God can work on multiple people at one time.

So if your kids are rebelling, or just need to learn how to live in God’s world, God may be working on you both, at the same time.

I would love to hear how God has used your parenting efforts to get to your heart. Feel free to share in the comments below.

The Avengers recently broke the record for the highest grossing opening weekend ever in movie history, pulling in $200 million from Friday to Sunday.

Just a month ago, The Hunger Games joined the list of the highest grossing midnight showing premieres.

As we seek to make good, wise choices about how we approach popular media, I believe that there are three scriptural truths that provide our moral baseline and three aspects of the media that ought to be weighed as we make this decision.

Three Scriptural Truths

First, the Scriptures teach that we should abstain from things that lead us to sin. Philippians 4 speaks of thinking of what is right, noble, true, etc. Ephesians 4 commands us not to walk as the Gentiles do, but instead casting off darkness and taking on light.

Second, the Scriptures teach that when we are unsure if something is wrong, we ought to hold off until we can participate with a clean conscience (Romans 14).

Third, the Scriptures teach that we ought  to consider our brothers and sisters in Christ and not participate in an activity in such a way that it may cause someone who believes that it is wrong to sin by doing it. I Corinthians 8-10 describes how Paul has set aside his rights in order to love his brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul also says there, “all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful”.

In light of those Scriptural truths, if seeing a particular movie doesn’t violate those principles, how do we make a decision about the merit of such a piece of entertainment?

Three Components of Media:

1. Content: What kinds of offensive content does this media contain?

It is important to scrutinize the content that we allow into our minds. We also need to think about how the content is presented. Is bad content condemned or enticing? Is a character’s sinful habit part of the change he will undertake or is he celebrated for that trait? Is his sin shown as sin or exalted as virtue? What content is in the media, and how is it presented? Will experiencing this content cause you to thirst for righteousness or deceive you into lusting after evil?

2. Message: What is this media saying?

Every movie is saying something. Understanding what the main point is should be crucial. Although content is important, if we made our decisions about what we would read on content alone, we would never read the Bible, as it contains accounts of all sorts of heinous acts. The overall message is equally important in making decisions. It may be that Wall-E has no offensive content, but it has a message. Evaluate whether this message tells the truth or a lie, and whether this message draws you nearer to Christ or pushes you farther away.

3. Setting: Where is this media put on display?

The setting that you choose to experience the media plays a large factor as well. Certain settings place one in greater temptation than others. It is important to think through how the setting that is chosen may encourage you toward godliness or lead you into temptation. Want to make sure that you are seeing a movie and drawing near to Christ? It may be good to see it with several Christian friends with whom you can discuss it afterwards. Will this setting present an opportunity for sin or an occasion for holiness and rejoicing in the Lord?

As I saw these elements being put in place, it struck me, “this is really happening”. As Carrie finalized the interior design, I began to concretize in my head how relationships could be initiated and built here in this space, maybe over a white chocolate mocha. I could visualize now a precise intimate setting where a conversation with a student about God would take place. Josh and I remarked to each other after the meeting how excited we were about Faith West. The Faith family has prayed and worked to help a ministry dream become a reality, and it is materializing in front of our eyes. Praise the Lord!

Now is the Time to Continue in Fervent Prayer

Much hard work has been accomplished. But think for a minute what lies ahead—the securing of the appropriate financing, the creation and approval of construction documents, the construction of Faith West, and the creation of all the programming of Faith West; all to be ready on opening day in August 2013. We have an exciting 15 months ahead of us. Will you double up your efforts to fervently pray for Faith West and the future ministry that happens? If you would like to be included on a monthly newsletter that lists prayer requests for Faith West, please email me and let me know.

Now is the Time to Come Together

At certain pivotal moments in Israel’s history, God’s people came together as a body to accomplish His will. For example, during the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus, God enlisted the aid of all of Israel to contribute what they could—time, talent, and treasure. These moments in time were unifying to God’s people, and God’s presence was clearly evident. It will be the same for us as “Faith” pulls together in order to complete Faith West. Be prepared when your pastoral leadership asks all of Faith to help over the next year, to contribute time and talent in some way (the Faith family is already doing such a great job at the treasure part of contributing, thank you). If you want to take the initiative now to drop your name in the pool of volunteer human resources, please email either me or Josh Greiner.

Now is the Time to Spread the Word

Yesterday I was chatting with a high school junior who indicated that he and a group of friends wanted to live at Faith West when he attends Purdue in 2013. I was excited that he knew about the plans and that we may have the opportunity to serve this student. While official brochures and information will be coming out in the fall, it is not too early to begin spreading the word to interested students who desire to live at Faith West in August 2013. Have those potential students contact either me or Josh Greiner. Thank you Faith family and let the excitement build!

Imagine if your dead child was powerfully brought back to life.  What would it have felt like to have your leaprous mother cleansed and returned to your family?  How would you have responded if the lame beggar you passed for years suddenly stood to his feet?

What follows is my attempt to capture with fiction the miraculous events described in Mark chapter 5 as a pair of demon-possessed men were set free by the power of Christ.  I hope it will do three things for you…

1. Provide you with even greater reason to praise God
2. Help you to see the power of personal testimony
3. Motivate you to share your story with others

Voyage to the East

A sense of dread gripped the band of twelve as their boats approached the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Just a few hours before, their Master had instructed them, “Let us go over to the other side.”  This instruction came in the evening of what had been a particularly troubling day. 

Earlier that day, Jesus had squared off against a group of Pharisees who rejected His authority.  These Pharisees had witnessed the Master’s healing of a blind mute who was demon-possessed.  But instead of praising Jesus for the marvelous work, they attributed His miracle to the power of Satan. 

Such opposition from the religious leaders was not a new occurrence, but on this particular occasion, Jesus’ response had been especially sharp.  And, though none of the twelve understood precisely why, their Master’s demeanor seemed changed following the incident. 

These events had taken place in Galilee, a region that had been generally receptive to the ministry of Jesus.  Despite the antagonism of some, many in the area had embraced what Jesus was doing. 

After the altercation with the Pharisees, it seemed reasonable to the disciples that they should reach out to those who would respond with greater favor to the message of the Master.  And this is why the disciples were so perplexed when they heard Jesus say, “Let us go over to the other side.”

The Approaching Shore

After all, what lay on the other side of the sea?  Certainly, they would not find an audience receptive to the ministry of the Messiah.  For on the other side lay the lands of the Gentiles, the region of the Decapolis.  The territory to the east of the Sea of Galilee was a pagan land.  Centuries earlier, it had been settled by the seven nations whom the Israelites had driven out during the conquest led by Joshua. 

Since that time, the Greeks had established cities that had become Hellenistic centers of culture and worship.  If any region could be considered the domain of Satan, surely it was the Decapolis.  And this was precisely where Jesus was leading His disciples—into the heart of the opposition.

A Satanic Welcome

The early light of morning painted strange hews upon the Gentile lands.  The high cliffs that formed the landscape cast broad shadows across the waters of the abyss below.  From their boats, they could see Gerasenes, the godless heathens who inhabited the region, traveling along a road near the shore. 

As the disciples left their boats for the road ahead, they felt as if they were entering the presence of evil itself.  Each man questioned within himself why Jesus would lead them to this forsaken country.

“Arrgghhaahh!”  A tormented scream rang out among the cliffs, cutting through the still calm of morning.  The unearthly sound was both guttural and piercing, like that of a fresh-wounded beast. 

Startled by the fearsome shriek, the disciples immediately turned to identify its source.   The Gerasene travelers also turned, but upon seeing what must have been a familiar sight, they quickly fled, screaming in response to the approaching figures. 

From among tombs carved into the nearby rock came two twisted figures.  They were hurling themselves rapidly toward Jesus and His disciples.  Though the figures clearly were not animals, they did not seem fully human.   

As the men approached snarling and screeching, Jesus and the disciples could see that one of them was naked.  From his wrists and ankles swung the remnants of broken straps and chains which had apparently been used at one time to bind him.  

Some of the disciples, taking their cue from those who were fleeing, began to run away from the men but stopped when they saw that the Master did not follow.  One of the fleeing Gerasenes shouted to the disciples, “Are you mad?  They’re possessed.  No one is strong enough to subdue them.  No chains can hold them.  They’ll kill you if you stand there.”  

Jesus did not move.

Unexpected Worship

To the amazement of all who were watching, the demonized men did not maul Jesus and the twelve when they reached them.  Instead, the one who was naked threw himself down and bowed low before Jesus. 

At this distance, the disciples could see the deep gashes where the man had ripped apart his flesh using stones and sharp objects.  His filthy body was riddled with scars, and many of the fresh wounds were still oozing with blood. 

Speaking to the demons, Jesus commanded, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”  The Gerasenes who had not fled observed the exchange with great curiosity, for Jesus did not attempt to remove the demons in the same manner as other exorcists. 

He did not recite any incantations or formulas.  He did not appeal to the power of any person, god, or gods.  He simply spoke to them.  He commanded them on the basis of His own authority. 

As the demonized man prostrated himself on the ground before Christ, he looked up through crazed eyes and roared, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

A Shared Past

An audible gasp could be heard among the gathering crowd of Gerasenes, who began murmuring to one another about the possessed man’s astonishing words.  The man knew the Stranger. 

Even more astonishing was the fact that he referred to Him as “Son of the Most High God.”  These demons within the man were acquainted with Jesus.  This was not the first time they had been in His presence. 

Long before, prior to the great rebellion of Satan and his minions, these creatures had offered their worship and service to Christ.  Here again, they bowed low before the One who possessed the right to command them.

Spiritual Realities

Crying out to Jesus, the demons asked, “Have You come here to torment us before the time?”  Though their words perplexed both the people and the disciples, Jesus understood their reference. 

These demons acknowledged the spiritual reality of their situation.  They knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the long-awaited King who would establish His throne upon the earth. 

They recognized that the establishment of Christ’s kingdom would mark the beginning of the punishment that awaited them (Revelation 20).  But they also understood that the time for their torment had not yet come.

Rather than directly speaking to their inquiry, the Master asked, “What is your name?”  In response, the demons answered in pained and mangled tones, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 

Obviously, the man was unable to reply for himself.  His abused body had been overtaken by a host of demons who began to writhe about on the ground before the Lord.

A Strange Request

Assuming that Jesus would then exact His judgment, they did not try to defend themselves or cast aspersions upon Christ.  Instead, they recognized that their punishment would be deserved, and they pleaded with Jesus for mercy.  Begging Him not to consign them to the place of their eternal punishment, the demons bawled, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” 

The disciples and the Gerasenes were baffled by the exchange that was taking place between Jesus and the man.  They could only speculate why the demons would request to be sent into the herd of pigs feeding on the nearby mountain. 

Perhaps, they thought, the demons wanted to enter the swine because the pig was the sacred animal of the fertility cult to which many of the regional pagans belonged.  They postulated that the unclean spirits may have found the unclean animal of the Jews a fitting alternative to their human residence. 

Or perhaps, they supposed, the demons didn’t want to be cast disembodied into the Sea of Galilee, which was sometimes referred to as the abyss.  Aside from Christ and the demons, no one present understood the punishment that awaited Satan and his forces in the abyss on their day of reckoning.

An Unceremonious Exit

In response to their request, Jesus commanded, “Be gone.”  At that, both men collapsed to the ground, freed from the occupation of their tormentors.  In almost the same moment, earsplitting squeals from atop the mountain pierced the air. 

The disciples and Gerasenes gasped in wonder as they turned their attention to the herd of swine now bucking and butting in a panicked cacophony of shrieks on the nearby slopes.  Driven mad by the evil power that now inhabited them, the herd of roughly two thousand swine began thrashing and rampaging about.   

In less than a minute’s time, the frenzied herd began careening down the steep bank.  Driven by the unearthly force within, their squeals were silenced by the suffocating waters of the sea below.

A Hardened Response

At seeing this terrible sight, the Gerasene observers and the mountain herdsmen fled to the city to report the fearsome happenings they had witnessed.  Many returned not long after to find an astonishing sight. 

The men whom they had known as wild and treacherous were clothed and seated at the feet of the Master.  No longer were these men prisoners within their own bodies.  They had been liberated.  And they looked with gratitude upon the One who had freed them. 

Seeing these men, who had been so radically altered by the Stranger named Jesus, and understanding what had happened to the swine, the Gerasenes were filled with fear.  Instead of turning to Jesus, the Gerasenes hardened their hearts. 

Jesus had demonstrated great power in the healing of the demonized men, and some were frightened by this power.  Others were angered because, for them, the swine represented a source of revenue that had been swallowed by the Galilean Sea.  Caring more for themselves than the men who had been freed, the Gerasenes pleaded with Jesus and His disciples to depart from their lands. 

Parting Instructions

Saddened by the wickedness of the people, Jesus and the disciples turned and departed for their boats.  However, they did not walk alone.  They were followed closely by the men who had been possessed all the way to the shore. 

As Jesus began to climb into His boat one of the healed men grabbed onto Him, pleading that he might be allowed to come with Him to become one of His disciples.  Jesus turned to the man, and looking into his eyes, Jesus instructed him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 

At this, Jesus sat down in the boat as He and the disciples shoved off to make for the shores of Galilee.  The once-tormented men could only watch from the shore as their Savior drifted away on the waters.

The Story Spreads

Undaunted by their Lord’s departure, the men rejoiced in the miracle God had accomplished in their lives that day.  Energized by the mission Christ had entrusted to them, the men traveled about the Decapolis, visiting cities and villages, speaking of the great things Jesus had done. 

As they shared their story, the inhabitants of the land took great interest in the One who had healed them.  The ministry of these men sparked a flame that would spread throughout the region.  The fruits of their efforts were witnessed when Christ returned to the Decapolis (Mark 7:31-8:9).  The testimony of these men caused many to come to Jesus for healing and instruction, for salvation and life eternal.

This case involves a number of hurting people. The Martin family must deal with the pain and suffering associated with the reality that Trayvon is not coming home. They are also faced with countless press reports, interviews, and legal matters that are draining on the body and the soul.

The Zimmerman family has struggles of their own-from reported death threats, to being cast into the public spotlight, to the potential of watching George be convicted and punished.

The struggle of these two families have been brought into our living rooms for us to watch unfold.

While we must not forget that real people are involved in this case, it is clear that the case is larger than the Martin or Zimmerman families. There are crucial issues to this case for our culture and our society. It illustrates that the color of a person’s skin still matters in the minds of some persons. It raises questions about the meaning of self defense. It even touches on the issue of guns, as a whole, in our society.

While those are worthy subjects of discussion, I would like to take a different focus. I want us to give thanks. This case gives believers in Christ two reasons to rejoice and give thanks.

#1: I am thankful for the right to speak out against injustice

My suspicion is that Mr. Martin was not the only boy who died that night. But we paid attention to his case because there were inconsistencies in it. The evidence of the 911 call, the supposed beating that Zimmerman took that night, and the timing of the events, raised questions about what happened that night. This case is not as simple as the police first indicated.

Praise God that some people spoke and other people heard. That is not how it works everywhere. Many governments in our day, as well as those we read about in history, have been far more sinister. They have made decisions and forced those who disagree to keep quiet or face significant consequences. In the U.S., people are free to speak and free to call an injustice exactly what it is.

In my view, this freedom is a gift from God. It is a reflection of the reality that human beings are made in the image of God. As a result of being made in the image of God, people have incredible value. Part of our calling is to encourage justice and mercy because those are things that God loves (Isaiah 61:8, Micah 6:8). Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day because they did not care about justice (Luke 11:42). Praise God we live in a nation that allows us to pursue justice and confront injustice.

#2: I am thankful that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty

I don’t know if Zimmerman is guilty of murder. But I am very glad that Martin’s family, Zimmerman’s family, and the police cannot make that call alone. Our system was designed to protect people from being wrongly accused. Our system is not perfect, but it is a whole lot better than a bunch of greedy power mongers who exercise absolute authority over people. It is certainly better than the system that tortures people in order to extract a confession only to then punish them for confessing.

In our country the facts of the Martin-Zimmerman case will be heard by a jury of their peers. Those jurors will decide, beyond a reasonable doubt, whether Zimmerman is guilty of murder. If he is guilty of a crime, then he should be punished. If he is not guilty of a crime, then he should be freed. The integrity of our system depends on innocence first and guilt second.

Our justice system, while flawed, is attempting to put into practice the same principle that God gave the nation of Israel. God said that a conviction would require two or three witnesses (e.g., Num 35:30, Deut 17:6-7). In other words, a person’s guilt had to be established by multiple sources. Our system seeks to hold to the biblical ideal—people are innocent first and proven guilty.

Let us pray that God will give the jurors the wisdom to make the proper decision in the Zimmerman murder trial.

Let us pray that justice will occur in this case.

Let us pray that our nation will realize the significance of justice and make whatever changes are necessary to continue to pursue it.

Let us give thanks that God allows us to live in a nation where people can pursue justice and call injustice what it is.

Let us give thanks that people are considered innocent first.

Epilogue: I recently travelled to Hungary in Central Europe and I had the privilege to visit a place called The Terror House. It told the story of both Nazi and Soviet control over their people. It is hard to describe the level of suffering that occurs when a small group of people decide what justice means apart from the Word of God. I came home, despite our challenges, thanking God even more that I live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I alluded to the event in my Sunday sermon after the event was reported in the paper.

Some have wondered why we haven’t said more about this publicly.  That is a fair question, and it deserves a careful answer.

Generally speaking, whenever Faith does or does not do something, there are clear reasons behind the choice.  We often deliberate vigorously among our leadership team and frequently seek counsel from attorneys and other professionals.  There are several reasons why Faith has taken a careful, measured response to this event.

1. We Respect The Investigative Process

The parents of the victim of this event rightly contacted the police.  We are very thankful for our local authorities and believe we have a biblical responsibility to submit to their leadership and direction.  The police officers involved have been very thorough, but their investigation is ongoing.  We have also been in contact with our juvenile judge and seek to comply with her wishes and respect the court’s place in this process.  It would be inappropriate for us to make comments about an ongoing investigation until all the facts are in.  As James said, “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” (James 1:19).  Some followers of Christ would appear to reverse those commands.  We do not want to be counted among that number.

2. We Wish to Protect the Victim

A human being was significantly harmed in this situation.  Protecting this individual and providing an environment for healing and hope is our highest goal.  Sometimes in situations like this, “inquiring minds want to know.”  Our response would be, “Why?”  Is it really out of concern for the person, or is to be in a position to pass the nugget of gossip down the line?  Solomon exhibited his God-given wisdom when he wrote, “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter” (Proverbs 11:13).

Our various ministries work daily with people who have been victimized in all sorts of wicked and painful ways.  There are reasons why our counseling center buys Kleenex by the case, literally.  But we take confidentiality seriously for many reasons, including the fact that we will never give into the temptation to gossip, because doing so could add pain to a victim’s life in a way that is simply shameful and despicable.  Salacious gossip has no place in a ministry that claims the name of Christ.

3. We Pray for the Perpetrators

The persons who committed these actions are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price.  As James said just prior to the passage quoted above, “When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1:15).  Those words are coming true in living Technicolor.

However, as the Man our school is named after once famously said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”  Yes, this event was reported to the proper authorities, and it should have been.  The students were disciplined for their own good and the protection of our student body.  Future discussion will be held with our staff and students to learn any and all lessons the Lord may have for us through this tragedy.

But the former students involved in these actions are not the only people who have ever messed up.  If you would like to dispute that statement – feel free to contact me.  I’ll be happy to feature your story in my next blog post…right after I talk to your mom.

We hope the young people involved will move from sinful choices to repentance, forgiveness, and change.  This is a bad chapter for sure, but it does not have to be the final chapter.  The gospel calls us to treat one another with grace.  The day may come when you, or one of your children, may need it…badly.  Maybe that’s why James ended his book with this admonition: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”  That’s what people in Christian ministries do.

Headsets

Headsets seem to be the bane of our existence.  We need wireless headsets for communication between our stage manager and our backstage personnel.  That’s just one of those things a tech crew has to have to coordinate its tasks from different locations in the theatre. 

Back in 2009, we had planned on using the theatre’s headset system.  When the time came to use it, however, we discovered that they were non-operational and that their system would probably never again be a reliable option for us.  So, we began renting headset systems. 

This year, we had a rental system lined up.  However, when all of our rental equipment was delivered, we were told that one of our vendor’s “higher-priority clients” had commandeered our headset system and that they would not be able to help us.  That was bad news. 

So, we scrambled to find an Indianapolis vendor with an available system.  (That’s not always easy at a time of year when many metropolitan churches are presenting Easter-themed productions of their own.)  Thankfully, we found one.

So, one of our tech guys spent a fair amount of time getting the system up and running so that we would have it operational for our tech rehearsal. Everything worked perfectly…until it was time to start the rehearsal. 

Despite the challenge, God helped us, and we were able to muddle through our tech with positive results even though our access to wireless communication was inconsistent at best.  The next day, our tech guys went at it again and resolved the issue.  The headsets worked flawlessly during our dress rehearsal.

The Organ

We present our Passion Play at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette.  This theatre was once a movie house where silent pictures were shown.  One of the unique features of the theatre is that it houses a huge Wurlitzer organ complete with massive wooden pipes attached to the walls backstage.  The pipe organ is as much a part of the theatre as the seating. 

Recently, both received some upgrades.  The organ was refurbished and the theatre was equipped with several rows of new seating.  The result was that the organ console could no longer be relocated from the stage area to the adjacent pavillion (as we had done for years) to accommodate large theatrical productions like ours. 

We were left with a few options:

1. Destroy the organ console.  The theatre didn’t like that idea.
2. Cancel the Passion Play.  We didn’t like that idea and neither did the theatre.
3. Leave the organ on stage.  We really couldn’t do that without significantly altering our scenery and staging.
4. Relocate the organ somewhere backstage.  That sounds like a reasonable idea until you realize that our Passion Play involves several large set pieces that move on and off stage along with 60 choir members, 20 cast members, 20 orchestra members, 10 crew members, and 25 kids.  Finding a place for everyone and everything is already a challenge.

There didn’t seem to be a good alternative until we realized that the alcove outside the theatre was just large enough to house the organ console while still meeting fire code.  Crisis averted.

A Good Dress Rehearsal

That doesn’t sound like a problem, does it?  But there’s a common expression in theatre:  “Bad dress, good show.  Good dress, bad show.”  I’ve experienced both. 

Frankly, I think the “bad dress, good show” expression was created by a director to boost the failing morale of a cast that had just experienced a bad dress rehearsal.  If you ask any director which he would rather have–a bad dress rehearsal or a good dress rehearsal–100 out of 100 times, he’ll tell you that he’d rather have a good dress.  And I’m of the same mindset.

Despite decades of theatrical superstition, I believe the Lord has placed us in a really solid position to minister to our community through the Passion Play this year.  We covet your prayers for the effectivness of this ministry.

Don’t have your free tickets yet? Get them at http://faithlafayette.org/passion.

Good person, bad decision?

Last week a local judge uttered a memorable line when sentencing a local real estate agent convicted of forging property tax exemption documents for her rental homes.  After she paraded a number of supporters before the judge to convince him that she deserved a light punishment, he finally said; “I’m tired of people coming in saying they’re a good person who made a bad decision.” Apparently this judge wasn’t buying the argument that these 12 counts of forgery were momentary lapses in an otherwise pristine character.

The media piling on

A local reporter picked up the story this week and ridiculed this woman and her family on several points.  He especially went after her for having family members prepared to shield her with umbrellas as she left the courthouse, apparently in an attempt to avoid further embarrassment.  The paper ran a picture of the scene and then the reporter said,

“The broker’s willingness to face up to the situation concluded, oddly enough, with an interesting rendition of ‘Singing in the Rain’ with friends and family using deployed umbrellas to shield the defendant from cameras and the prying eyes of folks with prior convictions waiting their turn in court as the entourage made its way through the ornate courthouse corridors.” (Journal & Courier, http://t.co/WgARe5xO)

Talking about having your reputation trashed. I wonder if this woman and her family will ever be able to show their faces in town again.

When discussing the misdeeds of others…

I’m certainly not excusing what this woman did.  Forging documents in order to avoid property taxes is a serious crime.

I can also understand the judge’s point–it is time for people who commit crimes to honestly face their own natures–as in, “I am a bad person who did a bad thing.”  The average judge would probably fall off the bench if a person uttered those words in court.

I even stand with the media’s right to report on events that occur in our town.  Who wants a press that is anything but free?  But I sometimes question whether members of the media carefully consider the impact their words will have on those whose lives they are trashing.

That is why I am thankful that God called me to be a minister of the gospel.  We don’t want a cross on top of the courthouse or the newspaper building, but I am glad we have one on top of the steeple of our church.  That does not make me better than a judge or a reporter.  I am just glad I, and you, have the privilege of pointing ourselves and those around us to the beautiful gospel of grace.  Jesus died for the sins of the world…hers, theirs, yours, and mine. On that point the judge is right–the first step toward accepting Christ’s gift of forgiveness is admitting your need.  But that is not a truism for a few; it is a truism for us all.  So let’s come out from our shielding umbrellas of pointing the finger at everyone else and just admit it – she sinned, but I sinned to.  For those willing to make that admission, an empty tomb proves that God’s grace is sufficient to save all who will come in repentance and faith.

Check out this video to see how this year’s presentation can enrich your celebration of Easter and help you share the message of hope with your family, friends, and neighbors.  Free tickets are available right now.

Listen to the audio: Judge Loretta Rush at Faith Church, March 2012

We learned about some of our greatest community needs.

Judge Rush was armed with a battery of statistics about the amount of child abuse and neglect taking place in our county.  It is truly stunning and sobering to hear about the brokenness that exists all around us.  For example, she told about the growing number of infants who go through withdrawal as soon as they are born because of mothers abusing drugs while pregnant.  She discussed children taken from their parents’ homes in the middle of the night who cannot even take their blanket because it tests positive for some illegal substance.  We sat dumbfounded as Judge Rush spoke about the creative ways parents devise to harm their children.

We were reminded to pray for those on the front lines.

I honestly wonder how people like our judges, prosecutors, police, firefighters, and each member of our judicial system cope with the level of brokenness they encounter every day.  Their commitment to serve our community is commendable.  I hope everyone in our church family will redouble our efforts to pray faithfully for these public servants.  It is easy to forget the challenges these faithful men and women face each day on our behalf.  Let’s ask the Lord to give them strength and grace as they accept some of the most challenging ministry opportunities in our town.

We were invited to find more ways to make a difference.

Judge Rush reminded us that she had given a similar presentation to our congregation six years ago.  The good news is that since that time many people in our church family have stepped up and found ways to serve and minister to people in our community who are hurting. They are involved in opportunities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Parent Mentor Program, Community Foster Care, adoption, and more. I am thankful for community leaders who are wide open to faith based people and organizations participating in addressing social needs in our town.  Judge Rush repeatedly spoke about ways we can use our faith as an acceptable and necessary aspect of our ministry to others.

Joining the conversation — What’s Next?

What steps would like to see us take next as we seek to meet needs in the community in which God has placed us?