Night is darkest just before dawn

In "The Dark Knight," Harvey Dent says, "The night is always darkest just before the dawn." Of course, he's referring to rampant crime in Gotham City, but I like to think that's true of our world.

I just read this article today stating that religious faith in America is on the decline. Among the findings, we learn that agnostics/atheists are up to 15 percent nationwide, that the Northeast (not the Northwest) is now the least-churched part of the country, and that 1/3 of Vermont residents claim no religious faith.

Interestingly, non-denominational Christians have grown from 0.1 percent in 1990 to 3.5 percent last year. Pentecostals have held steady at 3.5 percent since 1990.

That last fact was interesting to me, especially after reading the phrase that followed in the article: "...a surprising finding considering the dramatic spread of the tradition worldwide."

The Spirit is moving around the world, but here we seem to be just keeping it to ourselves. How do we, the supposedly most Christian nation on the Earth, somehow miss out on the greatest move of God happening? We have some SERIOUS work to do. But I do feel the dawn is coming, despite all the challenges people of faith face.

This study shows me that people aren't looking for religious systems that have burned them and failed them... they're looking for truth. And ultimately, of course, they're looking for Jesus. It's getting pretty dark out there, but I believe the opportunities to really present the Good News of Christ are better than ever.

God, bless our country. Give us the ability to embrace the kind of move of your Spirit that the rest of the world is starting to see... a phenomenon even the mainstream media is starting to notice. Bring it here, Lord! Prepare our hearts so that we can be ready.