CLF Notes

Four Reasons to Think Critically About “Soul”

2020-12-30T20:32:00.000-05:00

I love jazz music, and I love good animation and good storytelling. That’s why I was looking forward to Disney/PIXAR’s “Soul”. The animation was colorful and detailed. The music was wonderful – almost heavenly (I may be biased, but if jazz isn’t the music of heaven, I can’t wait to discover the music that God thinks is better.).

Unfortunately, “Soul” hit quite a few clunky notes thematically, and sometimes it’s music just faded into silence – unresolved. Before I go any further, if you are looking for mindless entertainment you could make far worse choices that “Soul,” and if that’s what you are interested in, I don’t want to spoil your 96 minutes of escapism – and you might want to scroll on.

While I understand that “Soul” is just a fun story, and cannot be taken literally, and I understand that it is not designed to teach theology, it DOES present a spiritual and philosophical worldview. Additionally, when we understand that the target audience for PIXAR movies are children and young adults, incorporating this worldview into a personal understanding of spiritual truths can have real and detrimental consequences.

The first story element we are presented with in “Soul” is that souls exist in the “Great Before” – a place for souls before they are placed in human bodies. These souls are identified only by number, as if they are manufactured in a divine assembly line. Each soul is arbitrarily assigned several personality traits solely based on the whims of host-guardians (and for some reason, every host-guardian is named Jerry).

Of course, this impersonal “creation and formation story” runs contrary to a God who knows us by name (Isaiah 43:1) and has known each of us before we were formed in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5). God knows us intimately and individually – we are not a product of a divine assembly line. How we see ourselves, and our perceived value, will suffer greatly if we believe we were mass produced and randomly assigned personality traits by impersonal divine beings.

The second troubling story element in “Soul” advances the idea that souls in the “Great Before” (what comes before life on earth) and the “Great Beyond” (what comes after life on earth) are bodiless spirits and they are somewhere other than earth. We embrace this image because we swim in the ocean of Platonic philosophy – a worldview that believes the “true essence” of a human is the unembodied soul. But clearly, this is not a biblical worldview – despite what popular hymns and Hollywood say.

While scripture reveals that we are more than our bodies (that we have an eternal soul), it also elevates the body as a beautiful, and necessary, part of God’s creation. Humans were designed to have bodies and to interact with the physical world. The incarnation (God taking on flesh) and the bodily resurrection of Christ (Jesus being raised from the dead with a new glorified body) highlight the importance of the body/soul design.

Jesus could have been revealed to humans as an unembodied spiritual being. After his resurrection, Jesus could have existed without a resurrected body. But scripture shows us that Jesus’ body could be physically touched (John20:24-29), and he ate physical food (Luke 24:36-43; Acts 10:39-41).

Additionally, scripture reveals that the physical world will not be simply destroyed but recreated – and heaven will come to this renewed earth, and God will dwell with humans on this new earth (Revelation 21:1-5).

The Platonic view (that the spirit is good, and the body is a prison from which to escape) is not found in scripture. Humans were designed by God to be souls with bodies, and God declared it “Good!” (Genesis 1:31) The current creation, including our current bodies, are marred by sin, and enslaved to decay and corruption. But God is making all things new – including a new earth and new bodies that are free from corruption and decay (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).

The majority of the plotline in “Soul” assumes that the most important goal for pre-born souls to pursue is to discover their purpose – their “spark.” The storyline emphasizes that everyone’s spark (or purpose) is different. Unfortunately, it plays into a familiar but un-Christian meme – “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” This may be a good bumper sticker slogan, but it has no biblical support – at least the way we interpret it.

To be sure, God loves us – the cross tells us that. But the idea that he has one, unique plan for each life (and your purpose is to discover that one unique plan) sends many people on a wild spiritual goose chase. Some people become obsessed with finding that “one perfect plan.” We’ve developed tests and workshops to help people in this pursuit. Many individuals become stressed thinking that if they “miss” God’s plan, their lives will be wasted.

The reason we embrace this slogan is that we have mis-read, or mis-memorized, scripture. We think we know what Jeremiah 29:11 says (but we fail to read the rest of the chapter), and we think we know what Ephesians 2:8-9 says (but we forget that this is just the first part of a more complete statement).

Jeremiah29:11 is part of a sermon given to the elders, priests, prophets, and all of the people who had been taken into captivity in Babylon. In verse 10, God says, “You’re going to be in captivity for the next 70 years, but I’ll bring you back to Jerusalem.” And then God says, “I know the plans (plural) I have for you.” There isn’t just one plan, there are multiple plans. God doesn’t just have one plan for you – he has multiple plans for you. There isn’t just one purpose (at least the way we think of it), there are lots of purposes. How do I know?

Look at a passage many Christians have memorized – Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We’ve bathed in this scripture for so long, many have forgotten that it’s an incomplete thought. We forget the next verse: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are not saved BY, or as a result, of works; but we were created FOR good works “which God prepared beforehand.”

Humanity has a common purpose, and we see it in Genesis 1:26-28, and Genesis 9:1 & 7. Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, have dominion over it. Our common purpose is to be coregents with God, stewarding all of creation, finding the “not good” and making it good, and advancing the Kingdom of God – accomplishing his will on earth as it is in heaven.

Every pursuit of “purpose discovery” that is not based on the truths found in Genesis, will be futile and unproductive. The writers of “Soul” clearly understand this – “discovering your unique purpose” is insufficient and often elusive. This is where the final twist occurs in the storyline.

“Soul” recognizes that pursuing “your unique purpose” is futile, but instead of directing viewers back to the common purpose of mankind, the final plot-twist presented by the movie is to abandon your pursuit of purpose altogether. The all-wise host-guardians named Jerry reveal that finding your purpose is not the goal; your goal should be to just live life.

The spark that is supposedly required in order to send a pre-born soul to earth is not to discover their purpose, but simply to desire to live life. The whole goal in earthly life, the movie tells us, is to basically eat, drink, and be merry – for tomorrow we die (Luke 12:16-21). This philosophy, or worldview, falls somewhere along the spectrum between Epicureanism (enjoying the simple things but not overindulging, while avoiding pain) and hedonism (the singular pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of any kind of suffering).

The spark that “Soul” wants us to pursue is a self-centered, pleasure seeking, temporary existence, which will be followed by eternal disembodiment in an unknown nonphysical place. And if this picture is accurate, if this earthly life is all that exists in a physical reality, then maybe they have a point. But what kind of life is that?

Paul rejects that idea and says to the church in Corinth, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

There is nothing wrong with good jazz, and good animation. And mindless entertainment is a welcome distraction from seasons in life like we’ve experienced over the last twelve months. But all entertainment takes us on a journey – a journey with an underlying worldview and assumptions about how the world works and what is good, true, and beautiful.

In many cases, mindless entertainment passes along ideas that are simply untrue, but sometimes they are toxic. Watching a movie will not destroy your life, and there many movies that are far more destructive that “Soul.” However, building your life and worldview on the premises found in this movie will result in a self-centered, hopeless existence, and prevent you from discovering the real reason that you were given this great gift called life.

One positive outcome of viewing the movie is that it raises several questions. What if you were created for more than you currently see in your life? What if the plans God has prepared for you, go unaccomplished? What if you are settling for temporary pleasures and avoiding the struggles that have the potential to transform you and the world around you? What if there’s more?

Two Great Men Passed Away Last Night

2020-07-18T06:52:00.001-04:00

[Six years ago I had the opportunity to hear from three recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, C. T. Vivian, U. S. Representative John Lewis and former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young - each one a close friend and lieutenant of Dr. M. L. King. Last night both Vivian and Lewis passed away. The question still remains: what injustice do you see in our world, culture, or community and how is your faith compelling you to respond? Will you be passive or will you change your world? The choice is yours.]

For the Courier-Times, New Castle, IN July 5-6, 2014

Passive Faith Didn't Birth A Nation

"It was passivity that kept this country down." Wiry, weathered, and grey, he speaks from a position of respect. Beaten, jailed, and marginalized in the 60's, he has earned the right to be heard. Will we listen?

C. T. Vivian was one of three recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom that gathered recently to discuss the civil rights struggle. To his right were U. S. Representative John Lewis and former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young - each one a close friend and lieutenant of Dr. M. L. King.

Vivian, Lewis, Young, and King all had a desire to become Christian ministers, but along the way each one realized that following Christ meant more than gaining a title and a congregation. Faith requires action and often leads you down paths you would not have chosen on your own.

C. T. Vivian believes that a passive faith allowed the evil of racism to flourish. A passive faith that said, "If I just believe the right things and go to church on Sunday, then I'm okay." But that's not okay; injustice must be challenged, true faith compels us to action.

The apostle Paul knew that when he wrote to the church in Corinth that, "Christ's love compels us ..." (2 Corinthians 5:14) Jesus' closest friend, John, urged believers to love deeply, not "with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

Passive faith isn't new. The prophet Habakkuk asked God, "Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?" It's surprising that God didn't respond, "Why did YOU look at injustice and not do anything about it? Why did YOU tolerate wrongdoing?" Ultimately, God had to use Israel's enemies to bring about justice because the people of God did nothing.

Passive faith is a persistent issue. By the time this article is published, the Supreme Court will have given their opinion about whether a privately owned company can be forced to pay for products and services that violate the conscience of their owners. Regardless of the court's opinion, the reason this is even debatable is that our culture believes, once again, that faith should be passive. "Just worship the way you want, but keep it to yourself."

[UPDATE: Days after this article was written SCOTUS ruled that family-run businesses like Hobby Lobby do not have to violate their religious convictions by providing for health insurance procedures that run contrary to their beliefs. And ten days ago SCOTUS again ruled in favor of The Little Sisters of the Poor in their eight year legal battle to protect their religious freedom.]

Yet, history shows us that passive faith didn't bring about a change in civil rights; it actually created an environment where racism could thrive.

Passive faith didn't birth "a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." A passive faith is no faith at all; faith without works is dead.

A faith that refuses to tolerate wrongdoing, however, can make a difference. Faith that challenges injustice can change the world.

As we celebrate the 238th birthday of a nation that champions freedom, let's embrace the kind of faith that birthed that nation; the kind of faith that sustains and corrects a nation. The type of faith that compelled our founders to forge these words on the Liberty Bell: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof ..." (Leviticus 25:10)

Don't be silent. Proclaim liberty. Fight injustice. Even if it takes you down a path you did not choose.

C. T., John, Andy, and Martin all started out simply wanting to be ministers. Along the way, they discovered there was nothing simple about following Christ. He took them to places they didn't want to go. It cost them in ways they could never imagine. It required them to defend truth and fight injustice.

Was it easy? Not at all. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The question facing us today is the same one faced by four black men from Atlanta in the early 60's. The same question faced by 56 men who met in Philadelphia and pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

The question: what injustice do you see in our world, culture, or community and how is your faith compelling you to respond? Will you be passive or will you change your world? The choice is yours, choose well.

Do We Really Believe People Can Change?

2020-07-07T21:11:00.001-04:00

Christians, do we believe that people can change? How long do we hold the past over people’s heads? Is it right to hold their parents’ past over their heads? Is it right to hold someone accountable for their grandparents’ actions?

Do we believe that God can change lives? How long should we hold Paul/Saul accountable for the Christians he persecuted? Should we throw out all of the NT written by Paul? Should we rip out the sections of Acts that talk about Paul?

Rahab was a prostitute, yet she is in the ancestry of Jesus. Is Jesus tainted forever because of his Great-great-great-...-grandmother? King David was an adulterer and murderer. Why should the throne even have stayed in his family, let alone be claimed by Jesus?

Do we believe that God can transform people’s lives, or are there really whole swaths of people who are deplorable and irredeemable?

Have we given up on the gospel? Is it only Good News for some? Is it only for those who think like us, or act like us, or vote like us, or look like us?

Has Christ called us “to proclaim good news to the poor”, but only certain ones? He has sent us “to proclaim liberty to” only certain captives?

Or has God called us “to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” to all who will receive it and respond - regardless of party, or skin color, or bank balance?

It’s time for us, those who claim the name of Christ, to be about the “family business” and stop alienating the very people we are trying to reach ... which is everybody.

Juneteenth - The March Continues

2020-06-19T09:21:00.000-04:00

Juneteenth (June nineteenth) was a mystery to me until a few years ago. In some places it’s known as Liberation Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day. It is a significant day in history, not only because of what happened on that day in 1863, but because it highlights an important truth about culture, history, and the ongoing fight for freedom. The march from where we are, to where we want to be, is a journey marked with significant strides and painful setbacks.

On that Monday, two days before summer began in Galveston, Texas, Union General Gordon Granger announced that all slaves in Texas were now free. The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed in Washington D.C. two and a half years earlier. But it wasn’t put into effect in Texas until Union Soldiers defeated the Confederate forces there. Someone had to fight for freedom.

Residents began marking the anniversary of that day by celebrating Juneteenth. It started as church celebrations but has grown and spread across the nation with food, art, and cultural events commemorating that day. Someday Juneteenth may become a national holiday. It should, because it will remind us that significant change doesn’t happen overnight – someone has to fight for it.

President Lincoln, the person who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, wasn’t the first U.S. President to fight for an end to slavery. President John Quincy Adams mentored Abraham Lincoln, and many scholars believe he instilled in Lincoln the passion to end slavery. John Quincy’s father, President John Adams, was an abolitionist. And contrary to modern day history, a thorough student of history will discover that Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were also opposed to slavery and fought against it.

Founding Fathers Aaron Burr, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John Jay, James Madison, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and many more fought the fight to end slavery. Did things change overnight? No. Did some of them own slaves themselves? Yes, but that’s another story for another time.

The Emancipation Proclamation was not perfect. It went into effect in January 1863 but only impacted slaves held by Confederate states that had not yet returned to the Union side. Progress was slow. On April 9, 1863 the Confederacy was defeated, and less than one-week later Abraham Lincoln was dead.

Even though the Confederacy was defeated, the Union forces still had to march all the way through rebel territory to declare freedom for slaves who lived in those states. In Galveston, TX freedom was declared on June 19. But it wasn’t until December 1865 that the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery in every U.S. state and territory. But the march had to continue.

I’ve read recent comments that “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violent civil disobedience accomplished nothing.” That’s a lie. Talk to black women that had to ride in the back of the bus. Talk to black men that couldn’t sit at the lunch counter. Talk to people who still remember not being able to drink at “whites only” water fountains, or use “whites only” restrooms, or any other public accommodation labeled “whites only”. Did MLK’s efforts change everything overnight? No. Did he, and those who marched with him, drastically change the landscape of America? Absolutely. Is there still work to be done? Believe it.

As recently as 1985, I saw with my own eyes how blacks were treated in rural Florida. In the early 90’s I saw how poor inner-city Detroit individuals (black and white) were ravaged by advertisers marketing cigarettes, alcohol, and the lottery to help ease the pain of their plight. There is still change that needs to happen. The march for freedom still needs to press on. But don’t be fooled, change won’t happen overnight because what really needs to change is the hearts and attitudes in every human heart.

Christians know this, but sometimes we forget the things we know. And, as Mark Twain said, sometimes the things we know “just ain’t so”.

Christ won victory over the powers of evil on the cross at Golgotha, and triumphed over them on Resurrection Sunday. But everyone knows, the battle rages on in the hearts of men and women to this day. The march must continue until we declare freedom in every corner of the world. The march must continue until light and love drive out darkness and hatred.

So today, as you celebrate Juneteenth, or as you just begin to learn about Juneteenth, remember how far we’ve come. Remember what’s been accomplished. Remember the fight must go on. The march must continue until, “all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'” (MLK, August 28, 1963)

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).

Thanks for reading!

We Were Made for Moments Like This

2020-03-29T08:54:00.001-04:00

You and I were made for moments like this. We would rather choose times of comfort and plenty, but we were created for times of chaos. We might dream of places serene and peaceful, but we were created for places of disorder.

^{Gen 1:1 (ESV)}In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

^1:2Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. ^1:3God said, “Let there be light.”

God, like a dove, fluttered over the dark emptiness of chaos and brought order. And God said … and God said … and God said … and God said … and God said … and God said … and God said … And THEN …

^{Gen 2:7}God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Instead of simply speaking (as if one could even imagine that God speaking is simply simple), He FORMED man and He BREATHED life into him.

^{Gen 1:27}God created humankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them,

male and female he created them.

^1:28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”

In His image, God created them. For a purpose, God blessed them. Male and female, he charged them.

“Be fruitful! Multiply! Fill the Earth! Subdue it! Rule over it! Take the darkness and chaos that exists outside of the garden and bring order, and beauty, and abundance, and fullness.”

We were made for times like this. We were made for places like this – not to live in chaos and darkness but, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to transform it (John 8:12; 1 Pet 2:9).

We were made to imitate God by creatively stewarding his creation (Eph 5:1; 1 Cor 4:1-2).

We were made to drive out darkness and usher in the Kingdom of God on earth (Matt 6:10).

No one can doubt that chaos has erupted over the entire earth. Fear and uncertainty have taken a foothold in our community. Depression and despair desire to rule our minds. But we were made for this.

Find the “not good” and make it good. Find the chaos and bring order. Find the darkness and bring light. Drive the fear out with love. Drive despair out with hope. We were made for this.

Are There Uber Drivers In Heaven?

2019-06-19T17:56:00.000-04:00

Growing up in the age of the automobile, is an amazing blessing that most people in history never received.

When I was a toddler, all I knew was that getting in the car meant we were going somewhere. We got into the car, sat for a while, and when we got out of the car, we were somewhere different.

But it was more than that. Something magical happened. The car came alive, but only after dad got in and closed his door. It didn’t come alive when I got into the car. It didn’t come alive when mom shut her door. It only happened when dad closed his door.

Soon I realized that dad was the only one with a big circle-thing in front of him. Amazingly, whenever dad turned his circle-thing (they called it a steering wheel) the car would go in that same direction!

One day, when I was by myself, I got in the car, closed dad’s door ... and nothing happened. I turned the circle-thingy (or tried) but the car just sat there. Then I remembered that dad stuck a key into the car and THAT’S when the car came alive. It must not be working for me, I thought, because I don’t have a key.

As I grew up, I learned that we had to feed the car this really horrible smelling drink (they called it gasoline) every so often. I learned that losing air in the tires was a bad thing.

One time smoke started coming out of the front of the car, and then the car puked hot, green liquid all over the ground.

Somewhere along the line I realized that the car was never “alive” ... it was just a machine that required gas and a radiator full of antifreeze. It was much less mystical. I had learned about steering wheels and timing belts, alternators and batteries, hoods and trunks, seat belts and window cranks. And with some training and practice, I could control it, direct it, and care for it.

And now it “talks” with my phone, tells me how many miles I can go before I run out of gas, and even tells me when my tire has a leak.

But all of that knowledge doesn’t make it any less of an amazing mystery and blessing. It still miraculously gets me from where I am to where I want to go.

In a similar way, growing up as a Christian is an amazing blessing that many in history never receive.

As a young believer, all I knew was that “accepting Christ” and getting into “the faith” meant I was “going to heaven” and not the “other place.” And I suppose, on some level, that’s the most important thing to know.

Sometimes we get “in the faith”, and try to turn the wheel, and nothing happens! Some give up, walk away from “the faith” and never come back. “It doesn’t work,” they say. But occasionally, some discover a key that changes their mind.

But is that all there is? What if there’s more?

Aren’t you curious about how this faith comes to life? Is there a “circle-thing” that can steer faith? What are the “keys” to faith? How do we effectively “feed” our faith? What are some ways our faith can be disabled? How should we care for our faith? How can we enhance, or “super-charge” our faith?

What if being a Christian is more than just “going to heaven?”

And how weird would it be to see a 57-year-old man climb in the back seat of a car and just expect it to take him somewhere?

I know what you’re thinking ... no, there are no Uber or Lyft drivers for the vehicle of faith.

But I can guarantee you, there’s more!

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).

Does God Really Want You To Grow?

2018-10-03T21:18:00.001-04:00

Why do we always assume that God wants us to “grow” spiritually?

We don’t always grow physically. We have periods of growth, or seasons of growth. Every parent knows that their children experience spurts of growth. Growth is good and healthy, but there are times when we pause, and at some point stop, growing.

If we grew at the same rate our whole life we would wake up in our eighties at a height of 20’ 6” weighing 700 pounds.

Just like there are seasons of growth physically, followed by seasons where we don’t grow, there will be seasons of spiritual growth followed by seasons where we don’t grow. But there are many seasons in our life where growth is not the objective.

Physically, we experience seasons where we focus on physical health, or physical endurance, or physical healing.

When training for a marathon your objective is not to grow; your objective is to improve endurance. Sometimes you do this on your own, but success usually requires the guidance of a coach.

In mid-life we usually focus on improving our health. However we are often only successful at improving our health when we team up with others pursuing the same goal.

After an injury, or illness, our goal is first healing followed by rehabilitation under the direction of a medical professional.

Some injuries or illness require physical or occupational therapy applied with the close oversight of a trained therapist.

Spiritually, we have these same types of seasons but if we only focus on spiritual growth we will likely fail at satisfying our real need - spiritual health, endurance, healing, restoration, or rehabilitation.

One more observation: very few (if any) of these seasons can be navigated alone. God designed us for community. You need others to help you through these seasons ... and they need you.

So what season are you in? Are you proactively navigating this season? Who do you need to help you navigate it successfully? Are you available, prepared, and willing to help someone else through their season?

Never forget ... but what about those that never knew?

2018-09-12T08:08:00.001-04:00

We use the phrases “Never forget” and “We will always remember” but there is a generation that only knows what we tell them we experienced. In 12-18 months, the first U.S. soldier will be deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan that wasn’t alive on September 11, 2001. They only know what they see in documentaries and network news specials.

They also only know the current climate of political hostility and hatred. They’ve only experienced the amplified differences between black and white, Republican and Democrat, citizen and non-citizen. They never lived through September 12, 2001.

It’s quite possible that the most important thing you can do today is to tell your September 12 story to the next generation.

They need to know that people smiled at each other. Strangers gave each other that “knowing nod” regardless of race or skin color. Republicans held the door open for Democrats. And they stood arm in arm singing “God Bless America.” Kindness ruled the day on September 12.

The next generation needs to know it can happen again. They must hear from you that the current social climate is not “normal.” They need hope that the world can be a better place, even in the wake of devastating destruction.

As I write this, the southeastern coast of the U.S. is bracing for Hurricane Florence. It will be a crisis that many have never witnessed before. And in the rubble of almost certain destruction, you and I will see the true heart of Americans. You will hear of courageous acts, and an abundance of compassion lived out over the days and weeks to come.

Your job, your most important activity, will be to remember what you see and experience ... and then tell your children and your children’s children. Remember. Tell your story.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done ... so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”

Psalms 78:4, 7 ESV

Pita Bread and Blasphemy

2018-07-13T10:42:00.001-04:00

It was well rehearsed and performed with passion. Talented young voices singing in perfect harmony. The ballad rose dramatically in energy and intensity. "The goodness inside you will be your guide to the God in others. We are God. God is us." Thousands cheered. Some shouted, "Amen!" and stood to their feet, moved by melody and ability.

I was stunned. How could so many people, so quickly embrace a song that was so clearly blasphemous?

Blasphemy is not a word I use frequently, it sounds too 'churchy', but it is the most accurate word. Blasphemy: the act of claiming the attributes of deity.

Spiritual truth is in short supply today; sometimes even in our churches. But inside each human there is a latent spiritual hunger for truth that's craving satisfaction, and many will eagerly grasp spiritual passion even when it is devoid of spiritual truth.

Yet this was something more; these were not merely empty words - void and without truth - these were deceitful words, poisonous to the soul. Spiritually deadly words.

Why was the reaction of the crowd nearly universal? Why was my reaction so different? Maybe it has something to do with pita bread.

I used to work in Detroit and I have to admit - there are several things good about Detroit. One of those things is food. You could experience the entire, wonderful, culinary world and never leave the Detroit Metro area. Greek food. Polish food. Jewish food. Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Soul, Thai. And then I discovered the Islamic bakery.

I thought I knew what pita bread was, but that was before I experienced the Islamic bakery. Nothing compares to fresh hummus, tabbouleh, and a warm pita fresh out of the stone oven behind the counter. I would buy several pitas and take them home to eat throughout the week, but after about five or six days, the pita lost it's wonder and began to taste like the stuff you get in the grocery store.

To this day, I can't taste a pita without wishing I was standing at that counter waiting for a warm, fresh, wonderful, authentic pita. And maybe that explains my reaction to the young voices singing about "being God".

Most people can quote that phrase, "... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" but few know what Jesus said right before that. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

When stores and banks train their employees about counterfeit money, they don't start by showing the fake bills. They study real money. The reason? The more you study the genuine currency, the easier it is to detect an imitation.

Art connoisseurs can easily spot a fraud because they have studied the artist closely. They know his or her style, how they held the brush, what colors they favored, what subjects moved them to create their masterpieces.

What Jesus told those who believed him was, "If you study my teachings and apply them to your lives, you will be free. You will know me and my character, and you will easily see through false claims that can enslave you." The implication is that if we do not study and apply Christ's teachings to our lives, we will be easily deceived by false claims - we won't know what authentic pita bread tastes like.

People are so hungry for truth, they eagerly consume imitations. Our job as Christ followers is to tell them about the "stone oven behind the counter" and "the bread of life." The strategy isn't just to take them to the bakery; our goal should be to give them some of the bread we've discovered. Not week old bread, but warm bread that we receive fresh every day.

When you see or hear something that is blasphemous or spiritually offensive, it's not usually because the people are evil. It's almost always because they are hungry. Listen to Jesus as he gently prods, "You've got fresh bread. You feed them."

Depression Is Real - Kate Spade

2018-06-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Kate Spade was 55 years old with a 13 year old daughter. Kate was a very successful fashion designer. But Kate was in a life or death struggle with depression. Yesterday depression won.

Today I'm reposting an article from August 2014 because the struggle with depression is real … but it doesn't have to win.

=====

Monday evening social media exploded. Many say they are mourning. Most are simply remembering a great entertainer; mourning our loss of a source of entertainment. Robin will be missed because he brought joy and laughter.

I never met Robin Williams. Most who did meet him probably didn't KNOW him.

But genuine mourning for Robin Williams is occurring. The loss of a father, a husband, a creative partner. They will miss the person, Robin Williams. Those types of losses are enormous, and the mourning will be great.

Christian scriptures frequently address mourning, but most people try to avoid it. The death of Robin Williams gives us an opportunity to think about subjects we try to avoid including mourning and depression.

Depression is real. Deal with it.

The author of Psalm 42 writes, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God." Jesus mourned over Jerusalem saying, "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." There's even a whole book in the bible called Lamentations, grieving the judgment being poured out on God's people.

Depression has many causes, and is rarely only a spiritual issue. When Elijah was depressed and running away from Jezebel, God wouldn't even talk to him until Elijah got some good sleep and started eating right. If you are depressed, make sure you are eating healthy foods and getting enough rest.

God has given each of us an incredible machine called the human body. When you exercise, your body is designed to produce and release hormones that make you feel great. These hormones can help you dig out of depression, and start enjoying life again.

Also, people have a more positive view on life when they have fun in the sun. Many avoid depression during the dark winter months by simply sitting in front of a lamp that replicates the kind of light that is only found in sunlight.

But sometimes your body stops working the way it was designed. Hormone levels are abnormally low, or blood sugar levels develop wild swings, and your emotions, along with that feeling of wellbeing, take a dive.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression. All I wanted to do was sit on the back porch and stare at the clouds. Some people with depression just sit on the couch and watch TV. Others never make it out of bed. These conditions are serious and need to be addressed.

In my case, we attacked depression from every angle. I got more rest. I reduced my stress level. I started eating right. I started exercising more. I invested a few hours in talking with a Christian counselor. I read the bible more and prayed more. And I started supplementing low hormone levels with medication under the direction of my doctor. (By the way, he also prays with his patients and prescribes select passages of scripture!)

In addition to depression, here are a few more topics we avoid.

First, suicide is no joke. If someone starts talking about taking their life, even as a joke, tell someone. Most people who commit suicide talk about it before they attempt it.

Secondly, hurting people, hurt other people. Sometimes hurting people make others laugh. Be sensitive to the bullies and the comedians around you. They may be suffering through wounds that you can't see on the outside. Pray for them and with them. Encourage them and bring God's healing into their lives.

Finally, life is short. Death is certain. Keep short accounts. Paul told the church in Ephesus, "Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." Say the things you need to say to the people you love before it's too late.

Jesus came to give life and He grieves when we throw it away. His followers should be sources of living water, not parched deserts of gloom.

As we mourn the death of a brilliant comic, don't miss this opportunity to deal with some of these issues in your own life or those around you. Carpe Diem! Seize the day!

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).

You Feed Them

2018-02-16T19:17:00.001-05:00

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Another crisis, this time a school shooting, and grief and anger sweep over us in a sea of emotions. The response is the same as the last crisis, the last dozen crises, nearly every crisis we experience - “How can government save us?”

We’re like baby birds in a nest that has just been jostled. We open our mouths and expect someone else to feed us.

Why has that become our first response?

One day my daughter brought home her U.S. History textbook from school. I asked her if I could flip through the pages and quickly noticed that the historical timeline had been divided into multiple sections, each a decade or two long. The sections were called units, and each unit introduction used this same structure: identify the pressing issue for that time, and then ask, “How can the government fix this?”

Prior to that moment I was concerned with whether U.S. History was being presented accurately. Most errors in history books are not found in what they include, but in what they selectively and systematically leave out. A good editor can shape what we learn by how the information is organized and presented, and what information they intentionally refuse to show us.

What I learned that day was that the class wasn’t just teaching history, it was also teaching a worldview. Multiple times a year the students were presented with a problem and then asked, “How can government fix this problem?” It was indoctrination that I should have been concerned about, not historical inaccuracies.

I recently posted a question on social media and asked, “If you could do one thing to make Henry County better, what would that be?” Surprisingly, most of the answers were statements about what “we” should do - “we” meaning government. Very few answers included a personalized, “Here’s what I would do.”

I believe that people should be held responsible for their own actions. Personal responsibility. You can dodge, deflect, and blame someone or something all you want, but each of us is responsible for our own actions.

However, personal responsibility goes further. What are WE going to do? You and me, not government. What is OUR responsibility? We are not powerless, we’ve just forgotten that we each have the power to make a difference.

One of the most striking things that Jesus said was when he looked at the hungry crowds and said to his disciples, “You feed them.” They were dumbfounded.

They thought, doesn’t he know how many people there are and how much money it would take to purchase the food? We don’t have nearly enough workers and we don’t have the authority to do anything that would make a difference. Yet this unreasonable command still hung in the air. “You feed them.”

In moments they would find out just how much they could accomplish with a little boy, who was willing to give everything he had, and the blessing of God.

Here we are, once again. Overwhelmed by a crisis. Our culture desperately looking to government with open mouths and begging, “Feed me!” But that cannot be our first response; not if we want to live free.

Our first response should be, “What can I do to make a difference?” “What is my responsibility?” “Where are our ‘troubled teens?’” “How can I protect our children?”

Our first response should never be, “How can government fix this?” We are called to respond to one of the most shocking commands ever given. In the face of overwhelming need, and recognizing our inadequate resources, how will we respond to this command? “You feed them.”

Will we be like hungry baby birds in an unsteady nest, or will we give what we have, in child-like faith, knowing our efforts will be blessed?

The choice is yours. Choose well.

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!

Nefarious Integers Standing In The Way Of Our Understanding!

2018-01-15T20:05:00.001-05:00

Some would say, it’s all Steve’s fault – Stephen Langton. He was really trying to be helpful and, to his credit, he has made the study of the bible much easier. It was the early 1200’s and Mr. Langton was actually Archbishop of Canterbury Cardinal Stephen Langton. (By the way, Archbishop Langton was responsible for the creation and acceptance of the Magna Carta, “The Great Charter of Liberties”, but that’s a story for another time.)

Until this point in history you had to work very hard to study scripture. For one thing, you needed to know either Greek, Hebrew, or Latin (all three if you wanted to get a full understanding of the Old and New Testaments). But, even if you knew all three languages, in the 1200’s most copies of scripture lacked any kind of “address system”. There was no “John 3:16” there was only John, Isaiah, Genesis, etc.

If you knew Jesus had a conversation with Nicodemus, AND if you remembered John was the one who recorded it, then you would open the book of John and scan each paragraph until you found it. You had to work very hard to study scripture and there were no cross-references.

To help make study easier, Archbishop Cardinal Langton added chapter divisions to the bible. Prior to this you simply had the book of Psalms, now you have 150 chapters of Psalms. Before this system was added, Proverbs was one large book; now you have 31 chapters of Proverbs. Finally, after twelve centuries, there were milestones to guide you along the way as you were reading the bible, and bible study became less of a chore.

Three hundred years later a printer named Robert Estienne added verse divisions, and study of scripture became that much easier. Instead of turning to John chapter 3 and scanning the whole chapter, you could jump right to John 3:16.

Jump another 500 years forward and you arrive in 2018. Now you have dozens of translations and interpretations stored in your phone and available at the touch of a button. We have hundreds of reading plans available to us that divide the bible into topics, and some that simply give us the “Verse of the Day,” or as they say in France “Verset du Jour.”

Accessing the scripture has become so effortless you can have scripture read to you while you are driving to work, or taking a shower. You don’t even have to read it for yourself, just keep the soap out of your ears and your eyes on the road.

Each of these advances are truly wonderful. We live in extraordinary times! Our access to scripture, it’s various interpretations, commentaries, cross-references, and maps has become less demanding – which is fantastic … and, also, a drawback. Usually we make very little effort to study scripture beyond a few taps on a touchscreen and, as a result, we frequently miss out on a new richness of understanding; an understanding that was beyond imagination just 800 years ago; before there were chapter numbers. That’s a problem.

For instance, have you ever included John 2:23-25 along with the story of Jesus and Nicodemus found in John 3:1-21? The chapter number “3” might be getting in the way of a new revelation about why Jesus was so excited to talk with Nicodemus.

Consider the unsurmountable barrier called the number “5”. Have you ever noticed that Matthew 4:23-25 really should be included with chapter 5, what we call the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount? Could these verses offer insight into what Jesus was really talking about in the Beatitudes? (By the way, the word “Beatitudes” didn’t make its way into the bible until 1540 – and then only as a section title. “Beatitudes” is not found in the scripture text. But that’s another story for another time.)

Perhaps there are additional places in scripture that invite a closer examination. Could it be that there are other nefarious integers, or combinations of digits, that passively hinder us from a fresh understanding of God’s word? Or is it that we no longer need to labor at tilling the soil of God’s Word, so we don’t make the effort? Have we settled so long, surviving on volunteer heads of grain, that we no longer understand the possibility of a record-breaking harvest of truth and life?

I am thankful for people like Archbishop of Canterbury Cardinal Stephen Langton, who made an extra effort to make my study of scripture easier. Now I can focus my efforts on other areas of studying scripture – like, what does Ephesians 5:16 have to do with Ephesians 6:13? Or, can Luke 6:20-26 help me understand Matthew 5:3-12?

By the way, if it wasn’t for a guy named Steve in the early 1200’s and a guy named Bob in the 1500’s, I wouldn’t have been able to write those last two sentences. Thanks, Steve! Thanks, Bob!

Now, who’s ready to work?

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!

On A Cold, Dark December Evening

2017-12-03T20:09:00.000-05:00

I was reminded today about a moment twenty years ago during the Christmas season. I was on my way home from a rather contentious meeting. We were going to be leaving Holland, Michigan soon (not knowing that we would end up in New Castle, Indiana). Cheryl had just given birth to our second daughter, Emily. Other than that bright spot, 1997 had been a rough year.

The year began with terrorist Mir Qazi being sentenced to death for a rifle attack outside CIA headquarters, killing two. The top-ranking enlisted soldier, Sergeant Major of the Army, was suspended for allegations of sexual misconduct. The U.S. government acknowledged a “secret war” in Laos. Timothy McVeigh is convicted of his role in the Oklahoma City bombing and sentenced to death. Thirty-Nine Heaven’s Gate cultists committed mass suicide. A New Jersey high school senior gave birth in her school and left the newborn to die in the trash. Ramzi Yosef was convicted of planning the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Michael Carneal opened fire on a prayer group in a Paducah, Kentucky high school killing three people.

On this particular evening the air seemed especially cold, and the night very dark. I remember asking myself, exhausted from the long, hard meeting, “What are we doing bringing another child into this crazy, messed-up world?”

I was tired and overwhelmed, and felt guilty and a little selfish for being excited about Emily’s recent birth. What kind of future would Emily and Kaitie face? Would their days be even darker than this December night? Would there be any hope?

Fast-forward twenty years and we’re still talking about terrorists, sexual misconduct, and school shootings. But there is also hope; something that doesn’t make the news. Something that we frequently take for granted.

Kaitie is busy ministering the love of Christ in various ways. From a smile and hard work at camp, to children’s ministry at church, she is sharing the hope we can each find in God. She also works in an “outpost” called elementary school shining a light for young lives to see and emulate.

Emily is serving God as a ministry student, extending hope and joy to her fellow students. Among other duties, she serves as a dorm chaplain. Sometimes the road is hard, and the days are long and stress-filled, but she sees the fruit of her efforts every day.

I am thankful for a God who knows and holds the future. A God who does not get tired of speaking words of hope to his children lost in despair or depression.

On a cold, dark December evening things can look very bleak. Sorrow can easily consume you, and the future can be obscured by doubt and fear. But I can tell you that, twenty years later, you will see hope. Like the first tulip of the spring peeking through the last blanket of snow, new life will quietly break through and brighten your horizons.

Don’t lose sight of hope. All is not lost. The future is not as cold and dark as it seems tonight. Christmas can be a season of hope and expectation. The light has come.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:1-5 NIV

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!

I'm Blessed, Not Guilty

2017-11-13T08:12:00.002-05:00

The “thankful” posts I’m seeing on social media started me thinking. I have, without question, many things to be thankful for. Unfortunately, there is a sport swelling in our culture where contestants redefine some of those gifts as “privileges” and I refuse to play that game.

All the blessings in my life are gifts from God. They were not handed down to me by some imaginary elite class of ancestors. Everything good and perfect in my life is only there because God ordained and orchestrated it.

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” - James 1:16-17 NIV

Every good and perfect gift — each one was a gift from the Giver. I was entitled to none of the gifts. We’ve all been given gifts, but none of us were gifted identically.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” - Romans 12:6a NIV

Many of us have common gifts. We all have received the gift of life and breath. Most of us have received the gifts of sight and hearing. Each individual has been offered the gift of eternal life, but not everyone has received that gift. In this we see that we can reject, or ignore a gift. And sometimes we can be ignorant that the gift has even been offered.

We have not all been given the same gifts. Only a little over 4% of the world population was born in the United States. Only six of every ten U.S. citizens are non-Hispanic, non-Latino, whites. On average, out of 2048 individual U.S. citizens, 1048 will be male. Counting these three gifts alone, I belong to the 1.2% subset of white male U.S. citizens in the world.

When you add to this the various facts that: I was born in Ohio, raised in Michigan, live in Indiana, and had a father who was a tool and die maker for GM - I belong to a fraction of a percent of the global population. And I’ve not counted the gifts of education, income level, family structure, religion, denomination, congregation, and blood type.

A person with all of the same gifts that I’ve been given falls into a very, very small micro-fraction of the world population. And if I believe scripture, every one of those gifts were given to me by God.

Because these are gifts from God, I shouldn’t feel guilty for my male-ness or my white-ness. I can’t apologize for being a U.S. citizen, because if I did I would be saying - in effect - God was wrong. Each of these “good gifts” were given by Him and for His glory. And each one has special value.

I will never know the joy of giving birth to another life. Only women, and not even all women, have been given this gift. No matter how deeply I desire this gift, I have not been wronged if I haven’t been blessed with it.

I have not received the gift of being born into a large Italian family. I will never experience the food, and fun, and heritage that would come with a gift like that. But I have not been deprived of those things. Those are gifts that belong to another and, if I have a problem with that, I have a problem with the Giver of those gifts not the one receiving them.

Yes, I have been blessed with many gifts that are valued very highly in our society. But I will not disown or disrespect those gifts simply because others think it’s unfair.

The modern pastime of renaming gifts as privileges overlooks a significant truth. Gifts come with responsibilities.

God has given me good gifts and it is my responsibility to steward those gifts, and to leverage those gifts for His purposes. I will be held accountable for how I use the gifts I’ve been given.

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” - Luke 12:48b ESV

Some have squandered their gifts, and others have misused their gifts resulting in horrible, sometimes unthinkable, consequences. But that doesn’t mean the gifts were bad, or inappropriate. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, but what we do with them can turn them very dark, or simply ineffective.

Each person reading these words, and every person you meet today, has been given gifts. Some of your gifts are identical to the gifts I’ve received. Many of your gifts are different from mine, and some are unique only to you.

I am thankful to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and I will not apologize or feel guilty for what He has given me. I choose to be grateful and the depth of my gratitude reinforces my desire to steward those gifts well.

During this season of thankfulness, do not discard, disown, or distance yourself from the good gifts you’ve been given. Do not feel guilty, or apologize, for the many ways you’ve been blessed. And do not neglect your responsibility to steward those gifts and blessings well. God gave you those gifts and blessings. Celebrate each one and do nothing to insult, or break the heart of, the One who gave them to you.

Yes, I have been blessed! I will forever be grateful – guilt-free and unapologetically. What will you do with your blessings? Will you gratefully embrace them without apology? Or will you play the game, feel the guilt, and insult the Giver?

The choice is yours. Choose well.

I Wonder ...

2017-08-14T19:46:00.001-04:00

We live in a society where life is cheap and easily discarded, yet the common worth of an individual is valued in dollars, power, pleasure, and fame.

A society where compassion has not been cultivated, reason has not been taught, anger has been unleashed, and hope has been lost.

We live in a culture where communication is no longer on our lips, but is spread 24/7 through a few finger taps on a touchscreen. Where our ears are no longer open, yet expressing ones self has become the highest virtue. Where free speech is only tolerated when it is politically correct, and then only if no one takes offense.

Where most despair that they have no voice, yet the ability to self-publish in multiple media formats is greater now than at any point in history.

We live in a society where we are no longer guided and grounded by principles, but enslaved by party, policies, and platforms.

Where we are afraid of living and dying alone, and yet spend most of our waking hours interacting with a handheld liquid crystal display.

We live in a world that desperately wants to feel alive, and to know real unchanging truth. A world that desires a purpose to pursue, a path to follow, a cause that will unite.

If only there were such a purpose, a path, a cause. If only there were a truth that generated true life. If only there were a cause to unite us.

If someone were to stumble on such a solution to what makes this society so sick, I wonder if he or she would actually, intentionally live it out? Share it?

Or would that person only bring it out one day a week to play with it, then pack it away and guard it; so that they could play with it again in seven days?

In Its Time

2017-08-03T22:23:00.001-04:00

"... in its time I will do this swiftly." This passage below emphasizes that there is a time and place in history when God acts. He is rarely early, but never late. He's an on-time God.

But when it becomes time for God to act, He acts swiftly and decisively. His purposes will not be thwarted.

Remember the other "timing" verses? “... And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14; “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.” - John 7:6; “My hour has not yet come.”- John 2:4; “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, ...” - Galatians 4:4; “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” - Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

God will act in his time, but when He acts it will be swiftly.

“Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

Isaiah 60:21-22 NIV

God's Got This Too

2017-01-29T22:18:00.001-05:00

Exactly 22 months ago today, after an interview with George Stephanopoulos, many of the "talking heads" and political elites pronounced then Gov. Mike Pence's career dead. A few days later I joined his staff.

It amazes me, as I reflect on this part of my journey, how God had a plan all along. The pundits and the politicians (friend & foe) didn't have a clue. Then again, neither did any of the rest of us. But God knew.

It's just another reminder for me, and maybe for you too, that no matter the prognosis, no matter the "disaster" that just occurred, no matter how unlikely it might seem, no matter how dire the future looks right now ... God's got this too.

There is only One who knows what your tomorrow looks like. He loves you. You can trust him.

I am tired … more than that, I am weary

2017-01-28T15:39:00.000-05:00

I am tired … more than that, I am weary.

I am weary of brothers and sisters in Christ (people who should know better – who do know better) who easily abandon bedrock principles of Christianity to attack or defend someone they have never met, simply because they are on one side (or the other) of an artificially drawn line that defines an imaginary isle.

We celebrate and share articles with leading sentences like, “Many Americans appear ready to give [insert name of current or former President here] a pass when it comes to his lack of religious knowledge, sensibilities or behavior, but I think that’s a mistake.” Would we use that same language to describe the visitor on the back pew, or the neighbor we’ve been praying for down the street?

Many believers eagerly embraced the idea this past fall that half of a particular candidate’s followers were irredeemable. And that was a gracious description compared to what they reserved for the candidate. Do we really believe that anyone is irredeemable?

Why do many of my Christian friends champion a march that deliberately excluded people who cherish and value the right to life? Can these positions really be held by people who claim that “Jesus is the subject” and “Our banner is love”?

I’ve heard some defend their views with the excuse, “I’ve heard with my own ears, and seen with my own eyes.” (Forgetting that they saw and heard through news sources that were skewed both right and left and none coming from a spiritual perspective). Did first hand testimony matter (testimony NOT filtered through electronic media and shaped by editors, and producers) when our Redeemer stooped down and started writing in the dust at the feet of those accusers? Was He only the Redeemer of the accusers?

I’m weary. And I long for the church to mature, understand its identity, and reclaim its mission to advance the Kingdom of God. For now, we live in an age of faith “tribes”, nation-state citizenship, regional pride, sports team allegiance, and personal preference. We should celebrate our strengths and appreciate our differences.

I long for the day when political ideology no longer trumps foundational principles of the faith. Unfortunately, I believe we are as stiff-necked as our Old Testament forbearers. In the meantime, if you wish to pass judgment on me please use the one found in Matthew 22:34-40:

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!

Long-awaited, Unexpected

2016-12-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

Long-awaited, unexpected.

They had waited so long for the Messiah, but they did not expect a child. Mary and Joseph did not expect a pregnancy. The shepherds did not expect a sky full of angels. Herod did not expect the Magi.

The wedding guests did not expect the best wine at the end of the reception. The fishermen did not expect their nets to break. The blind did not expect to see, the lame did not expect to dance.

The woman caught in adultery did not expect forgiveness. Zacchaeus did not expect a dinner guest. The five thousand did not expect a meal.

Peter, James, & John did not expect to see Moses & Elijah. The mourners did not expect to see Lazarus. Pilate did not expect the Truth. The disciples did not expect the cross.

The thief did not expect Paradise. The soldiers did not expect the earthquake. Peter & John did not expect an empty tomb. Mary did not expect to hear her name. Thomas did not expect to see the scars. Peter did not expect restoration.

They did not expect the way that He left.

He is the God of unexpected surprises.

We await His return, but we are unable to even imagine the unexpected ways he will appear in our daily lives.

Expect the unexpected - that's who He is.

Merry Christmas!

Fifteen years and counting ...

2016-09-10T23:18:00.001-04:00

Fifteen years ago I was in a Coordinating Council meeting at church. It was a Monday night. I can't remember what we were discussing, but at the time it seemed very important. Little did we know that tomorrow morning our part of the world would change forever.

Tuesday morning four planes altered their original course for new destinations. Three found their targets, one fell short in a field in Pennsylvania.

Within minutes all of the contrails disappeared from the sky. Questions erupted like spring dandelions. Who did it? Why did they do it? Were there more to come?

On that Monday there was no TSA. There was no national police force called Homeland Security. There was no Patriot Act. We are more secure now, but we've bought that security by selling some of our freedom.

On Monday we were mostly focused on our own lives and our own interests. After Tuesday we looked at strangers on the street or in the grocery store more closely - not in suspicion but to give an encouraging smile or nod. We held the door for others more frequently. The pews in churches were more full, as were the military recruiting centers.

A lot has happened in 15 years. A lot happened between Monday night and Tuesday morning. What does our tomorrow hold? We won't know till we get there. The world could look very different.

So say what you need to say to the people you love. Look strangers in the eye and give them an encouraging nod and a smile. Hold the door for others. Look at the sky and enjoy creation. Look at your life and enjoy your freedom. Pray for your nation and those protecting it. Pray for first responders - those who run toward danger, those who open the doors without knowing what's behind them. Hug your family and friends.

Life is unpredictable. Live intentionally.

God is good. Love unconditionally.

The choice is yours ... choose well.

What's In A Name? ... For the Third Time

2016-03-24T19:38:00.001-04:00

This post is from December 7, 2015 where I reposted an earlier post. I am reposting because Mr. Trump has again criticized the President for using the term ISIL. Regardless of how you feel about Trump or the President, do your own research - don't be ignorant...

December 7, 2015: I first posted the following on June 30, 2014. Last night, Donald Trump criticized the president for using the term "ISIL". I believe NOT calling this enemy ISIL reveals an ignorance of the nature of this radical group. I continue to stand by these words and believe the term "ISIS" masks the true purpose of the Islamic State:

June 30, 2014: What's in a name? A lot, and we need to pay attention.

We've recently seen a very violent jihadist form of Islam emerge in the chaos of Syria and Iraq. Many news organizations are calling it ISIS - the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But up until Sunday, June 29th [2014] that's not what they called themselves. Now they just call themselves the Islamic State, but the shortened name is because of growing ambitions.

Beginning in April of last year [2013] , this group called themselves the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham. The Arabic word Sham translates to the word Levant. Our State Department calls them the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.

Most Americans don't know what the word Levant means. It is actually a very old term that originated when the economic world centered around the Mediterranean Sea.

Levant literally means "rising" referring to the place where the sun rises - or the eastern Mediterranean coastline. It refers to all of the territory of the following countries: Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, part of southern Turkey, and Israel. It is used frequently by individuals, countries, and nations that refuse to recognize the State of Israel.

So, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - (ISIL) reveals, by the name they chose, that they intend to expand into these other nations. Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, part of southern Turkey, and Israel will all be replaced by ISIL if they have their way.

The name change on Sunday indicates even greater ambitions. When they changed their name to the Islamic State, they declared that they [intend to be] one nation-state, or caliphate, for every true Muslim. The idea is to unify all Muslims around the world and control as much territory as possible.

ISIS is a "cute" sounding name, reminding many from my generation of Saturday Morning live-action shows with Shazam!, Captain Marvel, and Isis. And the initials that ISIS represents makes telling the news easy; most people know where Iraq and Syria are - or at least know that they are countries in the Middle East. But it masks the true intentions of ISIL and now the Islamic State.

We are living at a time when people want to be entertained and the news media is lazy and ignorant. Just be aware that this group, if not addressed, will impact our future headlines with "unforeseen" horrors. Wake up. We are not fighting a war on terror, we are in a battle with a ruthless ideology and we need to realize what’s going. If we remain asleep while this evil grows, what happens in the future will make 9/11 look like a common traffic accident.

Don’t be afraid, be aware. Pay attention.

"The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt." - 1790 speech by Irish orator John Philpot Curran.

My Heart Is Heavy ...

2016-02-13T19:57:00.001-05:00

My heart is heavy tonight. I pray for Justice Scalia's wife and family. May they find peace during these days and weeks.

The halls of the building I stood in front of in 2014 will echo emptier because of the events of today.

But the heaviness I feel is for the nation and the integrity of the U. S. Constitution. The fundamental transformation of the nation may, in fact, be sealed. God is still on the throne, and our future is, and has always been, in His hands. But the nation my future grandchildren inherit will be very different from the one I grew up in.

Our selection of Presidential and Senatorial candidates will have great consequence. The choice is yours ... choose well.

30 Questions To Help You Choose Leaders

2016-01-31T22:44:00.001-05:00

Our process of electing leaders has devolved into voting against the person we can tolerate the least. The next nine months we will be inundated with reasons NOT to vote for the 'other guy' (or gal). Fortunately, scripture gives us another option.

Most people assume we live in a democracy - and they would be wrong. We live in a republic. But few know that the idea of a republic is rooted in scripture. The founders used Scripture to argue for a republic and write it into the Constitution.

“Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” - Ex. 18:21

This passage reveals three questions we should ask about our prospective leaders:
Is this person capable of holding this office?
Is this person seeking and following God?
Does this person hate dishonest gain (Do they play fair)?

When the disciples needed to staff a food pantry/visitation ministry, they said to choose leaders “who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” - Acts 6:3

If those are requirements for individuals who serve food to widows, our leaders should have those same qualities. But how can we tell if someone is "full of the Spirit"?

Paul wrote, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23

That gives us 12 additional questions:
Does this person display wisdom? Do they make wise decisions?
Is this person full of the Spirit?
Is this person loving?
Are they joyful?
Are they at peace?
Do they have patient endurance?
Is this person kind?
Can you describe this person as a good person?
Are they faithful?
Are they gentle?
Does this person display self-control?

In our overly sensualized culture, we need to unpack what it means to be loving. The church in Corinth needed help defining love, so Paul wrote them a letter.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This gives us 15 more questions:
Is this candidate patient?
Are they kind?
Are they envious?
Is this person boastful and proud?
Do they dishonor others?
Are they self-seeking?
Is this person easily angered?
Do they hold grudges?
Do they find joy in hurtful or evil things?
Are they concerned about seeking truth?
Can you say that they ALWAYS protect, always trust, always hope, and always persevere?
Does this person follow through?

Sometimes as we choose leaders we try to compensate for our weaknesses.

We've lost our voice in this culture, so we choose the loudest candidate. We feel we've lost almost everything that makes us great, so we choose someone who promises to make us great again. We feel that we are part of the 90%, so we choose someone who will give us everything the 10% take for granted. We feel we've been lied to and we hate "nuanced" answers, so we find someone who "shoots straight" and says the first thing that pops into their head.

I Samuel reveals what happens when people reject God's wisdom and choose a king using their own set of qualifications. It was disastrous. But their fate doesn't have to be our fate. We have a choice.

Word of caution: no one is perfect. Don't be discouraged if you can't find a candidate who successfully navigates all of these questions. But you should be able to find someone who comes very close.

And don't reject a candidate who made one decision you disagree with. Those who crave political power often use one controversial decision to divide and conquer. Even if all the power-seekers accomplish is to convince you to stay home and not vote, they've won.

You probably don't agree with every opinion your spouse has. You don't agree with every decision your pastor makes, or every choice your boss makes. But would you walk away from any of them, if you agree on every other choice or opinion?

In a republic we elect people to make decisions on our behalf. You and I choose who makes those decisions. The pundits, and polls, and talking heads, can not force us into predetermined conclusions. The choice is ours not theirs.

Face your fears. Reject choosing the popular candidate simply because they are popular. Hold your favorite candidates up to these 30 questions. If they fare well, you can be sure that they will represent you well.

If your candidate does not line up with biblical guidance, maybe you should reconsider. If they aren't qualified to even serve food to widows, why would you trust them to make decisions on weightier issues?

The choice is yours ... choose well.

Think About Such Things

2016-01-07T22:49:00.001-05:00

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” - Philippians 4:8 NIV

Just wondering ... why is this even a command, and why is it so hard to do? When we think of excellent things, and lovely things, we feel good. When we we focus on what is true, and pure, and admirable, it gives us joy and peace.

It seems that our tendency to indulge in pleasurable things would make this a normal state. We should be addicted to the way we feel when we put Philippians 4:8 into practice.

Instead, we focus on fear, and doubt, and the "what-ifs" in life. Our news diet is almost exclusively about what went wrong, or what we should be afraid of. We never experience "good" gossip.

Why are there no 12-step plans for people who focus on the good, beautiful, and praiseworthy? To turn a phrase, if it feels good, why aren't we doing it?

Is it possible that "the fall" in the Garden really is the best explanation? In Genesis 1 we read of seven "days" of good - "and it was good!" All that was known was good. But when Adam & Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, suddenly they knew both good AND evil. Good AND bad. Good AND heartbreaking.

Thoughts? What do you think?

National Day of Prayer - Thursday, May 7

2015-05-06T08:10:00.001-04:00

We are really no different from them. We are no different from the children of Israel with their backs to the sea and facing certain annihilation at the hand of Egyptian charioteers. Fear grips us. There is no way to avoid devastation. We cry out to God and He replies, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-18)

We are no different from God’s people who had rediscovered the Word of God and experienced the weight of guilt. We mourn the years our nation has lost to hate, anger, and disobedience. We cry out to God in grief over how things could have been and He says, “Be still and understand my boundless grace.” (Nehemiah 8:9-12)

We are no different from the song writer who sees evil advancing and righteousness melting away. Anger overwhelms us. The headlines paint a picture that says drugs, and terror, and murder, and corruption are invincible. We cry out to God and He says, “Be still and wait patiently for me. Know that I am God, and I will be exalted.” (Psalm 37:7 and 46:10)

We are no different from those who felt like God had abandoned them. We wonder if God cares about what’s happening in our lives and our community. We wonder if He thinks about us at all, or if He even exists. We cry out, hoping He is there and that He hears us. And He answers, “Be still. I am coming, and I will live among you.” (Zechariah 2:10-13)

We are no different from those having a mountain top experience with Jesus. We want to camp out and build permanent ecstasy into our lives. We want to avoid the pain in the valleys of life. We try to ignore the call to sacrifice our plans and desires so that others can find new life. We cry out to God and He gently answers “Be still. This is my Son. Listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:1-5)

From the founding of this nation, our leaders, both political and spiritual, have called us to a time of prayer. Sometimes a call to humiliation and repentance. Other times a call to prayer and thanksgiving. John Hancock, Samuel Adams, James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and even the Continental Congress all called for days of prayer.

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans and is not sponsored by any one group. Every American, regardless of religion, is encouraged to celebrate his or her faith through prayer. On Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.Christians from all denominations are encouraged to gather at First Baptist Family Life Center in New Castle for a time of prayer and worship.

We are really no different from people of faith through history. We cry out to God on behalf of our families, our schools, our communities, our neighbors, our state, and our nation. And God will answer, “Be still … hear what I am saying.”