”Evangelicals” a political faction?

Evangelical Christians are not a component of any political party or political movement. They, we ,  are messengers carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Christ cannot be subordinated to any political belief. We are free - in fact we are commanded - to be good citizens, but we are not free to subscribe the name of Christ to any political party or candidate or political movement. Jesus is has not, to my knowledge, subscribed His to any political party, candidate, or political movement. Neither will I.

As celebration of Jesus’ earthly life, death, and resurrection comes near, a prayer ...

“Almighty God, You know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
From Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Daily Prayer Guide Lent and Holy Week 2018

Are we willing to name Christ in public?

Is it possible to speak about Billy Graham without speaking the name of Jesus, who was always on the evangelist’s lips? On C-Span I heard only two leaders bring the name of Jesus Christ into the memorial for Mr. Graham in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda: President Donald Trump and Senate Chaplain Barry Black. Other leaders spoke movingly about Mr. Graham and his character as a servant of God without naming the Savior on whom he focused his life. Thank you Mr. President and thank you Chaplain Black for publicly speaking the name of Jesus Christ when honoring one of His most faithful servants.

God is FOR us and our school children

We are appalled by the multiplying attacks on schoolchildren in America. Yet attempts to conceive defenses generate political battles as soon as they are uttered, diverting us from using the tools at hand to increase safety.

My prayer is for the administrators and teachers of our schools to be blessed with eyes to see and hands to employ the defenses available to them already, today, to add to the safety of our students. And this prayer includes the students themselves, not just that they be safe but that they actively enter into the process of emplacing measures and adopting disciplines that minimize their vulnerability to harm.

On top of that, I pray that all will settle down, even in the present unsafe environment, and gain the education that their communities desperately need in order to build the better life that we all crave.

Can this really work? May students, teachers, and all Americans ponder what David, then a prisoner of the Philistines, declared in Psalm 56 long ago: “...this I know, that God is for me.”

Are we willing to seek the wisdom of David’s God? If we do, is He likely to do less for us than He did for David who not only escaped his enemies but became King of Israel?

I hope we will seek David’s God and learn whether He will show us the defenses at hand, guide us in employing them, and divert us to useful work and away from political haggling.

Joy for Jesus

If being surrounded by my family brings me joy (and it does) I can imagine the joy of Jesus when at last His entire family is assembled around Him, safe at last!

Until then, I pray we will even now take pains to bring Him all the joy we can. “Love one another as I have loved you,” He said. Let’s do so actively, purposefully, and persistently, even when we don’t feel like it.

Christmas is one more day when we can set our sights on practicing what He preaches. So here we go! Merry Christmas!

White Lines

Until yesterday I never thought of offering a prayer of thanks for the people who paint white lines on the shoulders of roads.

I was driving on a two lane rural road in the early morning darkness and the headlights of an oncoming vehicle blinded me. But there it was, the trusty white line on the shoulder, pointing me to safety and nudging me away from the roadside woods. For the first time in my life I thought to bless the painters who kept me on the road. And I did so.

I have a question for you. Who are really more important: billionaires, kings and queens, celebrity entertainers, presidents, or the people who paint white lines on the shoulders of roads?

Perhaps even more important are the people who paint the double yellow center lines that shepherd us away from head on collisions. Thank you Lord for them!

Often I am blind to important things and dazzled by trivial ones. At Christmas I become immersed in the preparations, the gifts, the people with whom I celebrate, the food and drink, the clean up. The lighted decorations dazzle me, and sometimes sadness and loss blind me. Why do I not turn my eyes more purposefully to the Eternal Father who gives life and breath and forgiveness and express thanks to the One who is leading me safely where I need to go? Who also is leading many others whom I love.

God sent His Son Jesus into a troubled world to open the door to eternal life to all who will come. God helping me, that is where my eyes will focus before, during and after Christmas.

Different kinds of grace

"That grace which will carry us through prosperity, will not carry us through sufferings. The ship needs stronger tackling to carry it through a storm than a calm." Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer, 1692

The news these days suggests to me we should pray earnestly for both kinds of grace.