Life as a Christian Woman

Millions watched tonight as a marriage ended.

Oh, there was no surprise when Jon and Kate Gosselin announced they were separating, followed by the announcement that on Monday the two had filed for divorce.

As I watched, I was saddened by the statements coming from them. Jon, in particular, said he was both sad and “excited” about the new chapter of his life.

Really? Excited? He reiterated that he is only 32, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Kate, for her part, kept repeating how she would always put the kids first (Jon said the same thing). Then, each talked about the new “schedule” that they would have with the kids.

Both said that this would have happened even if they had never done a reality show.

And then it was over. Really over.

Many people are going to have strong opinions about who is at fault, what the two of them should have done, etc. But finger pointing does no good, and none of us are in the marriage to know what “really” happened, reality show or not. We don’t know them, no matter how many episodes we have watched. We know what they want us to know, and what editors think will make better TV (and really, the happiest people on earth must be the folks at TLC, the network that televises Jon and Kate plus 8, talk about a ratings winner).

But what this should re-emphasize to all of us is that marriage is a fragile thing. It is hard work, and when you let anyone enter into the marriage with the husband and wife, you are inviting trouble. It doesn’t have to be a reality show, it can be in-laws, friends, anyone who can in any way turn the focus away from the union itself.

A marriage is between two, a man and a woman. No one else has the right to tamper with that union. Vows taken before God between two Christians are meant to last a lifetime, not until one party or the other wants to move on.

It’s easy to want out. Sometimes it’s harder to stay. I’m going to write more this week about marriage. We’ll look at what scripture says vs. what popular culture says.

A Godly marriage may be hard work, but it is worth every minute… even the tough ones!

¹⁵ With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”

¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. ¹⁷ As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

…………..

²⁴ Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. ²⁵ Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. ²⁶ But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19: 15-17, 24-26

My daughter has a habit of walking in one direction while looking back over her shoulder. As a result, she also has a habit of running into things. I keep telling her to look where she’s going, not where she’s been, but that hasn’t done much to keep her from running headfirst into furniture, doors, and other people.

It seems like we spend a lot of our time looking back. We talk about “the one that got away” or regret the road not taken. But God doesn’t want us to live our lives like that. We can’t change our past mistakes or sins. We can learn from them, pray for forgiveness, but then God wants us to move forward with our lives.

All of us have regrets. But continuing to dwell on our mistakes doesn’t lead us toward God, it diverts our attention away from His divine forgiveness and purpose for our lives.

Look at Paul. Prior to his face to face meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was a persecutor of Christians, and frankly an all around bad guy. “Saul,” as he was known, struck terror in the hearts of those around him. But after his conversion, he became a force for Christ that still resonates in our world today. He often referenced his prior life, yet he put it into use rather than wasting away in a life of regret.

Lot and his family were told by the angels to flee Sodom for their own safety, and warned not to look back. Lot’s wife looked back, and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt. Why? Well, she disobeyed God for one thing. But it also serves as a lesson. When you are looking over your shoulder, how can you follow God as He leads you?

My prayer today is that we could all free ourselves so well from past failures and keep our eyes focused on the cross and our future.

The past has passed, and the future is God’s!

I read an interesting line in Newsweek Magazine today (June 8 edition).

The article, entitled Let’s Talk About God - A new book redefines the faith debate, is by Newsweek’s religion editor Lisa Miller, and it looks at a new book by Robert Wright called The Evolution of God. According to Miller, it doesn’t attempt to take on the “Is God real” debate, instead looking at how our vision of God has changed throughout history.

It’s an interesting proposition. The line that sticks out to me most, though, comes from a section of the book in which he has an imaginary conversation with a scientist. In this conversation, Write compares God to an electron. An electron, he points out, has never been seen and it’s properties are unknown, but scientists know that it is there because they can see the results of electrons.

As he goes on to point out:

“You might say that love and truth are the two primary manifestations of the divinity in which we can partake, and that by partaking in them we become truer manifestations of the devine. Then again, you might not say that. The point is just that you wouldn’t have to be crazy to say it.”

We know that electrons exist. Any thinking person who has studied science knows that electrons exist and what they do. Yet so many find it easy to believe in electrons, which have never been seen, but refuse to believe in God, when all around us we see proof of His existence.

God is here. He is all around us. He hears us, listens to us, answers us.

Just like electrons… only better.

“Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you.”

Corrie Ten Boom
Christian woman who survived the Holocaust in a Nazi concentration camp

What do you do when you are faced with the undeniable truth that you have been misled, lied to, scammed?

Do you get angry? Vow revenge? Cry? Or maybe just slink away and promise yourself to be smarter next time?

I, and many others, are faced with that very situation today. Many of you may remember this column that I wrote on an unmarried pregnant woman who was facing harsh criticism from fellow Christians. Her baby had been diagnosed in utero with Trisomy 13, which would most likely bring death to her baby girl prior to birth or immediately thereafter.

This weekend “April Rose” was born. Hundreds of people stopped and prayed all weekend as we followed the updates that her friend posted. Suddenly, it all stopped.

And today comes the sad news that apparently this was all a hoax.

Many are angry, and those who had been the most vocal regarding helping this woman are being attacked themselves, even though they, too, have been lied to.  But the three young women who have led the charge to pray for this unborn child that appears to have never existed, are now asking us all to pray for the woman who perpetrated the scam.

And that, friends, is what we should all do.

I am angry, and upset. I cried over this baby girl over the weekend as it appeared life was slipping away. I wondered how her mother would be able to handle the pain of such a loss, yet rejoiced that she had been able to meet her daughter face to face. My gut reaction is to spout a few well chosen words, fling a “what goes around comes around” and get on with my life.

But that’s not what God would have me do.

For whatever reason, this woman chose to perpetrate a lie on many, many folks. But while she may not have presented herself factually, I think we can all agree that she needs prayer. Obviously, she has issues that we can only imagine. But, as Christians, we aren’t allowed to wallow in hatred. No, we must turn that other cheek and lift up those who have wronged us in prayer.

So today I am asking you to do just that. Just take a minute of time and say a prayer for “B”, as she called herself. Pray that God will heal whatever it is in her that has led her down this path. Pray for health, both mental and physical.

And pray for those that invested love and time in this woman, only to find out they had been misled. Pray that their hearts won’t harden to those who need to be loved on, but will remain open and loving.

Matthew 6:14-16
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Mark 12: 41-44

Billy Graham answered a timely question today in his newspaper column.  The writer wanted to know tithing when going through tough financial times. This comes in the wake of an article last week about how churches are seeing a decline in donations in the midst of the current recession.

Graham’s answer cuts straight to the point:

“During difficult times it’s easy to focus only on ourselves and our problems — but when we do, we lose sight of others who may be facing far more serious problems than we are.”

He goes on to remind the readers that millions in the world will die without ever hearing the story of salvation if the money that funds missionaries is no longer available.

The question of giving a tithe when money is short is tough on the surface, yet if we look deeper into our own finances the odds are good that we can find things that can be cut from the budget. We are spoiled. We have our cell phones, televisions, cable and satellite. We have pantries full of food and cars in the driveway. Yet when salaries are cut, we don’t look at the things that we enjoy, we look to cut our tithe.

Gotta have cable! Gotta keep that subscription to Sports Illustrated!

I actually heard a woman say the other day that they were no longer going to be able to tithe because money was tight… and in the next breathe she talked about how the birthday party for her son was costing more than $2,000 (and he’s five years old).

Everything we have comes from God, yet we pull back from our tithe in tough times with the idea that the church doesn’t need it. That isn’t the point. God doesn’t need our money, but it is His. We owe Him everything.

I don’t negate the effects of the economy we live in. My family is feeling it as I’m sure yours are. But when cuts are made, is it really right to start with God?

Tonight several of us discussed the topic of whether God ever changes His mind. We are encouraged to go to God in prayer, but if He has decided that a certain event is going to go a certain way, can we convince Him otherwise through our prayers?

Wow, what a loaded question! The Bible is littered with instances where someone prayed, and God answered. For instance, in Genesis 32 we read:

⁷ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. ⁸ They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” ¹⁴ Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

At first glance, it appears that God “changed His mind” in answer to the entreaty of Moses. But to see the situation this way is somehow limiting to God. The Father knew that Moses would beg for Him to spare the Israelites. So while God threatened destruction, He never promised that He was going to do it. And His threat enforced that Moses needed to warn the Israelites that should they not heed God and repent, God was more than willing to follow through on His threat.

It is important to note that the Hebrew word “Nacham” (pronounced nawkam, and pictured at the top of this article) is often translated into English as meaning “to change one’s mind.” However, the word has several meanings, most of which mean to “change direction.” This is a subtle difference, yet an important one.

The fact is, God knows everything. Nothing surprises Him. He knows the past and the future, and uses it all to His good. He answers all prayer, whether it be “yes,” “no,” or “not yet.” He knows our desires and longings before we do. So do we really believe that when Moses spoke to Him on behalf of the Israelites, God thought to Himself, “Wow, Moses makes a good point. I hadn’t thought of that!”

In Malachi 3:6-7 we read:

⁶ “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. ⁷ Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.

God does not change. But if we turn from Him, then return to Him, He will return to us. This is not an instance of God changing His mind. This is God being true to His character and who HE is.

¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Yes, I know. I’ve written on this verse before. I can’t help it. It’s my favorite and beyond that, it is so powerful.

Faith is the cornerstone of Christianity. Today I listened to a clip online of a comedian mocking Christianity, claiming that it is mythology that has created a “beast with horns and a tail that represents a bad guy, but if you pray to the sky it will be alright.”

Faith ain’t easy, folks. I’m sure each and every one of us has doubted. I mean, how can a loving God allow things to happen like hurricanes and tsunamis? How can Adolph Hitler be a creation of a loving God? How can the Creator of All explain cancer?

So many questions, questions for which I have no answer. Oh, I’ve listened to preachers and theologians try to explain it all, but I have yet to hear one that gives an explanation that puts me at ease, that makes me go “Oh, I see. Now I get it!”

We base all on faith. The belief that there is a God, He sent His son to redeem us. We can’t explain it to others, it is a faith based on something indescribable, something inside of us.

Faith is a gift from God, something that we must guard with all we have within us. It is a fragile thing, that can be damaged by unbelief and worldy temptations.

But, oh the day when faith becomes sight!

We are no longer a Christian nation. I consider us a post-Christian nation.
Rick Howerton

I heard those words tonight from pastor and small group specialist Rick Howerton. I have a great deal of respect for Howerton, as a former pastor at my church and the man who baptized my husband. Howerton travels the country teaching and leading small groups, and has written numerous books on the subject.

And I think he is right.

This past week we have seen thousands take to the streets in California to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which amended the California state constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to that between a man and a woman. The proposition passed with a majority of 52% of the vote, and went into effect the day after the election.

Crowds marched and protested in front of churches, particularly the denominations that had come out strongly in favor of Prop 8. There have been threats of burning churches down in retaliation. Just a few years ago, such statements would have been unthinkable; Thousands more would have taken to the streets in defense of our faith.

What can we do? We can’t afford to sit idly by and let our faith be commandeered by those who want to destroy it. We can’t allow ourselves the luxury of letting others fight the battle for us.

Each of us must take up the banner of Christ! We must defend our faith, we must grow in our faith and be prepared to stand up for our Christ. Silence is the same as denial. To sit in a crowd and hear others trash our beliefs, and not respond, is to deny God.

It isn’t easy. It never is. We are not the mainstream in many ways now. We are the “outsiders.” Our path is rocky and full of dangers… but it is the path of righteousness.

I don’t think it is too late; it is never too late for a revival within a church, city, nation or world. But we must be willing to fight for our faith, to raise our children to be strong in their faith. We must be prepared.

Press on!

“The frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance. Question: Isn’t the real truth that they are intolerant of religion?”
- Ronald Reagan, August 23, 1984

I stumbled on this quote tonight while preparing to write my blog, and thought, “Bingo!” Late President Ronald Reagan summed up, in his own way, exactly what is happening to Christianity both here and around the world.

We Christians are told that we are intolerant, that we are single-minded in our pursuit of Heaven. We are criticized for believing that there is only one way to Heaven, that there is only one God and one Savior. We are called simple-minded. Media mogul (and well-known Christianity hater) Ted Turner apologized for calling Christians “losers” in the 1990’s, but has continued to bash Christianity as intolerant and for the weak-minded.

We are expected to passively sit by and allow our religious freedoms to be taken from us… our right to speak out and defend our faith.

On a regular basis I get emails from people who read this column and take me to task for my Christian beliefs. First of all, if you are going to read a Christian blog, expect Christian beliefs to be a part of it. Otherwise, it is a bit like going to a swimming pool and complaining if you get wet!

Recently, I received this comment on a column I wrote regarding the election:

Please consider the evidence in favor of your religion and look at it from a skeptical angle. I hope you’ll reconsider the the biblical “truths” that you blindly hold dear.

I respect your freedom of religion, but please, don’t bring it into our government. We need smart people to lead us; it’s dangerous to assume a hypothetical god will take care of everything.

“Theodore”

To the writer: I have considered the evidence regarding my religion. I have looked at it from every angle imaginable. I have doubted, searched, and questioned. And after all of this introspection, I can only come to one answer…

There is a God. He is an awesome God. He is my God. And He is your God, too, whether you accept Him or not.

I cannot remove Him from my decision process any more than I can remove DNA from my body. I bring my faith into every decision that I make.

Yes, it is important to me to know the beliefs of the candidates, even though I realize that the truth is hard to come by in an election year. But I will pray for guidance, for discernment.

And when the election is over, no matter who is elected, I will pray for the new leader of this country.

Just as I now pray for you, Theodore.

I admit it, I stress. Job security, health issues, raising children, you name it and I stress out over it. But something tells me I’m not that different from anybody else

According to WebMD.com, stress effects our bodies in many ways… none of them good. Short-term symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, sweating, headache, backache, fatigue, irritability, nausea and diarrhea. Long-term effects are staggering: Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, heart attack, and worsening of ongoing medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

In short, our bodies were not created to handle stress. So if God created us, and we assume that He created us to successfully survive in this world, we have to draw the assumption that He doesn’t want us to stress out over things… so what do we do?

We can’t avoid conflicts in our lives. Bad things are going to happen to us and to those we love. That’s just life. But how we respond to conflict strips away the outer layers and shows who we are, and where we put our trust.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

God tells us time and time again to turn our worries over to Him. In Matthew, Christ goes into detail about our worries, and how to handle them.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Years ago, a Christian counselor taught me a stress management tool that I use to this day. When I feel life overwhelming me, I write down my worries on a piece of paper. I am very specific in my listing. Then I pray over the list. I pray for God’s guidance, for discernment. I pray that His will is followed, that my heart will be open to whatever and wherever He leads. Then I put the list in an envelope, write the date on it, and put the envelope in a safe place. At some point in the future, usually a month or so, but sometimes as long as a year, I go back, open the envelope, and read about my fears from that day. And I see how God has been faithful and answered my prayers.

I’m not perfect with this system, I wish I could say that I was. But we all need to learn to let go of our stress, of the situations that cause them, and turn them over to God. He is ever faithful and will not leave us.

His promises and love endure forever.

DAYS OF ELIJAH

Words and Music by Robin Mark

These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord!’

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!

There’s no God like Jehovah.
There’s no God like Jehovah!

Click here to listen to Twila Paris singing Days of Elijah on YouTube.com

What a song! The first time I heard Days of Elijah, I got chills. The verses, all referencing Old Testament prophecy, were so Biblical in nature that it felt like I had just sung my way through a Bible study. The first verse speaks to the times of great trial, challenges all around. And yet, the verse goes on, we are the voice in the midst of all the pain, all the trials, reminding the world that our Lord is coming… Prepare!

The second verse speaks on rebuilding the temple, the coming harvest of souls, and declares that we are the workers, the labourers for God, declaring his word.

How humbling and exhilarating! We are here, working toward our God, serving Him in the fields. The grunt work, some would say.

But then comes the chorus… Behold He comes.

Enough said!

Imagine looking to the skies and seeing our Lord and Saviour, our Christ, emerging through the clouds, trumpets blaring, the heavenly chorus singing. Our salvation arrives.

My favorite songs often reference heaven, Christ’s return. I can’t imagine being in the middle of my day, hearing trumpets, looking up and seeing my Saviour coming for me… ME!

These are trying times. Foreclosures, banks going belly up, employment rises along with gas prices. But what a wonderful future we are guaranteed! How can we be broken when the Great Physician is one prayer away? Earthly worries will fall away, and we will be with our Father for eternity.

There is no God like Jehovah!

He went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

I love the book of Hebrews. So much of it deals with living a life based on faith. As Christians walking in faith, we may not know where we are headed, what plans God has for us. But we do know that living a life of faith means loving and being loved by God. It means trusting Him. Faith is not based on understanding and reasoning, it is based in the knowledge of Him, the one who leads us, loves us, and will not fail us.

The phrase “Stepping out in faith” has always fascinated me. As a child, I imagined someone stepping out into a vast abyss, fearless. As an adult, I grew to understand that, while the phrase may not literally mean “stepping” out into nothingness, it means trusting God will all aspects of your life.

And it most definitely does not mean that we are fearless! In fact, we wouldn’t be our human selves if we didn’t have fear.

Living a life of faith is not a constant celebration of reaching for the clouds. It is not one “mountaintop experience” after another. No, faith is rooted in the mundane, daily movements of life. A life of faith must be lived with consistency. You can’t trust God with one portion of your life and omit Him from another. You must learn to come to Him and trust Him in all areas, no matter how small or insignificant they may appear to you.

And a life of faith can only be rooted in prayer. Prayer is our lifeline to God, our “open 24 hours a day” confessional and advice hotline. When we commune with God through prayer, we are building our faith at the same time.

As we come to know Him better, we will be better able to lean on Him, understand His love for us, and rely on our faith in Him.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
words & music by Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

Turn your eyes up Jesus.
Look full in his glorious face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

There is so much evil in the world. It is heartbreaking and distracting beyond words. The evil that men do to one another has the ability to overtake our senses, overwhelm our ability to conceive of it.

But there is a peace and a sanity that exists in a mind that focuses on heaven. Why? Because we know the ending… eternal life in Heaven.

The song that I reference above, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, is a wonderful example of a life that faces Heaven, yet acknowledges this life is hard, that we face obstacles that may seem overwhelming.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Evil is a fact our our lives, and some Christians have to stare it more directly in the face that we can even begin to understand. Currently, there are Christians world-wide facing the threat of death just for being faithful to our God. Christians in parts of India are suffering greatly, with churches being burned down, and the threat of injury and death very real. But they stand tall in their faith. How? Because they know how their stories will end… face-to-face with our Father God, basking in His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

When we read of the persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we pray. We pray for healing in a world that turns from God. We pray that our fellow Christians will be strong in the face of this evil. We pray that their tormentors will accept the forgiveness and redemption that God so willingly wants to give them. But we must also remember, and be comforted by the fact, that these saints on earth face those who want to destroy them with the courage and knowledge that what awaits them on the other side is a victory… a victory over evil, over evil-doers, and over death itself.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Those Christians that face this horrible persecution rest on the words above. They are following the Great Commission. They are going to teach those who are lost of a God of love and light.

How many times have we all read of a persecuted Christian, facing death, who is so at peace, so calm? It never fails to confound those who spread evil. But Christians know what those who wish to destroy them cannot understand. What awaits erases what comes before.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, please visit www.yesugarden.blogspot.com. It is written by a wonderful sister in Christ, Amrita. Although I will most likely never meet her face to face on this earth, I look forward to the day that we stand together at the throne of God.

To listen to Alan Jackson sing Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, click here.

Every few days I check out a website called Christian News Headlines (ChristianNewsHeadlines.com). Headlines from around the world that pertain to Christianity or the Christian world can be found there, and a simple click will lead you to the full story.

Today a read a story that I wanted to make you all aware of. A few weeks ago I wrote an article on persecution of Christians in China (Christianity in China, August 11, 2008). While the nation of China put on a beautiful face for the world during the Olympics, and claims to have religious freedom, we know that is not true. For me, the story now has a face.

Two days prior to the start of the Olympics, on August 6, Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan (known affectionately as “Pastor Bike”) was arrested, along with his wife and a fellow pastor, Wu Jianghe. He was in a hotel getting ready to go pick up some medicine, when the electricity in his room was turned off. Using his cell phone, he called Bob Fu, president of China Aid.

“He told me that the electricity had been shut off, just in his room, nowhere else,” Bob Fu said. “He was talking to me when they came to arrest him.”

It is believed they are being held at Jing Ba Lu Branch PSB office in Zhengzhou City, the Capital of Henan Province.

Pastor Bike came to Christ in 1986, and immediately began doing missionary work in his hometown. But soon, his love for Christ combined with his love for the people of China pushed him to move beyond his hometown to minister to thousands. In 1998, Pastor Bike began riding his bike around China (hence the nickname!), spreading the word to all who would listen. He traveled 10,000 miles, and he passed out simple business cards that read, “Believe in Jesus. Be Granted Eternal Life.”

As you can imagine, he has been a constant target of the Chinese government. And despite opportunities to leave that country, he has turned them down, preferring to stay in his homeland to lead them to Jesus.

Pastor Bike is president of the Chinese House Church Alliance. You may remember that literally millions of Chinese Christians meet secretly in private houses all around the country. He is a bold force in that nation, and has never backed down in his desire to spread Christ’s name. He will cross borders to hand out Bibles. He will openly share the Good News with those under the age of 18, and has led thousands to be saved. In China, these are all crimes. He has also been a key to the creation of the China Prayer Bands, designed to let Christians around the world know of the persecution faced by their brothers and sisters in Christ in China.

The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association have a website, “FreePastorBike.com” where one can sign a petition that will be forwarded to Chinese Ambassador Mr. Zhou Wenzhong. The message the two groups hope to send to the Chinese government is that the world is aware, and will not forget.

I don’t know if an online petition can help. But I do know that we can all join in prayer for Pastor Bike, and for the millions of Christians in China and around the world who are persecuted, who do not enjoy the freedom of worship that many of us take for granted. Christians who risk their lives and the lives of those they love to worship our risen Saviour.

Please take time to say a prayer today…

YouTube/BBC video in which Pastor Bike is featured about 1 minute in Click Here

A close game between bitter rivals. Suddenly, one of the players goes down injured. As he lays there, the announcers say, “This puts everything into perspective.”

Our perspective on life needs constant tweaking. One minute we are yelling at our team to hit harder, then a player is injured and we get a different “perspective” on the game.

God’s perspective is unlimited and eternal. Ours is temporal and limited by our humanness. While God’s vision is perfect and clear, ours tends to be distorted by our world. When Christ was in the desert facing temptation, Satan tempted him by appealing to his human side, telling him he could achieve greatness without the coming pain of the cross. Later, Peter tells Christ the same thing.

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s”
Matthew 16:23

Peter recognized the Jesus was Messiah, but he forsook God’s perspective and evaluated the situation based on his human-vision.

Satan is always trying to tempt us by taking our focus away from God, to look at life through worldly-eyes. But adjusting our perspective, looking at things as God would have us look at them, helps us stay true to His vision.

Moses begged God to take his mission away. He was a poor speaker, and was afraid he would embarrass God when he spoke to Pharaoh. He pleaded with God to send someone else. But God chose Moses, and spoke through him. If God asks us to do something, He will give us the tools to get the job done. If the job requires skills that we don’t have, He will provide them as needed.

We must put aside our world-view and trust God’s perspective. He will not fail.