Alan Redpath was a well-known 20th Century British evangelist, preacher, and author. He led a church in Richmond, London until 1953, when he moved to the United States and became the pastor of the historic Moody Memorial Church in Chicago for nine years. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1962, where he continued his ministry until his death in 1984.

I came across a story told by Redpath in the book “A Passion for Preaching,” which offered what I believe to be a practical test against gossip. According to Redpath, one of the congregations he pastored was going through a time of stress, intensified by an insidious surge of gossip among its members. While confronting the group about the environment created by this trend, Redpath encouraged his pastorates to apply a simple formula before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial. The method used the acronym T.H.I.N.K.:

T – Is it True?

H – Is it helpful?

I – Is it inspiring?

N – Is it necessary?

K – Is it kind?

“If what I am about to say does not pass those tests,” said Redpath, “I will keep my mouth shut.”

The Book of Proverbs is one of the best pieces of literature brimming with insights and wisdom on the impact of our words. From beautiful, encouraging verses concerning the power of a word spoken at the right time, to straight-forward, harsh admonishments on the importance of self-control when it comes to one’s speech, I often turn to Solomon’s wisdom to keep my own heart in check when it comes to how I communicate with others.

There is a good reason for that. As a true sanguine, I used to have a natural inclination to speak my mind when I was younger – a harmful tendency which created much heartache and loss.

Several years ago, during one of my pastor’s sermons, while talking about the importance of our words, he shared about how one can quickly determine the depth and authenticity of a person’s faith walk. The lesson within the sermon stuck with me through the years. He said: “If you were to be honest with yourself, would you say your conversations with friends revolve around other people, facts, or concepts?”

Think about it. We will naturally have superficial conversations. We enter an elevator, for example, greet a stranger, and often talk about the weather, compliment their dress or the beautiful baby in their arms. We will not engage in a meaningful conversation during our two-minute ride to the 20th floor.

But when it comes to our more intimate relationships with our friends, what conversations hold our hearts together? Is it meaningful talks about life, or do we tend to park our discussions on what others are or are not doing, judging their decisions and choices?

In other words, do I tend to gravitate to talking about other people in a negative light, or do I prefer to discuss ideas and beliefs? The answer should determine our priorities and the depth of our character.

Do I tend to gravitate to talking about other people in a negative light, or do I prefer to discuss ideas and beliefs? The answer should determine our priorities and the depth of our character.
Click To Tweet

Indeed, I believe that it does not matter how many times we grace the doors of our places of worship. It does not matter if we can quote Scriptures or if we serve in any capacity at our local church or synagogue. If we do not T.H.I.N.K. before we speak or spread gossip instead of stopping them, our religion becomes worthless.

King Solomon delivers a stern warning against gossip: “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”

King Solomon delivers a stern warning against gossip: A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28
Click To Tweet

We all know that Alan Redpath’s church is not the first or last congregation nearly destroyed by gossip and slander. Many are the temples which have dwindled, divided or closed down entirely because of lack of wisdom and harsh judgment against other people’s lives.

May we strive to seek purity of heart when we deal with each other, extending grace to those who make choices we do not approve, lest our religion becomes nothing but a social activity, and our place of worship nothing but another membership club.

May we strive to seek purity of heart when we deal with others, lest our religion becomes nothing but a social activity, and our place of worship nothing but another membership club.
Click To Tweet

This article was originally published on Patricia’s Column for The Atlanta Journal-Consitution on Saturday – July 20, 2019.

The post Deliver us from Gossiping! {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

History is not left without certain data which give us a fair estimate of the actual number of people flooding Jerusalem for the most anticipated annual Jewish feast. According to the Roman historian Josephus, 256,500 lambs were sacrificed that year. Even at the very low estimate of 10 people to each lamb, the number of people assembled would have amounted to almost 2,700,000. That number does not even include the people who were present, but unable to be partakers in the sacrifice due to impurities ascribed by ceremonial laws.

Indeed, the astounding crowd represented nearly half of the population of Galilee and Judea. In other words, a large representation of the Jewish nation witnessed the popular, yet controversial Prophet entering the capital, riding, not upon a war-horse, but on a donkey, which was a symbol of peace.

The men and women who followed Jesus and witnessed his many miracles recognized the incident as a fulfillment of messianic prophecy. They responded by reciting the famous words: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Shouts of joy echoed throughout the hills and valleys of Jerusalem in response to Jesus’ presentation of Himself as King. However, as one studies the gospels, Jesus’ reaction as He saw the city from a distance looks nothing like the portray of a joyous king. Rather, according to Luke’s account in his gospel, when Jesus approached Jerusalem, where He would be crucified that Friday, He was moved to tears.

“He saw the city and wept over it,” Scripture says. He wept because the people received none of the spiritual blessings that He had come to offer and thus, judgment would come. While wailing in anguish, Christ delivered the prophecy concerning the destruction of his beautiful Jerusalem. The prophecy was fulfilled less than 40 years later, when the Romans besieged the city under the leadership of Titus, leveling buildings, the holy temple and most of the city wall. Over than 600,000 Jews died in the aftermath.

But I imagine Jesus’ sadness as he entered Jerusalem was also in response to a more personal understanding. He knew that the multitudes that waved palm leaves and praised God for the long-awaited Messiah would soon be shouting “Crucify him!”

Close friends — witnesses and recipients of many miracles, who feasted on the bread of life He offered — would soon desert, betray or deny Him. And many of those who welcomed Him would soon cast the votes which would send Him to the cross.

The foreknowledge of the pain of betrayal by those He loved… Could that have been yet a deeper sorrow, hidden behind the tears shed by the Christ? Could the emotional pain be what pierced His heart deeper than the nails driven into His hands and feet?

The foreknowledge of the pain of betrayal by those he loved… Could that have been yet a deeper sorrow, hidden behind the tears shed by the Christ? #MondayDevotional #HolyWeek #PalmSunday
Click To Tweet

I believe so. Anyone who has experienced severe physical pain, as well as deep emotional sorrow, understands this truth: Nothing hurts quite as deep as the pain of betrayal. Whether it is the betrayal of a spouse, friend, sibling or child, nothing hurts quite as much or leaves uglier scars.

The knife in our back, driven by someone whom we shared our deepest secrets with…

The physical or emotional abuse promulgated by the most unnatural source – a parent or a spouse…

Things that leave us with scars that never disappear, much like the ones the resurrected Savior showed His disciples on his nail-pierced hands.

And yet, as He hung on the cross, He cried: “Forgive them, Father. For they know not what they are doing.”

His heart released the betrayer, even before Judas kissed his cheek. His loving eyes reached Peter, even before the rooster crowed that third time.

Jesus' heart released the betrayer, even before Judas kissed His cheek. His loving eyes reached Peter, even before the rooster crowed that third time. #HolyWeek #Easter
Click To Tweet

And as Palm Sunday arrives tomorrow, and I gladly join the crowd singing Hosanna to my king, His tears on Jerusalem’s hilltop serve as a reminder that the Man of Sorrows understands each time our hearts are broken, and offers us the grace and strength to forgive those who hurt us, yet again.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – April 12, 2019. 

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! As we celebrate Holy Week, Jesus' triumphal entry and His tears while seeing the city from a distance made me reflect on the pain of Betrayal. Join us & share your blog!
Click To Tweet

The post A Reflection on the Pain of Betrayal – LINKUP {The Atlanta Journal Constitution – Palm Sunday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

The Apostle Luke enters the city on a mission. He is there to find the underground church, bring news from believers in Ephesus, and ultimately visit the apostle Paul, who had been sentenced to death and was waiting for his execution in a Roman dungeon. As Luke enters the gates at night, he walks through a well-lit street, brightened by numerous bodies of Christians, displayed as candles on each side. From a distance, a horrific cry pierces his heart — the last moments of a fellow believer, dying for the Name that changed the course of history forever.

The scene greets the audience in the beginning of the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” which opened in theaters March 23. Last week, I joined representatives of both religious and secular media outlets at the red carpet premiere of the movie in Dallas, where we had the opportunity to interview directors, producers, screenwriters and cast.

The script is beautifully and creatively written, well pleasing to anyone who studied first-century Rome and the life of the early church. James Faulkner is impeccable in his representation of the Apostle Paul. Jim Caviezel, the man who pierced our hearts portraying Jesus in the internationally acclaimed 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of Christ” portrays Luke, the physician-turned-disciple who never walked beside Jesus, and yet is responsible for writing almost one third of the New Testament. And Caviezel does not disappoint. In his first role in a faith-based movie since Mel Gibson’s movie, the actor comes back to the screen with the same devotion that captured the world in 2004.

I was able to sit down for a one-on-one interview with the actor during the premiere, where we talked about his role as Jesus in 2004, and now as one of his apostles. I had previously watched several interviews, where he gave testimonies of how his life and Christian faith were impacted by his role as Jesus.

When discussing the new movie, Caviezel talked about the horrific persecution that Christians have faced throughout history — an oppression that the church still suffers today, in many parts of the world. He pointed out that many Christians nowadays do not like to talk about the cross and suffering. He said, “How do I know that? Because they come to me and say, ‘I don’t want to see your movies. They are too violent.’ And so I tell them, ‘OK, then I will pray that no one ever comes to you and says, ‘Deny Jesus or die.’ Because this is happening right now.’”

Caviezel is right. According to an article published by Christianity Today in January 2018, approximately 215 million Christians now experience “high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution.” On top of the list is Kim Jung-un’s country, ranking as the No. 1 spot on the list for 16 years in a row.

It’s hard for us to imagine it. We live in a country founded on the principles of religious freedom; therefore, even the harshest form of religious hatred or intolerance in America pales in comparison to what happens across the world. But it should not surprise us: Jesus himself warned his disciples that they would be hated because of his name. And yet, his true followers know that the message of unconditional love and forgiveness that puzzled the crowd gathered around his cross, and shook the Roman empire to its core, still challenges us today: “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they are doing.”

This Sunday, as believers across the world gather to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, may we remember to pray for the saints who, through the ages, paid and still pay the ultimate price to carry the gospel throughout the world.

You can watch the full interview with Jim Caviziel here: Click to watch. Visit www.paulmovie.com for a theater near you.

This article was originally published on my column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

The post This Easter – Remember the Persecuted Church {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.