An Absolute Message

I was in Portland, Oregon recently for a trade show.  Fortuantely, we could ride the local metro back and forth from the hotel to convention center and avoid the expense of taxis.

On one day, on the way back to the hotel, I had a conversation with a homeless man on the train. I could see other passengers were uncomfortable but I am reminded these are the folks that Jesus worked with, walked with, ate with.  I can certainly have a conversation with a fellow human being.

In my pocket was a scripture card that I got on board Alaska Airlines.  Something told me to share that card with the man, and I asked God to bless him.

The man was quite touched and then he repeated back to me the following scripture:

Ephesians 1:17-18
New International Version (NIV)
"17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,"

As one who is working daily to know our Father God, what a shot this was.  Amen and thank you, Father.

A Mouse's Heart: Keep RUNNING

A Mouse's Heart: Keep RUNNING

A Victory for Christians!

From Tom Minnery, Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy

Let me tell you about a stunning victory for religious liberty in a very important court. This is one to thank the Lord for!

Every year like clockwork another class of seniors at Medina Valley High School near San Antonio gathers in the school's football stadium, to celebrate the culmination of all their hard work with a graduation ceremony. And they like to include prayer - an invocation and a benediction - in the ceremony.

This year, someone objected to those prayers, and filed a lawsuit in federal court. And just a few days before graduation, a federal judge not only ordered that there be no official invocation or benediction, but that the school was to ensure that no one prayed or attempted to thank God or even utter an "amen." The judge threatened to jail any school officials who didn't follow his order to the letter.

Enter Angela Hildenbrand, Medina Valley's valedictorian, who was scheduled to give an address at the ceremony. She was not part of any school-sponsored prayer. She simply wanted, on her own, to pray a simple prayer of thanks to God as part of her valedictory address. But the federal judge had suddenly dashed her hopes in his rush to scrub the occasion of all prayer. What could one 18-year old possibly hope to do in the face of a federal court order?

Angela enlisted the aid of our good friends at the Liberty Institute (with which Focus on the Family is proudly associated), who filed an emergency appeal on her behalf with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (which is one step below the U.S. Supreme Court). Two days later the appeals court said the first judge got it wrong. And just in time. The graduation ceremony was held the very next day, on Saturday June 4--and Angela was able to give her entire address, including a prayer, without being censored.

We're thankful that one individual, armed with faith in God, can still stand against the odds and achieve a great victory for freedom of religion. I thought you'd like to know.

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The Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15: 11-31

I grew up as a Christian.  Baptized as a baby.  Sunday School every week.  Vacation Bible School.  As a teen I sampled evangelical Christianity (even was baptized again at 14 this time through immersion), studied Seventh Day Adventism.  Went to some Jehovah Witness services.  Became an atheist.  Thought about converting to Judaism to win a girl named Rebecca.  And at 21 came back to God when I was slightly desperate in my life.

For a time I returned to my childhood church until it slid into oblivion for lack of willingness to do God's work.  But I still called out to God.  I prayed. I prayed for others.  I told others there was hope by following and trusting God.  But was I living a Christian life, really turning everything over to God and following the word? Not at all.

It came to me through the inspiration of three angels who had been placed in my life in different ways.  Each of these women however had a deep and inspired relationship with God, going back years and gently shared the word with me and modeled behavior as a Christian that proved to be an inspirational example.  One of them in particular challenged me and challenged hard as to my commitment to Christ.  Sure I believe in God. Sure I pray.  Of course I was saved.  But was I studying the word? Well, uh, I do have some bible verses on my cell phone.  Had I really surrendered everything to God? Sure, well, oh, no.

The only thing I knew to do was to jump into the Bible and go to church.  I signed up for devotional emails and text messages.  I've bought as many Christian books I can.  And Sunday evening, not even a week ago, when the Pastor called me the author I lept out of my seat and walked to the front of the room to give myself once again to Christ, made a public confession of my faith and join the Church.  I found a loving and sweet Christian family and felt home.

Jesus tells the story of the man with two sons, one of whom left the family for many years.  The other son stayed and remained devoted working the family farm.  When the missing son returned he was ashamed he had left and felt that he would not be worthy of his father's love.  His brother was resentful that he was getting any points for being the loyal son.  But the father was joyous and forgiving of the lost son. The father said his son "was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."  Of course everyone should celebrate.

Many of us were lost and are found once again in Jesus Christ.  God our father forgives us for going away and is overjoyed when we return.  He will love us no matter what.  He will celebrate and be glad! Thank you God, I'm home!!

Narcissism

In taking inventory of my actions as much as I hate to admit it narcissism (a tool beautifully designed by the Devil perhaps) is behind much of what I think is behind my fears and wants. It drives incorrect modes of thinking, is what leads us to escape the truth and puts a wall between us and God as well as those we love. The crazy self fulfilling prophecy of narcissism of course is that we refuse to admit we've fallen victim to it. But those things that we wish to control, surely because we would be better at controlling the situation and can't fathom any other outcome are a direct result of a level of malignant narcissism, at least for me anyway.

I found the following bible verse spoke to me on this topic.

Philippians 2:1-30: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ..."

And the great thing about perhaps being willing to give up those old egotistical ways is that I can humbly admit I might even be wrong about the above. Doesn't matter. God is right and his truth is the truth for me whether I get it the first, second or even 54th time.