Grandma's witness

Our culture values youth and beauty over age and experience. But look at what this 92-year-old woman, who was definitely not too old to be of value, did:

In difficulty

It was like sweeping water to direct the shy young children onto the platform but the young mother was trying, holding a pre-schooler’s hand while pressing her hand gently against the back of a hesitant little girl.

Once before the crowd, little Julia covered her mouth with her hands while Esther waved at her grandmother. Two little boys bounced shoulder to shoulder as they surveyed the audience. They'd be glad when this difficulty was over.

As the music burst from the little blue CD player on the front pew, the leaders began singing softly, hoping to lure the children into following.

Off to the side, almost hidden by the pew itself, sat the pastor. He was leaning forward, his short square body keeping rhythm with the music.

In spite of a disability, Eduardo found a way to travel 15 miles to this village every Friday where he spent the weekend with his people. Because he couldn’t work, his family lived on his wife’s income. That didn’t include money for transportation.

He, his wife, and two daughters lived in a tiny apartment with little furniture.They slept in hammocks that, during the day hung from large hooks on one wall. At least making the bed was fast.

God provided ways for Eduardo to travel. Eduardo was in town every weekend to counsel, encourage, visit, pray, and conduct two services on Sundays.

Eduardo’s difficulties were only cobwebs to be pushed aside as he poured out what was in his heart: the love and grace of his Lord. He was no victim of circumstance, but an ambassador.

As the children stumbled over the songs that Sunday evening, nervous before the crowd, Eduardo didn’t scowl because they faltered. He understood difficulties. Instead, from the wellspring of his heart, he leaned forward in love and sang to them.

Into the valley

I wonder if Carrie Prejean had a rush of adrenaline as Perez Hilton was announced as her questioner. You’ve probably heard the uproar this week as Carrie may have lost her chance at Miss America because of the answer to one question. (If not, take a moment and read this article.)

It appears that Hilton set the table for her defeat, asking a question designed to expose her Christian convictions.

Carrie didn’t toe the Hollywood company line. In fact, since that time a number of Hollywood celebrities have (nervously?) stepped up to show that they comply with the expectations of Hollywood.

Carrie honored her own convictions and her family. Knowing that her answer would unleash a blast of bitter retribution, she spoke simply and honestly. That’s courage on the front lines.

The Hollywood stance does not reflect a majority of American’s view; Carrie does. Many people are squeamish about homosexual marriage but afraid of the furnace blasts of the politically correct. Look at the state initiatives regularly passed by voters that define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Although Carrie was accused of being a hate-monger, the ugly words and hatred came from the politically-correct side. I haven’t yet seen any reports of accusations or insults from Carrie, and I suspect the press would love to find those. Rage would describe the response from Hilton’s side.

This is persecution. We can’t discuss “someday persecution” in America anymore. When we are not free to follow God’s teachings, when we are not free to express our opinions, we are being persecuted.

I want to let Carrie know that I appreciate her bravery and I hope that we can learn to stand with the courage she showed. Following Jesus historically has meant traveling through the dark valley of threats and attacks. But we are citizens of heaven and we can go where others have led.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.
Psalms 23:4

Moral Accountability

In last fall's presidential election, many social conservatives and followers of Jesus endorsed President Obama, confident that he would not keep pledges to wipe out laws protecting the lives of the unborn. A new website has now sprung up to track those issues. I'll be tracking the website but thought you might want to take a look, too.

What's interesting with Moral Accountability is that it includes the support of a number of university professors committed to monitoring President Obama's actions in the coming months regarding rights of the unborn, marriage rights, and similar issues. Check out the site.

Peer pressure

Margaret Thatcher said:

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time,
and you would achieve nothing.

Jesus said:

They do not belong to the world,
just as I do not belong to the world.

John 17:16

Spread the word

It was a common challenge, this prospect of raising up a new generation, and the people of Israel did it poorly. Joshua had led the nation into God’s promised land, conquering areas as God directed. But time marches on.

Joshua passed on as did the people of his generation. Now settled in a new land, a new generation grew up “who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10)

If you’re familiar with the book of Judges at all, you know it overflows with accounts about weird doings: stealth stabbings in the outhouse, clubbing in a woman’s tent, a conqueror brought down by a woman’s rock. Samson is laid low by a haircut and Gideon, after leading a victorious mission against the Midianites, turned to idolatry.

The key to Judges is that “each man did what was right in his own eyes.” Surrounded by nations who were led by kings, Israel opted for a theocracy: God was their king.

Only they quickly forgot. God was no longer king; personal preference was.

But in the words of that famous theologian Bob Dylan, “you gotta serve someone.” We serve God or we serve Satan but we always serve that which we follow.

The lesson in Judges is that people need a king. Left to their own, they fall in the base vulgarities we see at the end of the book of Judges.

Yesterday I mentioned the Josephson Institute survey about our teenagers. Surveys deal with generalities and there are abundant exceptions. But are we so different than the generations in Judges? We worship relativity: each does what is right in his own eyes.

We need a king as surely as did the people named in Judges. There are no perfect parents except God and look what happened to his first children. They rebelled. This is no slam on parents who have wayward children.

But where do we go from here? Choose your king and follow him. Point the way for the next generation and sacrifice to give them a chance to find guidance.

We need more than honesty and character today. We need the absolute of God’s nature. Spread the word.

Character and all that

Young people today are all for honesty and good character as long as it doesn’t require honesty and character to get there.

I heard a radio report yesterday, breathlessly describing survey results that show young people are lying, cheating, plagiarizing, and stealing on a regular basis. This was no Christian radio station but a secular news program, agonizing over the future if these teens move into the business world.

How, the hosts wondered, could business survive if populated by workers who lacked good character?

Maybe the teens are the honest ones. They have been immersed in the tolerance culture, where every choice is legitimate and to be honored. Haven’t we said there are no absolutes? Haven’t we been offended by the idea of absolute right or wrong?

They’re getting it.

Here are some results, based on a 2006 survey:

• 82% admit they lied to parent within the past 12 months about something significant
• 57% said they lied two or more times.
• 62% admit they lied to teacher within the past 12 months about something significant
• 35% said they lied two or more times.
• 33% copied an internet document within the past 12 months – 18% did so two or more times.
• 60% cheated during a test at school within the past 12 months – 35% did so two or
• more times.
• 23% stole something from a parent or other relative within the past 12 months – 11%
• did so two or more times In 2002, 28% admitted stealing from a parent or other relative.
• 19% stole something from a friend within the past 12 months – 7% did so two or more times.
• 28% stole something from a store within the past 12 months – 14% did so two or more times

You can read the entire survey at the Josephson Institute site.

I want to comment more on this tomorrow. Stay tuned.