Applying The Bible to Our Culture and World

These are the opinions of Jeff Phillips, pastor of an inner city Southern Baptist church in the heart of the bible belt. These views do not represent Woodfield Park Baptist Church, Ashley my wife, our 3 dogs or 3 cats.







Saturday, August 8, 2015

Donald Trump is Mad As Hell and He's Not Going to Take It Anymore

In 1976 one of the finest movie satires ever was made, it was called Network. With an all-star cast led by William Holden and Faye Dunaway, and including Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty, it centered around a network news anchor who was about to be fired. Peter Finch played the newscaster, Howard Beale, and took home the Oscar that year for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film garnered Best Picture in 1977. In the film, Beale is given his two weeks notice, and after threatening suicide on air, is given one last show to say goodbye with dignity. Instead, he speaks candidly, emotionally and profanely about what he is feeling, and his ratings go through the roof.  He yells at the end, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

As I've watched the rise of Donald Trump to front runner status in the Republican Party Presidential Race, I've been trying to make sense as to why this billionaire, former reality TV star, has connected with so many people. Even his opponents acknowledge he's hit on a nerve in our culture. Tonight, it came to me as to why Trump is so popular. Donald Trump is Howard Beale.

He speaks from with no filter in utter bluntness; emotionally with little detail and often illogically; he hurls insults at any who oppose him; and people love him. Donald Trump is screaming the mantle that so many in our nation feel, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore," and Trump has become their voice.

People are angry with Washington, with elected leaders who stand for nothing and get rich. With leaders who say one thing in the election cycle and do another when they take office and vote. People are angry we have a sieve for a Southern border, and Donald Trump says he'll build a wall. Heck, he could pay for it! People are angry their wages are stuck in neutral and Trump trumps his "art" of making the deal as a businessman and says he'll beat China and others in trade negotiations which suppress wages. People are angry that third rate nations like Iran seemingly squeeze us at the negotiating table; angry we can't call a terrorist a terrorist; angry that freedom of speech is being squelched by political correctness; angry that baby parts are being sold for profit; and you know what? People have a right to be angry about many if not all these things! Donald Trump has come out with the attitude that these politicians are all stupid and you need a guy like me to fix these things, and people are eating it up.

His latest dust up with FOX anchor Megyn Kelly has led Trump to his crudest level yet. He feels FOX targeted him unfairly, and he may be right, and he's lashed out on Twitter and in interviews with his usual, filter less banter. FOX apparently was flooded with tweets, Facebook responses and emails trashing them for their unfairness to Trump, and Trump is playing to that, and might actually gain in the polls, even acting like a 12 year old who had their cell phone taken away for the weekend. The debate itself drew the largest ratings of any political debate ever, any non-sports cable show ever, as 24 million people tuned in. They tuned because of Trump! People watched to see just what he would say, just as they did Howard Beale in Network. It was theatre at it's finest, and Trump didn't disappoint.

Network was a satire, but this is playing out in real life! I'm not sure that's a good thing, but it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Trump, crass and boorish as he is, speaks the truth in at least one regard, maybe more. When he says one of our nations biggest problems is political correctness, he's absolutely right! The First Amendment guarantees us freedom of speech, it does not guarantee us the right not to be offended by another persons words. Now words have consequences, and in the past, society policed that by correcting or ignoring the offender. Nowadays, we run playing the victim card crying we've been offended, and freedom of speech is limited if not erased. That is most definitely not a good thing! Maybe through this Trump candidacy the oppression of political correctness can be lifted, at least for a while.

In Network, Howard Beale struck that chord with a fed up public. Donald Trump is doing exactly the same thing. Things didn't end to well for Beale in the movie, and my suspicion is they won't for Trump either. Now, I pray he doesn't meet Beale's fate(he was murdered on air), and hope that's not morbid even to mention. But eventually, if this continues, Trump will go to far. Beale was known as the "Mad Prophet of the Airwaves," and Trump certainly could be called the "Mad Prophet of the 2016 Election." He's speaking to peoples frustrations and they are responding with remarkable loyalty. They are fed up! They aren't going to take it anymore! And until someone else learns that and Trump's mantle is passed to them, they aren't likely going anywhere soon.

I'm not a Trump supporter, but I do hope this nerve that he has so vividly exposed is responded to. We need truth and we need honesty, and people are craving that from their leaders and they do not feel they are getting it. If our leaders were to respond to that, Trump will have done a great good for the country.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Things That Have Irritated Me Lately

OK, maybe that's not the best title for a blog from a pastor. Let's call it "Things That Have Troubled Me Lately." Nah, I'm not really troubled by them. They don't cost me sleep at night. Maybe, "Things That Confuse Me Lately." Nope, I don't think I'm confused. Is it OK for a pastor to get irritated? I hope so. Being irritated doesn't mean I dislike someone or don't respect them. It simply means I strongly disagree with many things I've seen lately and they get under my skin. So long as I don't lash out, I feel that's OK. So here goes, hopefully in the proper spirit.

It irritates me when I see people say the Confederate flag has been banned. It has not been banned, it was removed from statehouse grounds. You still have the freedom to fly it wherever you want personally. If that freedom is ever challenged, I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with you.

It irritates me when I see Christians share anything on social media as if it's the gospel truth. Where is our discernment? Every time we share a half truth we share an untruth. Every time we share something that is misrepresentative, we promote a lie. There will be plenty of truth to share in the coming days, let's make sure what we share can be backed up by facts and scripture. We destroy our credibility when we share things that have no basis in truth.

It irritates me how little people know about history, and even current events. We seem to read only opinion we agree with, and again take what is said as absolute truth. Their are two sides to every story, and this includes history. The truth is almost always found somewhere in the middle.

It irritates me how many Christians are biblically illiterate or simply don't care what the bible actually says. It is not your preacher's fault if you know nothing of the bible. We are to feed ourselves the word. If we do that, we'll quickly realize if we are in a church that proclaims the truth, or does not. Then we face the decision, stay or leave. If the only "bread" you receive is on Sunday morning, you are probably biblically illiterate. "Study to show yourself approved." Question everything you are taught compared to scripture. Leave room for disagreement on non-essential matters, but stand firm on the primary things. We can't do this unless we know the primary things.

It irritates me that football season is still seven weeks away. My how I long for some harmless entertainment and good natured ribbing.

It irritates me when I see Christians in America say how persecuted we are. Seriously? We can watch ISIS beheading any who disagree with them, read of Christian pastors held captive and facing death for standing in their faith, know the factual history of the black person or American Indian in our country, know the history of the Holocaust, and seriously claim we are currently being persecuted? It grieves me how unprepared many Christians are for real persecution, and it is almost certainly coming. If any of the disciples or Jesus responded the way some do to the world being against them or not getting their way, we would have no basis for a faith to live our lives by. And when it does come, realize we were told we must endure these things. Told to take joy in them. I don't see much joy from Christians in many things these days. I see fear. We're told to "fear God," and nothing else. "Consider it pure joy." We are not victims. "The servant is not greater than the Master."

It irritates me that the "Dukes of Hazzard" HAS been banned from TV Land. Now that folks is overreaction. It does not irritate me Walmart no longer sells the Confederate flag. I rejoice for the small business owners who will reap the benefits of this. Walmart has run to many small businesses out of business. That said, everything else about Walmart irritates me ;-)

It irritates me how freely we throw around terms like racist, bigot, hater. Like heretic or false teacher in Christian circles. Are their people who are racist, or bigots, or who truly hate? You bet there are. Are there people who deny the faith and are true heretics and false teachers? Absolutely. But because we disagree about something does not make me or you one of these things. Racists are easy to spot, as are people who are bigots or who hate. Heretics and false teachers are as well if we know the essentials of the faith. Labeling people with false claims only divides and stirs unrest.

It irritates me I fall short as a pastor, as a husband, as a brother, as a friend. That I fall short as a Christian.

You see, that's the thing about irritation. It should be two-fold. If we think we won't be irritated by things from the outside, that things will always be as WE want them, well, we set ourselves up to be miserable. We'll find little joy or comfort. What we must do however is deal with those "planks" in our own eyes. Irritation means we pay attention to something. We scratch a mosquito bite. I think it would do all of us good, and most certainly myself, to pay more attention to those things in my life that are an irritant on the inside. This won't mean things on the outside won't irritate me, that they are unimportant, but I have little to no control over those things. I can scratch those bites I personally feel.

Paul tells us to "examine yourselves." You know what, that irritates me. But that's not a bad thing.




Monday, June 22, 2015

Let's Talk About the Flag

Romans 14:19, "Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."

I'll state from the beginning here this blog is meant in particular for those of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ.

In the wake of the mass murder of nine our our brothers and sisters in Christ last Wednesday in Charleston, what we have seen is nothing short of miraculous. Here in South Carolina, the body of Christ has come together in the unifying power of the Holy Spirit like no other time I can recall. Yes, after 9/11, we saw our churches filled, but that was an American thing. The attacks on our nation that day unified our nation for a short while, but within weeks of the attacks, our churches were back to normal, and the unity we shared shortly thereafter vanished.

And while these nine lives that were lost on Wednesday were definitely blood shed over racist motives, it was also, importantly, an attack upon the church. And the church has responded as only the church can. The church is not of itself, it is of Christ. And when we see the unity we have seen since last Wednesday, we know that it is a work of the Spirit. This work of the Holy Spirit was given an exclamation point by the inspiring denial of self by the victims of the families themselves. In the most God honoring display of Christian love, grace and mercy I have ever witnessed, these families looked the murderer of their loved ones in the eyes, and told him they love him and forgive him. Friends, only the Holy Spirit inside of us can do that!

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions that has left me drained. But in spite of the senseless violence that started this, its is the work of God through His people that has left an indelible impression. This is what Christ's church is supposed to look like, and it has been beautiful.

But I fear, much like 9/11, the unity could be fleeting. The question for us as believers here in South Carolina is this: Will we allow a flag to divide us, and thus quickly snuff out the work of the Holy Spirit we have seen?

I'm not going to get in to the points that are made in regards to the Confederate Battle Flag of Northern Virginia representing heritage, the standing for states rights that many see it representing, or any of the other things that have been bandied about for countless years in our state. I will concede all of them. I respect your view and what the flag represents to you.

But what if this flag means something else to another? And it does. Of that there is no doubt. As a believer in Christ, is it worth it to hold to your strongly held feelings and appreciation of heritage, yet offend your brother and sister in Christ? Is that the path Christ would have us take? Will that in any way further the kingdom of God?

Unity is something we see far to little of in the church. Instead of edifying, building each other up, as scripture compels us to do, we seem incapable of getting out of our own way, and in the process we tear down each other, and quench the work of the Holy Spirit. Instead of the peace that should define us, we quibble over things that have no bearing on the work of the church on this earth.

Unity is maintained through a basic scriptural principle, and that principle is humility. Christ is our model in humility, the One who "humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Humility is the essence of denying ourselves, something Jesus tells us all of His disciples will do. Are those of us who hold the flag as something we value in regards to our heritage willing to humble ourselves for the sake of unity and the greater good of the body of Christ at large?

If we cannot see that this flag issue that has hung over our state for years and years is about to reach a defining moment, then I believe we are hiding from reality. Criticism of the flag is about to erupt from all sides of the political and religious spectrum, and it is already dividing us. It may be knocked off the front pages of the news when the gay marriage ruling from the Supreme Court comes down, or another story captures the interest of the media, but when legislation is presented late this year to remove the Confederate Battle Flag, it will surely rise up like a gasoline fueled fire. Judging by conversations I've seen on social media, the emotions in regards to the flag are still at a fever pitch. Emotions like that will crush the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Those emotions are not based in the Holy Spirit, but rather the flesh. And the bible tells us that those two are contrary, are opposed, to one another.

This, for us Christians, cannot be a political issue. We cannot look at those who we agree or disagree with politically for our basis in how we proceed here. This is a matter of what is best for the body of Christ! It is a time for humility! And we, the church, are the one's who should be leading in this.

We really only have two choices. We can embrace the things we say we hold so dear; grace, and mercy and love, and humble ourselves so as not to offend our brothers and sisters in Christ. Or, we can dig our heels in and watch this unifying movement of the Holy Spirit I believe we have all rejoiced in quickly disappear.

To you. my brothers and sisters, who value the flag and what it means to you, I ask you consider this. Consider the humility exhibited by those families when they gazed upon the one who murdered their loved ones. The strength that took. The denying of self. Can we do that for those who do not see things as we do?

Removing the flag from our statehouse grounds will not end racism. Racism is sin, and will be with us until Jesus returns. It will not end murder, or hatred, or even divisions in the church. They are all sin. But Jesus tells us; "Blessed are the peacemakers." We have the opportunity to be just that right now.

I'll be honest with you. I'd really like to see what God would do in our state if that were to happen.

Friday, June 19, 2015

I'm Proud of My State

Romans 12:19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord."

By now the whole nation knows the name Dylann Roof and the senseless, evil act he perpetrated upon nine innocent people who had gathered to pray and study the bible in Charleston, SC on Wednesday night. These eight church members and their pastor most certainly welcomed him in to their midst and he reportedly sat with them for close to an hour before raining down a hail of bullets that ended their lives. We've seen this type of scene repeated in our nation many times in the last twenty five years; in schools, theatres, on army bases, at shopping centers. It's never easy to digest. The human soul is indeed capable of despicable wickedness.

But at Emanuel AMC Church on Wednesday a different component was thrown in to the mix. The shooter was a young white male and all of the victims were black. Some news reports are stating that those who did survive are saying racial comments were made by the shooter. A picture in the news of Dylann Roof  wearing a jacket with flags from Rhodesia and South Africa's apartheid era seems to confirm his racial bigotry. The crime was pursued from the outset as a hate crime. In this time of stirring racial unrest, the worst atrocity yet had been committed. And this in a state where a police officer in the same area was recently videoed gunning down an unarmed black male. A state with a long, troubled history in race relations.

If the rest of our nation is a barometer for how this type situation should play out, we should be seeing a city on fire with riots and looting being met by heavily armed police forces in riot gear. Tensions and division should be overflowing and the aftermath should be dominating the twenty four hour news cycle. We've seen this scene play out to many times in the last year; in Ferguson, MO; in New York; and most recently in Baltimore. Crimes perceived as racially motivated are responded to by civil unrest and further tragedy results. But here, in South Carolina, where the Civil War began and the Confederate battle flag still flies on state house grounds, the seemingly normal script has not played out. Here, in South Carolina, another script is being written. One that I pray others will see and learn from.

Instead of riots and looting, with blacks in standoffs with police and racial hatred boiling over like grease unattended on the stove bursting in to flames, we've seen unity in opposition to evil. We've seen white and black joined together in prayer and ministry, We've seen cries from leaders, both faith based and political, to come together, and so far, we have. We've seen God glorified as His people have rejected the need for vengeance and instead come together in His name. We've seen grace and mercy, and yes, even forgiveness, in the face of a seemingly unforgivable act. We've seen the seeds for healing planted that could bear fruit far beyond this current, tragic situation.

What we've seen so far is remarkable, but I have reservations. We know that Satan is "like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour," and we've seen the enemy of all mankind use situations just like this to pit people against each other. We must be vigilant and on guard as he will seek to fan the flames and ignite this in to another Ferguson or Baltimore. I have concerns any time I see racial profiteers such as Al Sharpton are arriving on the scene. I know their are instigators out there who thrive on creating chaos from tragedies just like this. This is not over I fear.

But for right now, instead of holy rage, we have seen a work of the Holy Spirit. Instead of mistrust and hatred, we've seen unity and Christian love. You see, these weren't just African-Americans who were murdered, they were Christians practicing their faith. They were brothers and sisters to millions in this state, and the blood that was senselessly shed Wednesday night was bound together with those millions by the blood of Christ,

In South Carolina, like everywhere, we are far from perfect. Yes, we have racism. We have discrimination. We have a history of judging a person by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. But South Carolina, for all it's warts, also has a population that is still gathered around Jesus for the most part, certainly far more than many places. Faith is ingrained in our culture, and it is faith that has subdued the accompanying troubles that a scene like this often produces.

I'm proud of my state.

Let us pray we persevere in faith and resist the devil so that he will flee.


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Should Christians Bake the Cake?

2 Kings 5:18-19, "Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes in to the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing. Then he(Elisha) said to him(Naaman), 'Go in peace.' So he departed from him a short distance."

Anyone who has watched the news over the last few days has heard of the controversy now occurring in Indiana over a state law known as RFRA(Religious Freedom Restoration Act). This sort of law, also present in 20 other states including right here in South Carolina, builds on a federal law passed by a bipartisan congress in 1993 which allows for among other things the right of a business or individual the legal standing to refuse a service to someone on the basis of the right to practice freedom of religion. These state laws allow for a judicial principle known as "strict scrutiny" in regards to state laws not covered by the federal bill. In other words, if charged with something like discrimination, the person charged has a right to have the case reviewed in light of their religious beliefs.

Many times over the years these laws have prevented religious discrimination against individuals in regards to practicing the tenants of their faith, and have been applied to many faiths, not just Christianity. The most famous case in regards to these laws was the Hobby Lobby case where that Christian company was arguing they could choose not to provide some forms of post-conception birth control based upon their religious faith and view that life begins at conception, and to terminate the baby was in fact terminating a child, albeit unborn. The Supreme Court ruled that such closely-held corporations as Hobby Lobby did in fact have the right based upon faith based beliefs to limit forms of birth control issued through the insurance they provided for employees.

But now, the challenge to RFRA's has moved in to the ever intensifying battleground over same sex marriage. In several instances across our nation private businesses owned by Christians have been held guilty of discrimination when refusing to bake a cake for a same sex wedding. These state RFRA's are a response to such judicial decisions to protect the rights of faith based businesses. But is this the wisest way to proceed in such circumstances?

Understand, I believe that a Christian's first duty is to God, even if this means violating the laws of the land. Scripture such as Acts 5:29 clearly instructs us we are to "obey God" and His commands over the laws of man, and when they conflict, we choose God. I certainly understand the reluctance of these Christian bakers to bake these cakes for fear of endorsing a same sex union which we believe scripture clearly teaches is against nature and called sin by God. But is there a better way, and a way in which God approves of our actions, apart from defying a law against discrimination? Does the bible provide another path? I believe so.

In the scripture that begins this blog we see the wonderful story of the Syrian commander Naaman and his healing from leprosy. Leprosy is a stark symbol for sin in the bible. Just as leprosy disfigures the body making one unrecognizable, so sin does to us in the eyes of God. We are disfigured by sin and unrecognizable in regards to humanity which was created in the image of God. While a true account of a miracle from God through Elisha the prophet, the story illustrates the magnificent power of God to cleanse us of our sin, which has made us unrecognizable and an outcast before God, just as the leper was an outcast from the society in which they dwelt in biblical times. The leper was unclean, just as we are in our sin apart from Christ.

Here, after his miraculous healing, Naaman approaches Elisha and asks an interesting question. Being a Syrian and a Gentile, and also a servant to the king of Syria, when Naaman returned to his native land, he would be required to accompany the king to worship of the pagan god Rimmon. With his king at his side, Naaman would be required to bow down to a god he now knew was false(v.15). Being a Syrian there was no way for him to avoid this. Knowing this was against the law of the God of Israel, and the first of the Ten Commandments, to have no other God before Him, Naaman asks Elisha, and in effect God, if God would pardon him for having to bow down to this idol. I think we should pay close attention to the response of Elisha for Naaman to "Go in peace" in verse 19. God here, has basically said, I understand your situation Naaman, and I know your heart, while your body may be bowed to the useless idol, I know your heart is not. I believe this is a scriptural principle that may be the best way to handle the situations these Christian bakers, and surely others, are facing and will face in the future.

As the Supreme Court will take up the gay marriage issue in earnest late this spring, I believe we are on the verge of the issue being declared legal nationwide. While the court may not issue a direct ruling, I personally believe what comes from the court will basically make gay marriage the law of the land, meaning all states would be forced to recognize these unions as legal. Should this happen, businesses such as these bakeries, even though their objection would be based upon their faith, would be legally guilty of discrimination and subject to punishment under the law. I wish the future held something different, but honestly cannot foresee it.

If this happens, Christians may feel the need to act upon the words of the bible such as cited in Acts 5:29, to obey God rather than man. But is baking a cake for a same sex marriage actually condoning the union? In 2 Kings, Naaman was allowed to participate in something that scripture does prohibit as he had no choice. God knew that Naaman was now a true convert in his faith, and allowed for him to bow down to the pagan idol. Naaman in no way was endorsing Rimmon as god in doing so, as his faith now resided in the God of Israel. He was simply following the law of his land.

So how should Christians handle these situations as they most certainly arise in the future? Personally, I'd bake the cake. God knows our heart and knows we in no way condone or endorse something He has called sin, but if this does indeed become law, we would have no choice. I believe we should bake the cake, and witness of Jesus. Tell the couple who desires the cake of God's love for them and His desire to cleanse them of their sin, just as He cleansed Naaman of his leprosy. Reveal the scripture that identifies their lifestyle as sin and share the gospel that through faith and by God's grace, they to can be forgiven, saved and changed. They can be a Holy Spirit indwelt, born again, new creation in Christ with the power to overcome their sin, just as we overcome ours, through Jesus.

The outcome will likely be one of two things: either they will rebuff the word and leave of their own accord, or they will hear the truth of how they can be delivered from their sin and the certain judgment and wrath of God that will greet all apart from the cleansing power of Jesus. While refusing service to someone with a lifestyle we feel violates our faith may become illegal, sharing our faith is still perfectly legal, especially if we own the business. No law can prohibit me from sharing Jesus in a business I own, at least not yet.

Now if the government does one day prohibit sharing the gospel as the Pharisees attempted to do with the disciples in Acts 5:29, we may be required to choose God over man. Until then, is the example of Naaman in 2 Kings a better, biblical choice? I'll leave that up to the individual. I do feel we do have the right under freedom of religion to refuse. But personally, I'd use the opportunity to share with them the only thing that can deliver them from the bondage of their sin, the gospel of Jesus Christ. In my bakery, for my cake, they are a captive audience. If they don't like it, they are free to leave. If they want the cake I will bake, they will hear of Jesus and His love for them He showed on the cross. That they can be delivered from their sin, just as you and I have been.

These are perilous times we live in when it comes to living out our faith, and things are almost certain to grow more troublesome. But we can still share our faith! Just maybe, situations such as these bakers have encountered are an opportunity to proclaim Jesus, and know that God knows our heart and situation. Just as he did with Naaman in 2 Kings.

Friday, January 30, 2015

A Friend I've Never Met, or; A Really Great Thing About Social Media

I have a friend I've never met. Several years ago, through the six degrees of Facebook, I was introduced to Joe McKeever. Joe is a retired Baptist preacher and Director of Missions who has had about as active a retirement as anyone I know.

Joe regularly travels across the nation speaking to churches, local Baptist associations, senior groups, youth groups, you name it, and I've heard is available for about anything else except possibly a briss. He started drawing cartoons earlier in life and is now a regular contributor to many publications with his whimsical, sometimes pointed observations, in regards to everyday life and the church. He writes a regular blog that has been picked up and republished by such nationally known publications as Christianity Today. He's a fixture on social media such as Facebook where his "One Minute Bible Studies" are a daily feature and he otherwise engages regularly as most on Facebook do. I just pray one day I'm as productive as Joe is in retirement, heck sometimes, even in the day today.

Being a former pastor Joe has a heart for those of us serving in our unique callings. Many times you will read where a pastor with troubles in their church has contacted Joe and sought advice. Joe never mentions a name, but will use these situations to help edify those of us who any day could face such a challenge. I myself have sought out his wisdom a few times, and he has always been there with honest feedback in a timely manner, in spite of his hectic schedule.

I honestly marvel at Joe's still burning fire to serve God, grace and love for people.

But last Friday, tragedy struck Joe and his family. Joe's wife of around fifty years, Margaret, suffered a massive heart attack while out of the home. Over the last week as he sat patiently in a waiting room, as all pastors have done countless times with their flock, Joe lived out before the world on Facebook what it is to deal with the coming death of one we dearly love. It is something all of us face, but like most things in life, how we face these seasons in our life reveals things about us.

With every post you could literally feel his pain and see his tears. Joe's family is spread out across our fair nation, so it took time for all of them to arrive in New Orleans where Joe and Margaret live, and you could feel the relief when they finally did. Every now and then the vulnerability we all face in these type situations would be seen, the spectre of loss, the reality of "what now?" His humble memories of his wife in a blog brought joy, and tears, and an understanding of their journey together. It was heart wrenching, and inspiring, all at the same time.

During this time, on Facebook, and I am sure in many other areas, the outpouring of prayer, love and support for Joe and his family was overwhelming. You could tell it buoyed him in this hurricane of life, and the true love shown, by many such as me who have never even met Joe, spoke volumes of the type of man he is. You see, for all of the pain, and tears, and doubt that gripped Joe throughout this past week, the one thing that shown through more than anything else was his faith in Jesus Christ. It revealed exactly why he has such a positive influence on so many he's never even met. Like any of us would, I am sure he prayed for a miraculous recovery for his beloved. But I also know with certainty his faith allowed him to never have lost sight of where Margaret would eventually be, in glory with Jesus.

Yesterday, Margaret went to be with her Lord. The storm has finally passed, and the recovery begins. In this snippet of personal tragedy we can learn a few things. One is our faith never shines more brightly before others than when engulfed by the waves of personal trial. I've read the words of Joe McKeever for years now, but in this past week, I saw the man behind the words, and the faith he has preached for many years now came alive before our eyes.

Another is the power of social media. As with any endeavor in life, social media has its good and bad sides. Here we saw the good in vibrant colors. A man's positive influence on others, the response of those across our nation to his time of trouble, the way our world is connected as it never has been before, and the good that can come from that, such as a friend I've never met.

Joe has family in Charlotte, and comes to South Carolina on occasion. One day I hope to meet my friend. But even now, knowing only his words, I can say he's my friend. If you would say a prayer for brother Joe and his family as they prepare for Margaret's funeral on Monday. And in our own lives, as that inevitable storm approaches, let us all seek to live by the faith we profess. In the connected world of today, you never know who it may impact.