Question:  How do I stand up for my beliefs in an environment hostile to Christians?

Answer:  First, study God’s Word so you’ll know what beliefs you’re standing up for, and pray for wisdom and strength to stand strong for God.  These days, living out our Christian faith can create great conflict with those who are not Believers.  Sometimes these conflicts can bring on a variety of threats, even physical harm, to the Believer.  As a result, we must be ready to be challenged while exercising our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion!

In fact, all Christians should ask themselves how they would react if they found themselves in a situation like Meriam Ibrahim’s.  Meriam is an 8 months pregnant  married Christian woman.  Recently,  a judge in Meriam’s African country of Sudan found her guilty of  “apostasy” and adultery.  According to the judge,  Meriam is guilty of converting from Islam to Christianity.  This is against their law — “apostasy” in Sudan.  She was born to an Orthodox Christian mother and a Muslim father who left their family when she was young.  Meriam’s  Christian mother raised her.  Since she was born to a Muslim father, the law says she is Muslim.  And, even though she is married,  the law does not recognize her marriage  because her husband is a Christian — therefore, the “adultery” charge!

The judge gave her 4 months to recant her Christian faith.  She refused!  Now, she is  in prison sentenced to receive 100 lashes and to be put to death!  Her sentence is to be carried out after her baby is born.  (Read the CBN coverage of her story here:   http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Sudanese-Judge-Sentences-Pregnant-Christian-to-Death/.)  Let’s pray that the charges against Meriam are dropped and that she is released from prison.

Most of us have not been faced with a death sentence if we  didn’t recant our Christian faith.  However, in this era of political correctness, we are faced with possibly being wrongly accused of being intolerant or of hating those who don’t share our beliefs.  We know we share our faith out of love,  and we want to be obedient to God’s great commission found in Matthew 28: 19-20.  Here, Jesus says,  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NKJV)  Still, we continue to hear stories of Christians being fired from their jobs or even receiving death threats because they shared their beliefs!   Take the recent case of the Benham brothers of Charlotte, NC, who were already filming their new reality show on HGTV.   After receiving complaints from some groups angry over the brothers’ past statements of their beliefs, HGTV decided to cancel the Benhams’ show.  They did this even though HGTV was aware of the brothers’ Christian beliefs.  (Check out their story here:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/May/SunTrust-Cuts-Ties-with-Benhams-after-HGTV-Flap/   )   Christians must follow the workplace rules without checking their faith at the door.

Remember that Jesus said in John 15:18, ” If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”   Then in verse 20, Jesus goes on to say, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”  Believers should draw comfort and courage from knowing Jesus is with us always.  He wants us to share our faith in Him with others with love and guidance from the Holy Spirit.   So, whether we are spiritually led to witness to family, friends, or strangers, we should shake off the fear factor.  We must trust God to give us the right words to say to take His Gospel to the world!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

Question:  Won’t my good works get me into Heaven?

Answer:  No.  Despite what you may have heard from others, the Scriptures are clear that no amount of good works will get us into heaven.  For example, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire, made a spiritually incorrect statement in a recent interview with the New York Times.   He said that because he had donated millions of dollars to various causes he deemed worthy, he had earned his way into heaven.    He told the newspaper:   “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed.  I am heading straight in.  I have earned my place in heaven.  It’s not even close.”   (You can read more about what he had to say in this Weekly Standard magazine article by clicking  http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/michael-bloomberg-i-have-earned-my-place-heaven_786943.html .)

The  former mayor may have been joking, but he still had it totally wrong!   Believers know that we cannot “earn” our way to heaven by doing a bunch of good deeds.   God tells us in His holy word, the Bible, that there is one way into heaven and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We are all sinners, and our sin separates us from a holy God.  By taking the punishment for our sins on Himself and giving His life for us on the cross,  Jesus is our one and only Savior!   By believing in Him and asking God to forgive our sins, we are saved — having everlasting life in heaven!   In John 3:16,  Jesus says,  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;  it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

However, once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, then God’s Holy Spirit will be dwelling inside him or her resulting in them wanting to do good works in the name of the Lord.  Ephesians 2 goes on to say in verse 10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,  which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  James 3:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

So, while God expects Believers to do good works, His word makes it clear that works will not save you.  By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are able to receive God’s free gift of grace.  Believers should be thankful that Jesus lived a sin-free life, died on the cross as our substitute, and rose to life again.    We need to continue to pray for all those who remain lost to God because of their unbelief.  We need to pray that they will come to know that God’s holy word is true and  know that good works are not their ticket to heaven.  Pray that they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, for He is their only way to heaven!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family   http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine    www.worldmag.com

Question:   Why are some bad habits so hard to break, even for Christians?

Answer:  God allows us to make our own choices.  We can choose to do the right things according to His holy word, or we can make decisions that go against God’s word.  Many people will make a convincing case for how much they want to be better people and have a better life.  They will tell you that they want to be free of the problems in their lives and free from feeling burdened down.  However, if you observe how they actually live their lives,  you’d soon realize that they talk a good talk, but they don’t walk the walk.

People will say one thing and do another.  For example, we all know overeating can lead to being overweight and having health problems.  People will admit to eating too much, and they even make New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, and lose weight.  Oftentimes, these people fail to keep these resolutions after just a couple of months.  They choose to go back to their unhealthy habits.  Or, take the example of the person who says they want to get out of debt and get their finances in good order.    They may even attempt to follow a monthly budget.  However, as soon as they have to make a choice between getting rid of their favorite treats, like expensive hobbies, shopping sprees, or pricey vacations to save money, they resort to charging all these things on their credit cards and increasing, not decreasing, their bondage of debt.

This bad decision-making can extend to other areas of our lives as well.  You hear people say they want everything from stronger families and better schools to good jobs and safer neighborhoods.  Believers know that we can choose to just throw up our hands in defeat against the bad situations in our communities and stay in bondage to the current negative conditions  in our society or follow God’s word concerning these issues.

In John chapter 8:31-32, Jesus says, “…If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (NIV)   Christians know that Jesus doesn’t lie.   Why then are so many of us still in bondage to our bad choices, even when we have the truth presented to us?  It’s because we sometimes prefer to reject the truth.  In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the Apostle Paul says, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (NIV)

Instead, Christians must embrace God’s truth in how we are to live our lives.  In doing so, we are made free.  Galatians 5:1 says “Stand firm in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  By accepting Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as our Lord and Savior, asking Him to forgive our sins , and choosing to live our lives to please Him, we are being released from the bondage of sin.  Let us, therefore, study God’s word, embrace His truth, and allow His truth to set us free!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

Question:  Why do some Christians say we’re in a spiritual war?

Answer:  Just being Believers makes us target number one for Satan.  The Bible tells us to “be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)   Jesus also says in John 10:10 that “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”  Therefore, Christians must be on guard against the devil achieving his goals of  causing trouble and trying to destroy our lives.  In other words, Believers need to recognize when we are facing spiritual warfare.

There are many different circumstances Christians find themselves in that are actually experiences of spiritual warfare.  For example, when you’re facing challenges like marital troubles, unemployment,  financial difficulties, medical problems — physical or emotional — and  you start to feel like things are never going to get better or that you’re just a failure in life, you’re in a spiritual battle.

Or, when your children, who were raised in the Church but then later rebel against the biblical morals they were taught to live by,  you know you’re in a spiritual battle.  Another example is when  your boss or co-workers show open resentment of you for being morally different from them.  They may even deny you promotions because you believe in living out your Christian beliefs.  They make fun of you because you don’t laugh at their dirty jokes or join them in their after-work  partying where they are known for getting drunk and doing other sinful things.   You know you’re in a spiritual battle.

God’s Word tells us to handle these times of spiritual warfare by turning to Him through Bible study and prayer to receive God’s guidance and help.  Said another way, the Word tells us to put our armor on!    Ephesians 6:11-18 says:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  (NIV)

Nationally known pastor and author Dr. Tony Evans created a compelling and helpful Bible study on how Christians should deal with spiritual battles.  The title of the study is “Victory in Spiritual Warfare.”   Check out the 1 minute, 26 second trailer about this study here:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n6m9DLHJ_Y.

So, Believers beware; the battle is on!  Thankfully, we can trust that God has provided the way to victory over Satan in these battles.   That way to victory starts when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, ask Jesus to forgive our sins and repent, then receive the power of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives.  It is God’s power that will give us the victory over spiritual battles!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family     http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine    www.worldmag.com

Question:  Are there many different ways to Heaven?

Answer:  No.  Jesus says there is just one way to Heaven  and that’s through Him!  In John 14:6,  it reads, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (NKJV)   Believers know that Jesus does not lie.  Therefore, we can be assured that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus, as our Lord and Savior!  Jesus does not say that there is any other way.  In fact, many other scriptures in the Holy Bible confirm this.  For example,  in Acts 4:12, the Apostle Peter says of Jesus, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  John the Baptist says in John 3:36,  “He who believes in the Son (Jesus) has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Also, in 1 John 5:10-13,  the Bible  gives another  summary on the only way to God in Heaven.  It says, “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself;  he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,  that you may know that you have eternal life,  and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

These scriptures are the words of God.  Believers know that they are true.  Sadly, even some Christians will try to deny God’s Word.  They do not want to admit to others that not every person will go to Heaven even if they are doing so-called “good deeds” or saying they believe in some type of  “god.”   This “One way to God” teaching sounds mean, divisive, and unfair to them.  What these people forget is that God is a loving God.  Remember that John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son , that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”   God’s offer of salvation is given to all people groups.

God wants us to realize that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins — although Jesus remained sinless.  He wants us to ask His forgiveness  for our sins and repent.   He wants us to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and be saved.  However, He has also given us free-will.  It’s up to each able-minded individual to decide to accept or reject Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior.   Those who harden their own hearts and refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior have condemned themselves  to eternal separation from a holy God.  In other words, they choose Hell over Heaven!  Still, they are making this choice for themselves.

Renowned Pastor Greg Laurie does a beautiful job of explaining that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus.  Listen to this 3 minute 13 second video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch0Qcd-wufY&feature=youtu.be

Believers must continue to pray for all those who reject Jesus Christ  and the teachings of God’s Holy Word, and who believe that there are multiple ways to Heaven.  Pray that they realize that God’s words are true.  Pray that they accept that when Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me,”  He meant it!  He IS the one and only way!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family   http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   http://www.worldmag.com

Question: When we sin, do we actually make Satan happy?

Answer:  Yes, remember that Satan works to kill, steal, and destroy us (see  John 10:10).  For him, our sinning is like a gift.  Remember this the next time you choose to disobey the Word of God.  Unfortunately, we choose to disobey God in many ways.  Romans 1:18-32 lays out man’s turning away from God and embracing evil.  It lists sins from sexual immorality and murder to being envious and unforgiving.

Believers know that we cannot hide our sins from God like we sometimes hide them from our fellow-men.  Believers also know that if we sincerely ask our Father God to forgive us our sins, He will, indeed, forgive us.  However, God wants us to be obedient  in living by His Word, the Holy Bible.  Therefore, if we want to live our lives in ways that would be gifts to God, we should read, study,  and follow His Word.  Along with this, we must always remember to pray for His Holy Spirit to guide us day-by-day.

Most importantly, God wants us to remember His promise to us given in John 3:16, ” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,that whoever believes in Him, should not perish  but have everlasting life”  (NKJV).  Our Savior — His Son, Jesus Christ —  is God’s gift to us.  Jesus is the One who took the punishment meant for us.  He died on the cross for our sins, before rising again on the third day.  Read, for example, the Gospel of Matthew chapters 27 and 28 for one of the accounts of this.  Our most important gift to God is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior!  If we don’t do this, we are not pleasing God.  Listen to Pastor Tony Evans explain further how you can be saved.  Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSNayo631a0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHSNayo631a0&nomobile=1.

Remember, you need to skip your annual gift of sin to Satan this year.  Instead, choose to live your life in a way that is a gift to God!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family   http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine    www.worldmag.com

Question:  Should we give thanks for unanswered prayers?

Answer:  Yes, give thanks to God because He always answers our prayers.  Remember, His answer may be yes, no, or not yet, but He always answers.  We are reminded of this in       1 John 5:14-15, ” Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (NKJV)  Note that what we pray for must still go along with God’s will for our lives.  God’s will and our desires may not match.  That said, God very much wants us to continue to pray to Him for the things we feel we want or need.  We usually enthusiastically give God thanks when He answers our prayers with a “yes.”  Of course, when we do this, we are doing the right thing.  However, it’s very important to remind ourselves to give thanks even when God’s answer is “no.”  Believers know that while we may think we know what is best for us, God truly knows what’s best for us in every situation of our lives.  We must also know that our ways are not necessarily His ways, and our preferred timing for things to happen, is not always His timing for things to happen.

Here are two examples of God knowing what’s best for us better than we do.  Consider the twenty-something young lady who has a strong  desire to get married and even has her eyes set on the exact young man she considers her perfect match.  He’s handsome, successful in his career, and regularly attends church.  She prays to God to bless her to get married to this fine young man.  After the two have dated for a while, the young man seems to lose interest in her and goes off to eventually marry someone else.  Our young lady is crushed, and she doesn’t understand why God didn’t answer her prayer with a “yes.”   Twenty years later, we find our young lady happily married to a wonderful man she first met in her thirties.  She is surprised to learn that the young man she prayed to marry decades earlier is now on his third divorce.  According to his ex-wives, he had been a terrible husband.  Our lady is now very happy God answered “no” to her earlier prayer.

A different example:   a middle-aged man prays to God to get a new career position that he thinks is just right for him.  He’d be working for a great company and making a much larger salary than he’s making in his current position — something especially important as he starts to get closer to retirement age.   However, this man watches in disbelief as someone else gets that prized position.  He can’t understand what he had done so wrong that God would not reward him with the job of his heart’s desire.  Later, it turns out the person taking his dream job lasts less than a year.  The company down-sizes and that position gets eliminated.  That person is now unemployed.  Our middle-aged man is happy he still had his job.  He’s also very happy that God answered his earlier prayer with a “no.”

If we are being really honest with ourselves,  most of us can probably recall times in our lives when we were very upset when God said “no” to us.  Likewise, as in these two examples, we can look back at one or more of these “no’s” and be thankful.  We now shudder at the thought of how things would be if God’s answer had been “yes.”  As believers, we know that we will never understand in this lifetime, why God answers us in the ways He does.  Also, God knows, understands, and cares when we are hurt and disappointed when He doesn’t answer all of our prayers with a “yes.”  He wants us to trust that He knows what is best and take comfort in this knowledge.  We must pray to have stronger faith and trust in God.  Then, we will be spiritually equipped for those times when we need to be thankful for NOT getting what we wanted!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

Question: Is it fair to say many of our current problems are a result of our own bad choices?

Answer: It is fair to say that because it’s true.  God has given us “free will,” so we are free to make our own choices.  Accepting Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, as our Savior — who took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross in our place — is a  decision we make through faith by choice.  Obviously, we all know many who choose not to believe in Jesus as their Savior.  Believers know that these non-believers are making the wrong choice.  Still, it is their choice to choose everlasting life in heaven with God, or an eternity with Satan, apart from God.  Those are the only two choices presented in God’s Word.  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36 (NKJV)

Consequently,  many choose to believe the Bible is not the Word of God, so they don’t make their life choices based on God’s Word.  Others say they are Believers, yet they also choose not to live their lives according to God’s Word.  As a result, they make many bad decisions which tend to leave them with the resulting negative consequences.  For example, take the case of the young man who chooses to party hard, get drunk, have sex outside of marriage, and to live just to please himself.  His choices , which go against the teachings of God’s Word, could easily result in one of his sex partners getting pregnant.  This irresponsible young man, who may even refer to himself as a Christian because his parents are Christian, could end up running away from taking care of his child and abandoning this new family he doesn’t even want.  His bad choices would then negatively affect the lives of these two other people in addition to himself.

Another case could involve a middle-aged woman who grew up being abused by her own mother.  This woman blames God for her horrible childhood and decides to become an atheist.  She raises her children to be atheists as well.  These sinful decisions now pass on to multiple generations.  All these people are living against the Word of God.  They could even potentially move into career areas such as becoming professors, doctors, politicians, judges, etc.  In these jobs,  they could use their influence to convince others to choose to live against God.

However, believers know not to fret over the bad choices we have all made in our lives over the years.  Instead, believers know that God has provided the right choice for all to make, if they choose to make it.   Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is making the first and most important right choice.  Next, we need to make the decision to ask forgiveness of our sins.  Then, we need to make all future life choices that please God according to the teachings in His Holy Word, the Bible.  Pastor Kirk Devine of Trinity Missionary Full Gospel Church in Missouri makes some good points on this subject.  Check out what he has to say at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-choices-we-make-kirk-devine-sermon-on-character-129100.asp.

Instead of blaming everybody else and every other group of people but yourselves for the situations you find yourselves in , take responsibility for your own bad choices.  Instead of choosing to  go along with the sinful ways of the world because they are presented as popular with many , make the decision to do what’s right.  Pray and ask God to help you, through His Holy Spirit, to start making choices that please Him.   Like Joshua says in Joshua 24:16, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (NKJV)  Remember that we will have many choices to make in our lifetime.  But compared with eternity, our lifespans are short.  In that time, God wants us to make the right choices!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

Question: Why are some schools still having so many problems today?

Answer:  It’s an understatement to say that today’s schools have problems never imagined by most people forty years ago.  Many people are quick to say that problems in schools exist because they are not receiving enough taxpayer funding.  However, in most districts across America, education spending makes up one of the largest percentages of their budgets.  Others will mention issues such as too much student testing, low teacher pay, too many extra duties for teachers, or a lack of enough parental involvement. A good argument can be made that these issues do contribute to some of the problems in schools.  However, the truth is, one big reason behind many school problems is ever increasing student misbehavior.

Decades ago, students knew that if they didn’t behave in school and do their work, they would suffer some serious negative consequences both at school and at home.  These days, there are few negative consequences students fear receiving.  Plus, too often when some of their parents find out about their behavior problems,  these parents will blame the teacher.  Too many parents turn their parenting responsibilities over to the school system.  A school system cannot be a parent.  Parents must make sure their children know that they are holding them, not just the teachers, responsible for their behavior.  Christian parents, especially, should remind their children that they are representing Jesus in their schools, so they want to do their best and behave.  They don’t have to be the smartest in the room, but they should be among the best behaved. When there is a lot of student misbehavior, teachers end up spending quality class time and energy correcting behavior.  As a result, teachers have less time for teaching and other students can’t concentrate on learning.

Some schools have gotten so bad with behavior problems that their students  and teachers fear for their safety.  A case in point is ninth grader Malaysia, a student at Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion High School.  Malaysia was interviewed recently by Diane Sawyer of ABC News about her experiences attending the school named one of the most dangerous in America.  Malaysia tells of being bullied often and was even punched in the face by another girl after school.  Fights often break out at her school. We learn that Malaysia’s dad was the only one out of 70 parents to show up for parent-teacher meeting night in one classroom.  The story shows how the school security guards gather in the morning before school to offer a prayer of protection.  Even they are wise enough to know the need for this prayer, especially in these schools today.  Too bad the courts have stripped prayer from our schools, even as the violence and other immoral behavior have increased.  Please watch this six-minute news clip to get a better understanding of this story.   http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/dangerous-schools-america-19291981.

The behavior problems at Strawberry Mansion High School occur to some degree in many schools across the country. In light of this fact, may we all remember Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go,  And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV)  Let’s also remember to pray for all of our children.  Say an extra prayer for students and staff at schools like Strawberry Mansion.  May God bless them to be a school of excellence and no longer be one of the most dangerous schools in America!

Click to read the ABC News follow-up to there original story.    http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/hidden-america-diane-sawyer-revisits-school-risk-called-21103855.

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family   http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   http://www.worldmag.com

Question:  How important is having unity in the Christian community?

Answer:  Unity can be very important as long as you’re united for the right reasons.

Jesus says in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (NKJV)  This teaching can be applied in a variety of situations from whole communities to churches, families, and even marriages.  Combine this knowledge with what is revealed about Satan, the thief in John 10:10,  “The thief does not come except to steal. and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may it more abundantly.”  Satan knows that one of the most effective ways of destroying something is attacking it from the inside out.  Therefore, an important goal for every group is to stay united in living your lives to please Jesus.  God, through the teachings of His Holy Word, should be the referee and final decision maker in settling disagreements and divisions whenever they arise.

How many times over the years have you heard of church congregations splitting apart when some members disagree with their new pastor?  As a result, hurt feelings and bitterness can last for years.  Obviously, if the church leaders are teaching that the Bible is not true or saying that Jesus is not our only way into Heaven, they are wrong.  You should leave such a church and find one that teaches that the Bible is, indeed, true.  Otherwise, when your Bible-believing, Bible teaching church is having some disagreements within the congregation, pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bring unity to that body of believers.  You will have trouble taking the Gospel out to the world and making new disciples, as Jesus commanded in Matthew chapter 28, if the current disciples are spending most of their time fighting with each other!  As a church, repent of your sins and forgive each other.  Then, your church can be united in showing God’s love in a variety of ways to the local communities and beyond.  Check out this minute and 35 second video by renowned Pastor Tony Evans as he explains the importance of unity in the Body of Christ.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5x1Zfd1b_8.

Also, be aware that if Satan will try to destroy the unity of a church congregation by attacking from within, he will also try to destroy a marriage or a family the same way.  Far too often, we hear of marriages and families breaking apart as a result of various disagreements, or sinful temptations such as adultery, pornography, greed, and deceit.  Seeing how often this happens, we need to be better prepared spiritually.  Dedicate your marriage, family, and yourself to the Lord.  Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to protect you, your spouse, and your family from the temptations of Satan.  Pray for you all to be united in believing in and living by His Word.

Remember that God has provided us with the Bible as a manual for living life His way.  So, study His Word, the Holy Bible, and follow its teachings to help keep you from being in a house divided by Satan.  Instead, you will be in a house united by Jesus!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com