Walking With Jesus

Drifting Toward Shadow

“When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.’” (Matthew 4:12-16 NLT)

To live in sin is to live in darkness of mind and heart, apart from the light and life of the Lord Jesus, but when we yield our life and allegiance by faith to the Lord, He fills us with His Spirit who pushes out the darkness and opens to us an avenue of new life, hope, meaning and contentment we never knew existed. The essence of the Light is to believe the Truth; the essence of darkness is to believe the lies of Satan.

The plot thickens because Satan doesn’t have the capacity to tell the truth and doesn’t take our commitment to Christ sitting down. He’s constantly bombarding us with lies that seek to contradict the Truth of God’s Word and pull us back into the darkness. The battle we face as long as we’re residents of these bodies of flesh is to stay in the Light and not drift into the shadows of compromise that quickly pull us back into sin.

One of Satan’s favorite lies is: “That’s not so bad, after all, aren’t all your friends doing it!” Or “What’s one little drink, smoke, snort, puff, high, going to do? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it anymore!” “Sex is good, God invented it, stop being such a prude.” And a thousand other lies and innuendoes to get us to question what God’s Word clearly teaches.

Ray Majoran addresses this in his beautiful prayer: “Lord God Almighty, You are the Author of life, the One who formed us from the dust of the ground and breathed life into us. Your Word declares what is true about our condition and our hope. You have spoken plainly that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23); we acknowledge the weight of that truth before You.

Father, we see how easily death settles into the human heart, how sin hardens what was meant to flourish, and how darkness can feel familiar if we linger there. Yet You have not left us in that condition. You call us to walk in the light, for You Yourself are light and in You there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). You urge us to turn and live (Ezekiel 18:32), and You command all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30), holding before us the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Strengthen our hearts to respond with obedience and faith, and guard us from growing comfortable in places where death still stands.

Holy Spirit, awaken any part of us that drifts toward shadow, and lead us fully into the light of Christ. Let us not remain barren when You offer life, nor resist when You draw us toward truth. Establish us in the new life You give, so that where death once stood, righteousness now takes root, and where sin once ruled, grace reigns through Jesus (Romans 5:21). May the evidence of new life in us point beyond ourselves to the Savior who rescues and restores.”(Where Death Once Stood)

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Another Look at Suffering

“While He was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing THEIR FAITH, (emphasis mine) Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2b-5 NLT)

Have you ever thought about whose faith drove those men to Jesus? Yes, it was the faith of the men who brought him that caught the attention of Jesus, but was it their faith that launched them on their journey in the first place? We don’t know for sure but think about it with me. Either way faith activated the men’s decision to take their paralyzed friend to Jesus – theirs or the man’s faith who was in need.

Perhaps the paralyzed man had heard about Jesus, from his four friends or others, and that launched hope in his heart and caused him to begin to think: “If only I could get to Jesus!” Or was it his friends, maybe only one at first, who decided after hearing Jesus speak: “We’ve got to get our friend to Jesus!” Regardless of who or how, one man’s suffering culminated in, not only someone’s healing and new birth, but the unforgettable experience of four friends who have become famous forever because of their faith.

So, what’s our takeaway? Perhaps you, like me, have chronic health issues that are becoming more debilitating. Every day I awaken not knowing if I’ll have the strength to climb out of bed, but my faith is strong and I’m trusting the Lord to use me as long as there’s an ounce of life left in me. But how? Through this blog for one, but also through emails, texts, and phone conversations that allow me to stay in touch with others whose lives are being touched by my illness.

John Piper reminds us: “Our suffering may be intended by God to draw out of others something they wouldn’t otherwise have experienced.” What if something we say or do in an interaction with someone in the course of a doctor’s visit or treatment gives someone incentive to stop feeling sorry for themselves and begin investigating faith in Jesus?

Or what if family members, friends, neighbors, or those who hear about our faith as fellow sufferers, open their hearts and minds to seeing Jesus in a fresh way? That’s why I pray continually that the Lord will allow me not to complain. My wife is always asking me how I’m doing, and I try to be honest, but not complain. Today I’m weak and have spent an inordinate amount of time in bed, but while my body is very weak today, my spirit is strong and my love for Jesus is equipping me to do what I might not otherwise have energy or interest in doing.

We must not allow our suffering to stop us completely. Yes, I understand that one day our body will dictate what we can or cannot do, but as long as our minds and spirits cooperate to give us the ability to think and speak, we must continue to glorify and honor Jesus to the best of our ability. I’ve mentioned before that one persistent request I’m making of the Lord is that if I forget everything else, I will never forget Him or forget to share Him with others.

Who do you know who is suffering that you can come along side of and, like the four friends in the Biblical story, share your faith to inspire healing and wholeness in them? Or perhaps you’re the one who is suffering, but your faith is strong, who can you inspire by your love for Jesus?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What It Means to Be Lost?

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13 NLT)

There is a sense in which to be lost is to be worthless, without value, of no earthly good. Think about it. If I lose my wallet that contains my credit cards, health insurance information, driver’s license, and whatever else I keep in it; of what use are those things to me if I don’t have access to them? If I lose my car, my house, or anything else of material worth, I can no longer count on them to be of value to me in the carrying out of my daily life?

To be lost in a Biblical sense is to be separated from God. That’s what sin does and unless and until our sin is dealt with, we are hopelessly separated from God and of no eternal value. Lostness leaves us helpless and hopeless to save ourselves or to work our way to heaven, which essentially means whatever contribution we make on earth is bound to earth and is of no heavenly value.

Yet, the Good News, actually, the GREAT NEWS, is, lost people are exactly the ones for whom Jesus died! Unlike salt that can never regain its saltiness, lost people can be given new life that enables and allows us to be infused with the life of God Himself; thus, given the resource of strength and hope to be of great eternal worth. But how?

Lostness is a spiritual condition that blinds us to the things of God and causes us to instead focus solely on the things of this world. Self becomes the god of our decisions and becomes the motivating factor behind our every action. Thoughts of God get lost in our incessant drive to “make something of ourselves,” resulting in an ever-deepening spiral of defeat that results in our eternal lostness and separation from God.

Satan blinds us with material desires, including, but not limited to sex, that demand our attention to the exclusion of any spiritual pursuit; thus, blocking our path to any meaningful relationship with God or receiving anything of spiritual value. The satisfaction of the body and mind forego any pursuit of the satisfaction of the soul, but, as Jesus reminds us in Mark 8:36: “Is anything worth more than your soul?” with the clear implication, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Lostness is a spiritual condition that can only be corrected by a spiritual transformation that can only be found in a personal love relationship with the Creator of the Universe. His name is Jesus and He died to pay the penalty for our sin, free us from our lostness, and fill us with Himself, resulting in a life of eternal meaning, purpose, fulfillment, joy, peace, and satisfaction.

Knowing, loving, and serving the Lord Jesus is the epitome of what life was always meant to be and results in what Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. The picture Paul paints in this verse is of the ugly caterpillar who becomes the beautiful butterfly. Our being bound to the earth is traded for wings to soar spiritually in our love for and devotion to the Lord Jesus.

After “flying” with Jesus for more than 60 years I can tell you definitively, I don’t miss anything about my old life, but I love everything I’m discovering about my new life in Jesus, but the best is still to come! Please don’t waste another second being separated from the Lord. Please tap on this link and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a simple, straightforward reason and way to yield your life and allegiance to Jesus right now, while you still can. Lostness is deadly! Being found in Jesus is eternally lifesaving and life giving!

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Gap Between God and Science is Closing

By: John Stonestreet and Dr. Timothy D. Padgett

*As I continue to use the 1^st of the month to share important articles to inform your mind and stimulate your spirit, today’s message from the Colson Center will hopefully encourage you and inspire you to see the Lord more clearly and know He is firmly on His throne. Blessings, Ed 😊

In a recent article in The Spectator, a French engineer, investor, and author argued that “It’s getting harder for scientists not to believe in God.” According to Michel-Yves Bolloré,

More and more convincingly, and perhaps in spite of itself, science today is pointing to the fact that, to be explained, our universe needs a creator. In the words of Robert Wilson, Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of the echo of the Big Bang in 1978, and an agnostic: ‘If all this is true [the Big Bang theory] we cannot avoid the question of creation.’

For centuries, the inherent conflict between faith and reason and between science and religion has been widely assumed. For example, in their 2003 book, Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe, scientists Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee argued that, contrary to science fiction, there is little chance of complex life existing anywhere but Earth. However, just because our world is kind of special, they carefully pointed out (multiple times), does not imply it came from a Creator.

Bolloré thinks that this philosophical cold war is thawing, and not because scientists are abandoning facts and reason. Rather, facts are convincing them of the truth:

With sets of converging evidence from different scientific disciplines—cosmology to physics, biology to chemistry—it is increasingly difficult for materialists to hold their position. Indeed, if they deny a creator, then they must accept and uphold that the universe had no beginning, that some of the greatest laws of physics (the principle of conservation of mass-energy, for example) have been violated, and that the laws of nature have no particular reason to favour the emergence of life.

The long-running conflict between science and religion was entirely unnecessary. The Bible affirms the goodness of God’s creation in multiple passages. Genesis 1 describes the cosmos as a glorious Temple built for the fellowship of God and man. Psalm 19 argues that the beauty and order of creation points us to the Divine Artist behind it. Job 28 encourages human curiosity and exploration of the material world. By studying His world humans are led to worship God.

Even without getting into the intricacies of Scripture and theology, the stereotype that science is rooted in the neutral investigation of facts and religion rooted in imagination and feelings is historically idiosyncratic. That claim was more reflective of Scientism than actual science or scientists, as is the claim by Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion that freethinking scientists will lean toward atheism. The history of science is the history of hundreds of scientists—like Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Faraday, Galileo, and others—who both believed in God and played foundational roles in establishing the scientific disciplines.

The change Bolloré has described in the Spectator article is primarily among the emerging generations of scientists, prompting the author to ask:

Could they be the ones showing older generations a new way forward, one in which religion and science can coexist? And, more to the point, we now have the scientific evidence that would support a big shift in perspective. In the words of 91-year-old Carlo Rubbia, Professor of Physics at Harvard and Nobel laureate: ‘We come to God by the path of reason, others follow the irrational path.’

Of course, the false dichotomy between science and religion is still deeply imbedded in many universities and scientific institutions. But that can be changed. Granting that a Designer exists can only make attempts to uncover and understand design in the world easier. Plus, it gives meaning to scientific work. What if a new generation of scientists see their work like Johannes Kepler did, as “thinking God’s thoughts after Him?”

In his 2000 book God and the Astronomers, Robert Jastrow predicted:

For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.

Well, to put it mildly, theology has had its own issues. Still, we can all be hopeful that the war between science and religion is coming to an end. It should have never started in the first place.

Love One Another

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” (John 13:34:35 NLT)

Some of my deepest hurt and most long-lasting pain has been inflicted by fellow believers. And the frightening thing to me is, it’s not that uncommon in the Body of Christ, but why? A couple possible scenarios come to mind.

First, could we be so focused on the lost we lose sight of how important it is to treat our fellow believers with respect and dignity? A similar thing can happen in our literal families. We can get so engrossed in our service to people we hardly know, we lose sight of those in our families that are needing our attention and “ministry”.

It’s a common phenomenon in Pastoral ministry, especially in small churches. Constituents see the Pastor as their personal “concierge” believing the Pastor should be at their beck and call any hour of the day or night. And the tragedy is, many Pastors of small churches fall prey to their selfish demands, as I did, believing it is our sacred duty to “serve the flock.” It saddens me because it took me so long to learn how to deal with that.

But secondly, in the Body of Christ it seems we feel we’re in competition with our fellow believers, that if they get recognition, so should we; after all, “Isn’t our service to Christ just as important as theirs?” It’s a sad commentary on our understanding of Biblical Truth. Jesus said clearly in the above verse that the way He loves us is our goal and ambition in loving others, not our comparative performance.

As a Pastor I loved to recognize the hard work and effective service of those in my congregation, but it was always at the risk of alienating someone who might feel that slighted. It was never my intention, but it seemed to always be an issue. But I’m also reminded of the effect our “hurt feelings” have, not only on others in our own congregations, but on those who are watching from a distance.

Phil Wing reminds us that “Loving other Christians is one of the most missional and evangelistic things a Christian can do.” We often lose sight of who might be watching, not only our individual lives, but the corporate lives of our church. The first congregation I served as a Senior Pastor was surrounded by homes in a small neighborhood in Kentucky.

As I knocked on door after door of my neighbors it was revealing how much they knew about the church and of our “comings and goings”, some accurate, some not so much. Unfortunately, people outside the church are often looking for excuses to stay away and the slightest morsel of gossip they can stir up regarding conflict among the “saints”, is fuel for their “fire”.

The truth is, loving one another well begins as we humble ourselves before the Lord, seeking His strength, courage, wisdom, and guidance in loving others like He loves us – unconditionally, openly, freely, with grace, wisdom, and understanding. He doesn’t judge us at the first sign of misunderstanding, but guides, informs, equips, and walks with us as we live out the implications of whatever issue it is.

The more we personally seek to live and walk in the likeness of our Savior, the easier it will be to love like Him. And the better job we do at loving others in the Body of Christ, the more effective will be our witness to those who are watching from the proverbial “fringes”.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

A Letter to My Neighbor

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”’” (Mark 12:29-31 NLT)

Today I will share with you a letter I wrote to a neighbor with whom I’d had a conversation a few days before. He is an atheist and very closed to anything regarding the Christian Faith. I had a brief video by an atheist who had committed his life to the Lord that I wanted to show him, but he shut me down and said: “I’m not interested in seeing it.” We talked for several minutes, but I continued to be frustrated by my inability to formulate my thoughts and respond to his questions. Afterwards, I felt like I’d failed God and literally cried over my “failure” to get through to Him.

But after my brief “pity party” ended, the Lord explained to me that while our conversation was disappointing to me, it went exactly as He’d planned it would and that I should just trust Him to do what only He can do in my neighbor’s heart and life. What follows today is what the Lord gave me as a follow-up to that conversation. It’s lengthy, but I believe it’s better to let you read it in its entirety than to break it up over two days.

I’m sharing it for two reasons. First, the Lord prompted me to share it, but, secondly, I believe it may give you some material to use in reaching those who are lost in your spheres of influence. I sincerely appreciate the time you take to read these articles and pray this letter will prove helpful to you. Blessings, Ed 😊

So, here is what I wrote:

Thanks for the time you took to speak with me a few days ago, it was disappointing to me in some respects, but very helpful. As you quickly learned, I don’t think well on my feet and struggled to make sense of any kind of reasonable answer to your many questions. But as I ponder our conversation, it seems odd to me that you shut down the idea of God so easily, as He is the One who gives you the capacity to question Him in the first place.

Just because you don’t believe something doesn’t make it not true. For centuries people thought the earth was flat, but it didn’t make it true, there were just things they didn’t yet know or understand. One day, on this side of eternity or the other, you’ll understand. I sincerely hope and pray it’s on this side.

Of all of God’s Creation, mankind is the only one who has the capacity to think, to reason, to question and to decide our own fate. And the irony is, our ability to ask is only half the equation. We fail to have the ability to understand the overall plans of God. They can only be given by revelation of His Spirit. An answer you don’t yet believe but is nonetheless true.

You asked me where hell or heaven is? While this isn’t the whole answer, there is a sense in which they are extensions of what we choose to believe while we’re here on earth. What does that mean? It means, on the one hand, though I have a debilitating illness, I choose to believe that’s just part of the deal. Why shouldn’t I get sick? I’m a human being, and human beings are all going to die…of something! Why not Alzheimer’s? But sickness, suffering, and death here on earth are only a very small part of the equation which will be explained and eliminated on the other side. I don’t question the Lord; I’ve learned to trust His judgment and believe what He says in the Bible is true. I’m staking my eternal life on it and so should you.

But, unlike other species of creation who will also die, we have a choice as to what happens, not only after we die, but before. Many people, like yourself, are walking, talking dead people. You have physical life, but your soul is dead. You can’t understand spiritual truth because it’s only given to those who are willing to believe God exists and ask for His revelation of what is true.

I know, that seems hard and, in some respects, seems like a copout, but it’s Biblically accurate and fully true. The whole of Scripture is a picture of life on planet earth and the forces of good and evil and what happens when evil wins (in this life) and when good conquers (in the next). We’re not basically good as some people believe. We’re evil to the core and incapable of sustaining any measure of goodness without God. The Bible says, as you may recall: “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10) (He had mentioned to me that he’d read the Bible)

Why is that? Because we’ve chosen our own way over God’s and the sad truth is, hell isn’t some horrible place God makes us go when we die, it’s the eternal state of life we choose for ourselves in this life that extends into the next. The only difference will be, after we die our spiritual “eyes” will be opened, and we’ll finally understand what we ignored and rejected when we had the chance in this life. If you want a picture of this, check out Luke 16:19-31. It’s not pretty, but it’s where you’re heading and that breaks my heart. If you don’t have a Bible, Google it.

Please don’t allow Satan to blind you to what’s true. What you believe is the accumulation of a lot of information you’ve gathered and accepted as true over the years as you’ve sought to deal with a lifetime of things you haven’t liked and didn’t understand and you’ve turned to human reasoning to find answers. There are no lasting answers except in God’s Word, the Bible. Don’t allow the pain you’ve suffered to harden your heart to the only true and living answer – faith and hope in the Lord Jesus.

Please read the Bible again, beginning in the Gospel of John in the New Testament. John was Jesus’ best earthly friend, the one to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mom when He was murdered. John’s writings reflect His firsthand account of what life was like when Jesus walked the earth. He’s the only one of the original twelve disciples who died of natural causes, but he’s also the author of The Revelation, the last Book in the Bible that explains in figurative language what’s going to happen when life ends on this planet.

The other 10 original disciples, besides Judas who hanged himself because of his betrayal of Jesus, all died as martyrs, unwilling to deny that Jesus was exactly who He said He was – God’s Son, God poured into human flesh who walked among us and showed us firsthand what God is really like. Those men were not morons; they were men ignited by a love of God that only comes through faith in what and Whom is True. Would you die for something you knew was a lie?

Please read John, then go back to Matthew (also an original disciple who gives his firsthand account of Jesus’ life and gave his life in death for his faith), the first book in the New Testament, then read straight through the New Testament, including John again, in a modern speech translation. The New Living Translation is the best, it’s the one I use for my daily reading. I will gladly buy you a new Bible if you’ll agree to read it or you can download a free Bible app that has multiple versions. As I said, I like the NLT.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Please. What if I’m right? (You know in your heart that I am 😊)

It may seem corny to you, but I love you and it grieves me to think of being in heaven without you. I’ve walked with the Lord for more than 60 years. I’ve heard all the arguments for and against belief in God and I’ve chosen to put my faith in the One whom I’ve come to know as real, alive, and trustworthy. You’ve asked me, “How can I be sure?” Because I speak with Him every day and He speaks to me, primarily through the Bible, but in more personal ways also. He’s the One who has guided me in writing these words for you.

With love and respect,

Your neighbor and friend,

Ed 😊 (I also included my phone number)

P.S. I have one small favor. When I die, will you come to my funeral? It’s all I ask. I believe it will give you insight you can gain in no other way why I believe what I believe and why I’ve been so persistent in wanting you to believe it too. My wife will let you know when that time comes. I can’t wait! 😊

Pastor Son’s Trial and the Crisis in South Korea

By: John Stonestreet

*Realizing I’m using the Colson Center a lot lately, please understand two things: (1) the vital nature of this article and (2) the privilege we have to respond in support of this man of God and his family, but also (3) to become better informed as we pray for him and our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering across our world today. It is coming to the U.S.A. and in some ways is already here, but if we neglect to support our Faith family across the world today who will there be to support us tomorrow? And “yes” I signed the petition. Blessings, Ed 😊

A few thousand worshippers at last week’s Sunday service at Segero Church in the city of Busan South Korea sang loudly, “All my life, you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good …. I will sing of the goodness of God.” The song is appropriate for a congregation that has grown so dramatically from about 20 members a few decades ago to a 23-acre campus buzzing with life and activity. After the service, dozens of church members prepared free lunch for everyone who wished to stay, as they do every week. This practice, an elder told me, makes it possible for the church to also offer meals for the wedding celebrations that take place at Segero Church nearly every weekend, at no charge to the marrying couples. It is an essential way for the church to address the crisis of the nation’s declining marriage and fertility rates, among the lowest in the world, though you would not know it from the hundreds of young people gathered at the stage to sing each service. Last year, the church also started a Christian school.

And yet, since August, the lead pastor of Segero Church has been in prison, accused by the government of election interference. I visited Pastor Son, hoping to encourage him. Instead, he encouraged me, and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. He gave me courage, like he has for his three children, who advocate on his behalf; the elders and pastors of the church, some of whom are also being targeted by the state; and his wife, who spends most nights sleeping and praying at the church. Meanwhile, during the time he has been imprisoned, Pastor Son has written a book and is sharing the Gospel with his fellow inmates.

It may be that Pastor Son, in his zeal to speak out against the current administration’s progressive, socialist, and pro-LGBTQ platform, violated the letter of South Korean law. At best, that might merit a fine. Instead, he has been arrested, threatened with 16 charges, held in jail pending his trial, and faces significant prison time. The intent of the government is clear. Like the state of Colorado did for Jack Phillips, the process is the punishment. It is meant to elicit fear and silence dissent.

I asked if the government’s attempts at intimidation was working, or if other pastors and Christians were speaking out. Many had spoken out, I was told. But many others had not. They, like many Americans, believe that Christians should avoid politics altogether.

Of course, Christians just across the border in communist North Korea have no luxury of even having an opinion. There, I learned from a tour guide, a Bible will earn you a lifetime sentence in a hard labor camp. There is no freedom, religious or otherwise. There’s also not enough food.

South Korea, on the other hand, is an economic miracle. Industry, infrastructure, and innovation abound. Seventy-five years after the communist North invaded the free South, the results are in, and it’s not even close. South Koreans have every reason to sing of the goodness of God. And that is why they also have every reason to be concerned by the outrageous treatment of Pastor Son, as well as the many other ways the current party in power is compromising religious freedom.

Years ago, Chuck Colson warned of alarming language being used by certain American political leaders. Instead of “religious freedom,” they referred to “freedom of worship.” There’s an essential difference, said Colson, between the freedom to order one’s public life around their deeply held convictions and merely allowing someone to believe what they want in their own heads, hearts, homes, and houses of worship. Thankfully, in the years since, American courts have consistently upheld true religious freedom, but not because progressive lawmakers, politicians, and judges haven’t tried their best to chip away at it.

This seems to be what is currently happening in South Korea. If it does happen, it will be because of both progressive lawmakers who hope to sideline any religious resistance to their agenda and because of Christians who were willing to have their convictions sidelined. And it would be a tragedy.

Please pray for Pastor Son, his wife, and his children. Please pray for the leaders and members of Segero Church, that they would remain faithful and courageous during this time. Please pray for his trial and sentencing, which is scheduled for the end of this month. And please consider signing the petition launched by the Christian Broadcasting Network, asking our government to speak out on behalf of Pastor Son.

Are we losing our civilization?

John Stonestreet joined Dr. Al Mohler on “In the Library” to discuss the crisis of truth in our society, the Truth Rising project, cultural engagement, the life and impact of Chuck Colson, society’s manhood crisis, surrogacy, the apologetic of Christian marriage, religious liberty challenges, and more.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPxpk-9JJyc

When Life Caves In

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (John 16:20-22 NLT)

A dad told the story of his little boy, maybe six years old, who upon seeing his old neighbor sitting alone crying on his porch following the death of his wife, told his dad he was going to go over and visit his neighbor. He was gone for quite a while, but upon his return his dad asked him: “Son, what did you say to our neighbor?” To which the little boy responded, “Oh, nothin’, I just sat down beside him, held his hand and helped him cry.”

When times are hard and pain is deep, we don’t need explanations, we need someone to comfort us with presence, not words; after all, isn’t that what the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, does? Paul addresses this in Romans 8:26-27 when he writes: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Photo by Karolina Grabowska http://www.kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

And the beauty of this process is, the Holy Spirit, as He did with the little boy above, guides, empowers, and enables us to sit with those who are hurting and keep our mouths shut, except to silently pray. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Bob Benson, who died much too soon, whom God had filled with sensitivity and wisdom far beyond his years wrote: “When life caves in, you do not need reasons – you need comfort. You do not need some answers – you need someone. Jesus does not come to us with an explanation – He comes to us with His presence.” Some of his books are still available on Amazon and I highly recommend you check them out. My favorites were “Come Share the Being”, “Laughter in the Walls,” “He Speaks Softly,” and “Something’s Going on Here.” Shortly after his passing his publisher made available “The Stories Bob Benson Used to Tell” that is also still available.

Reading books that point us to Jesus is important in our growth and development as a believer. Even as my Alzheimer’s progresses, I’m always reading at least two good books in addition to my daily reading and searching Scriptures. What are you feeding your heart, mind, and spirit? What’s the focal point of your thoughts when no one is looking? What we think about comes about, so whatever it is, it will show up in how we speak and live. It’s a law, we can’t prevent it, for good or ill.

Why is this important? Because when life caves in we have a reflex mode to which we retreat that will either lead us straight to Jesus, despair or someplace in between. Where is it for you? If it’s not immediately into the arms of your loving Savior, why not correct that right now. Tap on this link and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a brief, but powerful explanation of how to know you’re walking with the Lord. You’ll be eternally grateful.

Blessings, Ed 😊

30 Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Home (Part 3 of 3)

By Trent Griffith

*If you missed parts 1 or 2, please go back and read them before going further. Blessings, Ed 😊

18. Where local church participation is a priority.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

19. Where hospitality is offered generously.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9).

20. Where all God’s image bearers are welcomed and honored.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

21. Where joy and laughter are abundant.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

22. Where thankfulness occasionally produces spontaneous singing and dancing.

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

23. Where tears are allowed without shame.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5).

24. Where learning never ends.

“Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

25. Where the first portion of the family income is given back to God.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

26. Where every family member contributes to the care and keeping of the home.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

27. Where families seek the well-being of their neighborhoods and communities.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

28. Where families use their resources to meet the needs of those who are under-resourced.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

29. Where every family member’s unique design is celebrated and utilized.

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5).

30. Where a family uses its home to build other godly homes.

“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

*Trent is the Vice President of Content Development for FamilyLife and speaks frequently with his wife, Andrea, at Family Life’s Weekend to Remember^® marriage getaways. Prior to joining FamilyLife, he planted and pastored Gospel City Church in Granger, IN for 13 years. He and Andrea also spent 15 years as conference speakers with Life Action Ministries. Trent is a graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis. They have four children and live in Orlando, FL.

30 Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Home (Part 2 of 3)

By Trent Griffith

*If you missed part 1, please go back and read it before going further. Blessings, Ed 😊

6. Where covenant love builds intimate and durable marriages.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Hebrews 13:4).

7. Where godly husbands love their wives by laying down their lives.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

8. Where godly wives love their husbands through support and encouragement.

“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).

9. Where godly parents raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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

10. Where children are welcomed as a gift from the Lord.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3).

11. Where humility and dependency on God are expressed.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).

12. Where family members attempt to outdo one another in showing honor.

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).

13. Where widows and orphans are cared for.

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).

14. Where truth is spoken in love.

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25).

15. Where patience and kindness permeate the attitudes and atmosphere.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

16. Where sin is frequently confessed.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

17. Where forgiveness is frequently sought and granted.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

360 DEVOTIONS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE ON THE DAYS YOU FEEL LIKE IT (AND THE ONES YOU DON’T)