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Why Does God Allow Hurricanes?

By Jerry Newcombe , CP Guest Contributor August 29, 2012|10:06 am 

The shortest sermon I ever heard was delivered whimsically. 

On a Sunday night, many years ago, an associate pastor of a popular mega-church got up to preach.
He said that the topic of his sermon was, "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" Then
he said, "The answer to that question is very simple: There are no good people." Then he pivoted
and began to walk away. A half minute later, he returned to the pulpit and delivered his actual message.
I don't remember a word of what followed, but I've never forgotten his humorous prelude. 

With Hurricane Isaac causing some havoc and threatening a lot more (as of this writing, it seems to
be following the path of Katrina), we remember again the problem of reconciling a good God with
suffering. 

Some politicians have weighed in on the hurricane, tying it into the Republican Convention in Tampa.
On August 24, US Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), told WLS radio in Chicago, "Well, it means that
the gods are favoring Democrats. Not that we wish any kind of difficulty in terms of the weather." The
next day, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm tweeted, "R convention delay due to Isaac: I
guess God has ways to shut the whole thing down." When it looked like the GOP convention was
going to be spared and New Orleans might be hit, actor Samuel L. Jackson tweeted in a profanity-laced
message on Monday that it was "unfair." And an actress tweeted a message, also with swearing,
regretting that Isaac wasn't going to wash away the pro-lifers, et al, into the ocean. 

All politics aside, how could a good God allow hurricanes or other forms of natural disasters? This is a
core question that keeps resurfacing. Presumably, it is part of what keeps some from believing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. There's only so much you can say in this type of forum. But here are a few
observations I make, as a student of the Bible and as a student of history. 

1) Ultimately, we don't know why God allows these things. His ways are not our ways. The whole
book of Job deals with the issue of Job's suffering-why did God allow it? Throughout the book,
Job's "friends" or "comforters" insist he must be guilty of secret sin; otherwise he wouldn't be going
through all this pain. Job maintains his integrity throughout the ordeal, but does question God's justice
 in all this. At the end of the book, God rebukes Job's comforters. But He also asks Job many pointed
questions, such as, "Where were you when I created the heavens and the earth?" Over and over,
for four chapters, God puts Job in his place. He also says words to this effect: Will you condemn Me
to justify yourself? That's precisely what many do today.

 2) We live in a fallen world. Fallen because of humanity's sin. Bad stuff happens to everyone. So
does good stuff. Someone once said, "The real question isn't, 'Why do bad things happen to good
people? But, why do good things happen to bad people?'" In any event, hurricanes are a reminder
that things are not right between us and the Creator. Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the
unjust. Despite the hurricane, or anything bad that may come our way, faith can provide comfort.
Even in the midst of the storm, God can help. It's reported that minutes before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
was shot on that hotel balcony in Memphis in 1968, he was requesting the hymn, "Precious Lord,
Take my Hand," to be sung at that night's meeting. The words are instructive: "Precious Lord, take
my hand. Lead me on; let me stand. I am tired; I am weak; I am worn. Through the storm, through
the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home." Come what may,
even a hurricane, faith in the Lord produces endurance, even in very difficult circumstances. As is
often said, "There are no atheists in foxholes." 

3) Christ experienced suffering on the cross for the sake of our salvation. To paraphrase the late
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Jesus experienced the hurricane of God's wrath when He died for sinners.
So in Jesus, the God of the universe experienced things even worse than a hurricane, so that He
might secure our salvation. We are blessed to know that Christ will never leave or forsake us during
our time of suffering. 

4) Believers can bring glory to God's Name through the storm. And when the storms are over, we
can provide needed help. Frankly, millions of faithful Christians rise to the occasion, storm after
storm. Even an atheist marveled at this. When Hurricane Katrina hit, skeptic Roy Hattersley wrote
an editorial for the UK Guardian (9/11/05), in which he said of the groups providing post-hurricane relief:
"Notable by their absence are teams from rationalist societies, free thinkers' clubs and atheists'
associations-the sort of people who not only scoff at religion's intellectual absurdity but also regard
it as a positive force for evil." He added, "… faith comes with a packet of moral imperatives that,
while they do not condition the attitude of all believers, influence enough of them to make them
morally superior to atheists like me." I appreciate his honesty. A hurricane might be a wake-up
call from on high, and when (and if) it comes, I hope you'll join all those of good will who will do
what they can to improve the circumstances for those hurt and needy. 

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-does-god-allow-hurricanes-80769/#liLb8bmMitRL4XAZ.99

What, Me Worry?

Christians are called to live in both the temporal and spiritual worlds simultaneously. In the temporal world, we scurry about doing our best to influence outcomes. However, in the spiritual world we must come to accept that outcomes are predetermined. In the temporal we worry ourselves, sometimes beyond measure. In the spiritual, we have peace that comes from knowing that God will prevail! GDL

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 New International Version (©1984)

Take note that He says, "I HAVE overcome, not WILL overcome! It has already been accomplished! GDL

A Bag Of Tools

By:  R. L. Sharpe

Isn't it strange That princes and kings,

And clowns that caper In sawdust rings,

 And common people Like you and me

Are builders for eternity?

Each is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass, A book of rules;

And each must make - Ere life is flown -

A stumbling block  Or a steppingstone.

One Simple Way!

I think that all of the Church Growth Seminars ever held or books written on the subject can be summed up in one old Salvation Army Chorus (no longer sung, sadly);

If to Christ our only King
Men redeemed we strive to bring,
Just one way this may be done—

We must win them one by one.

Refrain

So you bring the one next to you,
And I’ll bring the one next to me;
In all kinds of weather, we’ll all work together,
And see what can be done.
If you’ll bring the one next to you,
And I bring the one next to me,
In no time at all we’ll have them all,
So win them, win them, one by one.

Side by side we stand each day,
Saved are we, but lost are they;
They will come if we but dare
Speak a word backed up by prayer.

Refrain

Only cowards dare refuse,
Dare this gift of God misuse;
Ere some friend goes to his grave,
Speak a word his soul to save.

Refrain

Not for hope of great reward
Turn men’s hearts unto the Lord;
Just to see a saved man smile
Makes the effort well worthwhile.

A Waste of Time?

Time Management, Leadership, Church Growth, Life Skills, Financial Management, Motivational Seminars, and on the list goes. We have been attending such gatherings (some of us for decades) and yet little changes! Still the experts keep coming, keep taking our money, raising our hopes, providing the same old information, albeit wrapped in new, clever terminology! Providing our 'professionals' with a glimpse into a, heretofore, allusive world. 

And then there are the endless books on these subjects and more, all with a carefully designed nomenclature intended to capture your imagination (and wealth) and set you on the path toward a personal and professional Nirvana! 

I have a message for church leaders, management leaders and others seeking to motivate your hirelings.....stop hiring these modern day 'Pied Pipers' and start doing YOUR job! You are the leader people are looking toward for advice, counsel, an example, and you are the one whose experience, theoretically, should be sufficient to move others to great heights! If you are not up to the task, then step aside and make room for a real leader! GDL

FAITH

‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’?: ATHEISTS TARGET HIGH SCHOOL COACH FOR ALLOWING CHURCHES TO FEED FOOTBALL PLAYERS

• Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:46am by  Billy Hallowell
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Ridgeland High School Panthers Football Logo (Photo Credit: Facebook)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist group based in Madison, Wisconsin,is taking a football coach to task, claiming that he violated the First Amendment by allowing local churches to prepare meals for team members. The organization sent a letter to Walker County Schools in LaFayette, Georgia, demanding that officials immediately investigate Mark Mariakis, the Ridgeland High School coach.

While the atheists want an examination into alleged pre-game foods that churches purportedly prepared for the players, the FFRF also addressed claims that Coach Mariakis prayed with the football players, used Bible verses in motivational speeches and on team shirts and took part on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a faith-based organization.

According to the FFRF, a local individual complained about the food that the teens are given on game days. The group also said that a minister typically delivers remarks to the players that focus upon Christianity as well — another violation that has the activists fired up.

“Taking public school football teams to church, even for a meal, is unconstitutional,” FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel wrote in a letter to the district. “This program is an egregious violation of the Establishment Clause and must cease immediately.”

Team members praying (Photo Credit: Facebook)

Walker County school officials released a statement claiming that they received the letter and are reviewing its claims. Richie White, youth director at Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church, one of the houses of worship that provides meals to the team, voiced his surprise over the FFRF’s complaint.

“It would be interesting to see what part of the Constitution we violated by simply offering a meal to fellow Americans. These are kis from our area that we do love and we do care about,” White explained.

“We as Christians don’t force our religion on anyone,” he added.

As is typically the case with FFRF scenarios, the individual complaining about the practice is currently remaining anonymous. While it may be a parent, it could very well be a student who finds him or herself uncomfortable with church involvement with the team.

The team’s official Facebook page doesn’t mention the FFRF directly (although an article about the controversy was shared with the teams fans), but on Wednesday, an image of the team praying and a separate post reading, “Yes we pray. Who doesn’t? We aren’t afraid to show that we love God!,” was published.

(H/T: FOX News Radio)

Five Chaplains Lose Jobs for Praying in Jesus Name

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is defending why his administration forced the sudden resignation of five Virginia State Police Chaplains because they prayed publicly "in Jesus' name." Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty single-handedly created then enforced a strict "non-sectarian" prayer policy at all public gatherings, censoring and excluding Christian prayers, then accepted the resignation of five chaplains who refused to deny Jesus or violate their conscience by watering down their prayers. House Republican Leader Morgan Griffith and Delegate Charles W. Carrico, (R-Grayson) both issued public statements defending the chaplains, questioning Governor Kaine's role in terminating the chaplains, and vowing to introduce legislation protecting police chaplains' right to pray according to their own conscience. Defending Flaherty's persecution of Christian Chaplains, Governor Kaine pretended he himself was being persecuted, saying through his spokesman: "It is disappointing that Del. Griffith would make such a political attack on Gov. Kaine about his faith."Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, who was also fired in 2007 for praying "in Jesus name" in uniform (but won the victory in the U.S. Congress for other military chaplains), weighed in: "Governor Kaine campaigned like a Christian to get our votes. But now, instead of governing like a Christian, or respecting his own chaplains' First Amendment rights, his administration forced the resignation of five police chaplains, simply because they prayed publicly 'in Jesus' name.' These five chaplains lost their jobs for honoring Christ. They're heroes of the faith, because they refused to deny Jesus when ordered to by the Kaine administration. If they contact me, they will be honored through my web-site: www.PrayInJesusName.org. And now Governor Kaine pretends he's the martyr, because we question why his administration forced them to resign for praying to Jesus? He's still got a job, they don't. Governor Kaine isn't the martyr, he's the persecutor." Citizens are urged to call Governor Kaine's office at 804-786-2211, to insist the chaplains be reinstated and the policy reversed, and also email him through his web-site: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfmChaplain Klingenschmitt is available for interviews at 719-360-5132 cell orchaplaingate@yahoo.com

Why Christian Fail to Grow

AUGUST 26, 2010 

Why Christians Fail to Grow
By Frank King

In the book of Hebrews, the writer brings up an interesting church problem: “For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12, KJV). First, the writer is not talking to new converts, but he is talking to Christians who have been in the faith long enough that by now they should be serving as teachers in the church.

Secondly, not only did these believers fail to grow, but also they had actually regressed spiritually. They needed to be taught AGAIN, the basic doctrines of Christianity! Though God inspired the writer to pen the above verse over 1900 years ago, the problem is just as real today.

Let me quickly share with you several reasons why our failure to grow as Christians is a problem. The first one has to do with the will of God for us. He wants us to become like His Son. God is actively working in our lives to finish the good work that He has begun in us. He has no desire to stop until we attain unto the fullness of Christ so that as Christ was in the world so shall we be.

The second reason has to do with our service to God. If we fail to grow, we limit what He can accomplish through us. Of course, there are many things He can use us to do even when we are babes in Christ, but there are many things that only mature Christians can effectively do. A case in point is the verse quoted above. This portion of the epistle was specifically aimed at those members of the local church who by virtue of their time in Christ should now be teachers. Their failure to grow, however, made that impossible.

Thirdly, in a local church where Christians fail to grow, excessive carnality can be the result. Paul the apostle wrote to the church of Corinth regarding this selfsame problem (see 1 Corinthians 3). He said the evidence of their carnality was reflected in the envying, strife and divisions among them. It is certainly true that people who are spiritually mature handle conflict in more Christlike manners than immature and carnal-minded Christians do. A pastor whose church is plagued with carnality will feel the burden of the increased disharmony.

I could on and on listing the problems with Christians failing to grow. But a more important question is, what is the solution? How do Christians who have been babes way too long stem the tide and put themselves on the road to maturity? In the book of Hebrews, two verses down from the verse I quoted above, here is what the Bible gives for an answer: “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14, NIV). In other words, the key to spiritual maturity is to constantly use or put into practicethe truths that we are exposed to.

There is no groundbreaking revelation in that verse, but we know it’s right. The bottom line is that Christianity is not simply a religion, but more importantly, it is a way of life. We must live it each day. In doing so, we exercise our spiritual senses, thereby learning to discern good from evil. This dynamic is fundamental to Christian growth. Those who fail to do this will not experience significant spiritual growth.

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist. Frank is also the author of two books, Indiscreetly Yours and Steps to the Victorious Walk. Website: http://www.efrankking.com. Blog:http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Mississippi Church Sues Town Over Being Banned From Plaza

Miss. Church Sues Town Over Being Banned From Plaza
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/miss-church-sues-town-over-being-banned-from-plaza-79840/#2Ethlm3Yx3cPUVoc.99

By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter

August 11, 2012|8:40 am

A small congregation in Mississippi not allowed to set up its church in a town square is bringing a suit against the town to federal court.

Opulent Life Church's suit against Holly Springs over its zoning ordinances was brought before a three judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where justices heard arguments on Wednesday.

Opulent Life is being represented in part by the Texas-based Liberty Institute. Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty, told The Christian Post that there are two ordinances at issue in the suit.

"One requires churches to get 60 percent approval from all neighbors within a quarter mile of the property in order to exist anywhere in the city limits," said Sasser.

"The other one completely excludes churches from the town square but allows museums, art galleries, and libraries."

Opulent Life Church is a congregation of around 18 members that belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention. Its head pastor is Telsa DeBerry, who is the nephew of Holly Springs' mayor, Andre DeBerry.

In September 2011, town officials rejected a request from Opulent Life to lease a building at the town square, arguing that the space was needed for businesses and shops instead. In response, Opulent Life filed a suit against Holly Springs in January. The federal judge ruled in favor of the town, leading the church to appeal to the Fifth Circuit panel.

Since the January suit was filed, Opulent Life has garnered the support of the United States Department of Justice, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief against Holly Springs. "The ordinance imposes special requirements on churches which are unlike any imposed on similar uses – no other use requires approval by neighbors, the Mayor, or the Board of Aldermen," read the amicus brief filed by the DOJ. "The provisions are particularly troubling because they would allow neighbors or officials to exclude any religious community from virtually any part of the city and for any reason, even if the motive is bias against the group's religious affiliation or racial identity."

Regarding the issue of providing space for businesses and shops, Sasser told CP that the zoning ordinances should not interfere with religious expression and assembly. "First, the city's inclusion of libraries, museums, and art galleries as nonprofit uses but excluding churches is a violation of the law," said Sasser. "Second, churches are vital parts of the community that contribute to the spiritual and economic growth of their towns."

Andre Deberry, mayor of Holly Springs, Miss., did not return a request for comment by press time.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/miss-church-sues-town-over-being-banned-from-plaza-79840/#2Ethlm3Yx3cPUVoc.99

Report Highlights Consistent Pattern of Hostility Toward Christians in US

• 

By Paul Stanley , Christian Post Reporter

August 22, 2012|2:23 pm

A new 140-page report released by the Family Research Council and Liberty Institute reveals a pattern of hostility toward Christians and Christianity in the U.S. The report was released earlier this week and includes over 600 incidents over a 10-year period.

The attacks range from rulings from the judiciary branch to an elementary school student who was physically lifted from his seat and reprimanded for praying before eating his lunch. Yet another example shows a Christian couple was fired as apartment complex managers and forced to move because a painting with a Christian reference was displayed in their office.

Other examples cited in the report include:

• A federal judge threatened "incarceration" to a high school valedictorian unless she removed references to Jesus from her graduation speech.

• City officials prohibited senior citizens from praying over their meals, listening to religious messages or singing gospel songs at a senior activities center.

• Following U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' policies, a federal government official sought to censor a pastor's prayer, eliminating references to Jesus, during a Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans at a national cemetery.

• A public university's law school banned a Christian organization because it required its officers to adhere to a statement of faith that the university disagreed with.

• The U.S. Department of Justice argued before the Supreme Court that the federal government can tell churches and synagogues which pastors and rabbis it can hire and fire.

• Through the Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare"), the federal government is forcing religious organizations to provide insurance for birth control and abortion inducing drugs in direct violation of their religious beliefs.

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs banned the mention of God from veterans' funerals, overriding the wishes of the deceased's families.

• A federal judge held that prayers before a state House of Representatives could be to Allah but not to Jesus.

"America today would be unrecognizable to our Founders. Our First Liberty is facing a relentless onslaught from well-funded and aggressive groups and individuals who are using the courts, Congress, and the vast federal bureaucracy to suppress and limit religious freedom," said Kelly Shackelford, president of Liberty Institute. "This radicalized minority is driven by an anti-religious ideology that is turning the First Amendment upside down."

Both organizations presented the findings of the report during a joint press conference in Tampa, Fla., on Monday prior to the Republican Party Convention platform committee to raise that awareness.

The Liberty Institute further pointed out that religious liberty is "facing a relentless onslaught from well-funded and aggressive groups" that are using whatever means available to suppress or attack religious freedom.

FRC's Tony Perkins added, "As dark as this survey is, there is much light. The secularists' agenda only advances when those who love liberty are apathetic. Let this be a call to stand for religious liberty in the United States."

The full report can be viewed here.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/report-highlights-consistent-pattern-of-hostility-toward-christians-in-us-80408/#MzSv8LyxPWHkYmjp.99

The American Bible Challenge

 
Premieres August 23, 2012 and will air Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT

Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible.  Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book.  The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charity. 

The American Bible Challenge

Premieres August 23, 2012 and will air Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT

Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts this studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible.  Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions will be drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book.  The contestants will share their compelling back-stories and each team will be playing for a charity. 

5 Reasons Why God Calls Us to Wait

By Paul Tripp , CP Guest Columnist

August 16, 2012|8:32 am

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/5-reasons-why-god-calls-us-to-wait-80079/#v7opTIHyWmDMSLzG.99

• 

In ministry you will be both called to wait and also find waiting personally and corporately difficult. So it is important to recognize that there are lots of good reasons why waiting is not merely inescapable but necessary and helpful. Here are a few of those reasons.

Because We Live in a Fallen World

We are called to wait because the broken condition of the world makes everything we do harder. Nothing in this life or in your ministry really functions as originally intended. Something changed when sin entered the world, and in rebuking Adam, God summarized that change: "cursed is the ground . . . through painful toil you will eat of it. . . . It will produce thorns and thistles for you. . . . By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food" (Genesis 3:17-19). Sin brought friction and trouble and pain and sweat and a thousand other "thorn and thistle" complications to absolutely every aspect of life. We find ourselves waiting because everything in a fallen world is more laborious and entangled than it really ought to be.

Sin also put greed and fear and arrogance and jealousy and self-worship into the souls of all who live this thorn-and-thistle life. We must wait because, by being selfish, impatient, competitive, driven, anxious, and angry, we make life and ministry harder for one another in an endless variety of ways. This is why the seemingly easy leadership conversation becomes the full-blown conflict, why the once-sweet ministry relationship gets stained with hurt and acrimony, and why the church at times sadly functions as a tool of personal power rather than an instrument of worship and redemption.

Processes and people are all affected – everything and everyone has been damaged by the Fall. We must wait, because in a world that is broken, everything we do is harder and more complicated than it was ever meant to be.

Because God Is Sovereign

We must wait because we are not writing our own personal and ministry stories. Life does not work the way we want it to, in the time we want it to. You and I do not live in the center of the universe. That place is forever occupied by God and God alone. Our individual stories and the stories of our churches are part of the great origin-to-destiny story that he alone authors. Waiting becomes immediately easier when you realize God is sovereign (and you are not) and when you further reflect on the reality that he is the ultimate source of everything that is wise, loving, and good.
Waiting, therefore, is not a sign that your world is out of control. Rather, it is a sign that your world is under the wise and infinitely attentive control of a God of fathomless wisdom and boundless love. This means you can rest as you wait, not because you like to wait, but because you trust the One who is calling you to wait.

Because God Is a God of Grace

Waiting is one of God's most powerful tools of grace. It's important to realize in your ministry that God doesn't just give us grace for the wait. The wait itself is a gift of grace. You see, waiting is not only about what you will receive at the end of the wait. Waiting is about what you will become as you wait.

In calling us to wait, God is even rescuing those of us in ministry from our bondage to our own plan, our own wisdom, our own power, our own control. In calling us to wait, God is freeing us from the claustrophobic confines of our own little kingdoms of one and drawing us into a greater allegiance to his kingdom of glory and grace. Waiting is more than being patient as situations and other people change. Waiting is about understanding that you and I desperately need to change, and that waiting is a powerful tool of personal change. God is using the grace of waiting to change us at the causal core of our personhood: the heart. Now, in ministry, that's a good thing!

So We Can Minister to Others

Waiting is central to any ministry activity. If you are truly committed to being part of what God is doing in the lives of others, you will be willing to wait. Personal heart and life change is seldom a sudden event. Usually it is a process. You and I do not determine when and how the winds of the Spirit will blow, and people do not often become what they need to become overnight.

This means that in ministry we are called to have the same conversation again and again. We are called to pick that person up after each failure, to be willing to forgive and forbear, to remind him or her once more of God's presence and grace, and to be willing to have our lives slowed down and complicated in the process. People of grace and love are always people who are willing to wait.

For the Increase of God's Glory

Finally, we are called to wait because everything in life and ministry exists not for our comfort and ease but for God's glory. The whole redemptive story is written for one purpose and one purpose alone: the glory of the king.

Waiting is hard for us because we tie our hearts to other glories. We so often are tempted to live and minister for the glory of human acceptance, of personal achievement, of power and position, of possessions and places, and of comfort and pleasure. So when God's glory requires that these things be withheld from us – things we look to for identity, meaning, and purpose – we find waiting a grueling, burdensome experience.

Waiting means surrendering your glory. Waiting means submitting to his glory. Waiting means understanding that you were given life and breath for the glory of another. Waiting gives you opportunity to forsake the delusion of your own glory and rest in the God of awesome glory. Only when you do that will you find what you seek, and what you were meant to have: lasting identity, meaning, purpose, and peace in Christ. In this way waiting is much more than a burden for you to bear; it is a precious gift for you to receive with joy.

Paul David Tripp is the president of Paul Tripp Ministries, a nonprofit organization that is "connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life." Paul is also a professor of pastoral life and care at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas (TX) and the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth (TX). Paul has written many books on Christian living that are read and distributed internationally. His newest book, "Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry" will be released in the fall. For more information about Paul and his ministry, visit www.paultripp.com.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/5-reasons-why-god-calls-us-to-wait-80079/#v7opTIHyWmDMSLzG.99

Study: Most Religious States Give More to Charity, Nonreligious Give Less

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter

August 21, 2012|2:25 pm

The most religious states in America are also the most generous, while those that are more secular have the lowest donation rates, according to a new study.

The study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy explored the charity habits of Americans from a variety of different angles, using records on donations in 2008 released by the Internal Revenue Service in its research. From the religious aspect, the Northeastern states, which were the least religious, were also the least generous in terms of charitable giving.

The five least charitable states in America were New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Among the most generous states were Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina, with Utah coming in as the highest-ranking state in terms of how much residents gave of their discretionary income to charity, at 10.6 percent.

The numbers for Utah may not be surprising to some, as it is the headquarters of the Mormon Church, where members are required to pay a 10 percent tithe to remain church members in good standing. A similar cause may have come into play for Idaho, which ranked in the top 10 of most charitable states and also has a high Mormon population.

Notably, residents in the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City donated $478 million in charity in 2008, which was more than any other zip code in the United States.

Among political party lines, conservatives also appeared to be more giving than liberals. As an example, eight of the 10 most generous states in America voted for GOP representative John McCain in the 2008 presidential elections – while nine out of 10 of the of the least generous ones voted for current President Barack Obama.

"It is well known that liberals are far more likely than conservatives to be nonreligious," said Catholic League president Bill Donohue in a statement about the study.

"It is also well known that liberals talk endlessly about poverty. Yet in their daily lives they do the least about it: they volunteer the least; they give less blood; they are less likely to help someone find a job; and they donate the least. Their idea of charity is to have the government raise taxes, i.e., take money from others, and spend it on welfare programs," he added.

Donohue also pointed to other research done on the subject, such as from sociologists Mark D. Regnerus and David Sikkink, who also studied data provided by the Religious Identity and Influence Survey and noted that religious people are more likely to give money to the poor than the nonreligious.

However, the Chronicle of Philanthropy's assistant managing editor, Peter Panepento, argued that the results are more reflective of religious values and ideals than political motivations. He noted that Democrats are also less religious than Republicans. "I don't know if I could go out and say it's a complete Republican-Democrat difference as much as it is different religious attitudes and culture in these states," Panepento said.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-most-religious-states-give-more-to-charity-nonreligious-give-less-80304/#YiezElz45q3iM9Rp.99

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter

August 15, 2012|4:15 pm

Tim Tebow, New York Jets backup quarterback, has no problem admitting that it isn't easy balancing fame and faith.

Tebow, 25, has been the subject of countless headlines since winning the Heisman Trophy as a QB at the University of Florida. As a newer addition in New York who is under constant scrutiny, the QB said he has worked to put his Christian faith and family before football in his life.

However, Tebow recently spoke about keeping his priorities in order is not always an easy task. "There's football, wanting to get in an extra workout, wanting to go to an extra meeting.That's when your priorities get jumbled, maybe for an hour, maybe for a day, maybe for a week or maybe for a year," Tebow said, according to the Washington Post. "I don't want that to happen to me. It's a constant battle. It's non-stop."

However, the QB who managed to claim the starting position during his stint with the Denver Broncos, said he has a prayer partner to keep him grounded. Although Tebow opted out of sharing the identity of his prayer partner, he recently told The Associated Press about their God-centered relationship which helps him focus on his faith.

"He's someone I pray with. He'll ask me: 'Hey, did you get in the Word today? Were you praying today,'" Tebow revealed. "I have him because I need someone who is always investing in me, you know? That's why it's always good to have people around you who hold you accountable."

Tebow spoke about the importance of his friend being honest with him instead of telling him what he wants to hear.

"My friend doesn't tell me what I want to hear. He tells me what I need to hear, and that's important," the Christian athlete said in a Washington Post report. "You don't ever want to become complacent. That's very easy to do because life gets in the way."

When looking at his football career, Tebow said he wants to use it as a platform instead of something to define who he is.

"Being able to score touchdowns and win games is a way to get that platform," Tebow added. "But ultimately, if that's what you do in your life and that's what your life is based on, I don't know, I feel like that's a little bit of a meaningless life. But if you can take that and do something with it like a lot of athletes do, then you're having a life of success, a life of meaning."

Although the world began to take notice of Tebow's unconventional ways of winning games as a starter for the Denver Broncos last season, the NFL star insists that life is about much more than that.

"It's not about the games that you can win," he said. "It's about the lives you can touch."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/tim-tebow-talks-about-prayer-partner-prioritizing-football-fame-and-faith-80070/#QgaXb4scECiXUrIm.99

New Mexico Photographer Found Guilty of Discrimination: Are Churches Next?

New Mexico Photographer Found Guilty of Discrimination: Are Churches Next?

Posted onJuly 11th, 2012 Religious Freedom | 21 Comments and 34 Reactions

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys have appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court a May 31 decision by a lower court finding a photography company guilty of discrimination for declining to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony. Furthermore, the court ordered the company to pay almost $6700 in attorneys’ fees to the lesbian who filed the complaint. The ominous implications of this case could affect churches and other religious groups who believe marriage is defined as one man and one woman.

In 2006, Elane Huguenin, the photographer for Elane Photography Inc., and co-owner of the company with her husband Jon Huguenin, declined a request to help “celebrate” a same-sex commitment ceremony for a woman who inquired via email to the company’s website. The Huguenins are Christians who believe that God designed marriage as one man and one woman, and that defining marriage is the best way for societies to help children and adults. They could not in good conscience allow their company’s photography services to be used to promote the message of the ceremony – that it is a good thing to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples.

Jon and Elaine thought this was the end of the matter until they received papers from the state of New Mexico explaining that a complaint of “sexual orientation” discrimination had been filed against their company.  A few months later, after a one day trial, the New Mexico Human Rights Commission found Elane Photography, Inc., guilty of “sexual orientation” discrimination and ordered the company to pay the attorney’s fees of the woman who filed the complaint.  Elane Photography has appealed the ruling, and both courts that have heard the case have rejected the defense that the U.S. and state constitution’s protections for freedom of speech and free exercise of religion protect Elane Photography from this legal action. Alliance Defending Freedom lawyers have argued that the First Amendment protects business owners from being forced by a customer to endorse a message the company owners do not support.  We have appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court and will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

The use of nondiscrimination laws in this manner to punish business owners and those with professional licenses who dissent from the drive to redefine marriage violates their constitutional right to freedom of conscience in the marketplace.  Alliance Defending Freedom has also seen this ominous trend spread to religious groups.  New Jersey officials have allowed a lawsuit to go forward against a Methodist group that owns a beach pavilion for religious meetings in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.  The Methodist group declined to rent its facility to a lesbian couple that wanted to use it for a civil union ceremony.  The Methodist group is currently fighting accusations of discrimination filed with state officials.

What kind of threat does this represent for churches that hold to a Biblical definition of marriage?  Can a church be sued for discrimination like Elane Photography if it declines to allow a same-sex couple to attend the church’s married couples’ retreat? At this time, such a lawsuit might be difficult to sustain against a church because the church is not a business.  However, government officials might take aim at a church’s tax-exempt status in such a situation.

This troubling possibility happened in the Ocean Grove case where New Jersey officials revoked a specific property tax-exemption for the pavilion that they had earlier granted to the nonprofit Methodist group if it used the facility for recreational purposes.  Although this is a different kind of property tax than the one most governmental entities grant to religious groups for their houses of worship, it shows the way officials can punish religious groups that advocate marriage defined as one man and one woman.

Also, if pastors or church personnel are licensed counselors or social workers, there might be discrimination complaints filed with state licensing boards urging them to discipline the licensed professionals for holding the “wrong” views on marriage.  Alliance Defending Freedom has been involved in cases like this involving Julea Ward in Michigan and Don Mendell in Maine.

It is important to persevere and protect the right of conscience.  A Massachusetts veterans’ group that sponsors Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade lost at every court level when it was sued for declining to include a homosexual activist group in its parade. Victory only happened when it reached the U.S. Supreme Court.  In one of the first cases Alliance Defending Freedom ever helped with in 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed the lower court’s decision and ruled in favor of the veterans’ group’s First Amendment rights not to be forced to advocate a message it disagrees with. We can and do win when we stand and fight for religious freedom.

Churches must be aware of the conflict between religious freedom and the homosexual legal agenda.  If you or any of your church members find themselves the target of a complaint like that experienced by Elane Huguenin, contact Alliance Defending Freedom immediately.

Evangelicals: We Must Stand Firm on Biblical Authority, Exclusivity of Christ

By Lillian Kwon , Christian Post Reporter

May 4, 2012|5:04 pm

Evangelical theologians who firmly hold to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture are preparing to help fellow believers stand firm in their faith amid an increasingly hostile culture.

Dr. R. C. Sproul, who will be leading Ligonier Ministries' West Coast Conference in June, argues that while Christians should "live peaceably with all," there are times "when we have to contend for the faith."

And that time is now, he indicated in a Friday broadcast of Ligonier Ministries' "Renewing Your Mind."

"Christians in our day and in our world and in our culture have to disabandon themselves of this idea that we are living in the cradle of a Christian culture," he said. "We are not. We are living in a culture that is not simply indifferent to the Christian faith but it is actively hostile."

He pointed to the increasing push for the separation of church and state and the "new atheists," whom Sproul describes as having an "extraordinary sense of boldness," as examples of hostility toward Christianity.

He said of the new atheists: "They wouldn't be able to have that boldness if they didn't already understand that the culture is basically with them."