I hate controversy, but there are times you have to decide what you believe and take a stand. Some people refuse to commit themselves to anything. Out of fear of offending one group or another, they avoid controversy.

It is said that when Adlai E. Stevenson was Grover Cleveland's running mate in the 1892 Presidential race, he went to the extreme to avoid trouble. In the Northwest that year, the big issue was whether Washington State's majestic mountain should be called Rainier or Tacoma.

Stevenson went to the Northwest and made speeches from the rear platform of his train. He devoted the concluding portion of his speech to describing the beauty of the mountain.

"I want everyone to know," he would conclude, "that I emphatically agree that this magnificent mountain should be named ...." At that precise moment, by prearranged plan, his last words were always drowned out by the scream of whistles and blast of steam as the train moved out of the station.

Generally the problem is not that people want to avoid controversy, but they want to avoid commitment. It has been said that we must stand for something or we will fall for anything.

Convictions are a healthy part of life and a necessary part of our Christian faith. Don't be afraid to believe deeply and stand boldly.

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