The much anticipated mid-term elections are over and the social media and television networks are buzzing with analysis on how Republicans delivered such a huge blow to Democrats across state and federal races. It seems that the common thread of blame is being placed at the doorsteps of the White House. Maybe so, maybe not.

All I know is that Americans seemed agitated with how our government has, or has not, been governing and they expressed it on election day. Will this be the moment our elected officials get outside of themselves and learn how to act like grown ups to get the job done they've been elected to do? Only time will tell.

Among the biggest surprises in the election is how close the Virginia Senate race was between incumbent Mark Warner (D) and challenger Ed Gillespie (R). Early polls had Gillespie considerably behind and one week prior to election the polls showed him trailing by 10 percentage points. Well, all that changed on Tuesday and the race has yet to be called as it heads for a recount. Regardless of who wins, there's a lesson here for all of us.

I think there exists this idea that elections are determined prior to the voting booth. The media spins elections in every way imaginable and for many Americans they are left saying to themselves, "Why vote, it has already been decided?" This mindset often leads to voter apathy and indifference. However, nothing could be further from the truth, and this historic election should prove that elections are never won or lost until the people speak with their votes. The examples are widespread to prove this fact in this most recent election. Every vote counted for something!

It was widely reported that in the 2012 Presidential election, only half of Christian voters actually voted. They forfeited their vote and stayed home. In an interview following the election, CBN reporter David Brody discussed the election results with Billy Graham. Graham said, "God is in control, and if Christians are upset, they need to be upset at themselves. We need to do a better job of getting our people — the Church — to vote." Graham chastised the church for not upholding its civic responsibility in the voting booth. How can we complain if we have forsaken a right that was fought for and protected on national and foreign battlefields by our great military men and women?

I have a suggestion for anyone, Christian or non-Christian, who believes voting is not a matter of personal responsibility. I suggest that instead of defending your position to your social media friends, that you visit your local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and tell them why you don't vote. Explain yourself while looking into the eyes of a veteran who left his/her home, family and friends to wear a uniform, bearing the American flag, into battle so you could maintain your liberties and freedoms as an American. Or how about sitting beside a WWII veteran who risked his life to defeat a deranged dictator who was committing genocide against the Jews and tell him why you don't participate in elections. Better yet, why not schedule a visit to Walter Reed Military Medical Center and walk among the men and women returning from Afghanistan and let them know about your non-voting position. Or one final suggestion is that you spend a day at Arlington National Cemetery and read every epitaph and speak to every single one of them about why you believe voting is useless. And if after any and all of this, you still hold to your position that voting is a waste of time, then you probably shouldn't be voting anyway, because you really don't understand what America is all about. You see in America, EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

I challenge everyone in HeartLink Network to uphold your civic duty to vote. I recommend that every congregation organize voter registration drives and educate your young people about the importance of voting. Put together a strategy that will mobilize your congregation to be involved in the political process on the local, state and federal level.

The churches of Houston, Texas have given us a great example of what happens when the people of God unite together for the cause of justice in the halls of our government. The pastors and their members confronted the Houston Mayor and as a result she withdrew the five subpoenas issued to area pastors that demanded copies of sermons and all other materials related to their positions on homosexuality. Praise God for the bravery and determination of the "Houston Five" who refused to be bullied by an over zealous government. They stood their ground and I believe a door for change has been established in that city.

Now is not a time for Christians to run for the hills and check out of the political process. No, now is a time for prayer and participation. Maybe God is calling you to run for a local office. Perhaps you are being called to throw your hat into the ring at the state or federal level. We don't have to stop at the voting booth. We can also occupy the offices of government.

We have two years to prepare for the next Presidential election. So let's get to work now, not later. America is still a government "of the people, for the people, by the people."

“Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”
--Abraham Lincoln

I've been forced to consider what I would do if served a subpoena for my sermons because I spoke out in opposition to homosexuality and government policies related to the issue. Would I allow the government to bully its way into my ministry and demand such a thing?

Well this is exactly what five Houston, Texas pastors have been faced with, and their dilemma is forcing pastors all across the "Land of the Free" to consider their own response in similar circumstances. For many of us it seems surreal that a government agency, in this case the mayoral office of Houston, would go after pastors who have exercised their First Amendment rights to speak on moral issues of the day. But herein lies the trouble. Is homosexuality still a moral issue?

Unfortunately we have come to a place in our society where homosexuality is becoming less of a moral issue and more of a political one. And if it is a political issue then the government (local, state and federal) may believe it owns the issue. And if it owns the issue then it will determine who can speak on the issue and influence public policy.

I've read an actual copy of the subpoena issued to the Houston pastors. It's demands are hard to believe. It is disturbing to think that any American government agency would take such an aggressive approach to collect, by law, any and all materials related to a pastor's position on an issue such as homosexuality. But this is where we've been heading in America.

Many causes for our slippery slope can be named, but I'd like to highlight one that I believe to be at the top of the list. One of the reasons traditionally moral issues that have been upheld by our mostly Christian society are now falling into the category of "political" is because we have slowly replaced the Bible as our source of authority. A slow erosion of the Bible's authority to shape individual lives and communities has left us to choose our own truths apart from God. And this erosion has even crossed over into the church. It's not unpopular to hear Christians say, "I know what the Bible says on this issue, BUT..." Our "buts" are getting us in trouble!

A latest survey by the American Bible Society in cooperation with the Barna Group discovered some discouraging facts regarding Americans and the Bible. Their survey shows that while 88% of American households own a Bible (4.7 Bibles per household), only 37% read it once a week. So how can the Bible influence our personal and family life if we are not interacting with it?

The Bible's influence is even less among Millennials (18-29 yr. olds). The survey discovered that only 35% of Millennials believed the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life. So if the Bible is losing its place of authority then what authority is influencing our lives and public policy? It's a long list.

If our society, especially our government, can deminish God's Word and its authority to speak to the moral issues of the day, then I can imagine a time when government regulators will be monitoring the "free speech" of pastors all across this land. And in some ways this is exactly what is happening in Houston, Texas. A mayor and her minions are upset that pastors actively opposed her ridiculous law that allows a "gender confused" individual to use the same public bathroom as a person who is biologically the opposite sex. How do you even begin to rationalize that?

Now back to my question.  What will I do if served a subpoena demanding my emails, voicemails, sermons, notes, conversations, etc. in a case that involves a position I've taken on an issue like homosexuality? While I hope it will never come to that I am also unafraid to join the ranks of the Apostle Paul who was also imprisoned for boldly preaching the Word of God. I will not bow down to a heavy handed government that wants to politicize Biblical issues and therefore intimidate me to silence. It's just not going to happen.

I think it is high time that Christians blow the dust off of their Bibles are start reading it again. It's not like we don't have access to it. The majority of people today have some type of digital device (smartphone, tablet, computer) where you can access multiple Bibles. It's time to open up the Bible apps and study the Word of God.

And this may require us to shut down Facebook for a while. And yes, we can survive without Facebook, Twitter and all other forms of social media for a moment. It's actually very sad that we know more of what is happening in someone's life we haven't seen in 20 years than we do of Jesus who gave His life that we may have eternal life.

Will you stand ON THE TRUTH of God's Word for how you live your life as a follower of Jesus? And will you stand FOR THE TRUTH of God's Word in the public arena? It's time to take a bold stand on and for God's truth. And I'm thankful to have pastors leading our HeartLink Network churches who are willing to take such a stand, but they need you to stand with them.

2Ti 3:16 NLT  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Heb 4:12 NLT  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

When I found Cornerstone Church of Mt. Crawford in 1991, I was a burned out missionary and a confused youth pastor. Sherri and I had returned from 18 months on the mission field and the transition was the hardest thing we had experienced in our marriage at that point in time. We didn't know about re-entry culture shock. We just figured that adjustment would take time and we would find our way. But the more we tried the harder it became, until we were invited to this life giving church in Mt. Crawford, Va called Cornerstone.

I still remember that day. It was a day that would change our lives forever. We discovered a community of believers who seemed excited to worship Jesus. They were eager to hear the truth of God's Word and willing to put faith into action. We were like dry sponges in a rainstorm. It was awesome.

I could not have predicted where that day was going to lead us. After a season of healing, restoration and clarity, we joined a group of believers attending Mt. Crawford Cornerstone who dreamed of planting a Cornerstone Church in our home area of Augusta County. I remember those days being filled with such excitement and high levels of faith. We were so convinced of God's power and presence that we would have stormed hell with a water pistol if given the opportunity.

Not long after the church was planted I was asked to pray and consider being the Sr. Pastor of this new, exciting church. I remember the moment God impressed on my heart to say YES. I was outside tending to a burning barrel of trash. I was talking to God and asking for direction. I can't say I heard an audible voice as Moses did at the burning bush, but nonetheless I felt my heart warmed by the Holy Spirit and a peace came over me as I heard the Spirit whisper, "Trust me."

The next day I let Pastor Gerald Martin (Cornerstone founding pastor) know that I was willing to be considered. There were several other men, all much older and more seasoned than me, who were also being considered to serve as the Sr. Pastor. At that time I was 28 years old and had served as a youth pastor for three years before heading to the mission field. I didn't have a seminary degree but had earned a Bachelors degree in Pastoral Ministries. However, the mantle fell toward me and here I am 22 years later still pastoring the church I love.

These 22 years have had many ups and downs . We've had many victories and heartaches along the way. We've had our share of adversity, failure, pain and problems. Not everything has been perfect. I guess that's what happens when imperfect people are involved.

You've probably heard the saying, "Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it." I believe that to be very true. Adversity isn't an option, it is part of life. No one is exempt.

But adversity can be a trap as well. Sometimes, maybe too many times, people get comfortable with their pain. They start to spiritualize it as a way to justify their unwillingness to move forward into health and wholeness. It's sad to watch but too many Christians fall into this trap.

I started a new sermon series at Cornerstone Augusta recently entitled "Under Pressure." This series will take us through the Book of James. At the outset of this challenging letter James says, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  (3)  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  (4)  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing" (James 1:2-4; NLT).

Did you catch what James said? He said WHEN troubles come your way, not IF they come your way. We will all have troubles, trials and tribulations in this life. No one is exempt. But you and I have a choice when we are faced with such circumstances. We can embrace them as opportunities for great joy or we can succumb to the pressure and have our joy striped away.

I'm grateful for the troubles I've seen. That's not to say I've liked them. I'm just grateful that God has used them to shape my character. And because my character is not perfect, I have more troubles in my future.

As HeartLink Network moves forward to build the kingdom of God we will experience challenges, but let us choose to embrace them as opportunities for great joy.