What I Do in Private or Public is My Business!

“Desire to be a man of integrity or a woman of honor, who lives with a clear conscience, both before other people and God.”

Every week it seems like we hear about some well-known figure’s moral carelessness coming to light. An athlete’s early morning brawl at an exclusive club. A politician’s scheme to enrich himself. A pastor’s affair with a church member. A media personality twisting the truth to further their storyline. A businessman’s complex effort to steal from his company and its investors. (Image by rohatcom68 from Pixabay) 

These types of unfortunate news stories we read about can be summed up with one word: character. Because people are not living lives of honorable character, they are winding up on the local news or in the local jail. Character matters. It has a practical impact on a person’s daily life, and sometimes we are even affected by the character of another person. The great preacher, Billy Graham, once said, “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”

Character refers to the moral traits of someone, like being honest, selfless, trustworthy and humble. Where do qualities like this come from? Our parents, teachers or coaches? Our dad and mom among others can teach us to have good character and model it for us, but it comes from a deeper source.

It is written, “God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:27) This means when the Creator fashioned us, He put within us some of His own likeness, which is where godly character comes from. The traits of love, kindness and patience originate from Him. However, because we are all born with a bent toward disobedience and selfishness, those traits are marred from birth. Sometimes they show up intermittently. We might love certain people, like our family or friends. We might be patient sometimes. But clearly, there are still large gaps in our character. And yes, we can be taught good character, but teaching and modeling does not go deep enough.

Having good character must focus on the heart, for that is where it springs from. Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19) All these and more are reflections of poor character.

One might say, “It is my life. What I do in private, or public is my business.” Another might state, “I’m a Christian. I believe in God’s grace, and I know He forgives me no matter what I do.” Despite our own thoughts about character, God has His thoughts also. One day all of us will come before Him to be examined, “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So, then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10-12) If you were to come before God this very hour, what would He see?

How do we receive godly character? It begins through the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Jesus. When you turn from your sin and place your total trust in Christ, He comes to live within you and changes your heart. Why? Because the curse of sin has damaged it and is the cause of your moral failures. But Christ came from heaven to earth, to die, be buried and rise again that your heart would be forever changed. In Christ, you become a new creation, then His Spirit begins the life-long process of shaping and molding you into a person that reflects godly character. For most people, this shaping comes through tough times. The Scripture says, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Rom. 5:3-4)

Desire to be a man of integrity or a woman of honor, who lives with a clear conscience, both before other people and God.   

A prayer for you – Lord Jesus, examine our ways. Let us be people who are trustworthy, dependable and humble. Create within us hearts that reflect godly character. If we are found lacking, right now produce that character within us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God, Don’t You Care?

“We view situations from our perspective and sometimes question God. But all-the-while Jesus is saying to us, “Look, I am here. Won’t you trust me?”

There were over 1,300 confirmed tornados last year, causing death and destruction from rural to populated areas. Medical debt is weighing down one out of every 10 Americans and leading tens of thousands to file for bankruptcy. In 2023 the federal government seized the equivalent of 381 million doses of fentanyl, and the lethal drug was responsible for over 74,000 deaths. (Image from Pixabay)

No matter if you are cleaning up after a natural disaster, trying to survive a financial crisis or are grieving a sudden death due to drugs or something else it is normal to say, “God, where are you? Don’t you care?”

Jesus’ own disciples felt this way on one occasion when they were facing certain death on the high seas. Once after a long day of ministry to people, Jesus and His disciples climbed into a boat to cross the waters. They pushed out and settled in as they rowed to their destination. Some of the disciples, due to their experience, knew how to navigate the waters well, so were at complete ease. And shortly after they were on their way, Jesus laid down and fell fast asleep.

Very soon however, the winds picked up and they found themselves in the middle of a full-blown storm. The wind speeds were high and created large waves that crashed down on their boat. As they began taking on water, the experienced seamen became fearful their lives might be lost.

Meanwhile, Jesus was unfazed, and amazingly continued in a deep sleep. His disciples, agitated and filled with fear, angrily awoke Him saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).

Jesus then stood, looked out on the stormy sea and spoke firmly and directly to the wind and waves, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk. 4:39) And immediately the winds calmed and the waters became still. The disciples stood in amazement and looked with astonishment at each other saying, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mk. 4:41)

When the disciples woke Jesus, they had a question for Him. This time, Jesus had one for them. He pointedly asked, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk. 4:40)

The disciples were fixated on the storm and became controlled by fear and doubt. They lost all sense of reason. With Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth on board, did they really think all of them were going to die?

Jesus’ question was to bring a sense of clear thinking, not just peace, back to their panic-stricken minds. The crisis revealed to the disciples who Jesus was and how He can be trusted, even in a time of overwhelming odds. He showed how He was not a mere man, but God in human form. And as such, He has power over nature, the devil and his demons, sickness, death and even evil itself. He can simply speak and these powers must submit and obey Him because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Which then leads Jesus to rightly ask all of us, “Since I am Lord over all. Why are you so afraid and have no faith in me?”

All of us can have tough, direct questions for God in times of crisis. “Why God?” “Where are you?” We view situations from our human understanding and sometimes accuse God like the disciples, but then Jesus responds, “Look, I am here. Will not you trust me?” But to trust, means we need to turn from our understanding, and turn to Christ. Even when things do not make sense.

Christ is worthy of your trust. He died and rose again to show you who He is. Amid your fears, doubts and questions--trust Him. He is above all.  He is there. He is waiting. Yield to the All-Mighty Savior.

A prayer for you – Lord God, for those who are gripped by a storm, open their eyes to see you, for you are there. Speak peace to them and may they trust you, no matter what lay before them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 

The Highway to Hell

“Some joke about hell, while others have serious questions. Is it real? What’s it like? Who goes there?” 

In 1979 the rock band, AC/DC released their best-selling album, Highway to Hell, which is getting renewed interest these days. The blunt lyrics from title track say, “Don't need reason, don't need rhyme, ain't nothin' that I'd rather do, goin' down, party time, my friends are gonna be there to, I'm on the highway to hell.” The album sold 7 million copies, and lead singer Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning at the end of the album tour. (Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash) 

Some, like AC/DC, sing about hell in a jesting manor, while others address it with serious questions, “Is it real?”, “What is it like?”, “Who goes there?”, “How does someone avoid hell?” Growing up, I was in church all the time since my dad was a pastor, and when I came to hear about hell, it scared me. Yet, I never asked my dad or anyone else about it, I just buried my questions and kept living my own way.

For many, when they contemplate hell, the very existence of it seems unjust. Why would God create such a place of eternal darkness and torment? Some might consider hell a perfect place for people who have done the most heinous acts one could imagine, but not for most people, who are viewed as generally good. And the idea of hell seems confusing, when the majority of preachers talk about how loving God is, which seems incompatible with the biblical doctrine.

To understand the very concept of hell, we need to go back to the beginning. God is the Creator of all mankind. It is written, “God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:27) This means some of the qualities God has, He made within us. Take justice as an example. If you look across all cultures, races, ethnicities over the span of time, they all have laws in which to operate their societies, and all have some type of justice system for violating the laws. However, the justice of mankind is sometimes unjust. Why? Because as humans we are imperfect, and consequently, the world’s judicial systems do not always get it right, and in some cases, can be corrupt.

However, God is not like us. He has a perfect judicial system, because He is perfect, and applies His law and exercises justice without bias or favoritism.

The very reason for the creation of hell is the display of God’s perfect divine justice. Jesus once stated how hell was originally an “…eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41). Since God’s enemies violated the laws of heaven, He carried out justice upon them. Therefore, when mankind began to rebel against the Lord by violating His laws—the arm of God’s justice reached down toward us too.

Because we have fallen short, God has the legal authority to sentence us to hell, rightly exercising His divine justice. But in the midst of God’s heavenly courtroom, something curious is spotted. His mercy. It is noticed when a peculiar person walks through the door. The Judge says to Him, “Hello Son. Welcome and take a seat.” His name is Jesus.

God’s only Son was sent from heaven to earth to die and rise again for the injustices of mankind, for they violated His divine law. Jesus willingly gave Himself to suffer the punishment for mankind’s wrongs. The wrath of God that should have been poured out on us, was done so on Jesus---who was perfect and without sin. It is written, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18)

Because of Jesus, everyone has the opportunity to escape the judgement of God and receive His mercy. Today, come out of the darkness and into Light of Life. Turn from your disobedience and trust in Christ. Hear your Creator’s call. Exit off the highway toward hell and welcome His marvelous grace and mercy.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray the eyes of people will be open to the reality of hell. Bring people to place their faith in you, that they would avoid such darkness, and be brought into the Kingdom of your beloved Son. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Contending with Whiteness and Racism

“Is the focus on whiteness the 

best way to combat racism?”

President Joe Biden said in a speech that “White supremacy… is the single most dangerous terrorist threat in our homeland.” Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate Chuck Shumer wrote on his X account “The definition of white nationalism is not a matter of opinion…it is racist down to its rotten core.” Dr. Michael Emerson, a national expert on race, told a denominational gathering of the Evangelical Covenant Church in a presentation that, “Two thirds of white practicing Christians are not followers of Christianity. They are followers of the religion of whiteness.” (Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

In recent years there has been a growing focus on “whiteness,” with its many related terms. It has trickled down from academia into politics, business, education, media and in the church.  

Why? In part, because of the very real injustices of white Americans and Europeans upon people of color. In America, the African slave trade and the treatment of Native Americans are just two glaring examples of the past.  

But can I ask, is the focus on whiteness the best way to combat racism? To answer that we have to ask, where does racism and antisemitism come from? Does it originate from institutions? Are its roots found in someone’s skin color? It is deeper. The seeds come from the curse of sin, which has dwelt within every human being since mankind’s origins. It is a curse that causes all of us to do lawless, evil and immoral things. It is written, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”, and the Lord God says, “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind…” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

How government, groups and individuals treat one another is evidence of this wicked curse. And unfortunately, this has been a tragic part of human history from nearly the beginning. Every racial group and ethnicity has dark periods in the past where they senselessly oppressed and victimized others. Even today, the cries of oppressed people can still be heard throughout the world. 

There is only one answer to this inherited evil that has ravaged humanity. The solution is not found in addressing the problems of a single race, but rather what is beneath that skin. The human heart. There lay the problem! The white man’s heart must be changed. But so must the heart of the Black, African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. All of us must be changed!  

And where can that change begin? With you and me. And how can we receive that transformed heart? First, admit to God any prejudices that you have toward others. Second, be willing to accept others despite racial or cultural differences from you. Third, by faith believe in Jesus and His willingness to cleanse your heart and give you supernatural love for those whom you once rejected. Your heart problem cannot be cured through your own efforts, but only through the miraculous power of Jesus Christ. God once said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26)    

But then what? After transformed people are truly touched by the power of God, they begin to live differently. They show the world what the Kingdom of God is really like, for the Scriptures say, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” (Psalm 89:14) Changed people reach out and love those different from them. They forgive and make peace with others. They become a voice for God and speak up against the unjust treatment of people. They become conduits of justice advocating for the repealing of laws and policies that oppress others, and for new ones that promote the fair treatment of all. For the foundation of a more just society flows out of hearts that have been transformed by the power of Jesus and is guided by His Holy Word.        

A prayer for you – Lord God, we pray for the racial division within our nation. Let our eyes be lifted above skin color, and toward you. O Lord, cleanse our hearts from any prejudice toward others. Help us to love others different from us, and speak up against oppression, wherever it may be found. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mom. Starting Over Again

“To some degree, maybe you feel you have failed as a mom. Whatever has happened, stop and consider God’s plan for you.”

Hannah deeply loved her husband, but was childless. This weighed so terribly upon her, that she could not eat and was visibly distraught. So much so her husband said, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). Eventually she went to her place of worship where “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Sam. 1:10) In her desperate prayer for a baby boy she cried out to God and made a promise. If He would provide her a child Hannah stated, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” (1 Sam. 1:11). God did grant her request, and months later little Samuel was born, who grew up to become one of the greatest leaders in the history of Israel. (Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash)

The story communicates the natural, maternal instinct of a woman to have a child, which she was amazingly created by God to do. This is a normal God-given desire for a woman, and when she is blessed to have children, there is tremendous joy and fulfillment. Conversely, when a woman is unable to get pregnant, or when her baby dies in the womb or after birth, there is deep sorrow.

It is written, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man (or woman) who fills his quiver with them!” (Psalm 127:3-5) Motherhood is a wonderful blessing and gift from God. Whether it is one child or many. Whether biological, step, adoptive or foster care children. Whether in good health or with a disability. No matter the ups and downs, bliss or heartache, children are a blessing.

Like Hannah, if a woman is blessed to become a mother, then raising those precious little children becomes her heaven-sent mission. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished. Today men and women are choosing to remain single and not have children or delaying marriage. And those who do get married are putting off the start of their family, until years later, and are having fewer children than ever before. Why? Because the world we live in does not encourage the pursuit or priority of marriage and family. Rather, it encourages selfish individualism, throwing oneself into entertainment and recreation, chasing personal pleasure and putting money, career and materialism above the hard work of raising a family. 

God is our Creator and has laid out how we are to live, but all of us have fallen short. To some degree maybe you feel like you have failed as a mom. Maybe you are living with a man you are not married to and have one or more children. Perhaps you have had a series of bad relationships. You might admit how you have been putting your interests above your kids or have been verbally or physically abusive to them. 

Whatever you have done, stop and consider God’s plan for you.

If you feel like you have fallen short, come to Him with a humble spirit and admit how you have failed. No excuses. Then call out and ask God for His help to turn from your ways. He will hear and forgive. When God sent His only Son to die on a cross and rise again from the dead, He showed us that restoration is possible. Through turning from our sin and placing our faith in Christ, all things can be made new, which includes you. 

A prayer for you – Father in heaven I pray you will hear the cry of the barren woman to have a child. Hear the cry of the mom who has fallen short of your standards and give her new life in Christ. Hear the questions of the young woman who doubts if motherhood is for her. Show her how beautifully she is made and the purpose for which she was created. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Restoring Your Family

      "Let this be the start of a journey toward a new family.”

What is a woman? According to Merriam-Webster a woman is “an adult female person.” Then Webster defines female as one “having a gender identity that is opposite of a male.” How about a man? Dictionary.com says a man is “an adult male human being,” while giving male a complicated definition saying it is “having or relating to a gender identity that corresponds to a complex, variable set of social and cultural roles, traits, and behaviors assigned to people of the sex that typically produces sperm cells.” (Image by s05prodpresidente from Pixabay) 

What about marriage? The Cambridge Dictionary writes, that it is “a legally accepted relationship between two people in which they live together.” The 1828 edition of the Webster dictionary lays it out differently saying marriage is, “The act of uniting a man and woman for life.” And finally, what is the definition of family? The Collins dictionary describes it as, “A group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children.” While Britannica dictionary gives a more detailed understanding saying family is, “two married adults, usually a man and a woman…along with their offspring…more specifically known as a nuclear family.” 

Experts have described the family as the foundation of society, so when the family begins to be redefined, it can mean its downfall. Do you see what is happening in America? Increasing crime, poverty, mental health issues and overall cultural instability and chaos. These are all signs of trouble with the American family. Do you want to see this trend continue in your own life or family? Turn off the cultural noise. Swim upstream and consider living a different way.

The Bible is an accurate history book of mankind. It tells us how man and woman were created by God. After He created man, God said, “’It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’ So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:18,20-25)

The God of heaven and earth created man and woman. They knew Him, and He knew them. He brought them together as husband and wife to form a family, and called them to fill the earth with their children. But then something happened. Using the freedom God granted them, they eventually rejected Him. And when they did the family that God built, began to fall apart. As they persisted in following their own ways--men, women, marriages and families all began to feel the consequences of their choices. This is where millions of families are at today. 

But the good news, is it does not have to be this way anymore. God sent His only Son to die and rise again for you and your family. He came to point out that sin in our society, and in your own heart, is the cause of this upheaval we are living through. But there is a way to be forgiven and restored. When you turn from your sin and to Jesus by faith, with all your being, you will be transformed by His miraculous power. This will be the start of you being a new man or woman, a new husband or wife, a new dad or mom, a new son or daughter. It will be the start of a journey toward a new family.

A prayer for you – Lord God, bring dads and moms, and sons and daughters, to see how they have rejected you, and how it has impacted their family. Bring them this moment, to call upon you in faith, that they might be made new. In Jesus’ name. Amen.