When you consider the massive wisdom of God and His abundant knowledge, we can recognize that we can rely on Him to guide us in the decisions we must make each day. Human knowledge and human inventions and innovations pale in comparison to the limitless knowledge - and intelligence - of Almighty God. Proverbs 1 (ESV) relates:

⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,

⁶ to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

And, in the New Testament, in 1st Corinthians 2, we can read (ESV):

¹² Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

¹³ And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The Bible directs us to seek and exercise Godly wisdom, and leads us to its source. Now, there is certainly a fascination these days with this “shiny object” called artificial intelligence, which is ultimately a creation of human wisdom, the wisdom of this world, that has grown in popularity. But, there is a cautionary aspect of these technological entities.

A new Lifeway Research article notes: “Both U.S. Protestant pastors and churchgoers have a mixed view of artificial intelligence, according to a Lifeway Research study. They aren’t completely opposed to it, but they have concerns about how AI is implemented and its potential influence on Christianity.

Regarding pastors, the survey shows only about 1-in-10 are using it, with about a-third “experimenting with it.” About a-fifth have a “wait and see” attitude. A similar number of pastors are avoiding it entirely; another fifth are ignoring it.

And, church attendees are expressing concern about AI, as well. The article says: “U.S. Protestant churchgoers find consensus in their AI concerns. Three in 5 (61%) say they’re concerned about the technology’s influence on Christianity. Fewer than 3 in 10 (28%) disagree, while 11% aren’t sure.”

Churchgoers are also split on whether or not a sermon should be prepared by pastors using AI as a help.

Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell says: “While both the availability and use of AI are spreading rapidly, several surveys have shown many Americans have concerns about it. Churchgoers are no exception as they think of its influence on Christianity,” said McConnell. “Just as every new technology requires some investigation to use it well, Christians have the opportunity to investigate AI’s uses biblically.”

Certainly, the use of AI raises so many issues, including matters of honesty and integrity - for instance, could a sermon we may hear online be considered legitimate if it was written using AI? Or, can an answer to a Bible question be accurate if we are asking a bot rather than going to a Biblical source?

We must carefully answer matters of the soul and spirit using spiritual wisdom, but can an AI entity really understand the deep matters of the heart? I think not.

But, I think there are some great benefits to using AI - it can certainly make for a more efficient creative experience and can help to shore up what we write. As we experience with so much, it seems, discernment is the key. But, we must be careful with allowing the technical to interface with the spiritual.

Throughout the nation and around the world, God’s people are making their mark. In the lives of individuals, through various churches, church organizations, and ministry efforts, the Spirit of God is working through His people to mobilize them for the sake of the gospel. And, while there are massive efforts underway, we can still be challenged to consider how we can do more. In 1st Timothy 3 (ESV), we can read:

¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,

¹⁵ if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

That mystery, having been revealed through Jesus, is coming to light throughout our world today. And, I believe we are seeing people awakened to the presence of Christ.

Under a familiar banner, over 12.3 million people claim to be part of the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., the Southern Baptist Convention, which is holding its annual meeting in Orlando next week. Now, that numerical figure is 3% lower than last year, according to Lifeway Research, reporting on the denomination’s Annual Church Profile, but there are encouraging signs:

While fewer members belong to Southern Baptist congregations, more people are attending worship services and small groups and are being baptized.

On average, nearly 4.5 million people attend a Southern Baptist church each week, while more than 2.6 million participate in a small group Bible study or Sunday School class—both up more than 3% compared to 2024 and up for the fourth consecutive year.

Meanwhile, the number of baptisms increased by nearly 5% to well over a quarter of a million, marking five consecutive years of growth and surpassing pre-COVID levels.

Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, stated: “Southern Baptist churches are focused on sharing the gospel and making disciples, the mission we cooperate to fulfill. While many other issues vie for our attention, pastors seem more determined than ever to focus on our core mission.”

Alabama, Georgia, and Florida are among states with at least a half-million Southern Baptist church members: Georgia at 1.1 million, Alabama at just over 900,000 and Florida at just a bit more than 760 thousand.

The headlining issue at this year’s convention will no doubt be the role of women in the congregations, which has become quite the dividing issue in the denomination. The website, Kentucky Today, published a story that said:

Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he will propose what he is calling the “Truth and Unity Amendment” to the SBC Constitution during the Annual Meeting in Orlando in June.

Mohler says he will move “that the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in June 2026 amend the Constitution of the SBC to add an enumerated 6th item, under Article 3, Paragraph 1, defining composition. This new language would make clear that a cooperating Southern Baptist church:

‘6. Does not act to affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.’”

In a Q&A contained in the article, he said: “The need for the amendment has been made very clear by recent Southern Baptist Convention meetings where the sessions have taken a great deal of time dealing with these issues, and I think there was a consensus last year.” He went on to say, “Now, remember that the similar kind of amendment was overwhelmingly approved by messengers twice in a row. It just wasn’t enough in that second vote to reach the by-law changing super majority, and even after the convention last year, subsequent developments have underscored the fact that something like this is necessary.” He noted that even some pastors who did not support that effort, known as the Law Amendment were talking to him about doing something to address that issue.

Indiana pastor Tim Overton, writing at the Center for Baptist Leadership website, noted:

This amendment is not about hostility toward women. Men and women are equally created in the image of God and possess equal dignity, value, and worth before the Lord. Christianity has historically elevated and honored women in ways many cultures never have.

However, Scripture also teaches that God created men and women with distinct responsibilities and complementary roles within the family and the church. The issue before the SBC is ultimately whether the Convention will uphold what it has historically believed the Bible teaches regarding the office of pastor.

According to Baptist Press, both candidates for President of the Convention, South Carolina pastor Josh Powell and Florida pastor Willy Rice, support the Amendment. Current President Clint Pressley has voiced his support as well.

Certainly, there is clear Scriptural authority that supporters state that they are standing on. But, as it’s been said, “the devil is in the details.” And, there have been plenty of details and “what if”-ing to go around.

But, it has become a contentious issue that can be a hindrance to the missions of the Convention and its people, among which are to strengthen believers and carry the presence of Christ throughout the earth. Fortunately, reasoned dialogue can bear much fruit, and the tone of this debate is commendable in most circles.

When we deal with the execution of that mission, there will be issues that arise from time to time - when an issue becomes divisive and will shift believers’ attention away from their Biblical mission, we must open our Bibles and engage in reasoned discussion.

Mohler, in the Kentucky Today piece, went as far as to liken the need for action to an issue three decades ago, saying: “Let me just remind Southern Baptists that a generation ago Southern Baptists took similar action on the LGBTQ issue, and since then it has not been an issue on the floor of the convention. So, for 30 years, we've been able to deal with other issues and move forward together, and it's exactly what we need on the question of pastors.”

But, in all things, when we face divisive issues, Scriptural authority must be sought and acted upon. Attempts to unify that don’t yield a Biblical outcome weaken the effectiveness of Christian bodies. We can demonstrate to the world the godly way that we as children of God settle our differences.

We have been called to honor God in all that we say, think, or do, and we should live our lives according to His principles. Our faithfulness as believers can spill out into the culture at large. The light of truth is a powerful force and when the light is shone, blinders can be removed from eyes and clarity can be found. The Bible says in Psalm 119 (ESV):

¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.

The decision was commonsense, but I am sure it shocked people who have long been involved in perpetrating the transgender agenda. As The Washington Stand reported: “The U.S. Department of Justice…announced a settlement with Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) in which the hospital not only committed to never again carry out gender transition procedures on minors, but also agreed to open the nation’s first detransitioner clinic and fully fund it for five years.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “The Justice Department will use every weapon at its disposal to end the destructive and discredited practice of so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ for children.”

This is yet another step against the trend to provide so-called “gender transitions,” better described as the use of harmful drugs and bodily mutilations in order to accomplish the false notion of changing one’s gender. Earlier this year, FoxNews.com reported: “Destransitioner influencer Chloe Cole discussed…the recent landmark medical ruling where another woman who de-transitioned won a $2 million malpractice suit against her former surgeon and psychologist.” In this case, “Fox Varian sued her medical providers for pushing to have a double mastectomy when she was 16 years old. The jury awarded her $1.6 million for past and future suffering as well as an additional $400,000 for future medical expenses.” Cole has filed her own lawsuit and believes the judgment in favor of Varian was “not nearly enough.”

And, as FoxNews.com reported recently, a 36-year-old Oregon woman, Camille Kiefel, who had a double masectomy after identifying as “non-binary,” “…filed a malpractice lawsuit against two Oregon therapists whom she alleges inappropriately approved her for the surgery after brief telemedicine sessions, despite her history of mental health diagnoses that included trauma, depression, suicidal ideation and ADHD.”

The Fox article went on to say: “…she says the surgery did not solve her gender distress and she detransitioned less than two years later. She said the surgery left her with lasting physical health complications and emotional and psychological harms. Her complaint brings claims of professional malpractice, intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraud.” She reached a confidential settlement with the providers.

The Fox story related, according to reporter Benjamin Ryan, “Kiefel is one of at least 30 detransitioners who have sued their healthcare providers over the past four years…”

In 2025, the President issued an Executive Order that stated: “…it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.” Since then, the Department of Health and Human Services has been taking steps to reduce and ultimately eliminate these types of treatments and surgeries.

“Gender-affirming care,” as it was called, is becoming less normalized. “Sex-rejecting surgeries” are being targeted for extinction. This affront to the plan of God for a person’s life, in which human beings are treated as laboratorial experiments, has been exposed for the fraud that it is.

Science should always be regarded the study of God’s creation and should always be used as a benefit for humanity. Unfortunately, the misuse of science in the area of sexuality has left behind a trail of people with broken bodies and broken spirits. God is present to heal, and His truth can show us how to properly, Biblically deal with people who are struggling in the area of gender.

The month of June has acquired quite the dubious distinction over the past few years, but there are new ideas to place a more positive outlook for the LGBT-themed “Pride Month” that has become so prevalent. When you consider that marriage and family are important concepts in the stability and success of a society, we should certainly extol those elements rather than ideologies that can cause families to deteriorate or to be redefined in an unbiblical manner. Paul wrote to the Colossians from a family-affirming perspective. Chapter 3 states:

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

As a CBN article reported, efforts to rename what is commemorated in the month of June include Sen. Ted Cruz’s suggested “Life Month,” in honor of the Dobbs decision. Or, the effort by the U.S. Department of Education, which last year began to recognize June at “Title IX Month.”

This year, the Tennessee Legislature passed, and Governor Bill Lee signed, a resolution declaring June to be “Nuclear Family Month.” CBN noted that…

The resolution replaces the celebration of LGBTQ "Pride Month" with the celebration of the nuclear family and rejects the harmful "ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and like-minded organizations that fight for population control through the means of promoting sterilization and abortion practices."

The article quotes co-sponsor, Rep. Bud Hulsey, who “defines the nuclear family as ‘one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children’ and declares it ‘God's design for familial structure.’"

The CBN piece also states:

Tennessee legislators are concerned that the trend of fatherless homes has led to dire consequences in America. The motion cites statistics acknowledging that fatherlessness leads to 60% of youth suicides, 71% of high school dropouts and 85% of youths in prison. It also points to a 2016 study by Peter Langman on the psychology behind 56 school shooters. It found 82% had been raised in an unstable family environment or without both biological parents.

An article on the website for Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center yields more statistical data:

Federal child well-being data shows that 37.1 percent of children residing with a single mother lived in poverty in 2021, compared to just 6.8 percent of children being raised by married parents. These same children struggle in academic settings, with lower grades, increased likelihood of being diagnosed with a learning disability, and higher dropout rates. And cities with the highest rates of single-parent households experience more crime: 255 percent higher homicide and 118 percent higher violence rates.

But, the article also rightly notes: “None of this should be read as a condemnation of faithful single mothers or fathers who sacrifice daily for their children. Many do heroic work under heavy burdens, but compassion for difficult circumstances must not require silence about God’s design or the social good of children being raised, whenever possible, by a married mother and father in a stable home.”

The article’s writer, Amanda C. Bauch, also states: “Public affirmation of marriage and the nuclear family sets a standard that can encourage people to invest in these institutions, whether through legislation that upholds them, nonprofits that serve them, or companies with policies that support them. And we as individuals can be inspired to confidently proclaim God’s truth about marriage and families, knowing that at least in Tennessee, our state government isn’t antagonistic toward our faith and values.”

The Bible relates in Genesis that God said it was not good for a man to be alone. The Bible says in Psalm 68:6: “God sets the lonely in families…” There is a purpose for marriage and for family, and God will use these dynamic institutions for His glory.

The data is clear, and we can and should understand that there are those who try to make the best out of challenging circumstances. But, there is something to be said for godly fathers and mothers raising their children and teaching them Biblical principles, modeling and encouraging them in the ways of Christ.

So, rather than buy into the misguided philosophy of so-called “pride,” meaning, “gay pride,” in which we should take no pride and certainly not endorse, we can look for ways to exalt God and His purposes. Tennessee legislators have decided to take a different path, and perhaps it is something God will use to draw people toward His truth.

The confusion that has crept into society and is continuing to manifest itself over matters of gender is an affront to God’s design. When we as a society reject His ways, it results in uncertainty and insecurity. We have to be forthright in building our lives on a strong foundation consistent with Scripture. Isaiah 28 states:

¹⁵ Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
and with Sheol we have an agreement,
when the overwhelming whip passes through
it will not come to us,
for we have made lies our refuge,
and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
¹⁶ therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
¹⁷ And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line…

But, when you open the door to special privileges based on the fallacy of “gender identity,” it leads to confusing circumstances like we’re seeing in California.

A track-and-field athlete named AB Hernandez has been dominating the girls’ competition in that sport in California. FoxNews.com, in partnership with Outkick, reported recently that Hernandez “…spent another weekend dominating girls' track and field competition, winning first place in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section finals on Saturday (as reported by Fox News Digital's Jackson Thompson).” The problem here is that Hernandez is male.

But, as The Christian Post reported, the CIF is piloting a program in which boys who compete in girls’ sports must share an award, stating: “The CIF pilot program allows female athletes to qualify for and compete in events alongside male athletes who identify as and compete as the opposite sex. The program also awards female athletes who finish behind trans-identifying athletes, which is why Hernandez shared first place with three girls.”

The Fox story quoted from Dana Perino, as she spoke with one of the competitors, Olivia Viola:

"Olivia, sorry for what you're going through. Riley Gaines posted this: 'If you have to create a shared podium for the boy competing in the girls' event, you've already admitted you know he isn't a girl and that his participation is unfair. At that point, you're just seeking a public humiliation ritual for the girls.'"

Viola rightly criticized the new policy: “I would say it's nothing but a band-aid fix from the athletic governing board. It doesn't actually undo all of the displacements that have happened throughout their entire league. It only applies to the final CIF meets. It doesn't apply to league, it doesn't apply to outside meets, it doesn't apply to other sports. It doesn't actually fix the problem; it's just a blanket to keep us quiet."

The Christian Post story reported that AB’s mother, Nereyda “Nena” Hernandez, was up in arms about the policy; she described herself as a “true American,” stating: “the Constitution protects ALL people, not just those we agree with, not just those who fit a certain belief system, and not just those who make others comfortable.” The story illustrates that the state was apparently trying to comply with the President’s “executive order banning trans-identified male athletes from women’s sports…,” he called that “situation ‘totally demeaning to women and girls.’”

In essence, as Concerned Women for America’s Hannah Lape called out in an interview on The Meeting House on Faith Radio, boys have essentially been “stealing” prize money from female athletes. The Christian Post noted:

According to a July 2025 report from the conservative advocacy group Concerned Women for America, trans-identifying male athletes have won more than 1,900 gold medals in women’s-only competitions.

The report compiled data documenting recorded instances dating back to the 1980s of males competing in female-only events. In addition to the 1,941 gold medals won by male athletes in women-only competitions, the athletes also claimed nearly $500,000 in prize money by competing in women’s sports.

Isaiah 5:20 states: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” The participation of males in female sports is an expression of this. It demeans the principles of God’s design and demeans the God-ordained uniqueness of one’s biological gender.

A society that is not built on God’s principles is ripe for confusion and chaos. This notion of so-called “gender identity” brings gender confusion and insecurity in the hearts and minds of individuals, who believe they can identify with another gender, because they believe their biological sex was incorrectly “assigned” to them at birth. But, the only “assignment” is from God Himself, and we have to appreciate the way we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

There are so many things that we encounter, perhaps even on a daily basis, that are unexplained. When confronted with the mysteries of the universe, we might seek an explanation, but find ourselves incapable or insufficient of truly being able to derive an answer. But, in some instances, we can rely on Biblical truth to help us to reason with the mysteries of life. In Proverbs 30, we discover the quest of a man named Agur:

¹⁸ Three things are too wonderful for me;
four I do not understand:
¹⁹ the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.

Greg Laurie, heard weekday afternoons on Faith Radio on “A New Beginning,” shared this recently online:

The Trump administration just released over 160 declassified government UFO files—photos, videos, FBI records, eyewitness testimony. Everything from strange lights photographed near the Apollo 17 moon landing to military infrared footage of objects doing things that no aircraft we know of can do. Moving at impossible speeds. Changing direction instantly. Hovering for hours, then shooting straight up and vanishing.

And, a group of pastors allegedly received a warning from the Trump Administration that the report about UFO’s was about to be released. The Daily Mail reported:

Perry Stone, a well-known evangelist, author and Bible teacher from Tennessee, warned that fellow pastors were recently invited to a secret meeting with US intelligence officials to prepare for the release of secret files on extraterrestrials.

According to Stone, the officials warned a small group of pastors with a large reach in the Christian community that the government was about to release reports and possibly videos of aliens and spacecraft which were not from this planet.

Stone and two others were quoted in the article, which said that those three “believe it will be part of a plot designed to pull people away from faith in Jesus.” The article says that, “The men compared it to what the Bible calls the ‘great deception’ in end times prophecies.” They “urged churches to get ready now so believers would not be shocked or deceived, but instead stay grounded in the Bible and their belief in Jesus when this ‘great deception’ arrives.”

The article even stated that Vice-President JD Vance was skeptical about the existence of aliens, saying he believed they were “demons.”

After seeing images that were released, Greg Laurie admitted to being unconvinced, but he also posed a rather challenging question: “Why do we always assume a UFO comes from another planet?” Laurie went on to say:

The moment someone spots something unexplained in the sky, the cultural default is immediately “aliens from outer space.” But what if the better explanation isn’t extraterrestrial—but extra-dimensional? What if what we’re dealing with isn’t from another planet, but from another realm entirely—the spiritual realm?

Think about it. As my friend Dr. Mark Hitchcock points out, the Bible tells us there are really only two categories of created beings with intelligence. Human beings—uniquely fashioned in the image of God—and angelic beings. And the angelic realm is not some vague, fuzzy concept in Scripture. It is highly organized. Paul writes of “principalities, powers, might and dominion.” There is rank. There is order. There is authority in the unseen world. And not all of it is on our side.

But, belief in aliens seems to be on the rise, according to data shared by noted Christian researcher Ryan Burge, who writes:

It’s certainly the case that the average American seems more open to the idea of alien encounters in 2021 compared to the same question asked six years earlier. For instance, about 70% of folks rejected the idea of contemporary alien encounters in 2015. In 2021, that had dropped by about five points. On the issue of an ancient visitation, things moved even more. Only 33% agreed that something like that had occurred in 2015 - that rose to 42% in data collected in 2021.

Within religious groups, Protestants seem to be warming to the idea of alien life. Burge notes, regarding to belief in aliens: “While just 22% of Protestants were in favor in 2015, that jumped to 32% in the 2021 survey. For Catholics that number was 45% - easily the most receptive religious group when it comes to the idea of aliens.”

For those who claim they believe the Bible is “Literally True,” in 2015, 55% strongly disagreed with the concept of alien “encounters” - that dropped to 37% in 2021. Meanwhile, those agreeing with the concept among that group rose 10 points over that 6-year span: from 14 to 24%. Add in those who “strongly agree,” and, as Burge writes, “The group that is most skeptical of extraterrestrials are biblical literalists. It was only 20% in agreement in 2015 and that rose to only 25% in the data from 2021.”

Regarding the concept of aliens visiting long ago, there is a distinct difference between those who are religious and the general public. Burge writes:

The numbers hover around 45-50% when considering the question of aliens visiting the United States in the ancient past. There does seem to be a consistently lower score on the question of aliens visiting in modern times.

But then we come to those in the sample who report attending religious services nearly every week or more. They are significantly less likely to believe aliens have visited Earth. For instance, only 24% of them say that aliens have visited in the ancient past. That’s about half the rate of those who attend once a month. Just 19% of weekly attenders say that aliens have visited Earth in modern times, again, that’s about half the rate of everyone else.

So, those who practice religion seem more receptive to the concept of alien life - now. But, I have to agree with Greg Laurie: if someone isn’t out there, there may be something out there. And, Ephesians 6 is quite plain about the existence of angelic and demonic beings.

Writing for Harbinger’s Daily, California pastor John Rodrigues states:

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is against unseen spiritual forces. 2 Thessalonians 2 warns that deceptive signs and wonders will characterize the last days. Jesus Himself repeatedly warned against deception preceding His return.

Because of this, Bible-believing Christians should view the UFO phenomenon not as evidence of benevolent extraterrestrials, but as part of a larger spiritual deception preparing the world for the end times.

Could such phenomena eventually help explain away the rapture of the church after millions of believers suddenly disappear? Wouldn’t this be ideal for the Evil One to keep the focus from turning to Christ and instead to national governments or maybe a world leader, i.e. antichrist?

We have to admit: there is more going on around us that what we can comprehend with our physical senses. God lives in our hearts and I believe that He is incredibly active around us. And, He has angelic beings to do His bidding and to wage war against the devil and his demons.

If we put on our spiritual glasses, while we may not “see” the unseen, we can at least perceive it and recognize its existence. Just as the archangel Michael was detained by a spiritual entity named the “Prince of Persia” from bringing an important message to Daniel, we can acknowledge the works of spiritual forces that afflict and affect our communities - for good and evil. When we experience concern over problems of crime in our cities, we recognize that is a manifestation of the human heart, for sure. And, it can be a product of spiritual forces that are at work to bring destruction and chaos. This is why we need to pray - individually and corporately - for our churches, neighborhoods, and communities.

Through the Faith Radio website, you can learn more about the “Light Our Community” initiative from His Vessel Ministries, encouraging believers to come together in their communities and pray. Prayer guides are available - you can find out more through FaithRadio.org or HisVessel.org.

As students close out the most recent school year, it is a good time to consider the influences on young hearts and minds that prey on this generation, bringing thoughts and ideas to bear that are toxic to them, ideas that are born out of a worldview that is contrary to Scripture, ideas that cut to the heart of basic principles for the structure and betterment of society. In Romans 1, we can read:

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

That’s a description of what is occurring throughout our culture. And, while there are efforts to stem the tide of regressive philosophies, there is still work to do.

One step was taken just last week. As Alliance Defending Freedom states online: “Marking a final chapter in the Biden administration’s attempt to rewrite Title IX, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit…dismissed the appeal filed by activist groups that tried to revive the previous administration’s rewrite of Title IX. The 5th Circuit filed the order after a Texas school district and the U.S. Department of Education agreed to the dismissal.” This is a response, as the website noted, to a 2024 effort to redefine the word, “sex,” referring to biological sex, consisting of two genders, to include gender identity, “requiring schools across the country to allow men into women’s restrooms, locker rooms, overnight accommodations, and showers.” ADF had an excellent track record in blocking these redefinition attempts.

One notable way in which the advancement of the LGBT agenda can be seen is through school curriculum. Although Mahmood v. Taylor gave parents a right to opt-out of objectionable curriculum, that means that the existence of the material continued.

Now, the DOJ is coming after LGBT curriculum policies in Illinois. Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center said that the Department had started an investigation “into 36 school districts to see if parents are being denied their constitutional authority to make decisions regarding the education and well-being of their children, including providing them the ability to opt their children out of SOGI instructional content.”

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, stated: “What we’ve learned is that Illinois has a comprehensive sex education and LGBTQ education regime for its public schools, and it appears that it does not allow for parental opt-outs, so these are mandatory topics…” The article went on to say:

The investigation is also expected to review policies regarding the use of student names and pronouns, student-run clubs centered on gender identity issues, and whether Illinois schools are complying with Title IX regarding bathroom access and locker rooms, as well as protections for girls’ athletic programs.

In addition, investigators will examine whether districts are helping students socially transition to the opposite gender and keeping it secret from parents, another issue recently addressed by the Supreme Court in Mirabelli v. Bonta, where the Court vacated the Ninth Circuit’s stay as to parents challenging California policies that prevented schools from informing parents about a child’s gender transition at school without the child’s consent.

Again, I think many Christians would reject the notion of any LGBT material being taught in schools. Period. But, at least the government is empowering parents to prevent their students from being exposed to harmful material that presents a warped view of sexuality, in contrast to what the Bible teaches. As the Center’s article notes, empowering parents is a Biblical concept. It notes:

The idea of parental rights is consistent with biblical order. The Bible states that the first duty of a parent is to bring up their children in a godly manner (Deuteronomy 6). Ensuring a child’s development throughout their formative years is closely tied to time spent at home with their family. When a child enters a school environment, the school does not “take over” their upbringing but rather adds to the parents’ responsibilities for their child.

I believe that the Bible is an absolutist book, containing absolute truth. And, when you consider how society should work, there is no place for the teaching of abhorrent ideas about gender and sexuality. But, we’ve come so far down this path that moves in the opposite direction are welcome. And, as Pride Month is about to be upon us, we can see progress that is being made to eliminate the vestiges of this faux “celebration” from our culture. But, what will ultimately win the day is the advancement of Biblical truth, lived out by His people and empowered by the love of Christ.

It’s not a matter of human liberty to do one’s own thing - it’s a matter of what is best for a well-ordered, moral society. LGBT ideas are not just a matter of personal choice - they matter to society at large. As Justice Kennedy wrote in his opinion in Obergefell, there were concerns over how those who oppose gay marriage will be affected by this cultural shift. But, he affirmed the ruling anyway.

From harmful transition surgeries to boys in girls sports, from people being forced to accept a lifestyle with which they disagree to the endorsement of lewd behavior, this is a revolution that does not reflect God’s best. So many LGBT activists demand acceptance - it’s not a personal choice for every individual, and that “take no prisoners” viewpoint has perhaps soured people on what many thought was an enlightened movement. It’s been reduced to a pathetic power grab by people who reject God’s standards. We must pray that God will change hearts and that the power of truth will reverse the deterioration we have experienced.

The summer season does give many the opportunity to enjoy God’s creation. We should remember that the creation reflects the Creator, and we don’t have to look too far to see His handiwork all around us. Including in the mirror. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 40 (ESV):

²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
and because he is strong in power,
not one is missing.

²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.

The former President Theodore Roosevelt, said this in 1903: “In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world,” adding, “I shall not attempt to describe it, because I cannot. I could not choose words that would convey or that could convey to any outsider what that canyon is.”

He is quoted in a USA Today article that states:

Today, looking down at the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon, the awesome views leave visitors in wonder at how and when it was created. A study published April 16 in the journal Science provides one answer.

The article surmises: “…the Colorado River − which did not always flow through the Grand Canyon region − may have begun to carve its path through it after an ancient lake overflowed roughly 5.6 million years ago.” OK, so, as the article notes, “…their findings suggest lake spillover was the primary process establishing the Colorado River’s course through the Grand Canyon.”

Well, I think they got the overflow right, but it was of a different sort - described in this way, “all the fountains of the great deep burst forth…” Oh, “and the windows of the heavens were opened.” Those are references from Genesis 7 about the worldwide flood that was sent by God to the earth as an act of divine judgment - He preserved the righteous man, Noah, and his wife, daughters, and sons-in-law.

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis tells a better narrative, writing on X:

Water, in all its destructive power, can sometimes create things of beauty even in a fallen world, and that’s exactly what happened at the Grand Canyon. The catastrophic erosion caused by the global flood and post-flood world formed the masterpiece we see today.

Like the trickle of a small stream, the Colorado River that cuts through the canyon today is a small reminder of the powerful force of water that forged this landmark less than five thousand years ago (as a consequence of the Genesis Flood).

There is so much to learn from this canyon. It testifies to our Creator, confirms the flood account in Genesis, and gives a powerful demonstration of the chaos of the post-flood world.

He went on to recommend expeditions into the canyon that are conducted by Canyon Ministries, in partnership with Answers in Genesis.

We don’t need to miss this - creation points to the Creator and reflects His reality. As Psalm 19 reminds us, the heavens declare the glory of God. I believe that science is the study of God’s handiwork. And, through science, we learn more and more about our Creator God.

When science attempts to explain the natural world without a supernatural foundation, i.e. apart from God, it can provide some erroneous conclusions. Just think about some of the mistakes that have been perpetrated in the name of “science.” The scientific community took a big “L” during the time of COVID. There are those scientists that believe there are multiple genders. And, science practiced incorrectly can produce incorrect theories regarding origins - science still, to my knowledge, hasn’t produce a “missing link” between species.

Look back and see who are some of the famous names in science and examine their faith story - from Carver to Newton, Pascal to Pasteur - you can find evidence that these are men of faith who applied their belief in the divine to their studies of science. Our belief in God, our faith in Christ, should govern our approach to the way we process information and how we interact with science.

Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to reflect, to remember, as the name of the day suggests. We can think about the sacrifices of those who have served - what they did and why they did it: emboldened by a sense of purpose and fighting for a cause bigger than themselves. America is a land of freedom, and people have died in order that we might practice those freedoms, including the expression of our faith.

The Israelites were given a special “memorial day,” according to Exodus 12, which says:

¹⁴ “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

¹⁵ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

¹⁶ On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

When we observe the death, burial and resurrection of our Passover Lamb in communion, we are remembering the sacrifice of our Savior.

Memorial Day is full of incredible stories of humans who laid down their lives. We remember Jesus said in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Walt Larimore is known as a Christian physician - his work can be found with Focus on the Family and other publications. He wrote a book a few years back called, At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse. He featured a portion of it on his website.

Larimore wrote:

For frontline soldiers like my father, the war was indescribably horrible. I also knew that Dad’s right leg had been amputated only one month before the end of the war, so it made sense why he never wanted to talk about how he lost his limb.

Then, on his 50th wedding anniversary in 1999, we were sitting together when I casually mentioned to him that I had been asked to preach a Fourth of July sermon at our church on the topic “Freedom Isn’t Free.” I wondered if he might tell me a little more about his adventures during the war years.

His dad fought in Europe among 2 million others - some 550,000 suffered casualties in that theatre; 100,000 lost their lives. He lost his leg in a counterattack to a German offensive, Larimore said, “…as he was laying down suppressing fire, an excruciating jolt of searing agony shot up his right leg. He hit the ground, groaning. Despite unbearable pain, Dad managed to roll himself into a shallow ditch.” He went on to say:

Scores of Germans, firing as fast as they could while screaming at the top of their lungs, were rushing toward him. When the Nazi soldiers were only 20 to 30 yards away, Dad lowered his head and played dead. Within seconds, the enemy soldiers leaped over the ditch and kept running.

His commander found him, close to death, as dusk fell. The surgeons saved his life but not his leg.

At the hospital, a chaplain told him: “Son, your wound will either make you a bitter person or a better person. It will either harden your heart or soften it. You will either be a person changed for the worse or one who chooses to make the world better. In my opinion, the worst disability in life isn’t being disabled; it’s being disabled with a bad attitude. The Germans smashed your leg, but don’t let them shatter your heart, your talents, your gifts, your will, or your faith in God and His plan for you. The choice is really up to you.”

Philip Larimore went on to serve the Lord in student ministry. Walt recalls that, “Dad reached into his wallet and pulled out and unfolded a piece of paper. ‘This is what I came to believe in combat,’ he said.” The paper said:

No shell or bomb can on me burst, except my God permit it first.
Then let my heart be kept in peace;
His watchful care will never cease.
No bomb above, nor mine below, need cause my
heart one pang of woe.
The Lord of Hosts encircles me; He is the Lord of earth and sea.

In the closing words of that segment, Walt Larimore wrote:

My dad taught me that true spiritual faith — a true relationship with God the Father, through the sacrifice of Jesus — is manifested in our being controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit in such a way that any true faith fills and overflows from our hearts and into our actions. True faith, he would say, is not merely worn on one’s shirt sleeve.

Dad’s prayers began to change. He asked for God’s guidance through the storms instead of a miraculous rescue from them. He prayed for a sense of peace to reign in his heart.

Philip Larimore didn’t believe himself to be a hero, but he certainly was - to his son and to those around him. His bravery and devotion are character traits that we can seek to emulate in our lives. But, most of all, we can demonstrate through our witness our devotion to Jesus Christ.

And, that involves putting others first; we are placed on this earth for a reason, and self-centeredness will short-circuit the work that God wants to do through us. We remember the words of our Savior about His love - that greater love - that will motivate us to sacrifice for others.

Want to do something heroic? We should want to bring honor and glory to God, not for our own fame, but for his. The true heroes are those who love the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly, who love their spouses and families well, who seek to be a light to the people around them. Through God’s grace and strength, we can exemplify who He is in and through us.

The institution of marriage, which dates back to the first man and woman on this earth, is an essential building block for a society and an example of the love that our Savior has for His bride, the Church. God provides the resources for marriages to last, to be strong, and to reflect His presence. In Ephesians 5 (ESV), Paul includes a quote from the book of Genesis, and writes:
31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ”
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Noted marriage researcher Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies at the University of Virginia posted this on X recently in response to a Wall Street Journal article on rate of divorce and its consequences:

Hey, @WSJ, why not tell your readers that

✔️ Divorce is down
✔️ Most marriages go the distance now
✔️ Great programs exist to help couples navigate marital distress/failure successfully

?

He posted a chart that showed that in 2021, the rate of newly divorced people per 1000 Americans was 13.6 percent. That is lower than every census year since 1960. The IFS website noted in an article from last year: “Prior to the divorce revolution, less than a third of marriages ended in divorce. But the cultural transformation of the 1960s and 1970s radically changed the stability of American unions. It’s from such marriages, formed during the heyday of hippies through the MTV era, that we get the idea that 50% of marriages end in divorce. And it’s this picture of marriage that has been pressed into the American understanding of the fate of newlyweds.” The article goes on to say:

Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we found that new marriages are stronger today than every decade since the 1950s. While new marriages in the 2000s initially resembled those from the 1990s, divorce rates slowed down after 5 years into marriage. By 20 years in, marriages in the 2000s were performing similarly to those from the 1960s.

Wilcox and his associates in this IFS article also address what is called “gray divorce:” the phenomenon of older people ending their marriages. They write: “When ‘gray divorce’ is analyzed today, it is those marriages formed during the turbulent years of the divorce revolution often being observed. Consider that over half of married adults over the age of 60 wedded in the 1970s and 1980s. When we look at heightened divorce rates among older Americans, we are seeing, in part, the long tail of the 20th-century upheaval. The stability of new marriages suggests this revolution is over.”

The same day last summer that this article was released, The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family released an article about the ministry’s report, Marriage Health in America, which said that “74% of marital relationships in the U.S. may be considered as healthy.” Focus on the Family President Jim Daly noted that “even more significant, the percentage of healthy marriages increases to an amazing 82% when we narrowed down our findings to those who are deeply committed to the Christian faith. Without question, living by one’s Christian convictions makes a difference...”

The study also noted that, “21% of marriages may be considered in a state of crisis — where the couple is pursuing divorce or considering divorce or just have no hope for the marriage. Convictional Christians were found to experience the lowest rate of a crisis state...”

So, for Christian married couples, there is great hope. When we come together in a relationship that is centered on the love we have for Him and for one another - true, unselfish Christlike love, that can contribute to a marriage going the distance.

And, the cultural trends concerning marriage that IFS and Focus report shows that the conditions for marriage are advantageous for couples in staying together. The idea that marriages are fragile and temporary and that the divorce rate is skyrocketing can lessen a sense of confidence that a couple can actually stay together. These trends now show the societal conditions have changed.

When we build our marriages and families on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, we can be confident that He goes with us and by His love and power, we have the spiritual resources to exemplify Him in our homes.

When we see injustice around us, as believers in Christ, how should we respond? When there are gross offenses against human life and there are behaviors that violate Scripture, is the loving thing to do to just say, “it’s gonna be OK,” or is the truly loving thing to actually tell the truth? We should always strive to be truth tellers and we should be willing to call out sin and injustice where we see it. Proverbs 24 offers these sobering words (ESV):

¹¹ Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹² If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?

Brandon Gill is a Congressman from Texas. He is a truth-teller and believes that his role as a representative of his constituents is to call out behavior that does not comport with his Biblical worldview perspective. Recently, in a Congressional hearing about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act, he quizzed a witness, a professor, who is an advocate of abortion. Her name is Jessica Waters, Director of the American University School of Public Affairs Leadership Program. As The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family reported it, from a YouTube video:

In challenging Professor Waters’ characterization of abortion as routine healthcare, Rep. Gill asked the witness about her favorite type of abortion.

“I am an advocate for patients having access to the full realm of reproductive health care,” she replied.

Rep. Gill pressed on.

“But do you have a preferred method of abortion that you like?”

Professor Waters answered she didn’t have a favorite method.

Rep. Gill then proceeded to describe some of those methods…

He asked her about a suction abortion, a dilation and curettage, or D&C abortion, and a saline abortion. All designed to kill the life of an unborn child. After asking her about the third type and being rebuffed by her prepared “talking points,” referred to by the article, Gill said, “I wouldn’t want to talk about this either if I were you because it is barbaric and evil…”

As Paul Batura, writer of the Daily Citizen article noted, “There are some who might think Rep. Gill’s line of questioning was unnecessarily provocative, but his bluntness was desperately needed and helpful. The cruel and coldblooded murder of innocent children has become so commonplace in America that many have become numb to the reality of what is actually going on inside abortion clinics.”

We have to look at actions in our country, such as the taking of human life - born and unborn, the redefining of Biblical principles regarding sexuality - homosexual and heterosexual, and the poison that the enemy has deposited in the hearts and minds of individuals to sin against Almighty God in manifold ways. We have to call sin sin and recognize evil for what it is. We should use terms like “good” and “evil” and not try to soften the definitions. Sure, there is a place for compassion, but perhaps in the name of being compassionate, we end up being way too comfortable and make others comfortable in their sin.

We have to make sure that we are not comfortable in our own sin. Or allow cowardice to replace confidence in God. There is spiritual warfare taking place, the battle lines are clear, people are not the enemy, and greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.