Today's verse

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the Lord.

1 Samuel 7:3-4 (NLT)

Today's verse

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)

Today's verse

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV)

Courage

This post at Tea with Tiffany is about the sexual abuse of children. Be warned: you will not be able to read it and come away unchanged.

Please pray for all victims of sexual violence everywhere.

It's not just about homosexuality...

......it's about the subordination of Biblical authority in the church to secular political pressure (hat-tip: Rev. Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren).



Some of the comments at Rev. McCain's site complained about the heavy-handed sarcasm employed in the video, and I agree with them. Nevertheless, the video is a good one since it reveals the incredibly weak reasoning that went into the ELCA radical decision of last August to bless gay/lesbian "marriages" and ordain non-celibate homosexuals.

Today's verse

The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”

Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Ezekiel 37:1-10 (NKJV)

Today's verse

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)

Today's verse

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:8-13 (NKJV)

Bible translation in Tanzania

The Bible Society is translating the Bible into the Kikagulu language.

It is rare to find someone in Tanzania who does not speak Kiswahili (the national language). Nevertheless, such individuals do exist. The Bible Society does God's work in spreading the Gospel by translating into the languages people can understand.

The widespread use of Kiswalili in Tanzania is the result of efforts by Tanzania's first President, the late Julius K. Nyerere.

Please pray for Bible translators everywhere.

Today's verse

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJV)

Witnesses to the faith: North Korea

North Korea has executed three leaders of the underground church and jailed 20 other Christians, reports a news agency focused on Asia.

Please pray for Christians in North Korea.

Sweet P's: A prayer for Tanzania

Almighty and gracious Heavenly Father, we lift up before You the people of Tanzania. We ask that you bless them and protect them during this election year. Bless all of the candidates running for office and their families. Give them the wisdom and courage to govern in the ways that are pleasing to You. Protect the people from violence and unrest, and help them to remember that they should put their hope and trust in You and not the princes of this world.

Father, we ask a blessing upon the Christians who live on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, and who are suffering persecution because of their faith in You. Protect them and defend them from suffering, yet let it be according to Your will. Turn the hearts of those who are persecuting them away from this evil and towards You. Let these Christians who suffer for Your sake be an inspiration to other Christians, and a light to those who do not yet know You.

Amen.

Today's verse

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

Witness to the faith: Peter Masanja

Peter Masanja, a Christian leader, has been jailed in Zanzibar. It is ironic that in the US there is a heated debate about building a mosque at the Ground Zero site in New York City. Meanwhile, the mere rumor that a Christian church may be built in a predominantly Muslim area caused the arrest of Peter Masanja.

Please pray for all Christians in Tanzania.

Today's verse

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV)

Today's verse

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

Today's verse

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Mark 6:30-1 (NIV)

Today's verse

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth — a stranger, not your own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)

"Cool" Christianity?

Brett McCracken wrote this interesting article about the dangers of making Christianity seem "hip" and trendy to attract younger worshippers. (Hat tip: Rev. Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren)

I have no problem with making Christian worship services more agreeable to the congregation. Truth be told, personally I find many traditional hymns downright dreadful. Some Christian worship services seem to be more like funerals rather than celebrations.

But I do draw the line at discarding the Gospel to suit culture or politics.

There seems to be a variety of lurid possibilities out there. In addition to the politically-correct goddess worship of "Herchurch", one can also find a pastor who describe sexual techniques in the pulpit. If that is not "edgy" enough for the would-be Christian, there is another pastor whose life was chronicled 24/7 via Webcam.

But all this poliicking and voyeurism raises three important questions. At what point does the church morph an episode of The Jerry Springer Show? How long will these thrill-seekers hang around if there is no new "cutting-edge" material to keep enticing them every week? And it it really showing inexperienced Christian converts Christian love when they are being deceived by a false version of Christianity?

Here is now Mr. McCracken sees it:

If the evangelical Christian leadership thinks that "cool Christianity" is a sustainable path forward, they are severely mistaken. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don't want cool as much as we want real.

If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it's easy or trendy or popular. It's because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It's because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It's not because we want more of the same.

Indeed. As Jesus Himself said:

I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

John 10:1-5 (NIV)

Today's verse

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Witnesses to the faith: Grace Ministries International missionaries

GMI missionaries support a vocational school, development center, and medical care to residents of Rukwa Valley in Tanzania.

Please pray for the GMI missionaries and the people of the Rukwa Valley.

Sweet P's - A prayer for schools

Lord, we thank You for the beauty of Your creation. We thank You for the beautiful world that You have given to us for our home.

Lord, we ask a special blessing upon those who will soon be returning to school. We ask that You bless students as they travel to and from school. Open their minds and heart to receive useful knowledge. Protect them from harm while they are away from home.

Lord, we ask for You to bless the teachers who will soon begin their work. Give them the patience and good health. We also ask that You bless their families.

Lord, we also ask You to to bless school administrators and school board trustees. We thank You for their gift of leadership. Help guide and protect those whom You have placed in authority over us.

Lord, we also ask for a blessing upon all who serve in schools. We thank You for volunteers and members of the community who agree to serve the faculty and staff of our schools.

Lord, we ask all this and so much more in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today's verse

Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Luke 13:18-19 (NKJV)

Job bowled over by God's creation

God is not a remote god that winds up the Universe and then lets it run by itself while He attends to more important matters. God is head-over-heels in love with His creation, and constantly involves Himself with it.

In Job 38 God challenges Job with a series of questions about His creation, and demands that Job answer His questions:

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel 
with words without knowledge? 

3 Brace yourself like a man; 
I will question you, 
and you shall answer me. 

4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? 
Tell me, if you understand. 

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! 
Who stretched a measuring line across it? 

6 On what were its footings set, 
or who laid its cornerstone- 

7 while the morning stars sang together 
and all the angels shouted for joy? 

8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors 
when it burst forth from the womb, 

9 when I made the clouds its garment 
and wrapped it in thick darkness, 

10 when I fixed limits for it 
and set its doors and bars in place, 

11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; 
here is where your proud waves halt'? 

12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning, 
or shown the dawn its place, 

13 that it might take the earth by the edges 
and shake the wicked out of it? 

14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; 
its features stand out like those of a garment. 

15 The wicked are denied their light, 
and their upraised arm is broken. 

16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea 
or walked in the recesses of the deep? 

17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? 
Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? 

18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? 
Tell me, if you know all this. 

19 "What is the way to the abode of light? 
And where does darkness reside? 

20 Can you take them to their places? 
Do you know the paths to their dwellings? 

21 Surely you know, for you were already born! 
You have lived so many years! 

22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow 
or seen the storehouses of the hail, 

23 which I reserve for times of trouble, 
for days of war and battle? 

24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, 
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? 

25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, 
and a path for the thunderstorm, 

26 to water a land where no man lives, 
a desert with no one in it, 

27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland 
and make it sprout with grass? 

28 Does the rain have a father? 
Who fathers the drops of dew? 

29 From whose womb comes the ice? 
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens 

30 when the waters become hard as stone, 
when the surface of the deep is frozen? 

31 "Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? 
Can you loose the cords of Orion? 

32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons 
or lead out the Bear with its cubs? 

33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? 
Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? 

34 "Can you raise your voice to the clouds 
and cover yourself with a flood of water? 

35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? 
Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? 

36 Who endowed the heart with wisdom 
or gave understanding to the mind? 

37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? 
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens 

38 when the dust becomes hard 
and the clods of earth stick together? 

Job 38:1-38 (NIV)

God then ask Job about his knowledge of various living things. Notice that Job is eventually moved to humbleness by the beauty and majesty of God's creation.

I am like Job in this respect: when things seem their darkest, contemplation of the magnificent beauty and order of God's creation can lift my spirits.

This week, as school begins and summer turns to autumn, spend some time contemplating the beauty of God's creation.

Today's verse

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:1-13 (NIV)

Witnesses to the faith: Sudan

World Gospel Mission will distribute a quarter of a million Bibles in southern Sudan next year.

Remember that mere possession of a Bible in Muslim-dominated areas of the world can be deadly. Please pray for the Christians engaged in this project, and for the people who will receive these Bibles.

News: Tanzania

Christians in Zanzibar prevented from building a church by government officials, Muslims.

Tanzania was formed in 1964 when the mainland (at the time called Tanganyika) was merged with the islands (Zanzibar and Pemba being the largest). The article contains a good short summary of the tensions between the mostly Christian mainland and the mostly Islamic islands.

I know from experience that the government officials in the islands are largely under the influence of fundamentalist Muslims, who often have veto power over law enforcement. During the holy month of Ramadan, radical Muslims have been known to drag non-Muslims from their homes for eating while Muslims are fasting. Churches have been attacked, and Christians have been beaten with no response from the police. Religious freedom, which is supposed to be a right of all Tanzanians, is largely unknown in the islands.

Please pray for all Christians living in the shadow of persecution.

Update on Fathima Rifqa Bary

Fathima Rifqa Bary is now 18 and is no longer in the custody of the state of Ohio.

Today's verse

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

Mark 4:1-9 (NLT)

Interview with Rodney Stark

This is an interesting article about the decline of liberal American Protestantism.

(Hat-tip: Rev. Paul McCain)

Witness to the faith: Fathima Rifqa Bary

Fathima Rifqa Bary, a Muslim teenager who converted to Christianity, turns 18 years old today. She had been fighting a protracted legal battle to avoid being returned to her parent's custody against her will.

Rifqa Bary said she feared she would be killed by members of her family after she became a Christian. Given the case of Amina and Sarah Said, and the death of Aasiya Hassan, her concerns are not unwarranted.

Fathima also is suffering uterine cancer, and still faces a complicated legal situation because of her immigration status. Please pray for her and all other Christians fleeing persecution and death.

Marvel at God's creation

Slideshow of the planet Mars.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8: 3-4 (NIV)

Exchanging religions

Usually I avoid publications like the Washington Post and the New York Times. The bias in their news reporting is rather obvious (the science and technology articles tend to be particularly inaccurate), and reflects a secular progressive worldview that I do not share. Under the American Constitution they are free to write whatever they wish, and I am free to get my information from more accurate sources.

However, this Post article caught my eye: Julia Roberts is Hindu: Is America ready for a Hindu sweetheart?

Aside from a bit of artistic license in the article's title - just how does an actress go about becoming "America's Sweetheart", anyway? - the premise of the article is that American Christians would be scandalized if they knew that Roberts is a Hindu.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth Tenety (the writer of the article) seems to be suffering from a bit of cultural amnesia. Robert's co-star in the wildly-popular movie Pretty Woman was heartthrob Richard Gere. Gere is a Buddhist, a fact that has been known for a long time and does not seemed to have injured his career.

There were two interesting passages in the article. The first is:

[Julia] Roberts' seek-and-ye-shall-find spirituality is actually quite reflective of American religious practice: 44 percent of Americans currently identify with a different religious tradition than the one in which they were raised.

The second is:

Aseem Shukla, On Faith Panelist and co-founder of the Hindu-American Foundation, pointed in a recent post to the examples of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley (both converts to Christianity --Jindal from Hinduism, Haley from Sikhism) as evidence that association with Dharma traditions is a public liability.

There seems to be a contradiction here. Tenety celebrates "seek-and-ye-shall-find spirituality" as a good thing. Yet she portrays the decision by Governor Jindal and gubenitorial candidate Nikky Haley to become Christianity as calculated political moves to avoid prejudice. In doing so she unconsciously echos the widely-held belief in the secular media that Christianity is some sort of political tool instead of a set of religious beliefs.

This prejudice is not confined to journalists in the secular media. In a separate Post article Shukla go so far as to suggest that Haley converted to Christianity for political reasons, although in fact she became a Christian long before she ran for office.

Perhaps both Tenety and Shukla should consider an alternative explanation: Haley and Jindal converted to Christianity because they believe it to be true. Is that so improbable?

Today's verse

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:27 (NLT)

News: Iran

Reports say Iran's Baha'i leaders "sentenced".

Please pray for Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.

Today's verse

Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

Isaiah 40:13-4 (NIV)

News: Indonesia

Radical groups that promote violence in the name of religion should be suspended or disbanded, say young Indonesian Muslims attending a conference on pluralism.

Please pray for the people of Indonesia.

News: Lutheran churches in Tanzania

Tanzanian Lutheran Churches continue to see growth.

Witnesses to the faith: UK

Hate laws target UK Christians.

Please pray for Christians in the UK.

Heard on the radio

On the way to church this morning, my wife and I heard this Bible verse on the radio:

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17 (NLT)