Young guys and old guys praying together:

Something To Think About, 4 Generations of Pray-ers:

“Is it OK if I come to Prayer Meeting?” I’ve been a pastor all of my adult life, and off the top of my head I don’t recall ever hearing that question asked, before.  The question came from a grade-school aged boy.  He has come to our mid-week prayer and Bible study time in the past, but on those occasions he has attended with his dad.  His dad couldn't come on this particular night, thus the inquiry.  I assured the youngster that we would be glad to have him be a part of our meeting.  At this time of year our Prayer Meeting runs parallel with a ladies’ Bible study so, though our gathering is open to women, it tends to be a guys thing.  We aren’t a big group.  Last night there were four generations of males—a couple sixty-somethings, an assortment of forties & fifties, a mid-twenty, and my young friend.  We explored worship from Psalm 33—the how and the why.  Praising the Lord is what God’s people ought to do.  It is fitting.  We worship because of Who God is, His word, and His works.  Praising God is not an option it is a command.  We prayed.   We are a needy people.  The list of prayer requests that come our way always makes that clear.  We live in a world of breakdown—physically, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, nationally, every-which-way-ly.  Your name may not have been on our list, but we prayed for you.  My young prayer-partner had a picture of the family of a friend of his.  I’ve never met the folk, but I prayed for them last night.  I’m praying again as I type this.  It’s what men of God do.  “Is it OK if I come to Prayer Meeting?”  Big time, Yes, Absolutely! Why should a youngster come to what most would regard as a totally boring, absolutely irrelevant meeting, something that is completely over his head? To learn to be a man, a Christian man, a male of a breed that is perilously close to extinction—species Prayerasaurus:  one who is convinced that the command for “men in every place to pray” (1 Timothy 2:8) hasn’t exceeded its shelf-life--that, and to greatly encourage a gray-haired preacher. It's STTA.

The Face Others See:

Something To Think About, The Face Others See:

Last week when President Obama delivered the State of the Union address, Speaker of the House, John Boehner, spent a bit over an hour looking over the president's shoulder.   Actually, millions were looking at Boehner as the President spoke.  True, just past Obama's right shoulder Vice -President Biden was also looking at the camera, but for him the task at hand was fairly easy.  He is in the same political party as the President and supports the Administration's policies.  If he can master a supportive, interested expression, and chuckle at the jokes, he's pretty well got it made.   Boehner, on the other hand, had to master a whole dictionary of facial language.   The "I don't agree, but I'm still respectful" look, or the "in spite of the fact that I disagree with most of what this man says, I agree with this one point" expression."  There is the "over my dead body" glare, and the "I'm just as patriotic as you" glow.  Not to mention the "I'm trying to look interested even though I know exactly what you are going to say" body language. I'll let the pundits pontificate on how the Speaker did--that is if they have time left after discussing really important news, like deflated footballs--what I'm really interested in is, "What kind of face am I showing the world around me?"  In one of the most misunderstood and misapplied passages in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, the Apostle Paul makes clear that he cared a great deal how others saw him.  Too many of my sisters and brothers have adapted an "It's my right to look the way I want to look" attitude.  It's easy to act/look outraged, angry, insulted, or slighted for selfish reasons.  "Every body else wears their feelings on their sleeve, why can't I?"  Too many of us have become holy drama queens. John Boehner said that at the State of the Union his job is to stare at the back of the President's head and make no news.  That's not a bad paradigm for we followers of Christ. We have a message that the world very much needs to hear.  Let's make sure that the way we look out at the world doesn't detract. It's STTA.

State of the (Un)Union:

Something To Think About, The State of the Union:

Like many of you, I watched President Obama deliver the State of the Union speech last night. At the end of the address, the President appealed for a "better politics."  The variety of opinion on the plea is a clear indication that our Union is not unified.  Some applaud the President's extension of an "olive branch," hoping that the obstructionist Republican congress will be willing to respond in kind.  Other's cite President Obama's threats of vetoes and view his request to play ball with suspicion. Such is politics.  Beyond the applause for the heroic sacrifice of our armed forces and the patriotic pride about our Kennedy-esque, renewed space-program, there were few elements of the speech that rang everyone's bell--"Liberty" or otherwise. Here is my appeal to God's people for political unity:    “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, NASB95)   It's STTA.

The Apostle Paul & Charlie Hebdo:

Something To Think About, The Apostle Paul & Charlie Hebdo:

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome from the incredibly pagan city of Corinth.  In the second chapter of the book Paul challenges his fellow Jews,"You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?"  (Romans 2:22)  The question appears in the section of Romans in which the Apostle is demonstrating that all are lost, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE." (3:19)  Paul knew well the self-righteousness of many Jews.  He once depended on a brand of "righteousness which is in the law." (Philippians 3:6)  One of the chief tenants of this Jewish, DIY brand of righteousness was freedom from any involvement with idolatry.  Paul's question must have stung. The suggestion that Jews would be involved in robbing temples dedicated to the worship of gods which were no gods at all, was insulting but not unreasonable.  Deuteronomy 7:25 specifically forbids theft from idolatrous temples.  It makes sense.  Often those idols and other paraphernalia of worship were made of gold and other precious substances.  If I can shut down worship that is an insult to the one true God, and at the same time put some precious metal in my portfolio, why not?  For now, just leave it with this:  God says, "DON'T!"   A short time before penning the interrogation in Romans 2, it would appear that Paul and his companions had been accused of robbing temples.  After the riot at Ephesus instigated by those who made their living from the worship of the goddess Diana (or Artimas), Paul's associates were brought before the clerk of Ephesus, the official responded to the crowd's accusations with these words: " . . . you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.” (Acts 19:37)   The worship of the image that had supposedly come down from heaven was not opposed by attacking the idolatrous infrastructure, but by the proclamation of the truth.  (Read Acts 19.) Like many of you, I find a certain sympathy with the Charlie Hebdo satarists.  I'm told that their work is quite vulgar, but when they are attacking a false religion, should I be concerned?  From a political viewpoint I defend their freedom of speech.  Without equivocation I condemn the murder committed in the name of Islam.  However, when it comes to the proclamation of the truth I reject their methods of the satirists.  I want to live my life in such a way that if I am ever accused of attacking those whose religion is a lie, that an honest official would be able to say, "Get out of my office.  What you are saying is false." It's STTA. Here are two article on this subject that I found well worth reading: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2015/01/terrorism-is-wrong-so-is-ridiculing-peoples-faiths/ http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26699?spMailingID=10405660&spUserID=MTMyMjUxNDA3MwS2&spJobID=461351905&spReportId=NDYxMzUxOTA1S0   Here is a site where you can find out about Jesus Christ and His plan for you.  You'll find several opportunities to explore.  If we can help you, let us know.  covingtonbiblechurch.com

Erosion

Something To Think About, Erosion:

When I was in college at Baptist Bible College of PA, I had the privilege ofattending the Osterhout Bible Church, near Tunkhannock.  The church was near enough the to the Susquehanna River that it flooded a time or two during major floods.  Right next to the church was a lovely farm, run by one of the church families.  One time when my dad was visiting he had occasion to chat with the patriarch of this farm.  It was only a few months after a major flood.  Huge ditches had been gouged out of some the exposed earth on the farm.  "What do you do about it?" my dad inquired.   "Well, if you tried to fill in the eroded places, you'd just have to rob topsoil from some other part of the field, and that wouldn't be any good," said the farmer, "so we'll just do what we can to control further erosion and begin to fertilize the area with manure, and, in time, we'll again build a layer of productive soil."  Clearly my agri-friend was thinking long-term. We live in a time in which we have seen moral/ethical erosion.  Standards that once kept bad things from happening, or at least slowed them down, have been knocked down, or allowed to deteriorate over time.  There have been a deluge of rhetoric and cultural influences that have left jagged fissures in the moral landscape. What do we do? We don't have the power or the resources to fix years of decay in one fell swoop.  Forgetting the specifics of the previous illustration, we need to add that which is worthwhile, even if it is just a little.  To change the image--gladly, by the way--Jesus said we are to be salt and light.  Anytime we can cast the light of God's truth and His presence through our lives onto the rutted moral surface of our culture we should eagerly do so. This Sunday at CBC we'll take time to do that in regard to the way our culture views the life of the unborn.  Join us in person or via our Truthcasting channel. It's STTA. Here is a site where you can find out about Jesus Christ and His plan for you.  You'll find several opportunities to explore.  If we can help you, let us know.  covingtonbiblechurch.com

Fact of Life:

Something To Think About, A Fact of Life:

I've been privileged to function in several roles in which I have sought to influence the way people think, perhaps, more importantly, the way they feel, about what is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable. What people believe--really believe in the core of their being--has life and death consequences in the real world.  I just read the remarkable story of Louis Zamparini.  Part of his account is told in the movie, Unbroken.  The movie and more so the book chronicle the inhuman way World War Two prisoners of war were treated in Japanese prison camps.  Statistics clearly indicate that prisoners held by the Empire of Japan died at rates far, far higher than inmates in any other World War Two era prisons.  Why? It has been impossible to not hear about the recent tragic murders in France.  The news from Paris has amplified reports of other atrocities.  Again, when civilized people hear of such horrors we ask, "Why?"  I just read about a documentary filmed seventy years ago.  It was never finished and released.   The subject of the movie is what many regard as the greatest atrocity of the Twentieth Century, The Holocaust.  How could civilized people perpetuate such a horror?  Why would others choose to suppress a film that exposed the degradation? In each of these cases, and countless others like them, at the bottom of these horrid actions is not a lack of laws but a system of belief that provides justification for the horrid action.  Japanese were taught that one who surrendered in battle rather than fighting to the death had dishonored himself and was thus unworthy of humane treatment.  The killers who murdered the staff of Charlie Hebdo shouted the justification for their killings.  Protecting the honor of the prophet justifies virtually any action.  The antisemitism of the Nazi regime was key in producing the death of Millions of Jews. We tend to think that the key to changing our culture is politics, legislation, and judicial appointments.  Indeed we can identify many politicians and political movements that have made significant differences.  As the presidential campaign ramps up to 2016 we will see and hear ads, and get phone calls that indicate that the saving of our nation, and indeed our way of life, depends on the election of candidate X.  I'm not saying elections aren't important, they are, but they are not most important.    Moms and Dads who teach their children are far more important.   Religious leaders who mold the consciences of those who hear them have powerful impact. Public leaders who lead not primarily by coercion but by persuasion and even more so through inspiration--think of the powerful words of Abraham Lincoln--will change culture in ways that will last for generations.   Let's remember that as we approach the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established the current state of the law in regard to Abortion.  Our task is not stop abortion.  What we need to do is to clearly establish the sanctity of human life.  If we believe the fact that human life belongs to God, and that we cannot take it without His sanction, then we will see abortion for the abhorrent act that it is. It's STTA.

Something To Think About, The Value of Human Life:

This Sunday many churches and individual Christians will take note of, and attempt to deal with an unpleasant reality in our nation, and, indeed, much of the world.  Abortion has become an integral part of our culture.  Abortion is a big business, there are those who make their living through its continued practice, and there are political and educational groups that exist to see that the "right for a woman to choose"  is not in any way diminished.  Abortion is embedded in our society.  It is not something that is forced on us.  It is a practice that we have come to accept or at least tolerate.  When I say "we" I speak of the collective voice of our culture.  There are those of us who clearly don't accept the taking of young human lives, we accept it only in the sense that we find ourselves unable to deal with it decisively.  We may be able to make the case that a majority of Americans oppose, or have serious problems with our current laws and practice concerning the life of the unborn, but still, on that level where "we the people" speak with authority, we approve. What do we do? While many, especially younger Christians, are tired of the culture war, and the divisiveness it has brought, we shouldn't remove the pro-life question from politics.  We speak most clearly when we choose those who will represent us.  We cannot act as if what a candidate believes about the protection of the life of the unborn is irrelevant.  It matters. We need to reach out with compassion and practical kindness to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances.  My extended family includes several children who were adopted instead of aborted.  A number of my friends are involved professionally, or informally, in providing care, love, and guidance to children who would otherwise be ignored.  I'm glad to say that I see friends working with at risk moms--trying to help them do the right thing--most generally, what their heart tells they ought to do, that is, decide for life over death.  We need to do more. This is a battle for the heart.  Our emphasis needs to be on persuasion rather than coercion.  Our goal is not merely to force people to do what is right, rather we should seek to make our case so that We will choose to do what is right. I'll have more to say Sunday at 8:30 & 10:55. It's STTA.

Family Is Worth The Trouble:

Something To Think About, Family:

This is the first STTA I'm sending out this year.  Kathy and my year began with a mammoth 3,000+ mile car trip to Louisiana and Texas. The question  hangs in the air. The answer is contained in the picture at the top of this email.  Like many families in our day ours is spread across many miles.  Our elder son and his family live near Monroe Louisiana, his little brother is five hours farther in College Station Texas.  On the way to see their families, my wife and I were privileged to be involved in the formation of another family.  Family is worth the effort.  It was only for a couple of hours, but between visits with each of our sons' families, we were able to get everyone together for a couple of hours.  It caused my gray head to swell.   Family takes work. Over the years I have often had conversations with dads who wanted to leave, moms who wanted to quit, spouses who wanted to split, and kids wanted to run away or blow the whole thing up. Often that would be the easiest thing to do, and indeed there are situations when families just can't be saved, but building families, doing family, and working hard to preserve a family is always a good thing. It's worth the effort. It's STTA.