This past March 17, Johnny Hunt, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and former pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock, filed a lawsuit against the SBC, the SBC Executive Committee, and Guidepost Solutions for defamation and invasion of privacy.

In its annual meeting in 2021 SBC messengers representing the 50,000 churches of the SBC voted for a third party investigation into the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse complaints by the denomination”Executive Committee dating back to January 1, 2000. Guidepost Solutions was hired to conduct the investigation.

Guidepost’s 288 page report was released prior to the SBC’s annual meeting in 2022. The report claimed there were “credible allegations that Hunt sexually assaulted the wife of a fellow pastor during Hunt’s tenure as SBC president in 2010.”

In the filing Hunt’s attorneys’ with the Cole Law Group said, “After his term as SBC President had ended—Pastor Johnny [as many know him by] had a brief, inappropriate, extramarital encounter with a married woman. Some of the precise details are disputed, but at most, the encounter lasted only a few minutes, and it involved only kissing and some awkward fondling.” Trying to mitigate his culpability, Hunt’s attorneys said the encounter was “consensual and that it was a private matter” that should not have been made public in the Guidepost report.

Hunt’s attorneys seem to be saying he did something “inappropriate” and “extramarital” with another pastor’s wife, but he did not do something such as “sexual assault.” When Guidepost investigators first interviewed him he denied knowing the pastor whose wife he is said to have sexually assaulted. But when he was interviewed a second time he admitted to knowing this couple for at least 20 years and to having a “strong influence on said pastor’s life and ministry.”

The suit claims he “never entered the room” with the woman and had “no contact whatsoever” with her nor did he initiate the encounter, but admitted to having “some type of interaction” with the woman. It is difficult to know what did or did not happen.

Whatever the legalities and the truth about what happened aside, Hunt at first denied the allegations and later admitted to having a “consensual … brief, inappropriate, extramarital encounter with a married woman.” Hunt is claiming in his suit that a private matter became public and he has according to his attorneys lost his reputation and “substantial economic and other damages.”

There are other questions that linger in my mind. If the encounter was consensual, why did the woman file a complaint? Did he have the husband’s consent to kiss and fondle his wife? Did Hunt have his wife’s consent to fondle and kiss another woman? And most telling of all, did he have Christ’s consent?

A group of pastors said Hunt went though a “restoration process” and was fit to return to public ministry. I would think that restoration would include some humility and contrition, not a lawsuit against the denomination that helped make him the luminary he was. His lawsuit is an egregious betrayal.

In a January sermon Hunt said when, “God calls someone to do something, that calling can’t be undone-and God called that person, knowing that person might sin and fail.” Judas was called by Jesus to be His disciple, knowing he would betray Him.

Indeed, God does know what each of us will do, but that is never an excuse to sin.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise,” Psalm 51:17.

Yahoo News published an article written by Rev. Lori Allen Walke, titled, “Instead of banning Oklahoma drag shows, reconsider doctrine of original sin.” The article twists the truth of Scripture into a labyrinth of lies to accommodate her support of LGBTQ issues.

Walke accuses “conservative evangelical legislators” of trying to limit “reproductive health treatment options, banning gender-affirming care, forbidding evidence-based sex education and proscribing drag shows — you name it, they are trying it. Why are they so obsessed with genitalia, gender expression and other people’s bodies?”

I do not think there are legislators opposed to “reproductive health treatment options.” The LGBTQ people by their support for same-sex marriage are opposed to reproductive health. They think children who have been indoctrinated to believe they are a different gender than what they were born should be able to make life changing decisions about surgery and hormonal therapy not based no science but fairy tales.

Parents do not want their children forced to watch drag shows and when it comes to being “obsessed with genitalia, gender expression and other people’s bodies” it is the LGBTQ crowd that is obsessed with the desire to indoctrinate other people’s kindergarten and elementary school age children with their perversion of those things. Same-sex couples have no reproductive options, their only “option” is to indoctrinate the children of heterosexuals.

Not satisfied with promoting their on perverted propaganda Lori Allen Walke takes aim at the Bible and seeks to pervert its message to accommodate her own brand of sinlessness. She writes, “Much of their fixation is rooted in the doctrine of original sin, which argues that human nature was corrupted by the first sin of Adam and Eve, causing all humans to be inherently sinful. It is a theological construct, erected from various passages in scripture. Genesis 3 is its seminal story, known as “The Fall,” the moment when humans were no longer welcome in the Garden of Eden. Nowhere in this story is the word “sin” mentioned, much less the phrase, “original sin,” but early church theologians never let facts get in the way when developing doctrine.”

If Adam and Eve did not sin as Walke suggests, why did God kick them out of the Garden of Eden? Sin is defined as “an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.” Did Adam transgress divine law? God asked Adam, “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam replied, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Adam’s last three words “and I ate” are a confession of his transgression of God’s command. The word sin may not be mentioned in this account, but it is plainly described. Like the serpent who perverted God’s command and deceived Eve with his lie, Walke wants to deceive us now.

Walke continues by questioning whether we inherited our sin nature from our first parents. But the Scriptures declare “through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men,” Romans 5:18, and “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. The Scriptures tell us we are sinners by nature and sinners by choice. The Scriptures should not be perverted by one who claims to be a reverend.

Moses warned us, “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you,” Deuteronomy 4:2. We are told not to be deceived by the serpent or people like Walke who add to or take away from what God has said.

At a recent Conservative Political Action Conference, former president Donald Trump said in his address on March 4, 2023, “In 2016, I declared I am your voice. Today, I add I am your warrior, I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. I am your retribution. Not going to let this happen. Not going to let it happen. I will totally obliterate the deep state.”

President Joe Biden is not my enemy. His policies have, in my opinion harmed my family financially, and our nation, and have weakened our standing politically on the world scene. He did not get my vote in 2020 and unless he has some miraculous change of heart he will not get my vote if he runs for president again.

But I do not hate Biden, nor wish him ill. I am not depending on Trump to seek justice or retribution on anyone on my behalf. I am trusting in the Supreme Judge of the whole earth for that and from His decision there will be no appeal.

I appreciate Trump’s handling of the economy and his nominations to the United States Supreme Court when he was president, but he did not defund Planned Parenthood as he promised when he had the opportunity to do so. What Trump said at the CPAC is political hyperbole and an example of the noxious narcissism Trump is known for.

Trump might have won reelection if he had managed to control his tongue and his ego but he could not do that. He demonizes the Democrats and anyone he thinks may be a rival to his 2024 hopes of being president again.

Paul wrote, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men … Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord, … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” Romans 12:17, 19, 21.

I am weary of the incessant name calling and bickering that seems to characterize American politics and long for a President and Congress willing to lay aside their differences and political agendas to work for the good of their fellow Americans. That is what I am praying for.

I think we are living in a time when people have not learned to forgive and move on to what is ahead. To be sure, justice is important and should be based on righteousness, and while I may hold different views on what is best for our nation and fellow citizens, I will not hate others for honestly holding views that differ tfrom mine.

Jesus told us, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44.

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, during the midweek chapel service at Asbury University, a private Christian University, in Wilmore, Kentucky, something happened. The following account is from Asbury University’s president, Dr. Kevin J. Brown:

“On February 8, 2023, Asbury University’s regularly scheduled chapel service never ended. What we have experienced since that Wednesday morning has been a current of immeasurable goodness flooding our community and quickly moving into other regions of the world. Words fail any effort to communicate the abundance of experiences and stories that will leave us forever changed.

“Thursday, February 23, marked the end of this historic multi-week gathering at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary with the National Collegiate Day of Prayer broadcast hosted on our campus.

“I find it fitting that what started with college students on our campus ended with college students joined in prayer and worship across the country.

“I have been asked if Asbury is “stopping” this outpouring of God’s Spirit and the stirring of human hearts. I have responded by pointing out that we cannot stop something we did not start. This was never planned. Over the last few weeks, we have been honored to steward and host services and the guests who have traveled far and wide to attend them. The trajectory of renewal meetings is always outward—and that is beginning to occur. We continue to hear inspiring stories of hungry hearts setting aside daily routines and seeking Christ at schools, churches, and communities in the US and abroad.

“The effort by committed men and women on our campus to redirect energy, forsake other obligations, work tirelessly around the clock, and provide single-minded labor to accommodate our students and incoming visitors has been the high point in my career. In fact, it may be the most extraordinary act of collective Godliness and hospitable goodwill I have ever witnessed in my life. I am forever grateful. I am forever changed.

“Regardless of how we choose to describe what we have seen and experienced over the last several weeks (revival, renewal, awakening, outpouring)—this movement is not finished. Other colleges and churches are experiencing similar services. Rather, we are encouraging the continued movement of God through other people, places, and ministries.

“We are excited to think carefully about how we process and steward this experience with our students. We want to capture their voices. We want to walk with them in continual discipleship. We want to commission them to be “salt and light” to serve the world and glorify God.”

While many within the church have responded favorably, others have been critical both within and without the church. Some have said, “Revival is more than singing and crying,” and “I’ll believe it’s revival when they denounce their toxic and abusive theology.”

I personally believe the revival I have prayed for in this nation may be starting at Asbury University. I hope revival is beginning wherever and it sweeps our nation. The church itself was started in the white hot revival of Pentecost.

Angered by the preaching of Jesus by Peter and the apostles, the Jewish leaders intended to kill them when Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Law, said, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men … stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God,” Acts 3:35, 38-39.

We should give what has happened in Wilmore, Kentucky, and in other places prayerful and thoughtful contemplation. It may be that God does not live in the theological boxes we have built for Him; we certainly do not want to “be found fighting against God.”

In colonial America the public school system was intended to operate within the philosophical framework of “in loco parentis,” a Latin phrase meaning “in place of the parent.”

Taking root in colonial American schools, “in loco parentis” was an idea derived from English common law. The colonists borrowed it from the English ideal of schools having not only educational but also moral responsibility for students. But colonial America was founded amid a Christian consensus that has fragmented within our current cultural context. This did not happen overnight but it is where we are at now.

BreakPoint, a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, reported, “The National Education Association, which has a long history of advocating extreme, sexually progressive ideology in schools, such as for instance, advising teachers to hide transgender students’ name and pronoun changes from parents. In November, the NEA tweeted: “Educators love their students and know better than anyone what they need to learn and thrive.” Do educators love their students more than the parents love their children?

Last year I wrote an article about this same issue. Parents Wendell and Maria Perez are reportedly filing a lawsuit against the Clay County School District. They were called to the school where their twelve-year-old daughter attempted suicide. The little girl had attempted to kill herself twice in the previous two days. They said the school did not inform them until after the second attempt.

Mr. Perez said, “The school counselor alleged that it [the suicide attempts] was because of a gender identity issue, and that they knew we as parents would not be in agreement because of our Catholic Christian beliefs. My daughter never exhibited any signs of gender confusion or questioning her biological sex.”

This little girl did not attempt to kill herself at home. She tried to kill herself at school after being counseled at school about her “gender identity issue,” which may have been incited by the school counselor. This case highlights the fact that gender identity is not just a gender issue or a moral issue, it is also a life and death issue when pushed on children..

The question at issue is, did the school counselor create in the mind of this twelve-year-old girl a conflict between the counselor’s indoctrination and the parent’s moral instruction at home that in the thinking of the child it could only be reconciled by taking her own life.

This is the kind of situation that The Florida Parental Rights in Education bill was enacted to prevent. Mischaracterized by its opponents as the “don’t say gay” legislation. The bill, “prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.” The grade levels are primary grades or children in elementary school.

Sex education is fraught with moral and religious implications that the public school system has been forbidden to teach by various Supreme Court rulings. So, Florida’s legislature has provided that sex education is fundamentally a parental right.

Why is the LGBTQ+ community angry over the legislation? Here’s the rub, people who practice a homosexual lifestyle cannot have children, they cannot be parents in a strictly biological sense. They have no parental rights except for those who have managed to adopt children.

Since homosexuals cannot reproduce, the only way to secure acceptance of their lifestyle they must convert others to their way of thinking by indoctrinating the youngest, most innocent, and vulnerable, our children. And they don’t think parents should have a right to know what is being taught to their children regarding sexual issues.

I will never be convinced that a school employee or the LGBTQ+ community cares more about the welfare of a child than the child’s parents. The right to raise children according to the parents’ values is God-given, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4. Now, thanks to Florida’s legislature and our governor; it will be the law.