Okay, everybody can breath again, I ‘m not writing about love, sex and romance, so you can talk to me now.

My question for you today is, “how do you personally decide what is right and true?”  Do you believe as I do that in the end, that is all that will matter?

I am concerned that so many people seem to be basing their conviction of truth on societal trends.  Now I have no interest in being a curmudgeon who wraps himself in a robe of self righteousness and scowls at everything fashionable.   However the source of truth is not the university campus, the movie industry, the halls of congress, the supreme court,  the talking heads on cable T.V., or even my favorite celebrity pastor.  These people are inspectors of truth but not sources of truth.

Rick Warren said, “”What’s true or right is NEVER determined by popularity or polls. The right thing is often unpopular since it’s harder to do. In eternity, having been on “the wrong side of history” won’t matter. What’ll matter is were you on the wrong side of truth?”

As you know, I have appealed to all of you not to whine and pine about culture, but to live joyfully in the midst of the turbulence. This is not a departure from that mantra.  However living cheerfully in the world is not the same as being enslaved to “the world.”  Listen to the words of Jesus from “The Message.”  “Be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:33 (MSG)

Perhaps at another time we’ll talk about logical steps to righteousness and truth, but for now please consider the simple fact that Jesus felt he had to win the contest of overcoming the world not the contest of being the culture’s favorite son.