Teresa and I took a road trip to Greenville, Texas, this past week. We stayed with some friends whose home was almost dead center in the path of the solar eclipse – over four minutes of totality.

Before you roll your eyes and heap scorn on me (I’m impervious, so save your breath), understand that this was a bucket list event for me. I’ve seen plenty of partial eclipses, and my takeaway was “wow, that’s cool,” and I’d get on with my day. But after hearing my son attempt to explain what a total eclipse was like, I resolved that I simply had to witness this, because, as they say, pictures don’t do it justice. What I realized was that people who viewed the event as “no big deal” had obviously never experienced a total eclipse. There is a world of difference between totality and even 95%. It’s indescribable.

The day started out overcast. I was bummed. I did sort of make peace with the situation – I’d be content with whatever I could experience. I knew it would get dark even if I couldn’t see the sun.

I decided to pray for clear skies. That felt trivial. More on that in a minute.

The skies did clear. There were some clouds scudding over the sun, but it was more than clear enough.

Words can be so feeble and futile. This was one of those times.

The lighting change prior to the eclipse. Everything took on a sepia tone. Shadows cast by leaves on trees looked odd and sort of distorted. I noticed that the temperature was dropping.

When the sun was totally obscured, birds stopped chirping. There was an ethereal quiet, except for the neighbors spontaneously shouting in awe. Teresa said I hollered. I don’t remember doing that. What I do remember was seeing Bailey’s beads, that chain of light along the rim of the sun, but most awe-inspiring was the diamond ring effect. It was like the blaze of a thousand suns right on the edge of darkness. For a moment, the whole world was alight.

This was very emotional and spiritual for me. I was struck with the wonder of primal creation and thought of my God who orders the universe like clockwork and orchestrates a cosmic dance like this.

Afterwards, I got to thinking: “Was my prayer for good weather trivial? After all, we would’ve had clear skies even if I hadn’t prayed, right?”

Photo credit: Storyteller Photography: Images by Rebecca

Let’s dive deep into what might seem like the shallow end of our spiritual pool: “shallow prayers.” The term itself might evoke a bit of self-consciousness or even guilt. After all, is there such a thing as a shallow prayer, or are all our prayers valuable to God?

Let’s unpack this, shall we?

At first glance, shallow prayers might seem like those quick, on-the-go requests we shoot up to God – “Please let there be no traffic,” “I hope it doesn’t rain during my vacation,” or “Let this cup of coffee work its magic today.” They’re the kind of prayers that, in the grand scheme of things, don’t seem to carry the weight or gravity of prayers for health, guidance, or provision.

But here’s a thought – doesn’t the very act of praying, no matter the subject, signify a connection with God? It’s like texting a friend about the little things in your day, not just the life-changing events. It keeps the relationship dynamic and alive. Could it be that there’s no prayer too small, too trivial, or too “shallow” for God?

The biblical perspective is pretty clear that God invites us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Notice it doesn’t say to cast only the big, life-altering cares; it says all our cares. That inclusivity is comforting, implying that God is interested in the details of our lives, even those that might seem insignificant.

But here’s where it gets interesting. What about when our prayers, shallow or deep, aren’t answered in the way we expect? Maybe you prayed earnestly for that promotion, and it went to someone else. Or perhaps you prayed against all odds for that rain to hold off during your outdoor event, but it poured anyway. It’s moments like these where we might wonder if our prayers are indeed valuable or if they’re just getting lost in the ether.

It’s crucial to remember that God’s responsiveness to our prayers isn’t always about granting wishes like a celestial genie. Sometimes, it’s about the relationship that’s built and strengthened through our reliance on Him. Our “unanswered” prayers, whether about life’s big battles or the small hiccups, give us a chance to trust in God’s bigger plan, to find peace in uncertainty, and to seek joy in unexpected places. They teach us resilience, patience, and sometimes, even lead us to the answers we didn’t know we were looking for.

So, should we pray about everything, even the minor things? Absolutely. Philippians 4:6 nudges us to not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. It’s a gentle reminder that nothing is too small or too large to bring before God. Our seemingly shallow prayers might just be the thing that keeps our line of communication with Him open and our hearts aligned with His.

And here’s a comforting thought: God cares, deeply and profoundly, about you. Whether your prayers are about the mountains or the molehills in your life, each one is precious to Him because you are precious to Him. The depth of your prayers doesn’t define the depth of His love for you. In fact, it’s in those moments when our prayers aren’t answered as we hoped that we might just find the most profound evidence of God’s love, guiding us toward what we need rather than what we want.

There’s no such thing as a shallow prayer. Every whisper, every thought, every sigh lifted to God is valuable. It’s the heart behind the prayer that matters – a heart seeking connection, guidance, and presence. So yes, pray about everything. The big, the small, and everything in between. Because in the tapestry of our lives, every thread counts, and God is in the details, weaving together something more beautiful than we could ever imagine on our own.

Keep the faith, keep praying, and remember – no prayer is too small for a God so great.

Cheers to strengthening our spiritual connection, one “shallow” prayer at a time.

After Daddy died, I had another 12 years with my mamma. Even though I didn’t live close, we kept up with each other, and I’d make it home when I could.

One thing that bugged me, though, is that anytime I was at her house, the television would be tuned to one of the 24-hour news channels. Maybe Fox, maybe CNN, but always something.

Mamma would comment on what she’d seen and heard. Mamma was a rock-solid Christian, a strong woman, but I could tell that a lot of what she was seeing was scaring her. She was genuinely afraid of what was happening in the world.

I said, “Mamma, don’t be watching this stuff all the time. You’re just seeing the same thing over and over. You don’t need to do that to yourself.”

I’d like to tell you that she took her only child’s counsel, but her viewing habits never changed. The world outside her house was dark and threatening.

I’m a journalist. I want to give you some thoughts on how to manage your information intake. Don’t be like Mamma.

Navigating the stormy seas of today’s news cycle without capsizing into the ocean of despair is quite the task. Let me offer some beacons of hope.

1. Most Stories Don’t Matter

In the grand tapestry of life, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when we’re fixated on every little thread, especially the frayed ones. The truth is, much of the news is like fast food for our brains: quickly consumed, rarely satisfying, and often leaving us with regret. The trick is to differentiate between the news that truly impacts our lives and the noise that clutters it. Remember, just because it’s loud doesn’t mean it’s important. Prioritize what genuinely affects you and your community, and let the rest fade into the background noise where it belongs.

2. Challenge Yourself to Love Easy-to-Dislike People

This one’s tough, but oh, so rewarding! Loving people we don’t like, especially those who seem to embody everything we stand against, is a radical act of kindness. It’s not about agreeing with them or condoning their actions; it’s about recognizing their humanity beneath the layers of differences. When we see someone vilified in the news, it’s a golden opportunity to practice empathy and remember that everyone has a story, fears, and dreams. Love doesn’t mean approval; it means understanding and compassion.

3. News Shouldn’t Be 24/7

Our minds were not designed to be bombarded with a constant stream of information, much of it distressing. It’s like trying to drink from a firehose; eventually, you’ll drown. Setting boundaries around news consumption can be incredibly freeing. Allocate a specific, limited time each day to catch up on the news, and then move on to activities that replenish your spirit and joy. This minimal intake ensures you’re informed without being overwhelmed. It’s about being a responsible citizen of the world without being a hostage to it.

4. Guard Your Mind. Guard Your Heart

The news can be a battlefield, and your peace of mind is the territory at stake. Be vigilant about protecting it. If you find your spirit getting dragged down, it’s time to step back. This doesn’t mean ignorance; it means wisdom. It’s recognizing when exposure is turning into poison and choosing to detox. Fill your heart and mind with things that uplift and inspire you, and disengage from sources that drain your joy. Your mental and emotional well-being is precious — treat it with the care it deserves.

5. God’s Got This

In the whirlwind of global events, it’s easy to feel like we’re in a boat about to be swallowed by waves. But here’s the thing: God is the master of the sea and the storm. The belief that “God’s got this” doesn’t imply passivity; it’s a call to faith. It means trusting that even in the chaos, there’s a plan, and goodness prevails. It’s about finding peace in the knowledge that we’re not alone, and that every storm runs out of rain. So, take a deep breath, and relax. Focus on what you can control, and leave the rest in His capable hands.

Navigating the news without losing our peace of mind is about selective engagement, empathy, setting boundaries, self-care, and faith. Each of these strategies not only helps us to maintain our sanity but also transforms us into beacons of hope and love in a world that desperately needs it. We’re all in this boat together, steering towards a horizon of hope.

This week, I want to dive into a memory lane moment that’s been tugging at my heartstrings, all centered around a term we’re all too familiar with — bullying. But, I’m not just talking about the kind we remember from the playground; I’m eyeing its more grown-up, yet equally damaging counterpart in our adult lives.

This grows from an incident I saw in the news that can only be classified as bullying, and it involves public figures, grown men. Frankly, it’s troubled me perhaps more than it should have. Let me tell you a story. There are some real parallels here.

My thoughts drift back to a childhood memory from Camp Ridgecrest for Boys — a memory that, oddly enough, has rippled through the years, influencing my understanding of kindness, courage, and the subtle forms of bullying that don’t always leave visible scars.

I was in the 6th grade, sharing a cabin with five other boys, one of whom, Ernie, had a stutter. His vulnerability became the target of another cabin mate, Herbie, who found a perverse delight in mocking him. Despite Ernie’s attempts to laugh it off, the bullying escalated until it reduced him to tears. Herbie accomplished what he set out to do. As a witness, my silence has since felt like complicity, a haunting reminder of the power of our actions — and inactions. I should have said or done something. As a 6^th grader, though, I guess I didn’t want to run the risk of being treated like Ernie had been.

The memory serves as a stark reflection on bullying, not just as a relic of our school days but as a shadow that can follow us into adulthood, morphing into forms that are harder to recognize but equally harmful. Adult bullying may not involve stolen lunch money or physical altercations, but it can manifest in workplace politics, social exclusion, or cutting remarks dressed as jokes, even to the extent of making fun of someone’s physical appearance or handicaps. These actions, though less overt, stem from the same desire to exert power over another.

As Christians, or simply as humans striving to be better, we’re compelled to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” This question isn’t meant to invoke guilt but to encourage a profound introspection about our conduct and its impact on those around us. Jesus’ life was a testament to love, inclusivity, and standing up for the marginalized — a guidepost for our interactions.

Acknowledging feelings of complicity in the face of bullying is not an admission of defeat but a step toward growth. It’s a call to action, urging us to be vigilant and brave, to stand up against injustices, and to support those who are being diminished. Our silence can be as impactful as our words, and choosing to speak out can be a beacon of hope for someone in the throes of bullying.

As adults, we wield considerable influence — through our actions, our words, and our decisions about when to speak and when to listen. This influence gives us a unique responsibility to create environments (churches?) where respect and kindness overshadow the impulse to belittle or dominate. It’s about building communities where the Ernies of the world feel supported and valued, not for their ability to endure mockery but for their inherent worth as individuals.

This is an invitation — a call to reflect on our behaviors and the subtle ways we might contribute to or combat bullying in our everyday lives. It’s an encouragement to foster empathy, to be the ally that our younger selves needed, and to cultivate spaces where compassion drowns out cruelty.

In closing, let’s remember that the lessons learned on the playground have far-reaching implications. The way we navigate adult bullying, standing up for fairness and kindness, can transform our workplaces, homes, and social circles into havens of respect and understanding. By doing so, we honor the spirit of what Jesus taught, living out our faith through actions that speak louder than words.

Together, let’s pledge to be the change, to be adults who embody the virtues we wish to see in the world. Because in the end, it’s not just about preventing bullying; it’s about nurturing a society where every person is seen, heard, and valued — where the playground, the workplace, and the church are places of growth, not battlegrounds for dominance.

I’m sharing my blog space this week with Whitney Lynch.

I could go on for days about Whitney and the whole Lynch family. We got to know them initially though some mission work we did in the Vancouver, BC, metro area. They are adopted family to us. They are special folks.

Not too long ago the Lynches moved back to the States (they’re native Texans) and settled in Perryton, Texas.

Perryton is a rural town that sits in the panhandle of Texas, minutes from the Oklahoma border. Its population is around 9,000. In a town like this, everybody knows everybody, and the pain brought on by the recent tornado is felt by all.

I shared with Whitney that, sadly, I am no stranger to tornadic disasters. In my day job as associate editor of The Baptist Record, I’ve covered more disaster relief stories than I care to remember.

At any rate, Whitney reached out to me, and I’d like to share what she shared with me:

Good good morning! My name is Whitney Lynch and I am trying to get the word out for our town in a very specific need we have after the tornado. I don’t know if you have heard but our town where I reside and work as a teacher was hit June 15 by a devastating tornado that sadly took the lives of those we knew and destroyed a part of our town, wiping out entire homes of many of our students. It has been a difficult time to say the least.

An incredible non-profit has generously said they’ll provide backpacks and basic school supplies for all students so those directly affected don’t feel like they’re standing out. In reality, all of our students were somehow impacted. We are still, however, short some necessary supplies that students need that will not be in those backpacks.

So, I am reaching out to anyone that could help or that could have other connections, or may know people who would love to help our town but don’t know how. We need folders, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, and composition notebooks. WE are still short so if we could have a variety of people each give a little, it’ll add up quickly. We also need 3-ring binders, but realize those add up quickly in cost, so the other things are a higher priority. We still need them.

We have an Amazon list that’s been created that can help show our needs, or things can be mailed to me if you’d rather not buy through that list.

There you have it. There are needs all around us. Sometimes we feel helpless. Here, though, is an opportunity for you to meet some significant, concrete needs. I’d be honored if you’d consider helping, and I know the Lynches and Perryton would be grateful.

You can send any items to:

Whitney Lynch, 2310 Jackson, Perryton, TX 79070

And here’s a link to their Amazon supplies list:

Click HERE.

Talk soon!

Another Mass Shooting, Where Do We Start? Lament.

NOTE: This was published by The Gospel Coalition August 8, 2019. I had written what I thought was a good blog, but I just can’t go with it. I hope I’ve done the proper crediting of my source. It was timely then, and timely now.

AUGUST 8, 2019  |  MARK VROEGOP

Over the weekend, two mass shootings shocked the nation’s conscience and opened another cultural wound.

The details are still emerging. Two gunmen, in El Paso and Dayton, slaughtered 31 people. In Dayton, nine people lost their lives, and it appears that the shooter was obsessed with mass shootings and violence. He even developed a hit list of religious and political groups.

In El Paso, 22 people were killed. Given a “manifesto” posted online, the shooter’s motivations appear to be more apparent—and appalling. He targeted Hispanics and espoused racist and white supremacist views.

We will eventually know more. In the meantime, there will be political finger-pointing. Various solutions will be offered. The clash of ideas and worldviews will become apparent. And the gravitational pull toward our respective “corners” will be strong.

What Can We Say?

Amid the trauma and tears, how should the church talk about this? Silence sends an unhelpful message, especially to our minority brothers and sisters when they consider the shooting in El Paso. However, the uncertainty of the moment creates an understandable caution.

How do we weep with those who weep when the fog of a national crisis descends?

Christians can start by lamenting. We can use the historic prayer language of sorrow to talk to God about the messy grief we feel. When the psalmist’s life was hurtful and confusing, he reached out to God in prayer, laid out his pain, pleaded for help, and renewed his trust in God.

The Bible is full of this kind of prayer language. More than a third of the psalms are laments. No wonder! The sorrows of life are many.

When tragedy strikes, when the stakes are high, and when it’s important—for many reasons—to express our grief, prayers in pain that lead to trust can be comforting and redemptive.

Lament for Mass Shootings

As I’ve pondered the shootings in El Paso and Dayton, here is my lament.

How long, O Lord!

God, we watch the news in disbelief as we battle despair. In El Paso and Dayton, 31 image-bearers—people who reflected your glory—were killed in yet another mass shooting. We know our world is broken. We know evil is real. We know the loss of life was not limited to El Paso and Dayton this weekend. But the scale of this senseless and wicked assault on human life is shocking and troubling. It causes us to turn to you.

We lament the presence of sin in the world and its destructive effects. We mourn the loss of life that will create empty spaces at dinner tables, birthday parties, and graduations. We weep with family members whose lives will never be the same.

We lament the devaluing of human life and its bitter fruit in our culture. We mourn the demonic rage that would lead to the slaughter of men, women, and children. We weep with El Paso and Dayton in the shattering of their peace.

We lament the wicked ideologies behind these shootings and their devastating results. We mourn beliefs that view people as our enemies because they are different, feelings of prideful superiority over others, and the use of violence to advance a wicked agenda. In particular we weep with our brothers and sisters who deeply feel the targeting of Hispanics and the white supremacist ideology behind the El Paso shooting.

Jesus, we need your help! We call on you to give us comfort and hope in our sorrow. We ask you to give us grace to care for one another during these volatile and divisive times. We plead with you to make churches a place of refuge—a shelter of Christ-exalting, neighbor-loving, compassion-giving people. We beg you to change hearts immersed in deep loneliness, superiority, rage, and hatred. We cry out for the ending of all actions and ideologies that do not fit with your kingdom.

Our King, we thank you for our city and national leaders. Tragedies create important conversations about future solutions. And they also surface deep divisions. Help them to work together for the common good of our communities and for the peace of our nation. In their words and actions, give them wisdom and grant them grace to model the kind of leadership that fits with your heart.

National tragedies remind us about the depth of our collective depravity and our need for a Savior. Our solutions will never be enough to eradicate the sinfulness embedded in our lives and our land. We need you, Jesus, to save and change us—both as individuals and also as a culture. We long for the day when our faith will be sight. We feel the urgency of the need for your return.

Until then we look to you through the tears.

Hope of Redemption

Christians know that our world is broken. We read in our Bibles that the entire creation groans (Rom. 8:22) and that sin has created the curse of death (Rom. 6:23). But we also know the hope of redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Christians long for the day when all tears will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4). We know a day is coming when demonic ideologies and mass shootings will never again threaten the peace of this world.

But until then, we lament.

We grieve the killing of image-bearers. We mourn the hard-heartedness that hurts innocent victims. And we weep over ideologies that broadcast anti-God lies from the pit of hell.

A lament doesn’t solve all the problems. It’s never enough by itself. More can and should be done.

But when a tragedy strikes, and we’re not sure what to say, “How long, O Lord?” is a good place to start.

NOTE: I first posted this blog, The Gate of the Year, a year or so ago. I’m not one to recycle my posts, but, I dunno. It came to mind this morning during my quiet time. So many folks as of this writing are on edge, strung out, worried senseless. And in light of the passing of Queen Elizabeth, it’s time to refresh ourselves. Read it and share it. 

“The Gate of the Year” is the popular name of a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins. She titled it “God Knows.” I’ll share its best-known stanza in a moment.

A quick history lesson.

According to Wikipedia, the poem was written in 1908 and privately published in 1912. King George VI quoted it in his 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British empire. It was thought that his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Consort, shared it with him. Now it’s believed that Princess Elizabeth, aged 13, gave the poem to her father.

The Gate of the Year gave comfort to the Queen Mother all her days, and was a real inspiration to Brits in the Second World War. She had its words engraved on stone plaques and mounted on the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

These are some powerful words:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

I wish I’d written this.

So why this current fascination on my part? Let me parse it.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

Here are two fundamental wishes. These are especially meaningful when you have some hard questions and answers aren’t forthcoming.

The desire for light is self-evident. You want to be able to see where you’re going.

“Tread safely into the unknown.” If light is available, then the unknown isn’t quite as scary. In these dark days, if you knew what lay ahead, wouldn’t you be comforted by knowing? (Or not; if what lay ahead is disastrous, you might not want to know.)

There have been times in my life – and, in all likelihood, yours too – when you took a leap of faith and hit the ground with a sickening thud. Your faith was misplaced. You let the clamor of the world drown out that still, small voice. Or, worse, you “followed your heart.” Ancient script teaches that the heart is deceitful above all things. Following your heart sounds noble, but it’s not a good idea.

And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

Yes yes yes.

You’ve probably said things like:

I thought God wanted me to marry him.

I thought I was supposed to take that job.

Moving to a new house felt right, somehow.

Here’s the lesson here:

• It’s not a matter of removing the darkness. It’s a matter of accepting the darkness and prevailing in it.
• God’s hand is big, protective, and firm. He doesn’t let go of you. People might. He won’t.
• If it’s safety you crave, then the most perfectly safe place in the universe is in the hand of God, and it doesn’t matter how dark it is.

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

Here’s a subtle nuance. The picture is of someone (you? me?) moving first and then finding the hand of God. It’s knowing that He’s already there, whether you have reached Him or not. The poet draws the picture of taking God’s hand and trodding gladly into the night. No fear, no apprehension. Just the simple joy of knowing God’s got you.

It doesn’t matter the circumstances of what brought on the darkness. They might not change.  The mandate is to be glad in those circumstances. Crazy, I know. But it all is centered in God holding your hand.

And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

Sweet.

Get this picture.

• God leads, and the journey begins in darkness.
• He leads toward the hills. Hills conceal, but there is the promise of something else beyond what can be seen.
• The day breaks in the East. There is the certainty of sunrise, and, blessedly, visual confirmation that it is indeed dawn. A new day with new possibilities and new hope.

The Gate of the Year

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.^[3]

Roe v. Wade, compassion, and you. All three of these intersect.

I need to make something really clear first, and this may determine whether you continue reading. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is something I’ve prayed for for decades.

I’m not much of a protestor, in ways like picketing abortion clinics, making signs, etc. Once, years ago, I did stand in a long, long line of others along the side of a highway, but it didn’t feel like a protest. Maybe it was.

My sense about most protests, with signs, chanting, confrontations, is that it usually degrades to a whole lot of sputtering along in impotent rage. Nobody is listening. There are exceptions: Gandhi and Dr. King come to mind.

But Roe v. Wade is the hill I was willing to die on. Still am.

What this blog is about today is the simple expression of genuine compassion. I’m not seeing much of this in our current environment.

The abortion debate is so heated (rightfully so) and so politicized (I just threw up in my mouth) that it’s hard to try to be a voice of reason. I want to be that; maybe it’s a fool’s quest. 

I’ll listen respectfully to whatever anyone wants to say. I’ll engage. But as much as I value an open mind, this is one of those areas in which I’m beyond rigid. So I’ll listen, show love, but don’t expect to change my mind. I’m answering to a Higher Power, not you. 

I have many friends, true friends, that would come totally down on the opposite side of this debate. My love for them, and respect for them as people, is unquestioned.

But loving you doesn’t mean I’m compelled to agree with you. It’s not that I’m all that enlightened, or better than anyone else – it’s just that if our friendship is predicated with agreeing with you, it’s on pretty shaky ground. 

Anyway. We were talking about Roe v. Wade – but, more specifically, to our response to it.

Here we go. I’m going with my beliefs and worldview, which might not align with yours. 

I haven’t done the best job of considering “what would Jesus do?” If I’ve considered it, I haven’t followed through. My sense of scripture leads me to think that He would love unconditionally. No better example of that can be found than the woman caught in adultery account. The whole story is found in John 8:1-11. Read it for yourself, but the gist of it shows Jesus offering supernatural forgiveness to a woman who sure as heck didn’t deserve it. He did put a condition on it, though: The NIV reads “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Did the woman ever sin after this encounter? As long as she had a pulse, you bet she did. If she sinned, did Jesus take away His forgiveness? Nope.

But I’m not doing anyone any favors if I don’t tell them that apart from receiving Christ’s forgiveness, they will be banished forever to a Christless hell. No one wants to talk about that. Fact is, we are all in need of forgiveness, because a sin – whether it’s taking someone’s life or telling the most benign of lies – is enough to cause eternal condemnation. 

Regarding Roe v. Wade and our personal stance on it, consider this little diagram. I keep referring back to it:

Is this not true? Whether someone is livid at the end of Roe v. Wade, or taking victory laps, we don’t know why they believe what they do. I’ve read some accounts of women who’ve had abortions and have continued life completely at peace with their decision. I’m also aware (and have talked to) women who are utterly consumed with guilt. In either case, I must understand that their feelings are valid, and their opinions are based on what they genuinely felt was right at the time.

And while this is pretty obvious to me – in an abortion, someone dies – I do need to know whatever part of their story they’re willing to share. That has a way of putting some humanity into what otherwise might be just an abstract “cause.” 

This isn’t just a gender-specific issue, nor is it one strictly couched in religious terms. There are tens of millions of pro-life women, so to say that this is strictly women’s issue doesn’t mean all women see this in the same way. It’s not like there are males on one side, and females on the other. 

There are untold numbers of pro-life proponents who have no religious affiliations, much less Christianity. You can’t view this as a purely religious issue.

Fact is – no group is monolithic. Anyone who judges a whole group by the actions of an individual or a few is a nitwit.

A few days ago I posted this on Facebook (maybe that was a mistake.)

I thought this was pretty wonderful. So I was caught flat-footed by this comment, from a young lady I love and respect much:

“This is guilt tripping under the guise of compassion. What about a woman who had an abortion due to a septic uterus but still feels guilty? Was that a mistake? Does she also deserve forgiveness for not letting herself die?… What about the 11 year old in Ohio who was raped multiple times and impregnated by a 26 year old? If she had been allowed to have an abortion, would she be in need of forgiveness?”

Gotta admit – I didn’t see that one coming.

Fact: We are all in need of forgiveness, no matter what the circumstances. We are all sinners, by nature and by choice. Scripture informs me that forgiveness is available to all, and one sin of any sort is enough to send us to hell. That’s where the Cross comes in, of course. That’s a level playing field. But no one deserves forgiveness. That’s a gracious act of a sovereign God. It’s pretty clear where we’d all end up apart from that. Of course, we have to respond to that invitation.

I’ve spent a lot of time this past week being an apologist. Bring up Roe v. Wade, and I’ll engage you. Which isn’t necessarily like me – color me non-confrontational – but I felt like this was one area that I felt compelled to address.

I understand that, for many, Roe v. Wade never was a spiritual/religious/Christian issue. Fine. While that is definitely my overarching concern, I see other factors playing in. Roe v. Wade is also one of embryology and biogenesis, whether it was good law to begin with, whether the fetus has a right to life as found in the 14th Amendment (there are some human rights points there to consider), and I could go on. I’ll engage someone using both logic and reason. 

When it comes to Roe v. Wade, some people don’t want to submit themselves to logic and reason. It just annoys them. 

The wisest counsel I can give myself is to give it a rest. I’ll intercede for those hurting and confused. And I also realize that, if I’m honest with myself, I’ve said all along this is a spiritual matter, and, as such, it is God alone who will change hearts and minds, and none of my persuasive arguments.

Finally, here are my personal mandates. I haven’t mastered them all yet. Maybe we can walk together as we try to inculcate them.

• Love first. No condemnation. At least, don’t condemn the person. We’re at different stages in the journey.
• Listen. And you don’t have to respond.
• You don’t know their stories. They all have one. It isn’t yours.
• Give yourself and others the freedom to feel however they want to.
• Always be ready to give an account of what you believe, and why. Hint: “I just feel it in my heart” isn’t a good answer, because the heart is deceitful.
• If you find yourself proud of your debate skills and searing intellect, you are not in a healthy place.
• What would Jesus do? And, in the flesh, you might not like the answer you find. What He would do and what you’d like to do might be two different things.
• If you and I are intellectually honest, we have to at the very least acknowledge that an abortion is the termination of a life in progress. Left unimpeded, that zygote, embryo, fetus will be just like you. To willfully intercede in that process is going to mean a life is lost. The difference between me and a gestating baby is primarily one of size and location. 
• Love first. No condemnation. In case you missed that the first time.

That’s all. Be well. Be blessed. Talk later.

Appendix

I wanted to share a Facebook post from June 27. It is optional reading. It’s my attempt to be reasonable. It wasn’t universally accepted. 

June 27

Here’s my appeal to logic and reason this morning. I could be way off, but it’s where my head is.

When Roe v. Wade came about in 1973, there was rejoicing and despair everywhere. Sort of like now.

Then, and now, it seems to have been couched primarily in gender terms. Women’s rights were espoused on one side; the unborn’s rights on the other.

When Roe v. Wade passed, all women were painted with the same broad brush, with the implication that this was a victory for all women. But millions of women felt disenfranchised, because the law didn’t reflect their values and beliefs.

Now Roe v. Wade has been relegated to history. There is a whole new group that feels disenfranchised. The shoe, as they say, appears to be on the other foot.

Consider this, though. Prior to last week’s overturn, there was an “us” and “them.” Not anymore. Here’s why.

The playing field is leveled. Those with no voice after 1973 now have one. What is equally as fascinating is that those who have “had their way” (not the best term, but it’s what comes to mind) can still have their way. 

Now, rather than having a law that millions couldn’t speak to or change, the deck is cleared. Everyone has a voice.

The matter of abortion has been returned to the states. Whether someone was pro-abortion (or pro-choice, which has a much more positive feel) or pro-life (or anti-abortion, which is the media term and carries a much more negative feel), now everyone has an equal voice. That seems fair.

Now – and I couldn’t say this just a few days ago – our elected state government officials are freed up to write law. Many states have already banned abortion. Many others have assured that abortion will remain available.

Here’s the minor miracle. Now, all citizens have the opportunity to vote into office officials who reflect their beliefs. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE PRIOR TO LAST FRIDAY. 

So, if someone is in a state that either allows or abortion or not, we can now speak to that by the ballot box.

Work hard. Get or keep your man or woman in. You have a voice you may not have had prior to last week. Use it.

And if your person loses, use that reset button and try again. 

It’s great to be an American. Not everyone has these liberties and freedoms.

Worried about Ukraine?

I am watching the horrific tragedy of Russia invading Ukraine in real time. History buff that I am, I’m getting WWII vibes here.

I could go on about Putin being psychotic, about how the Ukrainians are showing steely resolve, and how we as the United States should engage. I also think that Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be a future member of the Avengers. That’s not what this blog is about.

Because, if you’re worried about Ukraine, then I want to share some ways you can maybe break that cycle of worry.

Actually, I’ll broaden this out to dealing with anxiety in general.

I’ve dealt with worry and anxiety plenty of times in my blog. My sense, though, is that mental health issues like anxiety don’t need to be ignored … there is always someone wanting a fresh word of encouragement.

Anxiety and worry – sort of the same thing, perhaps – about Ukraine or anything else can paralyze you. It is a demon. There seems to be a progression in worry. (Note: This isn’t all original to me, but I’ll be dogged if I can find or remember the original sources. I’m pretty bad about just scribbling stuff in my journal and not identifying where it came from.)

Anyway … here are five steps to anxiety. If you want to worry about Ukraine, here’s how to worry effectively. (Tongue in cheek here, of course. I know my humor doesn’t always travel well. I had someone on Instagram light me up because she thought I was making light of the situation over there, just because I’d reposted something from The Babylon Bee. Mea culpa.)

1. Worry first rears its head because of some sort of pressure. It may be you were expecting something and your expectations were unmet. For instance, you might’ve expected a good report from your doctor and didn’t get it. You may feel like “the government” is forcing you to do something you’re against. The point is that pressure – from without or within – can cause anxiety.
2. Worry lives rent-free in your mind. Whatever that thing is that is causing you anxiety – Ukraine or whatever – is metastasizing like a cancer. It’s eating you up from the inside. It is taking on way too much influence than it should.
3. Worry changes your behavior. Often, men just default to radio silence. They keep it bottled up, because they’re afraid it’ll show up as some sort of weakness. Maybe that’s a sexist impression, since women may be more expressive in their worry. Either way, anxiety impacts how you act. 
4. Worry changes the way you think. If you’re worried about Ukraine, then your thought life can become focused in an unhealthy way. It’s a bit like point 2 above, but this is a matter of focus. Maybe even an obsession. I’ve seen this on social media a lot … I can predict what someone’s Facebook or Instagram post is going to be about even before I read it. It’s being single-minded in all the wrong ways.
5. Worry unchecked takes you to one of the worst places imaginable – it makes you feel like a loser. You think you’ve failed because you can’t seem to shake your anxiety. Or, it may even be that you worry because you worry. Isn’t that an awful state?

This all culminates in a self-fulfilling prophecy. The very things you don’t want to happen happen anyway because you’ve become obsessed. Covid is another great example … people are anxious because of possible mandates, or anxious because not enough people have gotten vaccinated, or anxious because they worry they’ll fall in that miniscule percentage of folks who get really sick.

Obviously, worrying about Ukraine isn’t helpful, because chances are you can not directly influence what is happening on the ground over there. (You can help, though – there are plenty of legitimate ways to get aid to those Ukrainians who desperately need it.)

I’ll share a little personal experience.

Several years ago I worked for a parachurch organization in metro Atlanta. It was a dream job – to this day I don’t think I’ve ever served in any capacity in any role that was better suited for me. It was how I was hardwired. It was a gift.

Problem was, though, I had to raise my own support. My livelihood was dependent on me going to basically everyone I knew and say something like, “Hey, will you send me $30 a month for the rest of your natural life so I can buy some groceries?”

I was unspeakably lousy at it. To ask for money, to engage on what felt like such a needy level … ack. 

The result was that we barely scratched by. Some months were worse than others. There were times when I’d get all spiritual and say things like “the Lord will take care of our needs.” I believed that.

Then I’d look at the checkbook and realize I had to pay the electric bill.

Was I anxious about that? You bet. I experienced every one of those five points I shared earlier. It put relational pressure on my family, on my friends, on everybody. I wasn’t much fun to be around.

Worry had got the upper hand. It affected my personality. It made me come across (in my eyes) as a failure, a loser. 

I got some advice, though. Here it is: “Don’t worry.”

Can you imagine how unhelpful that is? It made me want to punch the advice-giver in the head. 

However, there is a glimmer of hope in a solution. If you’re worried about Ukraine, or Covid, or global warming or anything else, here’s what I’m learning. God knows I’m not there yet.

If you change the way you behave, then you change the outcome.

Remember Jesus’ admonition to “turn the other cheek?” Talk about counterintuitive. Someone slaps you, and you offer up the other side of your face so you can be slapped again. 

This isn’t about just being a wimp. The normal response is to hit back, and harder. But when you take a hit and don’t hit back, you’ve disrupted a cycle. You’ve changed the outcome of where the exchange was going. Two things have happened: you have controlled your response, and the other person – whether they hit you again or not – has at least been given the opportunity to question their behavior. 

In the case of worry, there’s a similar strategy.

• If every time you worry about something, do something to help someone else. It shifts the focus from yourself to the needs of others. It breaks the cycle. 
• If you get anxious because of what you’re seeing on the news, change channels. The Andy Griffin show is always on somewhere. 
• If something on social media upsets you, keep scrolling. You can absolutely control what goes in your head. You don’t have to respond to everyone, even when they’re wrong. 
• If you are dealing with a health issue, go to the best doctor you can find, do what he or she says, and keep praying. Worrying isn’t going to add a single minute to your lifespan.
• Finally, say with conviction “God’s got this” Because He does.

One more thing. If anxiety is at critical mass in your life, there is absolutely no harm – only benefit – in getting some help. My own story in dealing with depression is a combination of counseling, good meds, a wise neurologist and other medical professionals. Plus having folks around me that love me, support me, and try to understand me.

You can’t do a whole lot about what’s happening in Ukraine. But you can give God the freedom to heal your mind, heart, and emotions. 

Talk later!

Survival of the fittest. Boy, am I gonna annoy some folks with this one.

I don’t intend for You Can Have Hope to be anything but encouraging, and on the surface this one won’t be. But I have lots on my mind, and there is a silver lining in what I’m about to share.

Survival of the fittest is a component of Darwin’s theory of evolution (theory being a key word.) Do NOT count me among a devotee of Darwin; it’s actually a complex issue in my mind. But basically, survival of the fittest  is about certain organisms (and people, perhaps) that are more able to adapt to changing environments, and can produce offspring that carry on those survival traits. Okay, fine – I know after living in south central Florida it took me a while to get used to colder weather when we moved back up this way. And if you’ve been in high altitudes, and struggled to get a good breath, you’ll note that folks who live up there don’t have the same issues. You adapt to it, in other words.

Set that aside for now. I need to tell you a little story.

The second car I ever owned was a 1974 Gran Torino Elite. Here it is (not actually mine, but this model and color.):

Ford only produced this model for three years. It came along in the heyday of the “personal luxury cars,” vehicles like Grand Prixes, Monte Carlos, that genre. This car reminded me of a Thunderbird. It was a graduation gift, but truth be told, I think Daddy wanted it worse than I did.

One interesting feature of this car was the seat belt. Check this out – unless you had your seat belt extended, it wouldn’t start.

You can imagine how well-received that item was. If there was a problem with the system, you had to open the trunk, push a little red button, and supposedly it would start. That never happened to me.

The workaround was that you could pull the seat belt out of the retractor and hook it over the interior door handle. You’d effectively circumvented this “safety feature.”

It never was a real issue for me, since even as a high schooler I routinely wore my seat belt.

But – and this is a big but – I still sort of resented being protected from myself. It’s like when I see a “keep off the grass” sign. My first impulse is to go boogie on that grass.

Ford was actually forcing you to wear that seat belt – at lest, that was the intent.

Still with me?

I don’t think anyone should be forced to be vaccinated. Did y’all hear me in the back?

Believe me, I don’t want to bring up COVID. It’s intregal to what I want to communicate, though.

As I’m banging this out, Los Angeles County is bringing back a mask mandate whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. They aren’t closing businesses and restaurant … yet. O spare me.

But it got me to thinking – at what point, if any, do you simply invoke the “survival of the fittest” concept and go about life?

I’m not judging anyone here about their health choices. Really, I’m not. In my never-ceasing quest to be open-minded (except in the areas I’m beyond rigid on!), I’m asking myself some questions. I’ll let you in on my musings.

One option I thought of is that we do nothing. Anyone over the age of 12 can get vaccinated. And if someone chooses not to get vaccinated, that’s absolutely fine. There are all sorts of reasons not to – some based on personal health, some on personal conviction, some on simple mistrust, and I’m thinking a goodly chunk of folks are simply afraid of what might happen to them.

(Incidentally, I can’t find any history of any vaccine showing effects years after the shot. Adverse reactions typically happen within a couple of weeks.)

One companion thought to this is that there is a minuscule handful of folks with compromised immune systems who can’t be vaccinated and are at risk while COVID spreads in their area. So it’s not just the “guilty” getting sick.

Thought Number Two: we could roll back society to where it was back in the spring of 2020.

As a former COVID patient and a fully vaccinated individual, I say not just “no” but “heck no.”

Third thought: We could mandate that vaccinated people carry vaccine passports, and thereby avoid anything that would be included in Number Two. 

I wondered if that a passport might be a “get out of jail” card.

Show proof of vaccination and you can go to concerts, games, theaters, restaurants, and yes, theme parks. Show proof of vaccination and you can get on a plane to wherever you want. But if you choose not to get vaccinated, then it’s back to the “stay at home” order for you.

No clubs, restaurants, arenas, theaters, or theme parks for you. Go to the grocery or pharmacy only during special hours when everyone is required to wear masks and practice distancing. No shopping at the mall or eating out.

I got over that option pretty quick. But, for context, I remember the first time I traveled abroad when I was 13. I went to Europe, not some third-world places. I had to get a smallpox booster along with other vaccines. I had to show proof I’d been vaccinated. I don’t remember it being a big deal.

I don’t think that’s gonna work. It’s a different world than it was in 1969 when I visited Europe. I won’t get into the differences.

Which gets me back to “survival of the fittest.”

My bottom line will always be “what would Jesus do?”

See, selfish people never want to take responsibility for anything. It’s always ‘those other folks” – and these days, it’s those other folks who wear masks still, don’t wear masks, get vaccinated, don’t get vaccinated, ad infinitum. And to rally their supporters, or to feel better about themselves, they demean and devalue others who don’t see it the same way they do, post funny/not funny memes, and generally position themselves at the center of their little worlds.

It’s still survival of the fittest – what must you do as a believer to survive and not get sucked into a cesspool of unkindness?

Tony’s take?

No compassionate Christian person wants to take the risk of allowing even more deadly COVID variants to evolve while thousands more Americans die unnecessarily.

We can do better than “survival of the fittest.”

Do the right thing.

Be blessed.

(That’s the Ryman Auditorium, above. It may not have much to do with my blog, but I liked the photo).

Ah, the Southern Baptist Convention and some inside baseball! 

I hadn’t planned on saying much about the SBC, simply because of my thinking that it would be of limited interest, especially to non-Southern Baptists. 

But I’ve received a significant number of requests to talk about it, to share my take, and see if there are any universal encouragements to be found there. 

I still think it’s pretty much inside baseball talk. Most Baptists are more concerned with the temperature of their Sunday School rooms and who is going to look after the kids in the church nursery rather than the doings at the world’s largest church business meeting.

With all that in mind, here’s my take. This is solely Tony’s impressions – I in no fashion am speaking for anyone else, group, entity, whatever. 

You can find out all the details you want by visiting this site. It’s all here. You can do a deep dive if you like, or not. You can form your own opinion, which I recommend. 

So, in no particular order, here are my admittedly scattered and definitely subjective thoughts.

1. Some would have you believe that the Southern Baptist Convention is going all “woke.” Uh, no. We as a convention do “resolutions,” which aren’t legally binding in any way. They’re simply a stance that the Convention in session takes. Churches aren’t obligated in any way to embrace or follow them. One thing I’m having to constantly explain to people, even Baptists, is that a local congregation doesn’t answer to any hierarchy. We are bottom up in structure, not top down. There is no ruling body. Churches can voluntarily cooperate on the local, state, or national level, but no one in Nashville tells us what to do, by golly.
2. That “woke” thing? I imagine it grows out of a debate over Critical Race Theory that’s been meandering around for the last couple of years. Some perhaps thought the convention was “selling out,” whatever that means. CRT was never mentioned by name, and I personally have some serious issues over any ideology that pits one race against another. But if the issue is one of hearing out my African-American brothers and sisters, and being willing to learn and change for the good of the Kingdom, you can bet I can get behind that. The messengers to the convention thought so, too. As an aside – did you know that nearly a quarter of Southern Baptist churches are predominately non-Anglo?
3. One writer said “The 2021 SBC was essentially a family squabble worked out through a democratic polity on the national stage.” That’s pretty accurate. Know what, though? I never got the sense that there was any real anger. Some drama, sure. Emotional moments – true that. I have to say, though, some parts were laugh-out-loud funny, and they didn’t mean to be. I’d mention some, but since humor can be in the eye of the beholder, I’ll keep my own counsel. 
4. When the NY Times, Newsweek, the Washington Post, etc., all had news coverage of the convention, maybe it isn’t as inside baseball as I thought. The Nashville paper had multipage coverage. I wonder why this was such a big deal in the secular press?
5. Jay Strother noted this: “We reached ‘peak Baptist’ when the discussion on a motion asking to extend the time for motions took all the time allocated for motions. You can’t make this stuff up.” Agreed. For the record, I cordially detest church business meetings. They tend to affect my health, and the doctor took me off of them. But this is a church business meeting on steroids, and it is executed on such a grand and spectacular scale, I can’t help but watch. 
6. J.D. Greear has his critics, for sure. But doggone, if that ol’ boy didn’t handle the potentially treacherous moments with skill, verve, and aplomb. He was simply chill, and it served him and us well. But there also needs to be a hat tip to Barry McCarty, who’s been at the chief parliamentarian post for, I dunno, decades. Barry was right at J.D.’s side, always with a bemused grin, and keeping things moving along properly and in order. I’d note that there were some folks at microphones who didn’t appreciate not having their moment of pale glory because it would be a breach of how things are done. Well, we have rules for a reason. When you have almost 16,000 folks, any of whom can have their say on a really large stage, someone (or someones) has to referee. 
7. Southern Baptists took a clear, passionate, unquestioned stand against abortion. Yay that. I never had any question about our stance on abortion anyway, but that particular resolution. Man.
8. The SBC is only in existance a couple of days a year. Without getting in the weeds, there is an Executive Committee who manages the daily affairs of the convention, more or less. Ronnie Floyd (who was a classmate of mine at Southwestern Seminary, but I only knew him in passing) is the president and CEO (can’t say I love that CEO term.) There was lots of talk about how the Executive Committee handled allegations of sexual abuse in some churches, and Ronnie was in the process of hiring an outside group to investigate the Committee’s culpability. Well, the messengers said, “Hold on, y’all. Rather than the EC retaining the services of a group to investigate themselves, it’s probably a lot more proper and transparent if the Convention President (Ed Litton) puts together a task force to do the investigating.” Done. That’s really something right there. Five proposed resolutions called for the executive committee to be investigated by a third-party organization. That chain of events is open to all sorts of interpretation and speculation.
9. I’m gonna classify the 2021 SBC as the first Hipster Convention. There were almost 16,000 messengers, another 3000 or so friends and family, and who knows how many other hangers-on. I’d confidently say there were 20,000 folks milling around. In a really casual survey I took, I asked several folks what they thought the median age was of the people attending. The general consensus was early to mid-40’s. A hand-raised survey during one of the sessions showed that the majority of participants were first-timers – they’d never been to a SBC before. I saw PLENTY of tattoos, Spurgeon beards, fiip-flops, and shorts. And familles. Lots of families. Some of the senior adults (and I’m part of those ranks now) were walking around in an absolute daze. They couldn’t figure it out. It’s no exaggeration to say that less than 1% of the men there had on neckties. About as dressy as it got was a polo shirt with a sports coat and nice jeans, and even that look was rare. Question: What’s wrong with any of that?
10. Those aforementioned hipsters? I sensed that they were thoroughly unimpressed with any politicking and posturing. They didn’t care about the Conservative Resurgence other than a historical footnote. Again, this is a subjective gut assessment, but I felt like this new crop of leaders were more interested in reaching the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ – and have fun and find joy in the process. Imagine that. Ronnie Floyd made a comment at one point about the necessity of not alienating the SBC base. I don’t think there is such a thing. That was one diverse group I spent time with last week. Good, good people.
11. Am I encouraged by what I saw? You bet I was. Nope, that’s not the SBC I’ve grown up with. And that’s okay. I can’t help getting older, but I can avoid being a dinosaur, succumbing to that “we’ve never done it that way before” mindset. I won’t let the parade pass me by. Break me off a piece of what I saw. 
12. Finally, Ed Stetzer is one of the smartest people I’ve ever run across. He scares some folks to death. His take in Christianity Today – which some days, I question as a media outlet, because sometimes they get a little “out there” for my theological tastes – is a good one, whether you agree with his conclusions or not. Read it here. 

I was in “the room where it happened.” I’m calling it as I saw it. If you were there, you might’ve seen something I didn’t. That’s okay. I’ve offered a subjective view, and, as always, you can find objectvivity elsewhere, the “just the facts, ma’am” stuff. 

Enough inside baseball. I’ll be back next week with typical Tony stuff.

Be blessed. Be well. Comment away!

I have debated with myself long and hard over putting together a manifesto: Should I address the events of January 6, 2021?

Because my stated purpose of my blog was to be “transformationally encouraging.” In my flesh, I can’t find a lot to be encouraged about.

So I took my eyes off the flesh, the here and now, the “what is seen.”

And I’m encouraged. Genuinely.

I’d say, first of all, that I’m not encouraged right now about the condition of the United States. (And to all of you who are reading this in other countries, this is sort of in-house stuff … although I believe there are worldwide ramifications for what’s transpired, and what most certainly is coming.)

This is not about:

• Who is responsible for the invasion of the Capitol.
• What security measures failed.
• Impeachment, censure, or any other means to remove the president from office.
• Antifa, Proud Boys, alt-right, socialism, any of that.
• Conspiracy theories.
• The extreme difficulty of realizing that you’ve been wrong all along.
• How to develop critical thinking skills, although that would be helpful.

I’ve come to realize you can grieve and have hope at the same time.

After spending much more time in scripture than I typically do (and I really don’t miss a day without reading my Bible), I have some things to say. By His grace, I want them to be His words and not mine. Portentous, I know, but at least my source is valid!

It’s a manifesto. Mine, anyway. I wanted to make sure I was using the term properly. Merriam-Webster says this. A manifesto is:

A written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.

So I’m on safe ground.

Here are my 10 manifesto points.

1. So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
   • Fear is a crippling reality. God is not the author of fear. If I am dismayed, then I am placing myself and my feelings above the reality of what God is accomplishing in this world. He will give me the strength to persevere – even rise above – the events of these days. He will hold me up. I don’t have to rely on my puny human strength.
2. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Cor. 4:16-18
   • If I lose heart, it’s because I have evaluated the current circumstances with short-sighted, frail, human eyes. As a believer, I recognize that what I am witnessing and experiencing is as bad as it will ever be. Such is the condition of a lost world and a lost humanity. God views January 6 as “light and momentary troubles.” So should I. Against the backdrop of eternity, I will fix my eyes on what is eternal, and not what is temporal. My faith will rest in its proper source – and that source is not of this world.
3. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
   • This is a promise of presence. There have times lately when I’ve felt bewildered, misunderstood, and alone. But I have no reason whatsoever to fear. If I am discouraged, it’s a discouragement based on what I see before me. This is sinful. I think it’s appropriate to be hurt and grieve, as I would in any personal loss. This is much different than being discouraged. Discouragement implies that something is happening that God has no control over, which, of course, is blasphemy.
4. When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
   and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
   When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2
   • There is a promise of supernatural protection for me, even when the world is in flames. This does not mean that I will be spared from harm, even physical harm. Scripture informs me that even the righteous suffer. Here again, I see God’s providential hand guarding me, and I will rest in this.
5. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
   • God does not suggest that I be strong and courageous. He commands it. Again, fear and discouragement are sinful. His presence is guaranteed. No matter what happens in Washington DC, or even on the local level, I must be strong and courageous, and put my faith in Him and not in government. Governments and leaders are established by God. In my eyes they may be wicked and corrupt. They are still God’s instruments to be used to carry out His ultimate sovereign will.
6. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
   • I will praise God in spite of consequences and the reality of chaos. He is showing divine compassion to me and all believers. He is not obligated to deliver me from circumstances, and He may want me to experience chaos. Yet He will comfort me. What’s more, He has called me to comfort others with the same hope that I have. For me as a believer to not do that – to dwell on the evil and heartbreak I see and not offer hope – is an affront to Him. I want to feel His pleasure as I strive to be salt and light. This is a calling for all believers. Sow hope. Not discord.
7. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – 1 Cor. 15:58
   • It is tempting, some days, just to quit trying because my efforts seem to be in vain. In trying to give myself to the work of the Lord, I don’t see much, if any, progress in the lives of others. I feel that I am casting pearls before swine. And yet – the promise for me and all believers is clear: there is no wasted effort in Kingdom work as long as I work in accordance to His direction. I can not let my personal feelings or agenda get in the way. The call is to stand firm – not in what I see in the world, not in politics, not in government – but stand firm in Him. I have to recognize that God’s plans for America may not be what I would want in my flawed human understanding. So I will stand firm in Him, and I will not let the news cycle move me.
8. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25.
   • In the end, we are all here for each other. We have all seen divisions creep into the Body of Christ. Brother against brother, indeed! My call is to encourage and equip others to love and produce good deeds. This should begin with me. If I find myself not encouraging, not offering an example of Christian love, and to not perform good deeds, then I have to recognize that I am out of the will of God. If I am negative, cynical, discouraging, and lazy, then I am doing Satan’s work for him.
9. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
   • God has offered me peace. It’s up to me to receive and experience it. God has told me that I will have trouble, and He is correct. Yet, I am to take heart. Nothing that has happened in recent weeks has escaped His eye or His hand. He is the ultimate Overcomer. I may not witness it in this current time, but in eternity all will be made clear. He has overcome the world – the United States included – in ways that aren’t visible yet. He may choose to sunset the American experiment. Nations are a drop in the bucket to Him. Even in that, I’m commanded to take heart.
10. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27
    • In the end, God wants me to be at peace. That does not mean that the world will be peaceful. Nor does it mean that I need to look for peace in this world. I won’t find it. If I am the beneficiary of God’s peace, then I have no reason or excuse to be troubled are afraid. Ever.

I’m not sure how best to close this. I want to leave you with reason to hope. Yes, in the flesh, hope seems in short supply. As believers, though, we need to be wary about misplacing our hope. This has been very personal to me, and if I have given you just a hint of reason to be encouraged, then I’ve accomplished what I think God intended for me to do.

Be blessed.

I really wanted to address the events of January 6, but I want to wait a few more days because I want to make sure what I share is both reasoned and of God. In the meantime, I’d like to share, again, Lincoln’s prayer. There has historically been some question as to whether or not Lincoln was a Christian; nevertheless, this is as pertinent and meaningful today as it was in 1863.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.