Monday was a monumental day for Israel, one that our kids will read about in their history books. On May 14, 2018 – exactly 70 years after Israel became a sovereign nation again – Jerusalem was recognized by the United States as the capital of Israel.

Fulfilling a promise he made during the 2016 Presidential Campaign, Donald Trump moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He explained his reasoning last December: “Moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem is first a recognition of reality. A reality many, many years in the making. Jerusalem is indisputably, the capital of Israel. A capital chosen by a sovereign nation as the seat of its government.”

Israel is the only nation in the world that has its capital and seat of government in one city (Jerusalem), yet the UN General Assembly has refused to recognize and nations have been afraid to place their embassies. With the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, that is finally changing. On May 16, Guatemala followed suit and moved their embassy to Jerusalem as well. “This is the beginning of something extraordinary,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The prophet Zechariah spoke of a day when the LORD “will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace” (Zech. 12:10). Although this promise awaits the second coming and millennial reign of Messiah, it is safe to say we are likely seeing God move the pieces on his prophetic chess board to prepare for the return of Christ. It is no accident that after 2,000 years of scattering, the Jews are finally returning to their homeland and the nation is being re-assembled.

Barry Horner is right when he says, “While there cannot be absolute certainty with regard to eschatological fulfillment in the present, the contemporary state of Israel, and especially its possession of Jerusalem, suggests a high degree of probability that eschatological fulfillment is in process before our very eyes” (Future Israel, p. 59).

Come, Lord Jesus!

Yesterday, one of our church members gave us quite a scare. Thankfully, everything turned out OK, and it became a wonderful testimony of answered prayer.

Shortly after I woke up Wednesday, I received a text message from a woman in our church saying her husband had gone hiking the previous day, and never returned. Search & Rescue had been notified overnight and were already retracing his route with search dogs and helicopters.

Anyone familiar with the desert knows there are hundreds of square miles of remote land out here. Every year, we hear horror stories of people who got lost or injured in the desert. Sometimes, they are not found for weeks or years, after it is too late.

Immediately, I prayed for this man, and the Lord brought to mind Psalm 139. “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Although we did not know where the man was at the moment, God knew.

Soon, many other prayer warriors in the church were praying and staying in touch by phone and text message. At noon, I checked back in with the wife, but still there was no news. At 5:45 pm, as I locked up the church and headed home for the day, I thought how every hour that ticks by, there is a greater likelihood this is not going to end well. But I prayed to God, reminding him that he is not bound by statistics, and that he still has the power to bring back this member without serious harm. I asked the Lord for his name’s sake, and on behalf of the many prayers of his people, if he would allow the man to be found very soon.

Then, at 5:57 pm, I received a text from the wife saying, “They just found him. He is alive. We are on our way to get him. Thank you for all your prayers.”

Praise God! What a huge answer to prayer. Apparently, the man is a little banged up, but things could have been much, much worse. We serve a God who cares for his people and protects us daily in ways both seen and unseen.

Every church has its challenges. Some of ours include our rural setting and transient population, with a large number of ailing seniors on fixed incomes, and busy military families with young kids. But it would be terribly unjust to ignore God’s many graces.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 reminds us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

It may be tempting to develop a victim mentality about challenges to ministry, but the fact is, God’s blessings far outweigh any challenges. A few of the blessings that come to mind are a congregation that is hungry for the Word of God (and doesn’t complain when I get long-winded and preach longer than 45 minutes!). A gospel that is true and has the power to transform lives. A building that is paid in full.

Other reasons to “give thanks in all circumstances” include a part-time secretary and music directory who free me up to spend more time in the ministry of the Word and prayer. Valuable training at The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary. Elders who have a humble heart and cherish the same core convictions, who offer their prayers and offer wise counsel. And for a supportive wife and children who love the Lord and allow the church to be a big part of our lives.

I also praise God for our small town that allows local churches to be so active in the community, including writing Minister’s Message in the local newspaper, walking in the Memorial Day parade, and airing sermon broadcasts on the radio. For a Marine base nearby that protects our country and brings precious new families to our church. And for Joshua Tree National Park with its breathtaking views, wide open spaces, and a steady stream of out-of-town visitors.

These are just a few of the things that make our church special, and make it a joy to serve in Yucca Valley!

This morning in my quiet time, I was struck by Paul’s command in Ephesians 4:22 to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.” The broader context discusses a variety of sins (disunity, doctrinal error, immorality, lying, anger, theft, etc.) and introduces a helpful strategy we sometimes called the “put off/put on” principle in biblical counseling.

Paul’s word “manner of life” (Gk. anastrophe) here in verse 22 is especially important. It speaks of one’s habits, patterns, and personality. It’s like a trail or rut that is worn down over time because of repeated use.

John Bettler writes, “Anastrophe literally means ‘to turn again.’ That’s one way of describing a manner of life; Paul is talking about that to which you return again and again and again and again. That’s the essence. What values do you turn to again and again? What beliefs do you turn to again and again? What cravings do you turn to again and again? What habits and behavior patterns do you turn to again and again? People are characterized by certain styles, certain habits, certain ways of doing things, certain values: your anastrophe.”

This reminds me of a scene in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, where Benji Dunn is required to go through a series of biometric tests before he can access a top secret vault. One of those tests is a “gait analysis,” which uses a series of cameras and scanners to measure his head, arms, legs, balance, etc. as he walks down a corridor. The idea is that one’s gait or walk is just as unique as a fingerprint or retinal scan.

All of us have a spiritual anastrophe or manner of life which includes our personality, temperament, gifts, and even our besetting sins that easily entangle us (Heb. 12:1). My responsibility, according to the Apostle Paul, is to make sure that my old patterns and manner of life are gradually replaced with new patterns, habits, attitudes, and choices. By the grace of God, change is possible first through regeneration, and then a gradual replacing of old habits and thought patterns with new ones. Lord, help me “put on the new self” (Eph. 4:24) and along with it, develop a new manner of life.

A bill is working its way through Sacramento that threatens our church, my ministry, Christian authors, counselors, bookstores, and even the universities where I graduated and where I now teach as Adjunct Professor.

AB2943, currently under review by our California Senate Judiciary Committee, states that “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” would be illegal under California’s consumer fraud law.

Matt Sharp, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom explains what is at stake: “California AB 2943 makes it unlawful for any person to sell books, counseling services, or anything else that helps someone overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion. As a result, it could be a violation if a pastor encourages a congregant to visit the church book store to purchase books that help people address sexual issues, perhaps including the Bible itself, which teaches about the importance of sexual purity within the confines of marriage between a man and woman.”

It’s dangerous whenever the government crosses the line into the realm of religion, spirituality, and ethics. But this bill is particularly alarming. It is so broad in scope that it gives almost limitless power to the state to tell clergy, counselors, and religious organizations what they can and cannot do, and what they can and cannot say. Touted as a bill of tolerance, AB2943 is a Trojan Horse that would punish anyone who does not support the LGBT agenda.

How should we respond? First, we pray God would bring these leaders to their senses to see what an affront this to our Constitutional rights and the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and religion for all citizens.

Second, we should contact our state leaders. Grassroots political movements can sometimes stop bad legislation and slow the decay of society. I contacted my local assemblyman Chad Mayes last week to thank him for opposing this bill on the Assembly floor. Then this morning I filled out a form letter for my state Senator with the help of the California Family Council website.

And lastly, if the government does in fact pass this bill and demand us to violate our religious beliefs, we prepare to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

For more information about AB2943, please visit http://www.californiafamily.org/oppose-ca-ab-2943-ab-1779-and-ab-2119-reference-materials/