Feelings sometimes run hot in the blogosphere. That’s understandable given (a) some issues discussed, like racism, are already volatile and (b) we often don’t know the individuals we are engaging. Heat and anonymity combust, and often we end up understanding less than before the post or tweet was written. A lot depends on the state of our hearts when we first read a piece. Are we tired? Grumpy? Fearful? Angry? Sad? Discouraged? Weak? Gullible? We may not always be aware of our emotional and spiritual state as we read. Morever, we may not be aware of how the opinions, attitudes, and views of others might be affecting our reading. Did the tweet or post that first brought the issue to our attention also pass along an attitude or perspective that we took into our reading? It seems to me that happened a lot over this last two weeks. I wrote in an admittedly confrontational way about a touchy (to put it mildly) topic, and quite a number of people came to the post not on its own terms but carrying the angst, anger, attitude, and bias of the persons who alerted them to the post. I happily spent a lot of time in email and online trying to help people distinguish what I actually wrote from what they had heard elsewhere. People almost always responded in those discussions with some variety of, “Oh, I would say that too.” Or perhaps they still objected to my style in the post or insisted I must mean x or y, but the temperature went way down and real exchange was possible. All of that to say, as with all things, we should be careful to read others fairly (even if critically) and should avoid as best as possible allowing our reading to be prejudiced by others. The more heated the topic the more important this is. The warnings of Proverbs regarding strife applies to both the writer and the reader: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Prov. 10:12) “By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.” (Prov. 13:10) “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” (Prov. 15:18) “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (Prov. 16:28) “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” (Prov. 17:14) “Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.” (Prov. 17:19) “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” (Prov. 20:3) “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.” (Prov. 22:10) “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.” (Prov. 26:21) “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” (Prov. 28:25) “A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.” (Prov. 29:22) “For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.” (Prov. 30:33) Note the various emotions, passions, and sins that give rise to strife: hatred, insolence, anger, dishonesty, love for transgression, foolishness, scoffing, quarrelsomeness, greed, and wrath. It’s helpful to remember that along with the strife often comes these emotions, passions, and sins. It’s all rather contagious. And, sadly, those really given to these sins do not seem capable of stopping. It’s a character rather than an incident. Well does the New Testament put such strife in the category of reprobate behavior (Rom. 1:29) and sins of the flesh (1 Cor. 3:3; Gal. 5:20). For that reason we ought to be careful of causing strife (say, with my writing) or of furthering strife (say, by carrying the tales and attitudes of others in comments). According to some of these Proverbs, we should: lovingly cover offense, take advice, be slow to anger, avoid whispering, quit before quarreling, remain aloof to strife, drive out scoffers, and trust the Lord. I suspect tale-bearing and strife-kindling are bigger problems than the church realizes. I suspect it’s a blind spot for many of us. The reason I suspect that is because the false brethren of Jude’s letter—mockers, grumblers, complainers and scoffers (Jude 16-19)—were able to make their way into the church without the church noticing them (Jude 4). For a time, they appeared to be Christians. Over time, their true natures were revealed—but not before they had carried some off with them and had left others doubting and endangered (Jude 22-23). How could such people have been unnoticed in the church? Two possibilities: Either they were extremely deceptive and effective at pretending to be Christians, or the church was too comfortable with these sins and shared in them. Perhaps a combination of the two is possible. But in either case, Jude warns against such false brethren and at the very least we should be aware of any tendency in us toward mockery, scoffing, strife, and the host of motivations that might lead us to strife. We should be careful of how others may encourage these things in us as we read them online. May the Lord give us grace to do it! www.thegospelcoalition.org . Used by permission.

15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP Many Christians miss truly understanding and applying the Word of God because they lack the simple skill of knowing how to read. Christian pastor Don McMinn pens several keys for understanding and absorbing what you read: “How to learn from reading” We can learn just about anything in life if we will simply read and then reflect on what we have read (Warren Bennis). But we must read with the intent to learn. Here are some suggestions on how to do that. 1. Read He who does not read is no better off than those who cannot read (Mark Twain). Those who do read are better off than those who can read but do not (Don McMinn). Make reading a regular part of your weekly routine. Some people read daily, others read for longer periods of time on the weekend. Make reading a priority, otherwise you won’t do it. 2. Select good material that you can learn from. There’s a difference between reading for entertainment and pleasure and reading to learn. I read the daily newspaper to relax and catch up on the news, but I don’t read it to learn. I read a few novels every year but I don’t anticipate that I’m going to learn a lot; I read them for pleasure. Determine that you are going to read with the intent to learn. First, you need to define your personal intellectual nutrient base. Just like we have a physical nutrient base that keeps us physically healthy, we need a source for intellectual nourishment. The next challenge is to find material that we can learn from. Don’t underestimate how hard this can be; most printed material is intellectual cotton candy. There are several options for finding good material: · Get recommendations from friends who enjoy learning through reading. · Read book reviews (the Sunday New York Times has an entire section on book reviews). · Identify periodicals that feed your mind. I enjoy National Geographic, Smithsonian, and the Harvard Business Review. Discover what type of book works for you. For instance, I do not enjoy reading a large book on a single subject; I just don’t have the interest or the patience. I’m a generalist so I would rather read three shorter books about three different topics than one long book about one. Years ago, David McCullough wrote a book about the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. I love New York City and have always admired the bridge, so I started reading the book but stopped after about 40 pages. It’s 560 pages long. I wanted to learn more about the bridge but I didn’t want to know that much more. So I abandoned the read. Discover your personal reading preferences. 3. Develop a process that will help you retain what you read – read and mark. I once asked a group of business executives, “Who has read Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great?” About 70 percent raised their hands. I then asked, “Can anyone recall just one key principle from the book?” I got blank stares and silence filled the room. Finally, one man mumbled something about “that bus thing.” Reading Collins’s great book had no lasting value for these executives because they did not retain what they read. I’ll never forget that moment. It taught me that it’s not sufficient to just read books, we need a system that will help us retain what we learn. I’ve developed the following system that works for me. Use it as a general template and craft your own system. · Before you start reading, take about 10 minutes to anticipate what you hope to learn. What is the topic? Why have you chosen this book or periodical? Who is the author? Why should you spend time reading this material? How might it impact your life? Study the table of contents to get an overview of the book. · Read the book with pen in hand. When you read something that speaks to you, circle or underline it and then make marks in the upper/outside corner of the page (one mark means “this is good”; two marks mean “this is really good”; three marks mean “this is outstanding.”) Also, in the margins, write key words or thoughts. · Each person has his own reading/attention-span. Read until your mind begins to drift and then set the book aside, or switch to another book. I normally focus on three books at a time. I’ll read one for 20 minutes, then switch to another for 20 minutes. With practice, you can increase your ability to concentrate while reading. · Quickly find links between what you read and real life. How can the thoughts espoused in the book be lived out in real life? If often helps to share with others, what you have learned. · When you finish reading the book, put it aside for several weeks. 4. Journal key thoughts Re-read the book, focusing on those areas that you marked. This should take about 1/5 the amount of time it took you to read it the first time. Record in your thought-journal, significant thoughts and passages from the book. [My thought-journal is a nice leather bound book with lined pages. Recent studies indicate that we learn more and remember more if we write longhand rather than type information into a computer. Follow this link for more on this topic: www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/ ] Set the journal aside for several weeks. Re-read your journal entries, highlight salient thoughts, particularly those that you want to memorize. 5. Memorize key thoughts Knowledge without memory is useless so you must memorize key thoughts and concepts. When committed to memory, thoughts will continue to grow, mature, and become clear through the years. For instance, years ago I memorized a significant thought proffered by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in your mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” When I first memorized the sentence I wasn’t sure what it meant, but it lingered in my mind for years and one day it came alive. Now it gives me solace and peace of mind. More recently I memorized this sentence: “Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity.” It had an immediate impact on my conversations and social interactions. So, as you re-read your journal entries, highlight salient thoughts, particularly those that you want to memorize. Develop a memorization system that works for you. Some people use index cards. I use Evernote software [https://evernote.com] so I can store and access my notes on my computer and mobile phone. The key to memorization is repetition and review. 6. Apply knowledge to life Finally, you must bridge the knowing-doing gap because knowledge without application is minimally useful. Authors Pffeffer and Sutton wrote a terrific book titled The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge Into Action (2000). It’s a great read that exposes a conundrum we all face: why do we have such difficulty in doing what we know we should do? Why do we know but we do not do? Granted, not all knowledge can be applied to life. For instance, I recently learned that 750,000 people died during the Nazi’s siege of Leningrad during WWII. I’ll have a hard time putting that factoid to practical use. But the more we can make connections between knowledge and life, the better. Summary Read Select good material Read and mark Journal key thoughts Memorize key thoughts Apply knowledge to life

Pardon for an Unrepentant People “According to Your Word” Moses sent twelve spies to Canaan to bring back a report of the land. When they re turned, ten said that, though the land was good, Israel would surely be defeated by the inhabitants. Although Joshua and Caleb argued that Israel certainly could drive out their enemies, the people moaned, complained, and rebelled, even seeking to stone Joshua and Caleb and return with new leaders to Egypt. And again, the anger of the Lord was kindled against them and threatened to bring judgment (see Num 12 14). Faithfully, once more Moses intercedes. “I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as Thou hast declared. The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.” Num 14:17-18 Just as Abraham had prayed centuries before him, Moses focuses upon two things: the integrity of the Lord and His great mercy. God is slow to anger, He is abundant in lovingkindness, He forgives people. When the Scripture says He will “by no means clear the guilty,” it speaks of those who sin yet do not repent. Yet even here the Lord is able to be entreated. Remember, the Israelites have rebelled, they are not even aware that their sin has them at the threshold of God’s wrath. The Lord looks at a nation of unrepentant, sinful people on one side and one man, Moses, praying on the other. Even though Moses acknowledges that the Lord will not “clear the guilty,” Moses still prays that God would forgive Israel, “Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy lovingkind-ness, just as Thou also hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Num 14:19 Listen in awe at the Lord’s response to Moses’ mercy prayer. He says, “I have pardoned them according to your word” (Num 14:20). Incredible! Three million Israelites had not repented, nor rent their hearts, nor confessed their sins to God and one another. Not one of them who sinned possessed a broken, contrite spirit. Yet, the Lord says, “I have pardoned them.” This is utterly amazing to me. The Lord granted Israel forgiveness “according to [Moses’] word.” Staggering! One man with favor from God brought mercy upon three million people who had not repented. Then, in case we think this is some kind of easy grace, the Lord reaffirms His purpose with all nations, beginning with Israel. He says, “But indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Num 14:21). The integrity of the Lord is non-negotiable. He says, in effect, Though I forgive, I am not going to change My plans. All the earth will be filled with My glory. When we ask God for mercy, we are not asking Him to compromise His intentions. We are only asking that He forgive the sins of people until He can fulfill His purpose. In truth, we are in complete agreement with His desire. We earnestly want His glory to overshadow America, to fall upon Canada, to roll through Europe and Asia, Israel and the Middle East all over the world, in fact. We shout a resounding “Yes!” to the purpose of God. Fill America with Your glory, Lord. Fill Canada. Fill Europe. Fill Israel and Africa, Asia and Australia with Your majestic glory. But we also pray, until Your purposes are perfected, reveal Your mercy and forgive the sins of Your people. We need a vision of God’s ultimate destiny for our nation and our world:”to be filled with the glory of the Lord.” He will hear our prayer for mercy as we reach, with Him, toward His ultimate goal. Do you doubt this? The mercy prayer worked for Moses. God brought Israel from Egypt to Canaan through the prayer of His servant. You say, “But that was Moses, I am a nobody.” Jesus said, “He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater” than the greatest prophets in the Old Testament (see Matt 11:11). How can that be? We have the power of Christ’s blood covenant to aid our quest for mercy! Yet, God indeed used Moses to bring an imperfect people from promise to fulfillment. Whether we are praying for our nation, our cities, our churches, or our family, the Lord will “pardon them according to your word.” Lord Jesus, I am awed at Your willingness to show mercy. You actually changed Your mind about judgment on sinners because of one man, Moses. Lord, in my world and times, let me be that one who so delights You, who is so intimate with You, that my prayer for mercy outweighs Your need to destroy the unsaved. May the favor You have given to me be multiplied to those who yet do not know You, and may it spread until all the earth is filled with Your glory! www.frangipane.org .

As I approached my 45th spiritual birthday, and considered the many precious gifts I have received in Christ, I was filled with joy and gratitude as I once again spent time “opening” each gift and meditating on the goodness of God. These gifts are mine because of the work my gracious heavenly Father has accomplished in my life through Christ’s sacrifice and the work of the Holy Spirit. The day you were born into God’s family, these gifts were yours as well. You may not have “opened” these birthday gifts yet-maybe you’ve never understood what you have as a child of God. Perhaps you have simply forgotten what God has done for you. As you review my 45 Spiritual Birthday Gifts from God, I pray that you will be encouraged, that you will understand what God has given you, that you will enjoy a renewed sense of His greatness, and that your love will increase for your Father in heaven who only gives His children good gifts. Gifts from Romans 5 1. Justified by faith (v. 1) We have a right standing with God because we have been declared righteous before Him. This is a legal verdict, and it includes: pardon from the guilt and penalty of sin; imputation of our sin to Christ’s account; our sins no longer counted against us; Christ’s righteousness credited to our account; and God declaring us “righteous,” solely on the merits of Christ’s righteousness. 2. Peace with God (v. 1) We are no longer God’s enemy. “God has declared Himself to be at war with every human being because of man’s sinful rebellion against Him and His laws. But the first great result of justification is that the sinner’s war with God is ended forever.” (John McArthur) 3. Access to the Father (v. 2) The access that was unthinkable in the Old Testament is now made possible through Jesus Christ. 4. Stand before God in grace (v. 2) In God’s saving grace, we enjoy a permanent, secure position. We also have sanctifying grace, sustaining grace, enabling grace, and suffering grace. Our position is not based in our own performance, but in God’s. 5. Hope of the glory of God (v. 2) “Hope” does not speak of uncertainty, but of something that is certain, but not yet realized. Our ultimate destiny is to share in the glory of God. 6. Suffering and tribulation (v. 3) Trials are the “pressure” that, like a “juicer,” produces the sweet “juice” of perseverance, endurance, character, and hope. This gift comes especially as a result of our relationship with Christ or because we choose to do right. 7. Love of God (v. 5) is lavished on us, overflowing in us. Understanding His great love for us will result in overflowing love for Him. 8. The precious Holy Spirit (v. 5) He lives in us: “God has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” ( 2 Cor. 5:5 ). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, comforts us, makes Christ known to us, teaches us the truth, and guides us. 9. Saved from God’s wrath (v. 9) Christ bore the full fury of God’s wrath against us and our sin. 10. Reconciled to God (vv. 10-11) Formerly separated and alienated from God, we are now brought to a state of right relationship with Him. Gifts from Ephesians 1:1–8 11. Adopted into God’s family (v. 4) God is our Father. We are children of God with a new nature, in a new family relationship. We bear God’s likeness. 12. Redemption through His blood (v. 7) This is a word picture from the ancient slave markets. A redeemer paid the necessary ransom to purchase the prisoner or slave’s release from bondage. We can sing, “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.” 13. Forgiveness of sins (v. 7) In the words of another song: “My sin–oh, the bliss of this glorious thought–my sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.” Forgiveness leads to joy: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ” ( Ps. 32:1 ) Because of the blood of Jesus, God is faithful to forgive our sins–past, present, and future ( 1 John 1:9 ). 14. Purpose for living (vv. 12, 14) We exist “for the praise of His glory.” Gifts Revealed in Other Scriptures 15. The righteousness of Christ ( 2 Cor. 5:21 ) Christ’s righteousness comes in exchange for our sinfulness. 16. Christ in you ( Col. 1:27 ; Gal. 2:20 ) He is our “hope of glory,” and the perspective of our lives is “no longer I, but Christ.” 17. Life ( 1 John 5:11-13 ) We have eternal life, which speaks of its quantity (length), and we have abundant life, which speaks of its quality. We are spiritually alive because we are in relationship with Jesus, partaking of His life. 18. Mercy ( Ps. 103:10-11 ) God doe s not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. We will experience His unmerited mercy throughout our entire life. 19. The peace of Go d ( Phil. 4:6-7 ) God’s peace, which comes as a result of prayer, stands guard in our hearts and minds. 20. Joy ( Ps. 16:11 ; 1 Peter 1:3-9 ; 4:13 , 14 ) In God’s presence, there is “fullness of joy.” Far more than earthly happiness, we receive “exceeding joy,” a joy not based on circumstances. There is even joy as we endure trials of our faith, partaking in Christ’s sufferings and reproach. 21. Victory over sin ( Romans 6:6-23 ) We are “freed” from the power of sin. When we reckon ourselves to be “dead” unto sin (crucified with Christ), and yield our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness, we are no longer under the dominion of our flesh. 22. The Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:12-27 ; Romans 12:5 ) We instantly have countless “brothers and sisters” in the family of God and are “members one of another.” 23. Spiritual gifts ( 1 Cor. 12:4-7 ; 1 Peter 4:10 ; Rom. 12:6-8 ; Eph. 4:7 , 11-16 ) Every believer has one or more spiritual gifts-which are to be used to glorify God and edify the Body of Christ. 24. Future glory ( Rom 8:17-18 ) As heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, we will be glorified in heaven. 25. Two great intercessors ( Heb. 7:25 ; Rom. 8:34 ; Rom. 8:26 ) Jesus intercedes for us in heaven, and the Holy Spirit intercedes within us. 26. The power of God ( Eph. 1:18-20 ) We begin to understand how God uses His exceedingly great and mighty power on our behalf. 27. Prayer ( Heb. 4:16 ; Phil. 4:6 ) We are encouraged to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” and to let our “requests be made known unto God.” Remember: “Oh, what peace we often forfeit… when we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” 28. Wisdom ( Prov. 2:6 ; James 1:5 ) Man may have knowledge, but true wisdom comes from God. He enables us to see from His perspective. Want more wisdom? “Ask of God.” 29. A home in heaven ( John 14:2-3 ) Christ is preparing a place for us in our Father’s house. 30. Freedom from fear ( Ps. 23:4 ) God’s presence makes all the difference in the world. Because God was with Him, the Psalmist said, “I will fear no evil.” 31. No condemnation ( Rom. 8:1 ) While the Law condemns, there is no condemnation in Christ, our Deliverer. 32. An advocate ( 1 John 2:1 ; Rev. 12:10 ) We have a defense attorney in heaven: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” Jesus defends us against the prosecuti on, Satan, who accuses believers day and night. 33. Future rewards ( 1 Cor. 3:11–15 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ) Rewards will be given for faithfulness and for service. 34. The presence of God ( Matt. 28:20 ; Heb. 13:5b ) His loving presence is continuous: “I am with you always.” The changeless Christ will never leave or forsake His own. 35. The Word of God ( Ps. 119:105 ; John 17:17 ; John 15:3 ) Not only is the precious Word a light to illumine our path, it also sanctifies and cleanses us. 36. Provision ( Ps. 37:25 ) The Psalmist said, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” God’s provision is expressed in a powerful church hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”–“All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” 37. Guidance ( Psalm 23:3 ) David said, “He leads me in paths of righteousness . . .” All we have to do is follow and obey. 38. Protection against the enemy ( Ps. 121:1–8 ; Eph. 6:10–17 ) God, who never sleeps and is always watching over us, gives us His armor for protection, and His presence preserves us from evil “evermore.” God gives us victory over Satan. 39. All spiritual blessings ( Eph. 1:3 ) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” 40. He restores my soul ( Ps. 23:2–3 ) “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” 41. A future inheritance ( 1 Peter 1:3–4 ; Eph. 1:13 ; Rom. 8:17 ; 1 Cor. 3:21–23 ) Christians will receive “an inheritance that is imperishable” and “kept in heaven.” 42. Kept by God ( Ps. 121:5–8 ; 1 Peter 1:5 ; Jude 24 ) God’s power will keep us from all evil. 43. Life and godliness ( 2 Peter 1:3 ) God’s power gives us “all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him.” 44. Great promises ( 2 Peter 1:4 ) God has “granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of this divine nature.” 45. Call to ministry ( Gal. 1:15 ; Eph. 3:7–8 ; 1 Tim. 1:12 ) “He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace.”

I know what you are afraid of. I’ve been there myself. I understand what it means to have spiritual fear. Maybe you’e never heard it put that way before, but you know what those fears are. They range from simply sharing Jesus with a person you’ve just met to suffering for your faith. Living in the modern world, in a culture dominated by so-called modern sensibilities we sometimes define what is appropriate or prudent in our spiritual life by the circumstances around us and how we feel. If we feel nervous, or intimidated, or unsure of ourselves we shrink back from doing that which the Bible encourages us to do. Here, let me give you an example. Sharing your faith with your family. Have you ever talked about Jesus with your parents or siblings? Who are you to tell your parents about their sin and need for Jesus? Has that ever run across your mind? Sure it has. What if it causes a tear or break in your relationship? I know you’ve thought of that too. Just how far do you have to go with your Christianity in order to be a real Christian anyway? One passage of scripture has given me great encouragement when facing spiritual fears. It’s not a passage you may have ever thought of, so I’d like to unpack it for you to help you discover that the Gospel of Jesus is not something that you ever need to feel fear to express or defend—no matter who or what you are faced with. So let me do three things. First, I want to share a fear I had to face down. Then I want to share with you 12 spiritual fears (trust me, you’re in the list). Then I want to show you from the book of Acts how you can wipe those fears away. I had been accused of a crime. In Mongolia, where I lived at the time, it was a serious accusation that carried penalties of up to 10 years in prison depending upon how the law was used. I was called in to the police office for interrogation and then to the prosecutor’s office. It was serious. Certain foreign friends were encouraging me to flee the country. I was on foreign territory. The police were corrupt and we wondered if they were bought or harassed into going after me. My accuser was a former employee, disgruntled, with a no compromise attitude. I was falsely accused. But it wouldn’t be the first time a false accusation in Mongolia resulted in a prison sentence. I was afraid of what might happen. I was faced with a choice. I could avoid the whole situation by leaving the country before things got too hot (there are no extradition treaties between Mongolia and the U.S., so if I left it was doubtful I’d be sent back). Or I could take the risk and face the charges, making my case for my innocence. Needless to say, I was afraid of what might happen. There was a choice to make. Then one day it hit me, if one of my Mongolian employees had been falsely accused of a crime they wouldn’t be able to just up and leave and escape the whole situation. They would have to face it down. Was I any better or any different? Certainly not. By looking at what my Mongolian friends would have to go through I gained the courage to stay and make my case. I would take the risk, not knowing what false charges and corruption might lead to. So I made my case, using true and rational words, compared to the lies that someone wanted to imprison me with. Thankfully, the authorities recognized that the charges were demonstrably false and dismissed the charges and nothing more than the lies they were. True and rational words. What does this have to do with spiritual fears? Fear is fear, no matter what it is about. Fear is paralyzing. Fear is poison. Fear robs us of the truth and keeps us imprisoned in a false state of mind and even false expressions of life. To live in fear is to live in a lie. I was not going to live in someone else’s lie. I would face my fear and speak the truth. Thankfully, in that situation, truth won the day.I’ve made a list of 12 things that Christians fear. You are in that list. Everyone is. These are things concerning our belief in Jesus and expressions of our faith that many Christians, especially modern-day Christians, fear to take part in. When we refuse to overcome these things (and refusing to overcome them is the right expression), we live in the midst of a lie. We let Satan rule the day with his false accusations. We even accuse ourselves and the lies perpetuate and continue, trapping us even further. Find yourself in this list. Fear of sharing your faith Fear of sharing your faith with your family Fear of sharing your testimony Fear of acknowledging you are a Christian Fear of standing by moral values Fear of admitting you believe in the Bible’s stories, like the flood, Joshua’s long day, the virgin birth, etc. Fear of teaching Fear of ministering to the homeless, prisoners, or less fortunate Fear of going into ministry Fear of meeting new people Fear of a specific ministry, to women, to children, to men, etc. Fear of suffering or enduring hardship for your faith You are in that list. I am in that list. There are things that I still fear from time to time that I struggle to overcome. But my overcoming of those fears is made a bit easier by a little passage of scripture from the book of Acts. Chances are, it’s a passage you’ve never considered memorizing. You’ve probably read past it a dozen times or more and it’s never stuck out to you. But it is a powerful truth that can help set you free from the fear of expressing your Christianity openly in virtually any situation. In Acts 26 as the Apostle Paul was offering his defense to Festus and King Agrippa about the false charges laid against him, Paul tells the king about a vision he had from Heaven where Jesus spoke to him, converting him, making him a Christian. Stop there. Have you ever had a vision? Have you ever seen Jesus or an angel in a dream? Chances are you might feel a little nervous about sharing it with others as you might be considered a loon, yes? But look at the scripture. Paul shares his wild story. It’s so wild to Festus that he interrupts Paul and says these words, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind” (Acts 26:24). Modern vernacular: “Dude, you’re crazy. You’re a loon.” But Paul answers Festus with words so right on target and so profound they should help us wipe away any fears we may have of expressing our faith and serving God. “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25).Zoom in on that. “True and rational words.” Paul’s vision. Paul’s experience with Christ. Declaring that eternal life only comes through Jesus. Proclaiming the Gospel to men and women during his defense that can ruin his life. The resurrection from the dead. True and rational words. Isn’t that the problem with our fears? When we get right down to it, to the very core of our fears, we sometimes think that what we have to say will not appear true or rational. We worry about what people will think of us. In fact, that’s the center of most fears we face: what will others think? Paul blows that away with true and rational words. The testimony of Jesus is not some crazy story. Elsewhere Paul, speaking to the authorities said, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). For Paul the Gospel was simple common sense. Telling people about Jesus was common sense. It wasn’t radical from his perspective. It was real. It was reality. It was just the way things are. It was normal life. Why should Paul be afraid to talk about normal life? Look again at your list of fears. What do you want to share with your neighbor or your family? True and rational words. When you are persecuted for standing up for your moral convictions what are you standing up for? True and rational words. When you are ridiculed or considered a fanatic for believing in Joshua’s long day, Noah’s flood, or the virgin birth, what are you standing on? True and rational words. When you fear to witness or teach others what can help you overcome your fears? True and rational words. The Gospel of Jesus really is foolishness to those who reject its true and rational message (I Corinthians 1:27-28). But Paul tells us the message of Christ is only foolish to those whose hearts and minds have not been enlightened by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 1:18). We live in a different reality, one of true and rational words about Jesus, the scriptures, and God’s plan and principles for man. Think through your fears this way: What do I want to share with my friends? True and rational words. What do I want to teach to others? True and rational words. With what do I want to reach out to the less fortunate ? True and rational words. Once you and I come to full grips with the nature of what the Gospel really is, how then can we fail to take our stand on the truth about Jesus, the scripture, and the testimony God has given us? Therefore, take your fears by the scruff of the neck and boot them out the door. Believing and standing your ground on true and rational words is your first step to overcoming your spiritual fears. guywithabible.com Used by permission.

The social networking phenomenon is accelerating at record speeds and isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. The Pew Research Center states the following statistics for 2018: “Some 95% of teens now say they have or have access to a smartphone, which represents a 22-percentage-point increase from the 73% of teens who said this in 2014-2015. Smartphone ownership is nearly universal among teens of different genders, races and ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. A more nuanced story emerges when it comes to teens’ access to computers. While 88% of teens report having access to a desktop or laptop computer at home, access varies greatly by income level. Fully 96% of teens from households with an annual income of $75,000 or more per year say they have access to a computer at home, but that share falls to 75% among those from households earning less than $30,000 a year. Computer access also varies by the level of education among parents. Teens who have a parent with a bachelor’s degree or more are more likely to say they have access to a computer than teens whose parents have a high school diploma or less (94% vs. 78%). A growing share of teens describe their internet use as near-constant As smartphone access has become more prevalent, a growing share of teens now report using the internet on a near-constant basis. Some 45% of teens say they use the internet “almost constantly,” a figure that has nearly doubled from the 24% who said this in the 2014-2015 survey. Another 44% say they go online several times a day, meaning roughly nine-in-ten teens go online at least multiple times per day. There are some differences in teens’ frequency of internet use by gender, as well as race and ethnicity. Half of teenage girls (50%) are near-constant online users, compared with 39% of teenage boys. And Hispanic teens are more likely than whites to report using the internet almost constantly (54% vs. 41%).” Luke Gilkerson, Covenant Eyes, makes these observations: Internet Addiction? Feelings of intense happiness and euphoria while using the Internet, and feelings of depression, anxiety or irritability if away from the computer Cravings for the Internet – Never having enough time with it Neglecting family and friends – spending more time with the computer and less time doing activities previously enjoyed Lying about what they are doing while online Complains of dry eyes, headaches and/or backaches Changes in eating habits such as skipping meals or over-eating Problems with sleep Replacing Solitude? Replacing Face-to-Face? Real relationships take time and sacrifice. The Internet community offers an easy-click-away model to relationship building. Why go through the time-consuming process of meeting someone face-to-face when I can do it all from the comfort of my home? Real relationships are built on honesty and integrity. In the Internet community, if something goes sour, you can simply delete your profile or username and start over. Real relationships are about knowing others and being known. The Internet provides a formidable barrier of protection from being truly known. Real relationships involve kenesics (interpreting body language, posture, touch, facial expressions, eyes, and gestures) and understanding tone of voice. When someone is expressing themselves to another person, expressing their attitudes and feelings, people respond based on a number of factors. The actual words we use comprise only 7% of self-expression. The Internet trains the mind to respond not to people as they actually are, but on digital facsimiles, made up of profiles, blogs, and the best personal photos that person can muster up. A Place for Friends? So how is online socializing affecting the social habits of young people today? Before we rush to judgment, 9 hours of online socializing plus 10 hours of TV doesn’t necessarily equal 19 hours of being a couch potato. Online socializing can be a highly creative venture. Almost 60% of social network users are talking about educational topics online, and 50% are talking about school work. Indeed, academic institutions from primary education to the university are seeing the value of social networks and their use in the classroom. Teens are creating and sharing virtual projects, collaborating, sending suggestions to other web sites, submitting articles, create polls, quizzes, and online surveys. Social networking has become a digital canvas for teens to think and act creatively. But with the amount of time a teen is likely to spend online, are we facing a new cultural addiction or compulsion among young people? When one thinks of online addictions, often pornography and gambling are the first things that come to mind. There are several varieties of Internet addiction. Internet Addiction Disorder To be accurate, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is not a classified addiction in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Psychiatric experts have debated whether the Internet should be classified a true addiction. Some believe “Internet Addiction” is not an inappropriate label. The Internet is a social medium, an environment, and people cannot technically be addicted to an environment, only what the environment provides. Online gamblers are not addicted to the Internet, they say: they are addicted to gambling, and the Internet is the medium they use. Online pornographers are not addicted to the Internet, they say: they are addicted to pornography. Addiction is a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance. The Internet may be the provider of that substance, and to be accurate, we are necessarily addicted to a provider. Nonetheless, the word “addiction” is a helpful word for our purposes here. The director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at Harvard’s McLean Hospital has stated that between 5% and 10% of Web surfers develop a “Web dependency” and experience the same types of cravings and withdrawal symptoms as other addicts. If the technicalities bug you, then simply replace the word “addiction” with “compulsion” or “dependency.” Sue Scheff, founder of Parents Universal Resource Experts, lists a number of indicators and warning signs that a teen may be addicted to the Internet, including: We’ve never been more connected than we are today. With the virtual world at our fingertips, we are never out of things to do: blogging, chatting, posting pictures, sharing videos, music, creating virtual characters, etc., etc. According to Dr. Kimberly Young, founder of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery, one of the biggest areas of Internet addiction is cyber-relationships. For many, cyber-relationships have become a normal part of their daily routine. Many can testify to the benefit of social networking on the Internet. It can result in enhanced communication across geographical boundaries. It can help network people of like interests and causes. Sometimes social networking sites are designed to be just a first step to people meeting face-to-face and generating healthy relationships. But what happens when cyber-relationships go no farther than the computer screen? What happens when online engagement is so excessive that it results in a lack of healthy engagements in other areas of life? While many people do not make cyber-interactions there whole life, some do. When we turn to the computer for true intimacy there is a problem. Many users of social networking sites can spend multiple hours every day talking with friends and making new contacts. People turn to the Internet because there they can find online a place where “everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.” Unfortunately the Internet is not a good training ground for young minds to practice the basics of healthy social interaction, especially when it becomes the basis of our relational lives. To make the world of online socializing more like real life, a 3D virtual chat room called Vivaty has just been launched. The NY Times reports, “Vivaty turns a flat profile page into a three-dimensional live chat room. Users choose characters to represent themselves from a list of preternaturally handsome avatars—a requirement for any such service—and proceed to one of a dozen environments, like a gothic urban warehouse or seaside villa. With videogame-like precision, they can then navigate that virtual space, which may feature their Facebook photos hanging from the walls and a YouTube video playing on a widescreen TV. Up to 15 others can choose avatars and enter the same room at the same time for text-based live socializing.” Parents can do a couple things to help their tween or teen achieve a balance. First, be aware of some of the signs of overuse of the Internet. Second, limiting time spent online can certainly be helpful, but kids may also need some suggestions doing something different. Suggest they use social networking as a means to an end—the end being generating real face-to-face relationships with their peers. www.covenanteyes.com . Used by permission.

Share 0 The Knot recently did a study and found that over the past seven years, weddings in churches have dropped from 41% to 26%.[i] Wow. Did you hear that? Only a quarter of weddings now take place in a church. This fact in and of itself isn’t catastrophic. I don’t believe that one must get married in the church for it to be a “real” wedding. However, it does speak to a secularizing trend that is becoming more and more apparent. The more disconcerting fact for me is that 43% of weddings are now officiated by a friend, up from 29% seven years ago.[ii] While the Bible doesn’t say you need a pastor to officiate your wedding, choosing a (non-pastor) friend to officiate your wedding makes a statement. Essentially, what you’re saying when you have a friend instead of a pastor officiate is that your wedding is about celebrating your relationship with friends. While that’s a wonderful part of what a wedding should be, but it shouldn’t be what your wedding is primarily about. If you are considering marriage at some point in the future, let me urge you to consider making your marriage about something bigger than just a great party with friends. Which leads us to ask, what is bigger than celebrating your relationship? There is one thing bigger: it is celebrating what marriage is really about: Jesus’ love for the church. In Ephesians 5, Paul explains that marriage is ultimately a pointer to Jesus’ great love for us. He says, “This mystery [of marriage] is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” The most important thing about your wedding (and marriage!) is that it should point to Christ’s love for the church even more than your love for one another. Your love for one another should point to Jesus’ love for you. Here are 8 practical things you can do to have your wedding point to Jesus: 1) Meet with your pastor or a Christian counselor before you get engaged. Hardly anyone does this today. However, seeking God-honoring Christian counseling beforehand is a powerful statement that you are seeking godly wisdom in your relationship before anyone or anything else. 2) Go through your church’s premarital classes or go through premarital counseling with your pastor. 3) Have your pastor officiate your wedding. Ask your pastor how you can best honor Christ in your wedding. 4) Read a book on marriage with your fiancé. I recommend Timothy and Kathy Keller’s The Meaning of Marriage, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman’s Intimate Allies, and Gary Thomas’s Sacred Marriage. 5) Be a good financial steward with your wedding. The average wedding costs over $35,000[iii], more than 85% of the average American salary.[iv] Starting your marriage in a financial hole doesn’t honor Christ. 6) Use the traditional vows. I know, this makes me sound like a fuddy duddy, but anchoring your vows in vows that have been spoken millions of times over hundreds of years instead of your feelings for your significant other at a particular time and place points to the reality that you are entering a covenant bigger than yourselves. 7) Speak of the importance of God’s love wherever you can: your invitation, bulletin, and in personal comments during the service and reception. 8) Pray! Pray that Christ would be glorified through your wedding. Include prayer in your time with your wedding party and in your reception. A wedding is a beautiful thing! What a joy to consider marriage. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you think you can best honor Christ in your wedding. www.thebeehive.live . Used by permission. [i] https://factsandtrends.net/2018/05/31/why-no-one-may-be-getting-married-at-your-church-this-summer/ [ii] https://factsandtrends.net/2018/05/31/why-no-one-may-be-getting-married-at-your-church-this-summer/ [iii] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-the-average-american-wedding-looks-like—-and-costs-2017-02-10 [iv] https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/how-much-americans-earn-at-every-age.html

There are many divergent views about the second coming of Christ, but most agree that in the latter days there will be false prophets, false teachers, and false Messiahs. Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time” (Matt. 24:24,25). That passage raises an important question. Can godly people be deceived? There is some ambiguity in that passage, but the apostle Paul was saying yes they can when he wrote 1 Tim. 4:1, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). That is presently happening to believers all over the world. All the testimonies I have shared in my books have come from believers. Can Satan put a thought in our heads is the bigger question? What does Scripture say? Let’s examine the lives of two Bible heroes: David and Peter. “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited (moved NASB) David to number Israel” (1 Chron. 21:1). How did Satan do that? Did he take on a human form and talk to David through the natural senses? No, those were David’s thoughts, or at least he thought they were. There is the deception. David had a whole heart for God. If he knew those thoughts were coming from Satan, he never would have obeyed them. Satan is not going to tempt a mature believer to sacrifice their babies, or do any other obvious satanic rituals. They would know where is it coming from and dismiss it. So how would Satan deceive a mature believer like David? He would tempt him to take his eyes off of God’s resources and focus on his own. David had slain Goliath and wrote in Psalm 33 that “The horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue” (17). David knew that he couldn’t serve God and live a righteous life by his own strength and resources, and neither can we. But Satan incited David to do just that even though Joab asked him not to do so. As a result, judgment came upon Israel and 70,000 died of a pestilence (21:14). It is interesting to note that David’s lapse in judgment came after some major victories (Chapter 20), which is similar to Elijah’s fall after slaying 450 prophets of Baal. Good people can be deceived. PETER’S DECEPTION Satan deceived David in the Old Testament. Like Eve, David believed a lie and the consequences were devastating. Could that also happen to one of Christ’s apostles? It did! Luke records, “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve” (22:3). In John’s gospel it is recorded that, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him” (Jn. 13:2). Judas was called by God, witnessed the miraculous ministry of Jesus, and yet betrayed Him. How could that happen? Some may conclude that Judas was just a bad character, and therefore acting out his depraved nature. That may explain why he had stolen from the treasury, but that is not what Scripture teaches. The thought of betraying Christ was put into the heart of Judas by Satan. Having stolen the money is what made him vulnerable to Satan’s schemes (thoughts). When Judas realized what he had done, he hung himself. Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Peter said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34), and that happened. I believe that Peter had a good heart, as opposed to Judas, which is why Jesus said “when you have turned again.” Jesus knew that Peter would be repentant. It is noteworthy that Jesus didn’t rebuke Satan and prevent him from controlling Peter. The context reveals what right Satan had to sift Peter like wheat. “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest” (Luke 22:24). Pride comes before a fall. ficm.org . Used by permission.

Some of the questions certain to be raised when the death of a Christian appears to be self-inflected are whether or not it constitutes a sin and what are the consequences in this world and the next. I will leave this dialogue to the theologians with one word of caution: Anyone who claims to understand fully the mind of God is providing evidence of his or her own spiritual immaturity. And the psychologist who claims to understand the human mind is providing evidence for the limits of his/her own. The following are the perspectives of a Christian who seeks to integrate the best of theology and psychology in the practice of psychotherapy. The following statements represent my perspective of issues people need to consider when self-inflected death is suspected: Not every death that looks like a suicide is, even when the best of forensics are available. Due to the disabling power of depression not everyone who chooses to end one’s life (a) knows he/she is doing so, or (b) understands the impact of his/her death on others. The same condition that leads them to irrationally attempt to end life when there are alternatives denies this person the capacity to fully grasp the finality of the attempt or the pain others suffer from this decision. There are cases when one is attempting to punish someone/s, but even then there is an irrational willingness to die to accomplish this goal. Depression is a complex condition impacting one’s thoughts, behaviors, body chemistry and relationships. Amazingly it usually responds well to treatment, but not always. Mood Disorders are divided into two major categories, Depressive Disorders and Bipolar Disorders, each of these are subdivided into many types and combinations of symptoms. A careful assessment is needed to separate out depressive symptoms in order to address them effectively. There is no such thing as a “non-chemical” depression. Components of depression are measurable in a laboratory. The biochemical dimensions of depression have predictable implications for the body, the brain and even the quality of relationships. Healthy cognitive processes (thinking) are dependent on healthy chemistry of the body and brain. Even in “situational” depression the brain chemistry is altered. Some studies have shown that the brain is permanently altered by traumatic events. Some types of depression are strongly related to genetics and represent a higher risk for those whose parents and/or grandparents suffered from depression. It is important in treatment of depression to have a thorough family medical history. Some types of depression are directly related to one’s appraisal (perception) of certain stressors or events/circumstances in the environment. The nature and duration of such stressors as well as the coping skills developed by that person determine the person’s capacity to overcome them. This type of depression responds well to cognitive-behavioral therapy. All humans experience some degree of mood swings, but some of us are hardwired with a very low threshold or tolerance for stress. When one is biologically predisposed to depression they may be demonstrating extraordinary courage to function without any obvious signs visible to the rest of us. The mind has a tendency to do what one theorist calls “awfulizing.” I describe this downward, spiraling, negative thinking process as a negative thought chain. Each thought intensifies and triggers the next, each of which is “more awful” than the previous one. If not treated some people will reach a self-destructive state and be unable to recover. This “death spiral” can often be reversed if the therapist is involved soon enough. Antidepressants can be very helpful to some people when prescribed and monitored correctly. Often it involves several attempts with various medications, or combinations of meds, at varying dosages to find what works for a particular patient. Psychotherapy should accompany any medical protocol. Some depressive conditions require permanent medication management in order to correct a biochemical imbalance and make psychotherapy possible. Perhaps the most destructive of all perceptions among well-meaning Christians is that depression is the result of a lack of faith in God: If this person would just exercise their faith and truly believe they would “snap out” of the depression. Perhaps the second most destructive belief is that the depressed or suicidal person is simply too self-centered, as if they were willingly choosing to be self-occupied. Because a major symptom of depression is withdrawal, a lack of physical and mental energy, many people describe the depressed individual as “lazy.” We would not do so were it cancer or heart disease, but we fail to grasp the truly medical/physical nature of depression. Sometimes neither psychotherapy nor medical intervention will prevent self-inflicted attempts to end one’s life. I have seen lives saved by intervention and therapy, both in outpatient and hospital settings. I also had a patient leave the hospital after a highly regarded team determined he was sufficiently recovered to warrant a discharge. He drove his car from the hospital to a remote area and ended his life the same day. While professionals and family members may second guess themselves, even the best care does not always keep someone alive. I once heard a renowned pastor say that in the end only the truth truly blesses. I counsel family members not to attempt to hide what is reasonably known to be a self-inflicted death. I especially believe this is true of high profile leaders who have made huge contributions to our lives. It is important for mature adults to know that even great leaders can succumb to illness. While known as a mental condition, depression is as much a physical illness as diabetes, heart disease or cancer, and sometimes just as lethal. Neither Dan McGee Associates, Inc. (DMA) nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The content is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or mental health provider. Neither the author nor DMA shall be liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion here.

It is imperative that we pray faithfully for the upcoming elections, yet our hope and trust is not in the results of elections! That may sound like a strange introduction to an election prayer guide. But the reality is that the spiritual and moral issues facing this nation will not be resolved in the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court. What the United States desperately needs is another Great Awakening! The Church must experience a revival that awakens her to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in her midst. Such a spiritual awakening within the people of God has the power to bring about true cultural transformation in this nation. So why pray for the elections? There are a number of compelling reasons: The Bible commands us to pray for those who are in leadership (I Timothy 2:1-4). This includes those who are vying to become leaders. Godly leaders can help slow the erosion of religious liberties in our land. This can provide an increased window of opportunity for the Church to pray and evangelize. According to Scripture, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The selection of leaders who understand and lead according to God’s righteous standards can bring great blessing to a nation. Scripture also says in Proverbs 11:14, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure.” The determination of who leads our nation will also determine who advises that leader and how we are guided. WE NEED TO PRAY NOW The decisions being made by candidates and potential candidates are critical and must be undergirded by prayer. We are in the midst of an election cycle right now. It is exactly the appropriate time for the people of God to mobilize intense prayer for the election process. Perhaps a weekly prayer meeting held in your home or your church could focus completely on what God desires to do in this upcoming election. Seven Ways To Pray For America The Church is often relegated to the sidelines, considered irrelevant and out of touch. Though we sometimes deserve that critique, God has a completely different perspective on what His people are to be and how we are to function. In Ephesians 3:10, the Apostle Paul writes, “His [God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…” Though seemingly powerless in the eyes of the world, the Church—through righteousness, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit—releases the wisdom of God into any and every culture. Pray today for the Church in America, that: Our eyes will be opened to see the hope to which we are called (Ephesians 1:18) We will experience in a fresh, new way the presence of Christ in revival. Believers will be given the faith to believe that their votes will make a difference. A spirit of repentance and humility will be poured out upon the people of God. The Voters The Great American Experiment in representative government for more than 200 years has depended upon voter involvement. From the very beginning of our nation, there has been debate on who should be allowed the privilege of casting a vote to select our governmental leaders. The weight of history has increasingly opened the ballot box to more and more individuals. This requires an educated electorate who will examine the issues and the candidates and vote in a way that is best for the nation, not just their own well-being. Much prayer is needed for this critical process. Pray today for voters in the United States, that: Wisdom will be sought from God (James 1:5). Self-interest will be laid aside for the common good. Discernment between truth and falsehood will be clear. The Candidates In the early years of our nation, it was thought to be in bad taste to even be seen wanting an office, much less actually campaigning. Oh, how things have changed! Now candidates for public office, especially at higher levels, put themselves and their families through a rigorous process that brings every aspect of their lives into public view. It has become so intense that many good individuals have chosen not to endure the sort of public scrutiny that is an integral part of the campaigning process today. Praying for candidates does not mean praying just for those you agree with or support. All are leaders and potential leaders in our nation—and as such, all need our prayers. Pray today for candidates for office in the United States, that: They will take brave stands for righteousness, even when it may not be well received. ê Their families will be protected from harm and unnecessary scrutiny. They will surround themselves with godly advisors. They will focus on the issues we face as a nation and not on personal attacks on other candidates. The Media In our day of 24-hour news coverage, the media have taken on a huge role in our election process. Handling media correctly sometimes seems to take precedence in a campaign over actually dealing with issues. The media themselves often forget their role of informing and reporting and have become endorsers and supporters, even while they try to deny that role. Increased prayer for the media is an essential way for Christians to impact an election. Pray today for the media in America, that: Truth in reporting and election coverage will become a high value. Media bias will disappear. Christianity will receive fair coverage in all reports. Hope will become a part of the message of the media. The Impact on the Nations In our rapidly shrinking world, what happens in one country has an effect on others. This is especially true for the United States. The individuals who hold the presidency and senate and congressional seats will make decisions that impact the rest of the world. Whether those decisions help or harm the people of the world is largely determined by the choices that Americans make at the polls. We need to pray that our choices will serve to bless the world. Pray today for the election and its impact on the world, that: Voters will consider the foreign policies of candidates and how they fit with biblical principles. The activities of other nations will not have an undue influence on our elections. The result of U.S. elections will serve to spread the gospel around the globe. The U.S. will stand firm in its commitment to Israel’s right to exist as a nation. Spiritual Warfare There will be attacks on candidates and their families, on the media, the Church, and perhaps the nation itself. Some will be clearly spiritual, while other attacks may have physical manifestations. Our call is to have great discernment as we pray and stand in the strength of Christ’s victory. Pray today around the spiritual warfare issues involved in the election, such as: Great awareness and discernment for the Lord’s praying people as they pray over the election. Physical protection for all candidates and their families throughout this campaign season. A strong hedge of protection around the nation itself during this time of decision. The unleashing of the sword of the Spirit throughout the nation, judging the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Purpose Of God Ultimately, whatever the area of prayer emphasis, we must always come back to the purposes of God. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). As we pray for something as important as national elections, we must lay down our own desires and take up the desires of God. What we really desire is for the Lord’s purposes to be achieved in and through our nation. All of our requests must be couched in words and thoughts that focus our hearts on the Kingdom of God. Pray today for the purposes of God to be accomplished in the U.S. elections: Pray that the U.S. will turn and seek first the Kingdom of God. Pray that God will be honored in the midst of this election campaign. Pray for opportunities for Christians to share their faith and their values in the midst of this election process. Pray that the results of the elections will please the Lord and release His blessing over this nation. Additional Reading: Romans 13, Proverbs 8:15, 21:1, and Daniel 4:25.

One of my wedding gifts (10 years or so ago) looked like a super cool ashtray. When I opened it, I remember twisting my head to the side and wondering what we would do with an ashtray. We could take up smoking or exchange it. Next day, I located the store on the gift box and asked the store clerk if the gift was an ashtray. She scanned the item and informed me it was a cuff-link holder. She didn’t seem pleased with me. Perhaps it was because I was wearing jeans and tennis shoes or perhaps it was because I had asked an insulting question. Not sure, but I decided to peruse the store in my tennis for other possible options. Once I realized that the cuff-link holder was one of the least expensive items in this couture boutique, I decided the ashtray could double as a soap dish and went home with it. Apparently, the store clerk wasn’t finished. A few days later, my husband received a phone call from his old buddy. Turns out, his buddy’s wife worked at that store in another state and received a “courtesy” phone call from the Dallas location to inform her that a cuff-link holder would not be the optimal gift purchase for our family in the future. What? After getting over my disbelief, my heart raced with anger. “Thems were fight’n words!” “Who does this?” So, naturally I began plotting a counterattack. I brainstormed the most effective way to have her little couture pants fired. A letter? A phone call to her manager? I was frothing for the last word. But was she worth a fight? Aren’t there times in life when it is actually smarter, even stronger, to lay down arms? Like when a husband says no; do I keep pushing back? Or when a boyfriend leaves; do we persist by hanging on? Or when a mean girl at the office starts a passive aggressive gossip war; how do we know when to walk away and when to engage life’s battles? David knew. There were definitive times when he ran to his battle line (1 Sam 17:48). His bully, Goliath, cursed David and God, and David met him head on with his own fight’n words like, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” (1 Sam 17:45). David didn’t cross into combat to show that he was the marvelous Avenger. No, he stood up to Goliath with nothing more than an anointed mouth and a rock. He defended God’s honor by putting the smack down on Goliath. So romantic! Turns out, there were other times in David’s life, when he opted not to fight. A few years later, David had the “pleasure” of working for a man, Nabal, [whose name literally means “Fool” in Hebrew]. Nabal insulted David publicly. He scoffed, “Who is David?…” basically calling him a royal nobody (1 Sam 25:10). David was livid to be insulted by a man he served, so he responded in kind and announced he would kill Nabal’s entire household in revenge. (And David had the chops to make good on his threat.) Fortunately, a wise woman intervened. Ironically, the woman was Nabal’s wife, Abigail. She wielded her femininity and persuaded David to let this one go . Abigail reminded David that he was the future king of Israel and that Nabal was not worth tarnishing his royal hands (1 Sam 25:31). David listened to her counsel and backed down. He was strong enough to take Nabal out, but smart enough to disarm. How romantic! So, how do we pick our battles? One of the most understated weapons of warfare is the wisdom to know if and when to fight. We start by asking ourselves: Would I be engaging for God’s glory or my own? There is certainly a “season for war and a season for peace,” a time to gird up and other times when it’s smarter, stronger, and … more spiritual to actually lay down arms (Ecc 3:8). It wasn’t my battle to lash back at Ms. Couture Store Clerk. I had to lay that lesser battle down. On the other hand, it is one of my battles to sound the alarm for racial segregation loitering in the church. It’s also worth my energy to challenge women and myself toward purity. If we don’t, then Satan can take us out, which is why Shabby Chic Ministries recently spoke out against the “mommy pornography” book blowing up the New York Times best seller list. The “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy and upcoming feature film are fifty different shades of evil. It is not of our God; pornography opens the gateway to lust and fear, so do not download it out of curiosity; do not laugh it off. Flee it! That’s worth a feminine call to arms. For those who are facing the choice whether to pick up or lay down arms in any realm of your life, ask God for wisdom. Some things are worth stepping up or speaking out for His Kingdom and other battles are distractions. Imagine the difference like a line with self-glory on one side and God’s glory on the other. Which one are we fighting for? We don’t have to defend ourselves, because Jesus proved His worth and ours at the cross. He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In Him, we are complete with absolutely nothing left to prove (James 1:2-5). That frees us from the approval of people or the need to be right or justified. We are being formed into the image of Christ, so we are free to take up arms for His glory, and we are also free to disarm from defending our own name… to the Nabals or store clerks of life. Are you free? Pray with me… Father, we ask for the wisdom to know when to rise up and rebel against injustice in our world and the sin in our own hearts. We also ask for the discernment of Abigail to see which battles are not worth our fight because they are not for Your glory. Teach us this line, Jesus. Help us see the difference between proving self and proving Your glory. And then use our femininity to uniquely influence those around us to know when to run to their Kingdom battle lines and when to lay their weapons down… Taken from Shabby Chic Ministries. www.shabbychicministries.com. For more on a David and Abigail’s story or knowing when to engage the battle of life, email info@shabbychicministries.com for the DVD teaching or check out Wielding Femininity to the Glory of God study with music CD or download the digital study from iTunes, Nook, or Kindle, or Sony.

I remember one couple, Bob and Mary, in their early 50’s, who came to see me for a psychiatric evaluation. They were both very polite and somewhat mechanical in their speech and mannerisms. He was a successful accountant and she was a surgical nurse. They had been married for 30 years and had no children. When I asked them why they came to see me, they said they had both lived with depression for 30 years, even though they loved each other and were committed to each other for life. I asked them lots of medical questions to rule out genetic depressions. They had no relatives with a history of depression, and both of them were relatively happy until they got married. “This is a puzzle to me. It sounds like the depression must be related to your marriage, but you say you love each other and get along quite well.” Used by the permission of the author. “That is correct,” Bob asserted. “Well, you both have low brain levels of serotonin, because for the past 30 years you have experienced insomnia, low energy, some trouble concentrating in comparison to your youth, and almost constant sadness. But you don’t seem to have inherited this condition — it started for both of you within a few months after you got married. Probably 90% of the situational depressions I see are caused by repressed anger at others (bitterness) or toward one’s self (true or false guilt). Have either of you done things that you feel guilty about still?” “No,” Bob replied. “We are committed Christians, active in our church, and have tried to always do what’s right.” “Well,” I replied, “then logically there’s a good chance you are both angry at each other deep down inside your souls. When is the last time you got angry at each other and what types of things do you argue about?” To my astonishment they both said that they had NEVER been angry at each other in 30 years of marriage and had NEVER had an argument. To their astonishment, rather than praising them for their self-control, I replied, “I feel very sad right now about what you just told me because if you never argue with each other and never get angry at each other, one of you isn’t necessary! One of you put your brain on a shelf the day you got married and let the other one do all the thinking!” After all three of us recovered from our mutual shock and discussed their marriage further, we discovered that Bob was the one who made all of their decisions. Mary misunderstood the mutual submission applications in Ephesians and thought it was her spiritual duty to do whatever her husband said, without question, without argument, and without even wondering if he was being selfish in his choices. Marriages like this don’t work. In a healthy marriage the husband values the wife and her entire personality and what she has to offer, and is willing to sacrifice his life for hers, like Christ and His church (His bride). In a healthy marriage, both partners “speak the truth in love.” Neither Bob nor Mary understood the truth about their own feelings and certainly didn’t speak about his or her anger when it was truly being experienced. Solomon said in Proverbs that friends should sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron. When iron sharpens iron, sometimes sparks fly. It implies having healthy friction. Bob and Mary came to see me every week for about nine months. I didn’t do much talking during that time. As soon as they came in my office for each session, I said, “What’s the last thing either of you felt emotional about, in a good way or an angry way?” Then I persuaded them not to tell me about it, but look each other in the eyes and say something like, “Bob, I felt angry at you when you chose where we would go on vacation and didn’t even ask me where I would like go to.” The basic rules of communication I taught them were: · Speak the truth (even the truth about feeling angry) in a loving manner. · No shoulds or shouldn’ts are allowed in your talk to each other, because the partner using them is being the other one’s parent instead of the other one’s mate. · Use “I feel” messages—talk about your emotions as much as about the facts. · Don’t jump to conclusions about what your mate is thinking or feeling. If you want to know, ask him. If you want to be sure he understood, ask him to repeat back to you what you just told him. (You’d be surprised by how much things get twisted in our own minds!) · Share feelings of love and anger with each other to become more intimate, not further apart. You process your reactions. You grow more Christ-like from this process. You understand each other better. You both serve the other. You are on the same team, not competing with each other for control or “most wins” in arguments. You see polite arguing as a good thing, helping you both see the truth better. After nine months of marriage counseling, Bob and Mary had practiced enough in front of me to do it on their own. They loved each other on a much deeper level, experienced true sexual intimacy for the first time, and were both relieved to be over 30 years of depression due to “stuffing” their emotions.