True Humility

One of my Facebook friends recently posted a meme with this prayer: “Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled of You.” Technically, this is impossible. We are all unique individuals with talents, hopes, and dreams. God didn’t create us to be robots. A Christian can pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then obey His promptings instead of fulfilling selfish desires. 

A personal example that comes to my mind happened over twenty years ago. While walking around my neighborhood, I saw five boys playing football in a church parking lot. A thought crossed my mind that when their football landed by me, that would be a sign to witness to them. Seconds later, the football bounced my way when one of the boys made a bad punt. However, I wanted to be by myself and went straight home. God kept telling me to go back. So I put my shoes on and hurried to the parking lot where the boys were still playing. After one of them scored a touchdown, I asked the boys to take a time-out. All five got born again.

I’ve heard worship songs with the line “more of You, less of me.” While these may be sincere attempts to be humble, I think they are a bit degrading. Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” God is not glorified when man criticizes himself. There’s a difference between humility and being humiliated, which the New Oxford American Dictionary defines as “make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect, especially publicly.” 

John the Baptist did say in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Jewish prophet was exalting Jesus’ ministry above his. I like The Message Bible’s rendering of this verse: “This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.” Preachers need to be cautious not to exalt themselves and their ministries more than the God they serve.

One friend of mine used to pray for God to make him humble until I pointed out what James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Fasting is one way of doing that (Psalm 35:13), but that won’t do much good for one who isn’t submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Colossians 2 warns of false humility. Verse 18 connects that with “…worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Verse 23 goes on to say, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Another way to humble yourself is by seeking to meet other people’s needs. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Jesus famously demonstrated this by washing His disciples’ feet.

The late Mac Davis sang, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble.” The truth is it’s not that hard. We simply need to exalt Jesus and others more than ourselves. C. S. Lewis wrote, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Another minister pointed out, “Humility is knowing who are you in Christ and who you are without Him.”

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”  - 1 Peter 5:5

Reach Out and Resist

I will continue using Facebook as a ministry platform despite them force-feeding us propaganda (including added links about COVID-19 that I do not approve of). Earlier this week, a sponsored ad from singer Carole King came up in my News Feed in which she thanked Dolly Parton “for inspiring me to record my own vaccination song.” I had no interest in hearing the song. When I clicked on the ellipsis, nothing happened. I couldn’t hide the ad. The only way to prevent it from coming up again on my News Feed was to block Carole King’s Facebook page.

I’ve also been doing this with Facebook ads “celebrating” pride month. This year several of them have appeared in my News Feed. One by iHeart Radio claimed you “can’t cancel pride.” I did so by blocking their page. James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 both say, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 

To anyone wanting to label me a hater, I need to clarify something. I do not hate homosexuals. By His grace, I love them as God loves them. What I hate is the demonic deception that's blinding their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). In his book “A Queer Thing Happened to America,” Dr. Michael L. Brown encourages Christians to “reach out and resist” when relating to homosexuals: reach out to them with compassion but resist gay activism with courage. 

The late D. James Kennedy stated, “Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. When you have an immoral society that has blatantly, proudly, violated all of the commandments of God, there is one last virtue they insist upon: tolerance for their immorality.” LGBT advocates are wasting their time and money trying to convince me to condone lifestyles the Bible calls an abomination. I pray they repent before it’s too late.

“But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.” - Psalm 63:11

A Pan of Panera Bread

I’m a traveling missionary who frequently patronizes Panera Bread. I enjoy sitting inside their restaurants drinking coffee and eating an occasional bagel while working online with my laptop. I was glad to see the one closest to my home finally allow indoor seating again after three months of doing take-out and drive-thru orders only. So I resumed going there earlier this week.

Unfortunately, I saw something on Thursday that made me turn around and leave. The windows had artwork of a rainbow with the caption “CELEBRATE WHO YOU ARE.” I assume this is in observance of Gay Pride Month. As a Christian, I find this offensive. The rainbow is a sign of God‘s promise not to destroy man again with a flood (see Genesis 9). It was never meant to symbolize deviant lifestyle choices. I happen to know former homosexuals and transsexuals who got delivered with God’s help. Therefore, I do not buy the lie that gays are “born that way.”

I avoid spending my money at places that openly endorse LGBT causes. Hopefully, this rainbow artwork is an isolated incident. Until it’s removed, I will not go inside this location again. If I see this sort of thing become normal at other Panera Bread restaurants, then they will lose not only me as a regular customer but other God-fearing patrons.

This panning of Panera Bread has been emailed to their corporate office. I pray somebody there took time to read it.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

A Better Transition

The first time I heard of someone having a sex change was while listening to “American Top 40” in 1979. Casey Kasem talked about a musician named Walter Carlos who was a pioneer in electronic music (his 1968 album “Switched-On Bach” was one of the first successful recordings to feature a synthesizer). Walter dropped out of the public eye for a number of years and had gender reassignment surgery before emerging as “Wendy Carlos.” I was shocked when Casey wished “her” luck and looked forward to “her” upcoming work. At 15 years old, I couldn’t believe someone changing their sex was something to be taken seriously. 

Fast forward forty years later. We now live in a society of gender fluidity. Individuals of all ages can suddenly change their sexual identity at the drop of a hat. Facebook now offers users 58 different ways to identify their gender. The proofreading app Grammarly recently published a blog article about “how to use gender pronouns respectfully” because “it’s Pride Month.” 

People who won’t address transitioning individuals by their preferred gender can find themselves in trouble. One Virginia high school teacher lost his job for refusing to call a female student by male pronouns. Peter Vlaming (who is a Christian) offered to use the student’s new name and avoid feminine pronouns, but the school wouldn’t accept his compromise. Other God-fearing people have been harassed, threatened, and censored for not calling transgender people their preferred pronouns.

I refuse to conform to this lunacy. The Bible makes it clear God created man male and female…period! There are no alternative genders. Nor does Scripture accommodate individuals wanting to change their sex. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Sadly, some parents have encouraged their children to become transgender. As Charisma columnist J. Lee Grady stated, “This is not just an attack on family values; it’s an attack on basic intelligence.”

If you happen to be someone struggling with gender identity, please don’t interpret this article as hateful. I’m speaking the truth in love plus using common sense. To identify a biological male with a feminine pronoun (or vice versa) is like calling a dog a cat. It doesn’t change who they really are. A few years ago I did street ministry with a man who admitted he used to wear women’s clothes until he was set free from gender confusion. As 1 Corinthians 14:33 points out, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”

Are you seeking to change your identity? A better transition is to become a new creature in Jesus Christ. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Boasting in the Lord

When you step out to fulfill the Great Commission, be prepared for some Christians who will challenge your motives. A former Facebook friend I never met personally once wrote accusations against me on my wall based on erroneous information. I emailed a message to him offering to discuss his concerns privately. Instead, he posted another public comment “warning” other people about me. Sadly, another Facebook friend I had been ministering to chose to believe this man’s lies. Before I could email her an explanation, she blocked me after sending a message complaining about my “boast posting” (referring to my evangelism reports). This is how Satan can use believers to “sow discord among the brethren”, which the Lord hates! (Proverbs 6:19)

The dictionary defines boast as “talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements.” It’s not wrong for a believer to testify what the Lord has done through him as long as He gets the glory. Psalm 34:2 says, “My soul shall make its boast in the LORD.”  

When writing an evangelism testimony, I usually end it with a Scripture or glorify God for the new converts. Many of my friends have been blessed by my praise reports. In some cases, they were inspired to go out and share the gospel themselves. This fulfills my mission statement: “Preach the gospel and teach others to do the same.”

Still, there are Christians who get offended by that especially when they hear about the number of decisions made during an evangelism outreach. But God is interested in numbers. The Book of Acts mentions occasions when 3,000 and 5,000 people got saved at one time. There’s even a book in the Bible called Numbers.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:10, “As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.” So the next time the Lord uses you to lead someone to salvation or bring healing to their body, don’t let religious people try to shut your mouth. Testify…and give all the glory to God!

“In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah” - Psalm 44:8

Me Is Exalted

People called to full-time ministry often face the temptation of making things happen by the arm of the flesh. I’ve heard stories about messes ministers created when trying to expand their ministries ahead of God’s timing. Jesus said in Luke 14:11, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I’m willing to help a brother or sister advance in their calling if the Lord leads me to. Romans 12:10 talks about “giving preference to one another.” Still, I find it annoying when preachers promote their ministries on my web pages without asking first. A few individuals had frequently done this on my Facebook Wall despite my asking them to stop. That prompted me to change my account settings so people could only write comments in response to my articles and praise reports.

Then one pastor started posting announcements (irrelevant to my writings) about various endeavors he was involved in. The first two times I simply removed his posts. After a third time, I asked this pastor to refrain from doing that. He wouldn’t like it if I promoted my ministry on his Facebook pages. The pastor initially responded with defensive emails insisting I repent for “not helping Jesus.” Eventually, he calmed down and apologized.

The Lord expects us to do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission and assisting brethren in need. That doesn’t mean we are to be manipulated to join a specific cause. God may not want you teaming up with a particular minister because his motives aren’t right. Acts 20:30 warns, “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”  

Ministers truly lifting up the name of Jesus (and not themselves) shouldn’t get upset if a certain Christian won’t support them. Mike Murdock says, “You are not called to everybody but to somebody.” Ministers should also avoid trying to validate themselves. As Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” God will send the right people to bring encouragement when needed.

Are you called to the five-fold ministry? Great! I exhort you to step out and fulfill what God has put on your heart to do for Him. But don’t try pressuring a church or another preacher to facilitate you. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:20, “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation.” I’ve had friends who repeatedly but unsuccessfully sought another ministry to intern under. Surely young Christians need to be discipled. But there comes a time when one must walk on the water and look to God alone for open doors to go through. 

Remember when the Lord uses you to advance His kingdom, always give Him the glory and not yourself.

“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NLT)

Counting Conversions Correctly

One time I was with a fellow missionary at a park in Tampa, Florida where groups of people prayed with us. It was a challenge keeping a correct count of salvations because some kids followed us around and prayed again. Still, I made sure I didn’t write down two salvations for each person praying twice.

It grieves me when I see ministers inflate their numbers to where their praise reports aren’t truthful. During another outreach I took part in, nine of us led 46 people to the Lord. On our way back to the church, one woman mentioned praying with 21 people five days before. Later that night, one of the other laborers posted this on Facebook: “We gained 67 new brothers and sisters in Christ tonight."

One man who filmed various Christian events with audiences in the hundreds noticed the evangelist claimed “thousands attended.” There were other events where thousands showed up but was later reported as “tens of thousands.” This practice has been jokingly called “evangelistically speaking” or "evangELASTICALLY speaking.” In reality, this is flat out lying. 

It’s bad enough when we see political leaders shading the truth to make themselves look good. Christian leaders in particular should have the most integrity. Exaggerating the number of people attending their church or going up to the altar at a revival meeting does not glorify the Lord. Keep in mind Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying about their giving. 

While I’m all for setting soul goals and reaching many people with the gospel, we should feel honored whether we pray with one person or a thousand. God alone gets the glory.

“… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  
- Luke 15:10

Kicked Out of Church

Church should be a safe place for believers. Unfortunately no fellowship is perfect. Even pastors can sometimes get in the flesh and act in ways inconsistent with Scripture.

A friend told me about one church he went to where the congregation took turns giving a short sermon since the pastor wasn’t there that particular Sunday. My friend didn’t have time to complete his message but the handouts he gave revealed a doctrine the leadership disagreed with. A couple weeks later when my friend returned to this church, the pastor instructed him not to come back there again. Assuming my friend told this story accurately, I thought the pastor acted too hastily. He could have privately discussed the matter with my friend before possibly excommunicating him.

In Matthew 18, Jesus taught us the right way to confront someone in error...

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

There are times when people need to be removed from the house of the Lord if they won’t conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner. 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”

I’m reminded of an incident that happened at a church I attended regularly. Evangelism teams had just returned from the streets and were sharing testimonies in the sanctuary. Suddenly a woman walked in and started swearing at the pastor. She had been banned from the evangelism ministry for causing other problems. Because this woman refused to leave, several men had to remove her from the church.

On the other hand, Christians can receive the “left foot of fellowship” for taking a stand for Biblical truth. Anne Graham Lotz was kicked out of one church for insisting on the inerrancy of Scripture. Even Jesus got booted out of the synagogue when He read from Isaiah to show that He was the Messiah they were waiting for (Luke 4:28-29).

As I stated before, no church is perfect. So if you ever find yourself removed from a particular fellowship, forgive those church leaders. It would also be good to examine yourself and repent if you had sinned. Either way, don’t let offenses stop you from finding a better church. God has a place for you in His body!

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:25

Godly Discrimination

One sign we’re living in the last days is society’s increasing acceptance of homosexuality. At the time of this writing, 36 American states have legalized same-sex marriage. In response to Florida being the most recent, a Tampa Tribune writer claimed it “should represent no threat to anyone’s personal faith.” Baloney!

In many other places, Christian business owners who stood up against the homosexual agenda have been severely persecuted. One Colorado baker named Jack Phillips was threatened with jail time for refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. Instead of going to a different bakery, the two men filed a lawsuit. A judge ruled Phillips was guilty of “discrimination” and ordered him to make wedding cakes for other same-sex couples who visit his store. He has since stopped making wedding cakes altogether.

One homosexual wrote to me claiming Jesus never discriminated against anyone. Therefore, Christians shouldn’t do that as well. A closer study of Scripture would reveal otherwise. Although the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, He will resist certain individuals such as the proud (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). Likewise, Christians are to distance themselves from certain types of people. Among them are those who contentiously promote false teachings...

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” - Romans 16:17

“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” - Titus 3:10-11

“If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.” - 2 John 1:10-11 (NLT)

We are also to avoid fellowship with professing believers living in willful sin. 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”

Now it’s different if you are ministering to sinners. Jesus reached out to thieves and prostitutes not to affirm their behaviors but to give them opportunities to repent and be transformed. Likewise, Christians can cultivate friendships with unbelievers in hopes that they will come to know the Lord someday. However, we are not to feel guilty when boundaries must be set with those who repeatedly reject the truth of God’s word. 

It’s not always hate to discriminate.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” - 2 Corinthians 6:14

A Lesbian Returns to the Lord

Of all the times I’ve gone out evangelizing, I’ve met very few people who admitted they were homosexual.  With more of them nowadays “coming out of the closet”, I’ve considered witnessing at gay pride events but haven’t done so yet.  One reason is I rather spend time talking with people who are receptive to the gospel.  I’ve had homosexuals contact me through the Internet that wouldn’t receive the truth of God’s word.  They simply wanted to defend their chosen lifestyles.

Still we should always be ready to minister to whomever the Lord puts across our path.  Last weekend I joined a Hispanic church in reaching out to the homeless at a park in Tampa, Florida.  While other people from this church gave away food and toiletries, I handed out tracts plus the gospel of John to those who didn’t have a Bible.  During this outreach I had a lengthy discussion with a backslidden lesbian.  “Latoya” (not her real name) had gotten saved when she was twelve years old.  Five years later Latoya’s then-boyfriend forced her to have sex with him.  That incident caused her to have negative feelings toward men. 

Fortunately Latoya was open to hearing what I had to say.  I briefly talked about how I had lived a promiscuous lifestyle before giving my life to the Lord nearly 23 years ago.  Then with a gentle tone in my voice, I read to Latoya 1 Corinthians 6:9-11...

“Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

I pointed out that people addicted to any kind of fornication (whether heterosexual or homosexual) could be set free by the power of God.  After it appeared I gained Latoya’s trust, she agreed to let me pray for her.  First I spoke a blessing over Latoya and bound up the demonic spirits influencing her.  Then I asked Latoya if she was willing to recommit her life to the Lord.  She prayed with me to ask Jesus Christ back into her heart. 

A short time later, a friend of Latoya’s interrupted our conversation.  At that point, I felt a release to move on and minister to someone else.  Just like most of the other people I’ve led to the Lord, I likely won’t see Latoya again until we get to heaven.  Either way, I look forward to hearing how the Lord continued transforming her life.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6

Your Daddy’s So Proud of You

People can have wrong perceptions of God because of a not-so-good relationship with their earthly father. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a house meeting hosted by a minister friend. During a time of waiting on the Lord, my friend played on his stereo a song by Keith Ferrante called “Your Daddy’s So Proud”, which is meant to be a love song from Father God to His people. Another man at the meeting got upset because of the song and came close to walking out the door. Fortunately, I convinced him to stay and spent time ministering to him.

This is not the first time that has happened. At another house meeting a few months earlier, this same man got offended after hearing “Your Daddy’s So Proud.” He claimed, “God doesn’t want us proud. Therefore, God shouldn’t be proud of us.” I replied by pointing out if our kids do well in school or accomplish something worthwhile, we would likely tell them, “I’m proud of you.”

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines pride as “feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” This same dictionary calls pride a sin if one has “an excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance.”  

It’s true that many Scriptures talk about pride in a negative sense. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 both say, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Sadly, some sinners like to proudly display their deviant behaviors (such as in “Gay Pride” parades). 

On the other hand, the Apostle Paul walked in humility yet took pride in the people he raised up in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 7:14 in the New American Standard Bible says, “I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true!” 2 Corinthians 8:24 in the Amplified Bible reads, “Show to these men, therefore, in the sight of the churches, the reality and plain truth of your love (your affection, goodwill, and benevolence) and what [good reasons] I had for boasting about and being proud of you.”

It’s okay for believers to be proud of their accomplishments as long as they give God the glory…

“For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.” - 2 Corinthians 1:12 (NASB)

“Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.”- 2 Corinthians 5:12 (NASB)

Years ago at a Lutheran renewal meeting, I received a life-changing revelation regarding what happened after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Luke 3:22 says, “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Notice God was pleased with His Son before He did any miracles. We don’t have to do any good works to be in right standing with God. All we need to do is receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Religion always turns those things around. 

Of course, God is pleased when we obey His commandments. But as long as your faith is in the person of Christ and not what you do for Him, Abba Father will always be proud of you.

“Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.” - 2 Corinthians 1:14 (NLT)

The Name of the Game

I enjoy watching football and baseball games on TV…especially if the Vikings and Twins are playing well. But one thing I loathe is the increasing number of sporting events and stadiums named after businesses. 

During the 1980’s, organizers of college bowl games started giving corporate sponsors “naming rights.” All these games used to have simple names like the Rose Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. Now we have games such as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. What’s really confusing is many of these games change their name every few years. For example, this year’s Belk Bowl (to be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina) was previously called the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Continental Tire Bowl, and before that the Queen City Bowl.

Nowadays, most major league teams play in venues named after a corporate sponsor. In 1990 when the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves announced their new arena would be called Target Center, I was surprised. That sounded more like a shopping mall than a sporting venue. Until two years ago, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis hadn’t succumbed to this trend. The stadium has since been renamed Mall of America Field. I could accept the name change if the Metrodome was part of the largest shopping center in the U. S. But the Mall of America is located ten miles away in the suburb of Bloomington.

Even the players now are offering money to get their names recognized at stadiums. E.J. and Erin Henderson of the Minnesota Vikings recently made a $20,000 donation to have a new scoreboard installed at their old high school in Aberdeen, Maryland. In exchange, the two brothers asked for their family name to be displayed on the scoreboard. The Aberdeen School Board denied their request. For one thing, the total cost of a new scoreboard is actually $50,000.

Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 6…

1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

Some churches have miniature plaques or bricks acknowledging the names of donors who contributed to causes such as a building project. If a pastor chooses to honor these donors, that’s between him and the Lord. But congregation members shouldn’t seek public recognition for their giving.

So the next time you are about to give in an offering or fundraiser, examine your motives. God wants us to be generous but with no strings attached.

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” 
- Proverbs 22:1

Born This Way?

Since I’ve worked as a disc jockey and keyboard salesman plus owned my own recording studio, I still have an interest in what’s going on with the secular music industry. During last night’s Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga hatched out of a giant egg as she performed her new release, “Born This Way.” The song’s lyrics (inspired by the old Whitney Houston hit “Greatest Love of All”) promote a message of loving one self. Sorry to say, “Born This Way” also endorses homosexuality and people who live a “transgendered life.”

Surely God wants everyone to have a positive sense of worth and not live in condemnation. But apart from the lordship of Jesus Christ, self-esteem can take people down a destructive path. 2 Timothy 3 says that in the last days “…men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

Psalm 139:14 does say that we are all “…fearfully and wonderfully made.” However, we live in a fallen world resulting in some individuals born with diseases and birth defects. God didn’t make them this way. Just like in Bible times, people born blind and crippled are being healed today.

God also didn’t make people born with deviant sexual desires. Personally I know individuals delivered from homosexuality and transvestism. 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

We were all born with a sinful nature and in need of the Savior. I pray Lady Gaga will someday recognize the necessity of being born again. The “Poker Face” singer could become a powerful (and definitely an interesting) witness for the Lord if she totally submitted her life to Him.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” - John 1:12-13

An Open Letter to Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,

I’m a Christian missionary who has previously lived and worked in Washington, DC. I write this letter out of concern for the great nation that you currently lead.

Yesterday you held a “Gay Pride” reception at the White House. I first found out about this after discovering a lesbian teenager was invited to attend. Constance McMillen, a Mississippi high school student, had her senior prom canceled because she couldn’t take her “girlfriend” to the prom.

In an interview two years ago at Saddleback Church in California, Pastor Rick Warren asked you to define marriage. You replied, “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian...it’s also a sacred union. You know, God’s in the mix.”

As a Christian, Mr. President, why are you publicly endorsing lifestyles that clearly go against God’s word? As a brother in Christ, I strongly advise you to read Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. By encouraging people to live immoral lifestyles, you are leading them on the path of eternal separation from God.

Mr. President, what would happen if Malia or
 Sasha decided to become a lesbian at a young age? What if one of your daughters wanted to bring a “girlfriend” to her prom? Gay activists would tell you that you should be supportive if you really love your daughter. But Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Jesus also gave a severe warning in Mark 9:42 to those who cause a child who believes in Him to sin.

Mr. President, the Bible defines all sexual activity outside of marriage as a sin. By encouraging teenage homosexuals, you are not only enticing them to violate God’s word but also to break the law regarding sexual activity with minors. I recognize that being the President of the United States is a difficult job for you cannot please all the people all the time. But ultimately, you will have to answer to God for decisions that affect the lives of millions.

Contrary to what you said last year in Turkey, the United States of America was founded upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. Continued disregard of these moral values has resulted in broken families and a misled generation of young people with no solid foundation of what’s right and wrong. In a few years, we might see individuals protesting for the right to marry their relatives, pets, or plants!

Even the Father of Our Country opposed homosexuality. On March 14, 1778, at Valley Forge, George Washington ordered a practicing homosexual within his ranks to be "drummed out of the military." I can't imagine what Washington would think of what's happening now in the city named after him that recently legalized same-sex marriages.

Let me clarify that I am not a homophobe and will minister God's love to homosexuals I encounter while doing street ministry. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. I personally know former homosexuals who overcame same-sex attraction with God’s help.

In closing Mr. President, I will continue to pray for the well-being of you and your family. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 commands us to pray “…for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” But I’m also praying that you repent of making ungodly decisions.

May God have mercy upon America and her leaders.

In Christ,

Todd R. Post