Recently I read Peter’s book, The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith, in which he chronicles his journey from atheism to Christ. Of his brother mentioned above he writes, “It is my view that, as with all atheists, Christopher is his own chief opponent. As long as he can convince himself, nobody else will persuade him.” He further writes, “The difficulties of the anti-theists begin when they try to engage with anyone who does not agree with them, when their reaction is often a frustrated rage that the rest of us are so stupid. But what if that is not the problem? Their refusal to accept that others might be as intelligent as they, yet disagree, leads them into many snares.” He goes on regarding his brother to write, “I am, of course, concerned especially about Christopher. His passion against God, about which he used to say much less, grew more virulent and confident during the years while I was making my gradual, hesitant way back to the altar-rail.” And so the biggest test of all awaits Christopher Hitchens, his next step into eternity.

And while we can point to the tragedy of a wasted life and what a frightening encounter awaits Christopher Hitchens (Hebrews 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.), it should also serve as a reminder to us that we to will one day make that next step into eternity and the question for us who believe is, knowing the reality of what is ahead, how are we living right now in light of eternity? Perhaps it’s the reason Paul said, in Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” So how are you doing in preparation for “The Big Test Ahead”?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 A federal judge saying that marriage is a fundamental right that can’t be restricted on the basis of morality is absolute nonsense. As Chuck Colson has pointed out, all through history cultures have restricted and limited marriage. That’s why you can’t marry your brother or your sister. The right to marriage is founded in a God given morality (the very moral code that this nation was founded on) and is not subject to judicial opinion and interpretation. And how ironic it is that the judge in this case, Vaughn Walker, is himself openly gay. In any other legal matter where the judge had a personal stake involved, the judge would be recused on the grounds of “conflict of interest.”  But there is more at stake here than just the California decision. The irrational and biased  reasoning that overturned proposition 8 in California, could be applied to other states across the country to overturn similar laws and in so doing vitiate the will of the people. Anybody remember the Gettysburg Address?— that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.   

The issue is not over, it will move from here to the Ninth Circuit, the most liberal Court in America that will almost certainly uphold judge Vaughn’s ruling. After that (probably a year or so from now) it’s on to the Supreme Court where almost every case over the past 25 years related to sexual freedom has gone in favor of liberalizing morality. Pastor Jim Garlow of San Diego has indicated that it is a mistake to believe that this is just about the definition of marriage, as bad as that is, it is bigger. It is one more blow with devastating consequences to your ability to hold and express personal religious convictions and freedoms.

 Paul, writing to the Corinthians in chapter 16:13-14 said, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 2000 years later it’s still excellent counsel for uncertain times.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

 In deed we are living in a critical age and when I heard Dr. Stanley speak those words I was again reminded, that the Church must awake and arise again as true salt and light in the midst of uncertainty, difficulty and growing darkness. We must be a light for future generations, we must speak the gospel without hesitation, we must live the truth without reservation and we must put aside self-centered Christianity and worldliness to again be the Church Triumphant, Alive and Well as the song said. It’s not about politics, it’s not about preferences, and it’s not even about sitting in pews. It’s about being what God created us to be and elevating anew Christ in our life so that everything, yes, everything that we do and say is filtered through the grid of His Lordship over us. And it’s about elevating Christ in our homes again, so that we pray about everything rather than debate over anything. And it’s about our kids beginning to see again clearly through us  that nothing in this world, no amount of money, no position, no job, no athletic pursuits, no academic achievement and no amount of worldly fame can or should ever take the place of knowing and living for Jesus… He is priority in our life, He is priority in our Homes and Everything else is and must be second!

Paul said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” (Phil. 3:8) Did you see what he said… Everything, everything, everything is second to knowing and walking with Christ! Do you get it? Does your spouse get it? Do your kids get it? Are you speaking it? Are you living it unashamedly? These are critical days and they call for a new resolve from the people of God to be authentic and to be bold in our commitment to Jesus Christ. So if you’ve become one of the “frozen” chosen, thaw out and sell out again to the only one who gives reason for our existence. Fall in love with your Bible again, fall in love with prayer again, fall in love with the Church again, fall in love with serving God again, fall in love with obeying God again, and fall in love with inviting people to come worship God again, fall in love with trusting Him with everything again!!!! Return to your “first love” and get excited about knowing Christ afresh.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The question the son asks is really the question that all of humanity asks: “What’s on the other side?” Have you answered that question? You see, it is the answer to that question that makes life on this side significant. The answer to that question affects your schedule, your treasures, your family, your activities, your ambitions and your decisions. It is a question that has been placed in our hearts by God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…” Why? So that we will know that we were created for more than just life here on earth and so that we will live with eternity in mind. With so many worries, cares and struggles in this life, it is easy to be overwhelmed and forget to put our eyes on eternity and that there is a Father and His Son on the other side.

If you are feeling fatigued, beaten down, worried or discouraged about life and the future, I remind you of the good news that there is not just something on the other side, but there is Someone on the other side Who loves you and offers new life to the lifeless and renewed life to the weary. You can have your soul filled and refreshed today because Jesus said in John 7:38, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” And in John 4:10 Jesus answered the woman at the well and said, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” So, come and drink today and worship and let God fill you anew with His life sustaining water.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The second decision came last week when the Pentagon rescinded an invitation to evangelist Franklin Graham to be the lead speaker at a May 6 Pentagon service in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer.  Explaining the reason for uninviting Graham a Pentagon spokesman identified earlier comments that Graham had made about the Muslim faith which were deemed “not appropriate.” The action was only taken after the Council on American-Islamic Relations complained about Graham being the speaker. In response to the matter, Graham indicated that it is difficult for people to voice their beliefs today without being accused of hate speech. “I’m not targeting the Muslims out of hate. I love them,” he said “but I don’t agree with them. Of course they disagree with me, but no one says anything about that.” 

Isn’t it all ironic? I mean the whole premise used to deny prayer or deny Christian “speakers” a platform today is predicated on being politically correct and tolerating everyone’s views or beliefs in a pluralistic society. But isn’t that the same reasoning that should allow them to pray or speak? What has really happened is that we’ve become a nation ruled by small activistic groups who abuse the intent and obscure the meaning of the constitution in order to advance a godless and self-centered agenda. The end product is “every man does what is right in his own eyes” and fools himself into believing that because he has removed God from the “public square,” he has alleviated his responsibility to God and the laws of God. It reminds me of when our daughter was young and we would play hide and seek. She would put her hands over her eyes and then proceed to call me to find her… she assumed that because she could not see me that I could not see her and therefore she was hidden.   And so today, our culture and nation has covered its eyes to God and assumed that He can’t see us because we can’t see Him. Don’t be surprised if one day soon God says… “I’ve had enough America!” 

So is there any hope? Yes, there is hope and prayer is a vital part of that… regardless of whether there is a National Day of Prayer or not… pray and keep praying!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

James Naismith realized that he could serve the Lord better through sports than through preaching. As a result he took a job as a physical education instructor at the YMCA’s International Training School for Christian Workers in Springfield, Massachusetts. His personal vision was, “to win men for the Master through the gym.” And so in 1891 he set out to invent a new kind of indoor game that could be played by students during the winter season. He tried a variety of games, including variations of football, lacrosse and soccer, all without success. In the end he decided to use elements from all of these games, using a ball that could be easily handled, while combining running, passing and goal scoring without tackling. The result was basketball. Naismith and his athletic director, Luther Gulick, maintained and expected high ethical and moral standards as a reflection of Christ and Christian character by all of those who played, in order to use the game as an evangelistic outreach.

Murray notes that over the 50 years following Naismith’s invention, basketball served as an important evangelical tool. In fact, in 1941 Naismith wrote that “whenever I witness games in a church league, I feel that my vision almost half a century ago, of the time when the Christian people would recognize the true value of athletics, has become a reality.”

Over the years many athletes have chosen to use their ability and skill in sports to honor God and serve as a witness. Actually in recent years so many athletes have been outspoken about their faith that it has actually been a source of irritation for many sportswriters. And college football has actually amended their rules after this past season to prohibit college athletes in the future from any physical display of faith. Chuck Colson has answered that criticism well, “which would you prefer-players known for their faith and good sportsmanship, or players who are arrested for assault or drug use?” Well said Chuck!

So if you have a young athlete in the family, first encourage them to live for God and elevate the things of God over all other sports achievements. Then, as Colson has suggested, you might also tell them the rest of the story of basketball and how and why it was invented as a tool to “win men for the Master through the gym.” And then urge them to make honoring God the goal over scoring a goal, a home run, a basket or a touchdown!

What Do You Think?

Given that, shouldn’t we periodically examine our own priorities? Is it possible that we can do the same things these agents did serving their kingdom as we attempt to serve our God’s Kingdom? If we are not careful, we can focus on the “four-cents” that are missing, the little things that have no great impact on the Kingdom, but consume or efforts, our emotions and our agenda at a cost that is far greater than the return. And we can do that rather than concentrating on developing the spiritual fruit that is missing in our life, or the character issues that needs transforming, or the commitment to daily depth with God that has become “hit or miss” for us or by simply neglecting any of the things that make a real and ultimate difference for us and for God. I have tried to make a practice in my life of regularly getting before God and asking Him, “Father, is what I am doing and focusing on, what you want me doing and focusing on?” You can’t be everything others want you to be and you can’t do everything others want you to do. But you can be everything God created you to be and you can do everything God designed you to do… but it’s all about priorities. In John 14:31 Jesus makes it clear that His priorities were ordered by God, “I do as the Father has commanded me.” So, how are you doing?

What Do You Think?

Really? Where does this stuff come from? How does a person one day decide, “I’m gonna start practicing my sword swallowing.” Did his parents say, “hey son, if I told you once, I’ve told you a hundred timed, take this sword and practice swallowing it for a while and maybe one day you’ll set a record and make the family proud.” Not likely! But however it happens, it seems painful and hard to imagine that it’s not doing irreparable damage to the esophagus, throat and stomach.

Thinking about what goes into our mouths, Jesus made an intriguing statement in Matthew 15:11, “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” In other words, it’s not “swords” going in but “swords” coming out that do the damage. Obviously Jesus was talking about the things we say, harsh words, lies, criticisms, filthy language, and destructive comments. Our mouths reveal what’s really going on in our hearts. So what do your words reveal about the real you?

What Do You Think?

What Do You Think?