my Bible Study class

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

About a month ago, our church suspended Sunday School classes for the summer.

A few people in our class, which goes in-depth through a book of the Bible, wanted to continue
through the summer.  (Though one lady's reasoning for it amazed me; it wouldn't be burdensome
to continue Bible study, she said, since you really don't have to spend time reading or studying in
preparation.)

Over the past few weeks, the class has gotten smaller and smaller.  Yesterday it was the teacher,
my wife, and myself.  The teacher told us he was going to be traveling for the next four weeks.
We had a short prayer together, and left.

I don't say it in censure.  There are always people who show up sporadically.  They miss the
blessing (and the purpose) of following straight through, in order, what God says: but it's certainly
better to hear some, than none, of what He says.

Other individuals who are usually in class, and voted to continue it through the summer, have
other understandable reasons they may be absent one week or another.  We live in a rural area,
and the week of the county fair is always one of intense activity for the 4-H members and leaders
in the congregation.  Another friend had family visiting from out of state last weekend.

One couple has young kids; and with no Sunday School class for the kids, it's hard for them to
attend.  (Though to their credit, they have managed to come most Sundays since the church went
to its summer schedule.)  Other people, I'm sure, have other good reasons they may be absent.
It's not my intent to evaluate their reasons.

But at some level and some point, a Bible study can only exist when people desire to hear God's
word and discuss it.  At some point, people must consider that what God says is more important
than anything else in their life.  At some point, we have to believe the Bible is not optional in our
schedule and our priorities.

I'd like to be in a Bible study with people like that.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

False "Leaders," Falsified Scripture, False Prayer

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Last week, Franklin Graham and 300 other “Christian leaders” declared
a national day of prayer for the current president.  They cited the scriptural
command in I Timothy 2:1-4:

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and
thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who
are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all
godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to
the knowledge of the truth.”

This command to pray is especially relevant regards the current president.
There’s never been a president that we more need to pray will use his God-
given authority to give us “…a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

And there’s never been a president that we more need to pray will “…come to
the knowledge of the truth.”

But Franklin Graham didn't urge his followers to pray those scriptural prayers.
His facebook page instead urged Christians to pray for the current president
because “[his] enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family,
and the presidency. In the history of our country, no president has been attacked
as he has.”

Undoubtedly the current president made thousands of “enemies” in his life-long
business career…bitter former business-partners, victims of his Trump University
scam, banks who lost billions of dollars on his defaulted loans, unpaid contractors
on his building projects.

But Franklin Graham and the other "Christian leaders" are obviously referencing
the current president’s political “enemies,” and urging Christians to pray God will
uphold the current president against them.

Everyone should read the scripture Franklin Graham cites, and see if it commands
Christians to pray what Graham says we should pray.  Everyone should read to the
end of that passage, where it says our prayers for our rulers should be "without wrath
and dissension” (v. 8)...and decide if praying against the current president's political
"enemies" is in line with scripture's command of prayer in which is no dissension . . . 
one of the "deeds of the flesh" listed in Galatians 5:20, right next to "factions."

In the meantime, all Christians who love God's word, and love the Body of Christ,
should pray fervently that Christians will not be deceived by “leaders” who falsify
scripture to mislead God’s people to destruction.

Amen.