to me. When everybody else is asleep, I hear God best and learn my plan.” It was his faith in Jesus that Carver viewed “as the key to defeating racism and improving the plight of the poor.”

Oswald Chambers wrote “A river is victoriously persistent, it overcomes all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, then it comes to an obstacle and for a while it is balked, but it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, and presently emerge again broader and grander than ever. You can see God using some lives, but into your life an obstacle has come and you do not seem to be of any use. Keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never get your eyes on the obstacle or on the difficult. The obstacle is a matter of indifference to the river which will flow steadily through you if you remember to keep right at the Source. Never allow anything to come between yourself and Jesus Christ, no emotion, or experience; nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.”

The traffic anchor for KMGH Denver said of the GPS wrong turn, “You are driving. Google Maps is not driving. Google Maps is not perfect. You need to know where you are going and, if it does not look like that’s where you should be going, turn around and try again.”

Good advice for drivers, but also a great spiritual analogy. The world has much to say about which road to take but turn around because it will take you where you don’t want to go. The way Jesus leads will bring you home safely.

Your hope is not in the cultural context of the day but Jesus. Your road may be filled with obstacles but in Jesus, you have a Shepherd who guards his flock, a Friend who understands your needs, and a Savior who gives life.

Lord, we trust you to guide us through this week knowing your ways are right. Since You know what is ahead, let us listen with attentiveness and responsiveness. Amen

God is great!

 

Solemn Remembrance

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Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the LORD and his anointed king. They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us. Let’s free ourselves from their ropes.” The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust…Psalm 2:1-4a

“It started like any other day,” Lightsey recalled. “I handled a couple of EMS runs and some other pretty minor stuff.”

At 8:47 a.m., a call crackled over the radio:

Battalion 1 to Manhattan. We just had a …a plane crashed into an upper floor of the World Trade Center. Transmit a second alarm and start relocating companies into the area.” –Daily News article

September 11, 2001, is now 21 years removed. On that fateful day, almost 3,000 people were killed during the attacks at the Twin Towers, Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93. 9/11 was a day that the United States found itself under attack. “Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.’ –President George W. Bush

It was a day that would unite a nation, open the hearts of people and drive us to prayer. Author David Levithan writes, “what separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.”

Genelle Guzman-McMillan, a 9/11 Survivor writes that “On September 11, I always take the day off. I want to be in a peaceful quiet place praying. It is a day I both mourn and celebrate.” Senator Lamar Alexander said “September 11 is one of our worst days but it brought out the best in us. It unified us as a country and showed our charitable instincts and reminded us of what we stood for and stand for.”

Fast forward 21 years and according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, “Americans 67- 29 percent think the nation’s democracy is in danger of collapse.”  Tim Malloy, Quinnipiac polling analyst added that “In a rare moment of agreement, Americans coalesce around an ominous concern. Democracy, the bedrock of the nation, is in peril.”

“Americans may not think of themselves as an “empire,” but much of the world does. The average age of empires, according to a specialist on the subject, the late Sir John Bagot Glubb, is 250 years. After that, empires always die, often slowly but overwhelmingly from overreaching in the search for power. The America of 1776 will reach its 250th year in 2026.” –Georgie Anne Geyer

John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States offered a timeless perspective on a nation’s lifespan. Writing to the Massachusetts Militia on October 11, 1798, “We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition and Revenge or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Philip Yancy writes, “According to a Gallup poll, 73 percent of Americans say moral values are worsening while only 14 percent judge them improving…My secular friends look at these facts and conclude we must work harder to educate children and put new social systems in place. I look at the same facts and doubt politicians’ ability to solve our problems. We need more than new systems; we need a transformation, the kind of personal and societal renewal in which the church could play a crucial role.”

This past week the world lost a remarkable leader who demonstrated a life of integrity and faithful service. Queen Elizabeth served her country and her God with hopefulness, determination, and consistency. In 2000 during her annual Christmas broadcast, she said, “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. “

British Pastor Pete Greig shared in a message following her death, “Almost twenty-two years after that speech, more than seventy since Elizabeth became Queen, we witness contemporary leaders failing and falling all around us at an unprecedented rate. Notions of duty, of promise-keeping, and of accountability to God can seem antiquated and even naive. But at such a time, Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong example of consistency in private faith and integrity in public service is both startling and inspiring.”

Scripture gives insight into a nation and its people that turn from God. We read in Psalm 9 “The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden. The Lord revealed himself; he accomplished justice. The wicked were ensnared by their own actions. The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God, for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.  Rise up, LORD! Don’t let men be defiant. May the nations be judged in your presence. Terrify them, LORD. Let the nations know they are mere mortals” (9:15-20 NET)

As the news media runs reports and commentaries about 9/11 and the life of Queen Elizabeth, use it as a solemn time to reflect and pray. There is no question that we have witnessed monumental changes over the last couple of decades. Values have changed, political divisiveness has increased, churches are more empty and Christianity has been devalued. Yet should we be hopeless? Never! For God has never relinquished His role, changed His course, or failed to keep His promises.

Is there hope for our nation? Since Scripture gives us insight into what happens to a country that turns from God, you can be confident that God has given us countermeasures to restore a nation. God is not big on formula approaches to life or problems, but He comes close in 2 Chronicles 7:14 in His guidance to Solomon. This is a “formula” that I think could be applicable to us today. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Followers of Jesus, God’s formula will not be easy, especially the humble part. However, as we humble ourselves, pray, seek God above all else and turn from our evil ways, it will be so worth it for the next generations who make America their home.

LORD, we remember that dreadful day of September 11 and the ensuing tragedy. Yet instead of turning to you over these years, many have walked away from you. Today we ask that you would create desperation in us for healing until we finally cry out for forgiveness and seek only You.  Amen

God is great!

 

Dignity of Work – Celebrating Labor Day

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You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2 ESV

Happy Labor Day! This great three-day holiday is often known as the end-of-summer or the best deals on furniture and mattress sales events. Cookouts, parades, and parties mark Labor Day throughout the United States. However, over the last couple of decades, Labor Day has also become the time when the world turns into a pumpkin. If you can eat it, drink it or smell it, there is probably a pumpkin version. Starbucks announced that the Pumpkin Spice Latte is out. “What can be said about the Pumpkin Spice Latte that hasn’t already been written before? The segment-creating drink that not only launched an army of imitators and allowed pumpkin spice to infiltrate every facet of our lives, but also turned August into a seasonal product battleground, is returning for its 19th year in 2022.”  (1440 Daily Digest) Since I’m not a great fan of the PSL, I will take my calories in a Dunkin’ pumpkin donut!

Officially, Labor Day is a national holiday signed into law by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894. According to History.com, “Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century…In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories, and mines across the country.”

We have undoubtedly seen considerable shifts in the workplace since the first Labor Day celebration. These include tremendous changes in the laws, attitudes, types of work, and even the workforce. However, there is one pivotal component that has not changed and that is the value and dignity of labor. Martin Luther King, Jr said that “all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.”  Generations before Dr. King wrote his words, the writer of Proverbs said, “You have seen a person skilled in his work—he will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people. “(22:29)

“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.”—Martin Luther

God valued the dignity and honor of work. His assignment to us from the beginning was to partner with Him in caring for His creation. “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food.” (Gen 1:28-29 NET). Tim Keller writes that “The material creation was made by God to be developed, cultivated, and cared for in an endless number of ways through human labor. But even the simplest of these ways is important. Without them all, human life cannot flourish.”

Throughout Scripture, we learn about worship, prayer, obedience, being a good neighbor, sharing the Good News, and lots of other important things for life, but there is also a major focus on work. There is a sense of pride, dignity, and accomplishment that comes from doing a job well. As one Proverb tells us “One who is slack in work is close kin to a vandal.” (18:9)

Work can and does bring inner joy as well as provide for the needs of our families. We are told in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (2:24-25)

Genesis gives us a beautiful insight into God’s work of creation.  God spoke the sun, moon, and earth into creation with a word. God divided the sea and land with a word. God set in motion the delicate balance of life with a word.  “And God said” and with His word set creation into motion. However, when He came to mankind instead of a word, he said, “let us make humankind in our image.” Make, it was as if God reached down into the earth, got his hands dirty as he picked up the dirt, and shaped his beloved children to give them life. Similar to a potter who painstakingly works over the spinning wheel shaping and reshaping his art, so it was with God. Could it be at the end of the day when “God saw everything that he had made,” he looked at the dirt under his fingernails and then lovingly said, “indeed, it was very good”?

As you enjoy the Labor Day activities with family and friends, also take some time to reflect upon the gift of work. Whatever you do daily, thank God for the opportunities you find to bless others, provide for your family, and to make a difference in this world.

Adam tended the garden with his hands and yet with the same hands, mourned his disobedience.

Noah got splinters in his hands as he built an ark to save his family but then used his hands to build an altar to worship God.

David used his hands to fight Goliath in battle yet used the same hands to lovingly compose the Psalms.

Paul used his hands to carefully stitch the tent material as he shared the hope of Christ with the lost and with the same hands passionately wrote letters on how to live life for Jesus.

Jesus the carpenter used his hands to build doors until the time came for him to open the doors of salvation as nails were driven into his hands.

Labor Day is not considered a religious holiday but maybe it should be.  Remember that Jesus got his hands dirty for you and me! “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people.” Colossians 3:23.

Thank you for sharing the Love of Christ through the labor of your hands to make our world a better place.

God is great!

 

Living in a Toxic World

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Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. I John 4:20

Would you pay 2,664 Australian dollars (USD 1,874) for two McDonald’s egg and beef sausage McMuffins and a ham croissant? You would if you forgot to declare them in Australia. According to a USA Today report, an unnamed person traveling from Indonesia to Australia failed to disclose them upon entering Darwin Airport and was fined for “failing to declare potential high biosecurity risk items.”

Toxic is defined as “containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation, extremely harsh, malicious” according to Merriam-Webster. Toxic foods or waste products are bad enough, but it is even worse when it refers to people. Living in a toxic world creates stress, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness.

A 19-year-old walked into a Frisco, Texas Wendy’s restaurant and fired off several shots after receiving the wrong order in the drive-thru line. FBI ranks restaurants as the 8th most common setting for violent crime. Far worse than a toxic McMuffin is the toxic environment created by people. So how do we live in a world where even egg McMuffins can be considered toxic?

Theologian Teilhard de Chardin writes that “the future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope.” Regardless of age or generational group that we belong to, we have a responsibility to “give the next generation reason to hope.”

Learning to live in a toxic world is not a new phenomenon, it is as old as time. A toxic environment began when Adam and Eve decided to live life on their terms. Their children found out quickly that life is not easy in a toxic world when Cain murdered Abel. Each generation since has struggled to find hope because of the sinful nature of society. In the last couple of decades, with the increasing use of social media, it seems as if toxic is now on steroids.

You find the anonymous comments on social media apps that seek to disparage instead of encouraging. You listen to news programs that belittle the other side instead of generating conversation that leads to solutions. During election cycles, all you see and hear are polarizing political ads that seek to destroy the other person.

I wish I could say that those of us who call ourselves Christians set a high bar for creating loving, caring communities. Thankfully, there have been some great examples of how to live life together, yet too often we reflect the values and toxicity of the world, not Jesus. We were never called to share the same viewpoints, only to live a life where “all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”—John13:35 Communities should be refuge and grace where salvation and hope are found.

Henri Nouwen said of community “Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrow, ups and downs—but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.”

Touches of grace are often little acts of kindness and respect that encourage others in their life. Tricia Rhynold is a mom that knows about toxic comments. Mother to Timothy, a 7-year-old little boy who loves life but has severe autism spectrum disorder. Learning to help her son navigate life in a world that is not always gracious is difficult. Yet, a note from the mom of one of the boys in her son’s class inviting him to a birthday party made a difference.

“Carter sat beside Timothy at school, and he always talks about him. I really hope he can come. We are renting a bounce castle that we can attach a small bounce slide at the bottom. We will also have water balloons and water guns. Maybe Timothy can come earlier in the day if it would be too much with the whole class. Let me know how we can make it work.”

A simple birthday invitation gave Timothy’s mom hope. In her reply, she wrote, “You wrote exactly what I needed to see that day and didn’t even know it. Because of your son he is included. Because of your son he feels wanted. Because of your son he has a voice. And I want you to know that because of you I can get through another day. Because of you I can get through another appointment. Because of you I can take more stares and more questions. Because of you I have hope for Timothy’s future.”

Followers of Jesus can and do change a toxic world. We can be a beautiful testimony of life to a dying world. Change can happen that is seldom big and flashy. It could be simply one note at a time, one visit to a neighbor at a time, one prayer for a friend at a time, or one word of encouragement to a stranger at a time.

Scripture is rich in wisdom on how to live in this world.  Paul said it better than I could ever say it with some great advice in Romans:

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.” –12:9-21 The Message

We may live in a toxic world but we have an amazing God that changes everything! We can pass on to the next generation a reason to hope.

God is love!

Schools in Session!

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At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” He called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! …” But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. Matthew 18:1-3,6 NET

“Walking through the hallways at our middle school, I saw a new substitute teacher standing outside his classroom with his forehead against a locker. I heard him mutter, “How did you get yourself into this?” Knowing he was assigned to a difficult class, I tried to offer moral support. “Are you okay?” I asked. “Can I help?” He lifted his head and replied, “I’ll be fine as soon as I get this kid out of his locker.” –Readers Digest June 2021

School is in session! Oh, the joys of a new school year – little ones navigating their first year at school, parents crying as their babies head off to college, homeschoolers adjusting to their rhythm of learning, and most likely, some teachers helping middle schoolers get out of lockers. School, that unique journey of life filled with good and not-so-good memories is all part of growing up.

Proverbs lay a foundation for parents on their responsibility for equipping their children for the future. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (22:6) Included in equipping children are teachers, administrators, cafeteria workers, janitors, and bus drivers – all helping parents to help their children.

There are lots of major issues facing our children in school today but one that is growing is violence. Since 2018 there have been 119 school shootings in the United States with 27 already in 2022. According to one expert on the violence he writes, “You study these things for so long and then you throw the rule book out. No one really knows why we’ve got the trends and violence we’re seeing right now. But I think at the same time, we’re coming to the same sorts of conclusions. It’s a combination of the pandemic; a lack of trust in our institutions, particularly law enforcement; the presence of guns; the toxic, divisive, contentious times we live in. They’re all interacting together.” –James A. Densley

I am sure the conclusions are based on some good solid data. However, I do think as followers of Jesus we can help paint a brighter future for our children. It is a future based upon a God who loves our children because they are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” –Psalm 139:13-16 and a future based upon a God that knows love so profoundly that “he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” –John 3:16

Based on the above verse in Matthew, Jesus makes it clear he is deeply concerned about our children.  He is concerned about their health, knowledge, and physical needs but especially their spiritual life. Jesus made it pretty clear how he feels about children if you, the adult, are a stumbling block in their lives.  Jesus’ disciples thought position and power were important until Jesus kept pointing them back to children to learn from them.

Parents can make a difference even in small actions.  One great example is Shreveport’s Southwood High School which saw a rash of violence last year resulting in 23 students being arrested. Parents knew something had to change so 40 dads stepped up and formed “Dads on Duty”. This group of dads took shifts at the school. No one had degrees in school counseling or criminal justice but they loved their children. Michael LaFitte said, “We’re dads. We decided the best people who can take care of our kids are who? Are us.” It was not a fancy program but was simply a presence that encouraged kids and maintained a positive learning environment. Result: No Violence.

Children are always important to Jesus. He got upset with his disciples when they tried to prevent parents from bringing their children to him “in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray.” The disciples thought they were guarding their master’s time and spoke sternly to the parents and told them to go away. No, that’s not the way it works! “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.” –Matthew 19:13-15

Prayer can impact our children. No day should go by that our children and teachers are not covered by prayer.  According to one survey on teacher satisfaction, 74% of respondents to a survey were dissatisfied with the job. This is up from 41% in 2020. My heart breaks over some of the articles I read as I prepared for this week’s blog post. Yet I am not in despair but more challenged to pray for our children, teachers, and political leaders. I was convicted as I wrote this that I didn’t know the names of my grandchildren’s teachers.  I do now and have made a prayer card to pray for them regularly. It is a simple thing, but, in the simple things, God makes the difference.

Pray as you pass a school, for the safety of the children and staff inside

Pray for our children who are confronted with choices daily, to be wise of heart

Pray for teachers’ wisdom, boldness, endurance, creativity, encouragement, health, joy

Pray for school staff as they protect and provide for our children

Pray for political leaders to govern wisely and with a heart toward God

Pray that the damage from the previous two years of Covid could be healed

Our culture is looking for answers. Will we, the followers of Jesus help them find the answer? John Stott said it well, “Thus the followers of Jesus are to be different—different from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New Testament of the Christian counter-culture. Here is a Christian value-system, ethical standard, religious devotion, attitude to money, ambition, life-style and network of relationships—all of which are totally at variance with those of the non-Christian world. And this Christian counter-culture is the life of the kingdom of God, a fully human life indeed but lived out under the divine rule.”

Lord, as the world grows darker, let us grow brighter for the sake of others. We pray for our children, teachers, parents, schools, and leaders to seek you first for the answers to the problems of violence, hatred, and division. You are the Giver of Life, the Restorer of Hope, and the Redeemer of Souls.

God is Great!

Exceptional Sleepers

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Many say, “Who can show us anything good?” Smile upon us, LORD! You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine. I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure. –Psalm 4: 6-8

Ever fall asleep in class, on a plane, in church, or standing in line at Kroger waiting to check out? Then you may be a candidate for a job with Casper Mattress Company. They are looking to hire some expert sleepers and posted this on their website, “Do you love to sleep? Then we have a job that will pay you to do just that. Join the Casper Sleepers and show off your sleeping skills in public, on social and anywhere else people are looking. So join us to literally sleep on the job because we believe a good sleep changes everything.” (Casper.com website)

Casper’s dream candidate has:

Exceptional sleeping ability

A desire to sleep as much as possible

Willingness to be in front of or behind the camera capturing content

Ability to sleep through anything

A passion for sharing and talking about all things sleep through our social channels

I don’t know if this would be my dream job but I can sleep anywhere. Sleep is a blessing when it is estimated that 10 to 30 percent of adults struggle with chronic insomnia. In one of their reports, the Sleep Foundation said, “Insufficient sleep has an estimated economic impact of over $411 Billion each year in the United States alone.” In addition, “Drowsy driving is responsible for more than 6,000 fatal car crashes every year in the United States.”

Some of the major causes of sleep deprivation include stress, anxiety, work-related pressures, bedroom too hot or cold, uncomfortable beds, alcohol, caffeine, jet lag, using electronic devices close to bedtime, or watching TV in bed before going to sleep. The list could go on and on. Outside of health-related sleeping issues, many of the hot button causes of sleep deprivation come from us. Going to bed too late, looking at our Smartphones before bed, drinking that second cup of Starbucks coffee an hour before bedtime, or watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series before falling asleep!

Jesus taught us calmness through sleep. During a major storm when his disciples were in a state of panic as “the waves began to swamp the boat.” Instead of finding Jesus anxious and worried about the storm, they found him sleeping. So they came and woke him up saying, “Lord, save us! We are about to die!” There is nothing worse than being awakened from a deep sleep and Jesus was no exception. A little rebuke to the disciples before He took care of the situation.  “Why are you afraid, you of little faith? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was dead calm.” Matthew 8:25-26

Peter taught us trust through the gift of sleep. His friend and co-laborer, James had been executed by King Herod and now Peter finds himself between two burly soldiers waiting his fate. What do we find Peter doing? Sleeping. “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.” Acts 12: 6 He could have stayed awake worrying about the situation and his pending execution but his hope was in the Giver of Life, so he slept.

Elijah taught us spiritual and physical renewal through the gift of sleep. He had been on the mountaintop of success, literally raining fire down on the false prophets but now he was running into the wilderness out of fear for his life. “Elijah stretched out and fell asleep under the shrub. Suddenly an angelic messenger touched him and said, “Get up and eat…he ate and drank and then slept some more.” I Kings 19:4-6 Through God’s gift of rest and sleep, Elijah was renewed and sent back to work.

God taught us reliance upon Him through the gift of sleep. Research consistently confirms the human body needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, so roughly a third of our lives is spent sleeping. Sleep and rest were part of God’s creative plan. Whether sleeping on a Casper Mattress or between two soldiers on a cold floor, it is our statement of trust that God has everything under control. “When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant. Do not be afraid of sudden disaster or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the LORD will be the source of your confidence.” Proverbs 3:24-26

When we fall asleep we being to turn off our conscious mind and thoughts and begin to let go of our usual daytime defenses.  Living in the fullness of God’s love allows us to sleep during the vulnerability of night. Tonight, as you lay down, remember that sleep is among the many gifts that God gave us to live life. “It is vain for you to rise early morning, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he provides for those whom he loves even when they sleep.” —Psalm 127:2 NET

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go.”—Psalm 143:8 (NIV UK) “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”—Teresa of Avila

Now guide me waking, O Lord,

and guard me sleeping;

that awake I may watch with Christ,

and asleep I may rest in peace.   (Night Prayer from the ancient Night Offices of the Church)

God is great!

 

Living in the Wilderness

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And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:12-13

Rob Lundgren and his son were backpacking in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.  Lundgren remembers crawling into his nice warm sleeping bag that night but found himself startled awake after falling into the icy cold creek. Now wide awake at 8,000 feet and 20 degrees outside, he lives out a nightmare in the wilderness.  “I hadn’t sleepwalked in over 50 years, so it was the last thing on my mind…”

Lundgren found himself in a desperate situation, needing to be rescued. Others could identify with him based on headlines from the Backpacker magazine:

Bitten by a Rattlesnake

Mauled by a Grizzly

Stranded on a ledge

Lost in an Ice Cave

Mauled by a Mountain Lion

Life in the wilderness with all of its amazing beauty is also a place of unbelievable danger. Most of us have found ourselves awakened from a wonderful dream into a living nightmare.

Eugene Peterson said it well, “There are times, no matter how thoroughly we’re civilized, when we’re plunged into the wilderness—not a geographical wilderness but what I’m going to call a circumstantial wilderness. Everything is going along fine—and then suddenly we’re beside ourselves. We don’t know what’s going on within us or in another who is important to us; feelings erupt in us that call into question what we’ve never questioned before. There’s a radical change in our bodies, or our emotions, or our thinking, or our friends, or our job. We’re out of control. We’re in the wilderness.”

The list of our circumstantial wilderness experiences seems to be unlimited. We may find ourselves unemployed because the company reorganized. We may find ourselves in the hospital because a drunk driver ran a traffic light. We may find ourselves sitting in a funeral service from the death of a loved one. We may find ourselves_______, you fill in the blank for your wilderness.

A young David finds himself being driven into the wilderness by King Saul. David had learned some lessons about living in the wilderness but now he found himself facing new obstacles for his survival. What did David do? He turned to God. “You, God, are my God, I earnestly search for you.” (Psalm 63:1a)

“If you are chased into the wilderness when you are persecuted, do not be afraid as if you were all alone. Instead, rise up early in the morning and sing Psalm 63 to God knowing that he is there.” –Athanasius

Moses’ time in the wilderness prepared him to lead God’s people out of slavery and then found himself standing on holy ground (Exodus 3). Elijah fled to the wilderness fearful for his life only to find rest and renewal through the hand of God (I Kings 19).  Jesus found himself in the wilderness locked in battle with Satan but trusted God until “angels came and took care of Jesus.” (Matthew 4)

“I readily acknowledge that this circumstantial wilderness is a terrible, frightening, and dangerous place; but I also believe that it’s a place of beauty. In the wilderness we’re plunged into an awareness of danger and death; at the very same time we’re plunged, if we let ourselves be, into an awareness of the great mystery of God and the extraordinary preciousness of life.” –Eugene Peterson

Life in the wilderness can push us to our limits. We will all find ourselves living in the wilderness at some point in life. The question becomes, what will you do? The world offers a myriad of solutions yet each leads deeper into its own wilderness. Whether one takes the road of drugs, alcohol, materialism, or sexuality, you will find it is a road that leads to hopelessness, frustration, and lostness.

Moses, David, Elijah, Paul, John, Jesus, and a host of others used their time in their wilderness to grow, listen, learn, recover and prepare. Make the most of your time in your wilderness as you

Wait on God for deliverance – For God alone, my soul waits in silence – Psalm 62

Listen to God for deliverance – After the fire, there was a voice, a soft whisper – I Kings 19:12

Look toward God for deliverance- He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper – Psalm 107:29

Reflect upon God for deliverance – I wait for the LORD, my soul waits – Psalm 130:5

Worship God in your deliverance – Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him – Matt 4:10

Lord, I find myself in a wilderness that I didn’t choose. An overwhelming wilderness. A wilderness that makes me afraid. I know I can’t go it alone so please be my refuge, my strength, my rock. As you walk with me in this wilderness let me find in you the joy, hope, peace, and knowledge that only you can provide. Amen.

God is great,

 

 

Influencers or Imitators – Is there a difference?

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I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. I Cor 4:16

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I Cor 11:1

What made you decide on that particular shirt, perfume, or any other item you purchased? Chances are, a social influencer may have played a role in your purchase. Names such as Cristiano Ronaldo with 517 million total followers, Justin Bieber with 455 million followers, and Ariana Grande with 429 million followers are among the top influencers.

Even though the millennial generation dominates the top influencers, Baby Boomers to Gen Z generation have a presence among influencers. 18-year-old TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio’s earnings exceed the median pay for execs at Fortune 500 companies. The average age of the top 50 influencers is just over 37.

Exactly what is a social media influencer? Merriam-Webster added the word “influencer” to their 2019 dictionary. An influencer is “a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.”  Social media has become the primary platform for today’s cultural influencers. Even though the word, influencer is relatively new, the concept is as old as time.

Josiah Wedgwood is often considered an early-era influencer, dating back to 1760. Wedgwood was a potter and after he made a tea set for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, he convinced her to allow him to promote his pottery with royal approval. Since Royalty was the ultimate “influencer” of the era, this allowed Wedgwood’s pottery to become the preferred pottery of the time.

Wedgwood did use his platform as “Potter to her Majesty” to focus on the abolition of slavery. Using his skills as a potter he created a Slave Medallion to bring public attention to the abolition cause.

Paul may not fit the stereotypical influencer of our day. However, he did use the ancient version of social media. He would write to the early churches, who then re-posted his letter to the other churches in the area. Most current influencers seek to influence action but few would ask to imitate them.

If an influencer seeks to generate interest in something, what does an imitator do? Imitators are people who copy the behavior or actions of another. We all influence decisions in one way or another but to imitate someone requires a deeper level of commitment and purpose. Paul boldly says, “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” and it necessitates a lifestyle or convictions worthy of imitating. The real difference between an influencer and an imitator can be life-changing.

“Follow me as far as I follow Christ. Come up as close as you can to my example in those instances wherein I endeavor to copy after his pattern. Be my disciples, as far as I manifest myself to be a faithful minister and disciple of Christ, and no further. I would not have you be my disciples, but his.” –Matthew Henry

Imitators of Christ will always make a difference, one life at a time. Jim Denison recently shared the story about Alban, the first martyr in Britain. When your life is so focused on Jesus it is a life that calls out to be imitators of me, as I am of Christ, even to the point of death.

Alban lived in third-century Britain in the Roman city of Verulamium. One day he gave shelter to a Christian priest fleeing persecution. While protecting him, Alban was inspired by the priest’s faith and asked to be taught about Christianity. As a result, he came to faith in Christ.

When the authorities caught up with the priest, Alban’s newfound faith would not allow them to arrest him. Instead, he exchanged clothes with the priest and was arrested, allowing the priest to escape. Alban refused to renounce his beliefs, so the magistrate ordered that he should receive the punishment intended for the priest.

As a result, he was led out of Verulamium and up the hillside where he was beheaded, becoming the first Christian martyr in the British Isles.

Before his death, the executioner assigned to kill him became so impressed with his faith that he became a believer as well and refused to kill Alban. The executioner was then executed, becoming the second Christian martyr in Britain.

The third was the priest. When he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, he hurried to the court in hopes of saving Alban by turning himself in. He was then martyred as well. The place of their deaths is near the site of St Alban’s Cathedral today.

Imitators or influencers? The choice is pretty clear which will make a difference for today and eternity.

Influencers promote products and lifestyles. Imitators live a life that points people to Jesus. Phil 3:17-21

Influencers’ status depends upon the current trend. Imitators reject superficial trends holding to a faith found through the ages “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Influencers use their platform for personal gain. Imitators seek to live life without selfish ambition or conceit. Philippians 2:3-8

Influencers can twist truth. Imitators speak truth in love. Ephesians 4:15

Influencers hide behind a mask of impersonal relationships through their social media platform. Imitators live with unveiled faces being transformed, living life in relationships. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Influencers seldom face death for their post. From the beginning, imitators of Christ knew their life choice brought them into conflict with the world, even to the point of death. John 15:18-20

Social media influencers will have an impact, money, and notoriety but only for a brief moment. The one who seeks to be an imitator of Christ may not have millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, nor command $400,000 per post. However, what an imitator of Christ has will be of eternal significance. Now that is an influence that is desperately needed in our current culture that makes a difference!

God is great.

 

Where’s Dad?

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Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NLT

The years have not faded the vivid, exciting, and life-changing memory of holding my first-born son after his birth. There was an overwhelming joy and raw emotion as I cradled this tiny body in my arms. These same feelings would be duplicated twice again with my daughters’ births. Fatherhood! Questions flooding my mind: Will I be a good father? What if I get it wrong? Yet trusting in God’s grace and help to be a father.  Perfect? Far from it. Mistakes enough to go to the moon and back.

Sunday marked Father’s Day in America. As we celebrate Father’s Day every year, it draws attention to the role of the Father in our families and society. This is a role that is changing rapidly since the nation’s first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 4 children live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.  I use the word unfortunate since research shows that a father’s absence affects children in numerous ways according to the National Fatherhood Initiative.

A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center showed that the United States has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households out of 130 countries and territories. It is hard enough to be a two-parent household so the challenges and burdens for single-parent homes are greatly multiplied.

It takes only minutes to read daily about the world’s influence on our children’s lives. According to The Center for Family Justice, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they reach 18; more than four children die each day because of child abuse and approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of four. Just this past week, an Illinois man was charged with the murders of his three young children, ages 5, 3, and 2.

An article in the Atlantic Magazine titled “The One Parenting Decision That Really Matters” lists numerous factors on successful parenting but the bottom line comes down to where you raise your child. In essence:  Location. Location. Location.

However, I would agree with the long-time pastor as well as father and grandfather James Emery White in his response to the article, “If all you care about is worldly accomplishment, then perhaps one factor might be where you raise your child. But if you run a bit deeper than that, and care about the spiritual formation of your child-values, beliefs, behaviors, faith—then it’s not about where you raise your child, but who you are as a parent as you raise your child.”

Professor Christian Smith from the University of Notre Dame just released the findings of a detailed research project on the importance of parents’ impact on the religious development of their children. In his book, Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation, he details how parents are the most successful and influential part of their kids adopting the Christian faith compared to other influences.

Professor Smith writes; “Some readers might be surprised to know that the single most powerful causal influence on the religious lives of American teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents.”  Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers.”

The research shows that no one has to be a super-Christian. Parents simply have to live out their faith consistently, honestly, and consciously to impact their children. Dr. Smith continues that in their findings that the “role of fathers is especially important in forming children religiously” adding “both parents matter a lot in faith transmission, but the role of fathers appears to be particularly crucial.”

Father’s Day might be a good time to read Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus again but with a focus on the father part. In this letter, Paul gave men some challenging instructions on what it means to be a husband and father. A husband must love his wife just like Jesus did his church, even to the point of death. A father must love his children in a way that allows them to grow spiritually and emotionally healthy.

God set importance on the family structure to be a place where children are nurtured, taught, and equipped for life. “Parents are the greatest single evangelists for the gospel in the world and its greatest arena is the family.” (The Daily Citizen)

God’s worldview has always been greater than the size of our bank accounts, where we live, or the impact of our worldly influence. “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” –Psalm 145:4

Lord, we need you. We need to become the fathers, mothers, and grandparents that will stand in the gap for the children of this world. We must pray against the darkness that seeks to destroy our children. We must pray that they will have tender hearts to hear your voice. May our children tell their children of your mighty acts because we were faithful in telling them of your mighty acts. Amen

God is great