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Shock the Culture – How millennials can (really) change the world

Shock the Culture — How millennials can (really) change the world

We all have opinions, and often they are shaped from an experience we may have had at one time or another. The day-to-day life of a believer is no different. Whether we are at work, school, or running errands, we run into people who challenge religion, the church, or Jesus himself. There is even a former presidential candidate who stated that Christians should not hold positions of influence within government. As such it’s becoming more and more common to be openly hostile to Jesus and His church in our culture today.

Why is that? Why do people feel it is acceptable to marginalize any group? Isn’t it widely accepted that people shouldn’t be judged by which group they belong to? While we can complain about the perception the world has of us we need to ask ourselves whether their perspective is the reality?

We’ve heard all of the common complaints against the church. We’re selfish, hypocrites, or we think we’re better than everyone else. Where do they get these ideas? Wouldn’t it be much nicer if they used the fruits of kindness to describe us?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).

Believers sit on a fence, and we have our hearts firmly planted in the faith while our feet are planted in our day-to-day activities. Is this just a public relations issue or is it systemic throughout the Western Church? Regardless, there is a disconnection in the way we perceive ourselves, and the world perceives us. It is as if the word “Christian” is synonymous with “Hypocrite” in our society.

In his book “The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back” Phil Cooke lays out a fairly compelling argument that it is not a public relations issue, however, a real issue with us. While writing this book, Cooke conducted some research into the churches behaviors.

70% – 80% of Americans classify as Christian, however, attendance at church weekly is 20% of that number. Cooke states that American Pastors claim that regular attendance at church is 3 out of 8 weeks according to most pastors (19 Sunday’s in one year!)

Of the 20% that attend a service, 63% say that prayer is essential (which means 37% don’t think prayer is essential)

Of the 20%, only 10% give 10% of their earnings as tithing

Cooke states that all of the things non-Christians say about us are true. It’s as if we’re the fat guy at the gym who is lecturing everyone on health.

Our churches focus on baptism, tithing, and attendance. All of which are at all-time lows. Did Jesus focus on those things? Shouldn’t we aim to be more like him? How did Jesus walk? He stood up for the weak, the oppressed, and the sick. He healed the broken and rose people from the dead. You still sad that Chick-fil-a is closed after church?

It is true, God has time for murders, adulterers, and other sinners, however, he does not have time for a believer who knows what to do and doesn’t do it.

The mission

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35, NIV)

The early church rose from nothing. No political power, money, education, or plans. How did the disciples go from being a fringe group to being the most influential forces in the world?

The disciples were committed. How many of us can say we’re even half committed to the great commission? They made a substantial impact on Roman culture by taking in the sick, outcast, and downtrodden. In Roman times infanticide was a major issue. People would dispose of their babies and wouldn’t even give their baby a name until they decided if they’d keep it. One of the major tactics the early church did was to take in these abandoned children. They created hospitals, orphanages, and universities. The Roman culture started to wonder who these people were and were drawn to the love they displayed.

Real world example

Going out of your way to help someone is a struggle with our busy lives today. However, I’d like to share with you a real story that we can all relate to.

Tara, a member of a local church reached out to the local church community for help through the ARISE app crowdservice tool. It is a tool that churches use to coordinate acts of kindness and to reach out to their local communities. Her mother (a believer who doesn’t really attend church) needed to move, and she didn’t have enough money to pay a moving company. She was just diagnosed with cancer and needed to move in with her other daughter. Within a matter of a day three people (all from different churches) said they’d help. The day was set and the move was happening.

Tara could not be there on moving day so her sister came. She is an atheist and was anti-church. She didn’t have luke-warm opinions, she had very warm opinions of the church and let’s just say they did not resemble Galatians 5:22-23.

The move went smooth and the van was packed up in no time. No one threw a bible in her face or tried to perform an exorcism on her. A few days later, Tara asked her sister how the move went and she was taken back that three random people would show up to help her mother like this. Tara said to her sister “you know that they were all Christians, right?” Tara’s sister reply was great, she said: “well, I like those Christians.”

Just a simple act of kindness can move mountains. Just imagine what would happen if we as a church reached out like this? We’re not saying we all need to become Mother Teresa, but if we actively took part in performing acts of kindness like this the perception of the church would change, just as it did in ancient Rome.

What are the ways we can shock the culture?

There are 450,000 kids in foster care system today. What a large number of kids, right? No, not when you realize that there are 350,000 churches in America. If one family in each church said they’d take one or two kids, the whole system would be wiped out in one year, then each year another family did it. If the church body supported the family thereafter to help care and love these kids, we would transform lives!

It’s called crowd-service. It’s when large amounts of people chip in random acts of kindness to make a huge impact for Christ. The ARISE app is built for this: to show the world God’s love and grace. This is how we can change the public relations issues that the world has of Jesus and grow deeper in our relationship with Him.

Would another orphanage, hospital, or school shock our culture? Probably not, but would a new technology that upended the very core of the social safety net in western civilization? Absolutely, we use technology for money transfers, taking pictures, and many other things, why not to show the love of Jesus?

When people are in need they should turn to the church, not the government. We are here to love them. The roadmap is here: we are to love our God and love our neighbor. Let’s take that and apply it to these modern times.

Next Steps

Download the ARISE app today and get started. Ministry programs are great, but you need to take ownership of your own faith and love your neighbor yourself. Your pastor can’t love God for you. Bring what you have and remember what Jesus did with the fish and bread when he fed the multitudes. Are we different than the rest of society? What do I want to be? A complacent person who goes to the Sunday morning social club or a navy seal for Jesus? If your church isn’t pushing you to be active in your faith, then you need to find another church.

Together we can shock the culture in the same way that they did in the first century. What’s stopping us? Read their manifesto to learn more about this mission.

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So You Think You’ve Married the Wrong Person?

5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

When I saw Roger’s Facebook profile photo, my first reaction, if I’m honest, was that he wasn’t good-looking enough for me. Yet when he sent a message saying I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, I gave into his invitation for dinner, she says in regret.

“According to a new survey of more than 1,600 divorcees, 49 percent  admitted they were worried on their wedding day their relationship would break down, and two-thirds considered leaving their spouse-to-be at the altar.”

“A sixth said they hoped their partner would change after the wedding, while others said they got married in the hope that it would “all work out” in the end.”

Lord, I’m sorry! I married the wrong man. Please forgive me, she cries out in agonizing prayer.  

No couple should expect bliss every day and most couples know that perfection is not on the cards. Nevertheless, there are couples who display such deep-seated incompatibility, such heightened rage and disappointment, that most people will conclude that something else is at play beyond the normal scratchiness: they appear to have married the wrong person.

How do such errors happen, in our enlightened, knowledge-rich times? To avoid becoming a “statistic,” try to internalize these 7 insights.

#1. You picked the wrong person because you expect him/her to change after you’re married.

Many Christians may assume that non-believers are more likely to marry the wrong person because they lack God’s guidance in finding their one true love. But not so fast. Unfortunately, the number of Christians divorcing is no lower than that of non-believers.

“Singles today (and most married couples too) are searching for super-spouses that simply don’t exist.”

Movie star Mickey Rooney said, “Marriage is like batting in baseball; when the right one comes along, you don’t want to let it go by.” It sounds good, until you realize that Mickey was married eight times. He must have had a lot of “good pitches” to swing at!

Mickey Rooney has what might be called the “needle in a haystack” view of picking a mate.

But you won’t find a “wrong needle” clause in the Bible that gives you an “out” if you conclude that your spouse isn’t right for you. Instead you’ll find in Malachi 2:15, “Do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”

Surprising to many, the Bible never tells us to find the one God has chosen.   It tells us how to live with the person we have chosen. It’s easy to take our thoughts to the extreme when we’re so unhappy. But lets not forget that God says in the Bible says, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).  You didn’t marry a mind reader.   Don’t fault him or her for that.

#2. You picked the wrong person because you focus more on chemistry than on character.

Many societies portray marriage as a temporary arrangement that can be adapted or forsaken at will.  When first looking out for a partner, the requirements we come up with are coloured by a beautiful non-specific sentimental vagueness.  All of us are crazy in very particular ways.  All too many people say their vows without a real commitment to their spouse or to God.

Marriage is not primarily about finding the right spouse. It’s about being the right person.  In his classic work, The Art of Loving, Erich Fromm declares, “To love somebody is not just a strong feeling—it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.

#3. You choose the wrong person because you do not share common life goals and priorities.

Biblically, a Christian should be looking to marry another believer who shares a similar commitment to following the Lord Jesus. Marriage to an unbeliever should be avoided (2 Corinthians 6:14). So, if a Christian marries a non-Christian, he or she may have indeed married the wrong person.

#4. You choose the wrong person because you got intimately involved too quickly.

“Do you know unmarried couples who attend church, have consensual sex, and may even live together? According to a recent study by the Barna Group,”

The Bible is filled with lots of info about sex, and believe it or not, God thinks it’s a great idea! And why shouldn’t He, He invented it  and declared it to be “good.”

Many Christian couples also justify cohabitation with the rationalization that they are going to get married eventually. However, the Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (Hebrews 13:4). Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage.

If you believe Christ died on a cross for your sins and you are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, Christ commands you to pick up your cross and follow him (Matt. 16:24). Sex outside of marriage is a sin, no matter how a person tries to interpret Scripture otherwise, and every Christian is called to obey God in this aspect of life. Jesus said.

Also consider this, if the Bible’s message on sex before marriage was obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives.

#5. You picked the wrong person because you didn’t put everything on the table.

Let’s start off with the big one.   TRUST!  When a spouse is persistently and relentlessly lying about dim-witted things, it causes worry and doubts to set up camp. The journey begins like this. A young man or woman identifies the person he or she wants to marry and begins the business of serious courtship. Time and money are no object.  They have a worthy goal and are motivated, even if that means telling lies in the process.

“You look as beautiful today as the day I met you.” “Of course you don’t look fat in that.” “I’m not angry.” “I wasn’t looking at her, I was just noticing her boots.”

Legally, all you need for a wedding is a visit to the county clerk’s office, and whatever else your local government requires.  Most weddings these days skip the garter toss; many skip the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and some even skip the flowers. But what matters most is that you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“If you tell the truth, it becomes part of your past, however, if you tell a lie, it becomes part of your future”. ~ Author Unknown”

Wow does that quote nails it, or what??!!

#6. You picked the wrong person because you use the relationship to escape from personal problems and unhappiness.

In many places in the world, a fantasy is promoted that marriage should meet all our needs—the emphasis being on meeting one’s own needs, not the needs of one’s spouse. However, people that are unhappy when single and expect marriage to fulfil their lives are greatly disappointed as their level of contentment will drop even lower when married.  Unrealistic expectations are those demands you make of your spouse of which he or she is incapable of providing.

“When you’re single, you experience a range of contentment from low to high. However, when your married, that range becomes even wider in both directions. Greater contentment—or discontentment.”

God wants to destroy you, not the physical you, but the  selfish you. Jesus taught us that if we don’t die to our selfish nature, we will never be able to experience all the blessings that God wants to bestow on us. Well, if there was ever an institution designed to kill the selfish you, it’s marriage. In fact, it is virtually impossible to succeed at marriage if you don’t learn how to let the selfish part of you die.

#7. You picked the wrong person because you did not consult with God

“I don’t think I can do any better. He or she said, It may sound clich, but if you don’t respect and love yourself, it will be difficult to respect and love another person.”

Surely we aren’t destined to fail.  So maybe we have misunderstood the will of God. I know that sounds simplistic.  Many people claim that is the problem with their marriage.  If they could go back and press rewind, if they knew back then what they know now, they would have made different decisions. But remember that God promises us that if we ask, He will give. And while asking, request that the Holy Spirit guide you as your Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).

How can a person prevent getting married to the wrong person?

The truth is, a successful marriage is not the result of marrying the “right” person, feeling the “right”emotions, thinking the “right” thoughts, or even praying the “right” prayers,

Instead, keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards,” is good advice (Poor Richard’s Almanac, June 1738), but even more helpful is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

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Unravelled

Reflecting upon 2017

A new year is bestowed upon us once again. Once again I find myself reflecting on the previous year. Likewise, I am praising God for triumphs and trusting Him with ongoing struggles as our family prepares for 2018.

Thankfully, last year brought healing for myself and my family. This was more of a spiritual, soul healing. The year started off with leftover pain from the latter part 2016. Once spring rolled around, I was ready to let go and give my hurts to God. Once I was able to lay it down and walk away, God smiled as He tenderly comforted me. His forgiveness allowed me to forgive.

Around the same time I was finally able to move forward from the pain I had held onto for so long, my husband lost his job. Now, surprisingly this wasn’t much of a storm for us. God had strengthened us from a previous job loss that lasted a year. At this point, we had learned to do a nice little jig in the rain. It’s a great testament to God’s handiwork through previous trials when you can fully trust him in the valley.

The job loss lasted a few months and our family was met with an open door from a company that would give us hope for the future. This new job opportunity required my husband to work out of state for two weeks at a time. He would then be home one week and return for another go around. The job was physically demanding for my husband. Not only that but working in full gear, combating RA symptoms, in the summer heat did a number on him.

After one of his shifts, he called me as he did every other night. He was very discouraged and I could tell his voice was weak. He was telling me that he just couldn’t do the job. I knew in my heart he had the most determination I had ever seen in a person. I never imagined that he would really have to quit.

But he did. I was devastated.

After I had some time to process the situation, I was able to determine what caused all of my angst. I had built my hope so high on this job and the promise of a better future. When this came crashing down I unravelled. I don’t think I have ever been so caught off guard with something that I felt I had some kind of control over. In reality, I had zero control. However, I had already planned on these future dreams for our family and I assumed that it was written in stone. When the tablets were scattered in pieces below my feet, I just couldn’t handle it. It took a few days, but I eventually got over it. My husband and I also had a nice laugh about how crazy I had acted! Not only that, but I realized that sometimes God will allow you to unravel to preserve you with His truths.

“Sometimes God will allow you to unravel to preserve you with His truths.”

God is sovereign

Regardless of how I thought things should turn out, God ended up having a job waiting on my husband when he got home. I knew this was some of that amazing mercy being poured out from our loving Heavenly Father.

The rest of the year was mostly uneventful and it was a welcome change.

Well, almost.

Fast forward to the day after Christmas. At 7:30 that night, my husband and I found ourselves in the ER with our four-year-old son. He had a broken elbow. Did I mention he is autistic and mostly nonverbal? Yea. Good times.

Even though I was dreading the visit, I knew I had to be strong. I had envisioned the worst possible scenario in my mind and I was expecting it to go down for everyone to see. This is what I like to call autism awareness; real-life meltdowns in public places that include shrieks, hitting, and tears. Sometimes I try to explain and sometimes I just let the actions of my child do it for me.

We got back to the room and waited for the doctor. After several pain-filled X-rays came the diagnosis and a temporary splint.

We returned home and my husband was shaken to the core. It was definitely an unwanted visit, but it had gone better than for what I had prepared. God had so strengthened my weary heart over the past year that,  I felt as if he was giving me a new perception of our special needs world.

My son sat there on the ER bed, screaming. No words to express the pain and anxiety. Only high-pitched dissatisfaction to portray how he felt in that moment. Right before they came to splint his arm, he had let out the loudest, highest-pitched yell that I had ever heard. While he was belting it out, his eyes were locked steadily on mine. Halfway through the noise, I could clearly hear what my son was saying. “I’m scared, mommy.”

I had held it together up to that point. But, even as the tears rolled uncontrollably down my cheeks, for the first time, my heart had a clear purpose. I understood why God had chosen us for this special needs journey.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how many special needs children and adults have been left out in the cold by families who would rather not.

These families decided they would rather not have autism in their lives. They would rather not have to deal with the stress that comes along with raising a child with special needs. They would rather not, but rather let someone else handle it. More than likely an institution or the state government.

I have read about the institutions that housed special needs children and adults in the 1940’s. My stomach turned and my heart broke reading about the living conditions. Not to mention the abuse. The parents of those precious souls decided they would rather not. By the sounds of it, the people that were to be caring for those that couldn’t care for themselves had made the same decision. There is nary a word in the Oxford dictionary that can give justice to what those children went through.

All of these thoughts had pierced my heart the instant I heard my son scream his lungs out- his only way of communication.

Yes, he was helpless. Yes, my heart broke for him.

What hurts the most was knowing that there are still families that decide that they would rather not. Instead of institutions, they choose cages or closets in their own home. They would rather not, so they literally put their autistic child out of sight AND out of mind.

So, when my husband talked about how hard that trip was, I was secretly rejoicing.

We are so very privileged to be able to provide the care our son needs. We are blessed that our family was chosen to freely extend the love of Jesus to a child that has needs outside of society’s norm.

Autism Acceptance  

Which brings me to the sum of the autism equation.

Because modern medicine has made leaps and bounds since the days of special needs institutions, autism families are more empowered. Families are given sooner diagnoses and quicker treatment plans. Often times, these plans include a team of people that come alongside the family for care and support. It’s a far cry from cold sterile rooms and days without normal human interaction.

As these families gain support through therapies and treatments, their load is greatly lifted. They are more likely to venture out in public and risk a meltdown. Instead of feeling abandoned and alone within the walls of their homes, they feel like society is warming up to the idea of autism and the uncanny nature that comes with it.

And therein lies the solution.

Love. Understanding. Acceptance.

 

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Album Review: The Bigger Picture – Jerry Fee

The Bigger Picture - Jerry Fee

For those unfamiliar with Jerry, he’s a thirty-five-year-old singer-songwriter from Spring Hill, Tennessee and this will be his third full-length studio album, having released two EPs prior to that back in 2014. To think he’s released so much music over a four year period is certainly a testament to his prolific songwriting and recording. He has already garnered comparisons to twenty-one pilots, Imagine Dragons, TobyMac and Mutemath, which may give readers an indication of what to expect here – twenty-five minutes of unadulterated synthy-pop goodness.

The Bigger Picture – Jerry Fee
The Bigger Picture – Jerry Fee

The album opens up with the funky ‘Learning To Love (Like You)’, which definitely sounds like some kind of 80s throwback, with its toe-tapping beat and infectious chorus, it wouldn’t sound out of place on a Wham record. Except it’s about Jesus, which obviously makes things a lot better – “remedy’s got a name: Jesus”. It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the album, immediately making you want to get up and dance, or at least rock about in your seat a bit.

Title track ‘The Bigger Picture’ addresses the important issue of how easy it is to drift our focus away from God in the busy, over-commercialised and sin-centered world we currently occupy, with Jerry begging the Lord to help him see that “bigger picture” and “lift the veil away” so that he can better walk in the light.

‘Stars (More Of Who You Are)’ has a bit of a reggae feel to it, and again starts with a bit of an 80s island throwback, with plenty of pop synths and delicate guitars, then moves to a rap in the middle, crossing genres into hip-hop. The uplifting and positive chorus declares that God is “proven in the stars, written on our hearts”, the theme of the message here being that evidence of the Lord’s works is all around us if we open our eyes and hearts to see his blessings and receive his grace.

‘Color The World’ was the first single off the album, which Jerry has described as being about “this life, our one time around, is our one shot to ask God how we can join Him in making the world more beautiful – to colour the world”. It’s upbeat in its electro-pop style, with a solid rhythm section and slick production.

This collection of eight delightful songs finishes off with ‘Never Gonna Quit’, with a synth riff that you can’t help bopping to, and a determined message that “fear will not rule me” and with God’s love we can achieve anything.

None of these songs particularly sound like overly in your face worship music, but if you actually pay attention to the lyrics, the meanings behind them are very clear. It’s the type of music you could play to a secular friend to try and bring them to salvation and it wouldn’t totally freak them out (hint: you should try that)!

The musicianship is of a high calibre, the instrument choices diverse, the vocal delivery spot on, and with the occasional dabble into different genres, it’s certainly an enjoyable little album that shows promise of more in the future.

Jerry Fee is an artist who’s still making a name for himself in the industry but is definitely one to watch out for. His releases can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and all the usual digital outlets and are well worth checking out. Wind your way over to his Facebook too and hit like to support an up and coming Christian artist.

Rating: 7/10

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5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

Living in an over-sexualized culture, we hear messages about sex, wrong messages.   These messages become more a part of us than God’s truth because we hear them repetitively and churches are scared to address sexuality.

For too long, I believed the world’s message about sex.   That it’s a superficial, feel-good avenue to self-satisfaction.   Wrong, partly.   God did design sex to feel good!

But, there is more than that.   He designed it for profound spiritual, physical, and emotional connection.   It is just a shadow of things to come.

God’s design of sex is too amazing to keep silent about.

Here are five truths about God’s design of sex in marriage.

God designed sex to be bonding.

Not only spiritually bonding, but emotionally and physically.   When the two become one flesh, biochemicals are released in our bodies like oxytocin and dopamine.   Oxytocin, especially, is a bonding chemical.   When I embraced this truth and started engaging in the marriage bed more, the tone of our marriage completely changed.

“This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh,” Genesis 2:24 (NIV).

God designed sex for both husband and wife to experience pleasure.

It’s an equal opportunity activity.   Why else would there be a clitoris?   It’s only function is for pleasure.   The Song of Solomon is full of beautiful poetic language about the pleasures of physical love for both spouses.

If one spouse struggles with the ultimate moment, there are Christian resources available to help the couple understand how to achieve mutual enjoyment.

“The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved,” Song of Solomon 7:13 (NIV).

God designed sex so that we would know yearning.

Before you were married, you yearned for your fianc.   Not only did you crave your fiance’s touch, you craved his/her presence and knowing him/her better.  Even after years of marriage, it is good to remember this yearning.  It mirrors how God desires us to yearn for him.   I believe this is one reason he frequently uses the marriage as a symbol of his relationship with us throughout the Bible.

“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:5 (NIV).

God designed the marriage bed to be a place to show the fruit of the Spirit.

Peace, patience, love, joy, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control are the foundation of all Christian life, especially the marriage bed.   All conflict surrounding the marriage bed can be managed through employing these key traits.

My own marriage endured a long season of mismatched sex drives.   It was through these qualities and some wise communication tools that we overcame our conflict.

God designed sex as a powerful mystery.

Biblical stories of sex often confused me when I was young.   There was some nasty stuff in the old testament, the rape of Dinah, Lot and his daughters, the men of Gibeah  clammering for the male visitor, Leviticus 20.   And yet, there is the beautiful Song of Solomon.   The New Testament seemed to prefer celibacy, to be honest.   As a teenager, I couldn’t understand why I liked thinking about sex if it was disgraceful and violent.

But, as an adult, I realized the stories were teaching me that sexual intimacy is powerful and mysterious.   It’s OK not to have it all figured out, as long as you respect the power it holds to do good when it is aligned with God’s perfect design.

“For my thoughts  are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the  Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:8-9.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the world’s message of cheap sex destroy the meaningful sex in your marriage.   Sex may only be a small portion of the whole of your marriage.   However, sex matters.   It especially matters if one spouse is more interested than the other.   When we ignore its power and importance in marriage, the relationship suffers.

Now, granted chronic health issues can affect sexual function and that’s a more complicated story.

 

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Can We Find God Through Nature?

What Does It Mean That God "Speaks" Through Creation?

The world began with a story. A spoken word made material through the creator of the universe.

The Lord is good to all people and his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. Psalm 145:9, 10.  

We love to contemplate the character and love of God in His created works.

But what evidences has He given the children of men of His power, as well as of His parental love?

The vastness of the universe gives testimony to God as Creator. The Hubble telescope continues to reveal previously unknown galaxies. Our awesome universe simply astounds us. Under the night sky, King David of ancient Israel asked God:

“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! .When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is a man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

“All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psalm 8:1, 3, 4; Psalm 145:10).  

The Suitability For Life On Earth – An Example Of God’s Witness In Nature

  1. The physical size of the earth is just right to support life as we know it.
  2. The moon is just the right distance from earth. If it were much closer, tides which are now harmless, would completely submerge the continents twice a day.
  3. The composition of the atmosphere is about 78 parts nitrogen and 21 parts oxygen, just perfect, as too much nitrogen in the atmosphere would slow down all functions of the body so that death would finally result.
  4. The atmosphere of the earth also serves a protective blanket to shield us from deadly radiation.
  5. Water is colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water).

This Is Not A Coincidence!

It is difficult to believe that all of these things are a series of fortunate coincidences.

To Enjoy Nature, Is To Enjoy God

The prevailing cosmological view during the Middle Ages in Europe was that the Earth was flat, instead of round. However, had our world been formed on a perfectly flat surface the tediousness, lack of variety, variation and the repetitiveness and uniformity would have fatigued the eye and wearied the senses and created a lack of interest, excitement, and eventually dreariness.

Instead, God has dressed our world with hills, valleys, and ranges of mountains. The rugged granite and mountains decorated with evergreens, and valleys with their softened beauty make the world a mirror of loveliness.

We can never be lonely while viewing the grand scenery of nature.

The snow-capped mountain heights, hills, and valleys should be to us as schools in which to study the character of God in His created works. The works of God which we may view in the ever-varying scenesshould teach us lessons of the skill and love of God and of His infinite power.  

Those who study nature cannot be lonely. They love the quiet hours of meditation, for they feel that they are brought in close communion with God while tracing His power in His created works.  

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Living Through Grief

The Road of Grief

Death. Most of us do not choose it for ourselves, much less for our loved ones. Both of my children died before me. Each year as I approach the anniversaries of their deaths, Pax in May 1982 and Catherine in April 2011, I walk a journey of remembrance.

Many of those who have been bereaved of precious loved ones find themselves doing this. We replay conversations. We think about who said what, who did what, what happened next. We may remember the weather vividly or some other detail. The last time we shared a meal together is a precious memory.

Remembering in this way is a natural part of the human experience of loss, and we are reminded at Easter that this is also a normal part of our Christian experience.

We are beckoned onwards this week. We know what’s coming. We began on Sunday, a lovely sunny day as it happened, celebrating the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. We’ve sat at his side at the table for the last meal with his followers, breaking bread and drinking wine in remembrance.

Evening falls, and we watch with him in the garden as he prays and weeps. We wait with bated breath for the arrival of Judas, the Betrayer. Our hearts are racing as we consider what happens next: Jesus is about to suffer. He will be ridiculed, questioned, accused; he will be stripped, beaten, crowned with thorns.

It is Good Friday now. We follow his faltering steps as he carries the cross. We are not alone. Crowds of grief-stricken women also follow, weeping and mourning.

Can it get worse? Yes, it can and it does. Jesus suffers the pain of crucifixion; the wooden beams are raised and he hangs there. Most of his friends have abandoned him. Still, his enemies mock him. There is agony, there is blood, and then there is death.

This journey of remembrance is painful yet it is one that is taken by many millions of Christians throughout the globe each year. Tears are shed as we dwell for a time on the sacrifice Jesus made in choosing to accept this cruel death.

Nobody tells the multitudes of mourning Christians to “move on” during Easter week. Nobody tells them, “stop your crying,” and expects them to “find closure” when the body of Jesus is laid in the tomb.

But so often that is the attitude of others towards a grieving spouse or partner or parent or child or sister or brother or friend. The Christian community does not always travel well with the mourners. There is usually sympathy for the person whose heart has been broken by loss, but the expression of that sympathy can be shallow. Often it simply does not acknowledge the depth of the pain of loss.

“She’s at peace, she’s with the Lord now.” (Yes, but she’s not here.)

“At least his suffering is over.” (But why did he need to suffer? Why didn’t God heal him?)

“It was God’s will.” (Really?!)

“Time heals all wounds.” (Nothing and no person can replace the person I’m missing.)

“Everything will be okay.” (How can it be? They’re gone!)

“Don’t you need to think about moving on soon?” (Moving where exactly?)

And the list of clichs and platitudes continues. We’ve all heard them, and most of us have probably said them at some point in time, in a well-intentioned effort to comfort the grief-stricken.

But would those have been our words of support if we had mingled in that crowd of grief-stricken women following Jesus to his death? Would they have been comforted?

Come Saturday, if we had found ourselves in the locked room with his disciples, would we have spoken those trite sayings? Would we have told Mary his mother, “time heals all wounds”? Would we have told John, “It’s time to move on”?

I don’t think so.

We now know that the days leading up to the big event – the procession, the supper, the betrayal, the trial, the crucifixion – were not the end of the story. The anguish and hopelessness was followed by Sunday. The sun rises. Jesus conquers death.

But on the way to that victorious moment, there were many tears.

As individual Christians grieving our personal losses, the message of Easter does give us hope, but it is simplistic and just plain untrue to think that this all we experience. We are living with the sad absence of our loved ones and that can be hard to bear.

I have hope that my children are at peace and that one day I will see them again, but I still miss them.

I imagine how Pax would have looked and behaved if he had reached his 4th birthday, his 10th, his teens. It is hard for me to conceive how different my life would be if he was here now, perhaps a parent himself, which would have meant I was a grandparent. He would be 39.

And I miss dear Catherine, with her generous heart, funny sense of humour and love of cooking, but also her struggles with bipolar disorder. I miss her phone calls, I miss our visits. I miss having a daughter to advise me on clothing styles. I miss long talkative walks. I miss being able to congratulate her on her latest attempts at work or study. I miss sharing a cup of coffee or a meal out.

Easter isn’t only the palm branches of celebration and the sunrise of hope. There is also a procession of tears. Being more honest about grief, acknowledging it, facing into it, is how I believe we can survive the losses in our lives, as well as support others who are walking through their own dark valleys. The Road of Grief – How Well Do We Travel with the Mourners?

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Can Rock Star Alice Cooper Really Be A Christian?

Can Rock Star Alice Cooper Really Be A Christian?

Thinking back to the rock celebrity from the 1970s, Alice Cooper, and your mind will probably conjure up images of a creepy long-haired guy with runny black eye makeup who plays with snakes. In an age when hard rock was associated with all things evil, Alice Cooper seemed to epitomise that genre. His style was macabre theatre and he played it up with all his might.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Raised as a pastor’s kid (and the grandson of an evangelist) Alice Cooper grew up in Detroit and Phoenix as Vincent Damon Furnier. He even served in the church as a pre-teen. But as a teen, Furnier wandered off from the church to begin his rock career, eventually adopting the band name “Alice Cooper” as his own. In many respects, he became a completely different person.

Inspired by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and The Who, Cooper’s band jumped quickly into fame in the 1960s and 1970s with showmanship as well as musical talent.   Drugs and alcohol came naturally along with the mix, while violent stage antics began to draw more and more attention. Glam-rock costumes, fake blood, torture of baby dolls, and even mock human executions became trademarks, leaving audiences wondering what could be next.

The effect was controversial in public, to say the least, while Cooper’s life was on a downward spiral in private. Hospitalising himself for alcohol addiction in the late 70s, he wasn’t able to kick his habit of illicit substance abuse. Barely able to remember recording some of his albums in the 80s, Cooper was so addicted that his wife filed for divorce (they then reconciled). He began acting in B-grade horror films as well as appearing as a dark personality in many other formats.

Since then, things have drastically changed again.

The faith of his childhood never went away and Cooper eventually hit rock bottom. He looked around himself and saw his drinking buddies, including Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, realised they were dying before they were 30, and didn’t want the same for himself.

When he bottomed out, Cooper knew where to turn. He credits his full recovery to God.

Appearing as King Herod in NBC’s live version of Jesus Christ Superstar for Easter 2018, Alice Cooper’s dark experience likely allows him to identify with Herod’s dark side more than the average person.

Now 70 years old, Cooper declares that he and his wife are both Christians who read the bible and pray every day. Alice’s wife, Sheryl, also grew up as the child of a clergyman. The couple has remained faithful to each other throughout their 42-year marriage and are thankful that their three kids have never had any problems with alcohol or drugs.

Alice Cooper doesn’t consider himself to be particularly “religious” but he does go to church every Sunday. He also heads up a faith-based organisation in Phoenix, called Solid Rock, which ministers to teens in partnership with a local church.

Cooper says that Christianity is all about “dependence on Christ” and a “one-on-one relationship”. And he is adamant that there’s nothing in the bible that says he can’t be a Rock Star.

Check out these lyrics from Cleansed By Fire from the 1994 album “The Last Temptation”:

What about truth

What about life

What about glory

What about Christ

What about peace

What about love

What about faith in God above”¦.

You’re lost

And I’m found

And I’m Heaven Bound

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24 of Bonhoeffer’s Most Challenging Quotes

Bonhoeffer's Most Challenging Quotes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, spy, anti-Nazi dissident, key founding member of the Confessing Church as well as one of the most influential spiritual voices across the globe for decades. It’s a good thing for the modern Church that Bonhoeffer was determined in his course.

Bonhoeffer grew up amid the academic circles of the University of Berlin, where his father, Karl Bonhoeffer, was a professor of psychiatry and neurology and was awarded a doctorate in 1927 at the age of only 21.  He also studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York from 1930–1931. During that time he attended Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and became deeply interested in the issue of racial injustice.

Bonhoeffer’s involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler  led to his imprisonment and execution on the 9th April 1945.

More than seventy years after his death, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings on faith, the Church, ethics and the nature of God serve as a touchstone for all of us who seek to understand a Christian’s responsibility in the face of injustice and have gone on to have a profound influence on Western Culture and the legions of Christian thinkers who’ve encountered them ever since.  He also remains an important symbol of opposition to Hitler.

Here’s a look back at some of Bonhoeffer’s most powerful quotes.  

ON GRACE  

“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

ON JUDGING OTHERS

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”

ON LIFE  

“Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.”

ON SIN

“May we be enabled to say ‘No’ to sin and ‘Yes’ to the sinner.”

ON JUDGING

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”

ON SERVING GOD

“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”

ON GOD’S LOVE

“God does not love some ideal person, but rather human beings just as we are, not some ideal world, but rather the real world.”

ON GOD’S WILL

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”

ON SERVING OTHERS  

“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.”

ON OBEDIENCE

“One act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons.”  

ON EVIL  

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

ON STANDING UP FOR INJUSTICE

“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders, I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”

ON GRATITUDE

“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.”

ON FOLLOWING CHRIST

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

ON INJUSTICE

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

ON PEACE

“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.”

ON ‘DEFENDING’ THE BIBLE

“Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God’s word, but testify to it. Trust to the Word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity.”

ON REAL MORALITY

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”

ON PEOPLE  

“We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”

ON SPIRITUALITY

“When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.”

ON FELLOWSHIP

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”

ON PROOF OF GOD

“A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol.”

ON THE FUTURE

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”

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What Does The Bible Say About Idleness?

What Does The Bible Say About Idleness?

Are you familiar with the English quote, “Idle hands are the workshop of the devil?”

This actually originated from the Bible. This popular proverb was in fact taken from Proverbs 16:27. In The Living Bible, it says, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.”

From Scriptures, we discover that God disapproves of idleness and His ministers share the same sentiment. In Ephesians 5:15 the Bible exhorts us to make the most of every opportunity. The author of 1Thessalonians (possibly, the apostle Paul) pens helpful advice: “

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11,12).

1. Idleness results in an unmanaged home.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 says, “Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.”

Experience does show that when people neglect to promptly deal with what needs fixing, problems complicate and go from worse to worst.

2. Idle people never amount to anything.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

It’s in trying that we discover what we can and can’t achieve. It’s in venturing that we discover what will work and what won’t. Who and what we become tomorrow starts today.

3. Idleness leads to disruptive behaviour.

Scriptures connect the idle to the disruptive:

  1. 1Thessalonians 5:14 says, “Warn those who are idle and disruptive.”
  2. 2Thessalonians 3:11,12 says, “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people, we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”
  3. 2Thessalonians 3:6 warns us to “keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive.”
  4. With regards to idle people, the apostle Paul said, “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.” (1Timothy 5:13 ).

These passages speak the truth for the idle avoids work; he is lazy. He consumes his time on pointless things. His mind wanders with no purpose. Idleness can and will cause people to become disruptive or to become busybodies. They will start meddling with things that do not concern them.

Idleness is indeed the workshop of the devil. Evil thoughts creep in and evil desires are birthed when one is not busy doing what is needed and constructive. Forbes rightly puts it this way, “Indolence is the dry rot of a good mind and a good character; the practical uselessness of both. It is the waste of what might be a happy and useful life.”

Sad yet true, idle living is not living. It is a waste of one’s life. It is poor stewardship of all that is entrusted to us. That’s why no child of God should be idle. May no one call us idle today.

“The art of living is the art of bringing dreams and reality together.”  – Tom Hodgkinson

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What Does The Bible Say About Gentleness?

What Does The Bible Say About Gentleness?

Gentleness is defined as: “the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. It is a  softness of action or effect; lightness.”

From E. Lockhart we can deduce this definition: Gentleness is being a little kinder than we have to.” From Scriptures, we also learn about gentleness. It is one quality that cannot be absent if you call yourself a child of God.

Here’s what the Bible says about gentleness:

1. God wants us teach and correct with gentleness.

II Timothy 2:24 says, “God’s people must not be quarrelsome; they must be gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong.”

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

It’s hard for someone to listen and consider what you’re saying if you speak in a raised and exasperated tone. Without gentleness, you’ll just come across as self-righteous and opinionated.

2. Gentleness makes you willing to listen to others.

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others.”

We must always remember that our mind falters. We don’t know everything. We could be wrong even when we are absolutely sure we are right. It is because our minds are imperfect. We don’t always perceive and process thoughts rightly. With gentleness of spirit, we learn to leave room for error and discussion. With gentleness of spirit, our hearts are positioned to accept and defer to others when needed.

3. Gentleness is a mark of true Christianity.

Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Kindness is gentleness. Kindness speaks and demonstrates clearer than our words and other deeds ever will. Do one unkind act and you will discredit your reputation in an instant. Why? Because kindness is love. 1Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Love and kindness go together. You cannot love without being kind.

5. Gentleness is THE fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness (kindness)”¦”

We can exhibit gentleness when we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in us. When it is lacking in our lives, it means we are not walking in the Spirit. To be marked with harshness means we are living a superficial Christian life.

5. Gentleness is a response to Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be gentle (kind) and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” As we have experienced God’s forgiveness, in gratefulness we ought to afford the same blessing to others.

God’s children are to live a life of gentleness. May our resolve be as what Max Lucado declared:

“I choose gentleness… Nothing is won by force.

I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”

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God and Hamilton: An Interview with Hamilton Broadway cast member Lauren Boyd

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Hamilton Broadway cast member Lauren Boyd.   In it, Lauren and I have a conversation about the spiritual nature of Hamilton, how the musical can transform our lives, and how reading my upcoming book, God and Hamilton: Spiritual Themes From the Life of Alexander Hamilton & the Broadway Musical He Inspired impacted her.

Kevin Cloud:   So many people talk about Hamilton not only as a brilliant musical, but as a life changing experience.   Why do you think that happens?   Why does this musical and the story it tells resonate so deeply with audiences?

Lauren Boyd:   Before every show Chris Jackson (George Washington, original Broadway cast) would gather up a circle of people to pray”¦that tradition has kept going.   We do that to this day.   We get in a circle and pray before every performance.   So the presence of God is there in the theatre.   Even if audiences don’t realize it, they are coming to see a service. They are coming to church.

KC:   This musical is much more than a play.   It creates a spiritual experience for people. There are so many moments of transcendence in this musical. You can feel the atmosphere in the theatre change.   Do you feel those moments on stage?   What is it like on stage when it happens?

LB:   Yes, you can absolutely feel it. There are definitely moments where there is an energy in the audience and on stage and you can feel something that is not tangible.   It’s quite exciting to be a part of that and a part of this story.

KC: Are there specific moments where that happens for you?   Where you feel a weight or presence?

LB: When Eliza forgives Hamilton. I find it sometimes difficult from a woman’s standpoint forgiving Hamilton for what he did. He cheated on his wife.   That is a very hard thing to forgive. But the way you presented it (in your book) I realized I needed to have more mercy and compassion towards Hamilton because he is a sinner like all of us.   Your book broke down these walls I had put up toward him”¦I was looking at it as “How dare he do that do me?”

KC: You wrote such a nice blurb for my book. You wrote: “God and Hamilton turned me inside out and revealed to me a side of Hamilton that I never thought to explore.” Can you expound on that quote?

LB: Mercy is a huge thing that I learned (reading God and Hamilton). I learned that Hamilton is, in fact, a human being that lived and died and breathed”¦the book helped me to humanize him in a way that I didn’t approach him before because I came into the show knowing Hamilton from a different angle.   When we think about Hamilton we think about this amazing show”¦it is already glorified.   You were able to demystify all of that and bring Hamilton to life.   That’s where I was able to have a little more mercy and kindness (towards Hamilton).

God and Hamilton

God and Hamilton  weaves together insights from the musical itself, the lives of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, and the story of Scripture into a tapestry that challenges people of faith to reexamine their lives.

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The Daniel Diet — What’s the Deal?

The Daniel Diet1

In recent years, “The Daniel Plan” has been making its way around in Christian subcultures as the answer to weight loss woes. Various Protestant churches and pastors, particularly from the United States, have been getting involved in this new (yet very old) concept of eating.

But what is it?

In simple terms, the idea encourages healthy food choices based on the account of Daniel from the bible. The story sits at the beginning of the book of Daniel when he and many other young men who are captives in Babylon are put into training by the king. Daniel didn’t want to eat the rich foods and wine given by the king because he didn’t think it was honoring to God. Instead, together with his three friends, Daniel was allowed to eat only vegetables and water for ten days as a test.

The test worked. At the end of ten days, Daniel and his buddies looked more well-nourished and healthier than the other young men who ate the king’s rich food. They grew to be not only physically healthy, but also God gave them wisdom and understanding.

“At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15

Daniel was convicted that he shouldn’t eat rich foods, so he didn’t. There’s nothing here to suggest that it was a weight loss plan for Daniel. It was a matter of conscience.

But apparently, because this worked for Daniel and his friends, some modern Christians have taken this to mean that people should adopt this principle. In fact, a book and a whole bunch of other curriculum was written by Rick Warren and friends. Along with the book, Warren issued a challenge to his massive church of 20,000 people to participate.

On one hand, this idea of speaking into health issues in the church might not be a bad idea. Some studies have shown that Evangelical Christians are up to 50% more likely than irreligious people to develop problems with obesity.  

So a call for Christians to create healthier eating habits may be a good choice. Particularly in light of all of those pesky bible verses that talk about gluttony. (Of all of the sins of the flesh, gluttony must certainly be the least talked-about in western churches today.)

On the other hand, John the Baptist ate locusts and I don’t see people developing new diet plans following in his footsteps.

Although I am completely certain that the Bible has all of the answers for everything in our lives, I’m not quite convinced that God meant for us to build an entire diet sub-culture around the concept of Daniel’s diet.

I’m not anti-vegetable. Really I’m not. I’m even pro-water! If it could just be a matter of following a healthier diet, then that would be great.

But, sadly, The Daniel Plan people don’t stop there.

As is often the case, the marketing opportunities were too tempting for the American church culture gurus to pass up.   They had to make it into a “thing”. Now you can spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to buy the book, the study guide, the cookbook, the devotional, the journal, CDs, DVDs, sermons, propaganda materials and SO much more. (Also available in Spanish.)

Not only that — you can literally get the t-shirt. And the water bottle, the sports bag, the training jacket. Oh, and don’t forget the rubber wristband! Then, everyone can know that you are eating your veggies and drinking your water.

Personally, I could do with eating more vegetables and fewer processed foods. Although, i’m proud that I had an avocado for lunch. (Oh, wait, is that a fruit?!)

But maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t spend $18.99 on another t-shirt that I absolutely don’t need (because, honestly, who needs another t-shirt?). Maybe, instead, I could send $10 of that money to Heifer International to buy a share in a goat to keep a family from going hungry—while my western church culture is on the campaign trail to fight against gluttony and obesity.

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She’s Interested and He’s Not Pursuing

There’s a joke going around: men in the church are like parking spaces. The good ones are either already taken — or they’re handicapped.

Houston, we have a problem. It’s a problem that will require all of our effort, courage, confidence and creativity to solve.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, claiming 2.2 billion of the world’s 6.9 billion people, as of last year and dating is a big deal for most young Christians. However, ask any young woman what the Christian dating scene is like these days.

“Christian men … ugh.”  Grim. Impossible. Slim pickings they’ll  say.

Young Christian men simply won’t commit, they’ll  say and if you’re lucky they’ll  call once – never to be heard from again.

And the churchgoing men who are available? Well, there’s a reason they’re single.

“Usually, he respects or admires the godly young woman (or, other people in his Church think he should admire her more), and yet he’s not physically attracted to her. She’s not his “type,” he says.”

So why are all the single Christian ladies having trouble finding single Christian guys for companionship and romance?  A plethora of Christian dating websites, books, blogs, advice columns, and magazine articles have surfaced in the last few years, attempting to give Christian young women some helpful tips for snagging a godly man and achieving that much-desired state of wedded bliss.

  • Date for at least a year.
  • Don’t kiss before you’re married.
  • Be careful how much time you spend together.
  • Date a bunch of people before getting serious.
  • Don’t unless you are ready to move in the direction of marriage.  

It’s not terrible advice— waiting until marriage takes work. But here’s the thing: Relationships take work.  However, while most Chrisitan ladies have internal regulations in the form of our Spirit inspired convictions and knowledge of the Bible, it does not seem to be enough?

Could it be that we screened all the godly young men out of church as boys?  

Probably not entirely, as according to Mark Regenerus, a sociology professor at the University of Texas, young single women in the church outnumber young single men by a three-to-two ratio.

That’s right ladies, you’re not imagining it: there’s a severe shortage of single men in the church. Not just here in the U.S., but also around the world.

“There are almost no men in my country who are following Christ. And French men will not marry a woman whose faith in Jesus is so strong. She is a leper in their eyes.” –  Christian woman from France

A young godly man knows he’s a catch – particularly if he’s dedicated to his faith, good looking and works out and there are hardly any other man is his Church. With each week that passes, he’s presented with a congregation full of single women. Most haven’t been on a date in a while. He has his pick of the bunch.

There’s even a joke about the gender imbalance. It goes like this:

“Men in the church are like parking spaces. All the good ones are either already taken, or they’re handicapped.”

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the supply of young women grows with each passing year.

So whats the solution?

God Will Orchestrate the Love Story

Do you find yourself becoming resentful that God is withholding something from you?

  • Still waiting to find the man of your dreams
  • Your greatest desire is to have a baby
  • You want to experience the joy of being “equally yoked” with a godly husband

Desperation is dangerous because it focuses on self: What I want. What I must have. What I cannot live without. Firstly,  if and when the time comes for you to be married, God will orchestrate the love story. But in the meantime, your focus is to be on serving God and pouring your life out for God, not on getting serious about getting married. The timing is up to God, not you.

Singled Out in Church

Secondly, research shows that single men are more likely to attend churches that fit the following profile:

  • Large
  • Headed by a male pastor who’s bold and outspoken
  • Offers intentional male discipleship
  • Worship service is done in under 90 minutes

Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept “God helps those who help themselves” is correct. We’re not suggesting you switch churches over this issue. It probably wouldn’t hurt to visit another church once in awhile – especially if your church offers nothing for singles.

Also remember that there are actually some Christ-men out there who are praying and hoping for a set-apart young woman – one who is not following after the trends of the culture, or who are not wallowing around in discontentment or on the constant prowl for a guy.

Any pastors who are reading, have you ever stopped to listen, really listen, to the women in your church about how they feel they are treated or perceived?

Any other advice?

 

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Championing Women Is about Restoration, Not Progression

Championing women is about restoration, not progression

“If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known.”  – Matthew Arnold, poet and cultural critic, 1822-1888.

Growing up, I loved strong female characters. As a child bookworm, I started with the adventures of Lucy Pevensie from C.S. Lewis’  The Chronicles of Narnia, then graduated to some of the classics. I loved the wit of Elizabeth Bennet, the integrity of Jane Eyre and the willpower of Scarlett O’Hara – to name a few recognisable examples.

I confess that as a twenty-something, my love of strong fictional heroines hasn’t waned in the slightest. My inner child was ridiculously excited about the  Wonder Woman  movie last year.

Appreciating strong fictional characters is fairly universal, and we only need to count all the superhero movies over the past few decades to note that humanity has an intrinsic love of heroism.

Last week marked International Women’s Day and whilst I have numerous concerns about feminism, IWD is still an opportunity to honour women, and to talk about some of the issues it seeks to raise.

On International Women’s Day I found myself listening to church leaders as they spoke about God’s heart for women. Amongst all the wonderful insight they shared with the group was this fundamental reminder: There is a war against women, and it’s a spiritual one, going right back to the enemy’s temptation of Eve in Genesis. After the Fall, the Lord told Satan, “And  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”  (Genesis 3:15).

Lisa Bevere writes in her book  Girls with Swords:  “Enmity is deep-rooted hatred and irreconcilable hostility. This describes a breach so profound that with each passing generation, Satan’s hostility and hatred deepens as he runs out of time and the urgency increases. Never has his attack against women and children been more wicked, obvious, and widespread.”

A mere glance at the list of evils facing women today around the world – human trafficking, pornography, abuse, gendercide, FGM, oppressive religious systems – will demonstrate that the enemy certainly has a vendetta against women. This doesn’t excuse humanity’s part to play – those who have oppressed, silenced, exploited and demeaned women. But at its root, this is a battle that goes much deeper, and man is not the enemy.

We are not called to partake in the ‘progressive’ movement, which is only driving divisions between men and women deeper still. We are not merely to condemn or mock the culture either. Both of these tactics are worldly and destructive.

The good news is that the cross redeems us from the curse of the Fall. As Christ’s Kingdom ambassadors, we are called to redeem and restore what has been tarnished and destroyed. Our mandate is to co-labour with God in restoring all things to His original design. To the one who thinks like the world, this seems counter-intuitive, backwards or regressive. To the one who is kingdom-minded, it is true progress.

Some of the injustices that need addressing are obvious and have already been mentioned. Others are more subtle and start ‘closer to home’.

Much has been said of how men should treat women – and rightly so. But less is said about the power women already have to instigate change in whatever sphere of influence they are in. I think the popularity of the fictional females I loved growing up is largely down to how they responded to adversity, not how they felt about it.

Whether or not you feel as though you’ve had to fight for your place, it doesn’t define your worth. In the Kingdom of God, you already have a place at the table, and there’s more than enough for everyone. Knowing this gives us permission to celebrate ourselves and one another. There’s no need for insecurity when God says you are enough; no need for jealousy and comparison when God has enough for you.

So let’s lift other women up, amplifying one another’s voices instead of muting them. Romans 12:10 (ESV) says ‘Outdo one another in showing honour’ – if we’re going to compete with one another in anything, let it be in this.

Much of the answer to winning the war on women lies in becoming less ‘me-centred’  (my  rights,  my  convenience,  my  choice,  my  happiness), and more other-centered. To do the right thing when it’s hard, inconvenient and costs something. That’s not what we’d prefer to hear. We want easy fixes, comfort and ease. But that’s not the gospel. That’s not the way of the cross.

Bevere continues in Girls With Swords:  ‘Heroes tend to champion causes rather than themselves. Being motivated by something outside themselves drives them to risk being more daring, compassionate, willing, responsible, and courageous.’

Movies that depict true heroism are popular for a reason.  Wonder Woman was by no means perfect, but I think it  resonated with so many because it appealed to something in us that aspires to these key traits of courage and selflessness. The movie celebrated men and women working together – Wonder Woman respected, befriended and loved men, even as she raised her voice in objection to the injustices and cynicism she encountered. Wonder Woman wasn’t screaming ‘down with the patriarchy’. She championed everyone around her whether or not they ‘deserved’ it.

Wonder Woman  also seemed to kickstart a trend of displaying the power of female unity through its depiction of the Amazons, who reappeared in  Justice League. It’s nice to see this trend continue in  Black Panther  with the Dora Milaje warriors – both ‘armies’ defend not only themselves but  mankind. I love it when filmmakers unintentionally convey the heart of God and I hope to see more of this in future.

But more importantly, I hope that we move beyond the fantasy of film and work towards making these values manifest.

If you gain nothing else from this post, remember this: Change starts with you.

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How to Avoid News Anxiety and Still Be “In-the-Know”

How to Avoid News Anxiety and Still Be “In-the-Know"

Being an informed citizen of the world has the potential to be bad for me. Seriously. Just seeing a news headline can elicit and powerful physiological response. My blood pressure rises and my face gets flushed. Adrenaline pumps through my body and stress responses take over.

My inner compass of justice/integrity/ethics/principles/virtues/morals can become inflamed by another addition to the massive piles of bad news in the world today. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness can begin to wash over me. At times the world feels like a terrible, hopeless place.

Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like to live in my grandparents’ era — when the newspaper landed on the front step to be read in a leisurely fashion over a cup of coffee. Then the rest of the day was its own.

But that’s not how it works today.

Today’s world feels like a constant barrage of unpleasantness. And if you’re like me, the frustration of not being able to “fix” it can become taxing. We can get so consumed with the anger, heartbreak, grief, pity, outrage, petulance of bad news that it’s difficult to find joy in our everyday lives.

News fatigue is a very real problem. And, if we aren’t careful, depression and despair can loom near.

So what can we do?

Here are some tips for staying informed without allowing the world’s tragic events to rob life of its joy:

First Things First

If you get news alerts on your phone, put them on pause when you go to sleep at night. When the first thing you see in the morning is a stack of bad news, you’ll start your day on the wrong foot. Instead, begin your day remembering where your hope comes from. Read scripture that reminds you that the world is not hopeless. Declare God’s goodness in the morning so that the enemy cannot use the bad news of the day to lead you into despair.

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” I Timothy 4:10

Manage Your Exposure

While it may feel like you don’t have any control over what you hear—you do. You have the power to turn off the radio in the car and listen to a CD instead. You can choose to pause news notifications and only read the news when you decide. You are fully able to turn off the television. You can even tell your coworkers that you just don’t want to talk about current events right now.

This doesn’t mean that it’s right to completely block out the world and live under a rock (although it’s tempting!). But you can decide how and when to expose yourself to the news so that you can handle it in a healthy manner. Even Jesus got away from the rest of the world at times and set boundaries for himself.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

Respond with Prayer

When the world seems out of control, remember that we serve a God who is very much in control. He has promised to hear the prayers of his people, so tell him about your burdens. War. Political upheaval. Child safety. Human trafficking. Terrorism. Financial crises. Climate change. Religious conflict. Education. Health problems. Grief. Pain. Sorrow.

The list goes on and on. But we can be assured that the God who made the world is listening to our prayers. He is trustworthy. Even if it doesn’t feel like anything is changing, he hears and he answers.

Romans 12:12 reminds us to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Do Something

Of course, you can’t do everything. But you can do something. Even just something small. Volunteer. Get involved. Donate to a righteous cause. Make an impact. Write to your senators and representatives. Love people as Jesus did. Making a difference to just one person will make a difference in the world and give you a sense of power over darkness.  

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Look for the Good

It’s harder to see, but good things are certainly happening in the world. Find them! Seek extra hard to find sources of joy in the midst of sorrow. Ask your Christian friends to share with you the good things God is doing in their lives so you can rejoice with them. Subscribe to a blog that offers positivity.

Be thankful. A thankful heart counteracts the work of the enemy. Counting your blessings isn’t just something trite your grandma used to say. It’s a life skill for survival!

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

Let It Go

You weren’t meant to carry the burdens of the entire world on your shoulders. When you hear about the problems of the world you can: intercede with prayer, do something good, and let God handle the rest. Breathe deeply and move on with your

It’s not your job to save the world. Jesus has done and is continuing to do that in his time. You can do your part—and then let the God of the Universe do his.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Today’s world can be a mentally and emotionally exhausting place to live. But we do have choices. We can start each day focusing on our God, setting boundaries around ourselves, turning problems over in prayer, doing something positive, being thankful for what is good, and letting go of the rest.

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