One thing I always tried to instill in my children’s minds as they grew: you will always find time to do the things that are of most importance to you. Countless were the times one of my three would say something to the effect of, “I don’t have time to do that!” And my response would be the same: “You have time to do what is important to you.”

Every believer in Jesus Christ should take this seriously. I have often heard individuals say that they were too busy to practice the Christian disciplines. They were too busy to pray, or read their Bible, or have a daily quiet time, or complete the daily assignments in a discipleship course, or be involved in any type of ministry, or, or, or… And my response? You guessed it: You will always find time to do the things that are important to you. It is a matter of priority.

We put things on our schedules that are important. Deadlines on the job or in the classroom demand priority in scheduling. Household chores are placed in order of priority, whether written down or mentally embraced. There are things that have to be done, and we make sure time is carved out for their fulfillment.

Why can’t the same be true of the Christian disciplines? Why can’t we schedule time to get alone with God in the closet of prayer, open Bible in hand, open heart to the voice of God. Why can’t we prioritize reading a portion of the Bible every day, and then quietly listen to that still voice of God as He speaks to us through His written word? Why can’t we involve ourselves in discipleship classes which are designed to help us grow deeper in our relationship with God? Why can’t we set aside 30-45 minutes a day to complete the work in those discipleship workbooks?

The answer: a lack of priority. Other things of much less significance take precedence over the more important disciplines that every Christian desperately needs. We need to pray! We need to read the Bible! We need to complete discipleship courses that will facilitate our spiritual growth and development! We need fellowship with other believers in corporate worship! We need to be involved in ministry efforts!

I end each of those statements with an exclamation point to emphasize how important and necessary each of these disciplines are. And each can be practiced by each professing believer, if we only make them priorities in our lives.

You may be thinking, “If he only knew what I have on my plate.” And you are right: I don’t know. But I do know what is on my plate. I’m not going to give a list of my current activities and involvements, but know this, I prioritize my time with God. Nothing short of a dire emergency is going to hinder my daily appointment with Him.

Why? Because of my desire to know Him better, and to learn from His word how I might better serve Him and grow deeper in my fellowship with Him. I can cut out a thirty-minute television program if necessary. I can use my lunch break time to have a brief season of prayer and Bible reading. I can get up 30 minutes earlier to spend that time with God. I can stay up 30 minutes later, after everyone else is in bed, to have that quiet time.

We can make a way. It is all a matter of priority. I will close with how I began: we will always find time to do the things that are of importance to us. How important to you is spending time with God? Why not make it the number one priority in your life and see how God will begin to make Himself more fully known to you. The dividends are truly out of this world!

Forty-nine years is a long time. Teresa and I celebrated our forty-ninth anniversary yesterday (June 6) by taking an overnighter to Boone, NC, and spending the day at Grandfather Mountain. It was a rather dreary day with lots of fog and temps in the very low sixties. But it was a wonderful day none-the-less.

The drive back over to Blowing Rock from Grandfather Mountain was especially foggy. There were several stretches where it was difficult to see more than perhaps fifty feet in front of you. I was already driving extremely slowly due to the curvy, mountain road, but the fog slowed me down even more.

All this brought back memories of our wedding day, and a trip to Asheville, NC for a very brief honeymoon. Interstate 26 was not completed, so we had to drive up a treacherous mountain road in fog and rain. It was a nerve wracking drive I will never forget. Teresa and I were married at two o’clock in the afternoon, and it was late when we got on the road for the trip to Asheville. We stopped in Spartanburg for dinner, which meant it was already after dark when we began the drive up the mountain. Driving in the dark on an unfamiliar mountain road was bad enough. Add to the mix a horrible storm with heavy rain, wind, and fog, and it was truly a night to remember.

We finally made it to our motel – a quaint, privately owned property – with the appealing name, “Whispering Pines.” Such a peaceful, serene setting, with a name that added to the quiet tranquility of the night. The storm had subsided somewhat, and we felt that it would pass completely without any problems.

It was about two thirty in the morning when we were suddenly awakened by a horrific noise. The bed began to literally move across the floor from the thunderous sound. The air conditioner unit fell off the wall and onto the floor. It sounded like a freight train was about to burst through the wall. We were terrified, thinking that at any moment we would be killed by the obvious tornado that was about to rip through the motel.

Teresa and I were literally kissing each other good-bye, thinking that we were about to be killed by the terrible storm howling just outside our window. But, the noise began to subside, the bed quit shaking, and all became calm once again. Thinking to ourselves that the storm had now passed I opened the door to our room and peered into the darkness. There was no apparent damage from the storm. I saw no trees down, not even any limbs on the ground. Everything seemed to be in good order, so we settled back into bed for the night.

The next morning I went to the front desk to check out. I spoke to the motel clerk about the awful storm that had blown through during the night. He stood speechless for a few moments, then burst into laughter. He asked me to follow him, and he led me to the back of the line of motel rooms. When we turned the corner, I immediately saw the “storm”, or what sounded like a storm. The reason it sounded like a freight train is because that is exactly what it was. No more than about 30 feet from the back of the motel was a train track, and that train came rolling through every night at two thirty.

What we thought was surely the end of our lives turned out to be a memorable moment in our marriage memory box. But, that isn’t the end of the story. We were talking to my parents about the incident, hoping to get a good laugh out of them as we shared the horror and the humor. We told them the whole story, and they started laughing. Really laughing. But it wasn’t because our story was so hilarious, even though it was. But it was because they had stayed in the same motel, and had gone through the same harrowing experience!

Teresa and I have been blessed by the Lord to have many such moments that we now look back on as we reminisce about these past 49 years. I share this with you this week with the hope that it would encourage all of us to take time to think back over the years and remember, reflect and rejoice over the manifold experiences God has graciously allowed us to share with our loved ones. Take an evening to share with one another those fond memories. Laugh together, cry together, but by all means, share together those moments that have brought and will continue to bring joy to our hearts.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.”

1 Kings 18:21

The line between Biblical Christianity and modern, Americanized Christianity is becoming more and more difficult to see. Biblical Christianity is that which is clearly described in Scripture. A clear representation of Biblical Christianity is seen in the following quote from the Book of Acts:

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:42

These early believers were obviously committed to the Lord, and it showed in their activities, actions, and attitudes. There are several different aspects of their commitment that are clearly observed in this verse. Take note of the words ‘continued steadfastly’. Continued would denote the fact that they were consistent in their new relationship with the Lord Jesus. They were not up and down, and in and out, but continued in their new life in Christ. Their actions clearly displayed their commitment to the Lord.

Then, note the word ‘steadfastly’. Their commitment was a steady, settled fact. Those who would meet them would instantly detect their commitment to the Lord by their consistency of dedication to the Lord. They continued steadfastly. But exactly what did they continue in? Luke records four different actions that give answer to that question.d

First, we are told that they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. This is the foundational building block upon which all others are built. And this is one that is sorely needed in our climate of Americanized Christianity. This means that they learned solid Biblical doctrine from the apostles, and they put the practical application of those doctrines into practice. These early believers were true Biblicists in every sense of the word. They remained committed to obeying the Word of God, even when that obedience cost them dearly. Some even paid the ultimate price of martyrdom because of their unwavering commitment to the doctrines handed down by the apostles.

So many of the hot topic social concerns facing the church today are addressed clearly in Scripture. To be Biblical Christians means that we are to continue in the teachings of the Word of God, even when to do so means we must stand against the tide of cultural Christianity. Culture should never be allowed to determine right and wrong. We are to turn to the doctrines found in the Bible as we seek guidance in how to remain steadfast in the teachings of the Bible.

Second, Luke tells us that they continued steadfastly in fellowship. Fellowship with other believers is crucially needed if we are to remain strong in our walk with the Lord. We learn from one another, and draw strength from one another. We are comforted in times of distress by the consolation of others, and we are able to minister to others out of our own personal experiences. It is in fellowship that we learn are taught the apostles’ doctrine, and then are encouraged to remain steadfast in those doctrines. Fellowship with other believers is a vital aspect of the discipleship process.

Third, Luke adds that they continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread. This probably is best understood in a two-fold manner. The breaking of bread could be a reference that follows up on the matter of fellowship. It could be that the early believers shared meals together as they came together for mutual encouragement, instruction, admonition, and correction from the apostles’ doctrine. This could also be a reference to the breaking of bread in the observance of Communion. As believers gather around the table of the Lord to memorialize His body and blood which was given for us, we are encouraged to examine ourselves to make sure we are not living in an unworthy manner.

And finally Luke says that they continued steadfastly in prayers. In the early days of the church the believers were faced with what appeared to be insurmountable odds. Throngs of believers were imprisoned, beaten, scourged, and executed. But they continued steadfastly in their commitment to live for the glory of the Lord.

We face a choice today just as they did in the early days of the church. We can embrace a watered down version of Christianity – what I have referred to Americanized Christianity – or we can embrace Biblical Christianity. Americanized Christianity will not cost much, if anything, to embrace. Biblical Christianity on the other hand could prove to be extremely costly.

To stand for the solid doctrinal instruction found in Scripture means that we open ourselves up for ridicule, harassment, open aggression from those who oppose Biblical truth. This type of commitment that calls for remaining steadfastly in the teachings of Scripture is demanded from every person who identifies himself with the God of the Bible. And it demands that we do so without giving consideration to what others might do. I will close with another quote from Scripture. It is found in the last chapter of Joshua.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

The question is the same today: whom will you serve? Choose today to serve the Lord. Don’t waver between two opinions. Make the choice, and stay the course.

Let me begin by asserting my feelings about our president’s remarks following the mass murder in Uvalde, Texas. I was appalled as I listened to President Biden as he spoke on the evening of still another senseless mass murder against those unsuspecting children and adults. His message was a blatant politicization of a horrific display of evil. After a few brief remarks about the victims, he then went on what I would describe as a tirade about gun control. There is a time and place for discussions about such things as that but consoling the families of those children and adults whose lives were senselessly cut short was not that time.

Every time there is another mass murder, we hear them once again as the talking heads begin to make their political pitches for stricter laws pertaining to firearms. The outcry of those who are for gun reform focuses on the theory that guns kill people. And, we have all heard the response to that outcry: guns don’t kill people; people kill people. This is an irrefutable truth.

I have many friends and acquaintances who own firearms. I don’t know very many individuals who don’t own some type of firearm. And not one of them has ever used their firearms to take another person’s life. Not one.

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of persons who own firearms are law-abiding citizens. The fact that they own a firearm does not mean that they are secretly harboring thoughts of murder and mayhem and are only waiting for the perfect time to carry out their evil deed. Some own firearms for the purpose of hunting, while others use theirs in competitive shooting. Many have purchased firearms for self-protection. These, and so many others, are reasons for owning firearms.

I am a firm believer in and a strong advocate of the second amendment. Granted, there are many different possible interpretations of the initial intent of the amendment, and perhaps that should be part of the forthcoming discussions about how to protect unqualified gun-owners from purchasing firearms. There is no question about the fact that changes to current gun ownership laws should be made.

However, having said that, it bears stating once again that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. Stricter background checks are needed; longer wait times to purchase a firearm are needed; mandatory safe firearm classes should be required. These and many other safeguards could be built into the system.

But the fact of the matter is that if someone wants to get a firearm for the purpose of killing an individual, or committing mass murder, they are going to get it. They are not going through the proper channels to purchase a firearm to begin with. They are going to purchase firearms illegally.

Taking the guns of law-abiding citizens is not the answer. I hope that we see open and serious discussion on what can be done to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to do harm, while at the same time protecting the rights of honest, law-abiding citizens to own firearms.

I have been trying to mentally process the news of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the report of the independent investigation into alleged sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention. Some may think that these two news stories have nothing to do with each other, but in reality, they are exactly the same. They are both glaring examples of SIN.

First, let’s focus on the mass shooting which resulted in the deaths of nineteen people, most of whom were third, fourth, and fifth grade students. What would compel an eighteen-year-old to walk into an elementary school and open fire on those unsuspecting students and teachers? SIN! I don’t know what it was that triggered the awful, senseless slaughter, but the underlying, foundational cause is that the shooter was devoid of the forgiving grace of God.

But please read the following statement carefully. Anyone who lives by the dictates of his fallen, sinful nature is capable of the most heinous acts of evil. None of us are above committing such horrible actions. It is the grace of God that keeps us from engaging in horrific acts of evil.

Now I realize that some reading this will object strenuously to that assessment. You may be thinking about some family members or friends who are not Christians and yet have never committed anything comparable to this senseless slaughter. But yet it is true. It is the common grace of God at work in the world that compels the vast majority of human beings to live upright, law-abiding lives. But still, those who are devoid of the Spirit of God open themselves up for the spirit of evil to compel them to commit such acts.

The proof of this truth is seen in the other news report. An independent investigation was conducted by Guidepost Solutions into alleged sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. The following is copied from the website of Gibbs Law Group:

On May 15, 2022, Guidepost Solutions published a disturbing report describing decades of sexual abuse and cover-ups within the Southern Baptist denomination. On May 26, 2022, the Southern Baptist Church (SBC) released a 205–page list of hundreds of alleged abusers, which was compiled by a former employee of the SBC Executive Committee. The list—which spans decades and numerous states—contains details of alleged incidences of assault and abuse, and the names of ministers and other church workers who have been “credibly accused” of perpetrating abuse, as reported by the New York Times. 

Gibbs Law Group web page

We may think of the shooter who took the lives of 19 individuals as being far more horrific than the acts committed by those on the list published by the Southern Baptist Convention, but in reality they are exactly the same: SIN. It is not the point of this blog to delve into the allegations presented in this report. It is, however, the point of making comparison of the root problem of sin. The names listed in the report are pastors and other church staff leaders, some of whom were prominent leaders in the convention, who are alleged to have committed acts of sexual abuse that have caused mental, emotional, physical and spiritual trauma in the lives of the victims.

The common denominator between the Texas shooter and the individuals named in the investigative report: SIN! As I thought about these horrifying stories my mind went back to a day in the classroom at Fruitland Bible College. Dr. Kenneth Ridings, professor of homiletics at the time, walked into the classroom, looked around the room at his students, and stated matter-of-factly, “We are all capable of committing the most awful acts of evil. None of us are above falling to temptation.” He was talking to a classroom full of students preparing for ministry. Each of us had felt the call of God to invest our lives in serving God by serving others. And yet, here was a professor who had, at the time, been in ministry for decades telling us that we were all susceptible to fall into sin.

Some may think it wrong of me to compare a murderer who killed 19 people with pastors and other church staff members. However, the Bible makes it clear beyond any doubt that in the eyes of God sin is sin. I am not diminishing the awful ramifications of 19 families who are now struggling to make sense of the senseless by making this comparison. I am simply making the observation that the lives of those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of pastors and staff members are carrying around the mental and emotional scars of being victimized.

The underlying principle is sin. And let’s be very clear on the matter. The Bible warns about the seriousness of sin, so acts such as these should not take us by surprise. Some will use these types of horrific displays of human depravity as a reason to reject God. In reality, they should cause us to run to God. He is our only source of help and hope in the face of such evil.

This topic will be continued in my next blog.

In my last blog attention was focused on two hot-bed topics in our present cultural climate: human anatomy and human sexuality. I would like to continue this line of thinking by focusing on another of those topics: abortion. It has once again been thrust into the spotlight due to recent discussions focused on overturning the decision made in Roe v. Wade.

Two opposing views continue to be the center of attention in this ongoing debate: pro-choice and pro-life. These two views can be summarized as follows. Those who claim to be pro-choice argue that a woman has the right to choose to do as she wishes with her body. Those who claim to be pro-life argue that at the moment of conception there is a viable human being in the womb, and that human life is sacred and should be given every protection humans are guaranteed. I realize that those summary statements are extremely simplistic, with many different aspects to the topic, but for the focus of this blog we will work with those definitions.

Attention will be focused first on the pro-choice stance. Again, as stated above, this is the commonly held belief that a woman can choose on her own without any external coercion, constraint, or compulsion, whether she wants to give birth to the child who has been conceived in her womb. The phrase, “My body, my choice,” is often used by those who assert their right to do as they wish with their body.

This may sound like a reasonable thing to say, believe, and practice. But before we reach that conclusion, let’s look a little closer at this assertion. The words, “my body”, are referring to the physical, biological body a person is born with. And yes, it is the right of every individual to do as they please with and to their body. If one chooses to drink alcohol, they have the right to do so. If they choose to use illegal drugs, then again, they have every right. If they choose to engage in unprotected sex, then they are at liberty to do so. If they should even choose to end their life they are at liberty to commit such an act. Each of these acts, along with countless others that could be mentioned, are acts committed with and to our physical bodies.

This is not the case with abortion. The baby growing in the womb is not part of the woman’s body, but rather it is a human being with its own human body. From the moment of conception the child’s DNA has already determined hair color, eye color, general body build. This is a real human being. So, to say “My body, my choice,” cannot be applied to the body of a distinctly different body drawing nourishment from the mother. The problem is that the body inside the body cannot choose for himself/herself whether he/she should live or die. Someone else must make that decision.

It is my opinion that this should never be an option. I know that some reading this may think that I am living in a fictional world with unrealistic expectations, and perhaps I am. However, in my fictionalized world, the choice has already been made before the doctor announces to the woman that she is pregnant. The choice was made when the woman decides to engage in sexual relations. That is the real choice in the matter. Once one has made that choice, then they should be willing to give birth to the child who has been conceived in her womb.

What about those who claim to be pro-life? What is their reasoning for holding to such a mentality? Basically, the reasoning is based on the belief that man is created in the image of God. This is based on the Bible’s teaching that God is the creator of life, the giver of life, the sustainer of life, and the One to whom every life is accountable. Therefore, life should be viewed as sacred, bearing the marks of the Creator Himself.

There are many passages of Scripture, as well as many Biblical characters, whose lives show clearly the involvement of God in the process of conception, pre-natal development, birth, and growth through the different stages of life. David attests to the fact that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Jeremiah states that he was called to be a prophet while still in his mother’s womb. Paul asserts that he was called to be the missionary to the Gentiles before his birth. John the Baptist leaped with joy in his mother’s womb when Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, came to visit Elizabeth.

Each of these Biblical examples show clearly that life is obviously very precious to God. When one decides to engage in sexual relations which then result in pregnancy, then that child bears the marks of the image of God. Precious indeed!

It is the opinion of this writer that when persons make the decision to engage in sexual relations, they should weigh out the potential consequences of that action. The choice to have sex, with full knowledge of the possibility of a resulting pregnancy, is the choice that should be given serious consideration. Once that decision has been made, then one should be ready to accept a resulting pregnancy.

The Bible gives clear guidelines for sexual relations. Those guidelines are not difficult to understand. Premarital sex is forbidden, as are extra-marital affairs. Sex is a beautiful gift of God, but should only be engaged in within the parameters of God’s word. When the choice is made to go outside those parameters and make choices contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture, then one should be ready to bear the consequences of those actions.

I am both amused and amazed at the present state of seeming confusion concerning the matter of choice. As I have given it serious consideration, I feel compelled to share my personal thoughts on the matter, knowing from the outset that there will be those who will totally agree while others will totally disagree with my views on this subject. And let me say from the very beginning that I have absolutely no problem with that. You have every right to your opinions on this matter as do I. My hope is that those who read these words will accept them with the grace in which I offer them. It is possible to agree to disagree, agreeably. Please keep that thought in mind as you read.

I am going to focus my thoughts this week on two hot-bed topics: human anatomy and human sexuality. I have written on these subjects in previous blogs, but due to the extreme amount of interest in these topics I feel that it would prove helpful to revisit them once again.

First, let’s focus our attention on human anatomy. Anatomy is the study of body structure, while physiology is the study of the individual organs and systems that make up the body. For the purpose of this blog we will give consideration to the overall body structure without looking at the organs and systems that make up the body.

In several states it is now possible for parents to request a non-binary birth certificate for their new-born child. The term non-binary includes any person who does not identify with a gender that falls within the traditional male/female or man/woman category. The parents are undoubtedly thinking ahead to a future time when their child can determine what sex they choose to be. Their biological/physical structure does not dictate that they will necessarily grow up to choose the sex assigned to them at birth by their Creator. Rather, the created (child) can choose to disregard their biological structure that the Creator (God) gave them.

This is then exacerbated by the idea of some that they are able to choose to change their biological identity whenever the desire should strike. Therefore, if an individual should wake up one morning and “feel” feminine, even though they were born biologically masculine, then the choice can be made to identify as female. Pay no attention to their biological structure – they are what they “feel” themselves to be.

The Bible teaches that God created humankind, and assigned two, and only two, sexes: male and female. Each individual is assigned one or the other at the moment of conception, and that will be their biological identification for life. Some may choose to go through the process of a sex-change operation, but the fact remains that they were born one or the other, male or female. Biological selection is made by God, and should not be thought of as in any way transferrable or transient.

If one chooses to identify as female even though he was born male, then that is a personal choice, not a biological reality. I will respect anyone’s right to make such choices, and I would hope that those who do will give me the same respect for disagreeing with your choices based on your personal preferences.

Second, let’s think about human sexuality. This subject is related to that just discussed but has far-reaching ramifications that go beyond the idea of biological structure. There are those who acknowledge their biological structure as either male or female, but who do not feel attracted to someone of the opposite sex. This leads to gay and lesbian relationships in which men are attracted to men and women to women.

The Bible speaks to this matter in very specific language. Read these words slowly and carefully:

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

Romans 1:26-27

There are a few points of importance that need to be made from this text. First, Paul states that the individuals to whom he is referring made a personal choice based on their personal preference. Note the words “exchanged” and “leaving”. Women exchanged their natural-born biological sex assigned to them at birth for that which is against nature. Men left the natural relations that God had ordered from the beginning of humanity for an unnatural relation based on personal preference. The wording of this passage would lead us to believe that these were choices, not based on their biological structure, but on their preferential choice.

Another extremely important phrase in this text is this: “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.” We cannot possibly overemphasize the importance of this statement. To understand the gravity of this assertion we need to do a little research to determine the reason mentioned here. To do that we need to go back a few verses in Romans 1:

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Romans 1:24-25 (emphasis added)

I have highlighted a key phrase that helps us understand the seriousness of this passage. Those who embrace ideas about human biological structure and human sexuality roles have exchanged the truth of God. The truth of God is simple: God created male and female. He intended for a man and a woman to be united in a permanent marital relationship that would end only in death. That was, and is, the truth of God’s word.

But please note carefully that God will honor a person’s choice to exchange His truth for the lies of the world. He will simply give them over to their own personal preferences. The choice is left up to the individual.

I have had many conversations with men who have embraced the gay lifestyle. As far as I know none of them have identified me as a homophobe or a hate monger. As a matter of fact, I have several very close friends who are living this lifestyle. I have shared with them, as best I can, what the Bible teaches on the subject. They have listened, and they have respectfully rejected the truths from God’s word. I trust that our friendships will continue, and that I might continue to share with them the truths of Scripture.

It is not my assigned task to convert or change anyone, but to love everyone God brings into my circle of influence, sharing with them the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for me that this little light of mine will continue to shine, dispelling darkness with the Light of His love and grace.