Are We Forgetting Something?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1

So, it’s been ten days since Halloween, and some of our neighbors still have skeletons in their yards. Remnants of jack-o-lanterns can still be seen withering on some porches.

Meanwhile, every store in town is decorated for Christmas, encouraging us to jump into the season of “Buy-buy-buy!” lest we find ourselves falling short, come December 25.

(What’s wrong with this picture?)

So far, I have seen one lone house decorated for Thanksgiving. I walked past a couple setting up an inflated, smiling turkey, wearing a pilgrim’s hat, and a sign saying, “THANKS.” (I resisted the urge to tell them it might be more appropriate for a chicken or cow or pig to be thankful – thankful they aren’t turkeys.)

All kidding aside, what happened to Thanksgiving, that special time to reflect on our blessings? Between the season of celebrating death and what seems to have become the season of greed, has giving thanks been lost in the busyness?

It’s easy to point to the kids, who now have their own app for posting lists of what they want for Christmas. But a lot of us adults can fall into the same trap. Commercials on TV and internet are designed to make us covet stuff we don’t have, at least the ones that aren’t trying to persuade us to take the newest drug. And for those less selfish, we’re told we should be getting our loved ones more stuff! applying the strategy of the guilt trip.

Can we all just slow down and be thankful for what we have? Can we sit back and enjoy a holiday whose main focus is bringing people together and being grateful, before the “Black Friday” sales – which used to be on Friday but now are starting to encroach even on Thanksgiving evening?

At the risk of this post’s being seen as yet another commercial (Please read to the end!), I do want to tell you/remind you that my children’s book, “Grumpy to Grateful,” is available on Amazon (A search for “Ann Aschauer” will take you to my book page.) and can be ordered now to arrive by Thanksgiving. It’s written to remind kids (and adults) how blessed we are when there’s food on the table, clothes to keep us warm, and loved ones to share our lives with.

If ordering the book seems like “just one more thing to do!” – I understand! Please feel free to read your children or grandchildren the story right from this blog. My point isn’t to sell books, but to focus our attention on being thankful, even if it’s just for the time it takes to read the story of Jackson, the grumpy boy, and what it took to make him appreciate the life God has given him. Whether you order the book or read it here, I would love to have you share how the Lord used it in your children’s (and your) lives.

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 1

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Thanksgiving Story) Chapter 2

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 3

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 4

From Grumpy to Grateful (A Story of Thanksgiving) Chapter 5

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. ❤

Prayer: Dear Lord and Creator of all good things, forgive us for the way we pass up what You’ve already given us in the pursuit of more. We do thank You now for the gift of life here, with all its blessings, both the material gifts and the intangible gifts of love, laughter, joy, and peace. And when life is less than joyful, thank You for Your promise that we never are never alone. Fill us with Your Spirit and make us blessings to the people around us, both those we know and those we are meeting for the first time, because we know that we are all made in Your image, to be vessels of Your love. Keep us from succumbing to the evil one’s attempts to corrupt our hearts by making us proud, selfish, and ungrateful. Make us more like You, Jesus. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Have We Learned Anything?

Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” I Peter 3:15

Every Christian I know (including myself) struggles with this verse.

Being prepared to discuss spiritual matters involves diligent study of Scripture, and we often neglect this important discipline. We’re distracted, we’re “too busy,” or we’re just plain lazy. It also helps to know how to approach a subject logically and be informed about recent discoveries.

Those of us who want to be “nice” all the time are often not prepared to speak up and “give an answer” about our faith. We freeze up, afraid we’re going to “offend” someone, as if offending is the cardinal sin of Mankind. (Whatever the world may tell you, it is not...)

Others of us fall short of gentleness and respect. We’re bold and ready at any time to speak up, whether or not the audience is ready to hear us. We fail to take into account the person’s background, where (s)he may be emotionally, or even what (s)he is interested in. Often, we forget to pray for wisdom and sensitivity, so we plow full speed ahead with our speech, forgetting that “They won’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

So, does anyone have all three of these qualities mastered? Probably not, but the person who seems to me to have come as close as anyone I know is the late Charlie Kirk.

Everyone, it seems, is talking about (ranting about, arguing about) Charlie. Whether or not I agree with absolutely everything he said (I doubt anyone does.), I do admire the way he lived out his faith in the way described in the opening verse.

*”Always being prepared” certainly involves doing one’s homework. Charlie never went to college, but he read hundreds of books and showed up prepare for an informed and intelligent discussion. He alluded to his knowledge of history, science, and statistics and used logic rather than emotional manipulation to persuade. He was ready to give a (valid) reason for the hope he had.

*He wasn’t lacking in courage to give an answer when asked about his faith; on the contrary, he went into environments where Christianity was met with disdain or downright hostility by the majority. (I wonder how many pastors would be willing to do that.) He didn’t avoid the other side, he reached out to them, engaging in civil discussion whenever allowed to do so.

*As for sharing the gospel with gentleness and respect, Charlie displayed the spiritual gift of self-control. In his Q & A sessions, most were polite in their questioning, some were rude, sarcastic, or unruly. But Charlie never (to my knowledge) lost his temper, yelled, or resorted to name calling or demonizing his opponents. He didn’t cut off, cancel, or shout down his opponents. In fact, anyone who disagreed with him was invited to the front of the line. (Kirk has been called a fascist, but I looked up the definition of “fascist,” and fascists do not give the mic to dissenters.)

The young man who shot him may or may not have had illusions of silencing him, but Charlie Kirk’s videos have gone viral. People who had never heard his name are listening to him share his beliefs, the most important being the way to God through Jesus Christ. What excites me is the number of people saying, “I’m an atheist, but today I bought my first Bible,” or “I stopped going to church years ago, but I’m going back this Sunday.” These comments are coming from all over the world. What Christian wouldn’t want to have that kind of impact?

Those of us who desire to evangelize our world can learn from watching and listening to him, whether we need more education, more heart, or more backbone.

Maybe you have criticism regarding some of the things Charlie did or didn’t say or the way he presented himself.

First, he wasn’t trying to present himself, he was trying to present Jesus.

Secondly, if you have a better way of doing it – by all means, get out and do it!

Prayer: Lord, we are so quick to judge others, whether out of irritation, pride, defensiveness, or envy. Take our eyes off the faults of others and onto You. We submit to You our own faults and thank You for forgiving us and giving us a fresh start every day. Help us to follow every good example in those who have gone before us and leave good examples for those who come after us, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Some Things Don’t Change

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? – Matthew 16:24-26

Stephen was a faithful follower of Jesus. He wasn’t one of the original Twelve. In fact, we don’t know whether he had ever encountered Jesus in the flesh. We do know that he was “full of the Spirit, faith, and wisdom,” and “God’s grace and power.” (Acts 6:3,5,&8)

Stephen had been one of seven men chosen to wait on tables, because the Grecian Jews had been complaining to the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food (6:1) But he also “did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” (vs 8) We aren’t told what these were, but he got the attention of men from different provinces who gathered to oppose him. But as much as they argued with Stephen, “they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” (vs 9)

Since debating Stephen didn’t succeed, their next tactic was to stir up false witnesses against him. Their accusations spread quickly (Today we would say they went viral.). When the people were stirred up, they seized Stephen and took him to the Sanhedrin. (vs 12) There the false witnesses came forth and repeated their lies.

When it was finally Stephen’s turn to speak, he gave a lengthy and eloquent speech. He recounted the history of the Jewish people, beginning with God’s call to Abraham and continuing up to the building of the Temple by Solomon, after which he stated, “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men,” (vs 48) quoting Isaiah for emphasis.

One could wonder why Stephen was allowed to speak for so long uninterrupted, but he was stating the truth right from the Scriptures – what could his opponents say?

But when he turned to the leaders and confronted them personally, he sealed his fate:

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” (vs 51-53)

That was all it took. The infuriated leaders stoned Stephen for what he said. Even so, his last words were in prayer for those who were killing him, just as Jesus had prayed on the cross for His executioners.

Up until that time, for the most part, the fledgling Church had remained in Jerusalem, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) Some call this the Church’s “honeymoon stage.” Life was pleasant and easy.

But after Stephen’s death, persecution broke out against the Church. As a result, believers scattered in all directions, taking the Gospel with them, telling the Good News wherever they went.

Which was what they were supposed to be doing do in the first place!

Charlie Kirk reminds me of Stephen, whose enemies could not refute what he said. Charlie always showed up prepared. He knew the Scriptures (in context!), he was logical, and he challenged opponents without losing his temper or resorting to name-calling or yelling. He clearly had self-control, one of the fruits of the Spirit. It wasn’t long before lies about him were being spread online, but one had only to watch a complete interview or Q&A session to see the kind of person he was – not perfect but living out his faith with everything he had.

Like the Church in the earliest days, the Church in America, unlike any other place or time in history, has enjoyed a rare level of freedom and, if not favor, at least a modicum of respect from the general population. As a result, many of us have grown complacent and spiritually lazy. If we doubt that, we have only to ask ourselves, “When was the last time I shared the gospel with an unbeliever?”

(But the Great Commission does not have an expiration date.)

Charlie Kirk was one of the exceptions. He didn’t wait for unbelievers to come to his church. He went to where they were, in an environment where people were open to new ideas and not afraid to challenge and be challenged. In a world where nastiness is too often the norm in “discussions,” Charlie encouraged civil discourse. And among Christians, millions of us watched his debates and cheered him on.

But just as Stephen was murdered by those who weren’t able to defeat him with words, Charlie Kirk was killed by one man who resorted to a gun instead of words to make his point. And from the level of public rejoicing over his death, it is apparent that there are many who believe violence is an acceptable way of solving differences. For us spoiled American Christians, this is a disturbing wakeup call.

But just as the persecution ignited by Stephen’s martyrdom caused the Church to finally carry out the Great Commission, Charlie Kirk’s assassination has awakened today’s sleeping, complacent Church. Countless believers, especially the young, are coming forward, inspired to be more like him and carry on his work of sharing the gospel boldly, respectfully, and intelligently.

We’re finally ready to start doing what we all were supposed to be doing all along.

The world hasn’t changed much in the last two thousand years. The Gospel hasn’t changed. Human nature hasn’t changed. And the Great Commission hasn’t changed.

Are we ready to get to work?

Prayer: Jesus, You have called us to take up our crosses and follow You. You ask us to do what takes strength and courage – more than we have in ourselves. But Your Spirit lives in us, and as You empower us, we are ready to be obedient. May the pain of last week’s tragedy be the birth pangs of revival in our nation and the world, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Cross Still Offends

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5

The Cross Still Offends

by Pastor Rich Bitterman

The bullet tore the air in half.

A folding chair rattled. A Bible dropped. A young man slumped sideways beneath a white event tent, eyes wide with the weight of eternity.

It was supposed to be a conversation. A “prove me wrong” segment. But this time, rebuttal came not with words, but with a rifle.

Charlie Kirk didn’t get to finish his sentence.

I got the news just before prayer meeting. I contemplated this death as I prepared to lead the saints in prayer. But I didn’t feel like praying. Not tonight. My hands were still. My mouth was ready. But my soul was pacing. Angry. Grieving. Tempted.

Tempted to grow quiet. Tempted to sit this one out. Tempted to wonder if any of this, faith, boldness, public gospel witness, is still worth it.

Because hatred in this country isn’t simmering anymore. It is boiling.

Europe is trembling. Israel is burning. Rockets lit the sky over Gaza again. And now, here on American soil, the blood of a Christian apologist paints the pavement of a university quad.

What do you do with that?

What do you say when courage gets gunned down in daylight?

Charlie Kirk was no perfect man. None of us are.

But he had backbone where most of us don’t anymore. He was a believer. Unashamed. Unafraid. He understood that real conversations only happen when truth is welcome at the table. And the truth he carried most was Christ.

He brought the gospel into public space on purpose. Because the gospel isn’t supposed to stay in church basements and private Bible studies. It is meant to confront. It is supposed to offend. It was not made for safety.

The Word became flesh and they nailed Him to a tree.

So of course they came for Charlie.

Of course they reached for a gun.

This is what evil does when it runs out of arguments. It doesn’t reason. It kills.

That’s the part that catches in my throat. Not just the sadness, but the strategy of hell behind it.

The Enemy wants us afraid. He wants us to see what happened to Charlie and backpedal. He wants the rest of us to whisper, to soften the message, to believe the lie that faith should stay private.

But Christ never whispered. He preached in temples, on hillsides, in courtrooms, at dinner tables. And when they told Him to be quiet, He picked up His cross.

Not a symbolic one. A real one. Heavy. Bloody. Splintered.

When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He didn’t hand out maps. He handed out crosses.

That’s what I remembered tonight.

I sat in our prayer space, surrounded by saints who had brought prayer lists and worn Bibles. And I realized I didn’t want to lead them in mourning. I wanted to lead them into battle. Not with banners or fists, but with open Bibles and tear-stained prayers.

The kind of war that kneels in gravel beside the wounded, hands them living water, and refuses to leave. The kind that speaks both mercy and judgment without flinching. The kind Charlie died for.

This world is not a friend to grace. But grace isn’t fragile.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul didn’t leave that question unanswered.

“Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” —Romans 8:35

He piles up every fear you and I carry and then sets them on fire.

“No. In all these things we are more than conquerors.”

That means bullets don’t win. Slander doesn’t win. Prison bars don’t win. Death doesn’t win.

You can lose everything in this world and still walk into glory with your head lifted high. Because the love of God in Christ Jesus isn’t suspended by headlines or gunfire.

There are two worlds unfolding right now.

The one you see. And the one you don’t.

One is filled with chaos. The other is filled with crowns.

I believe that when Charlie Kirk’s body slumped to the concrete, his soul stood upright in heaven. Not limping. Not silenced. Not stunned. But crowned.

He didn’t fall. He crossed.

The great cloud of witnesses gained another voice. And I wonder if Stephen met him there. The first martyr. The man who got stoned for preaching what the crowd didn’t want to hear. The man who, in his final breath, saw the heavens open. The only time in all of Scripture we see Jesus standing at the right hand of God, rising to receive one of His own.

I like to believe He stood again.

Are you afraid?

Do you feel the tremble in your spirit?

Do you wonder if it’s still worth it to speak boldly, to carry your Bible, to preach the gospel in a world that doesn’t just disagree but wants you gone?

You’re not alone.

You’re not weak for feeling that. But you are called to something stronger than silence.

Don’t let fear become your theology.

The cost is high. But the reward?

The reward is Christ. And He’s not a concept. He’s a King.

Heaven is not empty.

It is filled with scarred saints who refused to bow to fear. Men who were stoned. Women who were burned. Children who sang while the flames climbed.

And every last one of them arrived.

There is no difficulty that can cancel the promise of God. There is no persecution that can derail your destination. There is no sniper’s bullet that can separate a soul from Christ.

Your life is not measured by how long you live on earth, but by how much of it was spent pointing to heaven.

Paul said, “I have fought the good fight… I have kept the faith.” Then he looked toward the reward. Not a monument. Not a mention in history books. But a crown. Handed to him by the One with nail marks still in His hands.

So let me say this clearly. We do not mourn like the world mourns. We do not write eulogies dripping with sentiment. We sing songs of resurrection. We carry the banner of a Kingdom that does not tremble.

Charlie Kirk did not die for nothing. He died carrying the same message you and I must now carry forward.

The cross stands tall. The tomb is still empty. And the gospel has not lost one ounce of power.

So pick up your cross. Wipe your eyes. And keep going.

The crown is worth it. The King is coming. And there’s still time to speak.

Even if they shoot.

Lord, give us courage. And if not safety, give us joy. For we carry not just the message, but the marks. And You are worth every bruise.

Prayer: Lord of eternity, give us the strength not to shrink back, not to slow down, but to follow You wholeheartedly, fearlessly. Help us to walk with You, run with You, and finish well. We thank You for the promise of eternal rewards in Heaven, most of all the promise of meeting You face to face and hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

Perspective on Being Left

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

It was our day in Nassau. The ship had come into port, and all morning a steady stream of people poured off the boat for a day of frolicking in the tropical paradise.

I was brushing my teeth when Marty, who had opted to stay behind, informed me that the kids and grandkids had texted they were ready to leave, and was I coming? I just had to get my shoes on and grab my purse.

“Tell them I’ll be there in five minutes,” I said.

“It’s going to take you five minutes to get down there.”

“OK, six minutes …”

“Too late, they’ve left.”

I admit, my immediate reaction was, What the –?!

I tried to resist the urge to sulk. Considering where I was, a pity party would definitely be out of place.

As I stepped off the ship into the sunshine of a perfect day, “divine perspective” reminded me that everything happens for a God-ordained reason, and I willfully rejected the demon of self-pity. I might sometimes appear to be “alone,” but I have Jesus, so I’m never really alone. Alone with Him is quite a different thing. – Today He wanted me all to Himself!

I wasn’t abandoned. I was on assignment!

A young couple stood on the dock in front of the ship, taking pictures of each other.

“Would you like a picture of both of you?” I asked.

“Oh, would you?! That’d be great!” The man handed me his phone. I took a few of the smiling pair, handed back the phone, and saw them looking at the pictures, beaming their approval.

Well, this is fun, I thought.

Before I reached the end of the long dock, I’d repeated the photo scenario with a few other couples and one family. I hoped the people noticed my pendant with the word “Jesus” in the shape of a cross, but I had a feeling I could do more to represent Him that day besides wearing a piece of jewelry and “being nice.”

Beyond the docks was a cluster of colorful shops, some more like booths at an art fair. I browsed and took in the diversity of faces, accents, and styles. I met a lady sitting at a table outside, petted her friendly dog, and entered the little shop that was there.

I found a t-shirt I knew Marty would like, and as the shop owner was ringing it up, I looked at the jewelry in the glass case. My eyes were drawn to the crosses there. A nudge from the Still, Small Voice told me this was my opening.

“You have some beautiful crosses here,” I commented. The shop owner thanked me, and I could tell from his accent that he was from India.

“Have you met Jesus?” I asked. The words were out before I’d had time to think about them. The man looked a little taken aback.

“No …” he said. “I’ve never met Jesus. I’m Hindu. But I have been in a …” He searched for the word.

“A church?” I asked.

“Yes! A church.”

“So … did they explain the gospel to you?”

“No,” he answered, looking at me intently.

Vaguely aware that we were the only people in the store and not knowing how much time I had, I quickly prayed for the words to sum up the “Good News” as clearly yet briefly as possible.

“We believe one God created everything, including us. We’re made in His image … but we don’t act like Him. We do bad things, selfish things. We make stupid mistakes. We don’t do the things we should.” He continued to make eye contact, nodding slightly.

“For a while, God’s people tried to atone for their sins by making sacrifices – killing a cow, a lamb, whatever. But as soon as the sacrifice was made, they’d blow it again.

“Finally, God said, ‘I’ll send my Son to atone for them, once and for all.’ Sin has to be paid for, and God loved us so much, He sent His Son to be our sacrifice!”

At that moment, the woman I had met outside stepped into the store and asked the man a question in their language. He looked away, and I thought that was the end of my witness. I prayed what I had said would be enough.

Surprisingly, the man answered her in one syllable, and she went back outside. His eyes came back to me with that intent look, as he waited for me to finish the story.

“So, God’s Son – Jesus – came and lived the perfect life we could never live. He was executed in our place. He took the death we deserved, then rose from the dead! If we believe in Him, then His death pays for our sins, and we can be raised up, too – and live with Him forever!

“… Does that make sense?”

As I waited to see if the man needed any more explanation, he looked pensive, then answered, “Yes. It does.”

I know some would follow up with, “Would you like to pray right now to repent of your sins and receive Jesus as your personal Savior?!” But that didn’t seem appropriate at the moment. I just said, “I hope you will think about this,” and he said he would. I could tell he was already thinking about it.

I don’t have a scorecard of people I have led to faith in Christ. Most often, as happened here, my witness consists of “planting seeds,” many of which I never get to see grow into a spiritual harvest. But that’s where faith comes in. I have to believe that God was speaking to that man before I ever stepped into his shop, and that He is continuing to speak to him. I trust that someday in heaven he will be telling me everything that happened after our brief encounter.

Meanwhile, I think of Mahesh and say a prayer for him. Maybe you’ll say one, too.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being a part of Your glorious mission, to reach every living soul on this earth. Thanks for making us Your ambassadors, especially in those unexpected opportunities that You drop into our day. Help us always to be ready to let You speak through us, giving You all the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.