In my last Not So With You article I shared about a retreat that the Ridder Church Renewal team was going to attend in Sioux Falls. Although we are still processing what we learned and how we are going to share it with you, let me just say it was a valuable time of learning how a congregation functions together.

A piece of what our team is learning is Naming and Mastering Your Emotions. Emotions are a natural part of the human experience. Having been created in the image of God, an emotion is something we feel in response to a stimulus in which your brain has given meaning. In fact the emotions we know as sadness, fear, anger, joy, love and peace are actually the final expression of a bodily process that happens automatically. Emotions are neither right nor wrong—they have no moral content—they just are. They can be pleasant or painful, mild or overwhelming, and therefore we must be careful never to insinuate they are bad or inappropriate.

Jesus experienced a full spectrum of emotions. When he saw the people had “missed the time of his coming” on Palm Sunday, he wept. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, he felt so much anguish he began sweating blood. When he saw the people being ripped off by the moneychangers in the temple he was filled with anger and began chasing them away. And one can only imagine as the little children gathered around Jesus, he must have felt great joy.

So again, our emotions play a very important part in reflecting the image of God through our lives. The challenge of course is how we respond to our emotions. And I will admit mastering my emotions is a significant growth area for me because of the erroneous patterns of thinking I developed before I became born again. What’s been most helpful for me is to be reminded of the progression of how my thinking triggers my feelings, and how my feelings then impact my attitudes and actions.  Solomon summed it by saying, “As a person thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). And so I’ve been learning that if my thinking is misguided, it will result in the wrong emotion, which then may trigger the wrong behavior.

If I’m going to grow in naming and mastering my emotions, I must learn how to more accurately diagnose a particular threat or situation. I must learn to give proper meaning to the situation. See, what I didn’t realize is that seven to nine seconds before I feel an emotion, my brain has already assessed the situation, given meaning to it, and then proceeded to pump all kinds of chemicals into my blood stream to create an emotion.

Let me share an example of how I incorrectly gave meaning to a situation which then created wrong feelings which then produced wrong action. Last week Sunday morning I asked you to consider how Jesus has radically changed your life. After giving you a minute to reflect I asked if anyone was willing to share. Then after only 7.11 seconds (I went back and timed it) Ken came up and shared how Jesus has been transforming his life. However in that 7.11 seconds of silence, I began to create wrong meaning. See, even though I know how scary speaking in front of crowds can be, my heart immediately became saddened that in the midst of a loving and graced filled congregation, apparently no one would feel safe in sharing how Jesus was changing their life.

Well, after those few brief moments of giving that situation the wrong meaning, which then produced the wrong feeling, I said something really stupid and untrue. I suggested that the reason Ken came forward was because “he didn’t feel right, that in a congregation our size, no one could share how Jesus changed their life.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I’ll admit I’ve said some pretty stupid things, but that had to be one of the worst and therefore I ask you to please forgive me, again. May God have mercy on me! And please pray for me, that it would not be so with me, that I so quickly jump to wrong thinking, which produces wrong feelings, which produces wrong attitudes and action.

Feeling remorseful… yet forgiven,

Mike Altena

By the time most of you read this article the Ridder Church Renewal (RCR) Team will have returned from our first workshop in Sioux Falls. We will have three more of these workshops in the next 18 months. Although I have briefly shared about the RCR process at the congregational meeting, I’d like to share a little bit more about it.

Since the Consistory consented to engage the RCR process, I have often referred to “God’s preferred future for American Reformed Church”—God’s preferred future and the abundant life are one in the same. According to the RCR process, God’s preferred future for us includes “faithful and fruitful missional living demonstrated personally and corporately.” So basically, working in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, the Ridder team will help implement a discipleship strategy that is focused on equipping us to experience more of the abundant life.

Establishing and building on four core values will provide a proper seedbed for the gospel to take root. The four core values are integrity, authenticity, courage, and love. Integrity is defined as keeping and honoring your word—doing what you say you will do, when you say you would do it, in the manner it was to be done. Authenticity is bringing all of what you know to all of what you know of God—authenticity is saying “what is so” regardless of fear or shame. Courage is the ability to engage in crucial conversations and then love is seeing, caring, and acting for the good of another.

In addition to living into those four core values, we will work to develop five skill sets. We will develop a culture of disciple-making that follows Jesus’ cycle of discipleship in that he first introduced his disciples to new truths about living in the kingdom of God, and then he sent them out to practice what they learned, which was followed by a time of reflection in community with one another of all they had seen and done.

We will help create an awareness of how chronic anxiety in our congregation hinders us from radically following Christ in mission and how we can do so in spite of the pressure to do otherwise.

Sharing a compelling vision of the abundant life Jesus came to bring, we will embrace the creative tension between conflict and progress.

High performance teams will seek to listen to the Holy Spirit and engage Christ’s kingdom mission for the purpose of bearing fruit.

And we will seek to understand the components of congregational system and how to distinguish operational from adaptive leadership.

While all of this may sound foreign and complicated, basically it’s what we see being lived out between Jesus and his Father, his family, his disciples, and those he encountered along his journey.

Members of the RCR Team are George A. Bonnema, Randy Sasker, Dave Sandbulte, Angie Fick, Tammy Johnson, Vicki Altena, Erin Jacobsma, Becky Ossefort, Cory Grimm and myself.

I am excited to see how God will use these new ways of thinking and being as they are lived out in our community. May it never be said that we would settle for less than what God has planned for us simply because we were ignorant of how we could experience more of the abundant life. If you would like to know more about the RCR process, feel free to visit with one of the team members, I’m sure they would be excited to share more of what they are discovering about God’s preferred future for ARC.

Thy kingdom come, Mike Altena

One thing I enjoy about meeting new people is listening to their stories. Often times at the checkout counters of various shopping places I will play the undercover boss and ask the cashier if they enjoy what they are doing, or if the place they are working is a good place to work. And then if I have enough time and the cashier doesn’t seem totally annoyed by me, I like to ask this zinger: Do you feel you are fulfilling the purpose for which God created you?

I’ve also discovered that asking that question will get all kinds of reactions, all the way from “I don’t have a purpose” to a frustrated cashier I recently encountered who replied, “That was a stupid question.” To which I loving replied, “Then I guess that’s a no?”

And how about you, would you say you are fulfilling the purpose for which God created you? Not sure? I guess before you can answer that question, you’d have to know the answer to these questions? Do you believe God created mankind with a purpose? And if so, what is it?

Now, I realize most people really don’t care if they fulfill the purpose for which God created them, but if you are one of those people who aren’t clear about your purpose and would like to know, I am inviting you to join us at the Purposeful Living Retreat this weekend. The retreat is right here at ARC on Friday night, January 15 from 7:00-9:30 and Saturday, January 16 from 8:30-2:30.

The Purposeful Living Retreat is a personal renewal process designed to allow you to hear God speak into your life and bring focus to how you live. Out of this process will emerge God’s unique calling on your life which will be helpful in aligning yourself more closely with God’s plan.

Although our purpose is the same, our calling will be different. And just to help you get an idea of what you can expect from the retreat I am sharing my purpose and calling statement with you.

MY PERSONAL CALLING STATEMENT

My Biblical Purpose Statement: “I exist to glorify God through a fully surrendered life which is reflected in devotion to loving him and others.”

My Core Values:

Knowing God – He desires a love relationship with me; apart from him I can do nothing.

Integrity–Desiring to become all that God created me to be, I seek to engage my mission field full of grace and truth.

Fishing for men – I am always looking for an opportunity to recruit someone to experience the joy of community life in the kingdom of God.

Discipleship – I desire to help people grow in living and loving like Jesus.

Leadership development – I will strive to help identify, equip, and empower others to become spiritual leaders.

Prayer – I will seek to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit as he releases his power in my life and in this world.

Life-long learning – I will do whatever it takes to become more faithful and fruitful. I will explore and develop the use of my spiritual gifts and talents.

My Personal Mission Statement: “My mission is to help those in my circle of influence discover that peace with God can only be found in an intimate relationship with Christ which is lived out through a lifestyle of joyful worship and faithful service in preparation for heaven.”

For more details about the retreat, or to sign up, please feel free to contact me by Tuesday, January 12. May God give you the desire to fulfill the purpose for which He created you. It’s not a stupid question!

Thy kingdom come,

Mike Altena

This past Sunday night after the children’s Christmas program, Vicki sat down to watch the Miss Universe Pageant. After the pageant was over Vicki shared with me the mistake that Steve Harvey made in announcing the wrong winner. Naturally my heart was filled with empathy for both Miss Colombia and Steve Harvey.

As I reflected on the story I tried to put myself in each of the shoes of those who were impacted by Harvey’s mistake. First I put myself in the shoes of Mr. Harvey and discovered they fit quite comfortably. See, although slightly different; I could easily identify with Harvey because you all know how many times I have called a person by the wrong name. (I will be forever indebted to AJ and Mary Brands and their sons).

I can only imagine the dark feelings of shame and embarrassment that likely washed over Harvey when he realized his mistake. And having made those kinds of blunders myself, I wondered if he immediately began concocting ideas in his mind of how to cover up his bungle in order to salvage his good name. But in the end I appreciated his simple humility in that he admitted his mistake and apologized to Miss Colombia.

Then I tried to put myself in Miss Colombia’s shoes. I began to imagine her feelings of shock after realizing the error was no prank. What, was she having a bad dream, or worse yet a nightmare? I imagined the feelings of jubilation and victory drain from her heart as quickly as the air escaping from an untied balloon.

And then I imagined the shock turning to anger; were her initial thoughts towards Harvey, “What, you incompetent idiot, how could you do this to me”? But not so with her, after stepping back and carefully processing the offense, Ariadna Gutierrez chose the better response by accepting Harvey’s apology with love and grace. In fact, when Ariadna was asked how she felt about the experience, part of her response was that she just cherished the few minutes she was Miss Universe. What a powerful response!

Next I put myself in the shoes of the world-wide audience and tried to imagine all the responses; responses ranging from “who really cares” to “Steve Harvey should be severely punished for his epic failure.” As I read a variety of ugly responses to Harvey’s mistake, I was reminded of how many people have yet to experience healing from such kinds of injustices in their own lives. As I continued to reflect on my own thoughts towards Harvey and Miss Columbia, the Spirit reminded me of the powerful truth from I Peter 4:8, “Above all love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins.”

And then finally I put myself in the shoes of Miss Philippines who wrongfully discovered she has lost, but then surprisingly and correctly was declared the winner. Imagine her roller coaster ride of emotions; first sinking deeply into disappointment but then immediately being resurrected by feelings of overwhelming joy and gratitude.

The experience for Pia Alonzo had to be much like that of Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus. At first struggling with the deep disillusionment and disappointment of the loss of Jesus’ on the cross, their hearts were soon overcome with joy when the Holy Spirit opened their eyes to see that Jesus had in fact defeated sin and death.

This story offers two possible resolutions for the New Year. First, make the choice to always love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. And secondly, when you chose to allow Christ to live his life through you, you will always win!

Happy New Year! Mike Altena

I submitted this article two years ago; I submit it again as an introduction to our Advent series.

In the land of Puzzling Tales there lived an eight year old boy by the name of Jason. Now in this land and in the neighborhood where Jason lived, the unexpected always happened. Instead of football they played kneeball; instead of the children “going to school” the teachers were busy “going to homes;” and in the summer it was not uncommon to see water freeze and in the winter time leaves grew on trees. It was a funny, strange place.

One incident in the land of Puzzling Tales stands out. When it was time for Jason’s ninth birthday, as usual, the unusual happened. Jason’s grandparents drove all the way across the state to help celebrate, but of course when they got to Jason’s neighborhood they went immediately to the Browns down the street and visited and stayed there.

When Jason’s mother finished frosting the birthday cake she gave it to the mailman to eat. And when all the kids in the neighborhood heard it was Jason’s birthday they exchanged gifts with one another, and of course, Jason got none because he wasn’t even invited to the party.

There was a blizzard of birthday cards. The post office had to hire extra workers to work long hours to handle the deluge of cards. Of course in the land of Puzzling Tales the expected was the unexpected and the kids, the moms and dads, grandparents, even a couple of dogs and a parakeet got cards, while poor Jason got none.

Finally about nine o’clock, in a fit of frustration and anger, Jason went out of his house, borrowed the school cheerleaders’ megaphone, rode up and down the street on his unicycle and shouted at the top of his lungs, “WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS IT, ANYWAY?” And the night was so silent that all night long echoes bounced off the mountain sides: “Whose birthday is it anyway?” “Whose birthday is it anyway?”

(The story about Jason was written by the Reverend Arley Fadness of Shaloam Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, South Dakota)

Do you suppose there’s someone else who feels like Jason? In a few short weeks we will celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and yet isn’t it puzzling how every year we have to remind ourselves to stay focused on the “reason for the season.” Where did we get the idea that we should give other people gifts on Christmas? Wouldn’t it have seemed strange if the shepherds out in the fields and the magi would’ve had a $5 gift exchange as a celebration of Jesus’ birth?

If we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, shouldn’t he be the one who receives the gifts? Often times during the advent season we focus on the gifts he brings us, the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. But what if this advent season we focused on what gifts we could give to Jesus. Like me, maybe you could sit down for a few minutes and think about the four best gifts we could give to Jesus. (And by the way, thank you for submitting your ideas).

If you could give Jesus anything in the world, what four gifts would he appreciate most from you? Here’s a starter, like Mary, let’s spend a good amount of time sitting at Jesus’ feet reflecting on “all these things” surrounding his birth: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

May it not be so with ARC worshipers to get caught up with the commercialism of Christmas, but may we instead spend sufficient time pondering the significance and impact of the incarnation on our lives.

I bring you good news of great joy!

Mike Altena

I’d like to share a word of encouragement with you from a guest who recently joined us for worship. She began by sharing the devotion she had read that following Monday morning. Although I’m not sure who the author was, it was entitled: The Focus of Evangelism. The Bible verse under the title was from Acts 2:47, “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Below is the devotion.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll tells about what was, at one time, the greatest outreach center in the metropolitan Boston-area—a gas station in Arlington. Bob, the owner had a vision for his work being part of his faith. He provided such honest and dependable service that cars would often line up just to buy gas and be serviced at his station. There were no “Jesus Saves” banners, religious sayings or “fish” symbols in sight. Just Bob—a committed Christian who led dozens of people in faith in Christ because of his Christlike life.

Rebecca Pippert has said, “Christians and non-Christians have something in common: We’re both uptight about evangelism.” People found Christ at Bob’s gas station because Christ, not evangelism was what they encountered. When evangelism, the church, or even Christianity takes place of Christ, everybody gets uptight. What’s your “gas station”? Whenever you encounter non-Christians, ask God to show how to make Christ, not evangelism, the focus. Every Christian is a lens through which the world is trying to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

At the end of the devotion she simply wrote. “ARC made me feel like I was at Bob’s gas station yesterday…good for you!!!!” I don’t know about you, but that blesses my heart. By feeling welcomed and loved by you, our guest caught a glimpse of Jesus.

When it comes to evangelism, inviting people to worship may be one method. And while I hope we would all be blessed by being with the family of God, inspiring worship, and a gospel centered message, my prayer is that our worship would always result in a face to face encounter with God. My hope is that when people come to ARC they get filled up with the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Certainly inviting people to church is one method of evangelism, however, I also believe an equally effective method for reaching the lost is through your “gas station.” My prayer is that we would all grow in being hospitable like Bob. If a salesman would stop at your farm, would he/she catch a glimpse of Jesus? When the Schwan’s salesperson or the Jehovah’s Witness stops at your home, will they get a glimpse of Jesus? Or when the telemarketer calls, do they get to hear the voice of Jesus though you. When someone stops by your business do they experience the particularizing way of Jesus?

May it be said of ARC that we would boldly and excitedly point people to Jesus and that God would add to his church daily those who are being saved. Well done good and faithful servants!!

Always prepared to share the hope,

Mike Altena

I’d like to share one more lesson from the Highway 75 project. You may remember after the resurfacing process was complete that there were no visible painted lanes on the road surface for about two weeks. Then one day a special machine was brought in to etch the new three lane figuration into the asphalt so the new paint would last longer. Although there were still no painted lines, the new lanes became slightly visible because a thin layer of asphalt had been removed.

Well, the emotional hook for me was that even though there were still no painted lines, after the lines were etched into the asphalt the drivers immediately began driving within the boundaries of those new lanes. People immediately began driving in the two lanes rather than in the four lanes. (Except me of course; because there were still no painted lines, I just kept driving as if it was a four lane road J).

And then what made it more interesting for me during those two days was, even though there were no lanes marked by paint, I wondered if I could safely assume that I could use the new turning lane, or would the oncoming traffic think I was on their portion of the road.

As I reflected on how quickly the drivers made the adjustment to new lane configuration even though there were still no painted lanes, I realized the same is true of you and me. You and I really don’t need to see the printed words of the Ten Commandments written on a piece of paper or carved into a piece of granite slate because God has already etched his law on our hearts. We know in our hearts how God has created us to live in community.

As it says in Jeremiah 31:33-34, “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

So the truth is, even though some county seats and state capitals are removing the Ten Commandments from their property, we need not fear that people won’t know right from wrong because God has already etched his instructions deep on our hearts. Even thought the “painted lines” may no longer be visible, people know the damaging effect idolatry, blaspheming God, dishonoring parents, stealing, contempt, lust, and lying has on our communities.

Which then leaves the real problem; a rebellious heart. There are far too many people who know deep in their hearts that they should love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and their neighbors as themselves, and yet they choose to ignore and live outside of the law of God.

Father, may it not be so with us. May you grant us repentance. May you guard us from veering off onto the wide road that leads to destruction and keep us firmly rooted on the narrow road that leads to life. We give you thanks for giving us a new heart and putting a new spirit in us. We give you thanks for taking out our stony, stubborn heart and giving us a tender, responsive heart. And therefore as your people, may we submit to your Holy Spirit as we carefully live within your law of love.

Following in the dust of the rabbi,

Mike Altena

Last week I was traveling south on Highway 75 and I was about to the Hartquist Funeral Home when I noticed a young high school student on his moped approaching Highway 75 from the east on Elm Street. When he came to a stop he immediately stood up reached into his front pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He looked at it for maybe two or three seconds, stuffed it back in his pocket, sat down on his moped and took off towards school.

The first thought that came to my mind; really kid, you’re so addicted to that phone that you can’t travel the distance from your home to school without checking to see if someone is trying to contact you; are you that starved for attention.

I know, that wasn’t a very nice thought, was it. So then I thought I would give him the benefit of doubt. Maybe he was running late and was just checking the time. Maybe he was new to the community and was still uncertain about how to get to school, so he was checking MapQuest. Or maybe he wasn’t sure if there was rain on the way so he was checking the radar.

Seeing the young man reach for his phone at the stop sign must’ve been quite an emotional hook for me since I kept thinking about it as I continued driving. And then the Spirit questioned me, “Mike, are you really much better. You seem to be checking your cell phone a lot more. You even check your phone while you’re having a conversation with Vicki. Are you that starved for attention?”

Jesus was right; the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, I was busted. I had to confess I have been checking my cell phone much more often, and especially Facebook. I began to wonder, am I feeling starved for attention. And especially, why do I check my phone when Vicki is sitting right across the table from me.

Now, although a cell phone can be useful for many reasons, I believe having instant access to social media feeds our longing for acceptance, security and significance. In fact for many people, their security, significance or approval ratings are often linked to who follows them on Twitter or by the number of likes they get on Facebook or Instagram.

As I continue to reflect on how social media has become a great form of deception and has created a false sense of identity and security for many people, I believe the Spirit prompted this thought. I wonder how our society would change if every time someone was feeling starved for acceptance, security and significance they would reach in their pocket and take a peek at a pocket Bible.

Imagine the boy on his moped stopped at the stop sign reading that God “liked” him, “You are my son, whom I love; with you am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Or, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…” (Psalm 27:4). Or “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1) Or, and this was my favorite verse in high school, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body”  (Ecclesiastes 12:12).

When it comes to seeking your acceptance, security or significance, may it not be so with you that you would turn to social media, but that you would become addicted to checking God’s word. As Moses instructed Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Mike Altena

I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the completion of the Highway 75 project in Luverne. Actually it’s been kind of fun this past week not having any lane markings. Without the lane markings a person can have the freedom to drive wherever they want.

For example, one afternoon I was in a hurry and I was following a slower car and so I decided to pass it. So I moved way to the left side into the lane of oncoming traffic and stepped on the gas; boy you should’ve seen the look on that guy’s face in the oncoming car as I was coming right at him. He must’ve been impressed with my driving because he waved at me with one of his fingers indicating I was number one.

And then on another occasion, since there are no markings, I thought I would use my freedom to pretend like I was driving in the new three-lane configuration and so I decide to drive real slow right in the middle of the two right lanes. Well, it didn’t take long and traffic was getting backed up behind me and they started honking their horns; I could actually hear some guy yelling at me to move over. I thought to myself, hey buddy you better get used to it, this is the way it’s going to be once they paint the new lines. J

As I was reflecting on the fun and freedom I’ve been enjoying without the lane markings, I realized not everyone was having as much fun as I was, especially the guy I almost ran in to. I began to wonder, is freedom really being able to do whatever you want whenever you want, regardless of how it may affect someone else.

I began to reflect on the wisdom of Psalm 119:29-32. In this portion of scripture the Psalmist is reflecting on his need for guidance through life. He writes, ²⁹“Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. ³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. ³¹ I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. ³² I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”

According to these verses, true freedom is not doing whatever we want, whenever we want; true freedom is when we stay within the boundaries of God’s will. May it not be so with us that we would hurt someone else by abusing our freedom. (Oh and by the way, I just made up my examples).

And then one more observation from the highway 75 project that relates to our spiritual life. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the true renovation of the south half of 75 has been a long sloooooooow process. To replace the culverts, the water lines, the sidewalks and the road surface was deeply invasive. On the other hand, it took only a few days to patch the cracks and seal-coat the north half. And while it may look nice, it’s still really bumpy.

It prompted me to think about the difference of Adam and Eve and David. When Adam and Eve realize the brokenness of their sin, they ran and hid and covered up with some leaves—it was a quick, ineffective, cover up. On the other hand, when David realized how corrupt his heart had become with Bathsheba, he asked God to do deep invasive work in his heart. “Search me, O God and know my heart…See if there is any offensive way in me…” (Psalm 139). “Create in me a pure heart, O God…” (Psalm 51).

When it comes to conviction of sin, may it not be so with us that we would settle for a quick patch job, but that we would always allow the Spirit to do the deep invasive renovation of the heart.

Mike Altena

For the past several weeks we’ve been focusing on the joy we have in Christ in our worship gatherings. Again, for those who have been born again, because Christ lives in us, we can choose to live in a perpetual state of joy.

However, I’d have to admit for the past few weeks my sense of joy has been challenged. Ever since the news and videos have come out about Planned Parenthood selling baby parts my heart feels deeply saddened. This morning I watched the seventh video presentation about Planned Parenthood exposing the activities of a gal who shared how they cut through the face of a little baby boy in order to “harvest” his brain while he was still alive.

While growing up I always thought America was a Christian nation—“In God We Trust.” However I have come to realize America was only founded by many Christians who sought to instill a government that was guided by the Word of God. Obviously that is no longer the case. America is not a Christian nation, but rather a heathen nation being led by a majority of very confused heathen men and women.

Isn’t it amazing when you consider the subtle deceit of the enemy that our leaders have reached a point where they can justify and approve the killing of an innocent human being? Doesn’t that deeply grieve your heart to know that we live in a country that approves the murder of an unborn child and then chopping it up to sell the body parts for research? Is our government really any different than Hitler’s regime?

I also watched a video message by Matt Chandler on this issue and he shared that by 21 weeks, with a little help from machines, a baby could live outside of the womb, and yet nearly almost all of the 1,000,000,000 babies that were aborted in the western hemisphere last year were aborted after 21 weeks. And the truth is this lack of concern for these babies is driven purely by the exaltation of self.

One women Chandler interviewed acknowledged that the fetus inside of her was a human life, yet after aborting her child she said, “She is the boss. Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her. Always. Period.”

When I think of what our heathen nation is doing, I think of what God spoke to Israel after they turned their backs on God. “⁴Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. ⁵Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick….When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. ¹⁶Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. ¹⁷Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows [and the unborn] (Isaiah 1:4-5;15-17).

May it not be so with us that our lack of outcry over this matter be a reflection of apathy and indifference. And may it not be so with us that we are so busy pursuing the American Dream that our consciences have become seared to the evil that is invading the country in which we live. And may we pray diligently that God would grant us repentance so that the joy of his salvation would be restored.

Mike Altena