I am deeply concerned about what is transpiring before our eyes in America’s heartland. Not in New York City. Not on the Left Coast. Iowa.

You and I better care about what’s going on in Iowa. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission has taken the official position that state law requires the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ to censor its speech about human sexuality. Friends, please let that sink in. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission has taken the official position that state law requires the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ to censor its speech about human sexuality.

Why? Because the church welcomes nonmembers to attend its worship services, the church has been deemed among the state’s “public accommodations.” Scary. Scary indeed. Under Iowa law, “public accommodations” can’t make a person feel unwelcome based on his or her “gender identity.” And the Iowa Civil Rights Commission has just lumped a church into that broad category. This is nothing short of a ban on free speech. Speech that every American should want to protect. Speech that is clearly protected by the U.S. Constitution.

But in this strange new world in which we live, the pastor of the Iowa church is now prohibited from preaching about God’s design in creating each person as distinctly male or female. The law also includes a facility-use mandate that compels “public accommodations” to open their restrooms, locker rooms, and even their showers to persons based on gender identity – rather than biological sex. Even asking about a person’s gender identity, in conjunction with using gender-specific facilities, violates the Iowa law. I wish I were making this up.

Why is this such a huge development? Simply this. For the very first time in the history of the United States of America, a state government is attempting to control a church’s religious teaching – even within its own house of worship. This is nothing short of outrageous. Federal law typically considers “public accommodations” to be facilities like restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, retail establishments, and parks. But that didn’t stop Iowa. The state is attempting to determine what is a “bona fide religious purpose.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom has intervened with a  “pre-enforcement challenge.” Please pray that ADF prevails. In another generation, we could have assumed that our U.S. Supreme Court would recognize the chilling effect of Iowa’s behavior on religious liberty – and that the high court would move quickly to protect free speech. But those days may be gone.

Friends, we have in large measure brought this on ourselves. We have played church, and watered down the gospel. We have lost our evangelistic fervor, and pursued the applause of the world over the favor of Almighty God. May Christ look upon us with grace, and forgive our manifold sins and weaknesses. Perhaps Ravi Zacharias said it best: “We are at war, but not only with an enemy. We are at war within our own culture, and whether we will ever win over the enemy depends on whether we win this war within our own souls.”

Iowa, Oh Iowa!

Pastor Charles

Headlining today’s Wall Street Journal is Akane Otani’s piece titled “Stocks Rebound, but Jitters Linger.” Thankfully our peace does not depend upon the Dow or London’s FTSE 100. Europe is volatile, and Istanbul is recovering from a massive terror attack, but you and I are to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” lay all of our burdens at the throne of Christ’s grace (Philippians 4:6-7). When we present our requests there alone, we are promised “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” Heart, guarded. Mind, guarded.

If you didn’t meet Julian Sunday, I’ll introduce you now. Julian is from Romania (Grace Baptist Church in fact), and will be here as part of our family through the end of August. He is learning English, and we’re finding him to be a quick study! Yesterday we showed Julian the sites of Chicago, and this morning we’re off to the Botanic Gardens and then the Milwaukee area. Eileen will read Scripture tomorrow at the wedding of a close friend. After those festivities, we’ll be off to the Northwoods of Wisconsin near Michigan’s U.P.

We’re hoping that this big driving loop will give Julian a taste of American life, complete with fireworks on Stormy Lake on Independence Day. As we journey, our hope is to point both Julian and Joshua to the God who created such magnificent beauty, and who established and prospered this great nation.

My heart is warmed this morning by thoughts of the weekend bike ride for our dear Tammy Bohannon. It’s yet more evidence of a mighty Spirit-driven wind of grace in and through the people called First Baptist Paducah. Regardless of the stock exchange, we will persevere. Not because of our own strength, but that of Christ in us!

As you celebrate America’s birthday, remember to give thanks to God for our freedom. We who’ve been claimed by Christ know a freedom in Him that can’t be extinguished by political turmoil or economic uncertainty. We are safe. He is Sovereign and good.

Jitters, begone!

Pastor Charles

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 115:1-3.

“Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom (Nigel Paul Farage).” If you’re unfamiliar with Mr. Farage, he’s a British politician and former commodity broker, and the leader of the U.K. Independence Party – a position he has held since November 2010.

Yesterday may well be remembered as the single most momentous day in British politics. At least since World War II. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Total votes came in at about 52% to 48%. This is a huge development with global implications.

Superstars and cultural icons like soccer player David Beckham had come out in full support of remaining in the E.U., but the “Remain” crowd did not prevail in the end. Professing Christians – with Anglicans and Baptists trending most heavily – comprised the group of Brits most solidly in support of leaving the E.U., polling at about 55% in the Brexit direction.

By this morning here, the pound had taken a brutal beating (the worst in 31 years), which had been expected. Global markets have been impacted as well, of course, and Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his official resignation. But, like it or not, the British people have spoken.

Does this matter to us as Americans, and as evangelical Christians? I think it does, on a number of levels.

1. It’s a reminder that the right to vote, and to exercise political freedom, is truly a gift.

There’s still a place for Christians to speak up in American life, and to speak our convictions. We must do so with consistent kindness, as is fitting for those who’ve been claimed by the Cross. I would contend in fact that sound Christian influence is needed now more than ever. Speaking of an independent U.K., Mr. Farage exclaimed: “This will be a victory for real people!”

2. It’s a reminder that we’re called to live “next door” to people who sometimes seriously disagree with us.

Whether we’re on Downing Street like Cameron, or Downing Cove like I, vibrant participation in a pluralistic society requires us to honor those who tend to vote differently than we. Sometimes our opponents are even correct (can you imagine?) on certain issues that we’ve missed, and humility after the example of Jesus is required. Regarding Brexit, evangelicals found themselves on both sides of the issue. So we must pray for our British brothers and sisters to find their unity in Christ, now as always. Is healthy disagreement without total division possible? Yes, but Britain needs grace to see recent wounds healed. So do we.

3. It’s a reminder that God writes human history, complete with all its twists and turns – for His own purposes, glory, and praise.

What will happen next? Only the Lord knows. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says that a Scottish referendum on leaving the U.K. is now on the table. Who knows but God? The U.K. is now divided in some new ways, as all 32 Scottish council areas voted in the “Remain” crowd. But, thankfully, God does know what tomorrow will bring – on both sides of the pond.

Personally speaking, I find the vision of Europe as a collection of sovereign nation-states working together much more compelling than an unwieldy European Union, which gets harder and harder to rein in by its very nature. Yes, “global” sounds more chic and trendy, but in reality I’d be downright giddy to see even a few nations managing their own affairs well.

In our day and in our land, may we as Christ’s blood-bought sheep walk in sufficient grace so that our “salt” and “light” (Matthew 5:13-16) may be used of our Sovereign Lord to preserve decency and order (First Corinthians 14:40) for such a time as this.

Pastor Charles

When people in Orlando – where many Americans go to vacation and unplug – are gunned down in cold blood, we all experience a sense of unsteadiness and revulsion. The world seems to be shifting under our feet, and shifting much too fast. In a gay nightclub, a Muslim man took the lives of 49 men and women, most of them gay or lesbian – and all of them created in God’s own image. The shooter paused in the middle of his ravenous slaughter, called 911 and a local T.V. station, and pledged allegiance to ISIS. Regardless of other evil and mixed motives, this was jihad, plain and simple.

The wake of the Orlando tragedy has yielded even more unsteadiness and revulsion. Strangely, or maybe not, Anderson Cooper – whom I tremendously respect as a journalist – fired verbal assaults at Pam Bondi, the Florida attorney general. Bondi had been an outspoken supporter of traditional marriage, you see, and somehow that connected her to Omar Mateen’s hate, bigotry, and murderous acts. I am not making this up. While most of us were stunned and brokenhearted over the Orlando slaughter, evangelical Christians were being accused by the New York Times of being at least semi-accomplices to the “casualties of a society where hate has deep roots.” There were waves of this dangerous and demoralizing sentiment across the nation.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, off the hook.

North Carolina governor Pat McCrory and Texas governor Greg Abbott, under suspicion. Their crime? Wanting to keep bathrooms safe for girls and women. (Which would, I might add, never be a debate under Sharia Law. But that’s for another time.)

How are we to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9) when the enemy appears to be getting even more and more adept at hiding? Our only hope is the gospel of Jesus. Because of what Christ has done for us in His death and resurrection, even our sadness is marked with a sense of celebration. We can be honest about the legacy of damage and death that sin has left on us and on our world, while at the same time remembering the life-giving grace that claims us by name!

When I consider all the mistakes that I have made in my life, and all the sin that I have allowed and even embraced, I feel paralyzed and ashamed. But when I “fix my eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith” (Hebrews 12:2), I feel hope rising again. Christine Caine writes in Undaunted: “Often the very things that you think have disqualified you are the ones that qualify you to do what God has called you to do.”

In terms of analyzing Orlando, Anderson Cooper is dead wrong. I only wish he understood the theological truth – God’s truth – that both Anderson and I indeed “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That would be the beginning of understanding Orlando, and in fact understanding all things.

In the meantime, you and I are called to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Though we may be deemed insincere in our weeping even before our tears have dried, we weep on.

Pastor Charles

Vacation Bible School 2016 has come and gone. It’s hard to believe. It was a wonderful week.

As has become our tradition, the Paducah City Fire Department showed up today to soak all the kids – and even a few unsuspecting adults. What fun! Thanks to all our firemen friends.

SUBMERGED took all of us on an “underwater adventure” … we went “down, down, down” into the heart of the sea. We grabbed our goggles, stepped into our slippers, and dove in! As we submerged ourselves in God’s Word, we discovered something very important: Jesus doesn’t just see what’s on the outside of people. He looks deep within! Psalm 139:23-24 was the core of our study: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” Our motto was: Jesus sees. Jesus knows. Jesus saves.

Pastor Russ helped our VBS kids catch a vision for world missions – including North American and local opportunities – and the kids themselves raised over $2000 to be used this summer to build a playground in Ozero, Ukraine. That project will be completed by our church members and a partner congregation on the mission field.

As we wrapped up our fifth day of VBS just before noon today, Mr. Rusty gave a clear gospel presentation and a call to trust Christ for salvation. Many children responded, and each will receive personal follow-up. Please pray for the Spirit to bear eternal fruit through what was discovered and delighted in this week.

Thanks to all of your who gave your time, talent, and treasure to make all of this happen for God’s glory. Pulling off a successful VBS for hundreds of children, as well as their grateful families, is truly a family affair.

Have a restful weekend. Summertime is here. The Lord is good. Oh so good.

Pastor Charles

In early May I posted some photos of our trip to Frankfort. I mentioned then that several of my local pastor friends and I have decided to unite our “prayer forces” between now and the upcoming Presidential election. To that end, I thought you might like a schedule of the upcoming “If My People” prayer rallies.

Wednesday, June 29

7:00 p.m.       Rosebower Baptist Church       1120 Tyree Road

Wednesday, July 27

6:30 p.m.       Friendship Baptist Church       146 South Friendship Road

Wednesday, August 31

6:30 p.m.       Bellview Baptist Church       4875 Old Mayfield Road

Wednesday, September 28

6:30 p.m.       Lone Oak First Baptist Church       3601 Lone Oak Road

Wednesday, October 26

6:00 p.m.       First Baptist Paducah       2890 Broadway

You’ll notice that five different churches, including our own, will serve as host churches. The start time each Wednesday evening is the start time for that congregation’s normal Wednesday services.

Our Lord Jesus called us “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). So we must “let our light shine” for such a time as this. We have no misguided notion that America is ancient Israel. The Church is God’s covenant people, not the U.S.A., and this we must never forget. America is not a theocracy, nor do not expect that everything which transpires within American government will line up with the ideals of Scripture. That being said, Christ has put you and me on this Earth, and in this nation, for this particular season – political turmoil and all.

If you have been discouraged about American political life in recent days, please allow me to encourage you. Even considering all its flaws, a government that is less than perfect is better than no government at all. Human government serves God’s gracious purposes in this world, including order, accountability, and leadership. Surely we can pray for those who lead, and those who will lead, our nation – believing by faith that we serve a Sovereign God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). This ministry of prayer is an important aspect of our being the most Christlike citizens we can be until we are called home.

Who but God knows how powerful the prayers of Paducah believers – coming together around the cross of Christ – could be? Everyone – regardless of church affiliation, denominational background, or political affiliation – is invited to participate in these important and timely prayer rallies. No one is excluded, and all are welcome. Please help me get the word out!

Pastor Charles

Last night I sat in the stately auditorium balcony for the high school graduation of my niece and nephew in Boston. It was the perfect bird’s-eye view.

Toward the end of the very formal New England ceremony, the graduates were instructed to turn around and face the audience, just so they could take in a momentary glimpse of all the family members and friends gathered to show their love and support.

As I looked down upon a sea of blue, my eyes were drawn immediately to Emily and Brendan (right smack dab in the middle of my photo). Though I was happy for all of the graduates, I was elated for the two whom I adore.

I recalled the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 10:29, when He reminded us that you and I are the apple of His eye! Even greater than God’s love for the birds of the air is His unending delight in, and passion for, His own beloved. We are uniquely and wonderfully His!

Way back in 1905, Civilla D. Martin got it oh so right: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Pastor Charles

Last night I was invited by the Paducah Human Rights Commission to serve as a panelist for a public forum entitled “Justice for All.” Justice, of course, should be a missional concern for all of us who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (Micah 6:8). We are seekers of justice because we serve a God of justice.

Our community experiences its share of problems, of course. We’re not yet in the City of God. But I’m regularly struck with a profound gratitude for the abundant blessings attached to life in Western Kentucky. By and large the folks in this neck of the woods value hard work, neighborly kindness, and respect for human life.

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for our public servants. As I regularly interface with civic and community leaders in Paducah, I observe a tremendous amount of cooperation, teamwork, selflessness, and charitable giving. I am convinced that our region will advance even more in terms of economic and educational opportunity for all citizens as we deliberately choose to step out in faith and build life-giving friendships which intentionally blur racial, ethnic, and cultural lines.

To those beyond our immediate church family who read this blog, I want to assure you that First Baptist Paducah is committed to loving all people. Period. I extend a hand of friendship to all who will walk this sometimes-broken road with us. Many dividing walls can topple if we will live out the kind of grace that I saw Police Chief Brandon Barnhill model last night. After all, who wants justice without grace (James 2:13)?

Ultimately and once-for-all, perfect justice triumphed at Christ’s cross. We now live in the shadow of that atoning sacrifice, and we’re grateful for every taste of temporal justice afforded by the powers and systems of this world. We’re much like a hungry person who devours an appetizer in anticipation of an even more satisfying meal. But we long for the brightest of days, which has been promised and secured before the foundation of the world, when we will dwell with Christ forever in a land where Justice reigns.

Pastor Charles

So our Joshua has landed a summer job at Chick-fil-A. We’re so proud of him. He loves the idea of working and earning a paycheck. He loves the idea of grown-up responsibilities. He loves the idea of pursuing something important on his own. And, in this particular case, God has blessed our son with Christian managers, co-workers, and role models, who are – for us as Josh’s parents – the proverbial icing on the cake. (Or should I say, “the meringue on the lemon icebox pie?” Too bad that’s served only in Atlanta now.)

Please excuse my less-than-stellar photo. Josh would never approve of my photographing him at work, so don’t tell him. I had to run through the mall and hide behind a large woman just long enough to get the best shot I could. I’m certain I was inches away from being arrested.

Yes, I try to document all our family milestones. When I’m old and forgetful, I’m hoping that pics like these – even if I’m drooling on them a bit at that point – will spark a happy memory of the boy I still can’t believe I get to raise and love. Next to Jesus and Eileen, Joshua is my treasure. We are blessed, and God is good.

It seems like only yesterday that the world had to say goodbye to the well-respected founder of Chick-fil-A, Mr. Truett Cathy. In 2014 Mr. Cathy died, at the ripe old age of 93, after showing us that a billion-dollar business can happen in America without trampling on Biblical principles and ethics. Cathy ran his organization with excellence. When we lived out in SoCal – as Chick-fil-A was expanding and bringing their chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and sweet tea to the West Coast – Mr. Cathy would fly out to each new store, preside over an overnight campout comprised of the chain’s devotees (on the restaurant parking lot), and then pray over the crowd at the next day’s opening bell. After all of that planned hoopla – brilliantly and winsomely executed – hundreds of loyal customers received hundreds of free meal vouchers to be enjoyed throughout the next year.

Truett Cathy was a leader of leaders. Sometimes he paid a steep price for his stand for decency, particularly as traditional family values came under assault, but he seemed always the optimist who deeply desired to use his public platform for good. And that he did. At the time of Mr. Cathy’s home going, award-winning blogger, speaker, and author Paul Sohn published some “Cathy quotes” which are worth remembering. I’ll pass along to you just seven of them …

“You never know how or when you influence people … We have an impact on our children by what we say, but particularly by what we do. They forget many of the things we say, but they observe everything we do.”

“Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources.”

“The unexpected opportunity I enjoy most is the opportunity to turn a frown into a smile.”

“It is when we stop doing our best work that our enthusiasm for the job wanes.”

“I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are.”

“We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed.”

“If you wish to enrich days, plant flowers. If you wish to enrich years, plant trees. If you wish to enrich Eternity, plant ideals in the lives of others.”

Why do such simple yet profound thoughts stir our souls? Because they’re substantive. In an age of feeling-over-fact, these quotes communicate objective reality and value, because they were uttered by someone who possessed wisdom and insight into matters of life and eternity. Christ said: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). Deep down, you and I long to be standing, safely, on the Rock.

Joshua, when you’re older and you realize that I posted this, know how proud I am of you.

And, for the rest of you, know how dearly loved you are by your highly-imperfect-but-hopefully-usually-smiling shepherd.

Pastor Charles

It was a real honor to travel Wednesday to our state capitol. Friends from our First Baptist Paducah family made our way to a rainy Frankfort just to be a part of Decision America Tour 2016 with Franklin Graham, who explained his sense of urgency: “We’re all here today because we know that our country is in trouble. We are in trouble spiritually, racially, economically, politically, and there’s no political party that is going to turn this thing around.”

Some 5800 concerned Kentucky citizens gathered on the capitol steps to, among other things, confess our national sins. Specifically mentioned were abortion, same-sex marriage, pride, the worship of profits, lack of concern for the poor, and an entertainment-driven culture which is obsessed with sex and violence. It was an entirely nonpartisan event, and in fact Mr. Graham convened the gathering at noon by expressing “zero hope” in both of our nation’s major political parties.

Since our church is just finishing a multi-month study of the Book of Nehemiah, we were immediately intrigued when Franklin began his presentation by telling Nehemiah’s story. I was not able to jot down his exact words, but Franklin simply reminded us that Nehemiah was spiritually moved by the desperate condition of his homeland. Nehemiah understood that his God-given mission was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and – by so doing – to restore the hope of God’s people. But it all began with crying out to God!

Franklin Graham is traveling to all 50 states to hold similar prayer rallies, to preach Christ’s gospel, and to challenge believers to take action. He is urging Christians to vote, and to live out their Christian faith in the public square – even running for political office when and where that is both possible and prudent.

At one point Franklin referred to plans of the current executive administration to erect a national monument in celebration of homosexual activism in America. “A monument to sin? That’s unbelievable. War heroes deserve a monument, our nation’s Founding Fathers deserve a monument, people who have helped to make America strong deserve a monument – but a monument to sin? … I can’t believe how far our country has digressed. I hope that the President will reconsider. Flaunting sin is a dangerous move. God’s Word tells us, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34).”

As much as the prayer rally itself, I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and prayer as we traveled there and back. Even before our group arrived home in Paducah, I was receiving text messages from other pastors in our area who are desiring that we come together as believing churches to pray for such a time as this. I’ll be meeting with those pastors early Monday morning to discuss the details. More to come on those opportunities; please stay tuned.

I can’t say it any better than Franklin, so I won’t even try. Mr. Graham made it clear: “The only hope for the United States of America is Almighty God.”

Pastor Charles