Yet a recent survey indicates more than half of those polled (56%) say their religion is very important in their lives. A much smaller number of Americans attend some type of worship service (39%), but a greater number (75%) pray every day.

While most Americans (92%) believe in God, most viewing Him as either a “personal God” or an “impersonal force” (25%), they don’t believe God is answering their prayers.

The Pew Forum’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey reports that on average 23 percent of those who pray said they “seldom or never” hear back from God. Members of mainline churches (29%) and Orthodox churches (26%), Catholics (31%), Jews (23%), Buddhists (28%), and Hindus (27%) had the highest number of respondents indicating they seldom, if ever, received an answer to a prayer. The Pew Forum talked to over 35,000 Americans in compiling the results.

Among those who do hear from God on a regular basis are Evangelicals (29%), members of historically black churches (34%), Jehovah’s Witnesses (36%) Mormons (32%) and Muslims (31%) said they receive answers to their prayers at least once a week. Not surprisingly, these same people also report attending religious services at least once a week.

Those who come to God, unburdened from unforgiven sin and in God’s will, will hear from God (1John 5:14; 1 Peter 3:12). God hears and answers His children’s prayers. Scripture also tells us that He does not hear (and therefore will not answer) the prayers of the degenerate (Isaiah 59:1-2), unless it a prayer of confession and plea for salvation.

It is worth noting there are individuals in the survey who hold to faiths with heretical teachings who state their prayers are answered. God’s Word is clear that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can have access to the Father. Those who do not know the One True God are deluded. Their rituals and false beliefs have confounded them. If someone is “answering” their prayers, it is not God.

Yet many of those who do know Him, at least as indicated by the faith company they keep, aren’t even listening for His voice. The disconnect, it appears, is on our end of the line.

There is life-sustaining and life-expanding power in prayer. When we fail to draw near to God in prayer, we cannot be the person God desires us to be. And our world is the less for it.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Just the other day, I passed by one–it was straddling the double yellow line in the middle of the road, its head stretched out of its shell, craning to survey its dangerous surroundings.

It’s a pitiful sight that compels some drivers to quickly pull over, and dodging the traffic, rescue the turtle and place it safely along the side of the road. I don’t know this for fact, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the animal just turned around and crawled back onto the highway. Living dangerously, on the edge, oblivious to the risks it is taking.

What compels a turtle to cross the road?

Growing up in Florida, it was a common to see a shelled reptile moving across the asphalt from one pond to an adjacent water source, but here in Tennessee we have few ponds and fewer lakes in which turtles dwell.

So here, perhaps its just curiosity or that the road just happened to be in the path the animal was crawling. I know we have different kinds of turtles here, but they demonstrate just as much boldness of turtles further south.

In a way slightly similar to the turtle’s, we say we we’re strong enough to go into the enemy’s territory and return unscathed. We’ll keep our eyes wide open. We’ll be alert. We believe we’re well-protected for this dalliance with danger. Evolutionists would say this is further evidence that we are descended from reptiles; I would say evolutionists are nuts.

But just as the turtle tragically discovers his shell is no protection against the oncoming vehicles, we discover that in our own flesh we can’t resist the temptations that abound when we edge into threatening situations.

What compels a child of God to engage in risky, God-dishonoring behavior?

Most of us don’t willingly walk out in traffic, but we are lured to do things, say things, and think things that are damaging to our witness and more—when we fail to live in Christ.

This reminds me of a remnant of Judah who, following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, desired to flee to Egypt. Through Jeremiah, God told them to remain in Judah, promising he would grant them “compassion” and allow them “to return to [their] own soil’ (Jeremiah 42:10). Yet they rejected God’s counsel and traveled to Egypt and adopted the Egyptians’ customs as their own. As He promised, all but a few met their “end by sword or famine.”

The fruits of their willful disobedience were severe. To be sure, their obedience would have brought them God’s blessings, but their desire to seek their own way brought destruction.

Then the whole remnant of Judah, the ones going to the land of Egypt to live there for a while, will know whose word stands, Mine or theirs! (Jeremiah 44:28b)

After the Resurrection, when Jesus restored Peter (John 21:15-21), Jesus asked Peter if he truly loved Him and called on the zealous disciple to “feed My sheep.” Scripture is consistent: if we do not love the Lord with our whole being, we will struggle with the command to love our neighbors (“sheep”) more than ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40).

Sheep’s natural inclination to follow a leader to new pastures were the pivotal factors in it being one of the first domesticated livestock species. Because of this behavior, shepherds can keep sheep together on unfenced pastures and to move them more easily.

Sheep have a strong lead-follow tendency. There is really no such thing as a “natural born leader” among sheep. The day’s leader among the flock is normally just the first sheep to move.

An Associated Press news story, July 8, 2005, tells of 450 sheep who leapt to their deaths in the Turkish village of Gevas. The chain reaction started when one sheep attempted to leap over a 15 meter wide ravine and instead fell to its death, nearly fifteen hundred other sheep followed.

By the time the 450 had died, the pile of sheep carcasses at the bottom of the cliff had apparently grown large enough to cushion the fall somewhat, resulting in an apparently soft landing for the other 1550.

Despite this, sheep are not as dumb as we have been told. A University of Illinois study of sheep found them to be just below pigs and on par with cattle in IQ.

Yet sheep have no sense of direction and no instinct for finding their way home. A sheep can be totally lost within a few miles of its home. Lost sheep usually will walk around in endless circles, in a state of confusion, and even panic. I imagine that is what troubled folks so much when that lamb followed Mary to school one day. (Hint: Remember the nursery rhyme.)

Sheep spend most of their lives eating and drinking, but they are not careful about what they eat and drink. They don’t know the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants. Therefore their diet must be carefully monitored by the shepherd.

When grazing, once they devour their pasture. Since they will not move to a new area on their own, they will continue to eat the stubble of the old pasture until nothing remains but dirt. Soon they will run out of food altogether and starve to death.

Sheep must have clear water that is not stagnant or polluted. It can’t be too cold, too hot, or moving too rapidly. They must be led, as the psalmist said, beside the still waters (Ps. 23:2).

Sheep are almost entirely defenseless. They can’t kick, scratch, bite, jump, or run. They need a protective shepherd to be assured of survival. When attacked by a predator, they huddle together rather than running away.

If a full-wooled sheep falls on its back, often it is unable to roll back onto its feet. In most cases it will simply give up and die unless a shepherd comes to its aid.

When a sheep lies on its back for a long time, its circulation stops. If the shepherd sets it back on its feet before circulation is restored, the sheep will fall over again. The shepherd might have to carry the animal for an hour or more before it is able to walk again on its own.

A shepherd would sacrifice for his flock. His flock implicitly trusts him. Sheep need a leader, even if they don’t know they do.

Peter went on to do great things in Jesus’ name. And in giving his life to proclaim the Gospel, he exhibited the agape love that Jesus expected of him. Yet we are not exempt from this call on our life. Jesus expects us, as well, to “feed His sheep.” God expects more than a profession of faith; He expects His followers to live out their faith.

If you learned that a certain manufacturer had factories in Third World countries in which under-age children labored and employees were underpaid and exposed to hazardous working conditions, would you continue to purchase the product from that company?

Discerning Southern Baptists, as well as all people of faith, note which corporations support causes or movements which are antithetical to a biblical perspective, and then weigh carefully which businesses in good conscience and, perhaps of necessity, they can patronize.

In this day of conglomerates and multinational corporations, it is difficult to find a large corporation that does not in some way support something which stands in opposition to what we know to be good and moral.

As Christians, we should be consistent in living out our values, rooted in God’s Word, even if it means we have to sacrifice. Each of us have an obligation to carefully and prayerfully consider where we spend our money. Yet at the end of the day, that is a personal decision each of us must make.

At least that’s the upshot of the results from a new study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Nearly all (92%) of those surveyed indicated they believed in God, but just over half (51%) said it was belief in a “personal God.”

The survey of 35,000 Americans revealed roughly three out of every four (78%) believe they are “absolute standards of right and wrong,” with just 29 percent of those questioned in the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey saying they look to their faith to determine the standards.

If the survey results are an accurate representation of the nation’s citizens, a majority (52%) of us rely on “practical experience and common sense” to determine what is right and wrong. Once again, we have to look no further than our culture to see that it makes a difference whose values we are living day-to-day. Our’s or God’s?

He writes, “I think we’re losing the ability to communicate our faith in Christ effectively to the lost. It’s not because we don’t have snappy, simple presentations of the gospel that you can communicate in five minutes or less. We can stack those tracts to the rafters. I believe it’s because we ARE NOT people of biblical depth, people who can answer the hard questions the world asks, beyond the five minute presentations we have memorized.”

It comes down to the fact that many of us are—at best—functionally illiterate when it comes to the Bible. “We don’t know Gods Word, and when we don’t know Gods Word, we manufacture our own brand of Christianity by picking up the thoughts and feelings of people we know,” Jim continues.

It is difficult to live out biblical values when our knowledge of Scripture is fuzzy. Without a commitment to living in God’s Word, the likelihood is that we won’t be living for God in the world.

Jim makes these suggestions:

• Make sure everyone in your church and Bible study classes has access to a Bible.
• Encourage your family and friends to be involved in a “systematic method of reading through the Bible.”
• Make sure you are a student of the Word.
• Teach from the Bible, not your experience or the latest book you’ve read.
• Focus on Scripture memory.

Living God’s values is real tough when you don’t know God all that much.

]]> Dwayne Hastings Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:14:02 -0700 http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/a-profile-in-courage http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/a-profile-in-courage Same-sex couples in California can legally “marry” in that state, courtesy of a state Supreme Court ruling on May 15 that negated a vote by California citizens to reject same-sex “marriage.”

Yet in at least one county of the state, individuals can get a license from the county clerk but she is refusing to conduct any civil ceremonies for couples—heterosexual or homosexual.

Ann Barnett, the county clerk in Kern county, California, had said while she is required by law to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the law doesn’t require her to officiate at their marriages, as long as she doesn’t officiate at those entering into marriages matching the biblical model either.

In the face of heated criticism, Barnett is standing her ground and is demonstrating great courage not to just go along with the flow. By the way, I imagine this California court decision along with rumblings in New York that they might “broaden” the definition of marriage will engender much greater interest in an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that establishes—which and for all—marriage as between one man and one woman.

]]> Dwayne Hastings Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:15:01 -0700 http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/prince-caspian http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/prince-caspian While the Walt Disney Company is now saying it goofed in releasing http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/>“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” when it did—up against stiff competitors “Iron Man” and the latest “Indiana Jones” adventure—there are still plenty of reasons to see the screen adaptation of this volume in the Narnia series from C.S. Lewis.

The film is falling far short of the box office receipts of the first Narnia film (“The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”). Disney planned to release “Prince Caspian” last Christmas, but in deference to Walden Media’s release of “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” at the same time, the entertainment company slid the “Prince Caspian” opening to May. A holiday season release didn’t help the “Water Horse;” it sank early after opening.

While this latest Narnia film is decidedly darker and somewhat more violent than the first film, it is still worth the price of admission, preferably at matinee prices. As the Lewis story upon which the movie is based, the faith theme is there, just not overwhelming. And as if we fallen creatures needed it, we are reminded of the perils of going it alone, sans the protection and power of God.

The film is built around a fantastical battle between good and evil and is capped off with a bittersweet close. Lucy’s simple faith and the bravery of Reepicheep, a rodent who plays a Errol Flynn-type character in the film, are elements worth noting. I am most pleased that Disney saw fit to bankroll and produce the film. It is suitable for most audiences, perhaps one of only a movies now showing that can be said about.

According to Disney, the next movie in the “Narnia” series, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” is set for release May 2010. Plenty of time for you and I to have read (or reread) the seven books in the series before that film is at our local theaters.

]]> Dwayne Hastings Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:03:00 -0700 http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/another-roll-of-the-dice http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/another-roll-of-the-dice These are troubled times in which we live—at least that is what the news commentators are trying to convince us. Yet I think I’ve found the solution—to the mortgage crisis, soaring energy costs, and the resulting budget crunch—an online site where you can legally print your own money. And if that is not enough, this same site offers visitors an informative business strategy guide to help you become more successful in your endeavors.

Some of the gems I’ve mined so far from this free guide:

“When paying off mortgages, pay them off in the reverse order in which you mortgaged them;

“You should build when you can do so and still be left with enough cash to pay a “high probability” expense;

“By knowing approximately how much money an opponent has, you can know how far he or she can bid in an auction, how much rent he or she can afford to pay, or how many buildings he or she can purchase without mortgaging;

“When trading developable properties, try to trade for properties of equal or greater value and those that lie closer to free parking;

“Trade to get low cost, steady income producing properties: namely, railroads or utilities;

And finally if things get really serious, “pay $50 and get out of jail early … You need to be in circulation.”

Now before you get too excited, I should tell you that the guide and the money is provided online by Hasbro for the Monopoly board game. And is perfectly legal!

Although I’m confident the economy can weather the rough patch we are in, I have to admit I get rather jittery when I hear news reports warning of the possibility of disruptions in the food supply, given increased fuel costs, the growing demands from the burgeoning middle class in China and India, and pressure put on farmers because of the growing popularity of biofuels.

Odd how that is working out—people are using corn, so to speak, to power their automobiles and the poor are on the verge of being unable to afford hamburger because the ranchers can’t get enough corn to fed their livestock. I guess that’s the cost of going green.

It makes me long for the day when all I had to be concerned with was not landing on Boardwalk.

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.Proverbs 13:18

Speaking of the Monopoly game, the sites representing Illinois, New York, and Boardwalk have higher chances of getting landed on than many of the other properties, with Illinois the highest probability, according to the game’s strategy guide.

]]> Dwayne Hastings Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:56:00 -0700 http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/vitamins-in-plastic-bottles-and-your-health http://ilivevalues.com/blog/article/vitamins-in-plastic-bottles-and-your-health Recent news reports that certain vitamins have a deleterious effect on your life and that a chemical in plastic bottles is injurious to your health really started my day on a down note.

Reportedly, a chemical compound used to make baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic containers leads to possible developmental risks, at least that’s what the laboratory rats injected with bisphenol claimed.

Containers in which the surface is breached by damage or heat are most at risk, say the experts. Residents of the state of New Jersey can breath a sigh of relief though; their state legislators voted to ban the sale of bottles made with the chemical.

These experts recommend glass or stainless steel containers instead.

A review of 67 studies on vitamin supplements completed by researchers at Copenhagen University suggests the use of vitamins may lead to “increased mortality.” The scientists said high doses of certain antioxidant vitamins and minerals may interfere with the human body’s natural processes. Some scientists have criticized the Danish researchers’ report for excluding some information and including other details not germane to the study.

According to these both these reports, the greatest risk we face may be buying vitamins in plastic bottles. No word either way from the folks who make Flintstone vitamins.

Yet my day was brightened when I heard that scientists have proved that pizza can be a health food, of sorts.

Food chemists* at the University of Maryland report that a pizza crust made with whole-wheat flour, in which the dough has been left to rise longer, and then baked at a higher temperature and longer than normal has more antioxidant power. Now I don’t know that the pizza would be edible. That reality would somewhat diminish its disease-finding ability.

*[If they offered food chemistry in high schools, more students would look forward to fulfilling their science requirement. I wonder if you can partially fulfill the requirements for a degree in food science by watching cable television’s Food Network.]

I haven’t read it in writing yet, but I imagine whatever nutritional value this pizza offers is blunted if you bake it without taking it out of its plastic wrapping.

And have you heard? The maxim that each of us should be drinking eight 8-ounce glasses each day is an urban legend. That’s a little less guilt you’ll feel today.

Despite the confusion over what we should and shouldn’t eat and drink, it is possible and advisable to eat a simple, well-rounded diet, which features less processed products and more fresh foods.

Dr. Paul Reisser, author of 7 Steps to Healthy Eating, suggests we trim our consumption of processed sugar, eat more whole grain foods, include fiber in our diet, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables—something few of us actually do.

Reisser writes that reading the Nutrition Facts labels on packaged foods is an easy way to begin to track what is really going into your mouth.

Finally, he underscores the truth that your grandmother always preached: Eat together as a family. “Meals are a time for socializing, conversing, sharing, and celebrating,” Reisser writes. It is a proven fact that when we plan and sit down to eat with our family or friends, we typically eat more healthy foods.

Another valuable book on health and nutrition by Dr. Paul Reisser

]]> Dwayne Hastings Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:48:01 -0700